Denver Calvary Audio Podcast

Saul has just converted to Christianity after his encounter at Damascus. He immediately begins preaching enthusiastically. But the Christians are still afriad of him and the Jews want to murder him! Barnabas, however, believes in Saul and convinces the Church that he has genuinely converted. So they save him from the Jews and send him away to Tarsus. And the church grew. Meanwhile, Peter is travelling from place to place preaching Jesus. He heals a lame man and brings a faithful believing woman back to life after an illness takes her life. The news spreads through the whole town and man believe in the Lord.

Chapter 11 begins with David making several mistakes leading to a sinful downfall. David sends his army to war without him and instead rests in Jerusalem. As he is taking an evening stroll on the roof of his palace he sees the bathing Bathsheba and desires her. He brings her to the palace and gets her pregnant. Sin begins with a decision to compromise your purity for pleasure. David compromised his duty as King by staying at home to relax. He compromised his responsibility to one wife by marrying seven and maintaining a harem of concubines. Finally, he compromised his sexual purity by indulging in his flesh and bedding Bathsheba.

After Saul is sent to Damascus by Jesus, he sends Ananias to visit Saul. Ananias is a faithful Christian who is doubtful that Saul is changed but he obeys. Ananias visits Saul, lays his hands on him, and fills him with the Spirit. At this, scales fall from Saul's eyes and he can see once more. From this experience, Saul is commited to following Christ until his death in Rome many years later.

David sends messengers to the nearby kingdom of Ammon to express his condolences for the death of the their king. The new king embarrasses David's messengers and sends them back in disgrace. David is furious and sends Joab and his mighty men to teach them a lesson. Joab is victorious but doesn't crush the Ammonites. They come back with Syrian mercenaries and this time, David leads the army and crushes them. The Syrians become afriad of Israel and refuse to fight for the Ammonites again.

Paul is mercileslly persecuting the Church. He travels to Damascus to find and condemn Christians there. On his way, he is blinded by a bright light and Jesus speaks to him saying, "Saul, why are you persecuting me?" Saul is condemned and realizes the truth about Jesus. Jesus tells him to find his way to Damascus and wait for further instructions.

In chapter eight, David conquers many neighboring territories and creates a time of stability and peace in Israel. The Scripture tells us that the Lord gives him victory. Something that we should all acknowledge in our successes. In chapter nine, David shows honor and kindness to Mephibosheth, the last son of Jonathan. David made a promise to Jonathan to care for his family. He honors that promise by blessing the crippled Mephibosheth by giving him Saul's property and treating him as his own son and royalty. This is a picture of Christ and ourselves. Just as David showed unmerited kindness so has Christ towards us. Just like Mephibosheth, we are crippled in our sin and God has shown us kindness making us royalty and heirs with Christ.

In this chapter, David desires to build the Lord a temple. The Lord tells David that he will not build the temple, but his son will. He goes on to promise David that his kingdom and throne will be established forever through Jesus Christ. David responds by praising God and asking him to keep his promises.

Join Denver Calvary today in a message from Pastor Louie that is rich in content and relevant to our present world. There is a strong lure to the supernatural world that is present in occult groups and books and communicated in the media. Think of how many TV shows and movies there are that make witchcraft and necromancy and the like appear as seemingly harmful and attractive. Yet there is a real danger in these as we will see in today's study. Lets not be deceived, there is a distinction between the worldly magic and phenomina and Jesus casting out deamons by "The Finger of God" as He described it. There is no comparison. Be strengthened by God's Word today as we see how the glory of God is manifest in Jesus Christ and through His Spirit as He purposes in the lives of those who love God.

In Christendom, the purpose, forms, and methods, of baptism are often disputed. This Sunday, Pastor Louie explores the Scriptures that deal with baptism and why and how Calvary Chapel baptizes it's congregations. Baptism is a symbolic act that joins the believer with Christ in his death and resurrection. As they are emersed in the water, it symbolizes Christ's death and as they are emerge, it symbolizes His ressurection. It is not necessary for salvation, but it is a command from Jesus so that we publicly make the commitment to place our identity in Christ. For more information about baptism, take a listen or come watch a baptism at Denver Calvary Chapel on August 20, 2017.

This is a sobering section of scripture as we see the death of the believer Stephen. It goes against our human and natural tendancies to know and follow hard after Jesus Christ. Stephen was so mature in the Lord; his godly character was evident to all and wisdom abounded in him through God's Spirit. It is perplexing to see someone in their prime of life killed for reasons such as this just the same as Christ was. As difficult as it is to process dying a gruesome death for Christ, we can be comforted knowing that Christ suffered the same and is now exalted and seated on His throne. There will be a day when all this suffering will be no more and we will forever be in the presence of God by His mercy and grace. Be encouraged by today's study as we join Pastor Louie Cruzado.