Pastor Mark Balmer, Melbourne, Lessons for Living, Calvary Chapel

Sometimes Christians can get discouraged in their spiritual lives. What is the solution? In today’s message, Pastor Mark gives us some advice on how to fight spiritual discouragement. He uses Jesus taking Peter, James, and John to the Mount of Transfiguration as an example and draws an analogy to the necessity of our getting alone with God. When we get alone with God in the Word and in prayer, discouragement dissipates! Life’s problems just seem to diminish when we have a “heavenly” perspective! Time spent alone with God will give us that perspective!

Pastor Mark Balmer, Melbourne, Lessons for Living, Calvary Chapel

God holds us accountable for how we spend our money. After all, He has blessed us with these resources so that we will use them wisely and for eternal purposes! But what about the other things God has given us? In today’s message, Pastor Mark talks about the other things God has given us – our talents and our spiritual gifts, for example! God is going to hold us responsible for how we used the gifts, talents, and abilities He has naturally blessed us with, but also for the spiritual gifts He has given us! And the Word says that we have all been given spiritual gifts! Are you using them for His glory?

Pastor Mark Balmer, Melbourne, Lessons for Living, Calvary Chapel

There is a death of giving in the church in America! Only 4% of the American church today actually gives to the work of the ministry! These are astounding statistics! In today’s message, Pastor Mark draws attention to these statistics and reminds us of who is ultimately affected when we don’t give to the Lord’s work – ourselves! God won’t pour into our lives as He promises to in Malachi if we refuse to give! If we WILL give, He promises to pour out blessings that we can’t even fathom! But, remember that something else suffers when Christians don’t give – the spread of the Gospel!

Pastor Mark Balmer, Melbourne, Lessons for Living, Calvary Chapel

In 2 Corinthians 5, Paul says that we will all appear before the Judgment Seat of Christ and that we will all receive rewards for “the deeds done in the body whether good or bad.” Often, however, Christians don’t think about this in reference to the way they spend their money! In today’s message, Pastor Mark challenges all of us as believers to include our finances when we think about the rewards we will receive for what we’ve done! As we consider where to invest the resources God has given us, we should consider investing in those things that are eternal! Where are you investing?

Pastor Mark Balmer, Melbourne, Lessons for Living, Calvary Chapel

To follow Jesus is going to cost us something! Some Christians believe they can just do what they want to do, but it is going to cost us to please God! We need to surrender our will to His will! In today’s message, Pastor Mark challenges us with the thought that the secret to pleasing God is to become convinced that God’s will is the highest and best will that can ever be done. When His will becomes our will, only then will we live a life that is pleasing to God, and only then will we truly live a happy and fulfilled life! God knows that His will is the best thing for us! Is God’s will your will?