Romans 16:17-18 “Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them. For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple.” NKJV

Life Lesson: Stay away from divisive people.

David’s son, Absalom used to sit at the city gate and pitch malcontent about his leadership. Under the guise of juicy news or the old Christian standby, “won’t you join with me in prayer about…,” Absalom cast division to the people. The accusations were twisted misrepresentations of truth meant to fuel anger and discontentment. In the harvest of his contempt, a lot of people were hurt and the perseverance of the state was tested.

Later, and only thirty years into the creation of the church, Paul would spend a lot of time battling those who sought to cause division and disruption in the church. Today, church leaders have to spend time preventing or fixing the damage of division. This is valuable time not spent reaching people with the Good News of Jesus Christ, and that is just what Satan wants. If the enemy of our souls can inspire division among the Body, he can distract servants of the Lord from what they should be doing.

People who cause division are never acting on behalf of God. Gossip and division only hurt the Work of God. Note the people you know who are divisive, and avoid them. It’s not often we are told in the Bible to avoid specific individuals, but we are told to avoid those who cause division. Friend, in doing so, will save you a lot of heartache and a lot of pain.

Dear Jesus,

Thank You for loving me. Thank You for wrapping me in Your robe of righteousness. Lord, I want to be a lover of the Word. Give me a hunger to know the Bible and give me wisdom to recognize the counterfeit. I ask for Your strength and discernment to recognize the battles that Satan orchestrates. I choose… to serve only 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
Twitter.com/CCOT
336.996.6880

1 Chronicles 11:7-8 “Then David dwelt in the stronghold; therefore they called it the City of David.” NKJV

Life Lesson: We accomplish so much more when we fight together.

For four hundred years, from Joshua to David, Jerusalem had never been captured. Throughout this time, the nation of Israel was fractured and fragmented. Bickering and controversy kept the kingdom from being completed. With a king submitted to God, they were able to realize the potential that did not exist until unity was established. The capture of Jerusalem was the choice crop of coming together as one.

The “church at large” is extremely impaired. Bickering and arguments rage over ridiculous and inconsequential things. Some churches and denominations have determined a completely different direction by disregarding the ways of God in exchange for traditions, rituals and the wisdom of man. I wonder where the world would be right now if churches, instead of choosing conflict, chose to cooperate. Would slavery and starvation be a problem in the world? Would poverty be so pronounced in the world and would there be anyone who has yet to hear the Good News of Jesus Christ?

Let’s bring this down to a personal level. What if each one of us decided to lay aside our differences and petty arguments and join with one another to serve God? No doubt, the world would be changed. Let’s do it! Choose to change the world by starting in your home, your neighborhood and your city. We can accomplish so much more when we join together.

Dear Jesus,

Thank You for loving me. Thank You for the leaders You have established in my church. Lord, I want to set aside arguments and differences that hinder me from sharing Your Word to lost souls. Re-design in me and in my church an outpouring of Your Spirit upon us. Lord, unite the church to become members of one heart and mind. Allow me to join with all my brothers and sisters in Christ to do battle together, arm-to-arm to change the world. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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

Romans 16:5-6 “Greet my beloved Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia to Christ. Greet Mary, who labored much for us.” NKJV

Life Lesson: Serving in ministry with someone provides a great foundation for a deeper relationship.

One of the things that makes Calvary Chapel of the Triad different from most other churches, is we have no formal membership. I do not see it in the Bible, and I believe that membership tends to be more of a barrier anyway. Membership means somebody has to decide who is in and who is out. I am not going to do that.

So, what makes someone a part of Calvary Chapel of the Triad? It is really quite simple. It’s getting involved and doing something. You see, whether your name is on some membership roll or not, doesn’t mean squat if you are not involved. Let me throw this example your way and see if it makes sense. At the end of a play, who do you see on stage taking a bow? Here is a hint: It is not the audience. It is the actors and actresses. When you watch the credits at the end of a movie, who do they list? Here is another hint: it is not the audience. It is everyone who actively played a part in making the film. If you are an active part of this church, then guess what? Here is a hint: you are not the audience. That’s right; you are an active participant or component of this mighty work of God. But that is not all. Oh, no… there is much more to it. There are benefits to “participation” such as a changed life, a deeper relationships with others and protection from the enemy. It is an important day in the life of a believer when they begin to step out and serve God and others. Real growth begins to happen and soon you realize that not only has your relationship with others deepened, but your relationship with God has as well. That is not just this church. I’m not saying you have to come to this church to have a deeper relationship with God. Serve wholeheartedly at the church you attend and prepare to be blown away by what happens.

Dear Father,
Thank You for loving me. Thank You for Your Son, Jesus, that I can know the ONE true relationship. Lord, I find at times it is difficult to share my life with others. Help me to share my life with others, as well as to give and receive love in those relationships. Empower me with the boldness to step out and serve alongside them. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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

Chronicles 10:2-3 “Then the Philistines followed hard after Saul and his sons. And the Philistines killed Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malchishua, Saul’s sons.” NKJV

Life Lesson: Do not find excuses for your wrong doing.

The books of 1 & 2 Samuel and 1 & 2 Chronicles parallel one another. It has been well observed that 1 & 2 Samuel are man’s perspective of these events while 1 & 2 Chronicles are God’s perspective. Most of the book of 1 Samuel (man’s perspective) chronicles the life of Saul, but in 1 Chronicles (God’s perspective) the life of Saul takes up just one chapter. Now, Saul was the first king of Israel. In man’s eyes he was an important man, but not in God’s eyes. When we first meet Saul in 1 Samuel, he is hunting after his father’s donkeys, which he had lost. That is not a good indication of Saul’s character. Later on in 1 Samuel 13, we see Saul offering a burnt offering on his own.

1 Samuel 13:11-12 “And Samuel said, “’What have you done?’” Saul said, “When I saw that the people were scattered from me, and that you did not come within the days appointed, and that the Philistines gathered together at Michmash, then I said, ‘The Philistines will now come down on me at Gilgal, and I have not made supplication to the LORD.’ Therefore I felt compelled, and offered a burnt offering.” NKJV

Saul is coming up with excuses and throwing blame for what he did wrong. He was not a priest and sinned by offering the sacrifice on his own. When Samuel confronts Saul about it, he begins making excuses.

We are all fallen people. When we are approached with our own wrong doing , our first instinct is to cast blame and find excuses. How often do our apologies include reasons (because) and excuses (but)? Friend, when you mess up and need to apologize, just apologize. Don’t take from your apology by adding anything to it. Don’t try to find excuses for your wrong doing.

Dear Jesus,
Thank You for loving me. Lord, I need Your forgiveness. Thank You for forgiving me. Please stop me when I try to make excuses for my sins, and help me to be quick to apologize to others. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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

Romans 16:3-4 “Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, who risked their own necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles.” NKJV

Life Lesson: We should want to treat other people better than we do now.

Paul not only won souls but also made friends. Throughout his ministry, Paul demonstrated great kindness toward others and exhorted others to treat one another well. He gathered around him some true friends… friends who were not only willing to exchange kindness one-for-one with him, but they were willing to lay down their time, finances and even lives sacrificially to help Paul. These were not ‘here today gone tomorrow friends,’ but were true friends in every meaning of the word. We should be like that with one another.

I am reminded of a story about a young Private First Class in the United States Army during the brutal fighting of World War II. In the midst of a skirmish, the unit had been forced to retreat due to heavy gunfire and was pinned down in the trenches. His best friend had been hit in the exchange and the unit retreated so fast he was left behind lying in the field. The young soldier could see his friend and began to climb out of the trench to get him. His Sergeant stopped him saying, “Son, your friend is gut shot. That means he is going to die. There is nothing you can do for him, and if you go out there, you will die as well. We do not need to lose two soldiers today.” The private looked his Sergeant in the eye, set his jaw and scrambled out of the trench. Reaching his buddy, he too took a bullet in the belly but managed to pull his friend back to the trench. His buddy was dead. The Sergeant looked at his friend and looked at the private and said, “Son, your friend is dead and now you are going to die. Was it worth it?” The young soldier looked down at his own wound then looked up and said, “Sir, yes sir, it was worth it, because when I got there, my friend looked at me and said, ‘I knew you would come.’”

Church is not a building; it is a group of people who are serving side by side in the army of God. Sometimes we get wounded, and sometimes we see another get wounded. The battles can be heavy and at times, the potential for hurt can be great. Are you the kind of friend that soldier was?

Dear Jesus,

Thank You for loving me. Thank You that Your love was so great for me that You died for me. Lord, give me the courage to step into the gap for others. Putting aside all fear and selfishness, allow me the opportunity to come along side of someone in their time of need.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Living to tell what He died to say,

Pastor David McGee
Senior Pastor
Calvary Chapel of the Triad
Reachthetriad.com
Twitter.com/CCOT
336.996.6880

1 Chronicles 9:22-24 “All those chosen as gatekeepers were two hundred and twelve. They were recorded by their genealogy, in their villages. David and Samuel the seer had appointed them to their trusted office. So they and their children were in charge of the gates of the house of the LORD, the house of the tabernacle, by assignment.” NKJV

Life Lesson: In the church, leaders should always be servant leaders.

Samuel, the prophet and spiritual leader of Israel, started out as a doorkeeper. In fact, it was during this time serving as a doorkeeper that he heard God’s call (1 Samuel 3). God looks for those who are faithful in small things to serve Him in big things. Jesus spoke about this in the parable of the five talents in Matthew 5, and it is something seen repeatedly in scripture. David is another great example. He was faithful in caring for his father’s flock. It was from that place of service that he was called by God to tend all of Israel as king. Where are you serving God? Are you serving at all? Do you want to skip the floor sweeping or bathroom cleaning and go straight to teaching or leading worship? Friend, you may be able to force your way into a leadership position, but if it is not by God’s calling, you are going to be miserable. God looks at the heart and calls leaders who have servant’s hearts. If you want to serve in your true calling, then serve faithfully where He has you and listen – soon enough, like David and Samuel, you too will hear the call of God.

Dear Jesus,
Thank You for loving me. Thank You for Your grace and Your mercy. Lord, it has become clear that I have not been fully ready to assume the tasks You have called me to do. Help me to take a step toward a new beginning in my life. Drive me closer to You, and lead me down the path of Your choice. As I look back on my life, I see where I have been afraid to take a step of faith. Help me to recognize my true gifts and talents. Use me as Your vessel to accomplish Your purposes. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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

Romans 15:28-29 “Therefore, when I have performed this and have sealed to them this fruit, I shall go by way of you to Spain. But I know that when I come to you, I shall come in the fullness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ.” NKJV

Life Lesson: If we wait upon the Lord and His timing, it is going to be good.

God is a blessing God. He desires to grant favor to His children. At the same time, we have our own free will, which God will not violate. Sometimes, we cheat God of the ability to bless us when we selfishly and stubbornly force our own way, on our own occasions. The Lord’s clock does not abide by our calendar. As much as we want things to run according to our own design, God’s blueprint is much better. There is an order to things that God has established. He created all the gears, cogs and wheels of life that we do not understand.

Paul had desired to go to Rome but he knew that his trip would be much more profitable in the Lord’s timing. He had learned to wait on God’s timing and not force it on his own. Sometimes, we have to wait on God. Sometimes, we may know what God has called us to do, yet we know it is not yet time. When we wait on the Lord to say when the time is right, we can know it is going to be an incredible ride! It might not be easy, but it will be good. If it is easy, be careful. Satan will do everything he can to oppose God’s plans, and if you are not facing opposition, you may want to pray to see if you are indeed walking in God’s timing.

Dear Father,
Thank you for the love, grace and mercy that You extend to me day in and day out. Thank You for Your goodness; for Your kindness. Thank You for the incredible plans You have for my life. Please lead me into and through them in Your timing and not in my own. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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