2 Kings 17:7-8 “For so it was that the children of Israel had sinned against the LORD their God, who had brought them up out of the land of Egypt, from under the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt; and they had feared other gods, and had walked in the statutes of the nations whom the LORD had cast out from before the children of Israel, and of the kings of Israel, which they had made.” NKJV

Life Lesson: Allow God, His Word, your love for Him and your love for people be your spiritual compass in this ever-changing world.

What is your spiritual compass? What is your moral compass? I am not asking if you do everything right but I am asking where do you go to figure out what is right? Do you go to the news or the internet? Do you go to other people or look to the culture? Public opinion and world culture – these things are always shifting and stuff within culture (trends, styles, fashions and the world’s opinion on what is right and what is wrong) will always be changing. If you depend on the world, then you will always be changing. Why does a compass work? A compass works because it points True North. The compass does not decide to base its reading off East because that is what is comfortable or it is the new fad. If you use a compass correctly, you will always know the direction in which you are headed. Too many Christians allow the things of this world to be their spiritual compass and all they have to show for it are messed up worldly lives. Allow God, His Word, your love for Him and your love for people to be your spiritual compass in this ever-changing world. Then, you will never be lost.

Dear Father,

Thank You for loving me. Please forgive me for times when I have wandered off. Thank You for Your Word and help me remember to always keep it at the forefront of my mind. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Living to tell what He died to say,
Pastor David McGee
Senior Pastor
Calvary Chapel of the Triad
www.reachthetriad.com
www.crossthebridge.com
336.996.6880

Romans 11:1 “I say then, has God cast away His people? Certainly not! For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.” NKJV

Life Lesson: We look to the Bible in spiritual and theological matters to form our opinions and beliefs.

There are a lot of books out there about the Bible and a lot of books offering man’s counsel for life’s circumstances. Only one book, the Bible, is authored by God and offers God’s counsel for life’s circumstances. That being said, sometimes we come across a section of scripture that seems to raise more questions than it answers. When that happens, keep reading. It’s been well said that the best commentary on the Bible is the Bible. If you come across a question in the Bible, keep looking and you will find the answer.

Friends, be very careful searching for answers about the Bible from sources outside of the Bible. Many false doctrines have started that way. Now, don’t get me wrong, there are some very good commentaries out there, but commentaries are not “inspired scripture.” Always make certain that what you read or hear balances with scripture. At Calvary Chapel of the Triad, we study verse by verse through the Bible. When a question is raised in the Bible, we find our answer in the Bible.

Some churches pay homage to what’s called “Replacement Theology.” Basically saying that Israel messed up too many times (and the church hasn’t?) and so God is through with Israel and the church has now inherited all of Israel’s promises. If you have ever heard that or even believed that, look at this verse. Some finer points of theology can be debated looking into word tense, origin and original languages, but others are as plain as the nose on your face. This is as plain as the nose on your face. God is not finished with Israel.

Dear Father,

Thank You for Your love, Your grace and Your mercy. Thank You that even though I make mistakes, You do not withdraw Your promises from me, just as You have not withdrawn them from Israel. Lord, Your Word is faithful and Your covenant is forever. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Living to tell what He died to say,
Pastor David McGee
Senior Pastor
Calvary Chapel of the Triad
Reachthetriad.com
336.996.6880

2 Kings 17:4 “And the king of Assyria uncovered a conspiracy by Hoshea; for he had sent messengers to So, king of Egypt, and brought no tribute to the king of Assyria, as he had done year by year. Therefore the king of Assyria shut him up, and bound him in prison.” NKJV

Life Lesson: Sin will keep you longer than you want to stay and pay you more than you want to be paid.

The old adage goes… is there anything in your house that you would not want Jesus to see if He were to visit? What about in your life …your decisions? You see, our tendency is to make idols. Sometimes we look up to entertainers, musicians or sports stars and begin to model our lives after them. Subtly, as we admire their work, read about them in magazines and study them online, the choices we make begin to reflect their ideals instead of God’s ideals. Their lives look so good to us, and then the time comes where we realize just how miserable they are because it has become manifest in our own lives.

1 Corinthians 11:1 “Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.” NKJV

The Apostle Paul was an imitator … he imitated Christ. Do you know what manifested in his life? Christ likeness. We should take note and do likewise.

Dear Father,

Thank You for loving me. Please forgive me for allowing idols in my life. Please help me to take my eyes off of people or things they should not be on. Help me to keep my eyes on You.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Living to tell what He died to say,
Pastor David McGee
Senior Pastor
Calvary Chapel of the Triad
reachthetriad.com
crossthebridge.com
twitter.com/ccot
336.996.6880

Romans 10:17 “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” NKJV

Life Lesson: We should have a living and active faith not a dead faith.

I receive many emails that turn out to be chain letters.  Usually I disregard the chain letters, but for some reason, I decided to read one.  After reading the skillfully crafted yet doubtlessly erroneous story, it ended with a warning of dreadful things happening if I didn’t forward the letter to ten other people.  That’s one of the reasons why I hate chain letters … they usually end with bad news.  Now, the idea of the chain … that is a great concept; I share with you, you share with others and so on … until everyone hears.

Romans 10:17 “Yet faith comes from listening to this message of good news–the Good News about Christ.” NLT (my emphasis)

We’ve got good news to share.  Sometimes when sharing the good news of Jesus Christ, people put more emphasis on the bad news than on the good news.  The “you’re going to hell and let me tell you why” approach often comes across as “I’m better than you and here’s a list of the ways.”  After berating someone about their failings, how likely do you think they are to tune in while you share the gospel?  Build a bridge, don’t burn one.  Certainly, people have to understand why they need a Savior … I’m not saying anything different.  That job has already been filled.  The Holy Spirit convicts of sin.  Our job is to go and tell … or maybe better put, “show and tell.”  I want to carry this message of good news to all the earth because someone shared it with me.  I want to continue the chain. Will you?

Dear Father,
Thank You for Your love.  For some reason, You looked down on me and loved me enough to die for me.  You did that for everyone else too and I need to tell them.  Please give me opportunities to share the Good News about Christ. Embolden me so that I do not let those opportunities slip away.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Living to tell what He died to say,
Pastor David McGee
Senior Pastor
Calvary Chapel of the Triad
Reachthetriad.com

Ezekiel 37:3 “And He said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?”  So I answered, “O Lord GOD, You know.” NKJV

The live internet broadcast of the services at Calvary Chapel of the Triad is a huge blessing to many and if you are unable to be in service, please take advantage of this resource. You can watch live at http://www.reachthetriad.com. In my absence this morning, Jeffrey Seif from Zola Levitt Ministries taught a great message on hope from Ezekiel 37. Please allow me to share some thoughts with you…

Life Lesson: You can live for real.

My friend, where are you spiritually right now?  Are you frustrated?  Are you tired?  Devastated?  Do you feel like your world is caving in and you just can’t handle it? Are you dry … weary from crying?  Do you feel spiritually dead?

Lamentations 3:21-24 “This I recall to my mind, therefore I have hope. Through the LORD’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. “The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I hope in Him!”  NKJV

To the stale soul, hope sounds impossible … I know it does.  I once searched for hope in dry and desolate places.   I remember what it’s like.

In Matthew 7 Jesus said, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.” NKJV

Stop and look around you.  What you surround yourself with is a good indication of where you seek. What surrounds you?  Is it television, music, gadgets, computers … or maybe it is drugs and alcohol?  There is no hope in these things. Hope is in Jesus.  God’s promise lasts forever.  You can live – I mean really live, but it’s in Jesus and not in the world.

Dear Father,
Thank You for the hope You give to me in Jesus. Lord, help me to stay determined and not lose hope even when I find myself in a valley of dry bones. Remind me to feed upon your Word. I give you all praise and glory for the promises you set before me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Living to tell what He died to say,
Pastor David McGee
Senior Pastor
Calvary Chapel of the Triad
Reachthetriad.com

Romans 10:10 “For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” NKJV

Life Lesson: We can be forgiven.

We are capable of doing incredible harm with our speech. With slash and burn efficiency, angry words sear into the lives of those around us.  “I hate you!”  “You’re stupid!”  “You’ll never amount to anything!”  What do little ears hear when you speak?  What about your spouse?  How many people carry around shrapnel from your tongue?

Philippians 2:11 “and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” NKJV

Let us be God’s representatives of grace and love in this world.  With the same mouth that we asked Jesus to forgive us, let us forgive others.  Let us lead the world in the kind of love that desires to forgive even to the point of sacrifice.  Let us commit ourselves to speaking things glorifying to the Lord even when we want to let a cutting comment fly.  Let us be forgiving of others because God has forgiven us.

Dear Father:
Thank You that Your mercy is new every morning. Thank You for the grace and love You have given to me freely. Lord, forgive me for the times I have hurt others. Likewise, remind me to have the same grace toward others who have hurt me. Help me use my words in the way that is glorifying to You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Living to tell what He died to say,
Pastor David McGee
Senior Pastor
Calvary Chapel of the Triad
Reachthetriad.com
336.996.6880