One of the most difficult seasons that we can experience in our Christian journey is that time where we are waiting on the Lord. We live in an instant world and we want things done or answers given as quickly as possible. We have instant communication with emails and text messaging. We have instant financing that is available. We get news reported as soon as it happens. We don't like it when we have to wait too long for our fast food or morning drink at our favorite coffee shop. The world we live in happens quickly and is changing constantly.

In Psalm 62, David, who is writing this psalm from the wilderness, is in a season of waiting on the Lord. Inspired by the Spirit of God he writes in vs 1-8:

"Truly my soul silently waits for God; From Him comes my salvation. He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be greatly moved. How long will you attack a man? You shall be slain, all of you, like a leaning wall and a tottering fence. They only consult to cast him down from his high position; They delight in lies; They bless with their mouth, But they curse inwardly. Selah My soul, wait silently for God alone, for my expectation is from Him. He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be moved. In God is my salvation and my glory; The rock of my strength, And my refuge, is in God. Trust in Him at all times, you people; Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us. Selah"

He starts the psalm in vs 1: "Truly my soul silently waits for God; From Him comes my salvation." David knew that God alone saves and he is waiting on the Lord to see if He would bring him back to Jerusalem

In vs 5 he writes "My soul, wait silently for God alone, For my expectation (hope) is from Him. As David was waiting on the Lord, he knew his hope was in the Lord. Then in vs 8 David states, "Trust in Him at all times, you people; Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us."

David, as he is on the run and his life is in danger, is trusting in the Lord at all times not at times or sometimes. So in vs 1 he waits silently, vs 5 he waits expectantly, vs 8 he waits continually.

If you are in a season of waiting on the Lord, remember that His delays are not His denials. What will help you be patient is when you are praying and seeking the Lord like David. I was reminded at a conference that I was attended recently, that time waiting is not time wasted. God is working. In Isaiah 30 the Lord says He will be gracious to those who wait. In Chapter40 of the same book the Lord promises to renew the strength of those who wait. Finally in Lamentations 3, the Lord will be good to those who wait. 

In this instant world we live in, we don't want to carry the mindset into our spiritual lives that we want instant results or answers to our prayers. The Lord will take us through seasons of waiting and sometimes it can be a long season, but know He is working behind the scenes and circumstances. If we don't learn to wait we will become impatient and move out in our own understanding. We also will be vulnerable to the lie of the enemy who will whisper in our ear that God doesn't care or is not interested in us. Waiting on the Lord is not a lack of faith, but is showing great faith. 

One of the things I love about summer is the warm and long days. It is also a time where many of us get away to our beautiful mountains or we take some vacation time to be with family and friends. It is a time where we can be refreshed and relax. Summer is a wonderful time and a favorite time for many of us.

I love to get out and do some fly fishing and to take short road trips to see different places. So every late fall and winter, Sue and I begin to make plans on what we want to do when summer comes. This year we were especially looking forward to getting away and enjoying summer. In the previous year our plans were halted when my mom died and we were dealing with everything that needed to be done. In the fall our trip to Israel with our church was cancelled because the war with Hamas broke out a few days before we were scheduled to leave. It was, to say the least, so disappointing to all who were going.

This spring right around Easter, Sue was diagnosed with breast cancer. Since then, it has been a couple of months of appointments and tests and talking with her medical team. As we entered the summer, once again, we had to cancel a couple of our travel plans and Sue will have surgery later in July. We are both disappointed that we are, once again, having to put some plans aside, but the Lord has continued to minister His comfort and assurance to us and we remain thankful.

I also have rediscovered something during this season and that is what Proverbs 8:17 declares, "I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me." In context it is speaking of wisdom that is Godly wisdom, and we know it comes from His Word.  Godly wisdom comes not only from knowing His Word but having that close intimate relationship with our loving Lord as we walk with Him.

I have always reminded believers to read their Bibles every day and to spend time seeking the Lord. There is a very special time to do that and it is early in the day. The Lord has awoken me early at times, right before dawn begins to break, and it has been a very rich and wonderful time in the quietness of the day to spend time in prayer and to hear from the Lord.  It is a time where it is quiet and in the cool of the early morning I can just focus on my Lord without distractions that can happen in so many ways.

David would write in Psalm 57:7-8,  "My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast

I will sing and give praise. Awake, my glory! Awake, lute and harp! I will awaken the dawn." I can see why David was a man after God's own heart, because he writes that he wants to praise the Lord and sing to Him. Usually it is the dawn that awakes us in the morning but it is as if David is saying, "I'm so excited to seek God and to praise Him that I will awaken the dawn. I can't wait to draw close to my God and I will do it even before the break of dawn."

I would encourage you, especially in this summer season where the mornings are cool and quiet, to awaken the dawn and draw close to Him. It is a special time and you will discover, as I have once again, the joy and peace of the Lord. I know that I may not be up every morning before the sun arises, but I have discovered it is a special time just as David and Solomon did and declared it in the Word. It is true for me and for you today and wise is the one who knows, "I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me."

After Paul the apostle's third missionary journey, Acts chapter 20 records his calling for the elders of Ephesus to meet him at Miletus. We read in verses 17-21:

From Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called for the elders of the church.  And when they had come to him, he said to them: “You know, from the first day that I came to Asia, in what manner I always lived among you, serving the Lord with all humility, with many tears and trials which happened to me by the plotting of the Jews;  how I kept back nothing that was helpful, but proclaimed it to you, and taught you publicly and from house to house, testifying to Jews, and also to Greeks, repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. (NKJV)

It's interesting in the KJV vs 18 reads, "And when they were come to him, he said unto them, Ye know, from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons." Paul saw much fruit in his ministry at Ephesus. He was in the city longer than any other place on his missionary journeys. Revival spread through the whole city as people gave their lives to the gospel of Christ. He taught young disciples at the school of Tyrannus for two years and many churches in Asia Minor were established by those who were discipled by the apostle.

Reading Acts 19 we know that Paul was driven out of the city of Ephesus when the silversmiths rioted and his life was in danger. After that he wrote to the Corinthian church in 2 Corinthians 1:8:

For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of our trouble which came to us in Asia: that we were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life. (NKJV)

As Paul met with the elders of Ephesus, he reiterated to them his manner of life in all seasons. He was consistent in the fruitful times of revival and the difficult times of being burdened beyond measure. He ministered in humility and courage, not holding anything back that was helpful.

We know that the apostle would experience great trials and difficulty after he met with those elders. Paul would be imprisoned in Israel and in Rome. In his final imprisonment he would write his last words to Timothy in 2 Timothy 3:10, "Timothy, you know my manner of life." His life showed his commitment and service to Christ in how he lived.

All of us go through different seasons in our journey with the Lord. We have fruitful times and difficult times. Sometimes our spiritual season seems like summer with growth and warmth, and other times like winter when it feels cold and barren. The question is, how is our manner of life at all seasons? The apostle said that he continued to serve with all humility and with many tears and trials. Through it all he held nothing back that was helpful but in all seasons proclaimed the gospel.

As I look back at thirty two years of full time ministry, there certainly have been seasons that seemed very fruitful and exciting, and seasons that were dry and difficult. In those years of ministry the Lord has been faithful, and Sue, my wife, and I have tried to continue to do what God has called us to do: to be faithful in giving the gospel and teaching the Word of God and to serve our congregation in humility and love. 

Last week we got the news that Sue has cancer and now we have entered into a new season. We don't know what the days ahead hold but we do know the One who holds us in His loving hands. Sue and I are praying that in this season, which we know will be very challenging in many ways, we would honor the Lord. Our prayer is we would hold nothing back that will be helpful and to keep serving in humility, proclaiming Christ crucified.

We've always considered it a privilege to serve the Lord. Our hearts are what Paul would say to those Elders: "But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God."

It was back in 2020 when we were dealing with Covid and other challenges that were before us and our family. I asked Sue if she wanted to continue in the ministry or should we start stepping back and pursue other things in our life. Her answer I believe was from heaven itself: "I don't want us to live for ourselves." We have a race to run and we will run it with God's help in this season that we face. We pray for endurance, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.

On Sunday mornings I've been teaching through the Book of Nehemiah as God's people are rebuilding the wall around Jerusalem. The city had been destroyed by the Babylonians some 150 years before Nehemiah came on the scene. It has been such a powerful study looking at this godly leader. We get insight into his character and commitment to God and the calling that was placed on his life. He was a man of great integrity and exemplified what a godly leader is. One of the important marks of Nehemiah's life was that he was a man of prayer.

As we consider the great men of faith in scripture, we know they had a similar quality about them and that is they were men of prayer. As I was reading the Book of Daniel, in that familiar chapter where he was thrown in the lion's den (chapter 6), we see Daniel setting his heart to pray even when he knew that the leaders of Persia had plotted against him. It was the decree signed by King Darius that no one was to pray to anyone else but the king himself. In Daniel 6:10 we read:

"Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days."

Daniel was taken away from his home when he was just a teenager into captivity in Babylon. He was now in his eighties, knowing the decree had been signed and he would be cast into the den of lions. He opened his window, as was his custom, and prayed to his God which was the God of heaven and earth. We learn so much from this one verse about prayer.

First of all, notice that Daniel had a place. As Christians, we know that we can pray anywhere. We can pray at church and in our cars. I've prayed with people in the grocery store or when taking a walk.  We can come to the throne of grace in prayer anytime and anywhere, but we should have a place where we meet with our God consistently and daily like Daniel. Abraham had a place where he sought the Lord called Bethel. Moses would talk to the Lord in his tabernacle of meeting in the wilderness. We all should have an upper room or a Bethel where we regularly meet with the Lord.

Secondly, Daniel had a time, as he prayed three times a day as was his custom. It was David that wrote in Psalm 55:17, "Evening and morning and at noon I will pray and cry aloud." All those years Daniel, I'm sure, prayed for wisdom and protection and blessing. I believe he prayed for Nebuchadnezzar's salvation. Do we have a time where we go to that place of prayer? I always remind my church that daily prayers and devotions are very important: to start your day praying and to end your day praying. Dads and moms, do you have a time where you are praying with your kids and for your kids? Husbands, do you have a time where you are praying for your wife? I have counseled many couples throughout my years of ministry and when I ask if they are praying for each other and with each other the vast majority say no! It should be a priority in our lives to set aside a time for prayer.

Thirdly, Daniel had a position, a posture. We can pray sitting, standing, or while we're walking. It's not just the position or posture of your body but rather your heart. Daniel got on his knees and I can't imagine what it was like for him to get on those 85-90 year old knees! Jesus would rebuke the Pharisee that prayed boasting in himself and He commended the tax collector who humbled himself and prayed, "forgive me, a sinner." So, the emphasis is the position of your heart because it is a reflection of your heart.

Then fourthly, what we learn from Daniel about prayer is the attitude of prayer. He prayed with a heart of thanksgiving. Even though he is going to be cast into the den of lions he gives thanks to God. He didn't say, "Woe is me and why are you letting this happen, Lord? I've been faithful to you all these years and this is what I get?!" No, but rather, he gave thanks to his God. It reminds me of the Apostle Paul, who was in prison chained to a Roman guard, not knowing if he would be put to death when he faced Caesar Nero. Paul would take pen to parchment and write the book of Philippians, and in chapter 4, he writes:

"Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;  and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."

Then the fifth point we can make in this one verse of Daniel 6 is he had a direction. He opened his window and prayed toward Jerusalem, toward home. Before Daniel was taken captive as a young teenager, he was in his home in Jerusalem. Daniel, no doubt, had a family, parents, perhaps grandparents who talked to him about the things of God and taught him the Word of God. He would face home and remember the Godly influence of his family, whom he hadn't seen for 70 years and were long gone. It is a battle out there and the enemy, Satan, wants to take your family captive and we must make it a priority to be praying for them and with them. It is never a waste of time to bring them before the Lord as you get on your knees and pray for your kids, spouses, and those who are in your life. I'm reminded of what Nehemiah said to the people in the fourth chapter of that book when the enemy was coming against the people of God:

"Therefore I positioned men behind the lower parts of the wall, at the openings; and I set the people according to their families, with their swords, their spears, and their bows.  And I looked, and arose and said to the nobles, to the leaders, and to the rest of the people, “Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, great and awesome, and fight for your brethren, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your houses.”

Fight the good fight of the Spirit and make it a priority to pray because our God is great and awesome and, as Nehemiah goes on to remind them, "God will fight for you."

Twenty-eight years ago my wife Sue and I came up to Greeley, Colorado with our two young children to plant what is known as Calvary Chapel of Greeley. With the exception of my brother and his family, we didn't know anyone else in the community. We didn't have a facility to meet in or have any other things which are needed to begin services.

We began this new venture of faith in our home, with a little advertisement in the local paper. I had my Bible, went to the old Hugh M. Woods building, bought a stool to sit on to teach, and a cheap guitar from the local music store. We came with a simple vision that I had learned from my pastor, Chuck Smith: teach the Bible verse by verse from Genesis to Revelation. He also modeled being a humble, incredible servant that loved the sheep. We had the vision to make sure, with God's help and grace, that the people he gave us to minister to were the best fed and best loved sheep in Greeley. We haven't done that perfectly (no pastor has), but we have looked to the Lord to help us care for His sheep.

I have considered it a privilege and an honor to be the pastor of this church for the last twenty-eight years. Sue and I have seen God's faithfulness and blessing even in the difficult and challenging times. He has always provided for us and we are very thankful for the calling that He gave us. I'm thankful that He is true to His Word, as told to us in 1 Corinthians 1:27-28: "But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence."

I want to encourage you that God wants to use you in serving Him, wherever He has placed you. Remember what the apostle Paul wrote in the first chapter of Colossians - that you were created by Him and for Him. Revelation 4 tells us we were created for His good pleasure. Ephesians 2:10 tells us, "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them."

You were created for Christ, for His good pleasures, and to be His workmanship. If any of us just live for ourselves or for the world, we will miss out on the real purpose of life: to live for our Creator. We hear about life coaches that will help us reach our potential and have success in just about every area of life. I know they can be of help in some practical ways, but you will not experience your full potential if you don't prioritize a life living for Him and His purposes.

When I first got saved I didn't think I could ever serve the Lord or was qualified to do that. We have all been called to serve others in this life. Be open to what He wants to do through you and how He wants to use you. Remember that He uses the weak and foolish things, which is good news because that includes all of us. His faithfulness will be discovered by you and you will experience true fulfillment and purpose.

I recently finished a teaching series at Calvary Chapel Greeley on the end times, concluding the series on New Years Eve with a message entitled "Let Us Not Sleep." The Bible and especially the New Testament repeatedly tells us as believers not to sleep. We are to be sober and vigilant spiritually, especially when it comes to looking for our Lord's return. The Lord Himself warns us in Luke 21:34, "Take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down..." We know the warning in Hebrews 2, "Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away."

It should be our desire as we enter a new year that we heed what God's Word tells us to do in being steadfast in our Christian walk. There are a number of exhortations in the scriptures to do just that in our journey walking with the Lord. It is an exhortation that Sue and I have kept as a model for ministering here at Calvary Chapel. It was 28 years ago when we came to Greeley to start the church and we have always kept the priority of the ministry given in Acts 2:42, "and they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in breaking of bread, and in prayers." I believe God has blessed the church over the years because we have kept those four things as the model of ministry.

When David was going through trials he wrote in Psalm 57:7, "My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and give praise." We are to be steadfast in heart toward the Lord even in the trials and difficulties of life.

In Colossians 1:23, the apostle Paul writes, "if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard." We are to continue in the hope of the gospel. If we begin to put our hope in other things, then we will find ourselves becoming weak and discouraged.

Paul goes on to write in chapter 2 of Colossians to be steadfast in faith, "rejoicing to see your good order and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ." The way we grow in faith is by continuing to study and read the Word of God. Romans tells us that, "Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God."

In 1 Corinthians 15:58, he tells us, "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord." I have to remind myself and others that are serving the Lord of that truth.

As we are commanded to be steadfast, remember that we are to rely on the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. I need God's help to be steadfast. I know that I can't do it in my own flesh and my own efforts. 

As I consider being steadfast in this new year, I know I can look to the ultimate example given by my Lord: that He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem. We are eternally grateful that He was steadfast in going to the cross to die for our sins. I know that as I'm steadfast in the things of the Lord, that it will benefit me spiritually. It will keep me strong in the Lord, and I will be a blessing and benefit to the people in my life, as I minister to them.

I remember very clearly in March of 2021 when Sue and I took my mom to see a neurologist and hearing  the words of the doctor that she is showing advanced signs of Alzheimers. We weren't surprised, but my mind would race back to 15 years earlier when we heard those same words concerning my father.

Alzheimers has been referred to as "The Long Goodbye" for a number of reasons.  As the disease slowly progresses, the personality of a person with the disease is worn away. Their cognitive skills diminish and their bodies decline.  Soon the family members become strangers to the individual suffering. My mom would be confused and as time went on making no sense in her conversation to us. She would be angry one day and the next day crying. There would be days of laughing and days of sorrow. In her last days she looked at me and asked me who I was. It is called the Long Goodby because we felt like we lost mom years ago. Every time we would visit and leave, it was like saying goodbye over and over.

My mom went home to be with our Lord yesterday. During this long journey we have been grateful for God's grace and mercy and strength. I think of the prayer of Paul the Apostle in the opening of the Book of Colossians for patience and long-suffering with joy.  He has shown us that through this difficult season that He was still with mom and in her heart. At the end of her life when the visits were difficult and trying for us and her; He would remind us that she is still there. She would ramble in her conversation, making no sense except for two things and that was "I'm going to heaven soon" and "I love you very much".

My mom is done with the agony and suffering of this life. She is with her Lord, my dad, and my brother Alan who died at the age of two many years ago. She is more alive than ever before in heaven not because she was a caring, loving person, but because of her faith in Jesus Christ and His atoning work on the cross. On this Fourth of July weekend we celebrate our freedoms. We are to be reminded of the words of Jesus in John 8:36: "Therefore if the Son makes you free, you are free indeed." I know my mom is free form this disease that has plagued her mind and body for years. I have the hope of seeing her when my Lord takes me home and on that day it will be no longer "The Long Goodbye", but "Hello" again for all eternity.

I think we can all say that 2020 was a year of uncertainty. The year started out with many hopes and plans that would abruptly come to an end by the time we reached March. the Covid pandemic disrupted all of our live in so many ways. I remember mid-March during a Wednesday night service addressing the congregation about the rising concerns of Covid starting to spread throughout the country and how serious it was. It would be two days later that we made the decision to stop in-person services.

Most pastors in Colorado and around the nation followed, and the fellowship of believers stopped. Many lost their their jobs, schools closed, restaurants shut down. We had no idea how this would impact all of our lives. Weddings were cancelled as well as vacations. People couldn't see their loved ones in nursing homes or when they were in the hospital. This was one event that impacted all of us in different ways and in different degrees.

As the year moved into summer we witnessed civil unrest and fires burning. Many days were marked with dark clouds of smoke over our cities in northern Colorado, dropping ash day after day, week after week. We saw saw over a half of millions acres burn the very places we love to camp, hike, and fish, as well as  hundreds of homes that were lost. The summer led to fall with the pandemic still surging and an election that was extremely heated and divisive. To say the least, the previous year brought uncertainty to all of us.

Now, as we have entered into a new year, the uncertainty continues with the pandemic and our nation seeing the events that tragically unfolded at our nation's capital. Many people that I have talked with are discouraged or feeling hopeless. Many are afraid and and are anxious about the days ahead. 

I want to remind us that there is certainty in these uncertain times. We have the truth of God's Word that is certain. We have the certainty that He is still on the throne. We can be assured of every promise He gives to us. We know that there will be a glorious plan of God that will unfold, called the "Blessed Hope," when He will take us home to be with Him. More than ever, we as believers need to keep our eyes on the Lord and be established  in His Word.

We know that the Bible tells us that the last days will be perilous time and uncertain times. Jesus said men's hearts will fail them because of fear ( Luke 21:26). We as believers don't have to be gripped with fear. We don't have to be full of anxiety because of the difficult days we are experiencing. We need to be praying and watching. We must continue in the scriptures and be discerning of the days we are in. We don't have to be troubled in heart or shaken in mind. My prayer for you in this new year is that God's peace will rule in your heart, that you will be established in His love, and will know that our certainty is in Jesus in these uncertain times.

This last Sunday Christians from all over the world observed what is called "Palm Sunday" or the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. This event is recorded in all four gospels and most Christians are very familiar with the story of Jesus riding into Jerusalem on the back of a donkey. Luke's gospel tell us that a great multitude followed Jesus from the Jordon Valley up to Jerusalem. They thought that the kingdom of God would appear immediately. It was at that time as they would make the ascent up to the Mt. of Olives that Jesus told of the parable of the minas. When they arrived at the mountain called Olivet, Jesus would ride down on the back of a colt or young donkey fulfilling Zachariah's prophecy in chapter 9 verse 9. The multitude followed Him and Matthew's narrative tells us that a great multitude came out of the city of Jerusalem to meet Him. Matter of fact, Matthew writes that the whole city was moved at this time. The word moved in the Greek is the same word where we get the English word earthquake.

Jerusalem had never seen anything like it before. Jesus riding down the slope of the Mount of Olives across the Kidron Valley into Jerusalem. The people were crying out that Messianic Psalm, "Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord! Hosanna in the Highest!" (Psalm 118:26). The people were waving the palm branches and spreading their clothes on the road. As they were cheering, the religious leaders were complaining saying "Teacher, rebuke your disciples." Jesus responded by saying, "I tell you that if these should keep silent, the very stones would immediately cry out." (Luke 19:39,40)

The people were cheering, the religious leaders were complaining and Jesus, as He rode into the holy city, was crying. He knew what they really wanted was a national, political, and material Messiah that would free them from the powers of Rome. It is later in the week, when the people realize that Jesus wasn't going to overthrow Rome and usher in the Kingdom, they would cry out "crucify Him." The disciples and the multitude did not understand that Jesus didn't come to Jerusalem to free them from the bondage of Rome, but a greater bondage and that is sin. Jesus was going to go to the cross to die for sinful humanity.

This "Holy Week" we are going through such difficult and challenging times. We pray that we will be healthy and not get this virus that has spread quickly throughout the whole world and taken many lives. We pray our family members and friends stay healthy. We pray we can get back to work or our business will survive. God cares about those things and wants us to cast our cares on Him because He cares for us (1 Peter 5:7).  My prayer is that we would desire for Him to come riding into our lives and bring true joy and comfort in our hearts because we are a forgiven people and we have the promise of eternal life. My prayer for all Christians is that we would long for Him even as David did when He was in the wilderness in an uncertain difficult time. David, in Psalm 63, wrote "My soul thirsts for You: My flesh longs for You in a dry and thirsty land." I would encourage you to listen to my teaching from this last Sunday as we looked at Psalm 63 and Jesus' triumphal entry. The church website is calvarychapelgreeley.org or you can listen to the teaching on the church Facebook page. I believe it will help you to have joy in your heart as you truly let the Lord sit upon the throne of your heart.

The Jews from Judah had been in captivity for 70 years in Babylon when the Babylonian Empire fell to the Medes and Persians.  King Cyrus issued a decree allowing God’s people to return to the holy city of Jerusalem to rebuild the temple. The first temple, built by Solomon, had been destroyed by King Nebuchadnezzar and the Babylonian Army in 586 B.C.

It is always exciting and thrilling when God is doing a new work among his people. When Sue and I heard the call to come to Greeley 23 years ago to plant Calvary Chapel, we were so excited and knew that God wanted to do wonderful things. We laid the foundation by starting a Bible study in our home.  After six months God led us to rent a very small storefront in downtown Greeley so we could start Sunday morning services. Our first sanctuary held 50 chairs and on the first Sunday Service we had about 30 people.  I was so excited and thankful for this new venture of faith that God called us to.

When Zerubbabel saw the completion of the altar of sacrifice and that the foundation of the temple had been laid, I’m sure he was filled with great expectation that the work of building the temple would surely be completed soon. Instead, Zerubbabel and Joshua would see the work of building the temple come to a stop.  The delay was not for a short period of time, but rather about 15 years.  The enemies of the Jews were opposing the work of the temple and were intimidating the Jews.  The work was hard as the city lay in ruins.  Over time the people turned inwardly. They began to focus on building their own homes and no longer prioritized doing the work of the Lord.

I’m sure that Zerubbabel and Joshua were greatly discouraged during that time.  They must have felt like failures, as though they had let God down.  Year after year would pass with no results.  The zeal and energy of the people were devoted to living the good life, building beautiful paneled houses, while God’s house lay in ruins. It was during that time of delay that the prophet Zechariah received a vision recorded in Zechariah chapter 4.  A message was to be given to Zerubbabel by the angel saying,  “The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this temple; his hands shall also finish it. Then you will know that the Lord of hosts has sent Me to you. For who has despised the day of small things? For these seven rejoice to see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel. They are the eyes of the Lord which scan to and fro throughout the whole earth.” (Zechariah 4:9-10)

The message to Zerubbabel was that the hands that laid the foundation of the temple would be the hands that finished it and the word of the Lord to you, Zerubbabel, is, “Not by might, nor by power but by My spirit,” says the Lord of host. The work will not be completed by your togetherness or intellect, or resourcefulness. It will be done by the Lord and then the Lord gave a very important word to Zerubbabel saying, “Don’t despise the day of small things.”

After our first Sunday morning service in Greeley, the next several weeks would bring only handfuls of people.  At times there would only be fifteen to twenty people in attendance, and Wednesday night service would have even fewer.  For many years we didn’t grow at all or grew very slowly.   It was during those times that I would have seasons of discouragement. We would have visitors and they would not return. They would say they were going to attend church elsewhere.  If everyone who visited Calvary Chapel Greeley had stayed, we would have a church of thousands. As a pastor you want to reach as many people as possible.  As a teacher of God’s Word you want to see your community impacted with the gospel and the truth of scripture.  

One of the worst things a pastor can do is begin to compare himself to other ministers, churches, or Bible teachers. There are always those who have more people or bigger buildings, who are very dynamic and popular with their teaching style, having great charisma. It was in 2000 that we bought our current facility and we were so excited. We thought it was the Crystal Cathedral with so much more room for our small congregation. Today we have three Sunday morning services and perhaps soon we’ll add a fourth weekend service.  Our Wednesday night midweek service is well attended and many times is full, but it wasn’t always that way.

We can tend to think that our ministry is insignificant and unimportant to God. We can struggle with those things and get our eyes off the Lord’s calling in our lives and start to look outwardly instead of upward. I forget to be thankful for what He has done and the calling He’s placed on my life. I forget to be thankful for the people He has given me to serve and minister to. I begin to second guess that He’s called me to teach through the Bible, not just from the Bible. I have to be reminded that it is not by might nor by my power but by His spirit. 

Wherever God has placed you in the ministry He’s given to you, always remember: it is important to Him.  Your ministry may be raising your children in the ways of the Lord or discipling others. You may be working in the nursery or teaching young people. Paul, the apostle, wrote to the Corinthian church, “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.”  (1 Corinthians 15:58) The promise of the Lord is that He will complete that work which He has begun in your life. When you begin to think what God is doing in your life is insignificant and unimportant, always remember, ”Do not despise the day of small things.”