What’s happening in our world today?

The courageous stand taken by thousands in Egypt, Libya and Iran is incredibly inspiring! Men and women fighting for justice and freedom.

Some background …

The Arab world is behind in history approximately 50 years. Sadly, at the dawn of the 21st century, there were 60 million illiterate adults in the Arab world, the majority of whom were women. Education, freedom and women’s empowerment are the three huge deficits that make up the Arab world that has been insulated by the same Kings and Dictators for 50 years! Why?

What is keeping the Arab world “dumbed down”, “in the dark”, “backwards?”

The answer in one word is — Islam!

It’s why Mosab Yousef writes,“…today’s despots bear a striking likeness to the true Muhammad. Mubarak, Gaddafi, Ben Ali, Ahmadinejad are Islamic leaders who get their strength from Islam and maintain their iron grip by Islam. They are the same stripe as caliphs from Muhammad and Abu Bakr to Al-Mustansir Billah and Abdul Majid.” He continues, “…only when Muhammad and the Qur’an are exposed will the people of North Africa and the Middle East have freedom. If we fail to reach them with the truth, they will rebuild far worse regimes than those they tore down.”

Today, genuine follower’s of Jesus Christ, “Get IT!”

Get IT?

They understand that there is a fight for the minds of men, women, boys and girls. They understand that ideas are important. They understand that what a person believes has consequences. They understand that it is the “truth shall set you free”. And genuine followers of Jesus Christ, fight the fight! They fight the good fight of faith. They fight the fight of Truth! They fight the fight “For God so loved the world that He gave HIs Son that whosever would believe in Him should not perish but have everlasting life!” They take a stand for the Gospel! And, in the day of the, “all-seeing-eye of technology”, in the day of greater global inter-dependence, in the day when the world is hungry for answers and desperate — Jesus Christ follower’s “GET IT” and “LIVE IT!”

As believers we understand where the world is headed, what the world will look like and who will remain standing. We understand that God values every human being and loves every human being enough not to leave them the way they are. We understand that the church is the salt, light and laborers in our generation. We understand that it is the Gospel that is the power of God to transform and heal and redeem. We understand that prior to the return of Jesus Christ that God will even send angels to preach the Gospel not willing that any should perish.  We understand that everything is moving toward an eternal kingdom! We understand that in the darkest moment of history that Jesus Christ will appear! He will come! He is the Savior(of man and the world). He is the Judge (of evil and injustice). He is the Lord and King who will establish His Kingdom on earth. A Christian “GET’S IT”! They know that Jesus Christ is the LORD and they’re unashamed of the Gospel, which is the power of God to salvation to everyone who believes. Like the Hebrews boys in Babylon, they bow only to the true and living God!

Not only does a follower of Jesus Christ, “Get IT” but “LIVES IT!”

As believers we understand that there is a glory to live for. We  know that nothing lasts forever –with the exception of the will of God, what we do for God, the Word of God, the Kingdom of God, and the man and woman of God! This wisdom provides us the right navigation for life. Our life is not wasted in self indulgence and consumerism, but lived to God’s glory – to know Jesus Christ and make Him known in this generation! We understand that we are our brother’s keeper. We understand what is temporal vs. what is eternal, so it frees us up to enjoy the moment, live in the moment, and stand for Jesus Christ in the moment. We understand that there are seasons to life which enable us to make the transitions with victory getting better rather than bitter! We understand what the right allegiance is. Our loyalties are in order, and because of that we have confidence and courage to stand before any man, institution or threat. We are not paralyzed by fear, but freed by genuine faith! We follow Jesus Christ not because He is a means to an end, but because He is TRUE, and we’re proud to be “Jesus Christ Followers!”

But, in order to “Live IT” we have to, “Get IT!”

Do you “Get IT?”

That’s what the next four-five weeks on Sunday morning’s are dedicated to. We’re going to be trained in Christian growth and discipleship by studying six main passages of Scripture; Dan 1-4; Revelation 18; II Thess. 2; Matthew 24, Acts 1 and I Thess. 4. We’re going to be challenged to “Get IT” and “LIVE IT”. The new Sunday morning series is entitled, “Jesus Christ Followers Get it, and Live it!”

The world is watching. Let’s “GET IT” and “LIVE IT” to the glory of God!

See you Sunday.

pastor Greg

It’s true that every Christian is a “member” of the “church” universal, but what about, local? Actually in the Bible that’s how a Christian “member” is defined(1Cor.1:2). A Christian is not only a member of the church universal, but also local.

So what does a member look like?

Some churches have “formal memberships” to their church — while this is not the case at Calvary Chapel — we do believe in being a “member” of the church. That’s why we’re encouraging every Christian to be a “N.T. Member In 2011” which stands for a “New Testament Member In 2011!” That’s what we want to be at CCA(Calvary Chapel Auburn) to the glory of Jesus Christ, the King and Lord!

#1 “N.T. (CCA) Member 2011” Commit to be trained for Christian growth (Discipleship!) (John 8:31-32; Acts 2:42; Romans 10:17; Eph 4:11-16)

#2 “N.T. (CCA) Member 2011” Grow in love with our/your Father, the Heavenly Father. Have your identity, value, and security in nothing else than the Father in Christ. Cut out the thinking that God is a “means to an end!” (I Jn 3:1-2; Rom 8:15; Col 3:3) 

#3 “N.T. (CCA) Member 2011” “PLANT A TREE:” invest in the “Soil” of the community. “Volunteer” short term or long term! “…joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.” (Eph. 4:16). 

#4 “N.T. (CCA) Member 2011” never tear believers apart! Be a responsible local Christian and global Christian. Understand that differences will exist among Christians. Commit to “Unity in diversity”. “In the essentials, unity. Non-essentials, liberty. In all things, love!”(Jn 13:35; 1Cor 1:10-13; Rom 16:17)  

#5 “N.T. (CCA) Member 2011” see Placer County as a Mission Field. Be Missional. Be a part of planting the “seed” of the Gospel in this generation. The church that fails to evangelize will fossilize! e.g. “Don’t be the Dead Sea!” (Matt 28:18-20; Matt 9:37-38; 1 Cor 3:9) 

#6 “N.T. (CCA) Member 2011” add your voice to the praise of the King. “If Jesus led a hymn would you sing along?” (Heb 13:5; Matt 26:30; I Tim 2:8) 

#7 “N.T. (CCA) Member 2011” support the ministry of the church financially! (1Cor 16:1-2; 2 Cor 9:7; Mal 3:10)  

#8 “N.T. (CCA) Member 2011” turn from all secret sin because you are linked to others and your influence will either add to the ministry of the Gospel or it will weaken it. (Acts 5)

#9“N.T. (CCA) Member 2011” make a genuine profession of faith in Jesus Christ and to be baptized in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. (Matt 28:18-20; Acts 2:38; Rom 6:4)

#10 “N.T. (CCA) Member 2011” make the profession “I am a Jesus Christ follower!” Be His hands and feet to help meet Physical, Emotional and most important, Spiritual needs! (Matt 16:24; Matt 9:37-38)  

Are you in?  

Sarah arrived in Jerusalem today!

I know I speak for the whole church family in saying that we’ll sorely miss her but her mother and I are very excited and very proud of her.

She will be living in Jerusalem and working alongside “Chosen People Ministries” in a short term “mission” returning in fifty-six-days (yes, I’m counting:))!

Dr. Mitch Glasser, President of “Chosen People Ministries” played a major role in organizing this opportunity for Sarah to:

1. Help the homeless.
2. Work in a soup kitchen in Tel Aviv.
3. Sing in a coffee house in Tel Aviv (the purpose of which is to plant the seed of the Gospel thru music).
4. Help to serve in the house that “Chosen People Ministries” owns in Jerusalem.
5. Spend time studying and learning the Bible in the land of the Bible.

Sarah wrote, “since I was a child I had a sense of Jewish and Hebraic culture and love for the Jewish people and the land of Israel … I visited the Holy Land when I was ten and ever since it’s been a dream to return.”

Please keep Sarah in your prayers:)

THANK YOU SO MUCH …

Greg

Paul wrote, “Therefore my beloved brethren be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.” 1 Corinthians 15:58.

Perspective …

The Lord’s Spirit is always at work in and thru His people and more often beyond comprehension.

This means that at times your efforts will produce measurable results and at times they will not, at least before men, and often not until the next generation.

The prophet Jeremiah, for example, did not see one convert in his lifetime. Yet without Jeremiah’s writings, would there have ever been a Zerubbabel, Ezra and Nehemiah!? His faithfulness was not measurable in his generation but has been immeasurable throughout history.

Ultimately, whether your efforts are measurable in this lifetime or not, faithfulness is always seen by God, weighed by God and rewarded by God — and glorifies God!

So be encouraged and remember Paul’s admonition: “…my beloved brethren be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.” 1 Corinthians 15:58.

At this time of year my thoughts go back to Jerusalem, not so much Bethlehem. When December rolls around I find myself particularly thinking about John 10:22. It says it was winter and Jesus was in Jerusalem atop the Temple Mt. commemorating the “Feast of Dedication” (Hanukkah) and He is there because He is “the Light of the world”.

Feast of Dedication? Hanukkah? Festival of Lights?

I’ll explain.

It was the year 175 B.C. and the defilement continued for ten years. A Syrian leader named “Antiochus Ephines” conquered Jerusalem murdering hundreds of thousand of Jews. Antiochus was a man shoulder to shoulder with the “Hitler’s” of history. Yet Antiochus was particularly delusionary — for he made himself to be God, calling himself “Theos-Ephiphenes!” In this way he is a type of “Anti-Christ” who is on the horizon. 2 Thess. chapter two indentifies this man who will stand in the Temple in Jerusalem and claim to be God. Antiochus not only defiled the Temple by claiming to be God but he butchered a pig and smeared its blood all around the altar and temple, even forcing the high priests to drink the blood. Meanwhile, a Jewish family by the name of Macabee’s spearheaded a revolt against Antiochus. One of Macabee’s son named Judas, played a particular role in the other-throw.

Once Antiochus was removed, the focus became the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem!

It was 164 B.C. the 25 of Kislev(some believe Dec. 25) but there was not enough oil to burn the seven branched Menorah in the Temple for an entire rededication week but to everyone’s surprise, the oil lasted eight days!

In type the miracle speaks of the new creation that is brought into existence by the Light of the World, the Messiah Jesus.

In addition, in the Jewish observance of this festival there is a ninth candle that rests in an exalted place above the other eight candles. This candle is used to ignite each of the eight other candles that produce enough light to cover all eight days. The exalted candle is called the “Shamash” candle. Shamash means “Servant”.

Jesus is THE SERVANT!  Isaiah 49:6 speaks to this …

“Indeed He says, ‘It is too small a thing that You should be My Servant. To raise up the tribes of Jacob, And to restore the preserved ones of Israel; I will also give You as a light to the Gentiles, That You should be My salvation(the word in the Hebrew is Jeshua or Jesus) to the ends of the earth.’” Isaiah 49:6

Jesus is the one who ignites the world with divine life by His saving grace! Jesus came to make all things new.

In a time when life feels so crammed with obligation and the stress that more often accompanies this season with its emphasis upon materialism, I like to ask myself, “Is the SERVANT(Jeshua/ Jesus ) in the exalted place in my life?”

May it be so. And may it be so in your life as well. May your life be lit up with glory of God in Christ. He is more than enough!

This Sunday we continue our series entitled, “VISION” — with studies in the book of Isaiah.

Hebrew scholars agree that the prophet Isaiah penned the most eloquent Hebrew writings in the Old Testament. And under the influence of the Holy Spirit, Isaiah provided a lens that enables us to see the glory of God! Is there anything more important?

Let’s pray together that the Holy Spirit rocks our world with the greatness of Who the Lord is and that we will all be “Gripped By His Greatness!”

Will you join me in a heart-felt prayer …

“Lord, I want to know You. I want to know You for who You really are. I’m not satisfied to follow a code of conduct, or a diluted version of you. I want to know and follow the real You. So here I am. I give you my attention. Teach me; guide me in Your truth. Grip my heart with Your greatness so I am never the same. “Open my eyes, that I may behold wonderful things from Your Law”. (Ps. 119:18). Amen!”

Below are thoughts about what it means to live godly discipline. It’s written in the first person so you can make it a devotion/meditation. Enjoy!

“I live with accountability to the will of God and the chief priorities identified in the Word of God. Like Paul who wrote, “But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.” (The Greek word for “disqualified” was used to describe metals not worth coinage – throwaways.) I recognize that in order to live godly discipline, “Time” must be managed correctly in my life. There are two GRK words translated “Time:” “Chronos” and “Kairous”. “Chronos” is time that is measured by the clock. It carries the idea of an obligation, or something that needs to be completed in a particular time frame. “Kairos” is time that is measured by events or special moments, and carries the idea of opportunity. I will be unable to manage “Chronos” responsibly without identifying “Kairos”  — the most important “opportunities” and “priorities” in life. For example, a basketball game is 60 minutes (i.e. Chronos). In order to win the game, however, specific opportunities will need to be seized (i.e. Kairios). Today the speed of the “game of life” has increased immeasurably. Unless I am disciplined with the chief priorities that are to define my life — a Christian witness will get left in the dust and time will be wasted and the clock will run out. Priorities? Life-Partner. Parent. Preacher. Prayer. Provider. Purity. Progress. Perseverance.”

Below are thoughts about what it means to be a, “Laborer”. It’s written in the first person so you can make it a devotion/meditation. Enjoy!

“God gave me life. What I do with my life is a demonstration of worship and love for Him. It could be said that at birth God gave me a bag inside of which are gifts, opportunities and potential. What I do with such gifts is a demonstration of worship. In order to maximize what has been given to me, a whole hearted effort will be necessary. Giving my best effort is the basis of excellence.  Success on the other hand is more often measured by culture and weighed by name recognition, materialism and influence. Excellence, however, is the scoreboard that God see’s and rewards whether successful or not.  Wherever I am, I need to be “fully there” glorifying my Heavenly Father by giving my best effort. I am not saved by works, but I have been saved for works. I have been saved to be a “Laborer” in this generation. I have been saved to help my generation and fellow man physically, emotionally and spiritually to the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ and His Kingdom.”

Below are thoughts about what it means to be a son(daughter) of our heavenly Father. It’s written in the first person so you can make it a devotion/meditation. Enjoy!

“I love my Heavenly Father for who He is. My love for Him is not based upon what I “get” from Him. And based upon this relationship with the Heavenly Father, my very identity and the core of who I am is defined. I no longer live the illusion that a God-alternative will deliver the deepest hunger in my life for significance, wholeness, security and meaning. I realize now that created things were never intended to be “ultimate things”. I have been rescued by the Father who sent His Son to redeem my life in relationship with Him. My Father has rescued me from the disillusionment of working for “Rachel” but waking up with “Leah”. Now, my life is no longer defined by my work and productivity but who I am in my Father’s eyes in Christ. I am a Son, and a worshipper, first. I work, second.”