Today's Devotional from Pastor Clay: Jesus Came to preach to the poor - Luke 4:18-19

December 22, 2014 View this email in your browser Jesus came to preach to the poor - Luke 4:18-19 This past Sunday we talked about how Jesus is the greatest gift ever given to mankind, and we talked about why He came. At the beginning of His ministry, Jesus went into the synagogue an quoted from Isaiah 61: "The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, because the Lord has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord." Isaiah 61:1–2 / Luke 4:18-19 In essence He announced that He had come...   To preach good news to the poor   To heal the brokenhearted   To proclaim liberty to the captives   To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord This week we'll be exploring these four points in greater depth. To preach good news to the poor In America, even if you're the poorest person in town, you're still rich compared to the majority of the people in the rest of the world! So one might think "I'm not poor, so maybe the good news isn't for me…"   But consider this: A person could build an empire worth billion of dollars, yet the cold hard fact is that we came into this world with nothing, and we will leave this world with nothing. When we go, and we will go, we will go somewhere, and our final destination will not be determined by how much stuff we had, or even how good we were, but whether or not we had a relationship with God through Jesus Christ.  There's is also a spiritual application to what Jesus said; Before I came to Christ my life was filled with sin, I lived for the moment, and did whatever I pleased. But there was a problem, in that I found that the more I sinned, the more empty I felt inside. No matter what new thing I tried, the result was the same - I was barren, and broken.  It wasn't until I accepted Jesus Christ into my life that I began to be fulfilled. Regardless of how much money I have, today I'm rich because I have the riches of Christ... Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places. Eph 1:3 So whether you're rich, poor, or somewhere in between, the good news of the gospel is for you! (This Christmas season ask yourself, "Do I have a relationship with Christ?" If you'd like to know how, CLICK HERE.) Pastor Clay   Enjoy this devotional?  Share it with someone! Share Tweet Forward Connect Facebook Twitter Instagram Subscribe by email Copyright © 2014 Calvary Chapel of Wilmington, All rights reserved. You're receiving this email because you subscribed through our website or my blog. You can click the "Manage Subscriptions" link to manage your email preferences.   Calvary Chapel of Wilmington 2831 Carolina Beach Rd Wilmington, NC 28412 Add us to your address book 910-791-1858 | www.calvaryofwilmington.org   unsubscribe from this list    update subscription preferences

December 20, 2014 View this email in your browser The Gift of New Life - Heavenly Citizenship - John 10:10 I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. John 10:10 This week we're looking at ten things that Christians have been given as a result of the new life that we have in Jesus Christ (you can read part 1 HERE, part 2 HERE, part 3 HERE, part 4 HERE, and part 5 HERE). Today we'll be looking at number 1 in our countdown - A Heavenly Citizenship. #1 - Heavenly Citizenship… There is a huge debate going on in the news these days around the issue of immigration. Regardless of what your or my stance may be on the matter, one thing is clear: There are at least eleven million people, and counting, who are willing to endure risk and hardship in order to live in this country. Apparently, for all of it's faults, America is the place to be.  But as great as she is (and I do love our country), America pales in comparison to the place that every born-again Christian will live: But our citizenship is in heaven, and it is from there that we are expecting a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. He will transform the body of our humiliation that it may be conformed to the body of his glory, by the power that also enables him to make all things subject to himself. Phil 3:20-21 Of all of the benefits and gifts that we have been given as a result of our new life in Christ, perhaps the greatest gift is the assurance that we have that we have guaranteed citizenship in heaven, or as the Apostle Peter described it: Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy he has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who are being protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 1 Peter 1:3-5 Over this past week we've looked at ten things (and there are many more) that are available to you and I as a result of the new life that we have in Christ. Let me ask; Aren't you excited about all of this? I know I am! And if that be the case, isn't there someone that you know that doesn't have these blessings? Wouldn't it be the best gift you could ever give them, the gift of new life? So as we approach Christmas, invite someone you know to the Christmas church service that you'll be attending. Share with the the real reason for the season, the arrival of the Lord Jesus Christ. Pastor Clay (By the way, if you're reading this and you'd like to have the new life that Jesus promised, CLICK HERE to find out how you can start a relationship with God.)   Enjoy this devotional?  Share it with someone! Share Tweet Forward Connect Facebook Twitter Instagram Subscribe by email Copyright © 2014 Calvary Chapel of Wilmington, All rights reserved. You're receiving this email because you subscribed through our website or my blog. You can click the "Manage Subscriptions" link to manage your email preferences.   Calvary Chapel of Wilmington 2831 Carolina Beach Rd Wilmington, NC 28412 Add us to your address book 910-791-1858 | www.calvaryofwilmington.org   unsubscribe from this list    update subscription preferences

December 19, 2014 View this email in your browser The Gift of New Life: Purpose - John 10:10 I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. John 10:10 This week we're looking at ten things that Christians have been given as a result of the new life that we have in Jesus Christ (you can read part 1 HERE, part 2 HERE, part 3 HERE, and part 4 HERE). Today we'll be looking at number 2 in our countdown - Purpose. #2 - Purpose Have you ever felt that your life had no purpose? Well I have some good news for you:  You may not realize it, but you were custom designed, hand crafted by God Himself, for a purpose: For it was you who formed my inward parts; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; that I know very well. Ps 139:13-14 In other words, you're a one-off! And in the process of your creation you were given a set of very specific gifts and abilities; Christian, you were created with a multifold purpose: To minister to others... Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received.  1 Peter 4:10 To be a witness for Christ… But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." Acts 1:8 To do the work that He designed you for… For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. Eph 2:10 To proclaim the glory of God… But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's own people, in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. 1 Peter 2:9 Some of the things God will call you to will be greater than you could ever accomplish in your own strength, so as a result of the new life in Christ, God  provides His strength for you to accomplish His will… I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Phil 4:13 Friend, the purpose, the gifts, and the strength are yours as a result of your new life in Christ, your part is to simply step out in faith and allow God to work in and through you!  Pastor Clay (By the way, if you're reading this and you'd like to have the new life that Jesus promised, CLICK HERE to find out how you can start a relationship with God.)   Enjoy this devotional?  Share it with someone! Share Tweet Forward Connect Facebook Twitter Instagram Subscribe by email Copyright © 2014 Calvary Chapel of Wilmington, All rights reserved. You're receiving this email because you subscribed through our website or my blog. You can click the "Manage Subscriptions" link to manage your email preferences.   Calvary Chapel of Wilmington 2831 Carolina Beach Rd Wilmington, NC 28412 Add us to your address book 910-791-1858 | www.calvaryofwilmington.org   unsubscribe from this list    update subscription preferences