It is our goal here at Calvary Chapel to help Christians grow in the knowledge and love of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. So we would like to encourage you to listen in as Pastor Rich Chapman teaches verse by verse from the Word of God.
Reading the feed…
Jesus did not just hang around sinners to fit in. He was on a mission. Do you realize that you are on a mission too? You were not put here just to hang around waiting to go to heaven. Jesus' message of repentance is offensive to some but may we spread it!
When you offer the little you do have, Jesus uses it. Be available and ask what you can do and listen for His voice. He may have to break you in order to multiply your gifts. When you serve others, God blesses you also. Be a server for Jesus.
Jesus is the one who conquers death. He has repeatedly demonstrated his deep compassion for us, even paying the price for our sin by dying for us. Given all this, it is a simple thing to tell people about our story of faith, but first we need to have one.
In this passage we see that the centurion loved his servant, was humble enough to ask for help, and had tremendous faith, believing Jesus could heal with just a word. Jesus is the same today as He was then and so we should submit to His authority.
To obtain peace in the church we must respect its leadership by accepting their authority, be mindful of one another and correct those who live in an unruly manner, be obedient to God's will for us, and be cautious when fellow believers give us advice.
Our character and conduct are our spiritual “fruit.” What we store up in our hearts governs how we act. If he is our Lord, we belong to him and we will make him the very foundation of our lives. This means knowing his word and putting it into practice.
We are generally far more tolerant to our own failures than those of our brothers. We need to examine ourselves and correct our faults so that we might be able to help others. When we do help, we are to restore them gently and care about their burdens.
Praying for those with whom we disagree or have conflict helps change our attitude towards them. We are blessed when we give of our time and treasure to those who are difficult and even those who hate us. We can only do this through the strength of Jesus.
Blessings come from being aware of our spiritual poverty, our hunger to live a holy life, our sorrow over our sinfulness, and our offensiveness when we stand for Christ. These spiritual needs help to lead us to Jesus, the source of our comfort.
Our individualality may seem to set us apart but although the apostles were all different, they were all in a relationship with Jesus. This is what made them great. Still, our uniqueness is important to God. To Him we are all rare and beautiful treasures!
Becoming a servant requires us to lay something aside, but most people are selfish. In this passage, everyone saw the need, but Jesus sets the example by taking action. Humble yourself and follow His teaching. When you serve, it will lead to joy.
Jesus is the head over every power and authority, including the sabbath. Traditions about it (or anything) must never be more important than people or Jesus. God made the sabbath for man. The principle is that we set time apart for rest in Him.
Some traditions and routines are good, but we need to remain flexible. Jesus was often challenged by the Pharisees because he brought new ideas about the high priest and other sacred topics. Stagnation is a problem and we need to let God shake us up.
Following Jesus is something that is done in public even though there is a cost to doing so. Followers must deny themselves. We have as an example, Matthew, who followed immediately and enthusiastically.
Sickness did not come into the world until after the fall showing that forgiveness is more important than physical healing. We need to be persistent in praying for the salvation of specific people in our lives and diligent in praying for the sick also.
Even Jesus submitted His will to the Father. How often do we fall on our faces in humility before Him? We learn from this passage that following Him includes finding secluded places to pray regularly and being bold in sharing our testimony with others.
The reward of deep water obedience is a recognition that Jesus is in charge and is able to provide beyond our abilities. Deep waters bring greater risks and bigger rewards. What is it that you might have to let go of to follow Him?
While religious leaders at the time repeated what others had said, Jesus spoke with authority. He has power over the spiritual and physical world, so keep your eyes on Him and serve Him with thankfulness. He has power over sin, so receive His forgiveness.
As Christians, we need to trust in the power of the Holy Spirit who is the wind in our sails that pushes us towards Christ. When He shows favor to us, we should accept it, for without it we can do nothing. Do not reject Him. There is nothing better.
Jesus was tempted by our enemy just like we are. Knowing that the devil is the father of lies helps us to resist. He attacks when our flesh is vulnerable. Jesus did not debate with Satan in His flesh, but He quoted scripture and submitted to the Father.
What obstacle is standing between you and Jesus today? Just like the stone was not too heavy for Him, so nothing is too difficult for Jesus to clear the way for you. He didn’t need the stone moved away so he could get out. He moved it so we could see in.
As a man of sorrows, Jesus wept over the city because they did not recognize Him. As we spend time with Jesus, we should be grieved by what grieves Him, mostly that people do not know Christ. He chooses to need us to be a part of bringing the good news.
When Jesus revealed himself to the world, He was publicly baptized, showing that He identified with humanity. We see the trinity in this passage as Jesus prays, receives the Holy Spirit and God the Father speaks. This should remind us to be prayerful.
This passage teaches us what we must do to prepare the way for Jesus to come into our lives and how we should live to bear good fruit for Him. This includes being generous and honest. We can only do this if we are continually refilled by the Holy Spirit.
Young Jesus still has lessons for us. For example, when we lose sight of Him, we need to turn back and find where we have left Him. Jesus demonstrates submission to His Heavenly Father and His earthly parents yet Jesus must be about His Father's business.
