Calvary Chapel Of Crook County - Main

Church elders are shepherds who need to follow the perfect model – Jesus. One of the heavy parts that goes with this is church discipline, which is more than just excommunication. It includes all the steps taken to get someone to repent and be reconciled to the Lord and to their brothers and sisters. It’s important that those disciplined not only say “sorry” but that they turn and go the other direction. It’s the difference of just having Jesus as Savior vs. having Him as both Savior and Lord. It’s a “cheap” gospel vs. a gospel with both belief and action. None of us are above discipline and we are chastened because we are loved. Left to our own devices we will do what we want, and we need to be protected from this. Discipline is unpleasant but, in the end, produces a holy people different from the world.

The healing of the paralytic definitely got the attention of the people going to the temple. This provided Peter with a ready audience and gave him a perfect opportunity to present the gospel.

As Peter and John went to the temple to pray, they came across a paralyzed man begging at the entrance. Peter said they had no money but instead, healed him so he could walk. The people were amazed but he deflected all the glory to God. Anyone could have given him money but Peter gave him Jesus. We are called to pray for healing as well with the knowledge that healing might not be God’s will for this person, but that there is to be a different outcome. Jesus is the God who heals, but whatever the outcome people need to be pointed to Jesus. All glory to God to who all glory is due!

The early church was composed of believers who were steadfast, diligent and faithful. As such they exhibited several characteristics of a healthy church that we should strive for today. They were a learning church, studying the apostles’ doctrine and the Word of God. They gave themselves to fellowship (some assembly required). They broke bread together. This included regular “love feasts” as well as the communion celebration. They continued steadfastly in prayer. The early church was a praying church. They were a generous church. They had all things in common and voluntarily shared their possessions as the need arose. It was a church of gladness, joy and simplicity. Finally, it was a witnessing, evangelical church. Being a part of a local fellowship is not essential to be saved, but it is to be a true Christian.

Peter, newly filled with the Holy Spirit and with power, stands before the confused multitude to explain what is going on, that they are not drunk with wine. He explains that they are in a time as prophesied by Joel, that Jesus died to fulfil this prophesy, that the Jews, in line with God's plan, were responsible for putting Jesus to death, that he was resurrected, and that they needed to repent.

Continuing with his teaching on the gift of tongues, Rory explains that while Calvary Chapel teaches that the gifts of the Spirit continue to this day, unfortunately we often act that they don't. This is especially true for tongues, although this is an "open-handed" issue in the church as a whole. Seventeen points about the gift are made, notably that it is used most often privately to edify the believer, but when it is used publicly, there needs to be an interpreter. Also, it is not prophetic (speaking what God says to the church) but instead declares the marvelous works of God.

As the 120 or so disciples gathered in prayer, a mighty rushing wind filled the room, they had tongues of fire above their heads, and they spoke in strange languages. This marked the gift of the Holy Spirit and the beginning of the “last days.” The result was they began to preach the gospel in foreign languages, matching the tongues of the various nationalities represented at the Passover/Pentecost celebration. The gift of tongues is “a” manifestation of being filled with the Holy Spirit, not “the” manifestation, and there is no evidence this gift ceased for the churches. This is the first of two teaching by Rory on the Holy Spirit and the gift of tongues.

Some critics don’t believe the Ascension occurred, but five times it is referenced that the disciples were eyewitness of this. In fact, as they were “eyewitnessing” and staring blankly into the sky, they were chided by two angels who told them to get to Jerusalem. There, they got to work and prayed for the Holy Spirit. During this time of waiting, they also replaced Judas with Matthias, another disciple who’d been with Jesus from the beginning and witnessed the resurrection. Where the Ascension was somewhat a “private” affair with only a few witnesses, not so Christ’s return.

Acts was written by Luke, the physician, who was an eyewitness of what Jesus had done, and follows the Great Commission. In the beginning of Acts, Jesus promises the baptism with the Holy Spirit which would give the disciples the power to be His witnesses.

Rory teaches on fasting as the church prepares to fast this coming week.

We need to be thankful for everything in our lives, even the smallest, seemingly insignificant things. In this New Year we need to resolve to renew our soul, renew our thankfulness and renew our relationship with God. We need to remember all God has done for us. In Joshua 24, Joshua, for the first time speaks as a prophet and reminds the elders of Israel of all that God had done for them. He challenged them with a line in the sand: who will you serve? We all have to serve someone. The question for you today is, “Who will you serve?” Will you serve God with all your heart and be an example to your children? This is the ultimate resolution.

In concluding the time with his disciples on the beach, Jesus gives Peter a glimpse of how Peter will die. Then Peter asked Jesus what was going to happen to John, the “disciple whom Jesus loved,” a question that could have been borne out of jealousy. As it turned out, John was the only disciple who didn’t die a martyr’s death. We need not worry about what the Lord is doing with other people, the “what about him/her” syndrome, but instead just follow Jesus. He has his specific plans and spheres of ministry for each of us. John closes out his book by saying that what he writes is true, he saw it, and that there were many other things Jesus did than what he recorded.

As part of Peter's restoration, Jesus took Peter aside, along with other disciples, and questioned his love for Him. As with the three denials before the crucifixion, Jesus asked Peter three times if he loved Him. Peter said he did. Finally, Peter stated that Jesus knew all things, and that even through all that Peter did - all the denials, the stupid things and various sins - Jesus had to know that he loved Him. Jesus commanded Peter to tend His sheep. Not just to feed but to care for as a shepherd and as an overseer of the Church, which Peter became.

John concludes in Chapter 20, but then needs to deal with one more thing – the restoration of Peter – needed to connect to the book of Acts. While Peter was waiting for what was next after Jesus had been resurrected, he had to do something. He went fishing with some of the other disciples but caught nothing after fishing all night. Seeing Jesus on the shore he admitted his failure to catch anything, an admission that made him ready to receive what the Lord had for him, which was to catch an abundance of fish. Jesus already had fish on the breakfast fire, so why did he ask Peter to bring some of the fish he just caught? Was this to show that we need to bring what we have to Jesus, even though He doesn’t need it?

As Mary stooped to look into the empty tomb, she saw two angels and then turned to see Jesus but didn’t recognize Him. She’s still focused on where the body is but Jesus wanted her to focus on the big picture and to widen her horizons as to who Jesus is. When He spoke her name, she recognized Him and understood, whereby Jesus told her not to cling to Him – both He and she have more to do. She told the disciples of her experience and later that same day, Jesus appeared to all of them as they were locked in their house. He came in quietly and showed them His wounds to prove who He was. We have a God who has been through it and has the scars to prove it. He then gave them the Holy Spirit and they became the first Christians – all except Thomas who was elsewhere. It wasn’t until they met again that Jesus showed Himself to Thomas who then believed.

The first day of the week became the “Lord’s day,” due to His resurrection on that day. This became our Sunday. The first person to the empty tomb was Mary Magdalene, a woman who had been demon possessed. This was a reality that would not have helped her to be believable. Her first thought was that Jesus’ grave had been robbed. Next were Simon Peter and John who found the tomb empty as well. Peter went in first, and then John, who “saw and believed.” Peter still didn’t have a clue, even though Jesus had been teaching them about His coming resurrection. And then they went home . . . What was their trust level in the Resurrection? What is yours?

The Jews wanted to make sure Jesus was off the cross before the Sabbath, and as prophesied, He was already dead before they had to hasten the process by breaking His legs. John wrote this to make it clear that Jesus had actually died and so that the reader would believe. Then, after death, His body was removed by two secret Jewish followers and carefully prepared according to Jewish law. All this detail was given to us to drive us down the avenue toward faith in Jesus.

Crucifixion was one of the most brutal, humiliating punishments of the Roman world, first used by the Persians, and designed to make the victim die slowly and publicly. Jesus took our place on the cross, illustrated by taking the place of Barabbas, a criminal. The Psalm of the cross – Psalm 22 – prophesied all of this a thousand years before, even before crucifixion had been invented.

The basis of life in the Spirit is 1) Our identity in Jesus. Jesus is first in our lives; 2) Our legal standing before God is secure. We are no longer under God's wrath, we've been justified and our debts paid; 3) Our freedom is governed by a higher law of the Spirit of life, as opposed to the law of sin and death; 4) Our living is empowered by the Spirit of Christ Who dwells in us, as opposed to a heart hostile to God; 5) We are enabled to pursue God our Father. Life in the Spirit is to glorify God and to enjoy His presence.

Continuing with the “trial”, scourging and condemnation of Jesus, Rory reminds the church that we can’t gloss over this just because we’ve heard it before. There is more to this than what we see on the surface. Jesus is completely humiliated, crowned with thorns and mocked. Pilate had Jesus scourged in the hope the Jews would see His humanity and have compassion on Him – but his vision of the beaten and bloody Jesus failed to arouse any pity. Pilate was also afraid that Jesus was a god (not God) and therefore didn’t want to kill Him and cause some sort of offense. The question must be asked: who killed Jesus? The Romans? Pilate? The Jews? Sinners killed Jesus – anyone for whom He died. You and I.