Calvary Christian Fellowship of Tucson

The Last Revival

The Identity of the Two Witnesses The Two Witnesses are introduced and explained to be the fulfillments of various Old Testament prophecies as well as the means by which the 144,000 heard the gospel to begin with. Their ministry will end at the halfway point of the Tribulation, but all attempts to silence them before God's timing will fail as totally as the world's attempts to silence us today. The key is to follow their example. Disciple or die. Trust in God to protect you where He wants yo...

Ready for a Rough Ride

Faithfulness in Ministry Jesus reminds His disciples once again about what's most important in the kingdom of God. Their view is the same as everyone else. Who is going to get rewarded the most? Jesus reminds them how He will reward them in the first place. The world rewards on the basis of who has done the most. God rewards on the basis of just hanging in there. The people who stick around in the Christian life will be surprised how much God did through them as they continue to just show up...

Evangelism 101

The Two Witnesses The Two Witnesses are introduced and explained to be the fulfillments of various Old Testament prophecies as well as the means by which the 144,000 heard the gospel to begin with. Their ministry will end at the halfway point of the Tribulation, but all attempts to silence them before God's timing will fail as totally as the world's attempts to silence us today. The key is to follow their example. Disciple or die. Trust in God to protect you where He wants you to be. And und...

The Communion Connection

The Last Supper - What Difference does it make? Jesus enters the last few hours of His earthly ministry by ending the Passover Ceremony with its fulfillment. Communion was given as a remembrance of what He was about to do. This wouldn't save those who participated in it, like Judas Iscariot. It would be the most intimate and personal reminder to those who already were of how they were saved to begin with. 1. What communion does NOT do 2. What communion DOES do 3. What communion CAN do Scr...

Need to Know

The Angel and the Little Book John is taken aside after seeing the sixth trumpet judgment to see an angel who repeats an action modeled by the prophet Ezekiel in the Old Testament. Some of the themes and traits in this chapter are controversial, others are very clear. But this is what gives us all the opportunity to ask ourselves what is most important in personal Bible study. Do we need to know what we don't understand, or clarify the things we actually can? 1. There are issues Christians ...

Touched by an Angel

The Nature of Angels John is taken aside after seeing the sixth trumpet judgment to see an angel who repeats an action modeled by the prophet Ezekiel in the Old Testament. Some of the themes and traits in this chapter are controversial, others are very clear. But this is what gives us all the opportunity to ask ourselves what is most important in personal Bible study. Do we need to know what we don't understand, or clarify the things we actually can? 1. There are issues Christians can disag...

The Epicenter

The Key to God's Prophetic Plan Jesus continues His point regarding the destruction of the Temple as a trend that will continue into the End Times. The Last Days we are living in are known as the Time of the Gentiles. And while we have seen a significant period of time take place where Israel's land has been trampled under by a majority population of non-Jewish people, that time is quickly coming to an end as more and more Jews return to their homeland as well as come to a saving knowledge o...

True Justice

The Sixth Trumpet Judgment The sixth trumpet judgment demonstrated the same thing we saw in the sixth seal judgment. When mankind is given a direct demonstration of the wrath of God, they won't take a hint and ask God to spare them. The mindset of those experiencing the wrath of God isn't that He is unfair or unknown. At this point in human history, people will know what is causing this astronomical loss of life and the reason why it is happening, but would rather die than repent. 1. If the...

Everything Jesus Wants You To Know About The Last Days

God's Faithfulness to Israel's Restoration Jesus gives His disciples an overview of the prophetic calendar as far as God's restoration of Israel is concerned. While the information He gives us is concerning, it wasn't intended to make us despair for the future. The more certainty God has about our future, the more certainty we can have that the promises He's made in spite of it will still be kept. 1. Prophecy produces confidence in God's Word. 2. Prophecy provides peace through God's Word. ...

Why We’re Afraid of the Dark

The Fifth Trumpet Judgment The first of the three woes is horrifying. Creating an atmosphere of total vulnerability, the world is given over to the alternatives to God they have been choosing. These creatures, much like the prior trumpet judgments, are restrained to a point. However, the greatest lesson in avoiding something can be allowing someone to see exactly why you're being warned about them. If God has to show Himself the better option than the devil by contrast, He'll allow as sharp ...

Don’t Miss The Messiah

The Widow's Two Mites Jesus goes from answering the challenges of the Scribes and Pharisees to taking preventive steps with His disciples. The state of spiritual pride that prevented them from recognizing the Messiah is one we can easily fall into as well if we aren't paying careful attention to our motives. How we pray, how much we give, and where we worship are irrelevant if we forget why we're doing those things in the first place. 1. Prayers have an audience. It will either be God to de...

Until It’s Gone

The Trumpet Judgments In the opening Trumpet Judgments, we are shown a systematic deconstruction of what God introduced at Creation. He introduced the stars to give us light and heat, and now takes a third of them away. He introduced a certain division between land and sea, and now a meteor makes that division a questionable reality. He introduced water and plant life to preserve it, and now it's only serving to take that life away. We don't know how good God has been to us. And it shouldn't...

Jesus in the Hot Seat

Discussing Politics and Religion Like Our Lord Jesus demonstrates for us exactly how and when to properly engage with people about the difficult questions of life. When it comes to politics, religion, or the reasons you have to provide any explanation about the two, it all has to come back to two things. Who is Jesus and what does His Word say? If you can stand on those foundations, you're following the example of the One who stood His ground against the very same challenges before us. 1. D...

The Place of Prayer

The Introduction of the Trumpet Judgments As we transition from the seal to the trumpet judgments, we're not only given a proper context of the Tribulation, but also of the prayers we've prayed in the mean time awaiting this day. While judgment is something God delays, Justice will be done. While God is patient with the people who persecute His own, this world will see what it deserves. In the mean time, we only do ourselves a favor by putting our hope and our hurt in the same place. Before ...

Welcome to the War

The Parable of the Wicked Vinedressers Jesus is confronted by the Pharisees for acting out what only the Messiah should be doing. In proper order with how to handle a hostile audience, Jesus answers their question with a question in order to get them to think through their own position. He then immediately goes on the offensive in order to confront them about the real issue between God's heart and their minds. This shows us that it isn't unChrist-like to deal with people seriously and direct...

A Glimpse of Heaven

Salvation During the Tribulation John is shown a picture of those who will be saved through the ministry of the 144,000. The number is more than anyone could count. From this we conclude that while the Tribulation is a time of wrath, it is also a time of mercy. God will be continuing His work of salvation like He has from Genesis 3. 1. Heaven is being with Jesus. 2. Heaven is for people that have received mercy, not earned righteousness. 3. The Tribulation's purpose is as much to save soul...

The Conflict of Love – Part 3

The Godly Model for Conflict Resolution Conflict in relationships is a guarantee. Resolution and restoration from those conflicts are what makes a relationship honoring to God. How we resolve these conflicts are a result of the people we allow to influence our lives and how we ultimately understand how God resolved His conflict with us. 1. Conflict resolution requires patience as much as personal vulnerability. 2. How we resolve conflict is influenced by the kind of people we surround ourse...

The Passion of Love – Part 2

The Godly Role of Sex in Relationships The role sexuality plays in marital relationships is as much something God approves of as the relationship itself. A desire to be attractive to one another, A desire to be proactive in pursuing one another, and the desire to be desired are all things God honors when they're founded and defined on the basis of His character. 1. Loving relationships don't seek to repel one other, but inspire attraction to each other. 2. Loving relationships don't wait f...

The Ideal of Love – Part 1

The Standard for Romantic Relationships Our relationship with God is based on His grace towards us. Our earthly relationships are meant to model this. We won't be perfect towards each other, nor can we be. What God intends for earthly relationships is the regular exchange of the grace we've been shown. 1. Romantic Relationships are fundamental to all society, which is why Satan attacks them so continuously. 2. We need to take the time to consider how much of our understanding of relations...

God Still Loves His People

The 144,000 The Tribulation experiences a brief pause in judgments for the setting aside of God's people. The reason this passage is rightly understood as referring to 144,000 literal Jewish people is because it literally says so. The reasons given in opposition to that interpretation fall apart once the assumptions of antisemitism are taken away. The reality is that God isn't through with His chosen people. We trust the promises He's made to them for the same reason we trust the promises He...

Why Listen to Jesus?

The Value of a Good Name Jesus' earthly ministry is coming to an end. He spends this limited time investing in what's most important to Him; The Word of God and people. Inevitably opposition comes His way from unreasonable people. Instead of wasting time with them, He challenges their questions with even better questions in kind. This wasn't to dodge the issues they were presenting, but revealing they didn't care about the answers. His character was such that He had already given them every ...

Look Up or Look Out

The sixth seal judgment will be horrifying, but nothing compared to what's coming next. 1. The Seal Judgments are the Wrath of God. 2. The world at the time of the Seal Judgments are aware of who Jesus is and that He is responsible for these plagues. 3. The purpose of the Tribulation is delaying ultimate judgment for the sake of those who can still be saved.

The Path to Personal Peace

Knowing God vs Knowing About God Jesus demonstrates upon entering Jerusalem that the God of Israel is more involved in the lives of His people than we give Him credit for. He demonstrates emotion to such a degree that it shows how invested He is in the lives of His people. He recalls the prophecies they ignored showing how much God had planned for their peace. And upon entering Jerusalem's Temple to cleanse it (again), he shows that investment is a long-term one. He won't tolerate evil for t...

Heavenly Forgiveness

The Fifth Seal Judgment Those who will lose their lives at the beginning of the Tribulation ask God for vengeance in Heaven. This isn't a sinful act, but the response to that prayer is worth noting. They are told to do the same thing we are told to do when we are required to love and forgive our enemies. Receive God's Righteousness and rest in Him until His timing takes place. 1. More people will come to a saving relationship with Jesus in the Tribulation than any other time in history. 2. ...

The Stones Cry Out

The Triumphal Entry and Trusting God's Timing Jesus' Triumphal Entry went exactly as God intended it to. It also happened precisely when He intended it to. The only thing that would have kept anyone from fully appreciating these promises fulfilled was fear and doubt. The more we know God's word, the fewer reasons we have to doubt His promises. And the more reasons we have to trust His timing. 1. If you want God's perfect timing to be a reality in your life, it starts with doing God's will f...

Hell’s Coming With Him

The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse - Revelation 6:1-8 The Tribulation begins with the rise of the Antichrist and the fallout of that judgment. With reference after reference to the Old Testament, the significance of each ultimately results in more deaths than this world has ever seen take place in correlation with an event. While there are differing views on the “Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse,” the main point is that Jesus' kingdom couldn't be more unlike the beginning of the Antichrist's...

Taking Care of Business

The Parable of the Minas Jesus tells a parable familiar to those involved with politics during His time. The purpose of this parable is explained in its punchline. The Kingdom of God isn't something they just let happen, but something they faithfully anticipate with the things they were charged to do in the mean time. Those who get caught up in this world or distracted miss out for a number of reasons. They either forget who they're serving, or what their purpose is to begin with. 1. How we...

Duality of Man Part 1: Original Sin

Modern culture assumes that society makes people evil. Christianity acknowledges that people make society. Until our hearts are changed, nothing around us will. That is the hope of the Gospel. Only God can change our hearts and truly deal with the problem we refuse to acknowledge. 1. The Bible teaches that mankind is born naturally in a state of rebellion against God. 2. Society shifts the blame for what is wrong within us to what is wrong around us. 3. If we are born broken, we aren't our ...

Heaven’s Host

John's vision of Heaven is not short of Old Testament references. With callbacks to Mount Sanai and Ezekiel, he doesn't leave it to the imagination who God is in the vision. The Cherubim and the Elders are also identifying this figure as God, but specifically the Father. 1. If something looks like God was described and is given credit for the things only God has done, they're God. 2. The creatures known as Cherubim are glorious creatures, but spend all of their time focused on God's glory. 3...

Fall Back to Move Forward

The Thessalonian church had been dealing with false teachers and reached out to Paul for clarification on these things. Instead of just stating an outright yes or no, he equips them to think for themselves by reminding them of other truths they had heard from the Old Testament. Then reminds them that their love for the truth will win out the day. The enemy will be destroyed by Jesus’ arrival, and the enemy’s words likewise will fall into proper order when God’s word comes into the equation. ...

A look in the right direction!

Revelation 4 is a major turning point for what is to take place during the last days. The door of heaven opens, signaling the gathering up of his Holy Saints to be brought before the throne of God. This absence of the church on earth will put into full motion the 7 year tribulation and the focus of God's dealings with humanity directly on the nation of Israel and the Jewish peoples.

A Brand New You in 22

Joshua was a textbook example of how to effectively see God do a new work in his life. He kept God's word close, His promises closer, and the people closest to him never stopped hearing about it. With a perspective of preparation, application, and discipleship concerning God's word, we will see the same good success Joshua saw. 1. Where we were yesterday is preparation for where we are today. 2. Application makes God's Revelation personal in our lives. 3. Ministry isn't a marathon. It's a re...

The Real Meaning of Christmas

On the day we remember Christmas, a very special event took place. God physically entered this world as a baby. The first witnesses of this event were shepherds. Singled out by Angels, they were told exactly who was here and why He had come. It wasn't to destroy us, but to redeem us from destruction. It wasn't just to inspire good things, but show us just how good God is first-hand. 1. God has visited us personally. 2. God has redeemed us perfectly. 3. God has pursued us passionately.

A Knock At The Door

The Church of Laodicea had many problems, but one solution. Everything they needed, they could receive freely from Jesus. The only thing that was lacking was their willingness to receive those things from Him and pursue Him. 1. You won't find something apart from Jesus that you can only receive from Him, 2. Correction is the greatest security we have in our relationship with God. 3. God has more to offer us than this world could possibly offer.

The Incarnation and Our Lives (Part 1)

The Incarnation of Jesus tells us certain things about God that can be known. The world we live in apart from God tries to maintain the status quo by denying or dismissing this as a pointless pursuit, but a personal God doesn't allow that kind of conclusion to be rational. If God has come to this world and proven Himself to be who He is, then all goodness, truth, and purpose come from Him. The alternative is freedom at the cost of meaning. 1. God is Real. 2. God can be Known. 3. God is Good.

The Incarnation and Life (Part 2)

When Jesus took on flesh, we understand what God considers valuable. He didn't become a soul after His resurrection or only appear as an apparition in order to communicate what He saw as most important about mankind. He saw life, the pleasures and pain that comes with it, and our ultimate relationship with Him all valuable for the same reason. If we abandon purpose, all we can do is reflect on the past. If we understand that even the good things in life have a purpose, the bad will be put int...

The Incarnation and Relationships (Part 3)

Jesus came to this world with a willingness to sacrifice His own well being for our benefit. The Christian life is then defined as the living out of His example. We can do this through our churches and family, or we can neglect it by focusing on ourselves. 1. Our Identity will either be established by God or something less. 2. Our Identity will either be developed through our relationships with each other or something less. 3. People are eternal beings living in the midst of a temporary wor...

The Problem with Progress – The Church of Laodicea

The final church Jesus addresses is the church that had conformed to their culture at the expense of their relationship with Christ. Their luxury and comfort had caused them to be willing to make compromises with truth. Yet instead of abandoning them in kind, Jesus continues to pursue fellowship with them and correct them regarding what was keeping them from enjoying Him. 1. Jesus corrects Laodicea about conforming to culture at the expense of His Word. 2. Progress isn't a virtue if you're ...

When God Turns On the Lights

As the earthly ministry of Jesus enters its final weeks, Jesus gives His disciples three examples of the kind of people that genuinely benefit from a relationship with Him. First, He exposes their unwillingness to listen to the truth regardless of the fact He's explained the truth of His crucifixion to them three times already. Second, He seeks out the blind man that recognized Him as the Messiah even to the neglect of the crowds that hadn't made up their mind yet. And finally, He singles out...

The Spirit in Philly

Jesus speaks to the church of Philadelphia with no words of correction. He commends them for their abiding relationship with Him through His Spirit and His Word, and makes copious references to the Old and New Testament to clarify very personal and intimate details about all that their continued fellowship with produce in their lives. 1. The most faithful Christians are those who do everything they can with what little they have. 2. An abiding relationship with Jesus is never more evidenced ...

So What’s In It For Me?

As the rich young ruler departs, Jesus' disciples remain. They ask what they have to gain for what they've given up in order to follow Jesus, and His answer is one we need to take to heart if we're to remember what motivates us to live the Christian life. Not only is knowing Jesus its own reward, but God knows how to give us rewards for our sacrifices that will last forever. 1. God cannot give us a treasure greater than Himself because such a thing doesn't exist. 2. God is emotionally invest...

2nd Galatians – The Church of Sardis

Jesus speaks to the church in Sardis about their negligence and forgetting their responsibilities as a church. While they called themselves a church, they weren't functioning like one. And with copious references to the Old and New Testament, He reminds them of what they have and will continue to have as a result of coming back to an abiding relationship with Him. 1. Sardis was a city known for taking their wealth and ease for granted, and it got them conquered three times. 2. Sardis wasn't ...

For the Man Who Has Everything

Jesus is approached by a rich young ruler with the right question, for the right reasons, and with the right attitude. He receives his answer and realizes what the real ostacle between him and peace with God was. The problem wasn't what he did or had, but his attitude towards them. Without a new heart, he couldn't recieve the peace Jesus lovingly offered. 1. Jesus is God and we are not. 2. The Commandments show us our problem, not the solution. 3. Receive what you can't achieve.

A Thankful Heart in a Thankless World

Thankfulness is the recognizing of something as good. When we are thankful to God, we're proactively choosing to see the good things in our lives with Him in mind as the reason we got through them. A loss of security, control, freedom, and everything else we take for granted are things God restores to us regularly in our lives. The more we take the time to notice, the better off we are in remembering just how good He is. 1. Thankfulness keeps us from entitlement. 2. Thankfulness puts our tri...

The Path to Powerful Prayer

Jesus gives a series of parables that explain what it means to have a dynamic prayer life. The first is illustrated through point of contrast between an unjust judge who ignored those who needed his help with God who eagerly invests Himself in those who come to Him for help. The second is illustrated through another point of contrast between two prayers divided by honesty before God. The last was an actual situation where children came to Jesus for a blessing and were proactively welcomed and...

Christ vs Culture

Jesus addresses the church of Thyatira as a church who had a lot of good things going for them, but still needed things they had to address if they were going to see the growth they had seen continue. A woman compared to the Old Testament queen Jezebel had become prominent in this church and taught that the cultural views of sexuality and idolatry were acceptable for Christians to approve of and participate in. While not everyone in the church had submitted to this false teaching, Jesus addre...

What Jesus Wants You To Know About the End Times

When it comes to the End Times, Jesus doesn't want us to be unaware of what He intends to be accomplished through all the of the wrath and terror that follows. God has demonstrated a consistent prophetic pattern throughout history whenever His judgments were tangibly demonstrated. First, a prophetic warning was provided. Second, a means of escape is provided. And finally, judgment falls after everyone who would receive mercy has. 1. God always provides a prophetic warning in anticipation of ...

Compromising Truth

Jesus writes to the church of Pergamos addressing the compromises they have made concerning their teachers. While they had endured a great deal of persecution, it didn't justify or excuse the areas they had allowed culturally accepted practices to take place among His church. He introduces Himself as their solution and their reason to keep fighting the Christian fight until they see Him face-to-face as He modeled for them first-hand. 1. Jesus intentionally introduces Himself as the Word of G...

Smyrna – Making Sense of Suffering

A Life On the Lookout For the Lord

Jesus gave us a masterpiece on teaching people. Four times Jesus uses the word watch! Jesus always saves the most important for last…”remember this” “What I say to you I say to all...watch!” Jesus is very concerned about us watching for his sudden return. But how do you watch for his return? How you answer that question is important as to how you view the days we are living in! 1. To prepare yourself for the 2nd Coming of Christ, look to the impact of his first coming 2. Some will mock Jes...