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

    Judges 10-12 | Jephthah

    Judges 10-12: Jephthah

    Judges 10-12 | Jephthah

  2. 2d ago

    Revelation 7:9-17 | The Saints of the Tribulation

    After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, [Rev 7:9] After these things connects us to the first group in Rev 7; one hundred and forty-four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel [Rev 7:4]. As a whole, Chap 7 is the first of several parentheticals in Revelation. These are inserted within the chronology of the seals, trumpets, and bowls of judgments leading to the return of Christ. They describe personalities that come on the scene during the Tribulation. The first half of Rev 7 describes 144,000 Sealed of Israel that survive the Tribulation and live into the Millennium. This remnant will be the generation that fulfills the Abrahamic covenant to fully possess the Land. A second After these things, [v.7:9] highlights another group: The martyred saints of the Tribulation. This group was introduced in the 5th Seal [Rev 6:9-11]. But after the devastating 6th Seal judgment these martyrs are no longer seen under the altar praying for divine vengeance (cf. 6:9-11) [MacArthur]. Rather, they are standing triumphantly in white robes [with palm branches] before the throne of God. There has been a change in posture from the 5th Seal. Walvoord suggests an interesting relationship between the two groups in this first parenthetical: The juxtaposition of the 144,000 in the first half of this chapter immediately preceding the description of the multitude of martyred dead from among the Gentiles would seem to imply that there is a casual relationship between these two groups. The 144,000 on earth are preserved in safety through the tribulation, as a testimony to the power and grace of God, and as a channel through which the gospel could come to the earth. The scene here suggests that their ministry had its fruit among the Gentiles, even as was true in the apostolic age, with the result that great multitudes of the Gentiles be saved. The use of the 144,000 of Israel as a channel of witness to the earth is in keeping with the general purpose of God in relation to the Jewish nation. During the Tribulation this Remnant of Israel will prove to be the greatest Christian evangelists ever! Even through the devastation of Judgment in the latter days, God will make a way for salvation and will use Israel as His vessel to complete His work of redemption.

    Revelation 7:9-17 | The Saints of the Tribulation

  3. 3d ago

    Genesis 31-32 | Jacob and Laban

    Genesis 31-32: Jacob and Laban

    Genesis 31-32 | Jacob and Laban

  4. 4d ago

    Matthew 7:1-23 | Right Discernment

    Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. - Matthew 7:1-2 Right judgment flows from right discernment, and that makes discernment an important asset in this life of faith. Right discernment is a gift from the Holy Spirit. Jesus said, It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment. [John 16:6-8] But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. [1 Cor 2:14] Paul wrote this to a fellowship surrounded by Greek philosophy. They had to unlearn the things of this world [mans wisdom]; and learn the things of the Spirit [Gods wisdom]. A good study of the Corinthian church reveals just how much of a struggle that was. And yet it is the same for our American church. American culture [and Western culture in general] has its origins in Greek philosophy. When you read Pauls letters to Corinth you can easily substitute the address with America. Our problems are the same! We also have difficulty with right discernment because we rely too heavily on the wisdom of man. Jesus addressed this problem in the last section of the Sermon on the Mount. In Matt 7:1-6 He taught on judging others. Many see this as an instruction not to judge, but this cannot be further from the truth! A careful reading of the passage reveals that we are directed to judge, not unto condemnation, but unto correction. We are called to correct other believers in love and from a pure heart. First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brothers eye. [v.5]. Chapter 7 goes on to include other aspects of discernment, which include seeking the Lord [v.7-12]; discerning the right way [vv.13-14]; discerning right fruit [vv.7:15-20]; and then finally Gods righteous discernment [Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter the kingdom of heaven v.21-23]. Chapter 7 reveals the important gift of discernment for Kingdom life. So often our problems and challenges in this life come from discerning wrongly. That is why it is imperative that we are led by the Spirit of God and not by the wisdom of man.

    Matthew 7:1-23 | Right Discernment

  5. Sep 3

    Judges 9 | Abimilech

    Judges 9: Abimilech

    Judges 9 | Abimilech

  6. Sep 2

    Revelation 7:1-8 | The Sealed of Israel

    And I heard the number of those who were sealed. One hundred and fortyfour thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel were sealed [Rev 7:4] The Lord is not finished with Israel. Revelation 7:1-8, along with several other Scriptures [Rev 14:1-5 and Rom 11 for starters] clearly describe Israel coming to know Jesus as Messiah. This will take place during the seven year Tribulation. Antichrist will try to destroy Israel but will fail; God will seal One hundred and forty-four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel. At the abomination that causes desolation [spoken of by Daniel] that will happen 3.5 years into the Tribulation, Antichrist will come into the Temple and demand to be worshipped as God. He will turn on Israel and try to destroy them, but God will seal One hundred and forty-four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel. This remnant will thrive in the Tribulation and live on into the Millennium. They will then populate the Land to the fullness of her boundaries as promised in the Abrahamic Covenant [ref. Genesis 15:18]. There will also be a harvest of Gentile believers in the Tribulation. Though many will perish [ref. Rev 6:9-11; Rev 7:9-17], many will survive and live on into the Millennium. These, along with the sealed of Israel, will repopulate the earth. Remember, the Church is in heaven during the Tribulation and will return with Christ to this earth to rule and reign during the Millennium. The Tribulation chronology is ordered by seven seals of judgment. The sixth seal is described in Chap 6, causing cosmic devastation. Taken literally, the entire universe is shaken! For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand? [Rev 6:17] Even the mighty men will hide themselves in caves. But this will be nothing compared to the seventh seal. We will pick up this chronology of judgments again in Chapter 8. However, in Chap 7 we are introduced to our first Revelation parenthetical. These parentheticals introduce us to personalities that come on the scene during the Tribulation. The two in Rev 7 are The Sealed of Israel and The Tribulation Saints. This morning we will cover the Sealed of Israel.

    Revelation 7:1-8 | The Sealed of Israel

  7. Sep 1

    Genesis 29-30 | Jacob and Rachel

    Genesis 29-30: Jacob and Rachel

    Genesis 29-30 | Jacob and Rachel

  8. Aug 31

    Matthew 6:19-34 | Right Priorities

    Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. - Matthew 6:17-18 This was a passage that captivated my attention years ago as a non-believer because it had to do with money. Way back in the day, success to me meant making money, having a decent job, and owning a lot of things to be seen by men. It certainly is not a coincidence that this section follows the one on Right Religion [Matt 6:1-18]. Jesus, the all-time Master teacher, connects the two with a warning; because we as believers can get wrapped up in being seen by men. Remember in the prior section that Jesus used the word Hypocrites three times regarding wrong giving [Matt 6:1-4], wrong prayer [Matt 6:5-15], and wrong fasting [Matt 6:16-18]. Right religion [i.e., right worship] is not something we do to be seen by men. Real worship is in the secret place one-on-one with the Lord. What then flows are Right Priorities, which is our topic today. If we are drawing near to God, our priorities are on target. It does not come by forcing rules and regulations; right priorities are from a heart that rightly responds to the grace of God. It is through Grace that we are saved, sanctified, and transformed. When Grace flows in, Godly priorities flow out; in what we do and say, and specifically how we use money. Because how we use money reflects our heart. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. A good friend of mine once told me, If you want to know a persons heart, look at their check book. The things a person spends on are the things he loves. And if he hordes like Ebenezer Scrooge, he certainly loves himself the most. That is why giving in secret is such a good reflection of the heart, and it is something we can all do as a test of our own hearts. Open your check book and notice what you invest in and what you do not. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. It is a true statement. But seek ye first His Kingdom and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you. This is the end-summary of our passage this morning. Right priorities come with this right order. God will meet our needs when we seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness, He will not always meet our wants, but certainly our needs. This is a clear and concise promise from Gods word. Remember, however, that right priorities are from a changed heart that comes from right worship.

    Matthew 6:19-34 | Right Priorities
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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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