Tag Archives: Jesus

March 12, 2021 · 8:59 am

Matthew 28:20 – Ladies Edition

Promises of Jesus

A Five Minute Devotional

The video shown below is the devotional from March 9, 2021. The full text of the devotional follows the video.

Calvary Chapel Rosarito – English Devotional by Ruth Wiram

WELCOME

Hello, my name is Ruth and I would like to welcome you to Today’s Good News, Ladies Edition.

INTRODUCTION

I would like to share a verse with a promise today. Matthew 28:20.

” teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. surely I am with you always, to the end of the very age.”

At this time, Jesus, our Savior and Redeemer had just been resurrected from the tomb. He was speaking to His beloved disciples who must have been full of all kinds of emotions. From fear and disappointment to hope and joy. And now at the end of this chapter Jesus was sending them out into the world.

LONELINESS

Have you ever been or are you right now, lonely? This reminds me of a story. A woman saw a lonely penguin wandering in the streets of Rosarito. She immediately took her to the nearest police station to ask for advice. “Officer, I found this penguin, what should I do?” The Officer recommended that the lady take the penguin to the Zoo. The woman said ok and left the police station. A couple of hours later, the police officer was looking through the window and saw the woman and the penguin, holding hands and walking down the street. He ran outside and asked the woman, “Didn’t I tell you to take that penguin to the Zoo? The woman replied, “I did take her to the Zoo. And now we are going to the movies!”

Seriously, we all experience loneliness at times in our lives. And the promise that Jesus gave His disciples that He would be with them always, even to the end of the age is also true for us today.

Do you remember the story of Hagar in the Old Testament? She was the Egyptian slave who had a child with Abraham. Abraham’s wife despised her and caused her so much trouble that Hagar ran away into the dessert. She was lonely and desperate with no one to take care of her. The Angel of the Lord came and spoke to her reassuring her that she would have a son and that God would multiply her descendants exceedingly. She named him Ishmael, meaning the Lord has heard my affliction. Then Hagar called the name of the Lord who spoke to her, You-are-the-one-who-sees.

NEVER ALONE

Ladies, our Loving Heavenly Father sees all that we are going through. He sees our loneliness in sickness. He sees our loneliness in our struggles with difficult relationships. He sees our loneliness in all of the trials we face.

There is one supreme moment of loneliness in History, so dark and deep that only Jesus has ever experienced. It was on the cross the moment He became sin for us. In that horrible, lonely moment, He felt forsaken by His Father and all those He loved. He was ravaged physically and spiritually. No one has experienced or understands the depths of loneliness like Jesus. But He can and does understand our loneliness. He can sympathize with our weakness more than we know. Jesus doesn’t merely understand our loneliness; He destroyed it. Because He bore the sin that alienates us from God and died on our behalf, we are no longer strangers or aliens, but we are fellow citizens with all the saints and members of God’s family. He is with us always. He never leaves our sides, not even for a moment. He has a purpose for all that happens in our lives. He can use our troubles to teach us powerful lessons to strengthen our faith. In the darkness, where nothing but the light of Jesus shines, He is teaching us to trust Him completely. When He tests us through the troubles of life, we need to trust in His promises.

STRENGTH TOGETHER

These times of doubt are when our faith is grown. We all want out, a quick escape. There are two things we can do. We can try to get rid of our troubles or we can recognize that our trials are challenges that will bring about blessings in our lives. So, when we are tempted to give up, we must remember that we are more than conquerors through God’s Son who loves us and will never leave us.

Deuteronomy 21:6 says,

“Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.”

And that Ladies, is today’s good news!

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February 24, 2021 · 7:25 am

MATTHEW 28:20

Promises of Jesus

A Five Minute Devotional

The video shown below is the devotional from February 23rd, 2021. The full text of the devotional follows the video.

Calvary Chapel Rosarito – English Devotional by Gary Wiram

WELCOME

Good morning! My name is Gary Wiram and it’s my pleasure to welcome you to Today’s Good News!

INTRODUCTION

Currently, we’re studying the Promises of Jesus. Today, we get to look at the promise contained in Matthew 28:20. It’s a promise that provides Jesus’ Disciples the ability to carry out the final instructions He gave them. Before diving into that, I want to take a quick poll that I think will shed some light on the importance of following instructions.

How many of you have purchased an item that required assembly and it came with assembly instructions? Most of you, I thought so.

How many of you have attempted to assemble an item like this without reading the instructions? Yes, I knew I wasn’t alone in this.

And, how many of you have had to disassemble such an item and start all over after reading the instructions which you failed to do in the first place? Isn’t it crazy how we ignore the instructions, the one thing that can enable us to do the assembly correctly, until we’ve proven that we can’t do it on our own? Keep this in mind as we take a look at today’s Scripture verse, Matthew 28:20.

THE GREAT COMMISSION

To begin understanding this verse, it’s necessary to look at it in context. It is the last verse in the last section of Matthew’s gospel. That section, Matthew 28:16-20, is widely known as The Great Commission. It says:

“Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them. When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted. And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, ‘All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you;’ and He ends with today’s verse, ‘lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.’ Amen.”

GREATLY IMPORTANT INSTRUCTIONS

In preparing for this teaching, I was reminded of the crucial importance of Chapter 28. Though it ends with what we’re looking at today, The Great Commission, it begins with The Resurrection.

Nothing could be more important to Christians. As we’re told in 1 Corinthians 15:13-19,

… if Christ is not risen … we are of all men the most pitiable.

But Christ is risen.

With that and its importance understood, it seems pretty obvious that the final instructions he gave His Disciples are greatly important too. So let’s take a closer look at His Great Commission and the Promise it contains.

First of all, the disciples were sent to a specific place, at an appointed time, for a specific purpose, to meet with the resurrected Jesus. This was not just a fluke meeting. Obviously, the Lord did this intentionally, to give His disciples their final marching orders.

“But”, we’re told, “some doubted.” Scripture doesn’t tell us what they doubted, going into this meeting. However, it becomes understandable why they might have doubts about their ability to carry out the instructions Jesus gave them in the meeting. They were told:

Go … make disciples of all nations. Not be prepared when they come to you.

Not just let them know about, make disciples.

Baptizing. An open and public action, not private.

In the name of … The Trinity, requiring deep understanding, not just scratching the surface.

Teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you … Walk the walk, not just talk the talk.

HUMAN DOUBT

The disciples probably doubted if doing all this was humanly possible. Since they had witnessed Jesus’ resurrection and He had told them, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth” they probably had little doubt that Jesus could do this divinely. But they were human, not divine. He had the authority, not them. Just the same, this wasn’t man-made liturgy, it was commanded by the Lord. So what were they to do?

DIVINE PROMISE

Well, that is where Jesus’ final promise to them comes in, “… lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” And, if He would be with them, His authority would be with them too. He assured them that they wouldn’t have to try to “Go” on their own. He, the resurrected Jesus, would be with them, not just at the beginning, not occasionally, but “always”, now and “even to the end of the age.”

It’s important for us to recognize that this precious promise reaches down the centuries, touching each of us, His children. Jesus said He would never leave us nor forsake us, no matter what situation we find ourselves in – no matter what difficult life-circumstances we face. All authority has been placed under His control, and He says to us with that authority – “Lo, I am with You, always.”

And THAT is Today’s Good News!

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January 19, 2021 · 9:02 am

1 SAMUEL 16:7

Old Testament Promises

A Five Minute Devotiomnal

The video shown below is the devotional from January 18th, 2021. The full text of the devotional follows the video.

Calvary Chapel Rosarito – English Devotional by Gary Wiram

WELCOME

Good morning! My name is Gary Wiram and it’s my pleasure to welcome you to Today’s Good News.

INTRODUCTION

Presently, Today’s Good News is doing a series on Old Testament Promises. The focus of today’s lesson is 1 Samuel 16:7 which involves the subject of outward appearance. Before looking closely at that verse, I want to share a non-Biblical story to help us get the right perspective on this topic.

One Sunday morning an old cowboy entered a church wearing clothes that were ragged and worn, though they were spotlessly clean. The church was in a wealthy area and the attire of the congregation reflected that. No one welcomed the old cowboy or even sat near him. As he was leaving, the preacher approached him and said, “Before you come back, please ask God what He thinks would be appropriate attire for you to worship here.” The old cowboy said he would do that. The next Sunday, he showed up wearing the same ragged clothes. Once again, the congregation completely shunned him. This time, when the preacher approached the old cowboy, he said, “I thought you promised to ask God what He thinks would be appropriate attire for you to worship here. “I did,” replied the old cowboy. “What did He tell you?” asked the preacher. The old cowboy answered, “Well, sir, God told me that He didn’t have a clue what I should wear. He said He’d never been in this church.”

Have you ever been to a church like that? I have and I’m very thankful that Calvary Chapel Rosarito is very much the opposite. I hope and pray that it always will be. But, the story does give us a very clear illustration of how  judging by outward appearance can be so wrong.

Now, let’s take a look at today’s Scripture to see what it has to say about outward appearance and to see what we can learn from the promise that Scripture holds. 

But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

1 Samuel 16:7

GIVE US A KING!

These are instructions God gave Samuel as He sent him to the house of Jesse in Bethlehem to anoint one of Jesse’s Sons to replace Saul as King. Before Saul, when Israel was straying from God, He would send nations to conquer them, to get their attention, then He would send a Judge to save them. When Samuel was getting old, he intended to set up his Sons as Judges, though they did not walk in his ways. But the Elders of Israel rejected that, insisting that they have a King, like other nations. That displeased Samuel but, in 1 Samuel 8:7, God told Samuel,  “Heed the voice of the people in all that they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me, that I should not reign over them.” And, in verse 9, He went on to say, “However, you shall solemnly forewarn them, and show them the behavior of the king who will reign over them.” When Samuel gave that forewarning to the people, he gave them a long list of negatives that they could expect from having a King rule over them instead of God. At first, Saul’s reign went well for the people, as he sought to obey God’s will. Eventually, though, he ruled according to his own will and God’s forewarnings came to pass.

THE KING’S APPEARANCE

When Samuel anointed Saul as King, it was obvious that his outward appearance played a part in Saul being accepted as King. No doubt, warning against making that mistake again is a goal of 1 Samuel 16:7. But, greater than God’s warning to “not look at … appearance or … physical stature” is the promise included in the reminder that, instead of that, “the Lord looks at the heart.”

THE KING’S HEART

In following the instructions of 1 Samuel 16:7, Samuel anointed David as King. What are the first things you think of when you think of King David? Goliath? Bathsheba? Absalom? For me, first and foremost I think of him as “A man after God’s own heart”. But what does that mean?

We know that it doesn’t mean that David was morally better than everyone else. Bathsheba, who we just mentioned, is a great example of that. The meaning that can easily be missed from man’s point of view is that David had a heart that was willing to be compliant with what was on God’s heart. That included choosing David as the first ruler to sit on the throne of God’s everlasting kingdom, foreshadowing Jesus in many ways. His life pointed forward to the Messiah, the Son of David, who would come to be our Savior and King. That is the great promise included in the reminder that, “the Lord looks at the heart.”

GOD’S HEART

And, that promise holds a great lesson for us about how we can be men and women after God’s own heart. It doesn’t mean that we are sinless but that we are seeking after God, that our hearts are open and submissive to God, and that when we do sin, like David, we confess and repent. Our hearts really matter to God. And, if we truly become men and women after God’s own heart, He can and will use us, as He did David.

And THAT, is Today’s Good News.

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October 8, 2020 · 7:15 am

SPIRITUAL FRUIT – JOY

A Five Minute Devotional

The video shown below is the devotional from October 8th, 2020. The full text of the devotional follows the video.

Calvary Chapel Rosarito – English Devotional by Ruth Wiram

WELCOME

Hello, my name is Ruth.  And I want to welcome you to TODAY’S GOOD NEWS- Ladies edition.

INTRODUCTION

Today we are going to be looking at the Fruit of the  Spirit…Joy.

Do you want more joy in your life?  Do you want the kind of joy that runs deep?  Do you want the kind of joy that lasts even when trials and struggles come your way?  Do you want the kind of joy children sing about in Sunday School?

I’ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy
Down in my heart,
Down in my heart,
Down in my heart,
I’ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy
Down in my heart,
Down in my heart to stay.

And I’m so happy,
So very happy;
I’ve got the love of Jesus in my heart.
And I’m so happy,
So very happy,
I’ve got the love of Jesus in my heart.

I have 3 suggestions for you, ladies.  And I guarantee you that if you put these three in their proper order, you will have more joy.

JESUS

Jesus.  We were made for relationship and fellowship with God.  We were created in His image to enjoy intimacy and closeness with Him.  All of our joy, all of our peace, and all of our being finds fullness and satisfaction in relationship with God.

Put God first in your life.  Start and end your days with  praise and worship.  Spend time in prayer and the Word.

You will find that Jesus is all you ever need.  There is no replacement for the beauty and contentment found in the Lord…not even the excitement that comes our way when He blesses us.

We must deliberately determine to put Jesus first in all things.  It is a decision of the mind and heart.  We must begin to see the Lord Jesus the way He really is “the way, the truth and the life” who is the only way to God in heaven.

Matthew 6:33 tells us to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you.

OTHERS

Others.  After we have come to recognize the significance of putting Jesus first, we must reach out to others.  We must serve others in Jesus’ name.  These people are our families, friends, and brothers and sisters in Christ.  They are also the clerks at the grocery store or at the gas station.  They are the person who cuts in front of us in line or honks at us when we drive slow.  They are that homeless person. They are widows and children who barely have enough to get by.  

Remember the story of the Good Samaritan.  It is about a traveller who is stripped of clothing, beaten, and left half dead alongside the road.  First a Jewish priest and then a Levite comes by, both avoid the man.  Finally, a Samaritan who was hated by the Jews happens upon the traveller and helps the injured man.    So, the moral of this story is that everyone, even those normally considered our enemies, are in fact our neighbors.

YOURSELF

Yourself.  Yes, ladies, we come last, after the Lord and our families and our neighbors.   This is not to say that we should be doormats or run ourselves ragged to serve.  We must take care of ourselves.  We must eat healthy, drink plenty of water, exercise, get enough sleep and do fun stuff!  We are no good to others if we are  emotionally or physically exhausted or sick.

In Matthew 22, verses 37 through 40, Jesus answers the question, “Which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”

Jesus answered, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.

This is the greatest commandment.

The second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’

And that, ladies is today’s Good News.

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August 16, 2014 · 10:31 am

Keeping Our Eyes Above The Waves

AN EXCEPTIONAL LEADER

Over the past few days, as we’ve watched Missouri State Highway Patrol Captain Ronald S. Johnson step in to take over security operations in the midst of this past week’s civil unrest in Ferguson, MO, it’s become obvious that he is a truly exceptional person. The immediate good news in this, as reported in a related Washington Post article, is that Johnson’s first day on the job resulted in “Hugs, kisses and a night of peace (replacing) tear gas and unrest.” The more long-term and more challenging part of this is that Captain Johnson is, in fact, exceptional. If all of our nation’s leaders would emulate Johnson’s conduct, thus making him the rule rather than the exception, our country could be vastly improved.

AN EXEMPLARY LEADER

A great way to begin learning how to go about this emulation would be by looking at statements Captain Johnson made in Friday’s (August 14, 2014) press conference and most importantly, by looking at his responses to the questions he received. The comments that I found to be most meaningful in this regard are outlined as follows: Continue reading →

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January 27, 2014 · 6:34 am

Without God

From: Don Merritt

Throughout the history of Man people have tried to outsmart God.  This shouldn’t be a shock to anyone for the history of Man is the history of rebellion against God.Don Merritt article

You  hear this all the time when you see governments trying to silence the Gospel, when you hear scientists trying to explain it away or when you hear of courts trying to rule God out of the public square.  We can see this when watch Hollywood productions that marginalize God and His people, when we study the religions of men and how they try to change the inconvenient facts about God, or when they seek to replace the true God with characters devised by men…  Some of these things can seem persuasive at first, and then you think about it… In the end they don’t ring true; they bring about more questions than they could ever answer and as a result their adherents usually seek to silence any questions by one tactic or another.

There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan

that can succeed against the Lord.

Proverbs 21:30

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