Calvary Temple

As familiar as we are with the story of Jonah, which we probably learned in our childhood Sunday School classes, we might miss the most important thread in the story…like Jonah did.

Despite Jonah’s own disobedient childish behavior, including his argumentative and self-pitying attitude, God showed great love and compassion to him. He did the same for the sinful city of Ninevah, who were also disobedient and anti-God.

When Jonah finally obeyed God and spoke the Word of the Lord to them, it caused them to turn from their evil ways and repent unto God. As God said in the very last verse of chapter 4: …”why shouldn’t I spare Ninevah”…after all, He’d spared Jonah!

Cleavant Derricks wrote a very popular song called "Just a Little Talk With Jesus" that has a line that says “I feel a little prayer wheel turning.” 

It makes me wonder, how well is my own prayer wheel turning? Sometimes we need a little help keeping an effective and consistent prayer life. Dick Eastman wrote a great book called The Hour that Changes the World, and we will look at his prayer wheel in this study.

In Luke 13:24 Jesus told his disciples to STRIVE to ENTER through the narrow door; (King James says Straight GATE); for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able.

Jesus felt this was so important that He included a similar admonition in the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 7:13-14, Enter ye in at the STRAIT gate; for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction. And many there be which go in there at.

v.14 "Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it."

Friend, I surely want to be one of those who are willing to strive to enter, don’t you?

God established the Sabbath day at the end of each week as a day of rest and communion with Him. 

In AD365, Constantine decreed that the Catholic church would officially worship on Sunday, the first day of the week, to break the ties to the Saturday Sabbath practiced by the Jews.

But Jesus said to the Pharisees, when they accused Him of breaking the laws of the Sabbath, I am the Lord of the Sabbath. 

Jesus proved that the day upon which we worship, nor the systems of the laws of the Sabbath, are important. But what’s important is that He alone has the power to forgive the evil within the heart of man, heal a disease or give eternal life.

In I Chronicles, Chapters 23-27 is the story of King David, who in his last years assigned worshippers and musicians to carry on the work of leading worship in the Temple.  

These men were of the Levite tribe and had a legacy of singing and playing instruments in the Temple.  In Chapter 25:1, these men were instructed to PROPHESY with their voices and all the instruments that were played in the worship service.  They were to use them to prophesy to the glory, and praise, and greatness of God! 

Even today, we are to use our God-given talents of singing and playing instruments in God’s house to prophesy to the world, by speaking out and playing music to proclaim the greatness of the Almighty God. 

Waiting is so hard.  Abraham and Sarah had to wait into their old age for their son of promise to be born.  Moses waited 40 years to lead the Children of Israel to the Promised Land. But, they had direct promises from God to hold onto while they waited.

But, sometimes, there is no direct promise from God and we must continue on, still waiting.  What can we do during these times of waiting?  The Lord will use these times of waiting to teach us submissiveness; to grow our faith in Him, and to make us more like Him in every way.  

In Luke 1:30 The angel, Gabriel, announced the birth of Jesus to Mary and said, He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest (or, the Most High God).

This is not the only mention that the Christ Child would be the Son of God. And yet, Jesus was put to death because he claimed to be the Son of God.

In Psalm 2:7 The Lord himself confirmed it. He said,…Thou art My SON; this day have I begotten thee.

And again, this same scripture was quoted in Acts 13:33, God hath fulfilled the same unto us…; as it is also written in the second Psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee.

Aren’t you so thankful that we have been assured that when we accept Jesus as our Savior, and when we pray to the Father in Jesus’ name, we are indeed accessing the very Son of God.

Before King Ahaz assumed the throne of Israel, Baal worship had been eliminated in all 10 tribes in Judah. But Ahaz was so wicked that he sacrificed his own son to the false god and imposed every ungodly act of sin upon the people.

So, it was in the midst of all this shaking, and the utter contempt for anything holy, that was coming down from the wicked King that the Lord sent hope through the Prophet, Isaiah!

Isaiah 9:6-7: For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder; and his name shall be Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Price of Peace.

We have the promise of the Father and the gift of the Son, even in the midst of our own shaking. Thank God for sending his Unspeakable Gift!

Do you wonder where God is in your pain?  Do you wonder if he forgot about you?  Maybe you even wonder if he’s real? 

You’re not the only one. Some people in the Bible wondered, also.  But the thing is, Jesus will meet you where you are. In your pain, your doubt, your messy life. 

Thomas doubted that Jesus had risen from the dead, until Jesus met him at the point of his doubt and showed him his scars.  Nicodemus didn’t want to be seen with Jesus, until Jesus met him at his point of fear and changed his life.

In this message I tell a story of a woman who met Jesus…in a near-death experience and showed her the purpose in her pain.  He truly will meet us where we are.