"SHARING GRACE THROUGH SCRIPTURE ABOUT THE NATURE AND WORKS OF OUR GOD"

"SHARING GRACE THROUGH SCRIPTURE ABOUT THE NATURE AND WORKS OF OUR GOD"

Psalm 145:8 “The LORD is gracious and full of compassion, Slow to anger and great in mercy.”

Psalm 145:9 “The LORD is good to all, And His tender mercies are over all His works.”

Taken from today's reading in "The One Year Bible”.

1. The LORD is gracious and full of compassion.

Psalm 145:8 “The LORD is gracious and full of compassion, Slow to anger and great in mercy.”

What this means, is that the Lord is kind and He is merciful.

Gracious is kindness.

Compassion is mercy.

God is these things and so much more.

But this is our God.

He is kind and He is merciful.

Thank You, Lord God.

2. The LORD is slow to anger and great in mercy.

Psalm 145:8 “The LORD is gracious and full of compassion, Slow to anger and great in mercy.”

Additionally (and there are infinite truths about our God).

He is very slow to get angry.

He does not fly off the proverbial handle as it were.

And, He is full of unfailing love.

He does not fail, no never fails to be who He is.

He does not change

He is always slow to anger.

He is always full of unfailing love..

3. The LORD is good to all.

Psalm 145:9 “The LORD is good to all, And His tender mercies are over all His works.”

Please notice what the Lord is to everyone.

He is good to all.

Or He is good to everyone. 

That everyone includes us.

He also showers compassion on all His creation.

He is as we saw full of compassion

He is all these things to us and more.

Some Questions:

1. Isn't it a wonderful blessing to read and learn about our God?

2. Don't these truths simply thrill and bless your heart and mind?

3. Do you know for sure that these truths about God are true for you?

A Prayer:

Father, You are not like us. You are above us, You are above all, and different than all of Your creation.

There is none like You.

Thank You for being so kind.

Thank You for being so merciful.

Thank You for being slow to anger

Thank You for Your unfailing love.

Thank You for being good to everyone (to us, Lord, to us),

Thank You for being so generous with Your compassion.

Thank You that one day we will see You face to face.

In Jesus’ name, amen

Pastor Bob Grenier

Calvary Chapel Visalia

"SHARING GRACE FOR TODAY THROUGH SCRIPTURE ABOUT THE BLESSED HOPE WE HAVE IN OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST"

"SHARING GRACE FOR TODAY THROUGH SCRIPTURE ABOUT THE BLESSED HOPE WE HAVE IN OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST"

Zechariah 4:3 “And now the LORD says: I am returning to Mount Zion, and I will live in Jerusalem. Then Jerusalem will be called the Faithful City; the mountain of the LORD Almighty will be called the Holy Mountain.”

Zechariah 4:4 “This is what the LORD Almighty says: Once again old men and women will walk Jerusalem’s streets with a cane and sit together in the city squares.”

Zechariah 4:5 “And the streets of the city will be filled with boys and girls at play.”

Zechariah 4:6 “This is what the LORD Almighty says: All this may seem impossible to you now, a small and discouraged remnant of God’s people. But do you think this is impossible for me, the LORD Almighty?”

Zechariah 4:7 “This is what the LORD Almighty says: You can be sure that I will rescue my people from the east and from the west.”

Zechariah 4:8 “I will bring them home again to live safely in Jerusalem. They will be my people, and I will be faithful and just toward them as their God.”

Zechariah 4:9 “This is what the LORD Almighty says: Take heart and finish the task! You have heard what the prophets have been saying about building the Temple of the LORD Almighty ever since the foundation was laid.”

Taken from today's reading in "The One Year Bible”.

1. We have a glorious future awaiting us when Christ returns to the earth.

Zechariah 4:3” And now the LORD says: I am returning to Mount Zion, and I will live in Jerusalem. Then Jerusalem will be called the Faithful City; the mountain of the LORD Almighty will be called the Holy Mountain.”

Zechariah 4:4 “This is what the LORD Almighty says: Once again old men and women will walk Jerusalem’s streets with a cane and sit together in the city squares.”

Zechariah 4:5 “And the streets of the city will be filled with boys and girls at play.”

These verses have a dual application.

They speak of God's returning the captives back to Jerusalem, and blessing them.

But they also speak of God's plan for His people during the 1000 years that Jesus will be reigning on the earth following His return to the earth.

Please notice some of the blessings that are mentioned.

Christ is returning

He will live in Jerusalem.

God will populate Jerusalem with His people.

There will be a blessed life taking place to say the least.

2. What we think is impossible is nothing for the Lord to accomplish.

Zechariah 4:6 “This is what the LORD Almighty says: All this may seem impossible to you now, a small and discouraged remnant of God’s people. But do you think this is impossible for me, the LORD Almighty?”

Zechariah 4:7 “This is what the LORD Almighty says: You can be sure that I will rescue my people from the east and from the west.”

Zechariah 4:8 “I will bring them home again to live safely in Jerusalem. They will be my people, and I will be faithful and just toward them as their God.”

Having a blessed future may seem impossible especially if you are discouraged right now,

But God asks us to think if anything is impossible for Him.

After all He is the LORD God Almighty.

There is no one greater than Him.

Our God promises to rescue us from all parts of the earth.

We can be sure of that promise. 

One day we will be brought to God's home for us in Jerusalem. 

We will live safely there.

We will be God's people

God will be faithful and just towards us.

3. God wants us to take heart and finish our work here and now.

Zechariah 4:9 “This is what the LORD Almighty says: Take heart and finish the task! You have heard what the prophets have been saying about building the Temple of the LORD Almighty ever since the foundation was laid.”

In the meantime, as we are down here on the earth, here's what the Lord says to us.

Take heart and finish the task.

Or be courageous and complete the work that God has given you to do now. 

We have the blessing of God's Word through His prophets to encourage us. 

God's plans are given to us in the Bible.

Believing them, is what gives us strength and hope

Questions:

1. Do you give much thought to the future beyond this life?

2. Do you know the Bible speaks of Jesus ruling on the earth with His people for 1000 Years?

3. Do you know the Bible's description of this time will be a life better than the garden of Eden?

4. Are you by chance discouraged at this time in your life?

5. Do you know that You can find strength hope and courage from and in God's precious Word?

A Prayer:

Lord, thank You for telling us what the future holds. What a glorious future we have waiting for us. 

The best is yet to come that is for sure. And You are faithful to finish what You started and what You have promised.

Lord, help us to not focus on the seeming impossibilities that may be in our lives now, but rather to focus upon You and Your faithfulness and plans for us. You have promised to rescue us and to bless us. Thank You, Father. In the name of Your Son Jesus Christ, amen.

Pastor Bob Grenier

Calvary Chapel Visalia

"SHARING GRACE THROUGH SCRIPTURE ABOUT GOD HELPING YOU WITH SEEMING IMPOSSIBILITIES"

"SHARING GRACE THROUGH SCRIPTURE ABOUT GOD HELPING YOU WITH SEEMING IMPOSSIBILITIES"

Zechariah 4:6 “So he answered and said to me: “This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ Says the LORD of hosts.”

Zechariah 4:7 “Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain! And he shall bring forth the capstone With shouts of “Grace, grace to it!””

Taken from today's reading in The One Year Bible.

1. God encourages us with His power was face challenges and seemingly impossible tasks.

Zechariah 4:6 “So he answered and said to me: “This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ Says the LORD of hosts.”

Zechariah was involved in the rebuilding of God's temple.

It was no easy task.

In fact, it was a very difficult task, fraught with challenges beyond his ability.

God was encouraging Zechariah that the project would be accomplished.

And, God was explaining to Zechariah that it would not be by man's power, but by God. 

Thus, God told him ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ Says the LORD of hosts.

So our work for the Lord is not to be finished or accomplished in our strength and power but His.

God's Holy Spirit is the one who gives us the power we need to do the work God sets before us. 

What a joy and a blessing and relief it is to depend on God and not ourselves.

2. God's perspective is that nothing is too hard for Him, and when He works we recognize it's His grace.

Zechariah 4:7 “Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain! And he shall bring forth the capstone With shouts of “Grace, grace to it!””

A mountain is a great thing.

It's an awesome thing.

And, it can be a foreboding obstacle. 

But nothing is too hard for the Lord. 

In other words, God was encouraging Zerubbabel not to be discouraged by the mountainous trouble in front of him.

This will not stand in your way.

God will flatten the mountain out.

And the project would be finished.

And when the project was finished, Zerubbabel and the people would have shouts of Joy. 

Saying, grace, grace to it. 

Or may God bless it, may God bless it.

Questions:

1. Are you in God's will at this time and facing a great challenge?

2. Do you recognize that being in God's will does not mean we will not have challenges?

3. Are you struggling perhaps by leaning to yourself for what's needed?

4. Do you know that God wants to help you?

5. Do you know that God will help you?

6. Will you ask God for His strength, His power and the work of the Holy Spirit right not to finish this work?

A Prayer:

Father, thank You for speaking to us through Your Word. And thank You that we really hear You especially when we get ourselves into a bind. You are so gracious to remind us of Your wanting to help, and to give us power and strength.

You called us to do Your work, but You did not call us to do Your work in our power and strength, rather in Your power and strength. Thank You for the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in our lives. We ask in the name of Jesus for a fresh outpouring of His power in our lives this very day. Thank You, Father. In the name of Your Son Jesus, amen.

Pastor Bob Grenier

Calvary Chapel Visalia.

"SHARING GRACE THROUGH SCRIPTURE ABOUT A BEAUTIFUL PRAYER IN THE BIBLE"

"SHARING GRACE THROUGH SCRIPTURE ABOUT A BEAUTIFUL PRAYER IN THE BIBLE"

Psalm 141:8 “But my eyes are upon You, O GOD the Lord; In You I take refuge; Do not leave my soul destitute.”

Psalm 141:9 “Keep me from the snares they have laid for me, And from the traps of the workers of iniquity.”

Psalm 141:10 “Let the wicked fall into their own nets, While I escape safely.”

Taken from today's reading in "The One Year Bible”.

1. We can like the Psalmist keep our eyes on the Lord.

Psalm 141:8 “But my eyes are upon You, O GOD the Lord; In You I take refuge; Do not leave my soul destitute.”

The idea here and the meaning is "I look to You for help O Sovereign LORD.

That's what it means to keep our eyes on the Lord.

It means to ask for help, and to look to God for help.

He is over all and can therefore help us.

2. We also can take refuge in our God.

Psalm 141:8 “But my eyes are upon You, O GOD the Lord; In You I take refuge; Do not leave my soul destitute.”

How wonderful is this truth?

God is our refuge.

We can hide ourselves in Him. 

We can take shelter in God. 

We can ask God to help us to not be harmed by those who wish us harm, even those who would want to kill us.

3. We can ask God to keep us from the snares of the wicked.

Psalm 141:9 “Keep me from the snares they have laid for me, And from the traps of the workers of iniquity.”

God is also able to keep us safe from the snares the wicked lay for us.

Wicked people do set snares for the righteous.

But, the righteous can look to God for help against the wicked.

God can even keep us completely out of their traps. 

He can keep us out of the snares of those who do evil.

4. We also know what God says will happen to the wicked.

Psalm 141:10 “Let the wicked fall into their own nets, While I escape safely.”

God has a plan for everyone.

Everyone can have whatever plan God has for them.

Each person basically chooses what their future will be like.

God wants them to choose His plan.

But, if a person refuses the grace of god then they will fall into their own snares.

And the person who accepts God's plan and grace in Jesus Christ escapes the snares of evil.

Questions:

1. Isn't it wonderful that we can look to God for help in any situation?

2. Are you in a situation at this time where you desperately need God's help?

3. Do you know that He welcomes you to call upon Him, because He loves You?

4. And, do you know that You can live in peace and confidence concerning the future?

5. How great is the grace of God that He takes care of us now, and will forever and ever?

A Prayer:

Lord God, You Yourself have made the way to Yourself through our having faith in Your Son Jesus Christ.

Thank You, Jesus, for dying for our sins, and coming into our lives as Savior and, Lord, when we turned to You and believed in You. How wonderful that You shepherd us and watch over us day by day. Even trouble is used by You to transform and bless our lives. Thank You for being so faithful each day of our lives. 

We look so forward to seeing Your wonderful and glorious face. In Jesus’ name.

Pastor Bob Grenier

Calvary Chapel Visalia