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Chuck Smith

Chuck Smith (1927 - 2013). American pastor and founder of the Calvary Chapel movement, born in Ventura, California. After graduating from LIFE Bible College, he was ordained by the Foursquare Church and pastored several small congregations. In 1965, he took over a struggling church in Costa Mesa, California, renaming it Calvary Chapel, which grew from 25 members to a network of over 1,700 churches worldwide. Known for his accessible, verse-by-verse Bible teaching, Smith embraced the Jesus Movement in the late 1960s, ministering to hippies and fostering contemporary Christian music and informal worship. He authored numerous books, hosted the radio program "The Word for Today," and influenced modern evangelicalism with his emphasis on grace and simplicity. Married to Kay since 1947, they had four children. Smith died of lung cancer, leaving a lasting legacy through Calvary Chapel’s global reach and emphasis on biblical teaching
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Sermon Summary
Chuck Smith addresses the apparent injustice in life where the wicked prosper while the righteous suffer, emphasizing that the lack of immediate judgment on evil leads to fatal misconceptions among the wicked. He warns that many believe God is unaware, uncaring, or will not judge their actions, which is a grave mistake. Smith reassures that those who fear God will ultimately be well, contrasting their fate with that of the wicked who live without the fear of God. He highlights the importance of recognizing God's omniscience and the consequences of sin, urging listeners to choose the path of righteousness.
Ecclesiastes 8:11
"IN THE FINAL END" Intro: Often life seems unfair, many good people suffer, many wicked people prosper. Often the forces of evil seem stronger than the forces of good. People seem to get by with evil. It's the final score that counts. I. BECAUSE SENTENCE AGAINST AN EVIL WORK IS NOT EXECUTED SPEEDILY, " THIS LEADS THE WICKED TO FATAL MISTAKES. A. They think that God doesn't know. "Is their knowledge in the most high?" 1. Man seeks to be so clever in hiding his guilt. a. He creates his cover alibis. b. He covers his tracks. c. He hides the evidence. d. He isn't caught, he assumes no one saw him - fatal mistake. 2. He that created the eye, can He not see? 3. David. B. He thinks that God doesn't care. 1. They mistake the long-suffering of God as approval. 2. They feel God is too remote to notice. 3. God to them is an impersonal force, not a caring Father. a. Jesus said, "He knows the number of the hairs on your head." b. Far from being remote or uncaring, He knows meaningless trivia. 4. Your every sin grieves the heart of your loving Father. C. They think that God won't judge. 1. They discard the warnings of God's Word of the judgment to come and create plausible rationales. a. How could a God of love destroy the world? 1. He could sent a flood. b. How could a God of love send a man to hell forever? 1. If you even mention hell from the pulpit your mail bag will be full of complaining letters of accusations of hell fire and brimstone. 2. Do you know what one of those hell fire brimstone preachers said? Mark 9:43. D. "Their hearts are fully set to do evil." 1. Men give themselves over to a life of sin. 2. It becomes a way of life for them. 3. No fear of God in their hearts. 4. Their conscience is seared with a hot iron. II. "I KNOW IT SHALL BE WELL WITH THEM THAT FEAR GOD." A. The future is filled with uncertainty. 1. Survival has become big business in the U.S. 2. People see a breakdown coming in our society. a. Total economic collapse. b. Devastating earthquake. B. I know it shall be well with them that fear God. 1. The fear of God is the wise choice. 2. What is it to fear the Lord? "The fear of the Lord is to depart from evil." C. I know it will not be well for the wicked.
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Chuck Smith (1927 - 2013). American pastor and founder of the Calvary Chapel movement, born in Ventura, California. After graduating from LIFE Bible College, he was ordained by the Foursquare Church and pastored several small congregations. In 1965, he took over a struggling church in Costa Mesa, California, renaming it Calvary Chapel, which grew from 25 members to a network of over 1,700 churches worldwide. Known for his accessible, verse-by-verse Bible teaching, Smith embraced the Jesus Movement in the late 1960s, ministering to hippies and fostering contemporary Christian music and informal worship. He authored numerous books, hosted the radio program "The Word for Today," and influenced modern evangelicalism with his emphasis on grace and simplicity. Married to Kay since 1947, they had four children. Smith died of lung cancer, leaving a lasting legacy through Calvary Chapel’s global reach and emphasis on biblical teaching