Studying Scripture with Pastor David Higa at ccEchoPark

Pastor David Higa

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. 6h ago

    Revelation 4:1 | After these things...

    After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven. And the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying, Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this. [Rev 4:1] After these things [meta tauta, in the Greek]: This begins the next phase on the Revelation Roadmap of Rev 1:19: Write the things which you have seen [chapter 1], and the things which are [chapters 2-3], and the things which will take place after this [chapters 4-22]. Beginning here, the revelation has to do with the consummation of this age. [Walvoord] This is our current fallen age that began with the first sin in the Garden [ref. Gen 3] and will end when Jesus comes again [ref. Rev 19]. Sin entered the world through Adam; sin was dealt with through the Cross; sin will be purged from this earth at Jesus Return. Revelation 4:1 inaugurates this latter dispensation when sin begins to be purged from this earth. It starts with the Rapture, the removing of the Righteous from this earth. The Church will be removed, not because they do everything right, but because they are declared righteous [justified] through faith in Jesus Christ. The two prominent scriptures describing the Rapture are 1 Cor 15:50-55 and 1 Thes 4:16-17. Also in 1 2 Thessalonians, Pauls eschatological letters, we gain insight into the when and why of the Rapture. Revelation alludes to the Rapture; it does not specifically spell it out like these other passages. Revelation infers the Rapture by omitting the Church from its vast future prophetic from Rev 4 onward. The word Church, so prominent in chapters 2 and 3, does not occur again until 22:16. [Walvoord] This omission is telling, because the Church is in heaven from the start of Rev 4. Only then will Gods wrath be exercised to rid the earth of sin [Rev 6-19] and prepare the way for Christs return [Rev 19]. Revelation 4 begins the final chapter. We should know the end of the story! It will change the way we live in the here and now. Who reads a book without reading the final chapter? The narrative in Rev 4 goes from the things which are [present], to the things which will take place after this [future]. HOWEVER, as we move into this final chapter we should remember the personal revelation, commendations, exhortations, corrections, and promises that Jesus has given to His Church in Rev 2-3. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

    Revelation 4:1 | After these things...

  2. 1d ago

    Genesis 19-20 | Lot and Sodom

    Genesis 19-20: Lot and Sodom

    Genesis 19-20 | Lot and Sodom

  3. 2d ago

    Matthew 5:31-32 | God's Best in Marriage

    Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. [Genesis 2:24] We must go all the back to Genesis 2, before sin entered the world, for Gods best in marriage. Gods original design for marriage was pure and holy, and to be a blessing. The Fathers heart is to bless His children, and so He created the beautiful union of marriage. It is not good that man should be alone, and so He made him a helper comparable to him. Everything in Gods creation was good and everything He had made was exceedingly good. [Gen 1:31]. The only thing that was not good was that Man was alone, without a wife. The converse is also true; it is not good that woman should be alone. The desire for a wife and the desire for a husband is God given and fashioned all the way back in Creation. God created the desire for companionship. It is a God given desire for marriage. Amid the Sermon on the Mount, right in the middle of the You have heard it saidbut I say unto you declarations, Jesus spoke directly on marriage and divorce. There is the letter of the Law, and then there is its intent. Furthermore, it has been said, Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce. But I say to you that whoever divorces his wife for any reason except sexual immorality causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a woman who is divorced commits adultery. Notice that the letter of the Law allows for divorce; but the intent does not. Context is always important, especially when interpreting two brief verses on an important topic like marriage. Jesus had more to say on marriage in Matt 19. However, in this Sermon, He briefly mentions it within the flow of the You have heard it saidbut I say unto you declarations. The greater emphasis is the whole of the context, which is the prominence of Gods intent of His Law. In this Jesus discerned between the letter of the Law and the Spirit of the Law in marriage and divorce. Gods intent [His best] is marriage for life. Divorce should not be an option because of a mere change of mind or a change of heart. Because even a good heart can be deceived [ref. Jer 17:9], especially when emotions are involved. In the whole of this Sermon, Jesus discerns between the Letter of the Law and the Spirit of the Law [Gods best] in Marriage. In the topic of marriage and divorce, we must be sure to focus on seeking Gods best in every situation.

    Matthew 5:31-32 | God's Best in Marriage

  4. 6d ago

    Joshua 20-22 | Levite Inheritance

    Joshua 20-22: Levite Inheritance

    Joshua 20-22 | Levite Inheritance

  5. Jul 22

    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

  6. Jul 21

    Genesis 16-18 | The Son of Promise

    Genesis 16-18: The Son of Promise

    Genesis 16-18 | The Son of Promise

  7. Jul 20

    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

  8. 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
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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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