God fills us and prepares us for service ~ David McGee

1 Corinthians 3:9

“For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building.”

Life Lesson:

We will all give an account of what we did or did not do for the Lord.

God blesses our acts of service.

God fills us and prepares us for service.

God doesn’t act for vanity; instead, He is purposeful in everything He does.

You, my friend, are a part of God’s plan and purpose. You are the breathing, walking and talking result of His Word. God’s Word will not return void. This means that when God invests in you, He expects multiplication of return. That’s not self-serving. 

Our salvation is a gift from God. 

What we do with our lives after that is our gift back to God.

Genesis 22:8 “And Abraham said, “My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering.” So, the two of them went together.” NKJV

There are rewards stored up in heaven for your serving. It is by God’s grace, you are allowed into heaven (Ephesians 2:8-9). Once there, you will be rewarded or not rewarded for your serving. Intentions will not be rewarded.

It goes even beyond that. Do you know someone who is not serving?

If so, then you are accountable, in love, to call them on it. Appeal to them. Perhaps due to your boldness to hold them accountable, they will not stand before Jesus with a heart full if intentions and hands full of air.

Dear Father,

Thank You for loving me so much and being so good to me. Lord, I want to give You my life. I want to give back to others because You have blessed me so much. I am sorry I haven’t been as kingdom-minded as I should have been. Help me to store up heavenly rewards. Help me to be a world-changer and to make a difference. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

 
Living to tell what He died to say,
Pastor David McGee

"The man believed the word that Jesus spoke ~ David McGee

John 4:50

So the man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him,
NKJV

Life Lesson

We should believe the Bible.

How much trouble could we avoid if we simply did what the nobleman in John chapter 4 did? What if we stopped in the middle of crummy circumstances and sticky situations and chose to believe the Word that Jesus has spoken to us? We read the newspaper and believe it. We read stuff on the Internet and believe it. We read the Bible and sometimes we think, "Well, that doesn't apply to me or my situation."

Sometimes we believe our emotions, fickle though they are, over the Word of God. We listen to the skeptics and the naysayers. We listen to our experiences as well as our faulty interpretation of events. Of all the things that we can listen to and believe, the Word of God is the most reliable. It has proven its sturdiness many times through the centuries. It has outlasted all of its critics and still stands ever faithful and true. Many voices are calling out for your attention. Which one will you choose to act on and believe? I choose to believe Jesus and the Word He has spoken to me.

Dear Father,
Thank You for Your steadfast love. Thank You that Your Word has stood the test of time and remains the source of truth and light for every situation in our lives. Please continue this work of opening my heart up to the amazing faithfulness of your Bible. I pray this in Jesus' name. Amen.

Living to tell what He died to say,
Pastor David McGee

Interest building accounts ~ David McGee

1 Corinthians 3:9

"For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, you are God's building."
NKJV

Life Lesson

We will all give an account of what we did or did not do for the Lord.

God blesses our acts of service. God fills us and prepares us for service. God doesn't act for vanity; instead, He is purposeful in everything He does. You, my friend, are a part of God's plan and purpose. You are the breathing, walking and talking result of His Word. God's Word will not return void. This means that when God invests in you, He expects multiplication of return. That's not self-serving. Our salvation is a gift from God. What we do with our lives after that is our gift back to God.

Genesis 22:8 "And Abraham said, "My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering." So, the two of them went together." NKJV

There are rewards stored up in heaven for your serving. It is by God's grace, you are allowed into heaven (Ephesians 2:8-9). Once there, you will be rewarded or not rewarded for your serving. Intentions will not be rewarded.

It goes even beyond that. Do you know someone who is not serving? If so, then you are accountable, in love, to call them on it. Appeal to them. Perhaps due to your boldness to hold them accountable, they will not stand before Jesus with a heart full of intentions and hands full of air.

Dear Father,
Thank You for loving me so much and being so good to me. Lord, I want to give You my life. I want to give back to others because You have blessed me so much. I am sorry I haven't been as kingdom-minded as I should have been. Help me to store up heavenly rewards. Help me to be a world-changer and to make a difference. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Acts of commission ~ David McGee

John 4:35-36

35 Do you not say, 'There are still four months and then comes the harvest'? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest!
36 And he who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit for eternal life, that both he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together.
NKJV

Life Lesson

Be committed to God's work.

We talk about the importance of people hearing the gospel, but it is not enough to just talk about it. No, it must be our desire to see people get saved and become Talmudim (disciples). Here, we do a lot of things in order to reach the lost. Our Cross the Bridge Outreaches, our Show and Tell the World gatherings, the support we give to missionaries - these are just a few of the many ways we are reaching the lost. In order to do this, the whole church chips in and, quite frankly, I am amazed at the tremendous giving nature of Calvary Chapel of the Triad and our Bridge Builders (Cross the Bridge Partners).

Because of your generosity and desire to see the lost reached, we are able to take the resources that God has provided through you and use them prayerfully and wisely to speak the gospel into millions of ears. The wise use of these resources advance the kingdom of God. I want to encourage you in joining with us to reach the world. Be committed to this work that God is doing. This ministry is reaping an incredible harvest that is clearly of God. As you sow into this ministry and this ministry reaps the harvest, we have formed a partnership that is providing eternal rewards. Let's reach the world for Jesus and not stop until the whole world hears. May God bless you for your faithfulness.

Dear Father,
Thank You for those who give so generously to see others blessed by the life-giving gospel of Jesus Christ. I ask You to bless these precious providers even as they selflessly bless others. I ask that You continue to open doors of opportunity for Cross the Bridge Outreach Ministries and Calvary Chapel of the Triad and our supporters because we want the whole world to hear. I pray this in Jesus' name. Amen.

He sends us in His Name ~ David McGee

1 Chronicles 19:2

"Then David said, "I will show kindness to Hanun the son of Nahash, because his father showed kindness to me." So David sent messengers to comfort him concerning his father. And David's servants came to Hanun in the land of the people of Ammon to comfort him."
NKJV

Life Lesson

We should seek to comfort others.

One of the great joys of being a Christian is bringing comfort to others. Sometimes though, it feels like the weeds of our own bad decisions choke out our ability to do so. Sure, we must deal with earthly consequences of our sins, but that in no way prohibits us from being able to show God's peace to others. In the throes of our own pain, we are comforted with God's words saying:

Romans 8:28 "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose." NKJV

Because of our past experiences, we are uniquely qualified to minister to others. According to the Bible, God has specific plans for our lives (Jeremiah 29:11; Ephesians 2:10). Our Father God carries the title of "Father of mercies and God of all comfort" (2 Corinthians 1:3). He is training us to be comfort for others.

2 Corinthians 1:4 "...who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God." NKJV

So friend, don't count yourself out of ministry because of your mistakes or your past. The same merciful embrace God gave you in your day of distress could become the hug you share with others in their day.

Dear Father,
Thank You for loving me. Thank You for the grace You give me. Lord, I don't want to play tug-of-war with You. Help me not to carry around the woundings of my past, but to lay them down at Your feet. Lord, I want to extend the same grace You have given me, to others. I need You. Please work in my life and in my heart. I surrender it ALL to You. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Quench the thirst in others ~ David McGee

John 4:15

"Please, sir," the woman said, "give me some of that water! Then I'll never be thirsty again, and I won't have to come here to haul water."
NLT

Life Lesson

We should be pouring out to the world what God has poured into us.

The Israelites and Samaritans lived in a dry, thirsty land; in a desert. It is hard for many of us to imagine how valuable water is in such a desperate place. Yet, we live in a spiritually dry and thirsty land; we are often oblivious to the lack. I wonder how many times a day someone tells us they are thirsty. Perhaps not, 'please give me some of that water' but they put it another way. When they speak of problems with their children, troubles in their marriage, trials in their life, they are really saying, "I am thirsty." When they are short tempered, worn out and angry they are saying they don't know how to quench their thirst. I also wonder how many times we don't really understand their plea and their thirst. How many times we walk past opportunities to minister to them. Be filled up this morning and go give it away. Look for the thirsty and look for the dry. Hear their cries and offer them living water.

Dear Father, Thank You for loving me so much that You allow me to serve You. Lord, I lift this land up to You and ask You to raise up workers for the harvest. You offer the water that completely quenches our need and You offer it abundantly and freely. Open the hearts of this world to Your gift and allow me to play a part in the quenching of this thirsty world. I thank You that the results are in Your almighty hands. I pray this in Jesus' name. Amen

Thirsting for His Grace ~ David McGee

John 4:10

....He would have given you living water."
NKJV

Life Lesson

We should be vessels for God's grace to others.

Jesus desires to give living water. After all of our mistakes and all of our failures, He still desires to give mankind life eternal. He wants to give it to the atheists and those who defraud and defame His glorious name. He wants to give it to those who try to silence the good news by false interpretations of church and state. He wants to give it to Muslims, to New Age gurus, to those who say He was married to Mary Magdalene. If only they would ask for it.

He gave it to a woman with a sordid past. He gives it to those who do not deserve it. He gave it to you and to me. Now Jesus wants to use us as earthen vessels to distribute this 'living water' into a world that is dying of thirst.

Dear Father,
Thank You for the grace You have so abundantly heaped onto my head. I want to be established each morning in Your new mercies and I am ever dependent on Your grace and love. Let me be a light of Your grace to all who I come across today. I pray this in Jesus' name. Amen.

It's all about Jesus ~ David McGee

John 3:30

He must increase, but I must decrease.
NKJV

Life Lesson

It's all about Jesus.

This saying was true for John the Baptist when speaking of Jesus and it is true for us today. As Christians, we should be learning about the Lord. What does the Lord want? What does He desire and how can I serve Him? Instead we often think: 'What can God do for me?' We ask, 'What can the church do for me?' or 'Why don't they understand it's all about me?' This church is focused on the Lord. We worship the Lord and we learn about the Lord. We serve the Lord. As we focus on the Lord, He blesses us and draws us closer to Him.

When we gaze at our wounds, our pains and our needs, we delay and may even prevent our healing. The spiritual things of life - Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness self-control and the practical things of life... If we will take the time to really focus on the Lord, then all these things will be added unto us. We will receive our healing, our forgiveness, the joy unspeakable and the peace that passes all understanding. It's all about Jesus.

Dear Father,
Thank You for loving me so much You sent Jesus to die on the cross for my sins. Forgive me for times when I've lost focus and become self absorbed. Empower me to let go of my own and seek Yours. I pray this in Jesus' name. Amen.

God is in the process of changing us. ~ David McGee

1 Corinthians 3:1-2

"And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. 2 I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able;"
NKJV

Life Lesson God is in the process of changing us.

Paul has written that there are two kinds of people; believers and unbelievers. Now he writes of two kinds of believers, mature (carnal) or immature.

Carnal is from the word, Carna, which means flesh. You have an old nature and a new nature. Your old nature is carnal. You have probably heard the word Carnival (Carna Vale) which literally means farewell to the flesh. Originally, parties were held before the week of Lent to usher in this time of dying to the flesh. Mardi Gras, a much less spiritual party celebrated in New Orleans and other places around the world started in this way.

God is in the process of changing us. The way we grow in God is by doing the things He has told us through His Word.

1 Peter 2:2 "...as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby," NKJV

Jesus told us that, "Man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God" (Matthew 4:4). It would seem that Jesus placed great importance on His followers learning the scriptures. Many contemporary Bible teachers would do well to make note of this.

As we read and draw our nourishment from God's Word, we begin to grow in our new nature. Our lives begin to reflect changes by saying "yes" to the Holy Spirit. We are being conformed to the image of Jesus. Personal time in the Bible, in prayer, in faithful attendance of a Bible teaching church are all indications of spiritual maturity and are all important for our continued spiritual growth. 

Do you see these things in your life? 

Take a close look ...maybe even ask a friend or family member. Are these things apparent in your life? God does not want us to remain babes in Christ, but to enjoy the full blessing of walking in His will.

Dear Father,
Thank You for loving me. Thank You for Your desire to use me in the Harvest. Lord, I know I have made excuses and yet You and Your Word are still willing to guide me even in my selfishness. Thank You for teaching me. Forgive me for any envy, strife or division I have caused. I desire to know more and more of You. Thank You for loving me and for having a great plan for my life. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Living to tell what He died to say,
Pastor David

“He who has ears to hear, let him hear!” ~ David McGee

Matthew 13:9 ”He who has ears to hear, let him hear!” NKJV

Life Lesson: We should do the Bible not just hear the Bible.

Pastor John Chinelly, from Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale, gave an awesome and insightful teaching tonight from the parables of Jesus. Thanks Pastor John for sharing with us.
A parable is an earthly story with a heavenly meaning. Jesus would often teach a moral truth by connecting natural things to make incredible spiritual points. Too often; however, the people did not want to hear the Truth He brought.

Jesus was fond of saying, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!” Obviously, God gave us ears for listening.

Do we always? If we were honest with ourselves, we would have to say no.

“The teaching was on point today” or “I just wasn’t feelin’ it today”…Things overheard from people leaving countless churches across this land. Why do we come to church? Is it to grade the teacher? Is it to evaluate the effectiveness of the teaching? No. We come to church to hear from God.
The Apostle John wrote that the same Holy Spirit that instructs the teacher also instructs the Christian. The Bible tells us that scripture isGod-breathed, and it is a discerner of the heart’s intentions which does not return void (doesn’t fail) (1 Timothy 3:16-17; Hebrews 4:12; Isaiah 55:11). So, whose fault is it when we go to church, listen to a teaching from the Bible, and don’t receive? Here’s a hint: It’s not the teacher, it’s not the Bible and it’s not God. That’s right. It’s our own fault. We don’t hear because we don’t like the challenge.
We should never walk away from church (no matter who the teacher is) without realizing a change or recognizing a step we need to take. Make it your personal commitment to find the life-challenge, the life lesson within each teaching and apply it to your life. Share it with a friend or a family member. Ask them to hold you accountable for making that change.

James 1:25 “But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does. NKJV

Dear Father,
Thank You for loving me. I know I am incapable of paying the debt of my sins. Thank You for providing Your Son, Jesus, to forgive the debt of all my sins. I am grateful that You delight in having a relationship with me. Lord, help me to apply Your Word in my daily life and live out a life of peace and faith. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Living to tell what He died to say,

Success through sacrifice and service ~ David McGee

Acts 18:18

"So Paul still remained a good while. Then he took leave of the brethren and sailed for Syria, and Priscilla and Aquila were with him. He had his hair cut off at Cenchrea, for he had taken a vow."
NKJV

Life Lesson

We should be committed to God and to the church.

Paul had taken a Nazarite vow that he would not touch a dead body; he would drink no wine, eat no grapes, eat no raisins, and allow his hair to grow before cutting it off as a sign of purification (see Numbers 6). But wait, you say, isn't Paul the one who told us that those under grace should not be under bondage? In Galatians 5:1, he wrote, "Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage." This was not bondage for Paul because it kept the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ relatable to the Jews. It was also profitable in that it gave Paul the opportunity to model service and sacrifice as an example for other Christians. Friends, I am going to let you in on something that may surprise you, commitment is not bondage. It is by God's grace that we have been given the opportunity to serve Him. How do we serve God? We serve Him by serving others and His church. Is commitment service or sacrifice? It is both. Every Christian should be ready to serve and be ready for sacrifice. What was the model set forth for us by Jesus? It was one of service and sacrifice. If we are to be "Christ-like" then we must be ready and willing to commit ourselves to live by the example He set for us. We hold ourselves to commitments everyday. Commitments we make at our jobs, with our family and friends. What about our commitment to Jesus and to His church?

Proverbs 16:3 reads, "Commit your work to the LORD, and then your plans will succeed." NLT

Service or sacrifice, whichever it may be, I'm ready. That is the mindset of a true servant of the God. Maybe it is this church or maybe it is another church, but friend, find that place and be committed.

Dear Father,
Thank You for Your grace and Your mercy. Help me look for ways I can commit to serving others. Help me to be willing and ready when asked to serve. Lord, when my serving requires sacrifice, please help me not to grumble or complain. Help me to be glad that I can sacrifice my time and effort in serving others, and in turn recognize that I am serving You. Thank you Lord for Your serving and sacrifice for us. I pray this in Jesus' name. Amen.

Freed! to follow. ~ David McGee

2 Kings 22:1-2

"Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Jedidah the daughter of Adaiah of Bozkath. And he did what was right in the sight of the LORD, and walked in all the ways of his father David; he did not turn aside to the right hand or to the left." NKJV

Life Lesson

Christianity offers you the power to make a free choice.

Josiah's grandfather, Manasseh, and his father, Amon, were two of the worst kings of Judah. They killed prophets, sacrificed their children, and rebuilt places of idol worship - even placing them in the house of the Lord. Josiah chose to do differently. He chose to walk in the ways of the Lord. That is just it, friend. We get to choose. People will say that you are doomed to follow in the sins of your father. Josiah proves that is not the case. You may be predisposed to those sins, but you get to make the choice. Maybe you watched your father get drunk every day of his life - that does not mean you have to. Even when you choose not to walk in the sins of your mother or father, you will still have to deal with it just as Josiah did. You will have to make the decision of whether you follow or choose something better.

1 Corinthians 10:13 "No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it." NKJV

Maybe your father followed Jesus and lived his life for the Lord. If so, what an awesome privilege; those are great footsteps to follow. For others, their childhood was full of parental failures and disappointments. The trail blazed was bleak. Be encouraged. You may face the temptation my friend, but God has provided the means by which you can overcome and choose a better way. It would have been easier for Josiah to continue in the way that was paved by his father and grandfather; instead, he chose a better path. What path will you choose?

Dear Father,
Thank You for loving me even in my failures. Thank You for forgiving me. Help me to make wise decisions by looking to Your Word to receive Your counsel and instruction. In Jesus' name, Amen.

All things.... for our good ~ David McGee

Acts 18:2

"And he found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla (because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to depart from Rome); and he came to them."
NKJV

Life Lesson

When you follow God, He works things out for our good.

Corinth was a very wicked city. It could be said that Corinth was the Las Vegas of the day. The population of the city was over 400,000, and it was a popular tourist destination due to the location as well as the loose morals of the city. In fact, the reputation of the city was such that calling someone a "Corinthian" was considered an insult and to 'corinthianize' was to engage in sin.

Around AD 49, a wave of anti-Semitism rolled through Rome and the Emperor, Claudius, expelled the Jews from the city. As a result of this edict, Aquila and Priscilla departed to Corinth. After being mocked in Athens, Paul also was in Corinth where he met Aquila and Priscilla. What seemed to be bad circumstances for Aquila, Priscilla and Paul, became a huge blessing. Aquila and Priscilla became a valuable part of Paul's ministry team, and Paul was able to minister the Gospel more effectively due to their help. God used a bad thing to produce a good result.

Romans 8:28, "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose." NKJV

Notice that it does not say 'most things' or 'some things,' but it says, 'all things'. This does not mean you will understand how God will work it out to your good. There will be many times where you will not know for days, weeks or even years, how He will do it. Throughout the Bible, we see God redeem events in the lives of people for His purposes. It is a theme of grace Christians can count on. Jesus said, "In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world" John 16:33b NKJV. No mistake or circumstance can be too great to be used by God. The choice is yours. In difficult times, you can be freaked out or you can rest in the promises of God.

Dear Father,
Thank You that I do not have to worry. Thank You that because of Your mercy, faithfulness, and great love for me, I can be at peace in all circumstances. Please help me to remember this. I pray this in Jesus' name. Amen.

Share His goodness with others ~ David McGee

1 Corinthians 2:14

"But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned."
NKJV

Life Lesson

God wants us to reveal His goodness to people that don't know Him.

The Lord wants to reveal Himself to people; His goodness to people that don't know Him. Unless God reveals Himself to someone they won't get it. The fact that we get it is not because we are so wise but because God has shown us. He opens our hearts to His Word... It's His gift by grace through faith and not by our own works.

Ephesians 2:8-9 "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast." NKJV

The world tries to separate man from God. When modern man tries to explain God from worldly perspectives, it ends up in a foolish mess. The cross is foolishness to those who don't understand. People cannot "get it" until God reveals it to them. Does this mean we should quit sharing and just let people figure it out themselves? Of course not! Our calling is to share and leave the rest up to God.

If your motivation in sharing the gospel is to have people accept Jesus, then you will become discouraged. If your motivation is obedience to God, then when someone accepts Jesus, you get to revel in the joy of obedience. It's an obedience issue and not a quota to be met. When God shows up, things happen! Share with expectation and know that whether someone accepts Jesus or not, you are a faithful steward of the love of Christ.

Romans 10:14 "But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them?" NLT

Dear Father,
Thank You for loving me. Thank You that in Your vastness as creator of the heavens and earth, You desire to know me. You call me to share with others. Lord, give me the mind of Christ so that I may see You and myself more clearly than I ever have. In your grace and mercy, I am comforted to know that You have offered me forgiveness. Empower me the with a passion to tell others about You so I can reveal Your glory. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Building stone bridges ~ David Mc Gee

Acts 17:22-23

22 Then Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus and said, "Men of Athens, I perceive that in all things you are very religious;23 for as I was passing through and considering the objects of your worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Therefore, the one whom you worship without knowing, Him I proclaim to you."
NKJV

Life Lesson

We should build bridges with people who don't understand the good news about Jesus not just stand back and throw stones at them.

It is easy to throw stones. It takes more effort to build something and costs much more to restore it. What then, is the price to redeem? Well, that price is far greater than we could ever pay. Only Jesus could pay that fine. Jesus died on the cross. He bore the penalty for our sins. It is by grace that we are saved and not by works (Ephesians 2:8, 9).

As Christians, we possess this knowledge. What should we be doing with it? Should we be using it as a crowbar to pry people apart? Should we use it as a wrecking ball to tear people down? Should we strike hard with this tool, pinning nail to wood with one mighty blow? Certainly not! What a horrible misuse of God's grace toward us that would be!

How we love to nest ourselves in the grace we have been given, and then, thinking ourselves to be on a higher branch, we drop stones on everyone else. We didn't have to earn our grace, but everyone else had better get to work! How hypocritical! When we are unwilling to show grace to others, we are misrepresenting God.

Jesus humbled Himself and dwelt with sinners.

Luke 5:31-32 Jesus answered them, "Healthy people don't need a doctor--sick people do. I have come to call sinners to turn from their sins, not to spend my time with those who think they are already good enough." NLT

In Acts 17:22-23, it would have been easy for Paul to start throwing verbal stones. Instead, he demonstrated God's grace by seeking to build a bridge of understanding so that the great news of the Gospel could be communicated. Instead of pointing out differences, he used a bridge to present the Gospel message to the people. Are you a bridge builder?

Dear Father,
Thank You that it's not by any works of my own, but by Your grace that I'm saved. Please forgive me for times when I have torn down bridges instead of building bridges to tell people about Your Son, Jesus Christ. Please give me the fortitude to speak out of love instead of boasting. I pray this in Jesus' name. Amen.

Battle action of faith ~ David McGee

1 Chronicles 18:1

"After this it came to pass that David attacked the Philistines, subdued them, and took Gath and its towns from the hand of the Philistines."
NKJV

Life Lesson

A life of faith is a battle.

If this statement is shocking to you my friend then perhaps, in love, you need to take a closer look at your life. Jesus promised that there would be trials and trouble for those who follow him. Paul referred to Christians as "soldiers of Christ." Because Satan has set himself against the Lord, it stands to reason that as a soldier of Christ, you are in the battle. You cannot be active in the battle and be seated on the sidelines. There are no couches on the front lines; only foxholes and fighters are found there.

David was not hiding and asking God to keep him safe. He understood there were battles in his life. Instead, David was praying and stepping out in faith. God wants to keep us and give us the victory. Sometimes, we think the worst thing that could happen is to fail. In Christianity, the worst thing is failing to try. God has declared victory in your life. Friend, don't argue with God about it...live it! Be victorious.

Dear Jesus,
Thank You for loving me. Thank You for Your Word and the desire to use me as a vessel to bless others. Lord, empower me with boldness to put Your kingdom first. I don't want to be a spectator in the battle. I want to see lives changed for Your glory. Help me to step out and be a kingdom builder. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Sing a song of deliverence unto our God ! ~ David McGee

Acts 16:27-30

"And the keeper of the prison, awaking from sleep and seeing the prison doors open, supposing the prisoners had fled, drew his sword and was about to kill himself. But Paul called with a loud voice, saying, "Do yourself no harm, for we are all here." Then he called for a light, ran in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. And he brought them out and said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"
NKJV

Life Lesson

No matter how bad your circumstances are, there is hope in God.

All of us at some point in our lives are held captive by something. It could be that you are captive by a bad decision you made. Praise the Lord. Maybe you are held captive by habits or even by outside circumstances that you have little control over. Praise the Lord. Maybe it's your health. Praise the Lord. Is your hope in an escape? Then your hope is in the wrong place. Is your hope in healing? Then your hope is in the wrong place. Is your hope in the Lord? You got it, that's where it should be.

Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you," says the LORD. They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope." NLT

That's a promise that God has made to you, and He has an established track record of always keeping His promises. So, what are you doing while you are in the midst of your trials? Are you staying in His Word? Are you praising Him? Look around...who's watching? It could be that there are others...like you, or even jailors who are watching. What an incredible witness you can be by giving thanks to God despite your circumstances.

1 Peter 3:15 "Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if you are asked about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it." NLT

You see, whether you have been beaten up like Paul and Silas or beaten down like the jailer, the Lord knows what is going on and wants you to turn to Him. His promises have not and will not change. So don't give up, friend. Stay focused on Jesus. Remember His words:

John 16:33 "In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." NKJV

Dear Father,
Thank You for sending Your Son, Jesus, to die on the cross for my sins. Thank You that He rose from death victorious so that I may have victory in life over darkness through Him. Please give me the ability to glorify and praise You in good times and bad. I pray this in Jesus' name, Amen.

Returning favor ~ David McGee

1 Corinthians 2:9-10

9 But as it is written:
'Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man.
The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.'
10 But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.
NKJV

Life Lesson

When you are not sure of things or circumstances, go back to what you do know.

I have many times heard pastors teach verse nine but fail to move on to verse ten. When one teaches only verse nine, it gives the impression that we cannot know what God has prepared for us. But continue to verse ten, and we learn that we do have access to the mysteries of God through His Holy Spirit. God has not left us stranded on the rusty and rickety old bridge of uncertainty.

When we are not sure of things or circumstances, we should go back to what we do know. Remind yourself..."God, I know You love me. I know my sins are forgiven. I know You will use all things for my good. I know You have a plan for me."

The moment we realize God loves us and has forgiven us, other mysteries of life don't have to strike fear in our hearts. Instead, we can boldly step out into those things He created for us to do. When God reveals Himself to us, He gives us the responsibility to share Him with others.

Dear Father,
Thank You for loving me. Thank You for Your kindness and grace to reveal Yourself to me. Lord, draw me close to You and show me Your plan for my life. Give me the strength to share Your simple message to reach others. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Iron clad covering ~ David McGee

Acts 16:14-15

"Now a certain woman named Lydia heard us. She was a seller of purple from the city of Thyatira, who worshiped God. The Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul. And when she and her household were baptized, she begged us, saying, "If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay." So she persuaded us." NKJV

Life Lesson

We should fellowship or hang out with people in the church.

Lydia was not saved by good works, but saved in order to do good works.

Once saved, Lydia began to fellowship with other Christians. You see, it is the responsibility of every Christian to be in fellowship with other Christians. Fellowship helps you in your faith, and it will help other believers in their faith.

The Author of Hebrews says, "And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching" Hebrews 10:24-25 NKJV.

The word used for 'stir up' also means to 'provoke'. It is like going to the dentist...stay with me here. When you go for a check-up, the dentist uses a sharp tool to poke around at your teeth, right? It is not until he pokes the one tooth that makes you jump that you discover you've got a cavity. Once you know that you have a problem with your tooth, you can take steps to fix it. It's not pleasant, but it's necessary as it keeps a small problem from turning into a big problem.

Interaction with other believers may not always be comfortable. Someone may see our sore spots - areas where we are weak or where we fail to glorify God. We may even get 'poked' in those spots. Sometimes we are not aware of the sore spot and the 'poking' brings to our attention the need to repent and change. Other times we are covering up the sore spot, and it takes encouragement from a brother or sister for us to make a change. Now, I'm not saying that you should nitpick all your friends until you find something wrong that you can point out to them - not at all! Rather, it's a natural part of fellowship with other believers. Solomon put it this way:

Proverbs 27:17 "As iron sharpens iron, a friend sharpens a friend." NLT

When you grind two pieces of iron together, you may get sparks, but it's not just one piece of iron that is sharpened; both pieces benefit from the process. Don't ignore this vital part of your Christian walk! I'm probably poking someone in a sore spot right now (poke!).

Dear Father,
Thank You for loving me. Thank You that I am not alone in this Christian walk. Please forgive me for the times when I have neglected fellowship. Please give me a desire to fellowship with my family in Christ. I pray this in Jesus' name, Amen.

Fit to be tried ~ David McGee

Ephesians 2:10

"For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them."
NKJV

Life Lesson

Challenges while we serve God do not mean we aren't called. Don't quit.

Pastor DA did a great job sharing last night on the Calvary Chapel Distinctive: "The Call to Ministry." As I listened, I was reminded of this point... God does not call the equipped but equips the called.

Many assume that "ministry" is something exclusively for pastors or "people with a calling." That sort of thinking, while probably propagated in part by pastors, is simply not true. Every disciple of Christ is called to minister. What is ministry? Ministry is serving. Good works, while not the source of salvation, are for all Christians to walk in. Its boundaries are not defined by length, height, width or depth, but by need. Wherever people are, there is need. Ministry can be challenging to our flesh because ministry requires us to deny "self." We make it complex to justify the excuse, "I'm just not ready."

God equips and preordains us for works He has specifically prepared for us. Not only are the works set aside specifically for us, but we are uniquely created for them. As a result, we find ourselves without excuse. What excuses have you made not to serve others? God has set the bounds of ministry and given every Christian a call to actively love others. God tests the hearts of His servants so that we can be conformed to the image of His Son. Are you up for the challenge?

Dear Father,
Thank You for loving me. Thank You for sending Your Son to set me free. I know You have a plan for my life and trust that You will complete a good work in me. Lord, lay it on my heart daily to share with others about Your love. In all my shortcomings, empower me with strength to press on and challenge me to be live in the attitude and nature of You. In Jesus' name, Amen.