Unto Us...

For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.  Isa 9:6-7

This has been a busy week:  Preparing for the Christmas fellowship at CCW (Dont miss it!  Friday night at 6 pm!), preparing for Sunday, and preparing for a 2 week sabbatical with our family.  Oh, and don’t worry, things are in good hands while I am gone:  Pastor Mel will be teaching both Sundays, my good friends All Lines Parallel will be bringing the worship on Dec 27th, and the talented duo Josh and Tiffany Mitchell will be bringing worship on January 3rd. (If you are thinking “ALP, aren’t they a hard rock Christian band?”  Answer:  Yes.  But they can totally bring it down and worship the Lord.  If you have ever been to a Third Day concert, you know what I mean! Trust me, you will be blessed.)

But, back to Christmas. I am not a “holiday” person, and so every year Christmas seems to sneak up on me.  And then I find myself thinking the same thoughts:  What does Christmas mean?  Is there some “special thing” that I could come up with, one of those “ah ha” moments that will be a new revelation about the birth of Christ.  But I always come back to the same simple truth:  Jesus Christ, the son of God, was presented to the world.  His arrival was heralded as a blessing to mankind, because He was sent with a purpose: To reconcile man to his creator.  Jesus Christ came with a ministry of reconciliation:

All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them.  2 Cor 5:18-19

His coming was promised, and it happened.  Since that time, His arrival has not only changed the world, but literally changed the lives of millions – even billions – of people throughout history.

But the best is yet to come, as His second coming is also promised, and it will happen:

“Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.”

Merry Christmas, and praise be to God for His Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior!

Pastor Clay

Blessed is the man...

Blessed is every one who fears the LORD, Who walks in His ways. When you eat the labor of your hands, you shall be happy, and it shall be well with you. Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine in the very heart of your house, your children like olive plantsall around your table. Behold, thus shall the man be blessed who fears the LORD. Ps 128:1-4

I think this is one of the most beautiful and loving promises in God’s word! Think about it:  Your efforts will be prosperous.  You will have happiness, and be “well” or contented.  Your home life will be sweet! All of this stems from one thing: “…thus shall the man be blessed who fears the LORD.”

Remember we spoke about fear a few weeks ago:  Fear of the Lord is best described as “awe” or “reverence”. When we acknowledge the might, the power, the majesty, of the Living God, who is our heavenly Father, we come to a realization that we are under His protection.  We are filled with His power and might. 2 Tim 1:7 tells us:  For God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

So today, draw into the presence of the mighty, powerful, majestic Lord of hosts, and know that you are under His protection and filled with His power and might!

Till the whole world hears,

Pastor Clay

Houses built in vain

Unless the LORD builds the house, They labor in vain who build it; Unless the LORD guards the city, The watchman stays awake in vain.  Ps 127:1

Today's One Year Bible Psalm nails it:  If God isn't in what we are doing, we build in vain. That doesn't necessarily mean that if we do something on our own, without God's leading, that it will be a complete failure. It simply means that if God is not leading, there will be no "God Fruit". Fruit maybe, but not God-fruit.

That is where I am today.  I am not satisfied with real-looking plastic fruit that sits on the table.  I am only interested in the real thing:  Plump, juicy, life-giving fruit.  I don't want to come up with things on my own.  I only want to dwell in houses built by God Himself.  I only want to be part of movements initiated by the Holy Spirit. Church, we don't want to settle for cheap substitutes. Let's hold out for the real thing.

Last week we talked about allowing God to search our hearts, and reveal to us any sin.  This week let's ask Him for revelation regarding the house He wants to build in each of our lives. How He wants to use us, what work does He want to do through us.  Ask, then LISTEN;  Unless the Lord builds the house, we will labor in vain.

And don't forget the second part of that verse:  Unless the LORD guards the city, The watchman stays awake in vain.  Ask the Lord to guard the walls and gates of our lives, and not allow anything that defiles to enter in.

Till the whole world hears,

Pastor Clay

The Challenge

This past Sunday I shared with you that I believe our church is at a crossroads - a crisis of faith.  Our world is changing - and not for the better.  Our nation is in a state of moral and religious decay; Our government is rushing into uncharted territory, debating changes that if enacted will fundamentally change our world (and not for the better). People are hurting, jobs are scarce, money is tight.

During this time of trial we can do one of two things...

• We can hunker down, focus on ourselves, and become a prisoner of our circumstances. 
• Or we can take a cue from Peter:

Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator.  1 Peter 4:19

Even when things are difficult, when we are suffering, lets be faithful in doing good, remaining steadfast in the Lord. We can also take a cue from the Macedonian churches,

Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity 2 Cor 8:2

Even though we are poor, we can reach out to others with love, ministry, and the gospel message of Jesus Christ.

I believe that God wants to radically change some things in our church. I believe He wants us to take our eyes off of ourselves, and look outside to the world around us.

We have something that the world needs more than healthcare, more than a job:  We have the life-changing power of the gospel message of Jesus Christ. I believe that God wants us to take our focus off of us and our needs, and He wants us to reach out to the world around us, and seek to meet their needs - practical and spiritual.  The question is not whether God wants to use us - but HOW does God want to use us. 

Challenge:  I told you that I will pray and fast between now and the end of the year. Praying daily and fasting one day per week, seeking God's face for the direction of our church; for direction on how He want to use us;  Seeking Him specifically for what He wants us to be involved in.

Will you join me? I would like to have a group of people that commit to fast one day a week, and pray with me, and seek the Lord for direction.

*Some have asked when I will be fasting.  My day to fast will be every Wednesday.  If you can join me on Wednesdays so that we can be in unity, that is awesome.  But if another day works better for you, no problem.

click here for more...

Pastor Clay

Walking on Hight Hills

Though the fig tree may not blossom, Nor fruit be on the vines; Though the labor of the olive may fail, And the fields yield no food; Though the flock may be cut off from the fold, And there be no herd in the stalls— Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The LORD God is my strength; He will make my feet like deer’s feet, And He will make me walk on my high hills.
Habakkuk 3:17-19

Habakkuk was a prophet in the 7th century BC, during a time when the nation of Israel was in a state of moral and religious decay.  The rise of the brutal Babylonian empire was a grave threat to all nations, and the Chaldean general (and future leader of Babylon) Nebuchadnezzar was marching towards Jerusalem.  God told Habakkuk that He was going to use the Babylonians to chastise the nation of Isral, and Habakkuk was watching it all happen.

Yet in the midst of this turmoil, Habakkuk makes the statement “Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.” 

Wow. On the verge of an invasion by a ruthless army, Habakkuk is talking about how joyful he is.  That tells me something:  Our thankfulness and joy don’t have to be tied to our circumstances. However many times, our joy is totally tied to our circumstances. 

We are thankful for the blessings of God in our lives:  Family, food, shelter, our church, our health.  But what if something has knocked us off the road? What if we are going through a hard time?  What if we are seeing our nation and culture fall into a slow fade of moral and religious decay?  What then?  We’re supposed to still be thankful, right? We’re supposed to just focus us in on God, and by some magical act we'll be thankful again.

Maybe it’s that easy.  Or maybe there is something more called for. I believe that there is another key component to the process of how we can be not only thankful and joyful in times of difficulty, but actually empowered!  And I believe part of the secret is found in 1 Peter 4:19:

And I believe part of the secret is found in 1 Peter 4:19:

Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator.  1 Peter 4:19

Join us Sunday for “Walking on High Hills”

Till the whole world hears,

Pastor Clay

The Fig Tree

Now in the morning, as He returned to the city, He was hungry. And seeing a fig tree by the road, He came to it and found nothing on it but leaves, and said to it, "Let no fruit grow on you ever again." Immediately the fig tree withered away.  Matt 21:18-19

Walk through an apple orchard and look at some of the fruit trees, they'll be full of fruit.  Sweet, juicy fruit!  Exactly the kind of trees that you would expect.  But what if you walked up to an apple tree and there was no fruit?  Not one apple.  Nada. You would wonder, "What is wrong with that tree? Why doesn't it have fruit?"

Our lives as Christians should be like those healthy fruit trees, bearing forth fruit that will be a blessing to those around us. If not, maybe we need to figure out why.

Join us Sunday as we explore the account of the fig tree.

Pastor Clay

The Implanted Word

Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.  For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror;  for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.  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.  James 1:19-25

There always seems to be one little phrase that jumps out at me in a text.  Tucked in between the exhortations "lay aside all filthiness", and "be doers of the word, and not hearers only" is this little phrase "receive with meekness the implanted word." The NIV calls it "the word planted in you." To me it paints a mental picture of a seed being planted. But this seed is not being planted in the soil of the earth, but into the soil of our hearts (RE: Matt 13).

Just a little reminder that when we read and meditate on Gods word, we're not just reading, we are planting the very wisdom and nature of God into our hearts and minds. We are planting seeds of wisdom and righteousness that will spring forth with life and fruit. The fruit is the action that we take, the work we do, the ministry that flows.  The person that does this "is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does."

PC

No Fear, Never Shaken

Praise the LORD. Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who finds great delight in his commands. His children will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed. Wealth and riches are in his house, and his righteousness endures forever. Even in darkness light dawns for the upright, for the gracious and compassionate and righteous man. Good will come to him who is generous and lends freely, who conducts his affairs with justice. Surely he will never be shaken; a righteous man will be remembered forever. He will have no fear of bad news; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD. His heart is secure, he will have no fear; in the end he will look in triumph on his foes. He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor, his righteousness endures forever; his horn will be lifted high in honor. The wicked man will see and be vexed, he will gnash his teeth and waste away; the longings of the wicked will come to nothing.
Ps 112

As I read through the many awesome promised listed in this Psalm, one statement really jumps out at me:

Surely he will never be shaken …He will have no fear of bad news …his heart is steadfast … he will have no fear.

I get this mental picture of a muscular man, chiseled features, dressed in battle gear, outnumbered and surrounded, yet having no fear whatsoever.  He is ready to face his enemies with strength and honor.  As men we love that image, because we want to identify with that.  We want to be physically strong, and pound all of our adversaries!

But I believe that greater value lies in spiritual strength.  I believe the psalm speaks not to physical strength, but the spiritual strength that comes from the fear of the Lord.  On the surface it’s a strange concept:  Fear God, become strong. 

How does strength come from fear?
Because the “fear” being described here is not fear like you would feel for a snake or a wild animal, but is better described as “awe” or “reverence”.  When acknowledge the might, the power, the majesty, of the Living God, who is our heavenly Father, we come to a realization that we are under His protection.  We are filled with His power and might. 2 Tim 1:7 comes to mind: 

For God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
 
This is true strength – spiritual strength – the strength to face any problem, and bad news, and trial, that might come before us. 

Finally, my brothers, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. (Eph 6:10)

Pastor Clay

Give thanks in ALL things

...give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.  1 Thess 5:18

As Christians, we know to thank God when things are going well.  But do we thank God when things aren't going well?  What about when we're hard-pressed on every side, perplexed, persecuted, struck down... (2 Cor 4:8)?

Do we see God working in the difficult times?  Paul makes this statement to "give thanks in *all* circumstances," not some... but ALL! But how can I do that? How can I give thanks when I'm down?

I believe the answer is in recognizing that God is sovereign.  Recognizing that nothing comes into our lives that has not been filtered through the hands of our loving God. Even the hard times.  Even the tribulations that we have brought on ourselves.

If God is truly over all, then He knew this situation would come into my life.  He watched if I made wrong decisions that brought me to this place. Instead of sheltering me from the repercussions, He allowed it to come into my life so that I would learn. So that I would be strengthened. So that I would lean on Him for my comfort and strength.  It is always God's will for me to grow, and it is usually through adversity that I grow.

And in the end, I am stronger, wiser, my faith has increased, and God is glorified.

A Day in the Temple

"It is written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer,' but you have made it a 'den of thieves.'"  

Matt 21:13

 

Within a cash register tape's width of the front door, the merchandising begins. Scripture verses dress up ceramic flowers and figurines. A dove logo makes a standard purple candle into a “prayer candle.” Tiny red-and-white life preservers announce that "Jesus Saves." Bookmarks, bracelets, and assorted bric-a-brac ask "What Would Jesus Do?"   Hmmm, what would Jesus do if He walked into one of these stores, or worse, into the lobby of some of our churches?  Is our faith now defined by the merchandising industry?

 

OK, I won’t crack too hard on the nail-cross pendant business, but I think the bigger question that begs to be answered is this:  How do we present our faith to the world around us?  See the issue that day in the temple was not that it was a sin to sell something to a person of faith, but rather the effect that it had on those who came to worship the Living God.  

 

Join us Sunday as we look at a day in the temple.

 

Till the whole world hears...

 

Pastor Clay

 

Upside Down

Ahh, the perks of leadership: Big office, your name on the door, underlings to boss around, sitting at the front of the important meetings.  And did I mention those underlings you get to boss around???

Our world has a perspective of “getting to the top” that includes perks and privileges.  People relish achieving a certain position or title so you can have authority, and tell other people what to do.  But Jesus made a really interesting statement in Matthew 20:  “"You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them.  Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant.”  Once again Jesus is pointing out one of those little ‘differences’ between the world kingdoms and God’s kingdom.

In the world system, you work to become great so that you can receive power and privilege.

In God’s system you serve others, and in doing so you become great.

Sounds kind of upside down, doesn’t it?  But which one is upside down, and which one is right-side up?  Join us Sunday as we explore God’s promotion system.

 

Till the whole world hears...

 Pastor Clay

 

Surprises in Heaven

So the last will be first, and the first last.
Matt 20:16

Ever think about the reward ceremony that will take place in heaven? We can imagine that Peter and the other apostles will receive great and wonderful rewards.  Some of the early church fathers, such as Polycarp, Ignatius, Justin Martyr, will receive wonderful crowns of distinction!  Then there were the great evangelists Billy Sunday, Dwight Moody, Billy Graham; men who won thousands to Christ.  And then there are the current roster of men who have reached millions through TV, Crusades, and the internet:  Chuck Smith, Greg Laurie, Franklin Graham. Oh and we can’t forget the great women of the faith:  Deborah, Priscilla, Lydia, Mother Teresa, Joni Eareckson Tada,  Ann Graham Lotz. Just to name a few.

When we think of all of these people that have made such a mark on the world for Christ, it can be a little intimidating.  We might even become apathetic about the “Bema Seat” of rewards that Paul talks about in 2 Cor 5, as we think we’ll be sitting in the five millionth row back!  Talk about a nose bleed section!

But is that the way it will really be?  Is that just our “human perspective” of those rewards? Might the Lord Jesus have another perspective?

Last week Peter asked about those ‘rewards’ and Jesus gave him assurance that whatever we invest now, we will receive a hundredfold return (get some of that, Wall Street!).  Now as we move into chapter 20, Jesus gives us a parable that describes how those ‘rewards’ will be allocated in the Kingdom.  And trust me, it’s not how we do things here on earth. I believe there will be some real surprises in heaven!

Join us Sunday!

If you are not local, you can download the teaching here (usually within a few days) or you can subscribe to our podcast here (get it pushed to your iTunes!).

Till the whole world hears...

Pastor Clay

How good do I have to be, really?

Over the past few weeks we have looked at things like: “How many times do I forgive my friend?  When can I cut him off?”, or “How much do I have to take at home before I can ditch my spouse?”  We have found that people often look for a measuring stick for grace, and yet the answer we keep getting from God is “keep forgiving, keep loving, stay married…”  In other words “keep pouring out love and grace.”

 

As we move further into chapter 19 of Matthew, we find a young man coming to Jesus with a similar question:   “…behold, one came and said to Him, ‘Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?"  

 

In other words this man is asking “so, what’s it gonna take to get into heaven?  What do I do?  How good do I have to be, really?”

 

The question is reasonable and logical.  It’s an excellent question.  As with any excellent question, it brings us to a place of self-examination:

1. What is important to God?

2. What is important to me?

3. How do the two resulting answers align with one another?

 

Join us Sunday as we explore the account of the rich young ruler, and how his encounter with Jesus might help us to see what really matters to God, and perhaps what should matter to us.

 

Till the whole world hears,

 

Pastor Clay

 

If you can accept it...

For there are eunuchs who were born thus from their mother's womb, and there are eunuchs who were made eunuchs by men, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake. He who is able to accept it, let him accept it." 

Matt 19:12  NKJV

 

After Jesus taught on divorce, some of His disciples thought “wow, maybe its better not to get married!” (my paraphrase!).  Jesus then goes on to talk a little about celibacy.  Celibacy??  Who would want to consider something like that?  In reality… not many.  But some will. Yet the conversation can go much deeper, with questions such as “What if my husband is not a believer?”  “What if my wife leaves me?” What if I never find that perfect mate, should I settle for “almost perfect?”

 

Join us Sunday as we continue our discussion about marriage, and singleness.

 

 

Till the whole world hears...

 

Pastor Clay

 

Divorce, and the Heart of God

The latest statistics report that roughly 60% of marriages end in divorce. Second or third marriages fare even worse, with about 20% of couples remaining happily married:  meaning that a full eighty percent of repeat marriages end in divorce. What’s even more concerning is that these statistics include the church.

 

In Matthew chapter 19, a group of religious rulers come to Jesus and ask Him about divorce.  Basically there were two opinions about divorce among the Rabbi’s, and they wanted to know which camp Jesus fell into.  A “gotcha” question if there ever was one!

 

But Jesus response what not what they expected.  Jesus wasn’t going to fall into either camp, but rather Jesus was going to fall into “God’s camp” when it came to that sensitive issue. 

 

So, what is “God’s Camp?”  How does God see divorce? Are there some situations where it is OK? Are there some marriages that just “aren’t meant to be?”  Are some people just “incompatible?” 

 

Join us Sunday, September 20^th, at 9 & 11 am, as we discover God’s heart regarding divorce.

 

Till the whole world hears...

 

Pastor Clay

 

The Grace of Forgiveness

Then Peter came to Him and said, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?"  Matt 18:21

 

In the last installment of our “Model Citizen” series we talked about dealing with the person that sins against us, and how we handle that situation personally, and as a church.  But there is one mroe very important aspect of our handling of that situation:  For the relationship to be fully restored not only does the offending party need to confess and ask forgiveness, but the offended party must actually extend forgiveness!  What a novel concept!

 

I have found that it is one thing to accept an apology, and quite another to extend true forgiveness to that person.  See for me to extend true forgiveness requires me to put myself out there and become vulnerable once again.  It requires me to move beyond tolerating that person, but actually embracing them once again.  It requires that I extend to that person something called “grace.”  See, the grace of forgiveness is to care more about the person than what they have done.

 

Join us Sunday for our conclusion of “The Model Citizen”.

 

 

Till the whole world hears...

 

Pastor Clay

 

Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?

“Mom, he hit me!” 

How many times have we heard that?  It seems like brothers have a built-in predisposition for contention.  They’re always doing something to one another.  Then the retribution starts, ending up with what seems like a never-ending cycle of name calling, hitting, accusations, on and on it goes!  It’s enough to drive a parent crazy!  But we always hope that when they get older, they’ll grow out of it.  We hope…

Sometime they don’t.  They grow up, and the cycle seems to repeat itself.  Sometimes we even see it happen in the church. It’s enough to drive a pastor crazy!

What do we do if a brother or sister in the church sins against us?  What is the appropriate response? How would Jesus have us to handle that situation?

Thankfully, God didn’t leave us to figure it out on our own.  He gave us an instruction manual, called “The Bible”, that helps guide us in these sensitive situations.

Join us Sunday for “The Model Citizen – Part IV:  Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?”

 

Till the whole world hears...

 Pastor Clay

Straying Sheep

What do we think when we see another Christian stray?  When someone we know goes off a cliff, heads off into the wilderness, into the darkness of the wilderness?  Perhaps we are sad.  Maybe mad.  Some might have a sense of righteous indignation.  Some might even feel a bit self-righteous. 

But more important is this:  How does God see the straying Christian?  What is God’s heart towards that person? Jesus tells us in Matthew 18:12:

What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying?  Matt 18:12

So, God ‘seeks after’ that sheep – perhaps with a whip? With judgment?  Perhaps so when He finds that sheep He can set them straight? Or maybe…

And if he should find it, assuredly, I say to you, he rejoices more over that sheep than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray

Wow – God rejoices when He finds that sheep.  In other words, He is so happy to bring one of His sheep back from the dark wilderness, and back into His fold.

Join us Sunday, as we explore God’s heart towards the straying sheep.

 

Till the whole world hears... 

Pastor Clay

Leading Astray

"Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea. Matt 18:6

 

Remember when we were kids, sometimes our moms took a particular dislike to a certain friend.  Perhaps they thought that friend would be a bad influence on us, they might “lead us astray.”  Funny how moms are, because sometimes years later, we can see where that person ended up, and we are so glad we are not there with them.

 

As keen as mom’s discernment might have been, God’s is even greater. For that reason we should be sensitive to the Spirit of the Lord if He gives us discernment about hanging with a certain crowd.  Sin loves company, and if we hang with the sinning crowd, we will be lead astray.  And guess what, Jesus is very protective of His “little ones”, insomuch as if someone leads one of His little ones astray in their walk with the Lord, that person will give an account of that before the Lord!

 

Join us Sunday for Part II of our series “The Model Citizen.”

 

(miss last week?  CLICK HERE to go to the Audio Sermon page)

 

Till the whole world hears...

 

Pastor Clay

 

Spiritual Headship

But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God. 
1 Cor 11:3

In 1 Corinthians Paul lays our a spiritual principle:  God is head over Jesus, Jesus is head over man, and man is head over woman.  OK, we all understand hierarchy – we have a boss, or we are the boss…  but often our view is tainted. We think of our boss as someone to avoid, or someone we try an make ourselves look good to. We think of ourselves as the boss from a perspective of “what I get to do,” or “what’s in it for me.”

In reality – the position, from God’s perspective, is so much more. From God’s perspective, the “head” is one who should look out for the those that he oversees.  Make sure they are taken care of – make sure they are trained - make sure that they are successful.  It is the only way that an organization will be truly successful.

Why do I say all this?  Because as men, I want you to see your role as the spiritual head as so much more than a title or something you pull out in an argument with your wife! As the spiritual head, you need to understand how God has defined your role, what authority you have, and what responsibilities come with the title.

Interested in knowing more?  Join us for Men’s Breakfast on Saturday morning, prayer at 7, breakfast starts at 8 am!

CLICK HERE to register

 

Till the whole world hears... 

Pastor Clay

 

Trusting God with the little things

When they had come to Capernaum, those who received the temple tax came to Peter and said, "Does your Teacher not pay the temple tax?" He said, "Yes." And when he had come into the house, Jesus anticipated him, saying, "What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth take customs or taxes, from their sons or from strangers?" Peter said to Him, "From strangers. Jesus said to him, "Then the sons are free.  Nevertheless, lest we offend them, go to the sea, cast in a hook, and take the fish that comes up first. And when you have opened its mouth, you will find a piece of money; take that and give it to them for Me and you."  

Matt 17:24-27  NKJV

Have you ever felt that some things were not big enough to bring to God?  Maybe your tax bill came, or a car payment is due, and you think to yourself:  “this is not a spiritual matter, I don’t need to bother God with this.”  But this small event, tucked away in the gospel of Matthew, reveals to us that God does care about the little things. He cares about our tax bill, the car payment, getting our lawnmower fixed… just as much as in some of the bigger problems that we have.  Why?  Think about it:  There are many people who will come to your aid when you have a big crisis, but ask them for a small favor and they may say “I don’t have time.”  But if someone takes the time to help you in a small matter, it reveals that they really care about you – ALL THE TIME, not just when you are in a big crisis. 

I believe God cares about us ALL THE TIME!

 

Till the whole world hears...

Pastor Clay

Mustard Seed Faith

“…for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.”  Matt 17:20

Many times we hear that someone’s prayer wasn’t answered because that person “didn’t have enough faith.”  So then we have to ask ourselves, ‘how much faith is enough?”  Or we wonder how we can grow our faith, so that we can “have enough faith.”  We think that perhaps some people just naturally have great faith, and other people just ended up in the shallow end of the faith pool.

But Jesus tells us “if you have faith as a mustard seed”…  God will do great things. If that is true, then what is mustard seed faith?  And… how do I get it?

Perhaps Jesus is trying to get us to see that the important thing is not the initial size of the seed, but what it can do when it is planted, watered, and grows. 

Join us Sunday as we explore another teaching moment with Jesus.

 

Till the whole world hears...

 Pastor Clay

Wait for it

Assuredly, I say to you, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom."  Matt 16:28  NKJV

 

There is an interesting phenomenon that happened in the years after Jesus ascended to Heaven.  His disciples seemed to be certain that He would return at some point in their lifetime and usher in the Kingdom of Heaven.  Accordingly, they lived their lives with the hope of the imminent return of Jesus Christ.  They gave all they had, sacrificed, most of them going to their death, with the hope of Christ before them. They believed what Jesus had told them:

 

In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.    And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.  John 14:2-3  NKJV

But, He did not return. Each of them lived, and died.  

So, what happened?  Did Jesus mislead his disciples?  Has He forgotten about us?  Is He too busy?  Thankfully not!  No, Jesus promised to return, and return He will, in the Fathers timing:

"But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.  33 Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is.  Mark 13:32-34  NKJV

And the disciples certainly did not miss out on anything:  When they died, they went into the presence of the Lord!

But due to the strange and uncertain times we are in, the question continues to arise, “Are we in the last days?”  The answer is – YES…but!  Yes we are in the Last Days, as the “Last Days” began with the ascension of Jesus into Heaven.  But, there are many things that God has for mankind, up through the centuries, including now, that will bring the timing of His arrival to perfect fruition.  God’s timing is always perfect.  Things are happening rapidly in our country and our world.  Things that indicate to me that change is indeed coming; and it may not be the change people expect. Global governance is coming, and it only confirms the prophecies given about the world system that will arise.

But we need not fret or worry.  Our place is not to worry, but to live our lives just like the disciples did – as if Jesus might return any day.  Each day we are given is another opportunity to live out our faith, to touch another person with the love of God, to live for Christ.

 

Till the whole world hears...

 Pastor Clay

 

The Way of the Cross

What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul?

Matt 16:26

 

 

Did you know that the average man will spend 100,000 hours of his life working?  100,000 hours – that is a LONG TIME! What do you get for that 100,000 hours?  Perhaps you build up some savings, put together some investments, acquire some real estate, earn a pension.

Some people are able to do exceedingly well in the course of a lifetime, building up huge amounts of wealth. Yet one thing is for sure:  We came into this world with nothing, and we will leave the same way.

So, what’s the point?  Why should we work so hard, when at the end we are no better than the guy who sat around and watched grass grow?

When Jesus made the statement “What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul?”, I don’t believe He was advising us to sit around and watch grass grow.  He was leading into another incredible point of awareness, which is this:  This world we live in is only temporary. But there is another reality, an eternal reality, and what we do in this life has a direct bearing on our place in that eternal reality. 

You can work your entire life and build up great riches and wealth, but in the end if you are not connected to the eternal reality of God, it will mean nothing!

So, “great” you say, “how do I get connected to this eternal reality?”  There is one way, and one way only.  But this way is not popular.  This way is not easy.  This way will not be readily accepted by the world we live in.  What is that way?  It is the way of the cross, where Jesus died for us, and where we must take up that cross, and follow him.

Join us Sunday morning, as we explore The Way of the Cross.

 

Till the whole world hears...

 

Pastor Clay

 

CCW Beach Baptism!

Calvary Chapel of Wilmington Beach Baptism
Wrightsville Beach, NC June 29, 2009




*video and editing by Matt Meehan

Let Freedom Ring

Hey everyone, I am sitting here on a Thursday morning, recovering from a late night at the youth concert last night. What an awesome night it was, there must have been 200 kids, 4 bands, and those kids had CHURCH! I was very cool. I just sat back in the sound booth and watched God work in a very – let us say – loud way!

While I watched the kids worship God in their own unique way, God spoke something to my heart. He showed me a comparison: In our church we worship with a music style that resonates with the adults of our church (hence their attendance!). It is somewhat like the music we grew up with, and it ministers to us. It is a style that we can freely worship to. For us, the organ / choir / hymn style just doesn’t resonate with us in the same way.

Well guess what – our worship style is like the organ / choir / hymnal style to today’s kids. It just doesn’t quite resonate with them the way it does for us. What resonates with these kids is something totally different. It might seem a little radical to us, but I am sure that some people think that our worship is a bit much. We were free to develop our own worship style, and so should our youth.

That is what “Freedom in Christ” is about. Being free to love God, love others, and be loved, in a way that can be totally unique. God is not looking for all Christians to be the same – He created each and every one of us unique and beautiful in our own way. Nothing in the bible tells us to be uniform.

What the bible does tell us is that our primary calling is to #1 Love God with all of our heart, and #2 to love others. The bible calls on us to have unity in the church – not uniformity. We are to be unified in our love for God, our love for others. We are to be unified in our pursuit of a relationship with God. We are to be unified in spreading the message of God’s love to others.

That is the beautiful tapestry that is the church – a bunch of really different people, embracing one another, and joining forces with the Living God to reach out to a hurting and dying world. That, my brothers and sisters, it true freedom!

"Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed. John 8:34-36


Till the whole world hears...

Pastor Clay

Are we a Christian nation?

A while back our president traveled to Turkey, and proclaimed in a speech that "we are not a Christian nation." Really? Listen to Congressman Forbes response. You won't see this on CNN.

Keys to the Kingdom

How many keys are on your key ring?  Two?  Three?  Are you one of those folks who has dozens of keys?  They say that the more keys you have, the more important you must be!  I think that the number of keys you have isn’t as important as… what they go to!   My son collects keys, and he has dozens of them.  Most of them don’t go to anything!

 

But he does have one key that is more important than all the other keys in his possession; He has a key to our house.  That is an important key, because it gives him access to the place where we live.  It’s where he calls “home.”

 

In Matthew 16, Jesus tells Peter “and I will give you the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven…”  What are the keys to the kingdom?  Who has them now?  Where can we find them?

 

Join us Sunday as we explore what Jesus calls “the keys of the kingdom.”

 

 

Till the whole world hears...

 

Pastor Clay

 

Its a Heart Thing

 

"These people draw near to Me with their mouth, and honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me.  And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.'"   Matt 15:8-9  NKJV

 

One of the saddest things that can happen in the church is when a group of people have a lot of “religiosity” consisting of works, traditions, declarations, and worship activities; but their hearts are far from God.  How sad it must be for God to watch people ‘play church’, and yet not be in love with Jesus!

 

The church in Ephesus had that problem:  They had works, labor, patience, and righteous living.  But they lacked one thing – the most important thing:  A love for Christ.  They had lost their first love!  Jesus told them “Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, (Rev 2:5).

 

Yes we want to have a well balanced life:  Worship, reading the Word, prayer, good works, evangelism – all of these things are important.  But the first thing trumps them all:

 

Jesus said to him, "'You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.'   This is the first and great commandment.

Matt 22:37-38  NKJV

 

 

...till the whole world hears,

 

Pastor Clay

calvaryofwilmington.blogspot.com

 

Storms in Life

And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there. But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary.  Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled...  Matt 14:23-26

 

The other day my boys and I were out riding our motorcycles.  It was a beautiful, sunny day.  Then suddenly, dark clouds rolled over and the wind picked up.  Then the drizzle started, then the downpour.  Lightening struck within a few hundred yards.  After the worst of the storm died down we packed up (getting soaked and muddy in the process!), and headed back into town. Unbelievably, within a few miles the sun was out and the ground was a dry as a bone! It seemed as though the one spot we were in had stormed, and no other!

 

Sometimes life deals us a storm.  Everyone around me can be fine, biking, going to the beach, but I am in the middle of a deluge!  Some believe that once we come into fellowship with God, our lives become “smooth sailing.”  We should never have problems, but this is not true.  God will often allow storms into our lives, sometimes even sending us into the storm.  In the middle of these storms, we might wonder “where is God?   ...why has He allowed me to ride right into this storm?” Storms will always be a factor in our lives.  The question is “to whom will I turn to in the midst of the storm?”

 

The answer is hinted at in Isaiah 43:

 

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you. Isa 43:2

 

God promises us that no matter what life serves up; storms, floods, fire, that HE will be with us through it!

 

 

...till the whole world hears,

 

Pastor Clay

calvaryofwilmington.blogspot.com

 

I Want

The phrase “I want ____ (fill in the blank) is possibly one of the most often used phrases in our culture.  People seem to have a void that demands to be filled, and they spend tremendous amounts of time and energy trying to fill that void. The problem is that people will often try and fill the void with empty substitutes.  It’s akin to trying to satisfy your hunger with a Twinkie. You get a quick sugar fix, but the hunger is still there.

 

In Matthew 14, Jesus feeds a crowd of 5000 with a few fishes and loaves of bread. But the message is much more than meeting the physical need of the crown.  The event is a sermon in action:  A mass of hungry people, with nothing in sight to fill them.  But there is one, the Bread of Life, who has bread that will satisfy even the deepest spiritual craving.  Our world is spiritually starving, and spiritual Twinkie’s simply wont do.  We have the Bread of Live, ready and available to a hungry world.  Will you help serve it?

 

Join us Sunday as we explore the feeding of the five thousand.

 

 

...till the whole world hears,

 

Pastor Clay

 

Mothers - God's gift to mankind

What is it about mom's? What makes them special? Think about it for a moment:

• They are given a desire to carry children - a vessel of human continuity (true story, my wife didnt even like children, until we were married for about a year. Suddenly she wanted four. That's right - four.)
• They willingly take on carrying a parasite - a large parasite - for nine months. It makes them as big as a house.
• They go through 1-2 days of the worst pain known to man - like passing a watermelon. Then, inexplicably, they DO IT AGAIN - perhaps several times. Apparently God gives them some sort of amnesia, and they forget what they went through (if I carried the child, it would only happen ONCE).
• After birthing this child, going through the worst pain imaginable, having their beautiful bodies changed in ways that may never be recovered - they then spend the next 20+ years serving every need of their child. Feeding - changing - bathing - teaching - over and over - every day - a constant nurturing and meeting of endless needs. It makes me tired just thinking about it.
• For the rest of their lives a mother will think about, care for, and pray for that child.
  

What could posses a human to take on such a role? What would cause a person to make such sacrifices? I believe that God has programed into the very DNA of a female this purpose. He has given mothers a unique gift -the ability to love with agape love. Love that is one way, not expecting anything in return. Love that esteems the child above her own wants and needs. Even in our mixed up, immoral world, everyone knows that mothers love their children.

I think that today we should thank God for giving the world the gift of motherhood, because without it our world would be a cold and uncaring place.

And Adam called his wife's name Eve, because she was the mother of all living.
Gen 3:20 NKJV

Pastor Clay

A Mothers Love

Mother's Love
Her love is like
an island in life's ocean,
vast and wide
A peaceful, quiet shelter
From the wind, the rain, the tide.
'Tis bound on the north by Hope,
By Patience on the West,
By tender Counsel on the South
And on the East by Rest.
Above it like a beacon light
Shine Faith, and Truth, and Prayer;
And thro' the changing scenes of life
I find a haven there.

Author Unknown

This coming Sunday is Mothers Day, a day to express our love and appreciation to our moms! We'll have a special recognition for all mothers at CCW, join us as Pastor Mel brings the message!

...till the whole world hears,

Pastor Clay
calvaryofwilmington.blogspot.com

 

Tying Gods Hands

Have you ever wondered why God is not more active in your life?  You hear accounts of how God did this awesome work in someone else’s life, how He moved mountains.  But when it comes to YOUR life He seems strangely inactive. Perhaps God has forgotten you, or He doesn’t think you’re that important compared to others.

Or perhaps the problem is not with God at all.  I know this is a radical thought, but perhaps the problem in with your belief. In Matthew chapter 13 we run across an interesting scenario.  Jesus goes back to His hometown of Nazareth, and when He is there, not many miracles happen:

Now He did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief.

Matt 13:58  NKJV

This little statement of thirteen words holds a powerful message:  We can hinder Gods power from working in our lives through our refusal to believe. We can tie God’s hands through our unbelief. 

It would be like me writing you a check for $500, putting it in your hand, and telling you “go cash this, be blessed!”  “Wow” you think, “I could really use $500!  But… what if it bounces, wouldn’t I get a charge?  What if Clay is just joking with me?  Maybe he is just testing me to see if I’ll cash it.  Maybe He’ll give me a bigger check if I don’t cash this one…”  On and on we agonize over the check – and the whole time it sits in your desk drawer, and after a while you forget about it.  You never receive the blessing.  (And my checkbook never balances!)

The point is this:  Don’t agonize over why God works, or how He works, or why He would want to work in your life.  Simply believe, trust Him, and receive what He has for you today! 

Join us Sunday as we look at unbelief!

 

...till the whole world hears, 

Pastor Clay

 

The Treasure

"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.  Matt 13:44 

 

Have you ever noticed that one of the greatest needs that a person has is to be valued?  To be needed, even treasured, by someone?  Some people will go to almost any length to prove that they are valuable.  And the sad fact is, that need is almost never fully met.  No matter how much we feel valued by that others; at some point we’re always let down.

 

So, why would we be designed with this ‘need’ that seems to go unfilled?  It almost seems cruel.  But in reality, its not cruel – it’s destiny.  I believe God placed that great need to be valued into our very soul to draw us to the only source where that need can be met – to Him!  Saint, you need to know this:  God loves you!   Actually God treasures you, and He was willing to give all that He had in order to obtain you!  That, my friend, is true value.

 

Join us Sunday as we look at how God treasures you, how He considers you a “Pearl of great price!”

 

Pastor Clay

From Sunday

This is from the message on Sunday, for some reason I felt led to post it!
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Matt 13:1 Another parable He put forth to them, saying: "The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field; 25 but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way. 26 But when the grain had sprouted and produced a crop, then the tares also appeared. 27 So the servants of the owner came and said to him, 'Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?' 28 He said to them, 'An enemy has done this.' The servants said to him, 'Do you want us then to go and gather them up?' 29 But he said, 'No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, "First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn."'"

31 Another parable He put forth to them, saying: "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field, 32 which indeed is the least of all the seeds; but when it is grown it is greater than the herbs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches."

33 Another parable He spoke to them: "The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal till it was all leavened."

36 Then Jesus sent the multitude away and went into the house. And His disciples came to Him, saying, "Explain to us the parable of the tares of the field."
37 He answered and said to them: "He who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. 38 The field is the world, the good seeds are the sons of the kingdom, but the tares are the sons of the wicked one. 39 The enemy who sowed them is the devil, the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are the angels. 40 Therefore as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of this age. 41 The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, 42 and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth. 43 Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!
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Some interpret parable of the mustard seed as meaning the “kingdom will grow mysteriously very big, and shelter people.” But I have two problems with this…

1. There has never in history been a mustard plant that grows into a tree. That would be abnormal, a monstrosity.
2. Whenever birds are noted, they speak of evil.

A better interpretation and one that fits better with the context of Jesus topic would that Jesus is warning about the Kingdom – I.E. the church, becoming big – organized – and becoming a monstrosity. In many ways the institutionalized church has become like the monstrous mustard plant, and the evil birds have roosted in its branches.

As for the parable of the leaven, your bible commentary might say that this is a picture of the “kingdom of God spreading all through the world…” The problem I have with this explanation is that in the bible, leaven is always associated with sin.

And check it out - three measures is the exact amount of meal customarily used in a grain offering to God, and leaven has absolutely no place in a grain offering.
This looks to me like a picture of a warning that sin cannot be hidden in the kingdom – because like leaven it will spread and corrupt the entire lump.

Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? 7 Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. 1 Cor 5:6-7

Summation - There have been so many wrongs done in the name of the church, and so many strange doctrines and practices, that some people hesitate to even admit that they belong to a church. It has gotten to the point where if someone says “I am a Christian”, that statement in and of itself doesn’t hold a firm meaning, because there are so many “brands” of Christianity. You have to dig deeper, identify a creed: “exactly what do you believe?”

That’s why many churches have a “Statement of Faith”, so that people can know what they believe. Things like: We believe Jesus is the Son of God, and the He rose on the third day, that the bible IS the inerrant word of God, etc, etc. Things that should be common understanding for a New Testament church.

When you think about it, it is ludicrous that we would even have to have such a document. It shows just how apostate the church has become.

In essence, I believe that in the parable of the tares, Jesus is:

… talking about the danger of institutionalizing His Church
… talking about the danger of having hidden sin – agendas, personal gain, corruption in His Church
… talking about people that seem to be in the Kingdom (the church), but are not really His people
… telling us that there is an adversary that comes against the Kingdom of God – that adversary is Satan.

He is telling us that our enemy will try and destroy the church from within.

But it also tells us this: We don’t have to worry or get upset about it. We don’t have to try and “root out the tares”. See the parable explains that trying to root out the tares before the harvest will damage the wheat. It tells us that going on witch-hunts and trying to identify the ‘posers’ and remove them will only hurt the church.
No – the separation of the wheat and the tares – the true church from the imposters – will be done by the angels at the end of this age.
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Matt 25:31-43
"When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. 32 All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. 33 And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. 34 Then the King will say to those on His right hand, 'Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:

41 "Then He will also say to those on the left hand, 'Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: 42 for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; 43 I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.'
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The bible also tells me to “not judge”:

"Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Luke 6:37

The bible also tells me that we are to love one another:

By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." John 13:35

In other words – it means that I am to love God, fulfill my personal purpose, and not worry too much about the tares – God will sort them out!

But… the parable also tells me that there will come a time where God will separate the wheat from the tares, the sheep from the goats. What will be the determining factor? How many good deeds? How many sins? How many times you went to church, or prayed, or gave money?

No – NONE of those things will determine whether someone goes into the kingdom – it is not a ‘weighing of good or bad”, but a separation of those who are God’s from those who are not. The determining factor will be “are you a wheat, or a tare?”

In other words – what is your identity? Are you of Gods children? Have you placed your faith in Jesus Christ, accepted Him as the Messiah, made Him YOUR King? If you have, then Jesus’ sacrifice at the cross has become your sacrifice – His death has become your death – and His righteousness has become your righteousness.
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"There is none righteous, no, not one; Rom 3:10

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, Rom 3:23


8 But what does it say? "The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart" (that is, the word of faith which we preach): 9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, "Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame." 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. 13 For "whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved." Rom 10:8-13