Calvary Chapel River Oaks

In our last study we saw Isaiah speaking to both his culture and his time, but also prophetically. Several times he spoke of not defiling the Sabbath but for us today, we know that Jesus is our Sabbath and it is no longer a day, week or celebration but our rest is found in our relationship with Jesus. We also saw Isaiah speaking to the leaders of Israel regarding not shepherding and leading accord...

Last week we were introduced to Abimelech one of Gideon’s sons who was born to a concubine in Shechem. After Gideon’s death, Abimelech rose to power by killing his half-brothers, 70 in all, with only one escaping. We saw that Gideon’s bad choices lead up to this, but we know that Abimelech is accountable and responsible for his actions. One of the key things that we saw was that God chooses imperf...

So in our last study, we saw Gideon complete the task God set before him to do. He had to deal with the jealousy of Ephraim, the ridicule of Succoth and Penuel, but none of that deterred him from completing his call. But as always, God did the work and Gideon just had to remain steadfast and obedient. Gideon however faltered after the victory. He collected the gold earrings and made an Ephod which...

Defiling the Sabbath is to defile the Lord, by not walking in relationship but religion. Claiming to be a believer but no fruit or evidence of Jesus in their life.

As we have been studying the book of Judges and also in other studies that we have been gone through, we have seen God’s hand of judgment but at the same time, His hand of mercy. These attributes along with all of God’s attributes are always in perfect balance. Some may question God as to why He allows some things and why He doesn’t allow others, but in all reality, we can never fully comprehend H...

The key to understanding Bible prophecy Part 2 - Teaching by Danny Mcgee

Last week we saw God take Gideon’s army of 32,000 down to 300 which is less than 1% of all who came when Gideon sounded his trumpet. God knew that men would try to take the glory for the victory so He took that mindset out of the equation. He alone would fight this battle and He alone would win it.  We need to understand that today. It’s God who fights for us, we literally bring nothing to th...

An open invitation. Come as you are and it will cost you nothing. In this world, we spend money only to come up empty and unsatisfied thinking that we are building our barn, storing it full and expecting it to be there when we need it.

Recapping our last study, we saw God’s patience toward Gideon as he needed the signs to make sure it was God calling him to lead Israel into battle.  God knows the heart and he was patient but God already had the plan in place and He would fight the battle for them. For us today, it’s ok to seek confirmation, but once it is given we have to move forward as well. There is a lot of fear today b...

So all we are responsible to do is to say yes and be a usable willing vessel. Gideon needed to confirm that this was actually God speaking to him so he asked for a sign. He asked the Lord to wait there while he went and prepared an offering, and the Lord waited. We will see this week Gideon still needs more assurance from the Lord before he moves forward into battle, and God knowing his heart, pat...

In our last study we saw that while the Lord’s mercy endures forever, repentance has to come before we see the fullness of His mercy. We saw what God did when Nineveh repented, he relented on their eminent destruction. Today, repentance needs to be preached to the church. If we pray for revival but have not acknowledged our disobedience to preach the full counsel of God’s word, how can we expect t...

In our last study we saw the suffering Messiah. This prophetic word from Isaiah speaking of the coming of Jesus and how He would suffer for our sake. Taking upon Himself the iniquities of us all, when He Himself had none. Despised and rejected by men, particularly His own.  John 1:10-11 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. 11 He came to H...

Last week we looked at Deborah the judge and prophetess, and Barak the commander of the army. Deborah heeded to the call God placed upon her and walked in obedience, whereas Barak wanted a little insurance before he would obey his call. He wouldn’t go without Deborah coming along, and so the credit for killing King Sisera went to Jael a woman, just as Deborah told him it would happen. God moved th...

Last week we saw that the judges God raises up are of no major significance. No attributes that stand out that make them special. They were just willing to step up when God called.  We saw the continuous rebellion of Israel and the pattern of insanity that keeps bringing them back into captivity over and over. Note that this is by their own actions, not God’s. He told them up front the blessi...

In our last study in Isaiah, we saw God making a declaration that He will deliver Israel. When God moves all nations will see it. We also saw the prophecy regarding the Messiah’s coming and the sprinkling of His blood will go out upon all nations. We know that Jesus is the sacrificial lamb and according to the law, blood must be shed as the atonement for sin. Jesus’ blood was the last blood that w...

In our last study, we saw because of Israel’s disobedience by not driving out and destroying all the nations that God commanded them, they began to follow after these nation’s gods. We specifically looked at three pagan God’s last week. Baal, Asherah and Molech. All three of these god’s have been around throughout history and while they are not named the same, they are among us today through polit...

Well we finished up our study in Malachi last week and we saw a continued theme of half- hearted religion rather than a whole hearted relationship. From sacrifices and marriage, to tithing and offering, Israel was just going through the rituals. They dishonored God in every way, and yet in their minds they were in good standing. We as the church need to take note of how God dealt with them in thei...

In our last study we saw Israel not following through with what God commanded them to do. They were to conquer the Promised Land and drive out the inhabitants, but lack of faith, along with fear and intimidation caused them to pull back instead of pushing forward. This will ultimately be a thorn in their side as we will see in this week’s study.  God chose Israel to be His holy people, but th...

In our last study we saw the Lord came and chastised Israel for not following through with His command to drive out the nations as they took the Promised Land. After Joshua died and the generation that served under him died, a new generation came up and they were not taught about the Lord and how He delivered them from Egypt, the miracles, the provision, and His awesome power and holiness. So the...

Last week we saw the prophetic word regarding the two messengers. One was John the Baptist preparing the way for Jesus’ first coming and the other was Jesus Himself at His second coming. When He comes He will bring judgment on Israel and all the nations who do not fear Him. Revelation 19:11-16 11 Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True...

Last week we saw that even in the early church, the spirit of the antichrist was already at work. John warned of those who infiltrated the church turning people away from the truth of the gospel and the truth that Jesus will come again. Scoffers placing doubt in the hearts and minds of believers. Deception is still the primary role of the enemy along with fear. If he can cause us to doubt who we a...

Last week we looked at what John meant when he said test the spirits. If a spirit confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh, it can be a factual statement made in truth, but unless the spirit is in covenant with that truth that glorifies the Father and the Son, then this is from the spirit of the antichrist. Demons know who Jesus is and they know He has authority over them, but they left t...

Last week we saw the fact that there is no gray area regarding a relationship with Christ. In today’s culture the church has tried to somewhat blend in where according the God’s word we are supposed to stand out. The key thing that we looked at last week was the absolute that loving our brother is not a suggestion but rather the one thing that distinguishes us from the world. This is the evidence...

Last week we covered in detail the fact that as a child of God we cannot continue to practice habitual sin and attempt to justify it. The Word of God reveals sin for what it is and the Holy Spirit who dwells in us will bring conviction of that sin. If we are not convicted but rather continue to live in sin, then we are not born of God and we are not a new man as Paul speaks of in: Ephesians 4:24 "...

Last week we saw that we are children and heirs of God which shines a clear light on the fact that this is a relationship not a religion. It is also clear that only through Jesus do we have access to the inheritance.  John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.  This statement doesn’t leave any room for misunderstandi...