This morning, meditating, on what is “TRUE”

Meditating on the GRACE of God (the FAVOR of God) …

Below are scriptures that I thought you would also be blessed by.

Phil 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!”

1. Grace is NEVER MERITED – it is a gift that has been purchased by Jesus at the cross and ultimately received by the open arms of faith: Romans 11:6 ^“And if by grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace. But if it is of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work.”
2. Grace is totally associated with JESUS: Romans 5:21 ^“so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
3. Grace was DEMONSTRATED in Jesus: John 1:14 ¹⁴And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
4. God’s THRONE / access to the Father through Jesus Christ – is called a THRONE OF GRACE Hebrews 4:16 “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
5. It is grace that God wants you to TOTALLY REST in I Peter 1:13 “Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ …”
6. We are to be STRONG in grace 2 Tim 2:1”You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus”
7. The grace that God has given is SUFFICIENT in your life for God to be glorified in and through your life: 2 Cor 12:9 ^“And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”
8. It is something to be DECLARED: Acts 20:24 “But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.”
9. The declaration by God that your sin is as though it NEVER was that you have been JUSTIFIED is the result of GRACE: Romans 3:24 “being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus …”
10. Grace comes in ABUNDANCE: Romans 5:17 For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.)
11. Grace covers the darkest sin/ stain – but it is NOT a LICENSE to sin: Romans 6:1 ^“What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not!”
12. Grace DEFINES who you REALLY ARE: I Cor 15:10-11 “… by the grace of God I am what I am …”
13. Grace is something that God can have ABOUND toward you 2 Cor 9:8 ^“And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.”
14. It is solely based on GRACE that God chooses to USE and ENABLE us to be used: Eph 3:7 “…of which I became a minister according to the gift of the grace of God given to me by the effective working of His power.”
15. The Spirit of the grace of God can be INSULTED Heb 10:29 ^“Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace?”
16. God gives grace TO THE HUMBLE: ^“But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.” James 4:6
17. You are SAVED by grace: ^“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God …”
18. The LAST VERSE IN THE BIBLE reads, Rev 22:21”The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be ^with you all. Amen.”

Okay church family, here is the, “church homework”, for this week.

I encourage you to FOCUS on Phil 4:8 and meditate on what is “TRUE” — MORNING, NOON and NIGHT! 🙂

Let’s see what the Lord will do in our lives in growing us to discern His voice!!

1. “True” is that you are LOVED (Romans 5:8, 8:28, 8:35). E.g. Read John 10:28-30 (You will never be fumbled!)
2. “True” is that you are FAVORED (Romans 1:5, 5:21; 1 Corinthians 15:10; 2 Corinthians 12:9; Romans 12:6). Second Corinthians 9:8 says: “And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.”
3. “True” is that you are EMPOWERED (Acts 1:8, Ephesians 1:23, John 16:7).
4. “True” is that you are PURPOSED (Acts 1:8, Romans 10:14, 2 Timothy 4:2).
5. “True” is that you are COMPLETED (Romans 8:29-30).
6. “True” is that you are FORGIVEN (1 John 1:9, 2 Corinthians 5:21, John 19:30).
7. “True” is that you are FREED (Romans 8:10-11).
8. “True” is that you are ENSURED “success” (Isaiah 55:11, Galatians 6:8-9; 2 Corinthians 9:6, 1 Corinthians 3:5-8).
9. “True” is that you are COMMITTED to. “I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20). “Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5).
10. “True” is that you are STRONG in Christ (2 Corinthians 12:7-10).

I want to THANK THE CHURCH FAMILY for YOUR PRAYERS for myself and MY FAMILY at this time.

This last Sunday, the Lord totally blessed our services, and then Stephanie and I, along with Pete and Lily, hopped in the car for a LONG drive to Yakima, Washington, to attend the memorial service for Stephanie’s grandmother. It was a wonderful time with family — and a wonderful time of celebration that grandma McCormick was in HEAVEN with the Lord!

Last Saturday, our son, Greg – came down with a fever in the morning — yet went to practice and played a tough full contact scrimmage at UC Davis. I was so proud of his effort! However, the next day, he was hit in a different way, with a SERIOUS bout of pneumonia that left him with high fevers and sicker than he has ever been in his life. We’d deeply appreciate your prayers for him as he’s on the mend, and trying at the same time to balance school responsibilities, and spring football. And, also, please pray for Don Daniel – a precious brother in our church, and a dear personal friend, who is battling a SERIOUS infection and is in ICU! I will be visiting him this evening.

Thursday I traveled to southern California for a meeting and attended Greg Laurie’s Bible study in Irvine, Ca. It was a GREAT Bible study and I was so refreshed by the Word of God. And it was so wonderful seeing MANY pray to receive Christ! It was also great to have Sarah with me who came from Bible College. Friday we had lunch with pastor Greg which was such a great time of fellowship and inspiration. Please continue to pray for pastor Greg and his beautiful family as they are mourning the absence of their first born son, Christopher – AND, as he prepares for a crusade this month in South Dakota! After lunch, Sarah and I met with my good friend, pastor Steve Wilburn of Harvest Christian fellowship to discuss Steve coming to our church as a guest speaker Sunday, June 21^st which I know the whole church will so enjoy! Speaking of Sarah, please pray for her, too, as she will be singing two songs Sunday night at Harvest Christian Fellowship. May the Lord JESUS be glorified and may the songs Sarah sings help prepare for the message that pastor Steve will give as he opens the Scriptures that evening.

Well, I am REALLY looking forward to tomorrow’s time together. As you know, we’re currently studying the life of Joseph (Genesis 37-50) so I better get back to studying J

But, one more thing, if you did the homework that I gave last week, I would love to HEAR FROM YOU, how the Lord used it in your life! It’s been a GREAT blessing to me to read Phil 4:4-13 – morning, noon and night. See you tomorrow! Greg J

 I have been thinking about what the “early church” looked like at this time nearly two thousand years ago. What was happening in their lives?

Today, we’re just a few days after NISAN 17, the day Jesus rose from the dead.

If we were living at this time, nearly two thousand years ago, we would be amidst what Acts 1:3 identifies as the forty day period in which Jesus showed Himself alive — risen from the dead! Eventually, on Pentecost (fifty days after resurrection), 3,000 Jews turned to Jesus as Savior and Lord and were baptized in Jerusalem.

Then what happened? What did the early church look like, the church now made up of thousands of people? What were they doing? 

Acts 2:42 tells us that they “CONTINUED in the apostles doctrine!” The early church was learning the Scriptures! They were continuing in the Word of God.

Jesus said, “Man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God!”

O’ how we need the nourishment of the truth of God’s Word on a daily basis …   

Perspective …

The Bible records that God spoke to man over four thousand times!

If this is true, then inherently the Bible is of the highest and greatest authority. After all, “if God has said it then that settles it.” And if God has spoken to man only a fool would not listen, right?

Abraham Lincoln once said, “I believe the Bible is the best gift God has ever given to man. All the good from the Savior of the world is communicated to us through this book.” Philosopher and skeptic Immanuel Kant said, “The existence of the Bible, as a book for the people, is the greatest benefit the human race has ever experienced. Every attempt to belittle it is a crime against humanity.”

But the main reason the Bible can be trusted is not because men of renown have testified of the Bible’s authority. We know the Bible is true because Jesus said it is. There is no greater authority than Jesus, who demonstrated He is the Son of God by resurrecting from the grave. Put another way, the Bible is not infallible because it says it is – but because Jesus says it is! In one statement Jesus authenticated the threefold division of the old testament – the law, the writings, and the prophets – as the Word of God, saying, “These are the words, which I spoke to you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms concerning Me” (Luke 24:4).

Jesus said, “If you continue in my word you will be my disciples you shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free.” (John 8:31-32)

Let’s “continue” in the commitment to the Word of God in OUR generation!

God Bless you as you “continue” …

Onward! 2 Tim 4:7

The Lord TOTALLY blessed our services today from sunrise service at Placer High School to our two morning services. I sensed a POWERFUL move of the Spirit! The joy, celebration and worship was extrarordinary. A fresh wind is blowing that is for sure!! I’m blessed and savoring this NISAN 17 – the day of FIRSTFRUITS — THE DAY, the Lord Jesus ROSE from the dead. 🙂

This is a recent picture of Greg Laurie and myself taken in Orange County the first night of his OC Bible study.

Needless to say, Greg has been a HUGE mentor to me and a DEAR friend.

May thousands come to Christ through this new Bible study in Irvine, Ca. !! 🙂

Joseph was a seventeen year old good looking young man, who had been isolated from his family in a strange land with strange allegiances, gods and customs.

It was a “another world” for him. His support system had disappeared and because of this, he was a perfect candidate to lose his identity and bleed into a new world order and lifestyle.

But, this did not happen!

Joseph remained true to the God of his fathers!  Over and over again, in the face of difficult circumstances, challenges, and the harsh temptation from Potipher’s wife to compromise sexually, we see Joseph being triumphant over temptation.

In Christ, we too can TRIUMPH like Joseph! 2 Cor 2:14 says, “Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ …”

Yet, we are still going to need to know something about temptation and how to respond to it with the strength and wisdom God that has given to us. I have posted the main points and a few remarks from Sunday’s message below. If you would like to listen to the message in its entirety you can access it on this blog. J

SEVEN realities about TEMPTATION and how to TRIUMPH in Christ.

#1 Temptation is an enticement that promises pleasure but delivers pain and erosion! Succumbing to temptation is saying, “Lord, I don’t believe Your way is REALLY the best!”

 #2  There is a COMMON breeding ground for temptation: it is the perception that it can be hidden and gotten away with. Joseph was tempted by Potipher’s wife when they were alone in the house. Following is biblical wisdom in dealing with temptation …

• AVOID ISOLATION! “A man who isolates himself seeks his own desire; He rages against all wise judgment …” Pr. 18:1
• INVOLVE YOURSELF WITH YOUR CHURCH FAMILY! Heb 10:24-25
• CONFESS SIN! Pr. 28:13 “He who covers his sins will not prosper, But whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy.”

#3 Succumbing to temptation is a MOMENTARY INTOXICATION that blinds a person from the consequence of their actions. I have never known of someone who awakens in the morning and says, “I think I’ll ruin my life today!” Rather they allow themselves to be led into temptation. Jesus taught us to pray, “Father, lead us not into temptation!” NLT translation captures it better “Do not let us yield….” There are obvious DANGER ZONES that we need to AVOID! Jesus said to Peter, “Peter, watch and pray, that you enter not into temptation” (Matthew 26:41).

#4 Temptation ITSELF is NOT a sin. Joseph was tempted but did not sin. JESUS was ALSO tempted but did not sin! Jesus felt the presence and pressure of temptation just as we have and He was victorious over sin! Jesus knows what you are going through and is there to help you (Heb 2:17-18).

#5 Temptation is best overcome when it is responded to IMMEDIATELY and RESISTED in the victory we already have in Christ! When Joseph was tempted with sexual immorality the Bible says “he refused!” Being successful with temptation is a GODLY HABIT that responds immediately by not giving the temptation any room in your life. When Jesus was tempted, He replaced the temptation immediately with the truth of God’s Word.

#6 The PERSISTENCE of temptation does not mean that it owns you and that you might as well give in. Potipher’s wife persistently tempted Joseph! Temptation can be persistent. It doesn’t mean you are losing. IT doesn’t mean that it’s YOU! You are the Lord’s! I Cor. 6:20 says, “For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.”

#7 Use the FOUR words, “I’m dead to that!” At the point of temptation resist the temptation by faith and obedience by appropriating the freedom you have been given in Christ. John 8:36 says, “…If the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.” Romans 6:11, “Likewise you also reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord!” It may be that SIN has been RULING your life. Did you know that as believers the power of sin has been unplugged – so, you don’t HAVE to PLUG IT BACK IN.

• Tempted with bitterness? “I’m dead to that!”
• Tempted with Alcohol? – “I’m dead to that!”
• Tempted with Immorality? – “I’m dead to that!”
• Tempted with Slander? – “I’m dead to that!”
• Tempted with being a Busybody? – “I’m dead to that!”
• Tempted with Gluttony? – “I’m dead to that!”
• Tempted with Exaggeration? – “I’m dead to that!”
• Tempted with Cheating? – “I’m dead to that!”
• Tempted with Lying? – “I’m dead to that!”

#8 It’s more important to lose your possessions and not sin, than to keep your possessions and lose your soul. Jesus said, “What would it profit a man if he gains the whole world but loses his soul?” If Joseph did not leave his coat behind he would have “lost his soul!” This is the SECOND time Joseph lost a coat. The first was when his brother stole it from him and I’m sure he fought for it. What was at stake the second time his coat was taken was an attempt to steal his PURITY and SOUL. If, Joseph, did not RUN, he would have been captured by sensuality and sexuality. Joseph left his coat and remained right with God!

Your personal purity and your soul’s right standing with God is more important than:

• Dating that unbeliever no matter how a good a friend.
• Frequenting the Internet.
• Holding onto the Bitterness (someone to blame).
• Pursuing that goal.
• Building THAT business.

If losing these things means keeping your right standing before the Lord – then LOSE THEM! Run like Joseph did and leave them behind! In doing so — you are running TOWARD God.

p.s. BTW, I would love to hear how the Lord spoke to you Sunday morning!

Here’s a picture of Pastor Chuck Smith and myself. Can you believe that Pastor Chuck is now 82 years of age? He looks fantastic and he is sharp as can be.

I wrote about Pastor Chuck’s influence in my life which you can read about if you are interested under “Influences” in the above tab on the blog.

Well, I’m getting ready for our Marriage conferance that begins tonight with special musical guest Evan Wickham. I’m excited. Would you join Stephanie and I as we pray for a GREAT outpouring in the lives of couples in our church.

 And, I can’t wait to see EVERYONE Sunday morning.

Studies in the life of Joseph (Gen. 37-50) have been life changing. If you have been unable to make the last few weeks I highly encourage you to access the messages on Sunday morning from our website. I’m sensing the Lord’s favor and blessing on our time together and expect great things that the Lord will continue to do in our lives and church family.

Blessings, Greg

Words. They can pack a punch or even heal a life.

They can also destroy one. Talk is not cheap.

The Bible says, “Life and death are in the power of the tongue” (Pr. 18:21). It’s true. A word from a judge can condemn or forgive. Just the two words “I do,” at the right time and right place, can lead to a lifelong marriage – while the words “I will not,” in the face of temptation, can save that same marriage.

Some of the greatest messages in history were relatively few in words.

God used less then three hundred words to deliver the Ten Commandments.

Jesus used only fifty-six words to communicate a syllabus for prayer known as “The Lord’s Prayer.”

America’s founding fathers used three hundred words to declare our independence.

On the other hand, words have also destroyed countless millions of lives. Silvan Shalom told the United Nations, “The brutal extermination of a people began not with guns or tanks but with words systematically portraying the Jews and others as not legitimate, something less than human.”

Jesus said, “Let your yes be yes and your no be no.” It was another way of saying, “Get a grip on your words! Mean what you say and say what you mean.”

However, it is essential to avoid giving every feeling or idea a voice. Think about what a word is. A word is an “intelligible mark or an articulate sound that symbolizes a meaning.” It would not be helpful to anyone, including yourself, if you identified every thought and feeling with a word, right? Just sounding off with your every feeling or idea would make your life a mess, not to mention everyone else’s around you. The Bible says, ”Don’t talk too much, for it fosters sin. Be sensible and turn off the flow” (Proverbs 10: 19). In fact, the Bible identifies the “fool” (who does not have common sense) as someone who just speaks what’s on his mind. Dangerous!

Proverbs 13:16 says, “Wise people think before they act.” On the other hand, we find this wisdom in Proverbs 18:2: “A fool has no delight in understanding, but in expressing his own heart.” Sometimes it’s best not to say anything at all. It’s like what the fisherman said: “If that fish had kept his mouth shut, he wouldn’t have been caught.”

Today, use your words wisely. Communicate your love for the Lord. Give Him the honor and praise that is righty His! Tell your loved one’s that you love them. I would even encourage you to verbalize the promises of God below. Give voice to them. Yes, say them out-loud. There is something wonderful about doing that.

“Greater is he that is in me than he that is in the world” (1 John 4:4)

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13)

“No weapon formed against me shall prosper” (Isaiah 54:17)

 “How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand; When I awake, I am still with You.” (Psalm 139:17-18).

Encouraging, isn’t it?

In Genesis 37, we read of how Joseph was betrayed by his brothers. Does it get any worse, or more hurtful than that?

We all fail, and at times we will fail in relationships. However, betrayal is something entirely different. Joseph’s brothers did not fail him – they betrayed him. Their wounding of Joseph was intentional! Betrayal is a trust that is exploited for personal gain.

It is …
“I am going to befriend you, but my agenda is to use you!”
It is …
“I am going to tell you that I love you, but I don’t really love you I just want something from you!”
It is …
What BERNIE MADOFF, the former chairman of Nasdaq, pulled off. He was someone people thought they could trust their life savings with. After all, as the former chairman of Nasdaq, Bernie was certainly qualified to invest money and manage it. But Bernie betrayed that trust. Bernie exploited that trust. Bernie even targeted Jews and Holocaust survivors and stole 65 billion dollars from them! It’s an abomination.

The betrayal of Joseph, however, was the ultimate betrayal! It was the betrayal of blood. It was the betrayal of natural affection. It was an abomination!

Joseph was thrown into a pit by his brothers. A pit is a place of isolation and loneliness and fear. Joseph was treated like as a mere commodity and was sold into slavery by his brothers where eventually he ended up in the Egyptian home of Potipher. But that was not the end of Joseph’s adversity. Just when Joseph began to get his feet on the ground, he was falsely accused of sexual assault against his master’s wife and thrown into prison.

Yet, against all odds and the most adverse circumstances imaginable: Joseph kept the faith!

He became BETTER rather than BITTER, STRONGER rather than WEAKER. Joseph kept moving forward! And, ultimately, he became the Prince of Egypt (which we will talk about in the weeks to come). And with his God given administrative skills being put to use in Egypt, Joseph was able to save both the Egyptian people and his OWN BROTHERS (the very brothers who had betrayed him) from the famine that had come to the region. He became a “savior of Israel”, and in this way, Joseph is a type of the Lord Jesus!

Try to put yourself in Joseph’s shoes.

Can you relate? Do you feel that life has dished you out a raw deal? Have you been betrayed by someone you trusted? There is hope. Be encouraged and learn from Joseph!

Joseph kept his eyes on the Lord and kept moving forward. He did not allow himself to have a “VICTIMS MENTALITY” that paralyzes progress.
You don’t hear Joseph saying …
“I have been injured”
“Life has not turned out as I hoped”
“I will hold my injury or perceived injury for a long time”
“I will fuel my bitterness that such circumstances took place!”
“I will choose to not go forward because I have been mistreated”
“I will allow my pain to paralyze my progress”
AND, last but not least, “I WILL BLAME MY BROTHER’S FOR MY HORRIBLE LIFE!”
No! That was not Joseph. He wasn’t playing the blame game like many do today. There is no mention of Joseph partying in the pit. No mention of him ever wallowing in self pity!

But the path of “self pity” is the path that many choose today.

They play the blame game. They fail to take responsibility for THEIR own actions. I heard about a guy who tried breaking into a school building and fell through a skylight. What did he do? He blamed the school for his injuries, sued them and was awarded $1,500 a month for life.

The secret of Joseph’s life was that he was a man who chose to serve the Lord as God even when he was mistreated.

Joseph was a man who chose to be under the Lord’s influence (Genesis 39:9). Joseph was a man who understood that life is more about how you RESPOND rather than what HAPPENS to you. Joseph was a man who understood that HE STILL had a CHOICE to serve the Lord faithfully no matter what the circumstances!

I want to encourage you, that you STILL HAVE A CHOICE too!

No matter what has happened to you. No matter what is going on. You still have a choice. And, the right choice is to get out of “the pit” and commit your life to follow the Lord Jesus and move forward. And, the Lord will help you every step of the way and He will provide! Jesus said, “In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 Our Father’s love and grace in Christ, is greater than any pit or problem we are facing. We are “… more than conquerors through Him who loved us.” Romans 8:37 “And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?” I John 5:4-5

Chuck Swindoll wrote, “The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, the education, the money, than circumstances, than failure, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness or skill. It will make or break a company… a church … a home. The remarkable thing is we have a choice everyday regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past… we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We can not change the inevitable … The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude. I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% of how I react to it. And so it is with you… we are in charge of our Attitudes.”

Onward, Christian soldier! Victory in JESUS.
Greg 🙂
2 Timothy 4:7