Calvary Temple: Recent Episodes
Debbie Haynes
Sunday morning and evening sermon podcasts from Calvary Temple, a Pentecostal church in Campbell California. Pastor Dennis Conner. calvarycampbell.org
Study in the Book of John, Chapter 9 Don Haynes Download Join us for a study through the Gospel of John as we continue with Chapter 9. In this chapter, Jesus heals a man who was blind from birth, revealing the works of God through a miraculous act of compassion and power. As the healed man is questioned by the Pharisees, the growing contrast between physical sight and spiritual blindness becomes unmistakable. While the formerly blind man comes to recognize and worship Jesus as the Son of God, the religious leaders' pride and refusal to acknowledge the evidence leave them spiritually blind despite their claims to see.
Don't Poke The Bear Pastor Debbie Haynes Download The book of James takes us on a journey from an untamable tongue, to an untamed heart, to a praying church. He confronts jealousy, selfishness, worldliness, and careless speech, but he also offers God's remedy: humble yourselves, draw near to God, and pray. Though we all stumble in many ways, God gives more grace to those who seek Him.
People say, "Don't poke the bear," because you don't know how it will respond. But James teaches us not to be afraid to seek God boldly. Pray for revival, healing, and a fresh work of His Spirit—but be ready for Him to begin with your own heart. God is not a sleeping bear; He is the living God, and when His people humble themselves and pray, He still answers. James begins with an untamable tongue, moves to an untamed heart, and ends with a praying church. God changes our words, then our hearts, and then He works through our prayers.
The Lord Knows the Way of the Righteous Pastor Debbie Haynes Download Psalm 1 is not merely a warning about what to avoid; it is a beautiful picture of the blessings that come from a life rooted in God. The blessed person seeks God's wisdom, walks in His ways, and enjoys fellowship with His people. As a result, they experience clarity, purpose, spiritual growth, and the favor of the Lord upon their journey.
Like a tree planted by streams of water, the righteous draw continual strength from God. Though they may face seasons of hardship, loss, and struggle, their roots run deep into His grace. Their faith remains alive, their testimony remains fruitful, and their lives continue to prosper in God's purpose. While the way of the wicked ultimately perishes, the Lord watches over and sustains those who are planted in Him.
He Who Trembles at My Word Pastor Debbie Haynes Download Isaiah reminds us that God owns everything. Heaven is His throne, earth is His footstool, and all creation is the work of His hands. There is nothing we can build, accomplish, or offer that God lacks. Yet among all the people on earth, God says there is one person upon whom He looks with special favor: the one who is humble, contrite in spirit, and who trembles at His Word. The question is not what we can give to God, but how we respond when God speaks.
Throughout Scripture, God continually calls His people to hear His voice and seeks hearts that will listen and obey. In Acts 13, Paul proclaims that God fulfilled every promise concerning the Messiah through Jesus Christ. When the people heard this message, they begged to hear more, and by the next Sabbath nearly the whole city had gathered to hear the Word of the Lord. Those who truly hear God's Word develop a hunger for it. Reverence leads to appetite. God is still looking for people who tremble at His Word, and those who do will always desire more of His voice, His truth, and His presence.
The Outside of the Cup Pastor Debbie Haynes Download A tiny fingernail in a pot of gumbo became a lesson about Matthew 23: we often obsess over small outward flaws while ignoring what matters most on the inside. Jesus warned the Pharisees that a polished exterior means little if the heart remains unchanged. God is not looking for perfect appearances—He is looking for transformed hearts.
Study in the Book of John, Chapter 8 Don Haynes Download Join us for a study through the Gospel of John as we continue with Chapter 8. In this chapter, Christ’s teaching at the temple is interrupted by the Pharisees and the woman caught in adultery. Following this encounter, Jesus declares Himself to be the Light of the World and teaches the Jews concerning His identity and mission. Although many initially profess belief in Him, their pride in their ancestry and confidence in their own understanding of Scripture ultimately prevent them from accepting Jesus as the Son of God.
In God's Camp Pastor Debbie Haynes Download Jacob discovered that God’s promise often comes before the process. In Genesis 28, God promised him blessing, protection, descendants, and His presence—but years of hardship, delay, fear, and uncertainty followed. Yet even in the struggle, God never left him. At Mahanaim, Jacob realized once again: “This is God’s camp!”
Alone at the brook Jabbok, Jacob wrestled with God through the night and refused to let go until the blessing came. Though he walked away with a limp, it became the testimony that he had truly been in the presence of God. Sometimes the struggle changes us—but on the other side of the test is the testimony.
This Sunday our church joined so many other churches around the nation and remotely participated in the Rededicate 250 National Jubilee of Prayer, Praise & Thanksgiving. In addition to watching portions of the broadcast below, we also joined together on behalf of the church and our nation in a prayer of repentance, devotion and rededication to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
The Grafted IN Blessings Pastor Debbie Haynes Download Today, let us remember that through faith in Christ, we have been lovingly grafted into God’s family and are recipients of His blessing, peace, and promises. We do not have to wonder if we belong—His Word assures us that we do. May our hearts remain steadfast, trusting in the Lord and delighting in His ways.
Study in the Book of John 7 Don Haynes Download Join us for a study through the Gospel of the Apostle John, continuing with John 7. About six months after the Bread of Life discourse in chapter 6, Jesus leaves Galilee and quietly enters Jerusalem during the Feast of Tabernacles. Soon, we find Him teaching boldly in the temple, even while the Jewish leaders seek to kill Him. Some believe, some doubt, and the Jewish leaders cannot find a way to arrest Him.A
The Ark Comes Home Pastor Debbie Haynes Download The Ark of the Lord was captured by the Philistines, but wherever it went throughout their country, God’s hand brought judgment. Realizing they could not stand against the God of Israel, they sent the Ark back with offerings on a cart. When it arrived at Beth-shemesh, the people rejoiced—but some treated it irreverently, looking into the Ark, and God struck them. The message was clear: God is holy, and His presence is not to be treated casually.
God had already given clear instructions in Numbers 4:15—the Ark was to be carried by the Kohathites, but never touched by them. Yet when David later attempted to bring the Ark to Jerusalem, he followed the Philistine method and placed it on a cart. When the oxen stumbled, Uzzah reached out to steady it, and God struck him down. David stopped the journey and left the Ark at the house of Obed-edom, where it brought great blessing. Same Ark—different outcome.
So what’s the story about? We don’t get to carry God’s presence our way. David had the right desire but the wrong method; Uzzah had good intentions but ignored God’s instructions. The difference between judgment and blessing was obedience. And the message for us is simple: we honor God’s presence by obeying God’s Word. We cannot separate the two—because God’s presence is a gift, but it is never casual.
Study in I Timothy 4:1-5 Pastor Debbie Haynes Download In Timothy 4:1–5, Paul the Apostle warns Pastor Timothy that false teaching won’t always look dangerous—it often sounds spiritual, disciplined, and even wise. Some will drift from the faith, not by rejecting truth outright, but by embracing ideas shaped more by culture than by God. These teachings can dull conviction, add unnecessary rules, and subtly redefine what is true and good.
Paul reminds us that God’s creation—including things like food and marriage—is good, as rooted in Book of Genesis, and meant to be received with gratitude. The danger lies in both extremes: adding rules God never gave or living without boundaries altogether. True spiritual maturity is found in discernment—staying grounded in God’s Word, rejecting distortion, and learning to receive everyday life as a gift shaped by truth and thanksgiving.
Price Tags Pastor Debbie Haynes Download I’ve always loved finding a good bargain, especially through thrifting—carefully looking for quality and deciding what something is truly worth. That mindset was tested on a trip to China, where after a chaotic and overwhelming marketplace, I was led to a quiet shop filled with beautiful, high-quality pearls. There, I could slow down, recognize true value, and choose something lasting.
In Matthew 13:45–46, Jesus describes a merchant who finds one pearl of great price and gives everything to obtain it. This reminds us that Christ and His kingdom are of incomparable worth. When we truly recognize that, everything else fades in comparison—and what we “give up” becomes a joyful exchange for something far greater.
The Fulfillment of I AM Pastor Debbie Haynes Download In Exodus 3, Moses encounters the burning bush and hears God call his name. When he asks, “Who am I?” and “Who are You?” God answers, “I will be with you,” and “I AM WHO I AM.” In that moment, God reveals Himself as the eternal, self-existent One. Throughout Deuteronomy and Isaiah, He continues declaring, “I am He,” showing that His identity never changes—He is the unchanging “I AM.”
Then, the “I AM” stepped into human history in Jesus Christ. In Gospel of John 6, Jesus said, “I am the bread of life… given for the life of the world,” pointing to the cross where His body would be broken. Yet He also declared He would take His life up again. The bread was broken, but not defeated—because in Book of Revelation 1:18, He says, “I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore.” The cross finished the work, and the resurrection proved it: Jesus is the fulfillment of the great “I AM.”
Study in the Book of John 6 Don Haynes Download Join us for a study through the Gospel of the Apostle John, continuing with John 6:15-71. Following the miracle of Jesus feeding the 5,000, the people follow Jesus and even strive to make Him their king. However, when he replies with the teaching of Himself as the "Bread of Life" - speaking to spiritual needs rather than the physical - the people, and many disciples find the teaching hard to accept and reject Him and His message.
Two Entries Pastor Debbie Haynes Download Each of the four Gospels—Gospel of Matthew, Gospel of Mark, Gospel of Luke, and Gospel of John—highlights a different aspect of Jesus’ triumphal entry, but all point to the same truth: He fulfills the prophecy of Book of Zechariah 9—a humble yet righteous King bringing salvation and peace.
Zechariah, written after the exile, describes a Messiah whose kingdom is not built by war but through righteousness and covenant faithfulness. As Matthew Henry notes, this is a spiritual kingdom, centered on salvation. Jesus riding a donkey reveals a King who comes in humility to save, not to conquer by force.
This contrasts with His return in Book of Revelation 19, where He appears as the victorious Warrior King on a white horse, ruling in righteousness. The same King who came in mercy will return in glory, visibly and unmistakably (Revelation 1:7), bringing final judgment and triumph.
Amalek, Agag and Haman Pastor Debbie Haynes Download Link to the video viewed during the service: https://youtu.be/TohLXneqL7I The conflict between Israel and the Amalekites begins in the family line of Abraham. Through Isaac and Esau came Amalek, the ancestor of the Amalekite people. Generations later this line included King Agag and eventually, Haman.
Amalek became Israel’s enemy after attacking the Israelites in the wilderness when they were weak and vulnerable. Because of this, God declared ongoing conflict with Amalek and later commanded King Saul to destroy them. Saul disobeyed by sparing King Agag and keeping the best livestock, and as a result, God rejected Saul as king.
Centuries later, Haman the Agagite (descendant of Agag) attempted to destroy the Jewish people in Persia. His plot was stopped by Mordecai and Esther. Haman and his sons were killed, and the Jews were saved—an event remembered in the festival of Purim. If God had not brought judgment on Haman and his ten sons, the Amalekite line might have continued and threatened the people through whom the Messiah would come!
The Journey to the Sacrifice Pastor Debbie Haynes Download Traveling west by wagon train in the mid-1800s was a brutal journey. Most people walked 15–20 miles a day beside the wagons through heat, dust, scarce food, and little water. Nights were spent near creeks if possible so animals could drink and families could wash off the day’s dirt before collapsing to sleep, only to rise and prepare again for the next day. After enduring the harsh prairie conditions, travelers still had to face the freezing storms and disease of the mountains. Yet they endured it all in hope of reaching a better place and claiming a new home.
In a similar way, the Israelites traveled to Jerusalem each year for the festivals and sacrifices, using the journey to prepare their hearts before God. As they traveled, they sang the “Songs of Ascents” recorded in the Psalms, remembering God’s deliverance and seeking His help. When they arrived, they brought their offerings as instructed in Leviticus 1:1-4. The worshipper laid his hand on the animal, identifying with it, and then killed the sacrifice, symbolically transferring his own sin to the sacrifice. But the priest alone took the blood of the sacrifice and applied it to the altar, symbolically covering the sin of the worshiper.
These sacrifices pointed forward to Jesus Christ, the true sacrifice and High Priest. As explained in Hebrews, Christ entered the holy place not with the blood of animals but with His own blood, securing eternal redemption. Because of His sacrifice, the veil that once separated people from God was torn, and believers can now come boldly before God, cleansed and forgiven through Him.
Study in the Book of John 5 & 6 Don Haynes Download Join us for a study through the Gospel of the Apostle John, continuing with John 5:16-47, and John 6;1-14. As we finish John 5 we see the fallout amongst the Jews from Jesus' healing of the lame man at the pool at Bethesda on the Sabbath. This portion of scripture is almost entirely the words of Christ as He explains to the Jews exactly who He is - the Son of God. As we begin John 6, we see the creative miracle of the loaves and fishes as Jesus feeds the 5,000.
Is There A Judas In Your Life Pastor Debbie Haynes Download All four Gospels tell about Judas betraying Jesus, and Luke and John show us how it happened. Judas wasn’t a stranger — he was one of the twelve, someone who walked beside Jesus every day. Yet even in that closeness, his heart was far from the Lord. Jesus felt the real pain of being betrayed by someone at His own table. Still, He didn’t panic, chase Judas, or abandon His mission. What looked like a terrible interruption was actually God’s plan unfolding. The betrayal was real, but it never stopped God’s purpose.
Many of us face “Judas moments” too — times when someone hurts us, disappoints us, or when life suddenly turns in a direction we didn’t choose. In those moments we often think, “It’s over. I’ve lost what God had for me.” But Jesus shows us otherwise. Betrayal may rearrange our lives, but it cannot cancel God’s calling. He kept walking toward the cross knowing resurrection was ahead, and in the same way, God can use even painful situations to move our story forward, not end it.
Keep Walking - God Is Faithful Pastor Debbie Haynes Download Powerful moments of worship and spiritual experiences matter greatly to the seasoned believer, but we cannot rely on them alone—we need God’s Word to keep us steady over time. In 1 Corinthians 10, Paul points us back to how faithfully God cared for Israel, providing deliverance, guidance, daily needs, and Christ Himself. When we stop and remember how much God has already done in our own lives—answered prayers, protection, forgiveness, and strength—we see that our continued walk with Him is not because we are strong, but because He is so faithful.
Paul lovingly warns us not to drift into spiritual complacency. Like guardrails on a dangerous road, Scripture protects us from slow compromises, pride, and bitterness, and trains us to finish well. The heart of the message is hope: God is holding on to us, giving us strength in temptation and a way forward when the road feels hard. So we are called to keep walking—repenting quickly, praying honestly, worshiping deeply, and depending on Christ every day—confident that the same faithful God who carried us this far will carry us all the way home.
Study in the Book of John 4 & 5 Don Haynes Download Join us for a study through the Gospel of the Apostle John, continuing with John 4:42-54, and John 5:1-15. As we finish John 4 we will focus on Jesus' healing of the nobleman's son and we will compare this healing to Jesus' healing of the lame man at the pool at Bethesda in John 5.
Food on the Table Pastor Debbie Haynes Download God’s love and provision works all things for the good of those who seek Him. Through seasons of anxiety, sacrifice, service, and even mistreatment, God is shaping hearts and supplying needs—sometimes by allowing us to give to others, and other times by placing us in the position to receive. Whether it is caring for difficult people, finding housing at exactly the right moment, or being sustained during financial hardship, each experience is offered as evidence that God is attentive to His children and actively involved in the details of everyday life.
Scripture repeatedly promises that those who seek the Lord will lack no good thing, that nothing can separate us from His love, and that His steadfast love endures forever. We must not grow weary or stop praying, but trust that God still puts “food on the table,” meets real needs, and demonstrates His love in practical ways—because He cares deeply for each person listening, just as He always has.
Malachi's Message: To The Modern Church? Pastor Debbie Haynes Download In Malachi’s Message…to the Modern Day Church???, Malachi 3:16–18 reveals that even in seasons of spiritual decline, God sees and honors those who genuinely fear Him. Written to post-exilic Israel, Malachi confronts a religious culture marked by outward activity but inward decay—a condition that closely mirrors many challenges facing the modern church today. While corruption, compromise, and cynicism were widespread, God carefully recorded the faithfulness of a remnant who esteemed His name, promising to claim them as His treasured possession and to clearly distinguish between those who serve Him and those who do not.
The book exposes several sobering parallels between Israel’s day in the 15th Century BC and much of today’s modern churches. These patterns remind us that religious enthusiasm cannot replace obedience, and spiritual authority must be grounded in truth and humility.
Yet Malachi is ultimately a message of hope. God has always preserved a faithful remnant—even when surrounded by compromise. As in the days of Malachi, Mordecai, and Esther, God remembers, vindicates, and honors those who fear Him. The call to the modern church is clear: return to reverence, repentance, covenant faithfulness, and wholehearted devotion, for true renewal comes only when hearts are turned fully back to the Lord.
Study In The Book of John (John 4) Don Haynes Download Join us for a study through the Gospel of the Apostle John, continuing with John 4. In John 4 we will focus on Jesus' encounter with the Samaritan woman at the well and see how the revelation of Christ as Messiah turned an outcast and a sinner into an effective evangelist in a single day.
Direct My Ways, Oh Lord Debbie Haynes Download This message invites the congregation to begin the New Year with intentional rededication to the Lord—not out of failure, but out of a desire for renewed alignment. Rooted in Psalm 119:5, it contrasts temporary resolutions with lasting devotion, reminding us that true blessing comes from walking in a Holy Spirit–directed life rather than from perfect circumstances.
The psalmist’s prayer reflects humility and dependence on God, showing that transformation begins in the heart through God’s Word. By seeking, treasuring, and storing Scripture within, our steps are directed by love and obedience. The message concludes by emphasizing that rededication leads to joy, calling believers to pray simply, “Lord, direct my ways,” and to begin the year anchored in Him.
The Humility of God and the Gift of Christmas Pastor Debbie Haynes Download Christmas reveals God’s way of working: humility comes before exaltation. Instead of entering the world with power and spectacle, God came quietly and lowly, just as He often humbles His people before lifting them up. Jesus’ birth shows that God Himself follows this pattern.
Christ was born in poverty and obscurity, not in a palace or with earthly power. The manger points forward to the cross, showing a life marked by humility and self-giving. Christmas reminds us that salvation comes by God’s grace, not human strength or pride.
This makes Christmas personal and hopeful. God meets us in our weakness and brokenness, coming down to where we are. Receiving Christ requires humble, childlike trust, and the God who came low is the God who lifts the lowly.
Advent: The Posture of Our Hearts Pastor Debbie Haynes Download Advent is not a familiar teaching in some churches, like it is in more Liturgical churches. It is the four weeks leading up to Christmas, centered on the themes of Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love. Though Advent is not specifically named in Scripture, it reflects a genuine sense of expectancy felt during each Christmas season—an anticipation not of gifts, but of something spiritual.
That expectancy is rooted deeply in Scripture, especially in Isaiah’s prophecy of light coming into deep darkness and being fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Isaiah foretold the coming Messiah, and John 1 declares Jesus as the eternal Word and the true Light that darkness cannot overcome. This fulfilled hope assures believers even today, that God has already sent His light into the world through Christ.
Ultimately, Advent is less about candles or tradition and more about the posture of the heart. Hope reminds us that the Light has come, Peace is received through repentance and faith, Joy flows from welcoming Christ as King, and Love is revealed in Jesus laying down His life. Advent calls believers to live in humility, joy, peace, and love as they respond to Christ with renewed expectation.
Study In The Book Of John (John 3) Don Haynes Download Join us for a study through the Gospel of the Apostle John, continuing with John 3. In John 3 we will cover Nicodemus' encounter with Jesus, the gospel summary of John 3:16, and John the Baptists reaction to his disciples' concerns about Jesus' growing ministry.
The God of All Comfort Pastor Debbie Haynes Download God is the God of all comfort, and He meets His people in suffering with mercy, not judgment. Paul reminds us in II Corinthians that when believers experience pain, God faithfully comforts them—not just for their own healing, but so they can share that same comfort with others. Our pain is never wasted when it becomes a testimony of God’s faithfulness.
Suffering also teaches us dependence on God. Paul admitted their trials were so severe they felt like death itself, yet those moments forced them to rely not on their own strength but on the power of God who raises the dead. God often allows hardship so we will discover that real hope is not found within ourselves, but in Him alone.
Finally, the church has a responsibility to support one another through prayer. Paul called on fellow believers to pray, showing that God’s deliverance often works through the prayers of others. Prayer is not passive—it is powerful. When we pray, we participate in God’s rescue work and become channels of His comfort to those who are hurting.
Why I'm Thankful Pastor Debbie Haynes Download Today we’re reflecting on what we’re thankful for by looking at one of my late husband's favorite passages—Hebrews 6:13–20. This scripture reminds us that God’s promises are absolutely secure, backed by His unchanging character and confirmed by His own oath. Because of that, our hope in Christ is a firm and steady anchor for the soul, giving us confidence and stability no matter what we face. I’m grateful for that unshakable foundation—and now I’d love to hear what each of you is thankful for today.
New Outpourings Pastor Debbie Haynes Download In Acts 4, the disciples faced fierce opposition as God worked public miracles through Peter and John—especially the healing of the lame man at the Beautiful Gate. This undeniable act drew thousands to faith, alarming the religious authorities, who arrested the apostles and demanded to know by what power they had acted. Filled with the Holy Ghost, Peter boldly declared that the miracle was done through Jesus Christ, whom they had crucified and whom God had raised, affirming that salvation is found in no other name.
Unable to deny the miracle, the leaders threatened them and commanded them never again to speak in Jesus’ name. But Peter and John answered that they could not stay silent about what they had seen and heard, revealing that no earthly authority has the right to silence the truth God reveals. Once released, the believers gathered to pray—not for safety, but for boldness—asking God to continue performing healings, signs, and wonders through the name of Jesus.
In response, God shook the place where they prayed and filled them again with the Holy Ghost, showing that the Spirit’s power is not a one-time experience but a continual outpouring for strength, courage, and renewal. Just as the early church depended on fresh infillings of the Spirit, we too must seek new outpourings today so we can stand boldly, witness powerfully, and experience God’s healing and miraculous work in our lives.
The Still Small Voice Pastor Debbie Haynes Download Elijah, once a prophet of great miracles and faith, found himself running in fear and despair after Queen Jezebel’s threats. Despite witnessing God’s mighty power through droughts, fire, rain, and resurrection, Elijah became weary and hid in a cave on Mount Horeb. There, God revealed that His true presence was not in the wind, earthquake, or fire—but in a gentle whisper. This still, small voice quieted Elijah’s fears, shifting his heart from complaint to submission, and restoring his strength for the mission ahead.
God used this moment to teach Elijah that divine power is not always displayed through force, but through quiet intimacy and mercy. Elijah’s circumstances had not changed, but his heart had. The Lord reminded him that he was not alone—there were still seven thousand faithful in Israel—and gave him new assignments to fulfill His purpose.
Just as God met Elijah in the stillness, He meets us today—not always through dramatic signs, but through the quiet moments of surrender. Like the pastor’s wife who learned gentleness through her daughter’s struggle, God calls us to listen beyond the noise. In His still small voice, He offers correction, revelation, and renewal. When we pause to listen, He restores our hearts and reminds us—He is not finished with us yet.
Study In The Book Of John (John 2) Don Haynes Download Join us for a study through the Gospel of the Apostle John, continuing with John 2. In John 2 we will cover the wedding at Cana and the clearing of the temple in Jerusalem!
The Breath of God Pastor Debbie Haynes Download The breath of God represents His divine power to create, sustain, and renew life. In Genesis 2:7, God breathes into Adam, and humanity becomes alive—every living soul depends on God’s Spirit. Job 33:4 and Psalm 104:29–30 emphasize that the same breath that gives life also sustains it; when God withdraws His Spirit, life ends, but when He sends it forth, renewal and creation begin again.
God’s breath also reveals His truth and power through His Word and Spirit. As written in II Timothy 3:16, all Scripture is “God-breathed,” and carries divine authority to teach, correct, and transform. In Ezekiel 37, God’s breath revives dry bones, symbolizing His ability to restore what is spiritually dead. And, when Jesus breathes on His disciples in John 20:22, He imparts the Holy Spirit, giving them new spiritual life and purpose.
The breath of God is both the source and sustainer of all life—physical and spiritual. From creation to Pentecost, it is portrayed as the active presence of God working within creation and humanity. This breath continues to give vitality, faith, and renewal to all who receive it.
The Longest Seven Months Pastor Debbie Haynes Download In I Samuel Chapter 4, the leaders of Israel suffered a crushing defeat and wrongly assumed that bringing the Ark of the Covenant into battle would guarantee victory. Instead of seeking God’s guidance or repenting, they treated the Ark as a magical object rather than a symbol of God’s presence. Their misplaced faith led to disaster—the Philistines defeated them and captured the Ark, the sacred vessel that represented God’s covenant and presence with Israel.
In Chapters 5–6, the Philistines placed the captured Ark in the temple of their god Dagon, only to witness Dagon fall before it and be destroyed. God’s power brought plagues upon the Philistines until they returned the Ark to Israel with guilt offerings, acknowledging His supremacy. Yet, even some of the Israelites were punished when they failed to show proper reverence, reminding us all that God’s holiness must never be treated casually or superstitiously.
This story reveals powerful truths: God alone is supreme over all idols, His power is independent of human strength, and His holiness demands respect. He exposes false worship and shows that His purpose is always to make Himself known among all nations. Today, believers are called to examine their own “idols”—anything they trust more than God—and remember that His presence now dwells within them through the Holy Spirit, not in objects or rituals, but in hearts fully devoted to Him.
God's Marvelous Work Pastor Debbie Haynes Download Isaiah 29:13–14 reveals God’s rebuke of those who honor Him outwardly but lack true devotion. In response, He promises to perform a “marvelous work and a wonder,” which Dake interprets as the gospel of Jesus Christ—teaching, preaching, healing, and transforming lives. This divine work amazed some but offended others, as human wisdom clashed with God’s truth.
Paul reinforces this in 1 Corinthians 1:18–21, declaring that the message of the cross seems foolish to the world but is God’s power to those who believe. The gospel divides humanity—it is life to believers and death to rejecters, as 2 Corinthians 2:14–17 describes believers as carrying the “sweet savor” of Christ wherever they go. Each person must ask: Do I reflect the fragrance of Christ, or the emptiness of worldly wisdom?
Finally, 1 Peter 5:1–4 urges church leaders to faithfully “feed the flock of God,” serving with humility and sincerity, not for personal gain. The main work of the church is not social programs or popular trends, but preaching the gospel—the true “marvelous work” of God. Those who remain faithful in this calling will receive a crown of glory when Christ, the Chief Shepherd, appears.
Study In The Book Of John (John 1:14-51) Don Haynes Download Join us for a study through the Gospel of the Apostle John, continuing with John 1:14-51. We continue with the prologue, uncovering the beautiful way John describes the eternal existence and divinity of Christ.
Society often sends men mixed messages—expecting them to provide, lead and protect, yet labeling those same traits as toxic. Scripture shows that God gave men responsibility as a blessing, not a burden. Even when figures like Adam, Moses, and Peter failed, God still used them, proving that true manhood means trusting Him, embracing responsibility, and leading with sacrificial love.
Fear of being judged by others can cause paralyzing fear and insecurity but through prayer and God’s grace and provision, we can be assured that uses men and women alike—even in their weakness and failures, and does not require perfection. God’s grace is sufficient, and He accepts sincere offerings regardless of flaws.
Fear, passivity, and isolation hold people back, but God gives power, love, and a sound mind. Brotherhood, prayer, and perseverance strengthen us, while Scripture in Revelation 2:19-25 warns against tolerating the spirit of Jezebel—false authority and manipulation. In all, God calls His people to courage, faithfulness, and steadfastness in their calling until His return.
Today’s Society sends mixed messages about masculinity—expecting men to lead, provide, and protect, while also labeling those traits as “toxic.” This leaves many men fearful, passive, and unsure of their role.
But from the beginning, God gave men responsibility (Genesis 2:15). Work, protection, and stewardship were intended as blessings, not punishments. Avoiding these roles causes harm in broken families and confusion in society.
Adam, Moses, Gideon, Saul, and Peter all struggled with fear and responsibility. Yet God still used them, showing that fear of failure, or even adject failure does not disqualify a man from being used for God’s purpose.
Men are not called to carry manhood alone—God equips them with strength and grace. Through Christ’s sacrifice, men are redeemed, restored, and clothed in righteousness.
True manhood means embracing responsibility, trusting God, and leading with love and sacrifice. In Christ, fear is replaced with courage and purpose.
Paul wrote to the Philippians from prison, showing them that his suffering actually advanced the gospel. Even while imprisoned, the message of Christ spread, and believers grew bolder in their faith. Though some preached with wrong motives, Paul rejoiced that Christ was proclaimed.
He admitted he longed to be with Christ but chose to remain for the sake of others’ growth and joy. His life reminded believers to live with a Christ-centered purpose, to face death with hope, and to keep serving others while they remained.
The message was reflected in the lives of two faithful saints who recently passed. Each, in different ways, advanced the gospel. Their loss reminded believers that God, in His sovereignty, could bring good even from sorrow, working all things for His glory.
Join us for a study through the Gospel of the Apostle John, beginning with John 1:1-13. We start with the prologue, uncovering the beautiful way John describes the eternal existence and divinity of Christ.
Isaiah condemned Israel’s priests and prophets for their corruption, drunkenness, and mockery of God’s word. Though God gave them simple, repeated truths (“line upon line, precept upon precept”) that even a simple child could grasp, they rejected His word. Instead of rest and refreshing, their refusal brought judgment through foreign invasion. In
Matthew 11:28–30, Jesus offers that same rest—now fulfilled in Him. Where Israel’s leaders scorned simplicity, Christ invites all to come, take His easy yoke, and learn from Him. God’s truth is simple yet powerful, and rejecting it brings ruin, but receiving it brings rest, growth, and eternal life.
In 1 Samuel 16:13–24, we see a dramatic “transfer” of spirits. Samuel anoints David, and the Spirit of the Lord comes upon him in power. At the same time, because of King Saul’s ongoing disobedience, God allows a troubling spirit to torment him.
David, known both for his skill in music and now for being anointed by God, is called to play for Saul. Each time David played, Saul’s troubled mind found relief, and the spirit that oppressed him departed. This reminds us that God’s Spirit brings strength, and that music—especially when offered in His presence—can be a healing balm for anxious, restless, or burdened hearts today.
Psalm 150 calls all creation to praise the Lord everywhere and with every instrument. Worship not only glorifies God but also strengthens and uplifts our own spirits. Just as David’s harp brought calm to Saul, anointed praise and music can bring peace to troubled minds in our own lives.
In seasons of mental struggle, praise becomes a pathway to peace. Whether through song, music, or simple words of gratitude, worship can lift us from heaviness to hope, reminding us that God still meets us in our deepest needs.
The Apostle John, devoted his ministry and writings to revealing Jesus Christ as the eternal Word of God made flesh, who came to bring life and light to all people. In his Gospel, John presents Christ’s invitation as broad and unrestricted—“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). There is no distinction of race, class, or background limits…it’s God’s love and our belief.
In his epistles, John emphasizes that God’s love is the foundation of faith and fellowship, urging believers to walk in truth and love as evidence of truly knowing Christ. John’s work consistently testifies that the invitation of Christ is open to all, without partiality, and leads to eternal fellowship with God.
Finally, in the book of Revelation, John portrays Christ as the risen Lord who still calls individuals to Himself. His appeal is both urgent and personal, offering spiritual riches to all who will come: “I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see” (Revelation 3:18).
The beautiful passage of scripture in Psalm 46 declares that God is our “refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble,” grounding us in His unshakable presence, no matter the chaos around us.
Matthew 17:20 teaches that faith, even as small as a mustard seed, can move mountains. Jesus said that the disciples were unbelieving, possibly because what they saw in the young boy caused them to lose sight that faith’s power lies not in their strength, but in God’s. They doubted that THEY could deliver him. I think we share in this skepticism.
But, together, these passages remind us that when we take shelter in God’s steadfastness, even the smallest genuine trust in Him can unleash His limitless power in our lives.
Join us for a study through the brief but weighty book of Jude, emphasizing the importance of being vigilant against growing apostasy in the church.
Judges 13 introduces the story of Samson’s birth. The Israelites once again do evil in God’s sight, leading to 40 years of oppression by the Philistines. In response, God sends an angel to a barren woman—the wife of Manoah—telling her she will have a son who will begin to deliver Israel. The angel instructs her to raise the child as a Nazirite, dedicated to God from birth, abstaining from wine and unclean food, and never cutting his hair. Manoah prays for guidance, and when the angel appears again, both parents receive instructions. The chapter ends with God fulfilling His promise—the woman gives birth to Samson, and God’s Spirit begins to stir in him.
This reminds us that even in times of spiritual decline, God’s plans are still unfolding. He can use unexpected people and circumstances to bring about deliverance. It also highlights the importance of consecration—setting our lives apart for God's purposes. Like Samson’s parents, we are called to seek God’s guidance in raising the next generation, trusting that He equips us when we ask. Today, it challenges us to live intentionally, knowing that God can do great things through lives fully surrendered to Him.
Lately, we've found ourselves pouring time and care into restoring, maintaining, and updating our church building. We can’t say for certain what we’re preparing for—only that there's a deep sense that we must. That this is a faithful act of readiness.
Interestingly, some of us are doing the same at home—repairing, reorganizing, renewing. It’s as if God is stirring hearts to get things in order, both in His house and in ours.
The Bible speaks often about God opening doors for His people. The Apostle Paul mentions several such doors—opportunities to preach, to go, to serve. But these divine doors aren’t limited to ministry in the traditional sense. Sometimes they lead us into healing, into deeper relationships, or into new callings we couldn’t have imagined.
In Revelation 3:7–8, Jesus speaks to the church in Philadelphia and says, “See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut.” He reminds us that He alone holds the keys—that when He opens something, no power on earth can close it. That promise still stands. When God opens a door, whether it's for ministry, growth, or change, it remains open by His authority and grace.
Whatever the purpose behind this season of preparation, we believe it’s no accident. The important thing is that we are able to see the doors God opens—and be ready to walk through them in faith when the time comes.
Join us at Calvary Temple of Campbell, CA, for Sunday morning Prayer, Worship & Communion. July 6th, 2025
The comparison of these two prayers, Nehemiah 9 led by the Levites and Mattthew 6, taught by Jesus, teaches us very similar attitudes of prayer. They include the importance of our complete dependence upon God—for daily needs. They both teach us to highlight God’s faithfulness to us in times past, the need for us to confess our sin, and certainly the requirement by God for humility when we come before him. And they both show us the blessed hope we have in God to live in this world, according to His will.
In Luke 9:28–36, we read the awe-inspiring account of the Transfiguration of Jesus. In this moment, Jesus gave His disciples a powerful, visual revelation—an "illustrated sermon"—to affirm truths they had been struggling to grasp.
As they watched in wonder, Jesus’ face shone like the sun and His clothing became dazzling white. The prophets Moses and Elijah appeared beside Him, and the voice of God spoke from the cloud, declaring, “This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him.”
This divine encounter was not only a revelation of Jesus’ glory—it was a profound encouragement meant to strengthen the disciples’ faith in preparation for the suffering to come. It reminded them (and reminds us) that Jesus is the radiant bridge between heaven and humanity.
In Luke 9:49, the disciples complained to Jesus that some people were casting out demons in Jesus’ name but, they weren’t closely following them, so the disciples told them to stop it.
The disciples didn’t like their ‘new’ ways of doing things, because it wasn’t the way they were doing it. Jesus’ response may have surprised them when he said, in essence, leave them alone. Don’t stop them, because if they aren’t blatantly against us, meaning, “on the Jesus team,” then Jesus, and his disciples, should count them as for them—on the Jesus team!
How meaningful for us in the body of Christ today. We see many different approaches in ministering for the Lord; different doctrines, different methods. But is the core message the same—Jesus Christ is the risen Son of God and our soon coming King? If so, leave them alone and let God be their judge. It’s a hard lesson.
Today we continue to discuss our church's statement of faith and the scriptural support for our basic doctrinal positions. We also compare and contrast these statements with the Pentecostal Church of God statement of faith from which our church's statement of faith borrows.
Today we discuss our church's statement of faith and the scriptural support for our basic doctrinal positions. We also compare and contrast these statements with the Pentecostal Church of God statement of faith from which our church's statement of faith borrows.
Joshua 3 and 4 recount the miraculous crossing of the Jordan River, where God stops the river’s flow to allow the Israelites to enter the Promised Land. These chapters highlight God's faithfulness, mighty hand of power, and guidance, demonstrating that He makes a way when His people step out in faith, just like the Levites had to first step into the water before God performed the miracle on their behalf.
For Christians today, this passage serves as a reminder to trust God during uncertain times and to remember His past faithfulness as a source of strength. The memorial stones set up in Joshua 4 symbolize the importance of passing down testimonies of God’s work to future generations. Thank God for the personal spiritual memorial stones that we can look back upon and about which we can teach our children!
God’s divine purpose is not always made known to us. It wasn’t to Abraham. He saw only small pieces of the puzzle, but the whole scene was not revealed to him—not even in his lifetime. How could he be the blessing to all families on the earth when he had only one kid—at 100 years old??
Yet, he didn’t see that he and his one child of promise would be directly responsible for the coming Messiah, who would surely be a blessing to all families on the earth. And, since we are spiritual offspring of Abraham, and we believe in the Messiah, we have the same blessing as Abraham did!
Ever felt unworthy of God’s love, salvation, healing? In I Kings Chapter 13 we read the story of an unnamed prophet chosen by God to deliver a very strong message to the wicked king Jeroboam. The message said that God would destroy the altars to the king’s false gods and idols, and that the human ashes on top of the altar would be poured out in front of Jeroboam as a sign of the authenticity of the prophecy.
The king became so angry that he stuck out his arm and shouted to his soldiers to seize the prophet, and when he did, God sent judgment and withered his hand and froze his arm in the outstretched position.
The king had the audacity to ask the prophet, whom he was just about to have killed, to intercede in prayer to his God on his behalf and ask him to restore his hand and arm…and God chose to answer the prophet’s prayer on behalf of Jeroboam. Sometimes, even saints do wrong or make bad choices. We have a God who set up a system of intercession—we as saints intercede for the lost, the Holy Spirit intercedes with groanings for us, and Jesus intercedes for all to the Father.
In the familiar story in Mark 11:12-14 Jesus demonstrated to his disciples the need for believers to bear good fruit…it was representative of the Jewish leaders who had all the right trappings to appear outwardly righteous, but inside, were barren and void.
Later, in Verse 20 when the disciples commented about the fig tree being withered according to Jesus word, Jesus taught them about their own authority and responsibility, to speak instructions to their mountain, to be removed from their path. While this is very, very hard for some of us to grasp, it's Jesus' own words. ANd, what a beautiful time of speaking to our mountains we had!
Have you ever felt like you were going to perish? So did the disciples in Matthew 8:23-27. They were in the thick of a terrible storm, and their small boat was quickly filling up with water. They were surely aware of the miracles that Jesus, asleep in the stern of the boat, had previously performed but here, in this moment, they feared for their own safety.
While Jesus challenged them about their lack of faith, we can be comforted to know that he immediately recognized their fear and calmed the storm they were in. He saved them from peril and in doing so, built their faith and confidence in his deity, the One who speaks to the wind and the waves and they obey Him!
Jesus didn’t say that he would merely bring about resurrection, or CAUSE the resurrection to happen, both of which are true, but he said, I AM THE RESURRECTION—and the life. He was deity over death and deity over resurrection.
Resurrection from the dead and eternal life in fellowship with God are so are EMBODIED in Jesus and they can be found ONLY through RELATIONSHIP through faith in Him. Jesus echoed the covenant of old found in Deuteronomy 28:6, Blessed will you be in your coming in and in your going out when he said in John 10:9, I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. He truly is the resurrection and the life!
Today we are looking at Exodus 12 to review the plague of Passover of the Death Angel, and how God made a way to spare the Israelites from death.
In addition, we will watch a video by David Guzik, centering on present-day Communion, and how it is related to the Passover—namely, Jesus Christ being our Passover Lamb!
Join us for guest evangelist Juanita Canavesio's study in 2 Kings 13:14 titled "How Much of God's Victory Do We Want? - There is a Whole Lot More!"
Join us for a study of Isaiah 6, where Isaiah encounters the Lord and is purified and commissioned to deliver a message to the people of Judah regarding the Babylonian captivity that will be repeated again by Christ during the Roman captivity.
God has a heart for the people of Israel, but as the Word says, whom He loves, He chastens. The message was that the people wouldn't see with the eyes, hear with their ears, or understand with their hearts (both in Isaiah's time, and again in Christs'), yet a remnant would arise who would embrace their Lord and Messiah.
Join us for our Sunday morning service, October 20, 2024, as we welcome an old friend of Calvary Temple - Juanita Canavesio.
In II Corinthians 3:18 the Bible says that we are being transformed into Christ’s image. Many men of old walked with God and found favor with God; Enoch, Noah, Abraham.
We also must mature in the things of Christ the very same way the Children of Israel did—by doing his commandments, full immersion in his word, walking with him and, by loving one another. The Psalmist said the man whose delight is in the law of the lord is blessed and on his law he meditates day and night.
Sometimes the walk gets hard, and our faith will be tried and tested, but if we stay immersed in him, stay in love with him and with each other, he will produce a Christlikeness and maturity in us that we, and He will recognize.
The writer of Hebrews 6:1-6 stresses the importance of knowing well the “elementary doctrines” of Christ. Because if we haven’t mastered these, we cannot move on to more mature matters in Christ.
Specifically,
· Repentance from dead works
· Faith toward God
· Instructions about baptisms
· The laying on of hands
· The resurrection of the dead
· Eternal Judgment
The instruction is that we must grow up in Christ, because it’s impossible to restore those to repentance who have tasted the heavenly gift, shared in the Holy Spirit, tasted the goodness of the word of God, and the powers of the age to come and then deny God and fall away. Advice we must heed.
Both anointing and adornment were used symbolically to designate or identify people or things which had been set aside for service unto the Lord.
In Exodus 30:22-33 God told Moses to make a special anointing oil that would mark the temple furnishings and the priests as belonging to the service of the Lord.
In Psalm 149:4 and Isaiah 61:10, the bible says that God takes pleasure in his people and he adorns the humble with salvation and robes of righteousness and that those godly traits look just like a priestly headdress that a bridegroom adorns himself with, and sparkling jewels that a bride adorns herself with for her wedding day.
We are anointed for the Lord’s service by the Holy Spirit and adorned with his godliness.
Pastor Debbie shares a personal testimony of trusting God's word, and God's grace and mercy in healing, as well as an old song that reminds us that there is peace in the midst of the storm, in the shelter of His arms.
Join us as we discuss the ‘mission statement’ for Calvary Temple Church of Campbell, CA – to be effective for Kingdom Purpose. To fervently seek the power and presence of the Holy Spirit to enable us to minister the Word of God with boldness and bravery, and to simultaneously soften, open and draw the hearts of the lost unto salvation.
Today we welcome our missionaries to Mexico Skip & Darin Kincaid of GuateMex Vision. https://guatemex.org
In John 16:7, Jesus that it was to the disciples’ advantage that He go away and return to the Father so that the Holy Spirit could come, and that when He comes, he will convict the world of sin and righteousness and judgment.
In John 14:12, Jesus said, truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works He did, but greater works than these would they do, because I go to the Father.
Both of these verses makes it clear that the coming of the Holy Spirit would cover the sin problem, righteousness and judgment problems, and equip believers to do these greater works of which Jesus spoke. It’s essential that we are ready to share the gospel so that the Holy. Spirit can convict of sin, and that we are equipped to do the greater works!
In I Samuel 16:1 The Lord said to Samuel, How long will you grieve over Saul, since I have rejected him from being king over Israel? FILL YOUR HORN WITH OIL, AND GO. I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, FOR I HAVE PROVIDED MYSELF A KING AMONG HIS SONS.
And in Verse 4 we read, And Samuel did what the Lord commanded and came to Bethlehem. And of course, Samuel reviewed all the sons of Jesse, but the anointed one, God’s chosen one, wasn’t among the expected ones. So, Jesse sent for his youngest son, David, and it was he whom God had chosen to be king and he whom Samuel anointed with his full horn of oil.
The importance and the meaning of this to us, of having our spiritual horn full of oil, can’t be missed. Everything we do depends upon the oil of anointing to be upon us. To defend against sin, satan, hardships, etc. We need it like it was when Moses anointed Aaron for the priesthood and the anointing oil ran down his face, his beard, and his robes. Oh God, anoint us anew with your precious Holy Spirit and let it run all over us! In Jesus’ Name!
Deuteronomy 20 is God’s law book on war. He laid out concessions for those who shouldn’t go to battle, including those who were fearful and might spread their fear to other soldiers, and how to handle the cities outside of the Promised Land by offering them peace!
But inside the Promised Land, things were very different! God said not to leave alive anything that breathed, so that they couldn’t spread their evil ways of idolatry and sins against God.
The blessings were all-inclusive for staying within the bounds of the Promised Land covenant—even to the blessing of their children for a thousand generations. God is so faithful! And to the church of Jesus Christ, he says that the very gates of Hell will not prevail against us. Amen!
What’s in your spiritual bank account? Matthew 6:19-21 instructs us Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Have you focused on establishing a good bank account of imperishables from which our heavenly banker can make withdrawals? Do you invest in service to the Lord and others? Being faithful and having faith in God, even when things are hard?
God is so faithful to bless us on this earth, but we must also keep our spiritual account well-funded! Matthew 10:42 says, And, whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water will by no means lose his reward. I want to bank some good rewards, don’t you?
In Isaiah 42:8 God declares his name. I am the LORD Jehovah; that is my name and my glory I will not give to another, neither my praise to a graven image. In verse 13 he is the mighty warrior, great in battle; Jehovah is his name!
What a mighty God we serve. There is no comparison of our God Jehovah, mighty warrior, great in battle, with any other so-called, self-proclaimed ‘god.’ We must always be mindful of whom it is that we serve!
Many scriptures identify Jesus as the Son of God. In Luke 1 the angel Gabriel told Mary that this child will be called holy, the Son of God. In Luke 3:21 God spoke at Jesus’ baptism and said, This, is my beloved Son, in whom I’m well pleased. But, in Luke 4:21, when Jesus read from Isaiah 61, the people in Jesus’ home town could only recognize him as the carpenter’s son, not the Son of God.
Satan also challenged Jesus’ identity as the Son of God, but Jesus overcame every challenge using the Word of God.
We must recognize him as the Divine Son of God, sent to earth on a Divine Assignment from his Father. I’m so thankful that Jesus accepted his assignment as the will of his Father. In John 10:11, Jesus said I am the Good Shepherd and I lay down my for the sheep. What an assignment for the Son of God.
In Malachi chapter 3:1, God introduces us to the Messenger of the New Covenant in whom we delight. This covenant was a greater covenant than that which had been handed-down to the Levites in laws and stories, but which they strayed away from. This new covenant would be about personal relationship with the Messenger of the Covenant and would solve the sin problem once and for all.
This passage covers both the first advent of Christ as the Messiah, the Savior of the world, and the second coming—which we believe is very soon to happen, when Jesus will sit in judgment as the refiner and purifier. His first coming forces people to decide what to do about God. The second coming will bring judgment and justice to those who reject it, and eternal blessing to those who hear it and accept it. The question is, have you heard and accepted His salvation plan?
God requires holiness and respect for his name from those in the priesthood and those who minister to God and the people. In I Samuel 2 Eli, the priest’s sons began to treat the offerings that the people would bring to sacrifice to the Lord with contempt by literally taking by force, the most and the best parts of the animals for themselves. But God took the lives of the two sons in one day.
Again, in Malachi 2, God had a sobering message for the priesthood because of their deep levels of corruption, in that they were offering polluted food on the altar of God by offering blind, lame and sick animals to sacrifice to desecrate his name. God said he would not accept an offering from dirty hands. He cursed their blessings and their children.
I Peter 2:9 says that those who come to him are spiritual houses, and a holy priesthood and we offer spiritual sacrifices—which have been made acceptable to God through Jesus Christ’s blood sacrifice. It still matters that we bring holy and pure spiritual sacrifices before the Lord. He’ll not accept offerings from dirty hands.
James 1:17 tells us that Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.
Some gifts come with seemingly flawed aspects. Parents are sometimes imperfect, yet they make us feel loved. Pastors, teachers and churches are often flawed, yet we come to know the love of Christ, the word of God and Christian fellowship through them.
Daniel and his three friends were the cream of the crop in Judah; well-studied in the laws of God, able servers in the temple. But when they were taken into captivity in Babylon, they were forced to serve in the pagan king’s court and then slated to be killed. But God answered prayer in a miraculous way, and Daniel thanked God for his gift of mercy and prayed, To you, Oh God of my fathers, I give thanks and praise, for you have given me wisdom and might and have made known to me what we asked of you, for you have made known to us the king’s matter. Let's be thankful for the good and perfect gifts from God.
Let the church say, Amen, Amen! God has spoken, so let the church say, Amen! Nehemiah 8:5-8 tells how, newly released from terrible bondage under Babylonian captivity, the people of Judah regathered to Jerusalem and set forth rebuilding the temple. Nehemiah, the governor, declares the day to be a holy day, and that the people should no longer be in mourning, but they should rejoice in the Lord, for the joy of the Lord is their strength.
So, Ezra read the Book of the Law, and the Levites interpreted the words he read, so that all the people understood the words they heard.
And Verse 6 says: And Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God, and all the people answered, Amen, Amen! Lifting their hands and bowing their faces to the ground, worshipping God.
When the word of the Lord is spoken, either by the Holy Spirit or written in His book, Let the church say, Amen, Amen!
Sometimes, things are just not as they appear…or sound. This was the case in Ezra 3:10-13. The onlookers and listeners couldn’t tell whether the sounds they heard were rejoicing or mourning. Some of the people were shouting with joy because they were delivered from Babylonian captivity and because the temple at Jerusalem was being rebuilt. But others, the elders, were mourning because they’d seen the glory of the former temple and they knew that the new one wouldn’t compare with the old one. They were mourning what had been lost.
Our country may be in this exact situation at this time of our presidential election. Some people may be rejoicing, but some may be mourning, and it may be difficult to tell the difference.
But, the good news is that God remains in full control. Just as he did in Genesis, when he used the rain and flood to cleanse the earth of all things ungodly. But he used that exact same rain and flood to lift up Noah and his family—a remnant of believers—above the devastation. Stay in prayer!
These words are true and trustworthy—that’s what Jesus said of his own words in Revelation 22:6. Just before his ascension to Heaven to be with his Father, Jesus told his disciples to stay in Jerusalem and wait for the promised Holy Spirit to come to them. Again, this wasn’t new news, because, as Jesus said, they’d heard it from him.
In the book of John, Jesus reassured the disciples, whom he’d called friends to remember what he'd said, because his words would keep them safe from falling away from their faith. We’ve heard it from Him, whose words are true and trustworthy.
Join us for our Sunday morning service, October 20, 2024, as we welcome an old friend of Calvary Temple - Juanita Canavesio. We were inspired by Sister Juanita's testimony and her passion for the lost, and you will be too!
The Psalmist said that he would rather be a gatekeeper in the house of God than to dwell in tents of wickedness. In II Chronicles 23, God appointed and anointed gatekeepers to surround the house of God to protect both the king and the people from wicked evildoers! They were to always be on watch, with weapons in hand, and were to kill anything that was unclean in any way.
It was customary for a family to position their sheepfold at the front of their house so that it could be closely guarded by a hired gatekeeper or, sometimes, by the shepherd himself. In John 10, Jesus told us that He, the Good Shepherd, not a hireling, is our gatekeeper. He is the very door to the sheepfold, and anyone who doesn’t enter the sheepfold through the door, is a robber and a thief and has evil intentions to ravage the sheep.
Thank you, Jesus, our Good Shepherd and Gatekeeper, for loving us so much that you laid down your life for your sheep!
God used the ram’s horn, or shofar, as the trumpet of the day, to announce and commemorate important events. In today’s message, we look at three different long trumpet blasts.
1) In Exodus 19:16 a long trumpet blast was sounded for the importance of God giving the Ten Commandments to Moses on Mount Sinai.
2) In Leviticus 23, a long trumpet blast was sounded to start the Feast of Trumpets, which was for the people to prepare themselves for the Feast of the Day of Atonement, when God would forgive their sins for the year.
3) The third long trumpet blast is found in I Thessalonians 4 and is yet to come. It is the trumpet of God that will announce the rapture of the church!
This is by far the most important trumpet blast of all, as it will announce the coming of Jesus in the air, along with the spirits of the saints who’ve died in Christ. They will come down from Heaven in the air, and Jesus will reunite their spirits with their bodies and gather up into the air, the living righteous. He will take us all, the bride of Christ, to Heaven to be presented to God the Father and forever be with Jesus.
This will be the crowning moment for the church. Are you listening for that trumpet blast?
Prayers of supplication are prayers that are not typical, not wishy-washy, shot-in-the-dark kinds of prayers, but are so targeted, heart-felt, sobbing kinds of prayers. The kind where we groan in our spirit and plead with God with open hands, desperately needing to receive from Him.
This is how Solomon prayed in I Kings 8 when he prayed over the newly built Temple at Jerusalem, asking God to dedicate it to His name and His presence forever, and to forgive the people’s sins who would worship there. This is how Hannah prayed when she was petitioning God for a child. No words would come from mouth; only groanings deep from within her pleading her case for a child.
And sometimes, we must care enough to pray this way over our loved ones who are walking in rebellion and need to seek God for forgiveness. God gave two men, Isaiah and Ezekiel the job of being spiritual watchmen on the wall of Jerusalem; but he also gave us charge to pray, to pray important prayers of supplication, over the walls of the hearts of those loved ones for whom we are spiritual watchmen, and to plead the case for their souls before God.
Deception in the church is something that we may not be as prepared for as we would like to think we are.
The Apostle Paul warned the church in Rome about this in Romans 16:17-20, advising Christians to avoid such people that would preach a different gospel than what they were taught.
Jesus warned in Matthew 7:15 that false prophets and teachers will come in sheep’s clothing, but inside they are ravenous wolves. Jesus assured us that we would recognize them by their fruits—and, to also be assured that good and bad fruit cannot come from the same tree. Either they are good and pure inside, or they are ravenous wolves, even if they speak in Jesus’ name!
This message includes a true, personal experience of how such a cult of ravenous wolves tried to infiltrate our church, just a few weeks ago. This is serious business and we must be diligent to know the Word of God so that we recognize their fruits of deception.
Join us for this excellent podcast by Pastor Tiff Shuttlesworth and YouTuber Kap Chatfield on the end times eschatology.
Jeremiah, a faithful prophet of God had a very heavy message to deliver from God to the people. In Jeremiah 20:7 he prayed,
V7 O Lord, you have deceived me, and I was deceived; you are stronger than I and you have prevailed. I have become a laughingstock all the day; everyone mocks me.
Sometimes, the Lord calls upon us to carry a heavy burden of prayer, love and concern, and maybe even to deliver a difficult message to others.
And even though, like Jeremiah, we may be met with great opposition because of the content of the message, we cannot keep silent. Jeremiah said in Verse 9, even when I say, I will not so much as even mention His name again, the message is so strong within me that it feels like fire shut up in my bones.
The point of this message must be clear; our weaknesses--though very real to us, are no excuse for not doing God's work, nor are they in any, a deterrent, to God using us in great power and with great results. God did strengthen Jeremiah, with words of personal encouragement, visions, dreams, and God will surely do the same for you, for all of us, if we remain faithful in the calling.
Are you walking in the light of God? Even when the world surrounds us with so much darkness, we can be sure of where the light is. I John 1:5-7 tells us how to do that. I John 1:5-7 in the Amplified Bible:
V5 This is the message [of God’s promised revelation] which we have heard from Him and now announce to you, that God is Light [He is holy, His message is truthful, He is perfect in righteousness], and in Him there is no darkness at all [no sin, no wickedness, no imperfection].
V6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness [of sin], we lie and do not practice the truth;
V7 but if we [really] walk in the Light [that is, live each and every day in conformity with the precepts of God], as He Himself is in the Light, we have [true, unbroken] fellowship with one another [He with us, and we with Him], and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin [by erasing the stain of sin, keeping us cleansed from sin in all its forms and manifestations].
Join us for this study of Genesis 1:6-10 which recounts both the reasons why, and the benefits to us, when God separated the “waters from below from the waters that are above,” and, when he created the expanse, or firmament, in between them. Six times in creation God commanded his created matter to obey him, and they did so, without resistance! Thankfully, we can praise him because we love him, not because we were commanded to do so!
Ever wonder about what was “before the beginning?” The Bible says a lot about what was before the beginning as we know it from Genesis 1!
God’s creation was carried out by His spoken word—that word was the very cause of all that was created, and Jesus, as John 1:1-3 says, is the Word of God.
Colossians 1:15-20 says that Jesus, the Word of God, and the image of the invisible God, created all things that were created, both in heaven and on the earth.
Join us for this interesting study of “Before the Beginning,” based on Proverbs 8:22-31.
In Isaiah 53:10-12, Isaiah the prophet wrote about the coming Messiah, Jesus Christ, 700 years before Jesus came to the earth! That tells us that the plan of God for a redeemer, God’s will, always was!
It was also God’s will that, even in death, it did not end the plan and will of God, because through resurrection, God’s will and testament, Jesus, would live on eternally. And Jesus gave us that promise, too.
That plan, the will and testament of God, was and is inclusive for all who believe that Jesus is the Son of God, God Himself, and that He came to save us from our sins. Even one of the two thieves who died on the cross with Jesus believed and was saved! He believed that Jesus was the Son of God, and he believed that he was a sinner and that Jesus could save him from his sins,
even though he deserved death. Jesus gave him such a glorious hope and promise that, today, that very day of what seemed to be the worst day of that man’s life, would end in Paradise with Jesus—eternally. Even the thief on the cross believed and was saved! And again, that same promise is given for us, today. Do you believe?
The book of Deuteronomy 16:13-17 describes one of the feasts that God established for the Israelites as part of his Covenant with them. The Feast of Booths was to occur every seven years, and last for 7 days, after the summer’s harvest and gathering-in of crops. They were to remember God’s prior provision for them and rejoice over God’s current abundance. The Bible specifically says they were to be “altogether joyful.”
Later, after the Israelites rejected God and were taken into Babylonian captivity, in Nehemiah 8:13 the Feast of Booths was once again established for them to celebrate with great joy.
But after this, the solemn assembly was to be called; they repented, fasted and prayed! America can’t afford any more spiritual lethargy, in essence, “sitting on the dock of the bay wasting time!” America needs to remember God’s provision and freedom in this country; America needs to rejoice and worship Jesus! And, most importantly, America needs to call a solemn assembly and repent!
We see such a dichotomy of values in this present time. In I Corinthians 1:26-30 the Bible says that God chose His own definition of what’s wise, powerful, and wealthy, namely, those who ascribe to and receive the preaching of the Gospel of Jesus Christ unto salvation.
What God chose as valuable is foolishness to the world, but to those who believe, it is eternal salvation. That flies in the face of modern thinkers, who place such reverence on collecting material things and exuding power over others.
But, Jeremiah 9:24 tells us exactly what delights God, and it isn’t what the world values. God delights in those who practice lovingkindness, good judgment, and righteousness in the earth, because that’s what He, Himself, practices.
In Isaiah 5:7 the Bible says that the Lord planted himself a vineyard and he cared for it and tended it carefully and that the house of Israel, and the men of Judah, are his pleasant planting.
Again, using the symbol of the vineyard of the Lord, in the gospel of John 5, Jesus tells the disciples “I am the true vine and my father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that bears fruit he prunes; that it may bear more fruit.
Those who abide in the true vine, who is Jesus Christ, will be tended and cared for by the Father, the vinedresser, who will prune the true branches—those who center their lives in him, they will bear fruit that looks like the True Vine. Else, the branches that are not centered in the Vine, are removed and burned up.
It really pays to remain fully centered in the True Vine.
In Ezra 1:1-11, King Cyrus was mightily used by God to accomplish his will, even though he was not a Jewish believer, but a foreign king. God blessed him greatly, and stirred up his heart to repatriate the scattered Jews, who were in exile in Babylon. Not only did Cyrus allow the Jews to repatriate back to Jerusalem, he also facilitated the rebuilding of the temple destroyed by king Nebuchadnezzar.
Sometimes, we struggle to understand God’s ways in our lives. But this prophetic story shows us that God uses whom he wills, and even blesses and equips them to accomplish his will.
A fundamental verse in the Christian faith is I John 1:9: If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
The whole of scripture is very clear that confessing our sins or repentance, and faith in God to forgive us our sins results in salvation.
There is not a substitute for repentance and faith that can ensure salvation. Some popular statements used today completely ignore the requirement of repentance. How tragic for those who are truly seeking salvation!
We must follow the Word of God for something so important! The psalmist David said in Psalm 51:1: Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions and my sin is ever before me! Repentance and faith; it equals salvation!
In Numbers 15:37-41 God provided fringe benefits to the Children of Israel. He instructed Moses to tell the Israelites to sew fringes, or tassels, onto the hems of their garments. This accomplished two things: 1) it identified them to the world as God’s chosen people and 2) the fringe was to be used as a visual reminder for them not to follow their own hearts and will, and not to commit sin against God.
In the New Testament, the Pharisees also wore fringes—but they elongated them in order to appear more holy than others. Jesus taught against this practice—but he didn’t teach against wearing fringes in accordance to God’s instructions. And, Jesus wore fringes on the hems of his garments! In Matthew 14:34 when Jesus came to Gennesaret all the sick were brought to him and they “implored him that they might touch the fringe of his garment, and all who touched it were healed.”
Likewise, in Matthew 9:20, the woman who had the issue of blood for 12 years also touched the fringes on the hem of Jesus’ garment and was healed.
Today, we access those fringes on Jesus garment—his spiritual garment—by faith in his work on the cross. The Holy Spirit gives us access, by faith to Jesus’ healing power.
Today is Father’s Day, when we celebrate our fathers. Jesus loved his father! He prayed, Our Father, Who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name!
Proverbs 23:24 says that, The father of a righteous child has great joy; a man who fathers a wise son rejoices in him. The Father God was well pleased in His righteous son!
Yet, God’s heart, as well as ours, is for the fatherless. Psalm 68:5 says that the Father of the fatherless and protector of widows is God in his holy habitation, and Deuteronomy 10:18 says He executes justice for the fatherless and the widow.
But, God also has the backs of fathers, too. Our text, in Psalm 121, tells us that he is a helper, a refuge, a stabilizer, and One who will never sleep nor slumber in providing his protection to those who lift their eyes to him for help.
And finally, fathers can be encouraged as I Corinthians 15:56 tells all believers to be steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that IN THE LORD, our labor is not in vain. Even in raising godly children.
Romans 8:1-2 tells us that there is no condemnation—no condemnation to eternity in hell, for those who are in Christ Jesus! Because, if we have accepted Jesus Christ as our Savior, we have the Spirit of Life in us, and He has set us free from the condemnation of sin and death through the blood of Jesus, which he shed at Calvary’s cross.
But still, we sometimes wonder, have we done enough or believed enough to make the Heavenly Team? Further in Romans 8 we learn that there is an absolute litmus test to find out! We can know for sure which side we are on by our mindset—either we keep our mind on the righteous right side, or our mind stays on the selfish fleshly left side. By knowing where our minds are set to, we can determine where we will spend eternity!
We absolutely must know this, because in Mathew 25:31-34, and Verse 41, Jesus will determine where we spend eternity by our mindset. He will send the righteous sheep to the right, and the fleshly goats to the left. Which side are you on?
In Galatians 6:2-10 Paul admonished those who name the name of Christians to take care of one another; to bear each other’s burdens and in so doing, we will fulfill the law of Christ. The law of Christ is to love one another, just as the ultimate burden bearer, Jesus, bore our sins in his own body.
In Verse 7-8, Paul warns against becoming impressed by our own worth—for doing so brings deception! But God is neither deceived, nor mocked, for He certainly knows the source from which we sow—whether it be to the flesh or to the spirit!
And, finally, we must guard against becoming weary of doing good and giving up the fight of faith, for the harvest will surely come, if we don’t give up.
The value of our life’s journey can be seen in both natural and spiritual ways. The life experiences we have and the character that is developed, are all part of our journey. Sometimes it turns out like we expect, and sometimes it doesn't.
In the Luke 19 Parable of the Minas (about three month’s wages) Jesus tells about three different men, and how their life’s journey—their experience to handle situations, their business skill sets, and their character, prepared them for a significant test in their lives.
Each man was given an amount of money sufficient to make a profit for the master; two succeeded, but one miserably failed the test in both experience and in character.
Taking care of business is important in our Christian walk. So important that the Apostle Paul wrote in II Corinthians 6:2 that today is the favorable time to get things done for Christ, and today is the day of Salvation!
Have you taken care of this most important business of your life?
I John 11 Martha, Mary and the Jews each said, if only Jesus had been here, Lazarus wouldn’t have died. In other words, had Jesus done what they'd asked, when they'd asked, this wouldn’t have happened. Sounds familiar, hmmm?
Jesus was not taken by surprise by Lazarus’ death, but they couldn’t comprehend what Jesus said they would see—the glory of God, because they’d only seen Him heal sick people before now. Jesus challenged their faith to believe for something more than they already knew.
By raising Lazarus from the dead, He not only demonstrated his divinity as God, but also prepared them to believe. Believe that, just as he said would happen, he would also be raised from the dead. Jesus promised in John 5:25-29 that ALL of the dead will hear his voice and will live on that day of rapture. Those who have done good will be raised in righteousness to God, and those who have done evil will be raised to judgment and damnation.
Have you asked Jesus to forgive your sins and be your Savior? If so, you will be raised in righteousness unto God. If you haven’t done so, it’s not too late—yet! You can do so today! Praise His Mighty Name Forever!
In John 11:1-16, Jesus’ disciples couldn’t understand why Jesus didn’t go to Lazarus the minute that he heard that his good friend was ill. They couldn’t even imagine what Jesus had planned. A plan that was, until this miracle, yet unseen, but as Jesus said, was for their sakes—so they would believe in Him.
Then Jesus waited until Lazarus had been dead four full days before going to him. This was done so that God would get the glory, and to refute the superstitions believed by the Jews that a deceased person’s spirit would hover over their dead body for up to three days, hoping for resuscitation so the spirit could re-enter the body. But, by the 4th day, due to decay, it would give up hope and depart.
Sometimes, we experience delays in answers to prayer that we simply can’t understand. But, maybe our delay is because Jesus has a better plan—a plan that for our sakes, will increase our hope and establish our faith in Him so that God will get the glory.
The representation of Jesus in the Old Testament is very evident, for those who will see it. Scholars predominately agree that all the references to “The Angel of the Lord” is speaking of Jesus in each instance.
In addition to The Angel of the Lord being the pre-incarnate Jesus, many also agree that Jesus can be seen in so many other manifestations in the OId Testament, and the words of Jesus himself, in the New Testament certainly support this.
Join us for this interesting study in Exodus 40:36-38 to learn how Jesus was represented or manifested in the Passover, the Red Sea crossing, the Pillars of Cloud and Fire, the manna, quail and water out of the Rock, and how the Apostle Paul wraps it up nicely in I Corinthians 10:1-3.
In the book of Exodus, when the Children of Israel left Egypt’s bondage bound for the Promised Land, God provided an angel in the form of a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night to go in front of them to lead them on the way.
But, just at the time when they were seemingly trapped between the Red Sea and the Pharoah's encroaching army, facing certain death either way they turned, God strategically moved…i.e., repositioned, the all-important angel of the Pillar of Cloud from in front of them, to the rear of them.
Now, they could no longer see it! But, what they didn’t know was, just how strategic and important this repositioning was to them, for: Exodus 14:19 says (New Century Version)
"Also, the pillar of cloud moved from in front of the people and stood behind them. So, the cloud came between the Egyptians and the Israelites. This made it DARK for the Egyptians, but gave light to the Israelites. So, the cloud kept the two armies apart all night."
So, if you ever think your angel has moved, you might just need to turn and look behind you; because, just maybe, the Lord has simply repositioned him for your protection!
In II Chronicles 20:12-24 King Jehoshaphat’s great horde of enemies were coming after him, so he went to prayer. Jehoshaphat said, we are powerless against this great horde and we don’t know what to do, but our eyes are upon you, Lord.
God answered Jehoshaphat’s prayer through the prophet Jahaziel using the same language Jehoshaphat used saying, Do not fear nor be dismayed by the great horde, for the battle is not yours, but God’s.
Sometimes, like the king Jehoshaphat did, we have to be battle ready. But, God said to believe Him, and believe the prophet, and they will succeed. And succeed, they did! For in the morning, after the worshippers were sent out before the warriors, the enemy had completely destroyed each other.
Do not fear nor be dismayed by the great horde you might see in your life. Believe in God and the prophet, and succeed.
Jesus said, unless a grain of wheat falls to the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.
A seed pod, so full of life and potential in itself, must fully surrender itself and die, become useless and dead, because the plant, which bears the fruit, grows from the life inside the seed, splitting apart and causing it to die. But without the seed, the plant has no chance of life.
Similarly, the Apostle Paul explained the resurrection to the doubtful Corinthians, in I Corinthians 15:35 that the dead are raised in the resurrection because the seed—Jesus Christ—surrendered himself and died for our sins and was buried in the ground, but like Him, the seed, was not what will be raised in the resurrection.
For then, we will be raised glorified, with the glory of a heavenly body, just like Christ was. Verse 49 promises us that, just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, so shall we also bear the image of the Man of Heaven, Jesus Christ. Praise the Lord!!
In Jeremiah 5:20-24 God instructs the prophet, Jeremiah, to tell the foolish and senseless people, in the house of Jacob and in Judah, that they need to fear the Lord. He said, I’m the One who drew the boundary of the sea in the sand and though the waves toss, they cannot prevail against that boundary. He also said, I am the One who sends the rain in its season, the autumn rains and the spring rains, and I am the One who keeps for you the weeks appointed for the harvest.
Sounds pretty sure that the harvest will surely come! Again in Deuteronomy 11:13-17, God talked about sending the rain in its season for the land, the early and the latter rains, that the grain, wine and oil harvests may be gathered at the appointed time.
But, He goes on to say that, turning aside from God, committing sinful worship of idols, can stop the rains from coming. If ever, America needs to repent of her sins, it’s now, so that the spiritual latter rains can come upon the church and the harvest of souls can be gathered in.
In John 19:28-30 when Jesus uttered the words “It Is Finished,” He meant a lot more than just the fact that his life on this earth was nearly over. Hebrews 2:10 tells us that Jesus’ obedience to the Father was perfected in his suffering on the cross, and through that suffering, Jew and Gentile were united in one spirit; the reign of eternal death was conquered and salvation was made available to all. Isaiah 53:5 tells us that the full payment for our sinful transgressions, our wicked iniquities, our peace, and our healings, were all finished on the cross. Thank You, Jesus for finishing it all on the cross.
When the Israelites were miraculously delivered by God from Egyptian bondage and slavery, they left Egypt with a vast amount of goods which was a fulfillment of scripture.
Those goods were contributed by those people whose hearts were moved upon by the Holy Spirit to be used to build the tabernacle, where God himself would dwell and meet with the people.
God endued two leaders, Bezelel and Oholiab, with very specific ability, intelligence and all knowledge and all craftsmanship to build the tabernacle, and he gave every able man the knowledge to perform the work under the guidance of these two leaders.
In Exodus 36:6, Moses gave the command to the people to stop giving, because they’d given so much that it was much more than was needed to complete the job.
The contribution, the hand-picked team, and the all-sufficiency of God are quite a winning combination.
The Nazirite laws laid out in Numbers 6 governed how a person who wanted to make a vow to God must separate themselves and be dedicated only to God. These laws were strict and, if entered into, must be kept until they were completely accomplished. Then, after sacrificial offerings were made to God, the blessing would be given to them.
Abraham also received great blessings from God, but it cost him faith through his obedience to leave his homeland of Ur, his family, wealth, and follow God to the strange new land of Canaan. But the blessing was fulfilled just as God said it would be.
Do we have what it takes to be fully consecrated and live by faith, in order to receive our blessing?
In Matthew 12:22-32 Jesus upset the religious leadership. He performed a miracle, healing a man who was blind and mute and the man both saw and spoke. But the Pharisees accused him of using Satan’s power to perform this miracle.
The one thing God will not tolerate is attributing his divine power to Satan. It’s called blasphemy of the Holy Spirit, and it is the one and only unforgivable sin.
This sin can only be committed by an unrepentant unbeliever. It is the saddest sin for an unbeliever to commit because this sin permanently separates the rejector of God from ever having fellowship with God, both in this life and the life to come.
In II Kings 3:9-20 the three kings of Israel, Judah and Edom joined forces to fight against the far mightier king of Moab, King Mesha who was poised to conquer all of them.
They consulted the prophet Elisha and the Lord gave Elisha a message of deliverance for the three kings united against Moab. Elisha said, “this is a light thing in the sight of the Lord.” God worked a true miracle in providing needed water for the armies and horses, and gave the Moabites into their hands.
If you, too, are facing a Moab, remember that “this is a light thing in the sight of the Lord.”
Beautiful closing music by Emmanuel_S Music: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6RWDNJiiG-yiOiz5QM_9rg
Want to know how to ‘take it in stride’ and not get tripped up when we hit a curve on life’s pathway? Proverbs Chapter 4:1-4 instructs us to seek hard after God’s wisdom and, to develop good judgment. Verse 12 says that, when we are equipped with these two weapons, we will not be hindered nor restricted by whatever befalls our path and, when we run, we will not stumble or fall.
Jude Verse 24-25 confirms this; Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory, blameless with great joy, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time, and now, and forever. Amen!
Luke 24 records the two men walking from Jerusalem to Emmaus after Jesus’ death and they said, we had hoped that he was the Messiah, the one sent to rescue Israel—but now, he’s dead and our hope is gone.
Like we do, too, they assume’d that their circumstance was too much for God to change!
But when they came to know Jesus was alive, they said, didn’t our hearts burn within us when he explained the scriptures to us!
Just before his ascension, Jesus also opened the scriptures about himself to the disciples and said, and now you are witnesses of all these things! First-hand witnesses!
What an example to us for when our faith is lacking! We can ask Jesus to reveal himself to us in the scriptures and also, to bring to our remembrance all those things to which we’ve been witness of his power and his might.
In Acts 2-3 we see the Holy Spirit working miracles through the early church to capture the attention of unbelievers and open their hearts to the gospel message. God is the same yesterday, today, and forever, and He is still calling to the unbeliever. Like the church in Acts 4, we diligently pray that the Holy Sprit work miracles through us as a sign to the unbeliever that the gospel is Truth.
[In Acts 2, the Holy Spirit falls on all gathered in the upper room and they begin speaking in unknown tongues. A crowd gathered because they heard their own languages being spoken, giving Peter a chance to share the gospel with unbelievers.
In Acts 3, filled with the Spirit, Peter heals the lame beggar and an astonished crowd gathered around, again giving Peter an opportunity to share the gospel with unbelievers.
And in Acts 4, Peter and John return to their people after being threatened by the Sanhedrin. They call out to God, saying "29 ...Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. 30 Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” The Spirit shook the place where they were gathered and they were again filled with the Holy Spirit to share the gospel boldly.]
The measurement, or barometer of discipleship that Jesus taught in Luke 14:25-35 was certainly not easy to achieve.
He spoke of ‘hating’ those we love most, the point being that we cannot derive personal comfort nor satisfaction by loving anyone else more than we derive by loving Christ! He spoke of carrying our own cross—just as He did on the way to his own death, and finally, counting the high cost of being a disciple, for he knew it would cost us something of ourselves.
It doesn’t sound joyful, but the Apostle Paul assured us in II Timothy 2:19 that the hard work, studying to show ourselves approved, and remaining faithful in the race would be worth it all, because the Lord knows those who are his, and he has promised that there is an eternal prize awaiting all those who finish the race and are eagerly watching for his appearing.
From the beginning of creation, God sought a way to commune with man, but sin was always in the way. In Exodus 24 and 25, God formed a plan and created a place for this communion to take place, and He told Moses, you build it this way, and I'll meet you there!
But first, the sin issue had to be dealt with by the sprinkling of the blood of the animal sacrifices upon the elements of the tabernacle, the altar and finally, the people, themselves. Only then could they approach the Holy God.
God told Moses to create a place to house the tablets of stone and the testimony, which would be covered by the mercy seat—and He would commune with them there.
Thank God for the pure blood of Jesus Christ that covers our sin so that we can commune with God, having been cleansed by his blood.
Mount Zion is prevalent throughout scripture. It was a physical mountain in ancient Jerusalem, but it was also used to describe the Jewish Nation, and it is referred to as the Heavenly Jerusalem and will be the physical location of the Millennial Jerusalem, and it was the very birthplace of the early church! Mount Zion was the dwelling place of God. It was where people physically came to worship God.
Hebrews 12:18-24 NLT tells us that Jesus came as the fulfillment of Mount Zion—and that when we worship God from our spirit in truthfulness, Verse 24 says “we have come to Jesus, the one who mediates the new covenant between God and people, and (you’ve come) to the sprinkled blood of Jesus, which speaks of forgiveness…”
We may never visit the earthly Mount Zion, but we have already been there if we have accepted that precious blood of Christ, and we will surely see when we reign in the Millennium with Christ!
Less than 90 years after the prophet Jonah had preached to Ninevah that they must repent of their sin of idolatry and return to God, they’d not only fallen back into idolatry but had become so barbaric and cruel to the people of Israel that God had had enough and sent the prophet Nahum to Ninevah, but this time, it was to tell them of their certain, unavoidable destruction. This strong city that was considered virtually indestructible, was completely destroyed at God’s hand.
Nahum 1:3 says that The Lord is slow to get angry, but his power is great, and he never lets the guilty go unpunished.
That’s why the writer of Hebrews wrote that it’s a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God—the God who can punish sin eternally. But, we who love and follow hard after God, can be so thankful that the love of God, which we can all know by simply believing in the saving grace of his Son, Jesus Christ, saves us all from certain destruction and eternal damnation.
The Lord gave Isaiah some very strong words about not following along with his culture, which we can certainly relate to today.
V11 The Lord has given me a strong warning not to think like everyone else does. He said, Don’t call everything a conspiracy, like they do, and don’t live in dread of what frightens them.
Make the Lord of Heaven’s Armies holy in your life. He is the one you should fear. He is the one who should make you tremble. He will keep you safe.
This is my New Year’s Resolution!
It can be hard for us to comprehend some portions of the Christmas story. While the joy that comes from the birth of a baby is easy to relate to, it’s harder for us to comprehend that, Jesus WAS—HE EXISTED, in all of His Heavenly, Kingly, status, before he was sent to earth in the flesh as a baby by His Father.
We must remember, remember and worship, the one who LEFT the splendors of Heaven; who was separated from the comfort of His Father’s bosom and who lowered himself in status, to come in the flesh to bring Joy to the World!
The book of Isaiah prophecies the coming of the Son, who would be called the Prince of Peace. The Apostle Paul wrote to the Christians at Rome that the God of peace shall bruise Satan under our feet shortly.
From the first prophecy of the promised Messiah through the final war between Jesus and Satan, when Jesus fully and finally crushes him, God had a plan that Jesus would be the Prince of Peace on earth.
In the “in-between” times, right at the point where we live our very lives, Jesus is our personal Prince of Peace. He brought peace in our relationship with God; in our circumstances, in our family, in our heart. Though our minds can’t comprehend it, He is our Perfect Peace.
Genesis 22:1 tells us that Abraham’s faith was tested by God. God required him to sacrifice his beloved son, Isaac, the son of promise to God. Abraham said that this act of service to the Lord was “Worship.”
That’s a very, very different interpretation of what some modern-day church goers might call worship. It’s not fancy lights and loud music performed by an entertainment group. Romans says that worship is our spiritual service.
Are we holding on to anything at all so tightly that we couldn’t open our hands and let it go as worship unto the Lord? If we are, we must re-evaluate our worship.
Repentance always precedes revival. It’s God’s way. In the book of I Samuel Chapter 8, God had provided Israel with a righteous judge and prophet, Samuel. But the people rebelled, and demanded a king. Despite God’s warnings that a king would exact taxes from them, put their men into work camps and hijack their women for his own purposes, they still wanted a king. So God gave them Saul as their king.
Saul had every outward appearance of a great king—but inwardly, he lacked righteous character. And this lack led him to make risky, selfish decisions. God repented of putting him on the throne, and together with Samuel, they anointed David as the next king of Israel.
David was so important to be the next king because he had a righteous, repentant heart. And, he was also of the bloodline from which Jesus, the Messiah of the world would descend. Jesus was not only David’s divine creator and human descendent, but also his eternal Savior.
Last week Pastor Debbie called on the congregation to prepare something uplifting and edifying to share with the church this week. Join us as we share our testimonies, favorite scriptures, or whatever else we felt may uplift and edify the church.
The Jewish leaders were so indoctrinated in the laws of Moses that they were blind to the message of Jesus Christ as the Messiah. In Acts 13, Paul built on the familiar, until in Acts 13:23, he told them: And it is one of King David’s descendants, Jesus, who is God’s promised Savior of Israel. There, he’d said it.
Addressing yet another group of staunch Jewish leaders in Rome, in Acts 28:28, Paul said, Brethren,… I believe that the HOPE OF ISRAEL, THE MESSIAH, HAS ALREADY COME.
But, since the message was widely rejected by the Jews, God, in His mercy, opened up the way for the Gentiles to hear, and accept the message of forgiveness of sins and redemption. The Gentiles accepted the message with gladness and thanksgiving. Have you accepted God’s gift of love which is available to all people who will believe?
Once again Israel has come under attack and anti-semitism seems to be exploding all over the world.
But what does the Bible say about God's relationship to Israel - in ancient times and today? Join us today in worship and as we present and discuss Tiff Shuttlesworth's "5 Common Myths About Israel".
Yokes are intended to equalize the weight of a heavy load between a team of animals. It serves them well as long as the animals don’t rebel under the yoke.
God told the prophet Jeremiah to fashion a yoke around his own neck as an illustrated sermon to show the people of Israel that they soon would be under the yoke of the King of Babylon because of their sin. He warned them not to listen to their false prophets who would say that all was well and that God would not put them under the foreign King’s yoke, but He did just that, and then dealt harshly with the false prophet.
But, in Matthew 11:28-30 Jesus speaks of another kind of yoke. He said, “Come unto me all you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take MY yoke upon you..." He meant that we can exchange the heavy yoke of sin and shame for His yoke of rest and peace, for His yoke is easy to bear and His burden is light.
Faith or Fear? Sometimes, because we are 100% human, it’s both. The Prophet of Israel, Elijah was mightily used by God in I Kings Chapters 18 &19. He did mighty things through God, but his humanness was a big struggle for him. He was called to a confrontational type of ministry—one that required introspection and personal decision. He asked the people, “How long will you waiver between two opinions? If God is God, then serve Him, but if Baal is god, then serve him!"
The people didn’t like being put on the spot like that and this friction caused Elijah to be lonely and despondent at times, to the point that he felt sorry for himself and became depressed and it affected his ministry.
But, God saw his potential and revealed Himself to Elijah in a very quiet, personal way. Can you hear God’s gentle voice, or do you look only for the loud demonstrations of power?
It’s important to God that we remember. Like in Joshua, Chapter 4, where He instructed Joshua to have the priests erect memorial stones so that they would always have a marker by which to remember God’s miraculous deliverance of them out of Egypt. In Deuteronomy 19:14 God told the people not to forget the landmarks, the stones that would mark their properties in the new Promised Land, and not to move their neighbor’s landmarks.
Physical landmarks are good, but spiritual landmarks of where we’ve met with God in prayer, in church services or alone with Him, where He touched us mightily, where our hearts broke in sweet surrender and we could accept His will in a matter—those are the landmarks we need most for today. For they will give us strength, and build our faith.
Have you ever felt like you’ve lived through something before? Deja vu? We can find the answer to this in Ecclesiastes 3:15! What is happening now has happened before and what will happen in the future has happened before, because God makes the same things happen over and over again.
When God brings the past into a believer’s present, He is virtually giving us a do-over to learn from our mistakes the first time around, repent, and do it better the next time. For non believers, He’s giving them an opportunity to accept Jesus as their Savior so they do not have to face judgment.
Matthew 24:35 tells us that Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.
God calls the past in account according to His eternal word.
I Corinthians 14:33 tells us that God is not a God of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.
From the beginning, on the very first day of creation, through the power of the Holy Spirit, God established order out of chaos. He brought form and filled the voids with all things pertaining to life and godliness.
He did the same with the coming of Christ; all things done in the order in which God intended it. Jesus’ birth, life, death and resurrection all in accordance with prophetic scripture.
God will bring order out of our chaos; Psalm 121 confirms it. He will bring order to our world, our lives, and yes, even to Israel. Psalm 121:4, Behold, He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
It is said that the drink offering described in Numbers 15 represents the works that the worshipper did in order to make the sacrifice. The drink offering was not shared with the priests or the worshippers, but was only for God. Jesus, under the New Covenant, became our sacrifice, and when he was offered once and for all, the Old Testament sacrifices were abolished.
But, the drink offerings—the worshipper’s efforts and works for others, are still required by God! Romans 1:1-2 tells us that we, who are the strong in the Lord, must bear up our weaker brothers and not just please ourselves. Christ did not please himself, but his Father and all those who reproached him. Yes, the drink offering of our love, devotion, and acceptance of other believers is truly a sweet smelling savor to the Lord.
God had a dual intent and purpose for the children of Israel. On the one hand, He wanted them to learn to trust Him, depend fully upon Him, but He also wanted to bless them. To provide for them. So He took them through the desert, through hardships and trials to teach them.
And God will do the same for us. Whatever it takes—whatever it costs, for us to learn to trust Him, for as Psalm 46:1-3 assures us, He is our refuge and our strength, our very present help in time of trouble. Even when the earth changes beneath our feet or the mountains disappear into the seas, the seas roar and the mountains quake. Still, God’s intent is to be our refuge.
One of the most confusing aspects of Jesus’ power is that of healing. Isaiah 53:5 tells us that the reason Jesus bore vicious beatings and the stripes on his back was for our healing.
Jesus healed every single person who came to him in faith. He also said that those who believe and follow him will have visible signs that follow them—signs that identify believers with Jesus. One of those signs listed in Mark 16:18 includes that believers who have faith in Jesus will lay their hands on sick people in the Name of Jesus, and the sick person will recover.
In the Name of Jesus, be healed. Rise up and walk. Recover. Be well. Colossians 3:17 says that whatever we do, whether we give a word to someone or we do a deed, that we are to do it all in the name of Jesus and then give thanks to the Father. And that’s what we did today!
In the 17th Chapter of Judges is a very disturbing story of how a mother and son blended the teachings of God, which they knew from childhood from the Books of the Law written by Moses, with idolatry to suit themselves. On the one hand, the mother was thankful to God for the good fortune of the return of her stolen money (stolen by her own son!), but on the other hand, she used part of the money to create idols for her son’s house and the son used his own son as a fake priest, overseeing his fake idols…until he found a ‘real Levite priest’ who was willing to serve in the house of idols for money! Verse 6 was certainly true when it said that “every man did what was right in his own eyes.”
Yet, as ludicrous as this sounds, the Apostle Paul wrote in II Timothy 3:5, that in these treacherous last days, we would also see the exposure of men who oppose truth, men of a depraved mind, who rejected the faith and who had a form of godliness, but who would deny the very power of the one true God who could make the pure and holy.
We certainly do see this today, but thanks be to the one true living God, because in Verse 9 he assured us that “they will not make further progress; for their folly will be obvious to all.” Amen!
A prophecy, a prayer, and a praise. Many times, God uses the physical realm as a prophetic model of what He plans to do in the spiritual realm. This has recently happened at our church.
In Job, God instructed Job to pray for his friends as they made a sacrifice to God because they mis-spoke about God to Job. In doing so, God doubly restored all Job’s losses. Focusing on others is paramount to our own healing.
Praise God for the entirety of the Bible, the logos, which is the inspired word of God. But, the work of the Holy Spirit is to enlighten the RHEMA of the word to our hearts; the RHEMA are those words that make an UTTERANCE to our spirits, and have IMPLICATION to our lives, thereby building the faith that comes by hearing the word of God.
Have you ever felt the need to present your evidence in God’s courtroom of prayer? King Hezekiah did in II Kings 18-19, when Sennacherib, the wicked king of Assyria and his even more wicked cup bearer, Rabshakeh, came against him to seize the throne in Judah.
They brought railing taunts and blasphemies against the Lord God of Israel, so Hezekiah took it to prayer, calling out their crimes and presented all the evidence before God.
God heard Hezekiah and confirmed with signs that He would indeed, deliver Judah from the enemy. God sent a death angel and in one night, when the death angel was finished there were 185,000 corpses in the streets and the king and cupbearer were dead.
God knows where the enemy’s abode is, and where he comes in and goes out and He’s well able to judge the matter on our behalf. We mustn't hesitate to be specific about the “crime,” and spread the evidence before Him.
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Learn more The Bible speaks very clearly about deception, especially in the last days. We see deception in our society at every turn and if not careful, can become conditioned to it. Psalm 12 talks about three types of deception; vanity, which we tell ourselves, flattery, which others tell us, and if these are left to take seed in our hearts they can lead to blasphemy against God.
Deception was prophesied in three of the four Gospels, and Jesus, Himself warned of false christs claiming to be The Christ. But all of this is for the purpose of deceiving people and causing them to fall away from faith in God.
Satan and his demons number one goal is to deceive God’s people. We must know His voice and His word, so that our faith remains strong and secure in Him, lest we fall prey to deception in these last days.
Genesis Chapter 6 paints a very bleak picture of how evil man had become in such a short time from creation. The Bible says that every thought was continually evil.
Yet, in the midst of all that debauchery, there was a man who was pure in heart and walked with God. Noah was that man and that’s why God chose him to build the ark, to sustain the flood and repopulate the earth.
Sometimes we might become overwhelmed with the conditions in which we live today. But. like Noah, if we remain pure in heart and walk with God we, too, will find the grace in the eyes of the Lord to sustain us through the evils of this present world and not only that, but also be equipped to live with Him in eternity.
In addition, we address recent 'revelations' in congress and in the media regarding aliens and UFOs -- from a bible-based, Christian perspective.
Have you ever wondered why, and how you ended up here on earth? In Genesis 1:26 God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness and He created male and female; and then God BLESSED them, charged them to be fruitful, and gave them dominion over every living thing that moved upon the earth. There’s how.
Wise King Soloman said in Ecclesiastes 7:29 But this one thing I’ve found, God created man to be virtuous. In John 15:16, Jesus said, I appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain; and that you would love one another. There’s why.
He created us to be virtuous, blessed us with all good things, and made us fruitful, both physically and spiritually. How and why.
And Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people. Acts 6:8. Stephen was used powerfully by God in the demonstration of miracles and in preaching the Word of God. But, yet, evil men took his life for his good deeds.
So, where is the hope in this message? It is in this: that even as these evil-doers were stoning Stephen to death, he looked into Heaven and saw Jesus standing at the right hand of God, waiting to receive his spirit into everlasting life. He kept his eyes locked upon Jesus, and even prayed for his tormentors. We may face some impossible situations in life, but by faith, we must keep our eyes steadfastly upon Him.
Have you ever had an encounter with God? Isaiah saw the Lord, high and lifted up in the Temple and he felt overwhelmed and unholy in the presence of a Holy God. Moses had an encounter with God when God called him from the burning bush and charged him with leading the children of Israel out of Egypt and he felt incapable. Jacob physically wrestled with God for his blessing, and he was left with a permanent physical mark from the encounter.
God wants to have encounters with us but we must guard our minds from outside noise and influences, protect our time and keep our ears tuned and listening, if we want to encounter God.
In II Kings 20 we read of the plight of King Hezekiah. In the space of three verses, King H was going to die; so then he prayed, and then God reversed his plan and gave King Hezekiah another 15 years of life, and he healed him using a poultice of figs.
Life is truly fragile and our days are numbered by the Lord. Should we be fearful then? Bible tells us that men’s days are like grass; only a fleeting time on this earth. But the lovingkindness of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting. God has given us understanding that we will live again—if we are in Him, meaning if we have accepted Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord. Men are as grass, but our lives are safely held in His hands.
In the book of Exodus 33 God told Moses to set up a tent of meeting outside the camp of the Children of Israel for them to meet together. All the people watched as Moses entered the tent, where the visible cloud of God was present over the entrance.
Moses' protégé and successor, Joshua, also went to the tent of meeting with Moses, but verse 11 tells us that when Moses returned to the camp, Joshua stayed in the tent of meeting and wouldn’t leave. Later on, when God’s plan for Joshua was made clear, those extended times in the tent of meeting is what had prepared Joshua for the task God set before him.
I want to cultivate a habit of staying in the tent of meeting with God, even when others have left.
A great book for married couples to read is The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman. It helps us to understand what our spouse needs from us in order for them to feel loved. For some, it’s to receive small gifts and remembrances. For others, it’s acts of service that make them feel loved.
God has put his love language in each of our hearts. With it, the Bible says we are sealed to him until the day of our redemption. We can always know that He loves us, by his Word, his abiding presence and his promises which are everlasting.
Although we don’t have a lot of insight from scripture about the relationship between Father God and Jesus the Son, before Jesus left his Father’s presence in heaven and came to earth as our Savior.
But we do know that their exclusive relationship was based on love and trust. Everything Jesus said, did and taught was from the perspective of the Father, and everything Jesus had, including those souls who would believe in Him, were given Him by the Father.
Jesus teaches us in the Matthew 6 model of prayer to pray to OUR Father, Who Is in Heaven. I’m so thankful that I have been given the identity of sonship and therefore, I can call him Father by virtue of believing in the Son. Hebrews 11:6 teaches us that those who come to the Father must believe that He is, and is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
In Matthew 16 Jesus told Peter and Andrew, to follow Him and they left their fishing nets full of fish and immediately followed after Jesus in his earthly ministry. Jesus told the rich young ruler in Matthew 19, to sell his possessions, give to the poor and then come follow Him, but he was too attached to his money and couldn’t part with it.
Have you considered where you are on the path to following Jesus? Are you willing to forsake all and renounce all lesser loyalties to follow Him? It’s what is required of true followers.
Psalm 42 describes the Psalmist’s strong thirst for the Lord. He had once known the safe place and refreshment from being in the presence of God, but now because his enemies were pursuing him and he couldn’t feel God and that caused him to question, where was his God?
In Psalm 73, David saw the prosperity of the unrighteous, and he asked the same question…where was God? But, he found the answer when he went into the sanctuary of the Lord! And once again, in Psalm 77, He found that precious refreshing in the sanctuary of God.
Whether our thirst comes from being pursued by ‘enemies,’ or from being separated from God by our own feelings, or seeing the prosperity of the wicked, we will find Him when we come into his sanctuary.
Sometimes, learning new things can be really confusing, especially when the beloved, familiar old ways are so different. That’s how the Jews felt about the New Covenant, Jesus Christ. And the Gentiles weren’t much better! Instead of turning away from their worship of idols, they tried to worship the messengers of the New Covenant.
The Gospel of the New Covenant is not hard. Disciple James put it in easy to understand terms. Stay away from idols and all things related to them. Stay away from blood, and things which have been strangled; remain sexually pure and BELIEVE the message and you will do well. The same goes for us. Believe, stay away from sinful things and we will do well.
See "The Biblical Covenants of God" referenced in this sermon here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xvvey71pfy0
In Genesis 48, the Holy Spirit directed Joseph to take his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim with him to visit their grandfather, Jacob, one last time before his death. Although tradition would dictate that Manasseh, the elder son, would receive the blessing of Jacob and the greater portion of the inheritance, God had a different plan.
Thank God, that we too, as believers in Christ, though we were also undeserving of the blessing of sonship and the inheritance of eternal life, God also had a better plan for us, see Hebrews 11:40. He adopted us into his family and gave us the blessing and birthright in Christ Jesus that we didn’t deserve!
Sometimes, promises fulfilled are a long time coming! This was true for Sarah and Abraham. Even though God had promised Abraham that his seed would number as the stars in the sky and the sands of the seashore, Sarah was 99 years old when she finally conceived their only son, Isaac.
The same was true for Isaac's wife, Rebekah. Though Isaac loved Rebekah from the moment he saw her, and though she had received an incredible prophetic word that she would be the mother of thousands of millions, the fact is that she remained barren for their first 20 years of marriage.
Maybe you’ve been in a long waiting pattern to see God's promises fulfilled, too. But, just like Sarah and Rebekah, you can also trust that God’s word is always faithful.
In II Corinthians 2, the Apostle Paul is discussing the necessity of forgiveness of a brother in Christ who had fallen into sin, so that the man can be restored back to fellowship with the church and thereby, not lose hope of eternal life with Christ and the saints.
But, then Paul also points out that the body of Christ must be held to the responsibility of forgiving and restoring the man. So, forgiveness works both ways; to the benefit of the one being forgiven so they won't become despondent and lose hope,
and to the ones doing the forgiving, in being obedient to Christ. And, if we succeed, Verse 14 tells us that our lives will be a Christ-like fragrance both to God and to those who are being forgiven.
It's time for the church to do a smell-check.
In Numbers 11:10-17 Moses tells God that the job of caring for all those people was just too big for one man and that he needed help, and God agreed! So, God anointed 70 men with a measure of the same spirit of God which Moses had, to enable them to prophecy and take care of the people’s spiritual needs. This eased the burden for Moses, whom God called a friend, and allowed him to be the one with whom God would meet face-to-face.
When Jesus was baptized with the Holy Spirit in the book of John, the Bible says that His baptism was “without measure.” And, praise God for his many blessings to us, because in Galations 3:14 we read that we have received the same blessing as Abraham was given, which is also immeasurable. Jesus baptizes us in the Holy Spirit, with rivers of living water pouring forth from our spirits, an unlimited measure for us!
As mature Christians, we must recognize that some Kingdom principles are paradoxical. On the one hand, the Psalmist David wrote in Psalm 103:3 that God heals all our diseases.
But, in II Corinthians 12:9, when the Apostle Paul prayed three times for healing, the Lord's response was that His grace is sufficient and that His power works best in our weaknesses!
It's certainly in accordance with scripture to continually ask in faith for all of our needs, but it's also scriptural to endure the meantime with patience, so that Christ’s strength and power can be shown through our weakness.
This message is very different from the norm and includes a prophetic dream. The three things to take away from this message;
1) The written Word of God is alive and stands on its own meaning and merit, whether or not additional commentary is included!
2) God will often give dreams as warnings, teachings, or some other insight. I believe this one is prophetic in that we must be ready and willing because we may be called upon to deal with evil spirits in church.
3). Even when we don’t want to comply with what God has set before us, it’s definitely best to let Him have his way with us.
The Apostle Paul wrote in I Corinthians 5:7-8 that, just as God told the Israelites to purge their homes of leaven, which represents sin, and to put the blood of a lamb over their doorposts so the death angel would pass over them, the church must also purge herself of sin, and even remove members who practice sinful behavior, because there was no room for sin under the blood of Christ.
At this time of year, we acknowledge and mourn the excruciating death of Jesus on the cross and we thank Him for shedding that redeeming blood for our salvation. But the power of the resurrection is what gives us hope that we, too, will be resurrected in Christ. In I Corinthians 15:20 Paul declared to those who didn’t believe the resurrection was real, “But in Fact, Christ has been raised from the dead. He is the first of a great harvest of all who have died. V23, But, there is an order to this resurrection: Christ was raised as the first of the harvest—then all who belong to Christ will be raised when he comes back.
He is coming back for you and me!
The Bible records three people whom Jesus raised from the dead. These were amazing miracles that caught the attention of many, many people and caused them to believe in Jesus.
Jesus had the power over death because He was divine, fully God in the flesh. But also, these miracles demonstrate Jesus’ humanity, in the love and compassion He had for the families who were grieving the loss of their loved ones.
These miracles give us such hope and confidence in that day when a mass resurrection will take place, the rapture of believers. The saints of God who’ve died in Christ, will be raised in heavenly bodies, and those who are alive at the time, will be lifted from this earth and in a moment will be changed from mortal to immortal, to be forever with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, the raiser of the dead.
The book of II Samuel chronicles some of the despair and devastation that King David suffered in his lifetime; some of which was his own making. But even when almost everyone he loved and trusted had betrayed him and even tried to murder him and steal the throne, led by his own beloved son Absalom, David kept his heart humble and cried unto God for deliverance. The twists and turns in this book are numerous, but through it all, even when his heart was overwhelmed, as he wrote in Psalms 61:1-6, he called upon the Rock of his Salvation to save him.
There are not very many things in this fallen world that we would consider to be perfect. Maybe a short list of God’s beautiful creation, and a newborn baby. But, in Deuteronomy 18:10 God instructed the Israelites to walk perfectly before Him. He meant that they should keep their hearts pure by worshipping Him only. In doing so, He would see to it that they had everything they needed to live.
The Lord still expects us to live perfectly before Him. That's why in Psalm 138:8 the Psalmist, David wrote:
The LORD will perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O LORD, endureth for ever: forsake not the works of thine own hands. Speaking of his hands working perfection in himself.
Psalm 57:2 I will cry unto God most high; unto God that performeth (completes, perfects) all things for me. He can make a perfect heart.
In Mark 5:25 we find an amazing story where Jesus heals a woman who’d been sick for 12 long years. She’d done everything in her natural power, suffered many things at the hands of many doctors, yet, the scripture says she was no better, but grew worse.
Until she heard about Jesus, and took some steps necessary to get to him and to her healing. Maybe you, too, need a healing. Jesus is fully able to perform what He’s promised and what He paid for at Calvary.
God set up two covenants to deal with the sins of mankind; the first covenant in the Old Testament, which relied upon priests from the tribe of Levi, to be the mediator between unholy men and the Most Holy God. They first had to offer sacrifices for themselves, to ensure that they didn’t die due to their own uncleanness before carrying out the sacrifices that could only symbolically and temporarily address the sins of others.
But, in Hebrews Chapter 7, we read of a better covenant. One in which the Lord Jesus is our High Priest, and He does not need to cleanse himself before touching the lives of others, nor is He subject to sin, disease and death, ever.
As familiar as we are with the story of Jonah, which we probably learned in our childhood Sunday School classes, we might miss the most important thread in the story…like Jonah did.
Despite Jonah’s own disobedient childish behavior, including his argumentative and self-pitying attitude, God showed great love and compassion to him. He did the same for the sinful city of Ninevah, who were also disobedient and anti-God.
When Jonah finally obeyed God and spoke the Word of the Lord to them, it caused them to turn from their evil ways and repent unto God. As God said in the very last verse of chapter 4: …”why shouldn’t I spare Ninevah”…after all, He’d spared Jonah!
Cleavant Derricks wrote a very popular song called "Just a Little Talk With Jesus" that has a line that says “I feel a little prayer wheel turning.”
It makes me wonder, how well is my own prayer wheel turning? Sometimes we need a little help keeping an effective and consistent prayer life. Dick Eastman wrote a great book called The Hour that Changes the World, and we will look at his prayer wheel in this study.
In Luke 13:24 Jesus told his disciples to STRIVE to ENTER through the narrow door; (King James says Straight GATE); for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able.
Jesus felt this was so important that He included a similar admonition in the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 7:13-14, Enter ye in at the STRAIT gate; for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction. And many there be which go in there at.
v.14 "Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it."
Friend, I surely want to be one of those who are willing to strive to enter, don’t you?
God established the Sabbath day at the end of each week as a day of rest and communion with Him.
In AD365, Constantine decreed that the Catholic church would officially worship on Sunday, the first day of the week, to break the ties to the Saturday Sabbath practiced by the Jews.
But Jesus said to the Pharisees, when they accused Him of breaking the laws of the Sabbath, I am the Lord of the Sabbath.
Jesus proved that the day upon which we worship, nor the systems of the laws of the Sabbath, are important. But what’s important is that He alone has the power to forgive the evil within the heart of man, heal a disease or give eternal life.
In I Chronicles, Chapters 23-27 is the story of King David, who in his last years assigned worshippers and musicians to carry on the work of leading worship in the Temple.
These men were of the Levite tribe and had a legacy of singing and playing instruments in the Temple. In Chapter 25:1, these men were instructed to PROPHESY with their voices and all the instruments that were played in the worship service. They were to use them to prophesy to the glory, and praise, and greatness of God!
Even today, we are to use our God-given talents of singing and playing instruments in God’s house to prophesy to the world, by speaking out and playing music to proclaim the greatness of the Almighty God.
Waiting is so hard. Abraham and Sarah had to wait into their old age for their son of promise to be born. Moses waited 40 years to lead the Children of Israel to the Promised Land. But, they had direct promises from God to hold onto while they waited.
But, sometimes, there is no direct promise from God and we must continue on, still waiting. What can we do during these times of waiting? The Lord will use these times of waiting to teach us submissiveness; to grow our faith in Him, and to make us more like Him in every way.
In Luke 1:30 The angel, Gabriel, announced the birth of Jesus to Mary and said, He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest (or, the Most High God).
This is not the only mention that the Christ Child would be the Son of God. And yet, Jesus was put to death because he claimed to be the Son of God.
In Psalm 2:7 The Lord himself confirmed it. He said,…Thou art My SON; this day have I begotten thee.
And again, this same scripture was quoted in Acts 13:33, God hath fulfilled the same unto us…; as it is also written in the second Psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee.
Aren’t you so thankful that we have been assured that when we accept Jesus as our Savior, and when we pray to the Father in Jesus’ name, we are indeed accessing the very Son of God.
Before King Ahaz assumed the throne of Israel, Baal worship had been eliminated in all 10 tribes in Judah. But Ahaz was so wicked that he sacrificed his own son to the false god and imposed every ungodly act of sin upon the people.
So, it was in the midst of all this shaking, and the utter contempt for anything holy, that was coming down from the wicked King that the Lord sent hope through the Prophet, Isaiah!
Isaiah 9:6-7: For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder; and his name shall be Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Price of Peace.
We have the promise of the Father and the gift of the Son, even in the midst of our own shaking. Thank God for sending his Unspeakable Gift!
Do you wonder where God is in your pain? Do you wonder if he forgot about you? Maybe you even wonder if he’s real?
You’re not the only one. Some people in the Bible wondered, also. But the thing is, Jesus will meet you where you are. In your pain, your doubt, your messy life.
Thomas doubted that Jesus had risen from the dead, until Jesus met him at the point of his doubt and showed him his scars. Nicodemus didn’t want to be seen with Jesus, until Jesus met him at his point of fear and changed his life.
In this message I tell a story of a woman who met Jesus…in a near-death experience and showed her the purpose in her pain. He truly will meet us where we are.
Roses, lilies, banners and standards. These are a few of the things the Lord, Jesus Christ, is to the church. He's the sweetness of the Rose of Sharon, the peace of the Lily of the Valleys, the love and protection of the banner over us, as referenced in Song of Solomon 2:1-4, and the righteousness and judgment of the standard of God in Isaiah 59:19. He’s provided all of this and so much more, for his beloved church.
I Corinthians 15 tells us that we cannot inherit the Kingdom of God with perishable, earthly bodies. But, Verse 57 says, Thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. We have victory over death through Him.
Some of the events that will happen at the rapture are described in this chapter. Those who’ve already died as Christians, and those who are still alive in Christ when the trumpet sounds signaling the rapture, will receive new, heavenly bodies to replace the old, perishable, earthly bodies.
This divine exchange enables us to inherit the Kingdom of God, eternally. Indeed, thanks be to God for this victory in Christ!
Pride and thanksgiving cannot co-exist. The Bible tells us in I John that the pride of life is not of God. Pride has absolutely nothing to do with the Father. But sometimes, we focus only on ourselves, looking inward and just around us and cannot see the things for which we should be truly thankful.
These things are not tangibles, but they are about Him: Who he is; What He’s done; What He’s promised us.
These are the things for which we should be truly thankful. Are you?
This Sunday morning our guest speaker Tracy Falcocchia shares a revelation about water baptism and the role that it plays in the life of a Christian.
Isaiah wrote that he saw the Lord in the year that King Uzziah died. That said a lot. He could have meant that in the year that a great and good king died…or, he could have meant that in the year that a formerly great and good king, who had a tragic and terrible end, died…
Either way, Isaiah had a vision of God seated upon His throne and the hem of his robe was so big that it filled the temple.
We need a great big God right now, amidst all this political and social unrest. You can ask the Lord to let you see Him enthroned upon your own heart and life.
In Genesis 22 God gave Abraham an incredibly hard test. But the Bible says in Romans 4:19-21 that Abraham did not stagger in his faith but remained faithful to God through the test.
Sometimes we have hard tests to endure. Will we stand as sure-footed and strong as Abraham did? Will we falter and have to ask God to forgive our doubts and wavering faith?
Even when we cannot see any way that God could get us through or that we could stand sure through the test, He just might surprise us with a ram stuck in the bushes that will meet every need. Join us for this Bible Study.
In Exodus 19, God wanted to speak directly to Israel and have a relationship with them, but they recoiled and drew back away from Him and preferred Moses to do their talking for them.
But when God sent his only begotten son, Jesus, to die for our sins, that precious blood not only cleanses us but it removes all traces of the sin for which we we’ve asked forgiveness and it became the basis upon which a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, and the Father, could be established.
Hebrews 12:18 tells us that unlike the Israelites who rejected God’s offer of love, the blood of Jesus speaks of good things for us. Love, peace, healing, and eternal life with Him.
The Word of the Lord came to a young man named Jeremiah, whom God had chosen from his mother’s womb to be a prophet in Israel. God instructed Jeremiah to deliver a very hard and unpopular message to Israel about God’s coming judgment on them because of their idolatry and rebellion.
Jeremiah 1:9,12 Then the Lord stretched out His hand and touched my mouth and said, Behold, I have put My words in your mouth; V12 …for I am watching over my word to perform it.
I believe that God is still speaking today. He is telling us to be still and listen closely. Only as we put our ear to God’s heart can we truly hear his voice.
Israel needed a shepherd. They couldn’t stay in the pasture God gave them and as a result, they got into all kinds of sin and trouble. But, we too, yes, even Christians, must guard against straying off the path and getting tangled up in things that are harmful to us.
But, thank God that He provided a Shepherd for us, too, and He loves us so. Jesus said in John 10 that fake shepherds are only interested in the money, and they don’t love the sheep. But our Good Shepherd loves knows and cares for the sheep of His pasture.
Ants are pretty amazing creatures. They are the most organized and industrious of all insects, and believe it or not, are a great source of protein. While we probably don’t want to eat them, God did command us in Proverbs 6:6-8 to pay attention to them. To be wise, as they are. To prepare and set aside food in the summertime for the winter and, that if we work together, we can accomplish a LOT!
Have you ever been disappointed by someone in church? The church at Corinth was also disappointed, and even mad at Paul the Apostle because he had to change his travel plans and not come stay with them through the winter. Sometimes we may experience disappointment in people, too.
But the word of God says in II Corinthians 1:20 “For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him AMEN, to the glory of God through us.” There is no double-talk, no second-guessing His word. He promises are Yes and Amen, always.
In other words, you can securely stand upon ALL of the promises of God.
Philippians 2:12-15 tells us to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling with the end result that we become Christlike, but we certainly can’t do it on our own. We need the Holy Spirit to transform us into Christlikeness so that He can then present us to the Father as His pure bride.
That transformation process, which we sometimes call sanctification, might take a long while, but if we will partner with Him and give him those dead parts of ourselves, He will work on us little by little, until Jesus can be clearly seen shining through us, yes, even in those places where dysfunction and devastation used to be.
What does a move of the Holy Spirit look like today? The book of Joel 2:28-32 tells us that it will be both seen and heard—worldwide! It might not look like it did in days past, and it might be a bit messy, especially compared to decades of quietness in the church, but it surely will come.
Jesus told the disciples in Mark 9:39 not to forbid another minister from casting out demons in His name just because he wasn’t one of the chosen disciples, for whoever isn’t against us is for us, so let him alone and let him do his own thing.
We may not have the answer to the question right now, but we do know we must be watchful and ready so we don’t miss it. However it looks.
You may have heard that we are in a drought and that a famine is imminent in our country. The conditions were very similar in Israel, but the Lord God provided clean water for a city by putting salt into the polluted water and by using flour meal to heal a pot of poisoned soup for some Bible Students!
The Bible assures us that even in difficult and scary times where our very life's resources may run low, or be compromised, our God knows how to provide for his people.
He even said that the righteous would have enough to be gracious lenders to others during difficult times. Do you trust Him to provide ALL your needs? The Psamlist David said, I’ve never seen the righteous forsaken nor his descendants begging for bread.
We can trust in the Lord our Provider.
Ever wonder how long God will allow the wicked to get away with their evil ways? So did David, the Psalmist. He writes in Psalm 94, How long, How Long oh Lord, will the wicked exult?
It’s a fair question for today, as well! But Psalm 94 also assures us that God has reserved His judgment seat for them, and will avenge us from His and our adversaries. He will judge them with vengeance, QUICKLY. And our part is to continually cry out, day and night, to the Chief Avenger.
In Isaiah 5 we read about God’s vineyard, which represented the nation of Israel. He did everything necessary to make the vineyard fruitful and prosper, which would have glorified God. But instead, because the people were stubborn and had evil hearts, they disrespected the land, the vines, and God, and produced only wild grapes, which had to be destroyed.
The Book of John, Chapter 15 tells us that we must attach ourselves to the true vine, Jesus Christ. He has given us all that’s necessary to be fruitful and prosper, to glorify God, the Father. How are your grapes / fruits for the Lord’s service doing? Do they need pruning? Watering, cultivating? The Master Vinedresser can help!
In John 16 Jesus told the disciples to ask the Father for anything in His name and the Father would give it to them.
But, what if, when you are doing all that you can to live a God-like, holy life, and you pray to the Father in the Name of Jesus—like Jesus said to do, but you don’t see the results you expected to see, what then? Did you do something wrong or, could something else possibly be going on?
Perhaps we need to look at what Job said in chapter 23:10, But he knows the way I take; and when He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold.
It’s such a privilege that Jesus included us in sharing the symbols of His broken body and the blood which He shed. We call this ceremony “communion.”
Jesus told us to do this, and as often as we do it, to remember Him. He knew He was soon to die, but ever-thinking of His friends, family and us, He gave us all this way of remembering Him.
But it's not just a ceremony! It's our direct access to the redemption and resurrection power, in his body and blood. What a blessed benefit from partaking of these symbols of the familiar elements of the Passover. But, those elements were missing the redemptive and resurrecting power found in the body and blood of Jesus. Let’s remember!
This week we are blessed to receive an update from dear friends (and family), Gene and Inga Whitehead, missionaries to Sweden. If you would like to learn more about Gene and Inge's work in Sweden, or would be interested in giving to their ministry there, please visit Gene & Inga's website
Psalm 107 is such a beautiful passage of scripture. It ensures help from God for those who are exiled or banished from their home, imprisoned, sick or in peril at sea, if they call upon God for deliverance. There are many kinds of exiles, prisoners and illness. Spiritual bondage can be as devastating as physical imprisonment. A sin-sick soul will lead us to hell and, a soul who is teetering on the brink of despair can feel overwhelmed as though he were in a treacherous sea.
But this chapter promises that He is full of goodness and wonderful works towards the children of men—even when we got ourselves in a mess. But, we must call to him for help. And then, most importantly, we must give thanks. We must remember his good works and give praise and glory for his deliverance.
The condition of our heart when we approach God matters very much to Him! In Numbers 20:6-13 Moses assumes a very acceptable posture of falling on his face prostrate before God and prays for a very worthy cause of needing water for the Children of Israel. All looked good from the surface.
The scripture says that the glory of the Lord appeared to them there when he prayed. But, despite God answering the prayer with very specific direction to speak to a rock and God would miraculously cause it to produce water for the people, Moses blatantly disobeyed and struck the rock instead.
God called this disobedience unbelief. Unbelief separates us from God, and ultimately, if not corrected and repented for, prevents us from achieving our goal of making Heaven our home. It certainly kept Moses out of the Promised Land.
Do you want to be perfect? Me, too! And Jesus told us exactly how to do it, and how to be identified as children of our Father in Heaven. Sometimes it’s not easy. Sometimes, it's messy, uncomfortable and even unwanted. But our very identity is tied to it. And that is, showing the love of God to others. Even the unjust and unrighteous.
Jesus showed us an example in Matthew 5:43-48 of Father God sharing his beautiful gifts of sunshine and rain with those who don’t deserve it, because he loves us so much...and he expects us to do the same. And, though it isn’t easy to do, it comes with great reward, for Jesus said in Matthew 25:37-40, if we show love to the least of these, we’ve shown it unto Him.
In Titus 1:5-12 Paul told Pastor Titus how to choose workers within the church and, very specifically, what kind of leader to avoid. We would do well to follow this pattern in electing government officials as well as church leaders!
In II Timothy 1:5-8 Paul also told Pastor Timothy to remind himself of his godly heritage and the powerful gifts he’d received when he was ordained for ministry and to stir them up inside himself and see the power of God move.
Paul was very clearly admonishing these young pastors that the teachings of Christ must remain pure in leaders in the government and the church, undefiled by evil men’s plans and motives and that they should not tolerate such behaviors. And, neither should we.
We find many beautiful parallels between the relationship of Jesus Christ with the church, his bride, and Jewish wedding traditions. Many of these traditions are reflected in the events surrounding the rapture of the church. Join us as we study this today.
Pentecost Sunday is the observance of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the earth.
It is celebrated 50 days after Passover. Just before Jesus ascended from earth back to Heaven, He instructed His disciples to go to Jerusalem and wait upon the Holy Spirit to come to them, which He’d promised to send to them so they wouldn’t feel so alone after He left. He called the Holy Spirit "another comforter". Jesus told them, you will receive power to be my witnesses when the Holy Spirit comes upon you and not to fear when they are taken before governors for preaching His word, because the Holy Spirit would give them the words to say.
The book of Joel tells us that in the last days, another outpouring of the Holy Spirit will occur. We are praying for this outpouring to begin on us! The power of the Holy Spirit is undeniable, and something every Christian needs. Thank God, He sent us this precious gift of another comforter!
Memorial Day. A day to remember those who lost their lives while serving their country. God thought memorials were very important. In Joshua 4:9-10 God told Joshua to have the priests set up stones to mark the very place where they stood in the Jordan River on dry ground. For God had performed a mighty miracle for them by rolling back the waters. He wanted there to be a permanent memorial of the event, and another memorial at the campsite in the Promised Land for them to use to teach their children about it.
We memorialize Christ’s death, burial and resurrection by taking ‘communion’ elements of bread and grape juice, too. It wasn’t the stones in the memorial that caused the miracle God performed, nor is it the elements in the bread and juice that saves us from our sins. It was the living sacrifice of the Son of God, Jesus, our savior. Be sure you are anchored in Him for these perilous times.
The wilderness is a desolate, uninhabitable for very long, in-between place that’s full of physical obstacles and dangers. Except that, sometimes, that’s exactly where God wants us to be, just as he did the Children of Israel, so that he can not only meet all our physical needs while we’re there, but he can also teach us valuable spiritual lessons.
Deuteronomy 8:2 says “And thou shalt remember all the ways which the Lord thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart whether thou would keep his commandments or not.”
But after the wilderness, if we remain faithful and prove true, the promise will come.
…Be ye filled with the spirit. Are you hungry for more of the things of God? We’re commanded to be baptized in the spirit and Jesus is the baptizer. The Apostle Paul met with some of the disciples and they’d never heard of the Holy Spirit before—they’d only heard of salvation and water baptism. But when Paul explained that yes, they’d completed the salvation and water baptism as they should, but now they can have more, they wanted ‘the more!’ So Paul laid his hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit. And you can, too! Only you don’t need Paul to lay hands on you; anyone who’s received this gift from the Lord can do it, or you can even just pray and ask Him for this wonderful gift without anyone laying hands on you! Thank you, Father God, for sending us this wonderful gift of the Holy Spirit.
Happy Mother’s Day to all our wonderful moms, grandmothers, aunts, sisters and friends, and anyone else who has invested into the lives of others! Not all moms have biological children, but many are loved by those they serve as a mom would. Psalm 68:6 says that God sets the solitary, or lonely in families. What a wonderful provision!
The Apostle Paul was born into a very religious Jewish family. It wasn’t in their plan that God would choose their son to help convert stoic Jews to Christianity, but that was precisely what God’s plan for Paul’s life included. In fact, Galations 1:15 says that God had called Paul into his service from his mother’s womb.
It is thought that Pauls’ family disinherited him when he became a Christian because there is no mention of them in scripture, but thankfully, God provided another mother for Paul. The wife of Simon the Cyrene, who carried Jesus’ cross to Golgotha was that substitute mother for Paul. She cared for him, fed him, dressed his wounds when he was in need. When in Romans 16 Paul was greeting many friends in Christ, he referred to her as his mother!
What a blessing it is that God finds a place for those who need a family, and finds a family for those who have a capacity to love others.
Job had it made, until that fateful day came when all was lost. He literally spent himself trying to solve the puzzle of why. Like Job, we can waste so much time acting as our own defense attorney, when all the while, God, who is so rich in pity and mercy towards the righteous, is trying to show us things in ourselves that He wants to change.
And God used an unlikely source, a very young Elihu, to deliver God's words of clarity, chastisement and mercy, to Job and when Job responded with humility and remorse for his actions, God was able to show his great mercy and restore him doubly for what he'd lost.
Join us as we follow Job’s journey back to wholeness, when he finally sees the end of the Lord’s intent for him, as James 5:10-11 says.
God Things. Those events that happen in our lives that we really have very little to do with; things we don’t cause or arrange, but that have huge impact on us. How did they happen?
Psalm 37:23 says that, The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand.
Not everything that happens to us is good on its own merit, but we serve a God that can take them all individually, the good, the bad and the ugly, and weave them together into the perfect tapestry that becomes the very fabric of our lives--built around Him.
Our country needs some God Things right now. Be encouraged because we serve the God who never changes. If He has ever done one God Thing (and He has!), He’ll certainly do it again, and again.
Romans 11:36 says, Everything comes from Him, everything happens through Him, and everything ends up in Him.
Do you trust Him to perform God Things in your life?
The most impactful event in all of history. The Resurrection of Jesus Christ completed the sacrifice that He made and provided so much to believers!
He freed the souls of those who’d died before he was crucified and resurrected so that they could join him in Heaven; He gave life eternal to all of those who would believe in Him after his death and resurrection, and He gave us power and authority in His own name to do His work here on earth.
Celebrate with us the greatest event in history—Christ’s Resurrection Day. The Angel said, Jesus, whom you seek is not in the grave, For He is Risen, as He said!
Seeing Jesus. It is all that really matters. So much rides on our will, our desire and our faith to find Him and look upon Him. For He offers so much. The Old Testament points to the coming of Jesus, the Messiah, such as through the story in Numbers 21:5-9.
People were dying from snake bites. When the people repented of their sin, God told Moses to make a brass serpent and lift it high up on a pole, so that all who were bitten lived.
God gave His own son, Jesus Christ, to be lifted up on a cruel cross on Mount Calvary, to bear the cost of the sins of the world. To all those who look upon Him in faith believing that He will cleanse them of their sin, He gives life eternal. What a wonderful trade. Just turn your eyes upon Jesus.
In today’s study of John 13, we’ll see the significance of the last Passover, why Jesus washed the disciples’ feet, Judas’ betrayal of Jesus, how much Jesus loved the disciples and cared about them after he would be gone. How Jesus’ whole focus was completing the assignment given him by his Father, and he called it glory. Study this phenomenal chapter along with us!
In Exodus 17:14-16 The Lord told Moses that he would have war against the Amalekites from generation to generation, and finally eliminate them for their hatred and persecution of the Jews.
In the Book of Esther, an Amalekite man, named Haman, a self-proclaimed Jew hater, set about to annihilate the Jews, but through Divine intervention and a magnificent series of events, the tables turned and the king ordered Haman to be hanged on the very gallows he’d built to hang Mordecai on, the leader of the Jews.
God used both Mordecai and Esther, for such a time as this, to free the captive Jewish people, and the king gave them jurisdiction over anyone in the land of Persia who opposed or oppressed them. Mordecai was elevated to the highest position in the land under himself, and Esther was Queen of all Persia. God’s mercy and justice were on full display in this epic story in the Book of Esther.
Jesus said, in the parable of the wheat and tares, that when the good seed (the wheat) and the bad seed, (the tares) grow up together into ripened fruit, the difference between them will be very apparent.
But, he said, even though an enemy sowed the bad seed while the gardeners were sleeping, it’s important that they grow together until the harvest, so that no harm will come to the good seed.
Then, at the time of the harvest, Jesus will send forth the reapers, first to remove the bad seed into bundles to be burnt, and then, the good wheat can be safely gathered into his barns. Such excellent and current teaching in this parable found in Matthew 13:24-30.
Jesus taught His disciples to preach two things to the Lost Sheep of Israel: Repentance unto salvation and the demonstration of the power of God through the working of miracles.
Paul, the Apostle, called by God to preach to the Gentiles, preached repentance unto salvation, righteous living, and the power and demonstration of the Holy Spirit.
Jesus said, cast out demons, raise the dead and heal all manner of sickness and disease, in His name.
Oh, how we desperately need these simple, direct messages preached among the church body, so we can present Christ to the world. We long for those we love to hear the repentance message, and we long for the moving of the power of the Holy Spirit among us. Ask Jesus for both, right now!
God’s covenant with Abraham was very serious business to God and God required a pretty heavy price from Abraham and his descendants to enter into this covenant, but the reward was to be continual blessing and the promise of Canaan Land for all his future generations—as long as they were willing to pay the price of circumcision. This was to mark them as belonging to God. When Moses erred and failed to have his and Zipporah’s son circumcised, God had to honor his word and exact punishment for breaking the covenant. But, at the last minute, Zipporah circumcised their son and Moses lived on to be mightily used of God.
God chose to forgive Moses and continue honoring him under the Abrahamic covenant, also.
In Exodus 33:19, God said, "Moses, I know you by name and I will show mercy on whom I will show mercy!" No man can merit God’s mercy. No man can cause his own worthiness in God’s sight. It’s the mercy and compassion of a loving God towards fallible man that meets us where we are.
Solomon gave us these beautiful words in Proverbs 30:5 "Every word of God is pure; he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him." The scholars say that the word 'pure' means flawless, tested, proven, and true. Jesus quoted during his temptation that EVERY word of God is for us to live by; man cannot live on bread alone, but by EVERY word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.
In Psalm 28:6-9 David, the Psalmist repeats these words of Solomon, that "...the Lord is my strength and my shield and my heart trusts in him and I am helped. Therefore, my heart rejoices and I will praise him with my song…for he is the saving strength of his anointed."
What song are you singing to praise and bless the Lord?
Every relationship requires character, trust and encouragement to be both Godly, and successful.
In I Chronicles 22:6 King David learned the importance of Godly character when he set out to build a temple for the Lord and found out that it wasn’t God’s plan!
Trust is also vitally important for a relationship to be blessed. Jeremiah 17:5-8 says "Cursed be the man that trusts in man…but, Blessed is the man that trusts in the Lord for he shall be as a tree planted by the waters…"
Song of Solomon teaches us encouragement through the Shulamite woman’s insecurities about her very dark, sun-tanned skin, which wasn’t desirable in the culture. But the Shepherd boy who loves her so encouraged her through her insecurities, telling her that she was the fairest of all women.
Jesus will surely shine through in all of our relationships if we practice these three fundamentals.
Sometimes it can be hard to understand why bad things happen to us. Why would our own family hurt us? Why don’t things work out for us, but instead always seem to be against us? Joseph had this problem. He was blessed of God. He was righteous and loved God and his family. Yet he endured terrible hardship and pain at their hand.
But in the end (and sometimes we also must wait until “the end of a thing”), Joseph was the clear winner. Only God was able to take what was meant for evil against Joseph and turn it into something beautiful that was clearly for his benefit. And not only for Joseph’s benefit, but for the benefit of those who had perpetrated the evil against him, and many others as well.
Even in the hardness of life, God’s ways can turn what was meant for evil into our good. Romans 8:28 provides this promise: “And we know, that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.“
Joseph’s deliverance required that he forgive the evil intent of those that hurt him. Forgiveness is possible for you, too. Restoration and reconciliation is possible for you as well. And ALL things will work together for our good, even those things that were meant for evil, if we forgive and we love the Lord.
Listen to the end as Pastor Debbie shares a very unusual dream from the Lord
Living in this world as believers can be very hard. It can cause us to have dulled senses; it can also cause us to become blinded by the glitter the world offers, to fall in love with its splendors, and, it can also cause us to become discouraged and then fall away from God.
The fact is, Jesus gave us believers to the world, as his love, light and salt, to be a witness. Though He knew it would be hard for us to rub shoulders with the evil of this world, because it was hard for him also, he gave us the tools to do it.
John 17 tells us how we can bring all our dulled senses to Him, for renewal, refreshing, so we can share his love again with a fallen world.
The process for cleansing a leper is spelled out in Leviticus 14. It’s such a beautiful depiction of the love of the Father, the sacrifice of the Son, the spotless, perfect Lamb, and the powerlessness of the leper—representative of the sinner—who is powerless to get their own salvation without this love of the Father and sacrifice of Jesus, the Son of God and our perfect Lamb of sacrifice.
In Luke 17, we see some other lepers; even though Jesus graciously healed their bodies and cleansed them from their sin, only one returned to thank Him. He was already an outcast in his social standing, but he returned to give the only one who is worthy of praise, his heart of thanksgiving.
Will you do the same?
Jesus told the disciples that they should have learned what the scriptures say, “I will have mercy instead of sacrifice,” meaning that their rigid rules left out the practical and the heart aspects of life, leaving only their pride and haughty ways which they readily used against others.
Jesus said he came for the sick and the sinner, not the well and righteous, being full of pity and mercy toward them. He said that He was waiting for the Latter Rains to fall upon harvest, to bring more people to Himself, before He returns to catch away his church in the Rapture. We, too, anxiously await those Latter Rains!
The laws of blessing and cursing are woven throughout scripture. In the Mosaic law, God laid out very specific requirements that had to be followed in order to receive His blessing, and for those who didn’t, a corresponding curse would be given. Some were temporary, some permanent.
In Matthew 5, Jesus gave us very clear examples of who would and who wouldn’t be blessed. The Beatitudes tell us that it is the humble of heart and the contrite spirit that will receive His blessings—His blessings in this life and in eternity.
Those who do not humble themselves before His sovereign deity will receive the curse of forever being separated from Him, in Hell.
It is easy to humble ourselves when we look at it this way. If you have not done so, you can do it now. Repent of your sins and ask Him to forgive you and cleanse you. He will, and then you, too, can receive His blessings, now and forever.
This morning, we sang a new (new to us) song called Alleluia to the Lamb. This song was inspired by the scripture passage in Revelation 19:1-9. This scene takes place after the catching away, or rapture of the church, when Jesus will call us away from this earth to meet him in the sky, and ushers us into Heaven for the Marriage Supper of the Lamb.
This scene so beautifully depicts the multitude of voices which, when blended together, sounded to John the Revelator like the voice of many waters. These voices are the Saints of God, also called the Bride of Christ and the Remnant of the Church, all together in Heaven singing, Alleluia to the Lamb of God!
Friend, this is the perfect time for you to ensure that your ticket to this meeting has been purchased! That you’ve activated YOUR birthright to attend this wonderful songfest in Heaven, by accepting Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior, asking Him forgiveness for your sins and applying the blood He shed on Calvary’s cross to cover your sins. I want more than anything to meet you there! Alleluia to the Lamb!
James 1:17 says that every good and every perfect gift comes down from above, from the Father of Lights, in whom there is no variableness neither shadow of turning. God, from his infinite source of light, lit the planetary lights in Genesis 1, sent His Son Jesus, the light of the world, to be born into a very dark world, and through Jesus’ miraculous birth, death, and resurrection, when He returned to His Father in heaven, He said that we are now the light of the world, reflecting His light back to the Father by our good works which, if we let shine, will light the way for all men to see Him.
The virgin birth is not just a sweet Christmas story. It’s the greatest love story ever told. The love of God used mere humankind to bring about the greatest plan in history and sent his only Son to earth, in a very lowly, human estate, to be the Savior of the World.
By this, the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him. I John 4:9
Calvary Temple reviews, discusses and prays about the significance of the Supreme Court’s forthcoming ruling on abortion, and other matters concerning the church.
Pastor Debbie Haynes shares her vision for giving this Christmas season.
Intercessory prayer is when we approach God on behalf of another person or a group of people, to present their needs to Him. Today’s focus is on taking the time to pray corporately (together, as one body) for the loved ones in our household, and for our federal, state and local governments.
We confidently bring our petitions to Him today for our loved ones and our country, based on two outstanding characteristics of God: His faithfulness and His justice.
Revelation 19:11 says And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war.
Yes, friend, He will be the victor, and praise God, we are on His side.
Being thankful has far more benefit for the thank-er than for the thank-ee! Leviticus 7 tells us that the voluntary Thanksgiving offering, after being sacrificed to God and cooked, is returned to the thankful Israelite to consume! It’s a beautiful picture of the love of God, sacrificing his Son and giving Him to us as Savior and Friend.
Paul told the church in his letter in Colossians 3:15-17, to be thankful and sing songs of psalms, hymns and spiritual songs because doing so will keep us on the right path spiritually, maintain our faith in God, and keep us accountable to love one another. Yes, being thankful has far more benefit to us than to God!
In Exodus 3:1-5, God told Moses to remove his shoes because the ground that he was standing on was Holy Ground. Moses was about to receive a very important assignment and this ‘holy ground moment’ was preparing Moses to accept it.
In Joshua 5:13-15, God told Joshua the same thing; he was also about to receive an important assignment - to lead the Children of Israel into the Promised Land.
The presence of a Holy God changes everything; it even makes the very ground we stand upon, holy. Both Moses and Joshua worshipped when they became aware of His presence. It is the only thing we can do when the presence of our Supernatural God comes into our natural space.
In this morning's service, we are blessed to remotely host our friend and long time missionary to the Mexico and Central American regions, Melvin "Skip" Kincaid.
Waiting on the Lord. It’s so difficult. But Psalm 27 is an encouraging word for today, especially if you find yourself struggling through a long waiting period, or you find yourself on a different path than you ever expected.
King David said, teach me your way Lord, and make the paths plain. It’s during these times that God can perfect our likeness and image of Him.
In Mark 10:27 Jesus said these words of his Father, God: “With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God, all things are possible.”
It was impossible for Joshua to lead the Israelites across the flooded, raging Jordan River, but not for God! It was impossible for Sarah and Abraham to have a baby at 100 years old, but not for God!
Are you facing some impossibilities? The chorus of a song says, “Got any rivers you think are uncrossable? Got any mountains you can’t tunnel through? God specializes in things thought impossible. And He can do what no other power can do.”
Bring your impossibilities to God and see what He can do for you!! His track record shows no losses.
There is no place in God’s Kingdom for cheaters.
In II Timothy 2:5, Paul says that a gamesman, an athlete, or a minister, must each pursue the prized crown for the mastery of his craft honestly and legally, or he would be exposed and publicly ridiculed.
II Timothy 3:8-9 tells us of men in these last days who are apostate, who resist truth, who - just like Pharoah’s magicians Jannes and Jambres - will come to the end of their abilities, and their folly will be made public and they will acknowledge God. This is a strong prophetic word for today.
In II Kings 6, as a result of carefully following God’s leading, Elisha accomplished great miracles and was used by God in the operation of several gifts of the Holy Spirit, including Word of Knowledge and Prophecy.
One of the most important things that we can do as a follower of Jesus Christ is make sure that we actually follow Him! other influences, such as the constant drone of the outside world, the daily cares of life, and the hectic pace and heavy decisions we face, can certainly drown out or at least slow us down in our quest to carefully follow Our Leader. We must carefully guard against this so that God can use us in any ways he chooses, which will always be for our benefit, as well as the benefit of others - just as it was with Elisha.
Some don’t believe that the Old Testament story about Jonah being swallowed by a whale really happened. But, in Matthew 12:38-42, Jesus Himself references this story. In addition, He draws comparisons to the unbelieving Jewish Elite (the scribes and Pharisees) about how Jonah was in the whale’s belly for three days and three nights, just like He, the Son of Man, was in an earthly grave for three days and three nights - until He was resurrected by the power of the Holy Ghost!
The comparisons between these earthly men, Jonah and Solomon, and the Divine Son of God, the Greater One than either of these men, pale in that Jesus has the power to save the whole world, if they will only believe.
Guest teacher Joe D'Anna shares an inspired word focusing on Ephesians 1:3.
That God has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing - in Christ. Nothing that is God's is held back from us as joint heirs with Christ.
2 Samuel chapter 5 details the beginning of King David's reign over Israel. Right away the Philistines came up against the City of David and David inquired of the Lord about going to war with them. The Lord assured victory and so David and his men marched out and easily dispatched the Philistines.
But the Philistines came yet again against the City of David, and David again inquired of the Lord. This time the Lord offered a new strategy - “go around to their rear, and come against them opposite the balsam trees. when you hear a sound in the trees, then rouse yourself, for the Lord has gone out before you to strike down the army of the Philistines.”
Consider: the strategies of yesterday may not be God's strategy for today. Inquire of the Lord for yourself; seek Him in prayer, fasting and reading of the Word! Lord, what is your strategy against the enemy today?
All throughout scripture we can see the strong arm of the Lord moving. We see it in Exodus as Moses, assisted by Aaron and his sons keeping Moses’ arms raised in prayer, leading the Children of Israel successfully through battle. We see it in the prophets, as Jesus Christ was prophesied as the coming Messiah.
Then we see the arm of the Lord extended in love to a lost world through his Son, Jesus as he was raised on a cross. But, we see two arms, one of love and salvation, and the other of judgment of all those who hate His laws. Psalm 119:126-128: It is time for thee, Lord, to work; for they have made void thy law. But I love your commandments above gold; yes, above fine gold. Therefore, I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right; and I hate every false way. The Lord’s arms are full of salvation and righteous judgment.
The enemy rages around us, sneering at the people of God through corrupted politicians and businesses, “health” mandates, and the implementation of perversions of every sort into our culture. It is natural to wonder - “what can I do? I am not a politician, not a doctor, not a ‘culture warrior’ - what would the Lord have me do?”
In this Sunday’s service we consider Jehoshaphat and the people of Judah, outnumbered and surrounded by their enemy. We read that in these dire circumstances, they all fell down and worshiped God. They couldn’t outfight, outwit, or even escape their enemy, so they bowed down and honored God, and God defeated the enemy.
Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God. Psalm 20:7.
Pastor Debbie Haynes discusses the many battles that Israel fought with the idol worshiping Midianites, who caused the Israelites to sin greatly.
JudGes 6 tells us that Israel was enslaved and plundered by the Midianites. However, God made a way for them to not only triumph over their enemy, but to take back what was stolen from them. He can do the same for you!
In Matthew 15:21-28 we read about a brave Greek woman who faced social barriers, including racial discrimination and disdain by Jesus' own disciples in order to get to Jesus and ask for deliverance for her demon-controlled daughter.
Jesus tested her faith by telling her that she can't take the Children's Bread, which was meant for the Jews first. But, she persisted in demonstrating great faith in Jesus. She told Him that 'even the dogs are allowed the bread crumbs that fall from the table', and her faith so moved the heart of Jesus that He immediately delivered her daughter.
Today’s message has a very close parallel with the state of our nation today. Peter and John performed a miracle, teaching and preaching in the name of Jesus, but the government was very angry and tried to shut them down and stop them from using the name of Jesus. But God intervened and literally shook that place by the power of the Holy Ghost, and gave a great outpouring of boldness for them to speak in his name and many were saved. We are praying for the same outpouring in the Bay Area, and beyond!
In today’s message, taken from I Chronicles 21, we read about King David’s selfish and prideful desire to number Israel and Judah - such that it became a grievous sin against God.
Because of his actions, God was angry with David and it ultimately cost many thousands of lives. But in his broken repentance, David taught us that a meaningful offering to the Lord must cost us something.
In Ezekiel 9 God gave Ezekiel a vision about sin and debauchery in the land. This sin even reached into the house of God, the church. And so His glory departed and He brought judgment instead, starting first in His own house, the church.
But thank God for the ‘man in linen’, with the inkhorn on his belt. signifying the righteousness of Christ, He marked those who had sighed and cried over the abominations. These were the true remnant of the church, to be spared from destruction.
Do you cry and sigh over sin and debauchery, especially in the house of God?
In our July 11th service, the Lord moved mightily – calling us to step a little further in, even where we are unsure, and from there He will direct us. Just a little further in, and He would meet us there. This surprise message from the Lord tied perfectly into Pastor Debbie’s prepared sermon concerning entering into the secret place of prayer – beyond the distractions of the world and the eyes and ears of man – and into communion with God. Matthew 6:5-8
Today is July 4th, when America celebrates her Independence from Britain’s harsh rule and interference with worshipping God. In our service today we will commemorate this event, including reciting the pledge of Allegiance and the Pre-Amble of the Declaration of Independence and special songs. We’ll be reading from Ephesians 2:14-22 about the Church's foundation, built upon the apostles and the prophets, and the Chief Cornerstone of the building being Jesus Christ himself. We will take Communion to remember Jesus’ sacrifice for the world, and conclude with corporate prayer for America.
Pastor Debbie Haynes shares some light on the parables that Jesus taught his disciples about the old and new garments and, the wineskins. Jesus is teaching his disciples that it isn’t important to preserve the old tattered garment, representing the old covenant under the law which could not save from sin, but to make room for the new, better covenant of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. But, we must keep our wineskin—our heart and spirit, clean, reconditioned and ready to be filled with the new glory of God and the new outpouring of his Holy Spirit for these end times. Pastor Debbie shares a song that the Lord recently gave her, “Behold, I Do A New Thing.” Don’t you want your wineskin to be ready for the new thing?
On June 20th Pastor Debbie honors our Fathers and brings a message about a particular father, who experienced some major family struggles in his life, much from his own doing. The Lord called and anointed David to be king of Israel as a young boy, but throughout his life, his own character flaws, selfishness and unwise decisions caused him to experience some truly horrific family problems. But, no matter how messy life got, we read in our text from Psalm 121 where King David says, I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, because I know that’s where my help comes from. This message assures us that no matter how poorly we’ve behaved, or even how terrible of a father we might have been, we can always, always, repent of our sin and re-commit our faith in God, like David did!
In our June 13th service Pastor Debbie brings a message warning us about the devastating results from believing what the majority believes—especially when God’s word contradicts the majority rule. In Numbers 14:1-10, we read the account of the “reports” given by the majority of the spies, which were believed by the majority of the people, but both reports and the majority rule contradicted God’s Word! God had already promised them victory in taking possession of the Promised Land, but they chose to believe the fake news! God visited them with His Glory, but this time, He brought judgment against the majority—the propagators of the fake news! What a powerful message for today!
In our June 6th service, Pastor Debbie teaches on Christ's miracle of feeding the 5,000 in Mark 6. He said "you give them something to eat" - Christ expected his disciples to play an active role in this creative miracle! Pastor then shares a prophetic dream from the Lord - Stay In The Boat!
In our Memorial Day service, Pastor Debbie Haynes reminds us of the magnitude of the sacrifices our brave soldiers have paid since the inception of our union. She then leads us though a sort of self assessment of the church - how does the church measure up to its calling? What impact has the church had on society in recent history, and where must the church focus its attention and prayers going forward?
Pastor Debbie Haynes draws upon Luke 18 and the parable of the persistent widow to emphasize Christ's message - if an unjust judge can ultimately render justice to the persistent widow, how much more will God render justice to his chosen people who cry out to him day and night?
In our May 16, 2021 service, Pastor Debbie Haynes takes us through the 139th Psalm in which King David implores the Lord to “Search Me, O God, and know my heart…see if there is any wicked way in me.” Pastor Haynes then walks us through, and finally leads us in, the 1939 hymn “Cleanse Me” by Edwin Orr, based on Psalm 139.
In our May 9, 2021 service, Pastor Debbie Haynes considers the promises of God to the people and nation of Israel.
Do those promises apply to Israel still, or has the church replaced Israel in those promises? Join us as we learn that God has not forsaken Israel, and has mercifully grafted in the church to many of his promises and blessings.
Scripture References: Isaiah 40:3-5; Luke 1:6; Luke 1:11; Luke 1:14; Luke 1:17-20; Luke 1:26; Luke 1:57; Luke 1:76
Scripture References: Daniel 3; Exodus 20:3-5; Romans 12:2; Psalms 9:15-17; Psalms 25:12-15
Scripture References: Joshua 24:15-21; Judges 2:16-20; Judges 3:8; Judges 4:1-24; Judges 5:12-13; Judges 5:31
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Scripture References: John 12:1-8; Luke 7:34-50
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Scripture References: Genesis 6:1-4, Joshua 2:8-11, Matthew 1:1, Matthew 1:5-6, Matthew 1:16, Romans 8:1, 1 John 1:19, 1 Peter 1:3, John 8:34, Hebrews 11:31, James 2:5, James 2:25.
Scripture References: Proverbs 6:16-19, Exodus 1:15-22, Exodus 2:1-9, Acts 7:20-22, Exodus 3:1-5, Hebrews 11:23-29
Scripture References: Ephesians 6:12, 2 Chronicles 20:9-17, 1 Corinthians 12:1, 1 Corinthians 12:8-11
Excerpt of Mario Murillo on February 21, 2014 at the American Revival Center in Martinez, CA, including prophesies about Calvary Temple and the upcoming meetings with Rev. Murillo on March 2, 2014 at Calvary Temple of Campbell.
Excerpt of Mario Murillo on February 21, 2014 at the American Revival Center in Martinez, CA, including prophesies about Calvary Temple and the upcoming meetings with Rev. Murillo on March 2, 2014 at Calvary Temple of Campbell.
Enjoy this recording containing clips of our Calvary Temple Homecoming, 25 years ago. The origins and founding of Calvary Temple is discussed at length. Please forgive the sound quality of this old cassette!