Calvary Baptist Church - Canyon Texas - David Crump, Pastor

I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. God’s love is unfailing, loyal, faithful, stubborn, inexhaustible, and enduring. Hosea & Gomer – God is unwilling to let us go. He will not cut the bonds of love. God's love is merciful. He desires reconciliation, peace, forgiveness. He does not hold grudges. “The Lord is compassionate (merciful), gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. (His Name) Today, God’s redeeming love. Job lost everything, his sons and daughters, his livestock, his health. He was empty, broken, and hopeless. Talking to his “friends”…. Job 19:13-27 Though Job has suffered terribly, lost sons and daughters, wealth, friends… He knows that God is his redeemer and that God will not leave him empty, broken, hopeless. God is his Redeemer, Deliver

I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. God's love is merciful. He desires reconciliation, peace, forgiveness. He does not hold grudges. Psalm 103:8-18 v. 8 Compassionate (or merciful) - used 13 times in the OT, all referring to God’s compassion. His mercy or compassion is unlike any other. “Mercy” is the act of forgiveness, especially if you have the authority to punish. “Compassion” is sympathy for someone in a bad situation because you understand and care about them (vv. 13-14) God desires to show us mercy. Hosea 6:6 For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings. He wants to show us mercy. He does not want sacrifice – even in the OT, God wanted to show his people his mercy and compassion. But we act as though He pref

I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Paul says this love surpasses knowledge – it is too great to be ever fully known. But we can know this love more, apprehend it more fully, explore it, and experience it more in our lives. But we need the help of the power of the Holy Spirit. It’s too big for us. To understand the magnitude of God’s love, takes God’s power. God’s love is unfailing, loyal, faithful, stubborn, inexhaustible, and enduring. He loves us even in spite of our sin. He favors us even when we fail. Hosea 1:2 – “Go, take to yourself an adulterous wife and children of unfaithfulness, because the land is guilty of the vilest adultery in departing from the LORD.” Hosea 3:1 The LORD said to me, “Go, show your love to your wife again, though she is loved by ano

Slide 1 Psalm 130:1-2 Slide 2 Genesis 16:11, 13-1 Slide 3 Psalm 130:3-4 Slide 4 Psalm 103:1-5 Slide 5 Psalm 130:5-6 Slide 6 Psalm 130:7-8 Sermon notes: Psalms 120-134 are called "Pilgrim Psalms" or "Psalms of Ascent" sung by worshippers who journeyed to the temple and so "ascended" for the annual feasts. Psalm 120 begins in a distant country in hostile surroundings. Psalm 122 pictures the pilgrim arriving in Jerusalem. The rest of the psalms move toward the temple, recollecting the goodness of The Lord along the way. We too are pilgrims. We travel through a distant country. The land we travel is hostile to our faith. We have trouble here. But this land is not our home. Our destination is the presence of our King. As you read, you'll hear the struggle of the pilgrim. But listen to his longing to be in God's presence. Psalm 130:1-2 1 Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord; 2 O Lord, hear my voice. Let your ears be attentive to my cry for mercy. "out of the depths" psalmist prays to God in a despe

V. 14 - Spiritual leaders are compelled by Christ's love. So moved by Jesus' heroic and loving self-sacrifice that it controls or rules their behavior now. They were once ruled by other motivations, but now that they have understood that Jesus died for them, they have a new direction in life. V 15 - So changed that they no longer live for themselves, but for Christ. V. 16 - missing Christ's glory. V. 17 - the distinction between life before and after Christ. Like brand new life versus old life. Life forever changed. "Reconcile" means to exchange, like money or prisoners. Our relationship with God has been reconciled from enemies to sons and daughters. We were reconciled "through Christ" who took on the punishment of death we deserved so that our sins before God are washed away. V. 18 - God gave us the ministry of reconciliation. Spiritual leaders have a message, "be reconciled to God." He released us from the prison of our sins and then gave us the keys to set other prisoners free. V. 19 - In Christ,

Spiritual leaders • Recognize that God intends good from our suffering (2 Cor 1:1-7) • Correct spiritual issues (2 Cor 2:1-4) • Know the goal is lives changed by Christ (2 Cor 3:1-6) 2 Corinthians 3:7-18 vv. 7-11 Old covenant – glorious – brings condemnation – fading glory New covenant – more glorious – brings righteousness – surpassing, lasting glory v. 12 – Such hope, such confidence in the new covenant makes us bold. What religion has the hope, the power, and the glory of Christianity? vv. 13-15 – The Old Covenant keeps people from seeing the glory of the new covenant. vv. 16-17 – In Christ, the veil is taken away and people are set free. Free from trying to be good enough to meet God’s standards. Free from trying to earn God’s favor. Free from the endless cycle of covering over their sins. Jesus met God’s standards for us. He earned God’s favor for us. He covered our sins for us. Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is freedom! v. 18 – Jesus is making us like himself. Spiri

2 Corinthians 2:1-4 Spiritual leaders correct spiritual issues. When we do not move to correct wrongs, we show that we love ourselves more than the person needing correction. We show that we are more concerned about being well-liked than about what will happen to them. Proverbs 27:6 “Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses.” • When we do not correct, we do not love. • Correction is always done in love. (2:4) • Correction is always for the intent to restore, not for revenge. (Gal 6:1) • Correction comes from a person who is aware of their own need for correction. (Gal 6:1) 2 Corinthians 3:1-6 Spiritual leaders see the goal of spiritual leadership is lives changed by Christ. • Our focus is the spiritual development of those under our care. (3:2) • We cooperate with God. We are his ambassadors, ministers of reconciliation. (5:18-20) • God does the work of salvation. (3:3)

2 Corinthians 1:1-7 Spiritual leaders recognize that God intends good from our suffering. Our suffering • Is an opportunity for God to show us comfort, strength and hope. (1:4) • Helps us grasp Jesus’ suffering for us. (1:5a) • Is an opportunity to show God’s comfort, strength and hope to others. (1:5b) When we suffer, we receive God’s grace. When others suffer, we can help them understand and receive God’s grace. 2 Corinthians 2:1-4 Spiritual leaders correct spiritual issues. When we do not move to correct wrongs, we show that we love ourselves more than the person needing correction. We show that we are more concerned about being well-liked than about what will happen to them. Proverbs 27:6 “Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses.” • When we do not correct, we do not love. • Correction is always done in love. (2:4) • Correction is always for the intent to restore, not for revenge. (Gal 6:1) • Correction comes from a person who is aware of their own need for correction. (Gal

Psalms 113-118 are known as the “Egyptian Hallel Psalms”. Hallel means Praise. They are called the Hallel Psalms because of their focus and repetition of hallel, “praise”, …and hallelujah – Praise the Lord. These 5 psalms were part of the annual feasts of the Israelites. Psalms 113-114 were recited or sung before the Passover meal and Psalms 115-118 after the meal. These were no doubt sung by Jesus throughout his life. Matt 26 and Mk 14 mention Jesus and his disciples sang a hymn after the last supper – the Passover meal – before Jesus was arrested. That hymn would have been these Hallel Psalms Psalm 113:1-9 v. 1 – Praise the Lord – Hallelujah Praise (Hallel) o servants of the Lord, praise (hallel) the name of the Lord. God’s people – during worship at the temple, the priests and the people – all the servants of the Lord were called upon to praise God. The title for God, LORD, or “Yahweh” calls attention to the acts of God and his revelation of himself to his people. He is the Lord, who reigns in authorit

This Changes Everything – Inside and Out The Gospel is a powerful message. God is a powerful Father. Jesus is a powerful Savior. The Spirit is a powerful Sanctifier. Yet there is a struggle in this life to be what I want to be, what I am called to be. I am not what I ought to be, I am not what I want to be, I am not what I hope to be in another world; but still I am not what I once used to be, and by the grace of God I am what I am. - John Newton Romans 12:1-13 v. 1 – There is a all-encompassing transformation in the life of the believer. “Therefore,” because of what Jesus has done and the grace and love he has shown me, I offer my whole self to him. Even my body is no longer mine, it is his. I see myself as belonging to him, like I am living a life of sacrifice to the one who sacrificed himself for me. v. 2 – There is an internal transformation of our minds. How is your mind transformed? Christians can be really good about managing the externals. We change our behavior, but God calls us to something much d

Genesis 50:15-21 Abraham – Isaac – Jacob (Israel) – 12 sons would be the 12 tribes of Israel. Joseph was his father’s favorite. This made his brother’s jealous. God gave him dreams that he would rule over his brothers. This made his brother’s more than jealous, they became furious. They conspired to kill him by throwing him down a cistern. But after they did, they became afraid of having his blood on their hands, so they pulled him out and sold him into slavery to another people. I see Jesus being revealed on every page of the Scriptures – because this book and this world is all about him. Joseph is a foreshadowing of Jesus. He was sold by his own people to be done away with to another people. He was sold for 20 shekels of silver, Jesus for 30 silver pieces. He would suffer terribly from injustice – falsely accused, betrayed by his own people. He teaches a lesson, like many in the Scriptures, that suffering is the path to glory. v. 15 – “holding a grudge” From a human standpoint, forgiveness doesn’t make mu

In Malachi last week we read God’s accusations against the Israelite’s half-hearted worship. Their priests were complaining rather than being respectful toward God. Their people were bringing leftovers instead of their best to sacrifice at the temple. They were not offering their full tithe. Today we’re going to read what worship is supposed to look like. If you are a believer, God has stepped into your life and changed everything for you. He sent his Son to die for your sin so you wouldn’t have to. He has redeemed you from being a slave to sin. He has forgiven all of your sin and removed all your shame by Jesus’ death. He has given you new life that begins in this life, but goes on forever in the presence of God. He has given you his Spirit to help you live to honor Him with a changed life. Since God has done all these things in our lives, he is worthy of our worship. How then should we live? Like the Israelites of Malachi’s day in half-hearted worship? Psalm 96 (Psalms 93-100 declare the Lord’s rule over t

Malachi – last prophet of the Old Testament. Malachi “my messenger” or “the Lord’s messenger” Date – after the temple had been rebuilt under Zerubabel. May have been written in the middle of Nehemiah’s ministry to rebuild the wall around Jerusalem, 434 B.C. The people of Israel had been defeated militarily. They had been taken into captivity, then returned for 60-70 yrs. Maybe after all of that, the people would be focused on obeying God. Maybe this would be the golden age of Israel. No, after all that they went through, apathy and lethargy took charge. Malachi finds that the people’s worship of God has become disrespectful and apathetic. 1:2 – “I have loved you” – the Lord had not changed, his promises were still in place, his love not overcome by their sin. 1:6-13 – Blemished sacrifices are being offered to God at the temple. 2:1-9 – Priests’ attitudes are bad, disrespectful. 2:10-16 – Men are unfaithful, divorcing their Israelite wives for younger pagan women. Malachi 2:17 – You wear me out. Even after a

1 Thessalonians was written soon after Paul’s visit to Thessalonica, about 51 A.D. Paul and Silas had visited in early summer of 50 A.D., but had to leave in a hurry when the Jewish leaders stirred up a mob. The mob, looking for Paul and Silas, stormed a believer’s house named Jason. He was arrested. (Acts 17:1-10) It looked like the Jews had successfully squashed Christianity in the city. Paul and Silas’ visit to Thessalonica looked like a failure. But, the power of the Holy Spirit and the message of the Gospel had taken hold. The gospel changes everything for those who would believe in its message. Paul writes this letter soon after he left to encourage the believers there and to clear up some confusion about the second coming of Christ. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 v. 13 – Thessalonians thought Christ would return immediately. They were concerned that some brothers were dying and did not understand what was happening. Paul writes to tell give them hope that the dead in Christ are not lost. We have hope of e

Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection is life changing. When you first heard the account of Jesus giving his life for sin, it began a lifetime of change in you. When you understood that you were guilty before the holy God because of your sin, but that Jesus took the punishment for your sin to reconcile your relationship with God, when you first believed that, it changed everything. It is still changing everything. The truth of the gospel is still changing your life. The ramifications of who Jesus is, what he has done, and what it means to you will have a ripple effect in your life from the day you first believed throughout eternity. When you believe the truth of the Gospel, it changes everything. We are a people who have been changed, and are being changed. Passage today is about one of the big changes, that is to happen in the life of a Christian. Philippians 2:1-23 vv. 1-4 – One of the big changes is that a Christian is to be humble. Humility is defined for us. Humility is to set aside differences in love,

The Purpose of the Clouds

Peter wrote his first letter to believers who were experiencing persecution for their faith. He wrote to comfort them with the hope of eternal life and to challenge them to continue living holy lives. The letter may have been written at the time of Roman Emperor Nero who took on an agenda of torture and killing of Christians. The theme of Peter is hope. Peter describes Christian hope as completely different from any other. For the rest of the world, suffering can drain hope dry. Trials can result in failure and discouragement. Hardship can bring hopelessness. But Peter would write that Christian hope is a living hope. Christian hope is active, because the object of our faith, Jesus Christ, overcame death and is alive. Our hope produces joy that doesn’t just survive through suffering and grief, Our joy can thrive in suffering. 1 Peter 1:1-25 vv. 1-2 – Peter’s letter is written to believers throughout Asia, Bithynia, Pontus, Galatia, and Cappadocia Peter reminds them by strong declaration that they were chos