What not to do, and why.......

Both of these "not do" things, have to do with the "Chastening of the LORD"...

Chastening, seems to be used today in a more negative, or punitive way. But, it's actual meaning has more to do with simple instruction, and correction, that can include discipline, but it's not punishment.

Proverbs 3:11 My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD, Nor detest His correction;

Proverbs 3:12 For whom the LORD loves He corrects, Just as a father the son in whom he delights.

So, two things we are not to do when the LORD is chastening us.

1. Do not despise the chastening of the LORD. Which means, not to refuse, abhor, reject, run, or ignore. These are tendencies we have, these are attitudes and actions that we might want to have when the LORD is instructing us. We might want to just run away from it. But, we are being told here, that wisdom does not despise the LORD'S instruction, correction etc. Like, "I'm just not going to pay attention to this"

2. Nor detest the LORD'S correction. This means, don't be discouraged, weary, distressed, be grieved, loathe, or to have a sickening dread. Like, "I can't take this"

These are two very natural responses that we have to guard against happening in our lives.

And, now the reason why the LORD would chasten us.....It's because He loves us. He chastens those He loves, ( just as a father would to his own son in whom he delights )

God's love for us, helps us to realize why He is instructing, correcting, etc, and this realization is given to us to help us avoid these 2 tendencies to ignore it, or to be discouraged when it's happening.

Father, we love You, because You first loved us. Thank You for any and all chastening that You give to us, and please help us to avoid these 2 tendencies. In fact, would You please help us to remember Your love at these times. In Jesus name, amen.

Pastor Bob Grenier

Calvary Chapel Visalia

Applicational thoughts and promises.

1. We are saved, but still have to deal with our flesh.

2. It's the flesh that wants to ignore and be discouraged.

3. Satan does not point us to God's love during chastening.

4. The Holy Spirit is the one wrestling with our souls and minds.

5. Love for us is why God instructs us.

6. Humility and faith are needed more then ever during chastening.

7. Chastening brings good fruit when it's completed.

8. Be patient, God's plan will work itself through in our lives.

And He shall direct your paths.

The above title, "And He shall direct your paths", is a promise and application given to us by the Lord concerning what He will do in our lives.......Again, it's a promise that comes on the heels of His instruction about what we ought to do, and what He would have us to do, and what He calls us to do.

Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the Lord with all of your heart, And lean not on your own understanding.

Proverbs 3:6 In all of your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.

So, "Trust in the Lord with all of your heart".......that's the first thing that is said.....Trust here or faith in God, means, to have confidence in, to feel safe. With all of your heart means we can completely trust in Him, and not feel hesitant or unsure, we can trust Him completely.

Secondly, "And lean not on your own understanding" Seems to further explain what it is to trust in the Lord.....it's the opposite of having confidence in ourselves, or in our abilities, but to lean on Him, not ourselves.

"In all of your ways acknowledge Him" Ways, speaks of our path, the road we are on, our path etc, to acknowledge or know Him, to stay close to the Lord as we move along in our lives.

"And He shall direct your paths".....is not so much speaking about guidance as it is about making the way clear for us to travel on. Direct means to make level, to make smooth..In other words, the Lord promises to those who trust Him, that He will smooth out the road we are on, He will make it easier to move forward, He will help us travel the path He has called us to.

What a promise......Thank You Lord. We know that You will do Your part, it's our part we need help with. As You look to and fro about the earth, please look upon us as those who want to trust You, and want to know You. Help Us Lord.

Pastor Bob Grenier

Calvary Chapel Visalia

Application and promises.

1. The Lord knows what's on our road right now.

2. The Lord is inviting us to trust Him, and know Him.

3. The Lord has never let anyone down who has trusted Him.

4. The Lord has power that we cannot imagine.

5. The Lord has plans for us, that we don't know about either.

6. The Lord never changes, and is the same today as He always has been.

Blessings that the Lord gives us .....through His Word

Proverbs chapter 2 explains in many verses what the Lord gives to those who receive and treasure His word in their hearts and lives.

Here is a short list ....

He gives us wisdom, knowledge and understanding.

He stores up sound wisdom for the upright:

He is a shield to those who walk uprightly.

He guards the paths of justice,

And preserves the way of His saints.

Discretion will preserve you.

Understanding will keep you.

To deliver you from the way of evil.

From the man who speaks perverse things.

Let's focus on two of them in particular. Discretion and Understanding.

Discretion is to have purpose. And understanding is, to have insight, the act of understanding. So, the Lord will give us purpose, and He will give us insight. And through these blessings we are preserved and kept.

These are tremendous and wonderful blessings from the Lord. To have the best purpose we can have in life, that would be the purpose that comes from God, and to have God's insight about how to live in this life and world. There is no greater insight, or understanding then what the Lord gives.

These blessings ( as mentioned ) come to those who abide in God's Word, who receive God's Word, who treasure God's Word, who apply their hearts to God's Word. Who cry out for discernment. Who lift up their voice for understanding. Who seek wisdom as they would seek silver, and search for wisdom as you would for hidden treasure.

So, as we move into this weekend, may we thank God for what He does give, and may we be those who would seek after Him through His Word.

Father, everyday we have so many things to thank You for. We would like to say thank You today for Discretion and Understanding. Your purpose and Your insight. Guide our thinking today, and through this weekend to be diligent in seeking You, and searching for You in Your Word. Would you bring Your word to our minds today. Bless our pastors as they prepare to teach us the Word of God this coming Sunday. In Jesus name,

Pastor Bob Grenier

Calvary Chapel Visalia

Applicational thoughts and promises.

1. His Word is available to us.

2. The Holy Spirit will speak to us through God's Word

3. Let's have ears to hear what the Lord will say to us.

4. May we hear and then be doers of His Word today.

5. Can we share His Word with someone else today.

6. Let His Word be the start of our responding to Him in prayer.

7. His Word is what brings forth fruit in our lives.

8. May His purpose and His insight become ours today.

2 Promises from God......4 U....

The first one is found in Proverbs 1:23, "Turn at my rebuke; Surely I will pour out my spirit on you; I will make known my words to you.

The two promised blessings are conditional, they are based on our turning at the rebuke of the Lord. To turn, means to turn back, to return, to come back. This is something God will give us, and it's something we can do when needed, "to come back" to the Lord. Rebuke, means correction. So, when the Lord corrects us, we can turn back to Him, and to His ways.

Here are the two blessings. He will pour out His spirit on us, and He will make known His Words to us.

The second promise is found in Proverbs 1 also, but, it's in verse 33 where it says..... "But whoever listens to me will dwell safely, And will be secure, without fear of evil.

So, the promise here is that for the person who will listen to God ( which also means obey, and to be diligent ) they will dwell safely, and be secure without fear of evil.

Both of these promises focus upon the Lord, and upon His Spirit and His Word.

That's the trinity, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

God calls us to Himself, and promises to speak to us, to give us the work of the Holy Spirit, the comforter, to give us safety, and to keep us from destruction.

What a wonderful God we serve.

Father, thank You for the Lord Jesus Christ, for the Holy Spirit of God, and for Your promises found here in Pro 1. May we respond to You and be blessed by You this day, in the name of Jesus Christ we pray, amen.

Pastor Bob Grenier

Calvary Chapel Visalia.

Applicational thoughts and promises.

1. God is especially interested in getting you back .

2. He makes it possible for us to turn back to Him.

3. He has more for us then we can imagine.

4. He will fill us, He will speak to us.

5. He will watch over us and protect us.

6. If you don't want to come back to Him, He can change your heart

7. God's promises are sure and steadfast, they cannot be broken by Him.

8. What is the Lord saying to you right now, this very minute?

9. Will you respond to Him? He loves you so.

"If" you have been foolish..........

For me, I would not say, "if", but yes, of course I have been, in fact, many times.

As I read in my devotions this morning, these verses stood out to me.

Proverbs 30:32 If you have been foolish in exalting yourself, Or if you have devised evil, put your hand to your mouth.

Proverbs 30:33 For as the churning of milk produces butter, And as wringing the nose produces blood, So the forcing of wrath produces strife.

We tend to exalt ourselves, it comes naturally, it's really the problem of the "pride of life" Jesus talked about it so often, and we have so many examples of it in the Old Testament.

And, if we have devised or thought evil, yes, of course we have, then here is what we ought to do, and why.

We should put our hand on our mouths, that is, stop it. That's the simple instruction the Lord gives us here. If it's coming out of your mouth, put your hand on your mouth and stop it.

Then, the reason.........just like the churning of milk produces butter, if we do not exercise self control, and we are tempted to anger, and do not exercise self-control, it will produce wrath.

Self control, is part of the fruit of the Holy Spirit. He lives in us, to help us in so many ways. This is a big area where He can help. Self control, is when He helps us to master ourselves, and to restrain ourselves, to have control of ourselves.

The Bible teaches us that the Holy Spirit is our Helper, not the one who condemns us. He has come into our lives, to come alongside of us and to take our hearts as it were by His hand, to lead us and to guide us.

One of the main ways the Holy Spirit guides us, is to lead us to the forgiveness of God. The Bibles says in 1st John 1:7, But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.

So, may the Lord be our helper today. We all have done foolishly, more times then we care to think about. But, the Lord has not given up on you, and will never give up on you. One thing He will do for you, for sure, is to help you.

Lord, thank You for having the Holy Spirit live inside of us, and for being our Helper. We confess our sins to You, and ask for cleansing, and strength. May we walk in that self control that You give to us. In Jesus name, amen..........

Pastor Bob Grenier

Calvary Chapel Visalia

Practical Application and promises from God.

1. Remember, God does not condemn you.

2. Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.

3. Take God's hand as it were, and let Him lead you today.

4. God is going to finish what He started in your life.

5. Be merciful to others, they may need more help then you do.

6. Jesus came to save, not condemn, let's try and act just like Him.

IMG_0226

IMG_0226, a photo by pastorbobgrenier on Flickr.

pastorbobgrenier's photostream

pastorbobgrenier's photostream on Flickr.

When you don’t want to do God’s will for your life.

If your feeling this way, you are not alone. Even our Lord Jesus Christ experienced this very thing in His own life.

As you can see from Mark 14:36 it says, “And He said, Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Take this cup away from Me; nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will”

When Jesus was facing the cross, in one sense He did not want to go through with it. It’s a mystery to us, because in other places in the Bible its speaks of Jesus coming into the world to do just that thing, to go to the cross to die for our sins and bring us salvation. But, in another sense, it’s clear that He did not want to go through with it. So, your not alone. But, please notice what He did. He said nevertheless, which means, yet, or notwithstanding, and rather. It’s a word of transition.

It means, I don’t want to do one thing, but let me move to another thought. And that thought is, regardless of what I want, I will do what You want me to do. And that is my supreme desire, it’s to carry out Your will.

So, the next time you are conflicted about doing the will of God, may God help you to follow the example of Jesus Christ. Don’t focus on what you don’t want to do, but rather on what God wants you to do. Ask God to help you. He will give you the grace in that moment.

Father, many things are easier said then done. And, this may be one of them. But, we know Lord, that when You call us to something, we are able to do it. Not by our strength, but by Yours.

In Jesus name.

Pastor Bob Grenier

Calvary Chapel Visalia

Applicational thoughts

1. God’s grace is sufficient to help us.

2. When we are at the end of our rope, there is no where to turn but to God.

3. Be encouraged, remember times in the past when God has delivered you.

4. Don’t be condemned, many others have had the same experience.

5. Remember, there is no condemnation to those in Christ Jesus

6. God is Your helper, be patient, He will help you.

Don't do what you want to do.....

Pr 20:22 Do not say, “I will recompense evil”; Wait for the LORD, and He will save you.

Pr 24:29* Do not say, “I will do to him just as he has done to me; I will render to the man according to his work.”

Many times in the Bible the Lord ( for our own good, and to give us His wisdom ) tells us what not to do, or what not to say. In the case of these two verses, that's what's being said to us. "Do not say etc, etc."

Both of these verses have to do with what we might tend to say, or tend to do, when someone has done something evil to us.

In Pro 20:22 We are told, "Do not say I will recompense evil"......Or don't say, I'm going to pay that person back. But rather "Wait for the Lord, and He will save you" To wait here means, to wait expectantly, and the Lord will rescue you.

In Pro 24:29, is pretty much a repetition. It's telling us in no uncertain terms to "Not to do to the other person what they have done to you"

Back to the Lord for a moment. He promises to save or rescue you in situations like what's described above. God has a plan, and He will come through in His plan, in His time, and in the meantime, it's best to follow His guidance and instruction. Don’t say or do what you might want to say or do.

In the NT, we are also told that "Vengeance belongs to the Lord"......It's not our responsiblity to pay people back for what they have done to us. We are to leave that with the Lord, that is His business.

Ro 12:19 Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.

We are beloved by the Lord, though not by others. Don’t avenge, ( to exact penalty from another ), but rather give place to wrath...It’s the Lord’s business.....He will repay.

Father, thank You for Your Word, it fits to our lives so well, and deals with the needs that we have from day to day. We love you, In Jesus name, amen.

Pastor Bob Grenier

Calvary Chapel Visalia

Practical Applicational thoughts

1. It's best sometimes to not say what you want to say to someone.

2. We don't have to follow the world's example of dealing with evil and offense.

3. The Lord has allowed your situation, and He will rescue you in due time.

4. Be patient when in a trial, God is faithful, He will help you.

5. By obeying the Lord, you will not make the situation worse then it already is.