be about Jesus

New Blog Site

Pat Sieler — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 03:31:40 +0000

Head here to check out the look of my new blog. It’s still in beta…. got a few things to add…

Iranian Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani Sentenced to Death

Pat Sieler — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 16:08:08 +0000

This Sunday, as we are going through the seven letters that Jesus wrote to the church, I will be teaching about the church in Smyrna. This is a church that suffered greatly. They endured tremendous persecution. My heart has been stirred greatly this week for our brothers and sisters who at this very moment are being beaten, thrown into prison, or seperated from their families becuase of their faith in Jesus Christ.

As the Lord would have it, the persecuted church has been in the news recently. You may have heard of Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani. He is an Iranian pastor who was arrested back in October 2009. Just yesterday, it seems like an order was issued for his execution. Read the story here.

Here is a Christian brother, married with two small children, serving Jesus and pastoring people and very possibly will be executed because of it.

No doubt we must pray for him, his church, and his family. Let’s also pray that through his witness, there will be very strategic conversions in the government of Iran.

To learn more about what is happening among the persecuted church today, click here.

Be Amazed

Pat Sieler — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 10:28:57 +0000

I waited patiently for the LORD to help me,
and he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the pit of despair,
out of the mud and the mire.
He set my feet on solid ground
and steadied me as I walked along. He has given me a new song to sing,
a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see what he has done and be amazed.
They will put their trust in the LORD. (Psalm 40:1-3 NLT)

Jesus changes lives. You are never the same having believed in Him.
Trust Him!

Genesis and Revelation

Pat Sieler — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 02:53:45 +0000

A few years ago I taught a School of Discipleship class on the book of Revelation. Currently, at Calvary Oakville, we are going through the book of Revelation on Sunday. There are over 500 references to the Old Testament in the last book of the Bible. It’s pretty amazing.

Here is a chart* comparing Genesis with Revelation.

Genesis (beginnings)	Revelation (that which is to come)
Creation of heavens and earth	A new heaven and a new earth
Earthly paradise with the tree of life and the river of blessing, lost through sin	Paradise of God with the Tree of Life and the river of life proceeding out of the throne of God, regained through Christ’s atonement
First man and wife set over all creation	Second Man and His bride ruling over a redeemed world
First typical sacrificial lamb	The Lamb once slain is in the midst of the throne
Beginning of sin, entrance of deceiving serpent	End of sin, serpent cast into the lake of fire
Man’s city	City of God
Death, pain, sin, rebellion, and sorrow begin	All tears are wiped away!
Foundation of God’s written word	Capstone of God’s written word
Real events of earth’s primevel ages	Equally real events of ages to come.

* partially gleaned from Henry Morris’s commentary.

The Coming King Loves Us

Pat Sieler — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 13:36:24 +0000

In Revelation 1:5, it says that Jesus loves us. That is why he died for us.

He is also the coming king who will rule the earth in a kingdom that will never end. And He loves us. Almost unbelievable. You, Christian, have an amazing future – serving a Supreme King who loves you.

Maurice Roberts said, “There is no higher priority in the believer’s life than to delight himself in the love of Christ.”

Lord, make our love for You increase and overflow!

The End Revealed.

Pat Sieler — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 16:17:21 +0000

This Sunday at Calvary Oakville, we begin a study through the book of Revelation. This is something that I have been thinking about, praying about, and talking to friends about for awhile. One of those friends, who also serves on the board of our church, gave his life to Jesus largely because of the witness of Biblical prophecy.

It has been well said that prophecy is God’s signature on the Bible.

The book of Revelation is the only book in the Bible which promises a blessing to those who read it, hear it, and obey it.

It is one of the most exciting books in the Bible. It’s pre-history.

There’s nothing to fear – if you know Jesus.

My prayer for us who will be looking at this book is that it will propel us to a deeper walk with God and a greater excitement for the future. If you are a Christian, there are great things in store for you. If you are not, well, read Revelation.

I hope to see you at church. We will also be posting the audio of the messages on our website, hopefully a couple days after the service.

Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near. (Revelation 1:3)

How Many Souls Live in your Town?

Pat Sieler — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 14:44:36 +0000

Today I’m in Perth, Ontario. It’s a town of about 7000 souls. My friend, Dan, pastors a church here. Dan has a real heart for this community.

I’ll be getting together with him and a few other Calvary pastors from Ontario. We are gathering together to talk and pray, specifically about a family conference that is being planned for the Calvary Chapel family here later this year.

It’s going to be great.

While I love this area of the country, I am reminded how God calls each of us to different places. He shapes our heart to fit our calling, our city.

I love the GTA, and the city of Oakville where I live.

Wherever God calls you, I believe He will give you a heart for people – the people of the city where you live. It will be a heart like that of Jesus that we see in Matthew nine:

“When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. He said to his disciples, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.” (Matthew 9:36-38 NLT)

I am glad that Dan is here in Perth. I am glad for those 7000 souls. They have a place to go to hear the gospel.

Let’s pray for more Bible teaching churches to be planted throughout the province, the nation, and the world!

Jesus on Prayer

Pat Sieler — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 13:54:23 +0000

Last week I had the joy of teaching on the great subject of prayer as we wrapped up the book of Ephesians and our series on spiritual warfare, “The Warrior.”

This morning I read these words about Jesus:

“But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. Then He said to His disciples, ‘The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.’” (Matthew 9:36-38 NKJV)

The kingdom advances through prayer. I am more convinced then ever about the importance of prayer in the life of a believer and in the life of a church.

A friend of mine who pastors a church that has grown quite rapidly was asked how it happened. His answer? “Prayer, bro!”

What would happen in your life and mine if we devoted ourselves to prayer?

Let’s find out! Lord, teach us to pray!

Spiritual Warfare, Prayer, Pastor Chuck, and E.M. Bounds

Pat Sieler — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 02:59:53 +0000

This Sunday we finish “The Warrior,” our series on spiritual warfare. I will be speaking about prayer, which Ephesians 6:18-20 teaches us is essential in fighting our battles.

In his chapter on Prayer and Faith, E.M. Bounds in “The Necessity of Prayer” encourages us to persevere in prayer when times get tough. I read this tonight:

“There is bound to be much delay and long days of waiting for true faith, but faith accepts the conditions — knows there will be delays in answering prayer, and regards such delays as times of testing, in the which, it is privileged to show its mettle, and the stern stuff of which it is made.”

In a teaching that I heard Pastor Chuck give on prayer, he said something that I have never forgotten: “Prayer is the deciding factor in spiritual warfare.”

Lord, teach us to pray!

Update on Pastor Chuck

Pat Sieler — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 00:57:37 +0000

Many people are praying for Pastor Chuck Smith, founder of the Calvary Chapel movement, who announced on January 1 that he has lung cancer. Our congregation is praying for him. I am so thankful to all that the Lord has done and is doing through his ministry.

Here is the latest update found on Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa’s website:

Pastor Chuck met with the doctors and they have decided that he will begin Chemotherapy this week (Jan. 16th). This will be followed by radiation treatments, which will continue for a few weeks in the hope of eradicating or reducing the tumor. If necessary, Pastor Chuck will then undergo surgery to remove the tumor. We will post an update over the next few weeks if things change or there are any new updates. Please keep Pastor Chuck, Kay and his family in your prayers, as the Lord is able to do more than we could ever hope and imagine. You are invited to send your well wishes and prayers to pastorchuck@cccm.com.

You can also watch a great video of Pastor Chuck being interviewed by Greg Laurie here: