Studying Scripture with Pastor David Higa at ccEchoPark

Pastor David Higa
  • 5.0 (10)
  • Religion & Spirituality

Study the whole Bible chapter-by-chapter, verse-by-verse with Pastor David Higa at Calvary Chapel Echo Park in Los Angeles ccEchoPark.com

  1. 1d ago

    Joshua 20-22 | Levite Inheritance

    Joshua 20-22: Levite Inheritance

    Joshua 20-22 | Levite Inheritance

  2. 2d ago

    Revelation 3:14-22 | The Lukewarm Church

    So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. [Rev 3:16] This is the final [seventh] letter of Jesus to the churches. Over the course of Rev 2-3, each letter is a specific message to a specific church, and yet they are letters to the churches [plural] meaning they are to the church at large. Noted by some commentators are the letters parallel with Church History. While we need to be careful to not carry those comparisons too far, it cannot be denied certain connections. They connect Ephesus to the Apostolic Church [A.D. 30- 100]; Smyrna the Persecuted Church [A.D. 100-313]; Pergamum the Imperial [Compromising] Church [A.D. 313-476]; Thyatira the Medieval [Corrupt] Church [A.D. 476-1453]; and Sardis the Reformed [Dead] Church [A.D. 1453-1648]. Remaining is the Modern Church [A.D. 1648-present]. Taking these connections to their completion, commentators point to the last two letters to Philadelphia and Laodicea as representative of the Modern Church; one part faithful and one part lukewarm. This morning we will conclude this section of Revelation with the letter to Laodicea. Jesus warning against being lukewarm is very strong [because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. v.3:16]. This is arguably the greatest rebuke in these seven letters. To whom much is given from him much will be required [Lk 12:48]. Our Modern Church has been given many open doors that are unique in our day. It is a Faithful Church that goes through them. The flip side is the Lukewarm, neither hot nor cold. They have a faithful look andsound, but no real steps of faith. These are ones who are warm to comfort butgo no further. When the Lord opens a door, it is the one on fire that faithfully walks through! In this time just prior to the Rapture, thats the way we want to be! Lord help us to be a Faithful Church and never Lukewarm. Luke-warmness is a deceptive worthlessness. It is deceptive because it has the look and sound of faith [i.e., there is an outward show and chatter of spirituality]. But it is worthlessness because it never really exercises faith. And without faith it is impossible to please God: Thus the serious warning of v.3:16.

    Revelation 3:14-22 | The Lukewarm Church

  3. 3d ago

    Genesis 16-18 | The Son of Promise

    Genesis 16-18: The Son of Promise

    Genesis 16-18 | The Son of Promise

  4. 4d ago

    Matthew 5:17-30 | The Source of Real Righteousness

    For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. [Matthew 5:20] Jesus began His Sermon on the Mount with Beatitudes. He promised blessings to the poor in spirit, those who mourn, the humble, those who hunger and thirst for righteousness; the merciful, the pure in heart, peace makers, and those who are persecuted for righteousness sake [ref. Matt 5:1-10]. Notice that these blessings come through qualities of character. Character is at the core of real righteousness; it is its source; it is salt and light to the world [ref. 5:13-16]. Godly character makes all the difference! It cultivates a teachable heart that becomes fertile ground bearing fruit some a hundred-fold, some sixty, some thirty. [Matt 13:23] True character does not parade itself [on the outside]; rather, it quietly seeds itself [on the inside] through the work of the Spirit. For I say to you, unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. This distinguishes between the two. It also poses a problem because who is righteousness surpasses the Pharisees? These men did every right work [on the outside]. They were the religious show of righteousness. And yet, Jesus taught that unless your righteousness exceeds theirs you cannot enter heaven. Jesus then quoted several acts of the Law, and then described the intent of the Law. You have heard that it was said to those of old, You shall not murder But I say unto you whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. Ever been angry with anyone? Then you broke the Law; and are going to be judged. All of us have missed the intent of the Law which is perfection. We have missed the mark of holiness that is required to dwell with God, Who is holy. Because it is written, Be ye holy for I am holy says the Lord. [1 Pet 1:16] Real righteousness before God is a righteousness of the heart; not only a show of righteousness on the outside. And that means we have missed the mark of perfect holiness, which is the literal meaning of sin. Be ye perfect, therefore, as your Father in heaven is perfect. [Matt 5:48] The source of real righteousness is Jesus; it comes by asking Him to forgive you of your sins and to be your personal Lord. The intent of the Law is to drive us to Him. Therefore, the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. [Gal 3:25]

    Matthew 5:17-30 | The Source of Real Righteousness

  5. Jul 16

    Joshua 14-19 | The Land and the Distribution

    Joshua 14-19: The Land and the Distribution

    Joshua 14-19 | The Land and the Distribution

  6. Jul 15

    Revelation 3:7-13 | The Faithful Church

    And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write, These things says He who is holy, He who is true, He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens. [Rev 3:7] We have previously noted in the prior letters to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira, and Sardis that Jesus revealed Himself in a Personal way to each Church and referenced certain aspects of His full revelation to John in Chapter 1. Beginning with Philadelphia, however, there is a fresh vision of Jesus not revealed in Rev 1. So why the change? Notice in Rev 3:7 and Rev 3:14 the new revelations to Philadelphia and Laodicea, respectively, which are not in Rev 1. Also notice that these two churches are very different. Philadelphia is faithful with no rebukes, while Laodicea is lukewarm with no commendations. Certain Bible students feel that these letters are messages for the Modern Day Church [A.D. 1648 present]. It will be one part faithful and one part lukewarm, and will co-exist up to the Lords return. It is interesting to observe references to the Tribulation [Rev 3:10], Millennium [Rev 3:12, 21], and New Jerusalem [Rev 3:12]. All three come after the conclusion of the Modern Church, which ends at the Rapture [ref. 1 Thes 4:16-18; 1 Cor 15:50-55]. These new revelations are new because they unfold in the midst of todays Modern Church. Some feel that it is the reason why these new visions are not in the full revelation to John in Rev 1. This morning we will look at the letter to the Philadelphia Church, the Faithful Church. If the interpretation of it being one side of our Modern Day Church is correct, then it is the side that we want to be on. May we be faithful, and never lukewarm.

    Revelation 3:7-13 | The Faithful Church

  7. Jul 14

    Genesis 13-15 | The Land and the Covenant

    Genesis 13-15: The Land and the Covenant

    Genesis 13-15 | The Land and the Covenant

  8. Jul 13

    Matthew 5:1-16 | The Miracles and the Message

    Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them, [Matthew 4:12] Notice that there are now crowds around Jesus. No doubt because of the miracles, i.e., He healed every disease and sickness. His fame went throughout all Syria; and they brought to Him all sick people who were afflicted with various diseases and torments, and those who were demon-possessed, epileptics, and paralytics; and He healed them. [Matt 4:25] Great multitudes followed Him. [Matt 4:26] Notice that Jesus preaching and teaching of the Kingdom come alongside His ministry of miracles. And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people. [Matt 4:23, emphasis added] This is the blueprint of ministry: Preaching, teaching, and ministering to practical needs. Preaching is the heralding of the Gospel [the good news] of Jesus Christ. Jesus has come to remove our sins so that we might receive eternal life. There is one way to heaven. Jesus Himself preached: I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. [Jn 14:6] Teaching is the training up in godliness. Once you have received Jesus Christ into your heart [i.e., you have been born again of the Spirit of God], you now must be trained up in godly living. This is where the teaching ministry begins. Chapter 5 begins Jesus first teaching on the Kingdom. There are five discourses on the Kingdom in Matthew: The Sermon on the Mount [chps. 5-7]; Commissioning the Disciples [chp. 10]; Parables of the Kingdom [chp. 13]; Life in the Kingdom [chp. 18]; and The Olivet Discourse [chps. 24-25]. All five pertain to the Kingdom of Heaven, a spiritual rule in Jesus First Coming, a physical rule in His Second. Both Advents are explained in these discourses, but in between is the record of miracles. Miracle and Message was the pattern of our Saviors work on this earth and is displayed in the whole of Matthews Gospel as well as the others. This morning we begin with His first discourse: The Sermon on the Mount.

    Matthew 5:1-16 | The Miracles and the Message
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Study the whole Bible chapter-by-chapter, verse-by-verse with Pastor David Higa at Calvary Chapel Echo Park in Los Angeles ccEchoPark.com

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