"SHARING HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE ABOUT GOD'S WISDOM (3 TRUTHS) FROM PROVERBS"

"SHARING HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE ABOUT GOD'S WISDOM (3 TRUTHS) FROM PROVERBS"

Proverbs 13:12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick, But when the desire comes, it is a tree of life.

Proverbs 13:13 He who despises the word will be destroyed, But he who fears the commandment will be rewarded.

Proverbs 13:14 The law of the wise is a fountain of life, To turn one away from the snares of death.

Some explanatory thoughts/application, and a prayer:

1. Pro13:12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick, But when the desire comes, it is a tree of life. There are two things said here. One has to do with disappointment, and one has to do with joy.

(1) When what we hope for is deferred, or prolonged, or drawn away, or to be postponed is the idea, this will make our hearts sick. To be heart sick, means to be weak, grieved, in pain, to travail. We might call it depression today. Isn't that what happens?. We are hoping for something to come to pass and when it does not, we are very sad.

(2) But, please notice the second part of the verse. Pro 13:12b But when the desire comes, it is a tree of life. Or to say it another way, "but when dreams come true, there is life and joy." Let me say two things here. First all of we can commit all of our hopes and desires to the Lord. He knows what is best for us. And, by letting Him have all of our hopes and desires we are pleasing Him by trusting Him. Secondly, please know that God is faithful, and in His own time, and in His own way, He is going to bring what He wants to to pass. And, one day, can you imagine the life and joy we will experience when our hope of seeing Jesus face to face is realized.

2. Proverbs 13:13 He who despises the word will be destroyed, But he who fears the commandment will be rewarded. This verse gives us God's wisdom about our attitude towards His Word. One leads to destruction, and the other to reward.

(1) Pro13:13 He who despises the word will be destroyed. To say it another way, "People who despise advice will find themselves in trouble;"

(2) The choice of which attitude we are going to have is up to us. And, the consequences of those choices are set in stone.

(3) Despising, or to disrespect the Word, will lead to trouble. The person who does not respect and obey God's Word will get themselves in trouble.

(4) Fearing, or respecting, obeying, submitting to God's Word will bring reward. Or they will find themselves succeeding in life, rather than being destroyed.

3. Proverbs 13:14 The law of the wise is a fountain of life, To turn one away from the snares of death.This verse does not compare or contrast any truth, but rather tells us two things about what God's Word does in the life of a believer who actually trusts and obeys God.

(1) Pro13:14a The law of the wise is a fountain of life, or, the advice of the wise is like a life-giving fountain. Isn't that wonderful and encouraging. God can and will give us wise counsel from His word through wise people. His Word itself is a fountain of life. God certainly paints helpful Word pictures for us. A fountain of life. Indeed it is.

(2) Pro 13:14b To turn one away from the snares of death. In other words, if a person accepts the Word of God, that is to believe it, and to do it. then, it will cause them to avoid the snares of death. There are so many snares set by Satan. And, if a person is in the Word, trusting and acting on the Word, those snares will not get them.
Life can be like a mine field. But, God's Word will show you where those mines are located so you can stay away from them, and not be damaged by them.

(3) Seek good counsel, seek the advice of good and wise, and Godly Christian friends. Associate with wise people, and take their advice to heart, it will keep you safe. Here are a few Scriptures along this line.

Pr 5:1 My son, pay attention to my wisdom; listen carefully to my wise counsel.

Pr 6:22 Wherever you walk, their counsel can lead you. When you sleep, they will protect you. When you wake up in the morning, they will advise you.

Pr 8:33 Listen to my counsel and be wise. Don’t ignore it.

Pr 20:18 Plans succeed through good counsel; don’t go to war without the advice of others.

Pr 27:9 The heartfelt counsel of a friend is as sweet as perfume and incense.

A prayer:

Father, thank You for the Book of Proverbs. It's filled with the best wisdom we could find anywhere in this world. It's Your wisdom Lord, and You tell us that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. So, Lord, we want to fear You and then find Your wisdom, and Your knowledge. Thank You again, and may we not be forgetful hearers, but faithful doers of Your Word. In Jesus name, amen.

Pastor Bob Grenier
Calvary Chapel Visalia

"SHARING HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE ABOUT GOD'S WILL"

"SHARING HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE ABOUT GOD'S WILL"

Romans 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God"

Some explanatory thoughts/application, and a prayer:

1. Paul is telling us in no uncertain terms how a christian can know the will of God. By the way, the phrase "will of God" actually means "what is pleasing to God" It's interesting to think of it in this way. How to know what is pleasing to God. Or, that our Father is pleased when we walk and live a certain way.

2. This verse is telling us what is required on our part to personally know what is pleasing to our Father, how we can enter into the personal knowledge of what God's will is for our lives, Let's take a closer look at what is said here.

(1) Rom 12:2a "And do not be conformed to this world" Or, don't copy the behavior and customs of this world. The world here is not the physical and beautiful creation around us, but rather that mindset that unbelievers have. They live as if there is no God, and they are basically given over to three things. They do what they want to do. They get what they want to get, and they become what they want to become. God is saying, that's not how to live if you want to know His will.

(2) Rom 12:2b "But be transformed by the renewing of your mind" Or, let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think" There is a change that God will bring about in our lives as we allow His Word into our lives, and as we seek to understand it, and obey it. When we do that on a consistent basis, we will experience a real transformation in our lives. God will change us into what He wants us to be, by renewing our mind. We will not think the way we used to think, but we will think the way He wants us to think, we will have the mind of Christ.

(3) Rom 12:2c "That you prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God" Or, then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. The process of coming to know God's will is kind of like what happens in a baseball game. If you want to get to home plate, then you have to hit the ball, and then make your way to 1st, 2nd, 3rd and then home plate. You will have then scored a run. It's first things first you might say.

(4) In closing, as you can see there are some steps we must take if we are to know the will of God for our lives. And, just like in a baseball game, we must play by the rules. And, God has shown us here just how we can know His will. In fact, He has more than just shown us, it's actually a promise that we will. And, it's an expression of what He wants in our lives. He wants us to be blessed, and we are blessed beyond anything else we could possibly be, when we are knowing and walking in the will of God for our lives. So, if we will follow His instruction given to us here in Rom 12:2, we have God's guarantee that we will find ourselves right were God wants us to be.

A prayer:

Father, You have been so merciful to us. You have come to us while we were dead in our sins, and You have made us alive together with Christ. By Your grace, through faith we have become Your children. And, as adopted children living in Christ, You have something very pleasing to You. It's Your will for our lives, and for situations, and circumstances that we are in. Thank You that there is a clear cut path for us to follow that leads us into what is pleasing to You. Help us Lord to have the personal resolve, to follow Your Word and Your ways, for surely they lead us into that which is pleasing to You, and if it's pleasing to You, it will certainly be the greatest blessing we can experience in our lives. We love You Father, in the name of Jesus.

Pastor Bob Grenier
Calvary Chapel Visalia.

"SHARING HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE ABOUT THE BLESSINGS OF OBEDIENCE"

"SHARING HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE ABOUT THE BLESSINGS OF OBEDIENCE"

John 13:17 “If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.

Some explanatory thoughts/application, and a prayer:

1. This verse came from our Lord, as He was eating the passover dinner, just before His arrest and mock trial, leading to his death on the cross. May I encourage you to take a look at all the verses leading up to the one posted here. Just start in John 13:1, and then you will see what Jesus was talking about when He said, "If you know these things" etc. But, let's zero in on this one verse, and see what Jesus said. Because what He said is truly one of God's great keys to happiness.

(1) John 13:17a “If you know these things" Know here means, to perceive, to see, to perceive by the senses, it really is simply speaking of our understanding what He was saying. The things Jesus was talking about cover a wide range of subjects. For example, His love, His authority, His coming from God, and about to go back to God.
His being a servant, His being the teacher of God's Word, His call for His disciples to follow His example as a servant. And, there were many other things mentioned after 3:17. But, the above is a short list of what He meant when He said, "These things"

(2) John 13:17 “If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them. The word blessed, means happy, or happiness. In fact, it means, supremely blessed, to be fortunate, to be well off, to be happier. Now, if you look at the verse again, you will see that Jesus connects knowing, doing and blessed, or happy together. Look again please at what He said. John 13:17 “If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.

(3) Here's the same verse in the NLT Version. John 13:17 You know these things--now do them! That is the path of blessing. In fact, the disciples did know these things. Just as you and I know many things the Lord has taught us. So, in one sense, it's not a question of needing to know something, for we already do know many things, but rather, we are encouraged to take what we know, and to do them.

(4) Jesus was making the connection between what we know, and blessing. And, the pathway to blessing is simply doing what we know to do. Or being obedient to the Word of God. Obedience to God brings blessings into our lives.

(5) Here are a number of verses that say the same thing. Please remember, that blessed, means happy.

Jer 7:23 “But this is what I commanded them, saying, ‘Obey My voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be My people. And walk in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well with you.’

Ps 34:8 Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!

Ps 106:3* Blessed are those who keep justice, And he who does righteousness at all times!

Ps 112:1* Praise the LORD! Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, Who delights greatly in His commandments.

Ps 119:1* ALEPH. Blessed are the undefiled in the way, Who walk in the law of the LORD!

Ps 119:2 Blessed are those who keep His testimonies, Who seek Him with the whole heart!

Pr 8:34 Blessed is the man who listens to me, Watching daily at my gates, Waiting at the posts of my doors.

Jer 17:7 “Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, And whose hope is the LORD.

Mt 24:46 “Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing.

1Sa 15:22 Then Samuel said: “Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, As in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of rams.

1Pe 1:22* Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart,

(6) So, just in summary, who does not want to be happy in their lives? I've never met anyone who does not want the blessings of being happy. What Jesus told us, is that being obedient to Him, and to His Word, is indeed the pathway to happiness. So, knowing what the Lord has said, and doing it, lead to our personal happiness.

A prayer:

Father, indeed, Your ways are above our ways, and Your thoughts are not ours. Your ways are right and true altogether. You have shown us Lord, that the desire for happiness is actually fulfilled not by direct pursuit of it, but rather by being obedient to You, and to the things You have taught us, and the things we know from Your Word. Thank You Father for bringing blessings into our lives. Thank You for Your wonderful Word that teaches us all about You. Lord, help us to not only know Your Word, but to understand it, and give each of us the personal resolve to be obedient to You Lord. In Jesus name, amen.

Pastor Bob Grenier
Calvary Chapel Visalia

"SHARING HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE FOR THOSE WITH HURTING MARRIAGES"

"SHARING HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE FOR THOSE WITH HURTING MARRIAGES"

1st Peter 3:7 Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered.

Some explanatory thoughts/application, and a prayer:

1. Peter has been speaking to wives in the first 6 verses of this chapter, but now he addresses the husbands, giving very clear, concise, and simple instruction on how a husband is to live with his wife, and how he is to treat her, and the blessings they both have in Christ. Let's take a close look at what God has said to us through the apostle Peter.

(1) 1st Peter 3:7a "Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding". The idea here is that of the husband treating his wife with honor and understanding. In other words, just as the wife has responsibilities from the Lord as to how she is to live with her husband, the Lord has similar responsibilities for the husband. And, the idea here again, is that of "consideration" Or with an intelligent recognition of the relationship you have with your wife. Or, try the best you can to understand her. All the while honoring her.

(2) 1st Peter 3:7b  "as to the weaker vessel" Peter is not suggesting at all that the woman is weaker intellectually, but rather physically. While not popular in our modern day culture to say this, it's a simple truth, that women are not as strong physically as men are. And, it's important for a husband as he seeks to honor his wife, and understand her, that he is aware of her physical limitations as compared with his own. She is simply weaker physically than you are.

(3) 1st Peter 3:7c. "and as being heirs together of the grace of life," Here's something else the husband is to understand, that though there are differences between them, there is this similarity ( that is assuming the wife has come to faith in Jesus Christ, and is born again ) that they are both joint heirs of the grace of God. God has bestowed His unmerited favor upon both the husband and the wife. Both are equal partners in God's gift of new life. In other words in this matter you are equals.

(4) 1st Peter 3:7d. " that your prayers may not be hindered." There are different opinions as to just exactly what this means. But, many believe that what Peter is saying here, is that unless a husband treats his wife the way God wants him to, prayers (either the husbands prayers, or the husband and wife praying together ) will be difficult, and or hindered. God wants prayer to be heard, and not just run into the ground as it were. He wants both husband and wife to be unhindered in their ability to pray. It's not to hard to understand for example that if a husband is failing in his duties to his wife, and then asks her to pray with him, she might be resentful and not really be able to put her heart into it. And, on the other hand, if the husband is failing in his duties, he himself will probably not be too inclined to pray. So, loving your wife the way God wants the husband to, will help in the overall communication with God Himself.

(5) God has called the husband to love his wife as his own body, and to lead her by serving her. In fact, the actual first priority in the husbands life, ought to be his wife. My what a difference it makes in a marriage that is hurting when the husband willingly and joyfully and consistently takes his responsibilities seriously, and serves his wife in a sincere way.

A prayer:

Father, thank You for marriage. It's not good for us to be alone. You have created this wonderful union with our spouses. And, yet Lord there can be so much hurt and difficulty that can find it's way into a marriage. Lord, You are the creator of marriage, and Your Word gives us all the instruction we need on how to act within the marriage. You also provide us with the power of Your Holy Spirit to carry out a life that is pleasing to You. So, today Lord, we pray for hurting marriages and ask that anyone reading this who is in a hurting marriage might just pause now, and acknowledge You, and ask for Your wisdom, grace, power and mercy. In Jesus name, amen.

Pastor Bob Grenier
Calvary Chapel Visalia.

"SHARING HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE FOR THOSE FACING CRISIS"

"SHARING HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE FOR THOSE FACING CRISIS"

2nd Cor 3:17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,

2nd Cor 3:18 while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Some explanatory thoughts/application, and a prayer:

1. Paul does not skirt the issue of trouble and afflictions, but he does put them into a perspective for us.
He looks at them from the perspective of time, ( what we are living in right now ) and eternity, ( where we as followers of Jesus Christ ) are headed. Let's take a look at what he says, for it's very, very comforting. We will just take these 2 verses, and break them down.

(1) 2nd Cor 3:17a For our light affliction, which is but for a moment. Or to put it another way, "For our present troubles are quite small and won’t last very long." One of the reasons this is true, is that out lives is found in
James 4:14 whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.

Time really does fly by doesn't it. Maybe not in the moment, in the time of your crisis, but before you know it, what you are going through will be in the past, and you will think, "wow, time has really gone by"

(2) 2nd Cor 3:17b is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. Or, Yet they produce for us an immeasurably great glory that will last forever! The point here, is that this present affliction, this crisis God is allowing you to go through has a purpose. And, it's a purpose that extends beyond this life into the next. The crisis is in fact a trial, and like all trials as we respond to them according to what God says, He will use them for our benefit. Normally, it's to develop character, but here, Paul is saying that these afflictions are producing something that will meet us in heaven, in glory. They are working to produce for us immeasurably great glory that will last forever! So, this verse is connecting the dot between right now, and the eternal future awaiting you.

(3) 2nd Cor 3:18a while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. Or again, to look at it another way. So we don’t look at the troubles we can see right now; rather, we look forward to what we have not yet seen. This is telling us about faith. Faith is trusting God, and in this case, it's encouraging us to look to our hope, and to look into the eternal, to look ahead, and put the present into a greater perspective.

We are taught here about the fact that we can look at the invisible things that are eternal. We can look forward to that which we have not yet seen. So often we get stuck just looking at what is going on. It's such a blessing to step outside at night and look up at the moon, and the stars. Wow, that really gives you a new perspective on infinity, and the greatness of what God has created.

Psalm 8:3 When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have ordained,
Psalm 8:4 What is man that You are mindful of him, And the son of man that You visit him?.

(4) 2nd Cor 3:18b For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.
What we can see is only temporary, like the crisis, or the affliction you may be going through right now. But, the things that you cannot see ( though they exist ) are eternal. Put another way, "rather, we look forward to what we have not yet seen. For the troubles we see will soon be over, but the joys to come will last forever".

Through faith, we can see the eternal as it were. And, this gives us perspective. There is more to our lives than the crisis, or the afflictions we go through here, waiting to be with the Lord. This is our hope. And, our troubles will soon be over, but the joys that are coming, they are going to last forever. So, crisis's are temporary, and the joy of eternity with Christ is forever, and forever.

(5) Here are some other verse's along this line.

Ps 16:9* Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices; My flesh also will rest in hope.

Ac 2:26 Therefore my heart rejoiced, and my tongue was glad; Moreover my flesh also will rest in hope.

Ro 5:2* through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

Ro 8:20* For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope;

Ro 12:12* rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer;

Tit 1:2* in hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began,

A prayer:

Father, it's so easy to forget You, and to forget eternity, and to forget the plans and the purpose, and the blessings that You have for us. We pray today, for anyone ( including ourselves ) who might be in a crisis of some sort, some affliction, and pray that the truth of these verses might bring Your perspective into their, ( our ) lives. Bless with the joy of the future. Thank You Lord. In Jesus name.

Pastor Bob Grenier
Calvary Chapel Visalia.

"SHARING HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE FOR LONELY HEARTS"

"SHARING HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE FOR LONELY HEARTS"

1st Cor 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

Some explanatory thoughts/application, and a prayer:

1. This is promise from God to His children. Let's take a close look at what is said in this verse.

(1) "No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man;" Or put another way, "the temptations that come into your life are no different from what others experience." This is comforting and helpful. Because, when we are going through a time of trial or temptation, we can often feel and think that we are the only ones going through such a situation. But, not so. Other's go through temptations and trials as well.
The fact is, these things are common to man.

(2) "but God is faithful," Or God is dependable and can be trusted. So, if you are in a trial right now, a temptation, related to having a lonely heart, Your God is Faithful. He is with You, and You can count on Him. Paul goes on now to explain what You can count on God to do since He is faithful and dependable.

(3) "who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able," Or again, to put it another way, "He will keep the temptation from becoming so strong that you can’t stand up against it." This is one thing we can always depend on. God knows your limitations. It may seem otherwise, but God's Word is the truth about everything.

(4) "but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it." Again, to say it another way, "When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you will not give in to it." It is not saying, that God will take you out of the trial or temptation, but that in it, He will show you a way to bear it.
Remember, He is faithful and can be depended on, and He never lives, it's impossible for Him to lie.

(5) One last thing that is not in this verse, but it's all through Scripture, that God will use our trials and temptations to help us grow and become strong and stedfast. That's why the Bible says in

James 1:2 Dear brothers and sisters, whenever trouble comes your way, let it be an opportunity for joy.

James 1:3 For when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.

James 1:4 So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be strong in character and ready for anything.

A prayer:

Father, thank You for being faithful to us. Thank You for speaking to us in and through Your Word. Thank You that Your Word is truth, and that You cannot lie. Thank You for this promise. And, we pray this morning for all those we know ( and it could be ourselves ) who have a lonely heart, that this wonderful verse would be a real comfort and help to them at this time. Please make it hit home like never before. In Jesus name . Amen.

Pastor Bob Grenier
Calvary Chapel Visalia.