Calvary Melbourne

Calvary Melbourne, Australia is also on Brighteon.com. https://www.brighteon.com/channels/inhisservice Pastor Andrew Russell preaches on Luke 15:1-32. Jesus told three parables as an answer to the Pharisees. They did not approve of him because he ate meals with ‘tax-collectors and sinners’. The Pharisees believed that it was wrong to meet with people like tax-collectors and ‘sinners’. ‘Sinners’ refers to bad people. Many people did not keep all the Pharisees religious rules. The Pharisees called these people ‘sinners’ too. A person might eat a meal with them. This would show that the person approved of their behaviour. The Pharisees did not understand God’s love. Please visit our website: http://www.calvarymelbourne.com.au

Calvary Melbourne, Australia is also on Brighteon.com. https://www.brighteon.com/channels/inhisservice Pastor Andrew Russell preaches on 2. Samuel 14:1-33. Absalom was now the oldest prince. He deserved to become the king when David died. But this would have caused political trouble if Absalom continued to live in a foreign country. Joab was the leader of the army. So, he knew that this situation was dangerous. If David did nothing, the nation could suffer. David should either punish Absalom or forgive him. Joab wanted David to think about the situation in a new way. This time Joab invented a story. This was how Nathan spoke to David about Bathsheba in chapter 12. God told Nathan to speak to David. But Joab’s story was not from God. It was Joab’s own plan. And Joab’s plan did not save the nation from trouble. In fact, Absalom’s return caused great trouble for Israel. Please visit our website: http://www.calvarymelbourne.com.au

Calvary Melbourne, Australia is also on Brighteon.com. https://www.brighteon.com/channels/inhisservice Pastor Andrew Russell preaches on Luke 14:1-35. Probably the Pharisees had put the man there on purpose. They wanted to see what Jesus would do. They did not doubt that Jesus could heal him. The experts in the law of Moses and Pharisees could not reply. They knew that the law allowed them to do good acts on the Sabbath. God linked their law about the Sabbath to the rescue of the Israelites from being slaves (Deuteronomy 5:12-15). They had been slaves in Egypt and God brought them out of Egypt. The Pharisees had limited this law. They said that a person could heal only if someone’s life were in danger. If the Pharisees said ‘Yes’ to Jesus’ question, they would break their own rule. If they said ‘No’, they would appear to be cruel. Please visit our website: http://www.calvarymelbourne.com.au

Calvary Melbourne, Australia is also on Brighteon.com. https://www.brighteon.com/channels/inhisservice Pastor Andrew Russell preaches on 2. Samuel 13:1-39. Amnon thought that Tamar was very beautiful. He really wanted just to have sex with her. So, in verse 1, ‘loved’ does not mean true, good love. Amnon had seen Tamar, but he could not meet her. He could not tell her that he wanted her. He could not touch her. The king protected his daughters so that they remained pure. Amnon was selfish. Perhaps he had always received everything that he wanted in the past. But this time he could not have what he wanted. His strong feelings made him feel ill. He looked miserable. Please visit our website: http://www.calvarymelbourne.com.au

Calvary Melbourne, Australia is also on Brighteon.com. https://www.brighteon.com/channels/inhisservice Pastor Andrew Russell preaches on Luke 13:18-35. The Jewish teachers often discussed who would escape God’s punishment. Many considered that most of the Jews would escape. God would punish Gentiles. Jesus did not answer their question. He did not say how many God would save. Instead, he concentrated on why so few people would enter the kingdom. He told them to struggle with determination to enter the ‘door’ of salvation. Jesus was not suggesting that people can earn salvation by their own efforts. He was emphasizing that salvation is an urgent matter. People cannot postpone a decision to follow Jesus. Their opportunity to enter God’s kingdom does not last for ever. Please visit our website: http://www.calvarymelbourne.com.au

Calvary Melbourne, Australia is also on Brighteon.com. https://www.brighteon.com/channels/inhisservice Pastor Andrew Russell preaches on 2. Samuel 12:1-31. The man in Nathan’s story was unfair, selfish and unkind. He also used his power in the wrong way. The rich man did not care about the poor man. The rich man’s behaviour made David very angry. He decided to punish the rich man severely. In God’s law, a man had to hand over 4 sheep for every sheep that he stole (Exodus 22:1). The rich man had no pity. David thought that this sin was very great. So, David said that the rich man deserved to die. David did not know that he was really the guilty man. It is easy to make such decisions about someone else. However, often people do not see their own sin or they hide it. David did not realise that his own behaviour was even worse than the behaviour of the man in the story. Please visit our website: http://www.calvarymelbourne.com.au

Calvary Melbourne, Australia is also on Brighteon.com. https://www.brighteon.com/channels/inhisservice Pastor Andrew Russell preaches on Luke 13:1-17. The Jews often thought that people suffered because they had sinned (John 9:2). Jesus had just spoken about judgement. The people may also have thought of what Jesus had said. Therefore, they were wondering if these Galileans were especially wicked. Some people from Galilee were offering their sacrifice in the Temple. Pilate did not want anyone to cause trouble against the Romans. He ordered his soldiers to stop such people. The soldiers killed the Galileans. Their own blood mixed with the blood of their animal offerings. Please visit our website: http://www.calvarymelbourne.com.au

Calvary Melbourne, Australia is also on Brighteon.com. https://www.brighteon.com/channels/inhisservice Pastor Andrew Russell preaches on 2. Samuel 11:1-27. Israel is a hot country after the winter. People used to get up early in the morning to do their work. They stopped in the afternoon when it became too hot. Then they went to bed. They slept until it was cooler. David’s palace had a flat roof. In the evening, it was cooler on the roof than inside the palace. There were many houses in Jerusalem. Some of them had a private garden. There would be a wall round the garden. Bathsheba probably had a bath in her private garden. People would not be able to see her. But David saw her because he was up high on his roof. He saw that she was beautiful. He had a strong desire for her. Please visit our website: http://www.calvarymelbourne.com.au

Calvary Melbourne, Australia is also on Brighteon.com. https://www.brighteon.com/channels/inhisservice Pastor Andrew Russell preaches on Luke 12:22-59. Jesus had just spoken of the danger of riches. Then he spoke to his disciples, who had few possessions. They must not worry about what their body needed, like food and clothes. There are more important things in life than these things. Jesus was not telling them to forget their responsibilities and not to think about the future. He was warning them not to worry. Please visit our website: http://www.calvarymelbourne.com.au

Pastor Andrew Russell talks about our spiritual warfare before the second coming of Jesus Christ.

Calvary Melbourne, Australia is also on Brighteon.com. https://www.brighteon.com/channels/inhisservice Pastor Andrew Russell preaches on Luke 12:1-21. Hypocrisy is foolish. On the day of judgement God will show the hidden wicked thoughts of people like the Pharisees. There are two ways to say that the truth cannot remain hidden. People will hear in the daytime whatever anyone has said at night. People may whisper a secret in a private room in a house. But other people will shout it from the roofs. Please visit our website: http://www.calvarymelbourne.com.au

Calvary Melbourne, Australia is also on Brighteon.com. https://www.brighteon.com/channels/inhisservice Pastor Andrew Russell preaches on 2. Samuel 10:1-19. A new king often rules a country in a different way. So David wanted to show that he still had a peace agreement with the Ammonites. The capital city of Ammon was probably Rabbah (11:1). It was about 80 kilometres (50 miles) from Jerusalem. The Ammonite leaders knew that Israel was a powerful country. They were afraid of David. They did not trust him. If a king defeated the capital city of a country, he could rule the whole country. Hanun insulted David’s servants and he made them look foolish. By this act, Hanun insulted King David too. David cared about his servants. Please visit our website: http://www.calvarymelbourne.com.au

Calvary Melbourne, Australia is also on Brighteon.com. https://www.brighteon.com/channels/inhisservice Pastor Andrew Russell preaches on Luke 11:37-54. The Pharisee was surprised because Jesus did not wash his hands. This was not to remove dirt. It was a ceremony. It showed that a person was pure after he had been in the world outside. They had to pour the right amount of water over their hands and arms in a special way. Jesus might have touched a Gentile or one of his possessions. This would have made Jesus ‘unclean’. Jesus said that it was foolish to wash the outside of cups and dishes and leave the inside dirty. The Pharisees were as foolish. They worried about their outside washing ceremonies, but inside they were greedy and wicked. God wanted their souls to be clean as well as their pots. Please visit our website: http://www.calvarymelbourne.com.au

Calvary Melbourne, Australia is also on Brighteon.com. https://www.brighteon.com/channels/inhisservice Pastor Andrew Russell preaches on Luke 11:14-36. Jesus proved that they were speaking nonsense. It was stupid to think that Satan would destroy his own kingdom. He asked about other people who forced out demons. If Jesus was using Satan’s power, were they working with Satan as well? ‘The finger of God’ means God’s power. This phrase is in Exodus 8:19. Jesus was showing God’s power as he made people well in their body and their mind. That meant that God’s kingdom had arrived in Jesus. Jesus speaks of Satan as a strong man. He controlled people, until Jesus came to overcome him. Jesus had begun to defeat Satan, as he forced out Satan’s demons. People cannot refuse to take sides in the war against evil. Anyone who is not on Jesus’ side is against him. Such a person is like a bad shepherd. He scatters sheep instead of bringing them together. Please visit our website: http://www.calvarymelbourne.com.au

Calvary Melbourne will be host the Revealing Revelation conference on September 16th & 17th, 2023 at the Belgrave Heights Conference Center. Both Amir Tsarfati and Barry Stagner will be here teaching thru the book of Revelation. Go to our website at calvarymelbourne.com.au and click on the Conference image, which will take to you to the registration page.

Calvary Melbourne, Australia is also on Brighteon.com. https://www.brighteon.com/channels/inhisservice Pastor Andrew Russell preaches on 2. Samuel 7:1-29. The Lord reminded David about all that he had done for David. He was the king of Israel only because the Lord had chosen him. David was the Lord’s servant. But the Lord promised that someone from David’s family would always be king. David’s family continued to rule two Israelite tribes for more than 400 years. The Lord’s promise in verse 16 referred to more than just human kings. It referred to Jesus Christ. He came from the family of King David (Luke 3:31). People called Jesus the ‘son of David’ (Matthew 21:9). And 1 Timothy 6:14-15 says that Jesus is ‘the king of all kings’. This shows that the Lord kept his promise to David. Please visit our website: http://www.calvarymelbourne.com.au

Calvary Melbourne, Australia is also on Brighteon.com. https://www.brighteon.com/channels/inhisservice Pastor Andrew Russell preaches on Luke 11:1-13. Jesus wanted the disciples to talk to God as ‘Father’. Christians are members of God’s family. The word ‘Father’ reminds them that they have a relationship with him. They love and trust him. ‘May we respect your name and keep it holy’. We should not use the name ‘God’ in a negative way. ‘May your kingdom come’. This prayer asks that more and more people will accept Jesus as their king. When God’s kingdom is complete, Satan’s power will end. People depend on God for food. Jesus wants his disciples to pray for their food each day. Sin separates every person from God, who is holy. Therefore, we need God to forgive us. A person should forgive other people. If they do not, then God will not forgive them. Satan tries to lead people to do wrong things. God does not try to make anyone do anything wrong. God’s disciples ask him to help them to avoid difficult situations. Please visit our website: http://www.calvarymelbourne.com.au

Calvary Melbourne, Australia is also on Brighteon.com. https://www.brighteon.com/channels/inhisservice Sorry, the sound quality is not the best. We are working on it. Pastor Andrew Russell preaches on Luke 10:25-42. To test Jesus’ may mean that he wanted to discuss what the Law meant. However, the words can mean ‘to trap’ Jesus. That suggests that he was not sincere when he asked for Jesus’ opinion. Perhaps he wanted to make Jesus look foolish. The teacher had used words in Deuteronomy 6:5 and Leviticus 19:18 when he answered. People should put God first in their life. They should love him with the whole of their life. The Jews believed that the word ‘neighbour’ referred only people who were Jews. Please visit our website: http://www.calvarymelbourne.com.au

Calvary Melbourne, Australia is also on Brighteon.com. https://www.brighteon.com/channels/inhisservice Pastor Andrew Russell preaches on 2. Samuel chapter 4-5. Everything changed in Israel when Abner died. He had been very powerful. He had been able to control the country. But Ish-Bosheth was too weak to rule the country alone. At times like that, often other leaders fight to become the ruler. That could have caused a war that would have destroyed the whole country. Abner’s plan to unite Israel and Judah would have failed. Everyone in Israel was worried about the future. But, two of Ish-Bosheth’s captains changed the situation. Please visit our website: http://www.calvarymelbourne.com.au

Calvary Melbourne, Australia is also on Brighteon.com. https://www.brighteon.com/channels/inhisservice Pastor Andrew Russell preaches on Luke 10:1-24. Tyre and Sidon were two important commercial ports. God had judged them for their selfish pride and cruel acts (Ezekiel chapters 27-28). Jesus said that they would have changed their behaviour long ago, if they had seen his powerful works. The people of Capernaum were very proud. They said that their city ‘reached up to heaven’. Isaiah 14:13 uses the same words about the proud king of Babylon. Capernaum expected fame. Instead, it would go down to Hades, which was the world of dead people. Jesus had performed many miracles in Capernaum. But the people had disappointed him. They did not accept what he taught. Jesus’ words about their fate came true, because Capernaum is a ruined city. Please visit our website: http://www.calvarymelbourne.com.au

Calvary Melbourne, Australia is also on Brighteon.com. https://www.brighteon.com/channels/inhisservice Pastor Andrew Russell preaches on Luke 9:18-36. To ‘take up his cross’ meant that someone was going to his death. When the Romans were going to kill a man by crucifixion he had to carry the central bar of his cross. The people who were listening to Jesus would have often seen this. The people who want to follow Christ must put to death their own selfish desires. They must be loyal to him, whatever the cost. The Christian life is a life of continuous discipline. Please visit our website: http://www.calvarymelbourne.com.au

Calvary Melbourne, Australia is also on Brighteon.com. https://www.brighteon.com/channels/inhisservice Pastor Andrew Russell preaches on 2. Samuel chapter 2-3. Saul was dead. His son Jonathan was also dead. The Philistines had defeated the Israelites. So now the Israelites had no king. This was a dangerous time for the nation of Israel. The leaders of the tribes and towns had to choose a new king. The men from the tribe of Judah knew David and his army. David’s army had helped and protected Judah. David was a good soldier. The men from Judah trusted him. So they anointed David as their king. Samuel had anointed David as king of Israel many years before (1 Samuel 16:1-13). We do not know whether the people of Judah knew about this. But they chose the man that God had already chosen. David became king of just one tribe at this time. Please visit our website: http://www.calvarymelbourne.com.au

Calvary Melbourne, Australia is also on Brighteon.com. https://www.brighteon.com/channels/inhisservice Pastor Andrew Russell preaches on Luke 9:1-17. At that time, there was a popular idea about the period of the Messiah. The people thought that it would include a splendid dinner (Revelation 19:7). The Jews believed that the Messiah would feed them with special food from heaven. God fed the Israelites in the desert in this way (Exodus 16). John 6:15 says that the miracle of the bread and fish made the crowd believe that Jesus was the Messiah. So, they tried to make him king. Please visit our website: http://www.calvarymelbourne.com.au

Calvary Melbourne, Australia is also on Brighteon.com. https://www.brighteon.com/channels/inhisservice Pastor Andrew Russell preaches on 2. Samuel 1:1-27. In their camp in Ziklag, David and the men with him waited anxiously for news. The country where they now lived, Philistia, was fighting a desperate battle against Israel, their own nation. Clearly, one of these armies had suffered a terrible defeat. However, no news came for two days. On the third day, a man reached Ziklag. He was probably in a very weak and tired state. He had come, as quickly as he could, from the place of the battle. He had torn his clothes to express how sad he felt. The man had come to Ziklag on purpose, to see David. He (the man) knew that Saul, the king of Israel, was dead. He also knew that David would be Israel’s next king. He had been careful to obtain clear evidence of Saul’s death. He expected that David would pay him a great reward for that evidence (compare 2 Samuel 4:10). So, he came to David because he wanted to be rich. Please visit our website: http://www.calvarymelbourne.com.au

Pastor Andrew gives an update on what is happening in the Middle East the last couple of days in the attacks against Israel.