"The Enemy's Strategy"
2 Samuel 17:1-29
John 19:23-42
Psalm 119:132-155
Proverbs 16:12-13
What is the best way to render a Christian ineffective? Would it be to drop him in the middle of a huge crisis? Would it be to assault with accusation? Probably not... if that were the case, the sirens would sound, the prayer corps would be called to action, the attack would be instantly recognized. A more devious attack might be something a bit more subtle. Maybe get the warrior to cut corners on taking care of himself, and when he's worn out, put words of defeat into his mind.
Throughout scripture the enemy has tried many methods with varied success, but he loves to do to us what is spoken of in 2 Samuel 17. David is with his men and he's running away from his son Absalom. Absalom has an advisor named Ahithophel. Ahithophel develops a plan to attack David. He says in 2 Samuel 17:2, "I will come upon him while he is weary and discouraged..."
We have to realize that is the strategy of our enemy. He is looking for an opportunity to take us down, and the opportunity comes when we are weary and discouraged.
Why does this strategy work?
1. When we are tired & discouraged, we lose our motivation to mobilize our defenses. In the middle of fatigue, we are so apt to relax in our Discipline. There's something within us that says, "I owe it to myself..." then we slack off. We become more of a target.
2. Weariness & Discouragement tend to make us turn on ourself. When we are tired and discouraged, we are already feeling a sense of failure. We can feel that we've blown it, so what's the use. We can almost feel like the enemy's got a good point. We in essence hand the enemy weapons to use against us when we allow discouragement to set in.
3. There's a subtle timing to all of this. The enemy knows it will take subversive means to over throw us. If it were a frontal attack of full force, it would be easier to recognize & call us to battle. Instead, it's a sneaky way of waiting until we invite discouragement, doubt, and fear into the camp, only to be attacked from within.
So what can we do?
1. Stay balanced. Take care of the body. You need to "check your gauges". Be aware of your physical, emotional and spiritual needs, and take care of them. We must be consistently in a mode of "preventative maintenance". We need to do a DREAM Check-up. How am I doing in each area?
2. Recognize discouragement as an attack from the enemy. Sometimes we treat thoughts of discouragement more as a "comfort food" than as poison. Discouragement is a wet blanket to put out the fire of faith. If we get more aggressive and take a "get thee behind me satan" stance on discouragement, we will close the door to a key entry point for the enemy.
3. Zoom out and see the big picture. It's tough sometimes to see what's really going on when we're in the middle of the storm. Instead of letting the "little things" (however big they may be) effect our decision, we must stay the course of obedience. We need to recognize that frustrations are a necessary element in God's refining process and serve to complete his work in our lives.
Are there any warning signs for you today? What can you do to get things in order. Sometimes people think the answer is to pull out of everything. That's not the healthy choice. Taking a spoke out of the 3 spoke wheel (see DEVO 1.5.9) doesn't achieve balance. You must keep moving. Keep Christ at the center. Maintain healthy relationships. Keep in the Word. Be a good steward of all that God has given you. Live with your purpose in mind.
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
P Greg
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Saturday, May 30, 2009
5.30.9 "Five Smooth Stones"
"Five Smooth Stones"
2 Samuel 15:23-16:23
John 18:25-19:22
Psalm 119:113-131
Proverbs 16:10-11
God's word equips us. At different stages in our spiritual walk we can have different perspectives on reading the word. Sometimes there's a time when it seems very ritualistic, or going through the motions. Other times, it's almost an after thought. When we stay consistently in the Word, we find that we can't get enough of it. The morsels of God's truth bring life to us. Too often, if we're not careful, we can disconnect life from the practical truth in God's word.
In Psalm 119:125 David says, "give me the common sense to apply your rules to everything I do." God's word applies to EVERY situation you are going through. There is no exception. What we need to do is to get to know his word well enough to apply it.
The principles of DREAM are a means to bring application of God's truth to our daily life. In the same way that David went to the stream and gathered five smooth stones when facing Goliath, the principles outlined by the DREAM are five stones we can gather each day to face whatever giant comes our way. David's stones were worn smooth by water. These stones become smooth as we hold them in our hand, as we work with them, and as we get to know them.
With that thought process in mind, let's take the time to do a DREAM Checkup.
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship - How is my relationship with the Lord? Am I in a good place right now? Worship is my fellowship and communion with him. Is there anything that is "clogging" the communication lines? Is there sin that is breaking our relationship? The "D" represents the principle of obedience. Obedience is the highest form of worship. Is there any thing in my life that I know I'm being disobedient about?
Relationships Devoted to Unity - How are my relationships with others? Am I building others up instead of tearing them down? Am I living as a part of the Body of Christ, or am I off doing things on my own? The "R" represents the principle of Submission. Do I model biblical submission to those around me? Do I take the time to meet the needs of others?
Empowered Through Biblical Training - Is biblical training a regular part of my life? Do I consistently get into the word and let it strengthen me, or do I just "dabble" in it? Am I consistent to the corporate teaching of the word in church services, sunday school, bible studies, or do I just go through the motions of convenient church attendance? Will I continue to be faithful through the summer months? The "E" represents the principle of Discipline. Discipline means to bring to alignment. Am I placing myself in alignment with God's word? Am I disciplined to study it?
Active Ministry Involvement - Am I being a good steward of the resources God has given me? This is not just a question of being involved in a ministry, it's putting what God has given me into his hands to serve others. The "A" represents the principle of Responsibility. Am I being responsible with my time, talent, finances and resources in a way that brings honor to God?
Mission to Reach our World for Christ - Do I understand that every part of my life is for this purpose? Am I living a life that points to Christ, or do I turn the "switch off" when I don't feel like acting Christ-like? The "M" represents the principle of Purpose. Am I living with this purpose in mind? Am I using every opportunity to draw others to Christ?
How did you do? Do you have all five stones? Are you equipped to kill the giants with them? As I read the Word, I find how God will work through people in using the appropriate stone at the appropriate time to deal with the situation. In essence, he equips his people with the "common sense to apply [his] rules to everything".
In today's reading in John, for example, Jesus is armed with the stone of "purpose" when he is brought before Pilate. "Pilate replied, 'But you are a king then?' 'Yes,' Jesus said. 'I was born for that purpose. And I came to bring truth to the world. All who love the truth are my followers.'" (John 18:37) We need to follow his lead and be equipped by the truth found in God's word.
You're going to face giants today. Are you ready? When David met Goliath, he only needed one stone, but he had five. in the same way, we need to be fully prepared to know God's word, so at the proper time, we can place the proper stone in the sling of the Holy Spirit, and bring the giant down!
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
P Greg
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
2 Samuel 15:23-16:23
John 18:25-19:22
Psalm 119:113-131
Proverbs 16:10-11
God's word equips us. At different stages in our spiritual walk we can have different perspectives on reading the word. Sometimes there's a time when it seems very ritualistic, or going through the motions. Other times, it's almost an after thought. When we stay consistently in the Word, we find that we can't get enough of it. The morsels of God's truth bring life to us. Too often, if we're not careful, we can disconnect life from the practical truth in God's word.
In Psalm 119:125 David says, "give me the common sense to apply your rules to everything I do." God's word applies to EVERY situation you are going through. There is no exception. What we need to do is to get to know his word well enough to apply it.
The principles of DREAM are a means to bring application of God's truth to our daily life. In the same way that David went to the stream and gathered five smooth stones when facing Goliath, the principles outlined by the DREAM are five stones we can gather each day to face whatever giant comes our way. David's stones were worn smooth by water. These stones become smooth as we hold them in our hand, as we work with them, and as we get to know them.
With that thought process in mind, let's take the time to do a DREAM Checkup.
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship - How is my relationship with the Lord? Am I in a good place right now? Worship is my fellowship and communion with him. Is there anything that is "clogging" the communication lines? Is there sin that is breaking our relationship? The "D" represents the principle of obedience. Obedience is the highest form of worship. Is there any thing in my life that I know I'm being disobedient about?
Relationships Devoted to Unity - How are my relationships with others? Am I building others up instead of tearing them down? Am I living as a part of the Body of Christ, or am I off doing things on my own? The "R" represents the principle of Submission. Do I model biblical submission to those around me? Do I take the time to meet the needs of others?
Empowered Through Biblical Training - Is biblical training a regular part of my life? Do I consistently get into the word and let it strengthen me, or do I just "dabble" in it? Am I consistent to the corporate teaching of the word in church services, sunday school, bible studies, or do I just go through the motions of convenient church attendance? Will I continue to be faithful through the summer months? The "E" represents the principle of Discipline. Discipline means to bring to alignment. Am I placing myself in alignment with God's word? Am I disciplined to study it?
Active Ministry Involvement - Am I being a good steward of the resources God has given me? This is not just a question of being involved in a ministry, it's putting what God has given me into his hands to serve others. The "A" represents the principle of Responsibility. Am I being responsible with my time, talent, finances and resources in a way that brings honor to God?
Mission to Reach our World for Christ - Do I understand that every part of my life is for this purpose? Am I living a life that points to Christ, or do I turn the "switch off" when I don't feel like acting Christ-like? The "M" represents the principle of Purpose. Am I living with this purpose in mind? Am I using every opportunity to draw others to Christ?
How did you do? Do you have all five stones? Are you equipped to kill the giants with them? As I read the Word, I find how God will work through people in using the appropriate stone at the appropriate time to deal with the situation. In essence, he equips his people with the "common sense to apply [his] rules to everything".
In today's reading in John, for example, Jesus is armed with the stone of "purpose" when he is brought before Pilate. "Pilate replied, 'But you are a king then?' 'Yes,' Jesus said. 'I was born for that purpose. And I came to bring truth to the world. All who love the truth are my followers.'" (John 18:37) We need to follow his lead and be equipped by the truth found in God's word.
You're going to face giants today. Are you ready? When David met Goliath, he only needed one stone, but he had five. in the same way, we need to be fully prepared to know God's word, so at the proper time, we can place the proper stone in the sling of the Holy Spirit, and bring the giant down!
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
P Greg
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
Friday, May 29, 2009
5.29.9 "Sin Breaks Relationships"
"Sin Breaks Relationships"
2 Samuel 14:1-15:22
John 18:1-24
Psalm 119:96-112
Proverbs 16:8-9
I've been in a battle over the past couple years to keep a birds' nest away from under our deck. It was used by finches & robins, and again this year it's robins. When living under there, the robins really get uptight when we're out here. Usually they holler at us from a distance, sometimes with a worm in their mouth because it's feeding time, and they don't want me anywhere around. Once my daughter said, "Dad, why can't we all just get along? Why can't the birds just come and play with us instead of being afraid?" I told her "that's the way things used to be." We talked about the Garden of Eden and how sin messed everything up. I can't say specifically that Adam and the robins played together, and it is hard to imagine the dynamics of the human/animal relationship there, but I do know that sin breaks relationships.
In the chapters we read today in 2 Samuel, we discover the same truth. Sin breaks relationships. Remember what has already happened: Absolom killed his brother, Amnon who had raped his sister. As a result, Absolom fled, and was in exile for 3 years. The last verse in 2 Samuel 13 says, "David... longed day after day for fellowship with his son Absolom."
2 Samuel 14 is the story about how Joab, a general in David's army is so concerned about this broken relationship that he hires an actress to tell a story to get David's attention and to bring Absolom home. Well, David brings him home, but does not reconcile with him. There is a difference between restoring relationship and reconciling relationship.
Because there hasn't been reconciliation, Absalom actually stirs up a rebellion. 2 Sam 15:6 says, "So in this way Absalom stole the hearts of all the people of Israel." Once David hears about it, he takes his family and they flee.
In today's reading in John, Jesus is arrested in the garden. In John 18:4 it says, "Jesus fully realized all that was going to happen to him." What was going to happen to him? He was going to reconcile the broken relationship caused by sin.
There is a great cost with reconciliation. Most of the time it comes from the "offended" submitting to the need of the "offender". We offended God with our sin, so Jesus laid down his life for us. Sin not only breaks relationship with God, it breaks relationship with those around us. We need to lay down our pride, will and opinion, to reconcile those relationships as well.
Sin is a big deal! It comes at so great a cost! We don't realize the danger of just a "morsel" of sin. It causes damage to friends, families, even kingdoms. We need to obey the Word at all costs. Psalm 119:109 says, "My life hangs in the balance, but I will not give up obedience to your laws." We need to understand that urgency. Our very lives are at stake.
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
P Greg
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
2 Samuel 14:1-15:22
John 18:1-24
Psalm 119:96-112
Proverbs 16:8-9
I've been in a battle over the past couple years to keep a birds' nest away from under our deck. It was used by finches & robins, and again this year it's robins. When living under there, the robins really get uptight when we're out here. Usually they holler at us from a distance, sometimes with a worm in their mouth because it's feeding time, and they don't want me anywhere around. Once my daughter said, "Dad, why can't we all just get along? Why can't the birds just come and play with us instead of being afraid?" I told her "that's the way things used to be." We talked about the Garden of Eden and how sin messed everything up. I can't say specifically that Adam and the robins played together, and it is hard to imagine the dynamics of the human/animal relationship there, but I do know that sin breaks relationships.
In the chapters we read today in 2 Samuel, we discover the same truth. Sin breaks relationships. Remember what has already happened: Absolom killed his brother, Amnon who had raped his sister. As a result, Absolom fled, and was in exile for 3 years. The last verse in 2 Samuel 13 says, "David... longed day after day for fellowship with his son Absolom."
2 Samuel 14 is the story about how Joab, a general in David's army is so concerned about this broken relationship that he hires an actress to tell a story to get David's attention and to bring Absolom home. Well, David brings him home, but does not reconcile with him. There is a difference between restoring relationship and reconciling relationship.
Because there hasn't been reconciliation, Absalom actually stirs up a rebellion. 2 Sam 15:6 says, "So in this way Absalom stole the hearts of all the people of Israel." Once David hears about it, he takes his family and they flee.
In today's reading in John, Jesus is arrested in the garden. In John 18:4 it says, "Jesus fully realized all that was going to happen to him." What was going to happen to him? He was going to reconcile the broken relationship caused by sin.
There is a great cost with reconciliation. Most of the time it comes from the "offended" submitting to the need of the "offender". We offended God with our sin, so Jesus laid down his life for us. Sin not only breaks relationship with God, it breaks relationship with those around us. We need to lay down our pride, will and opinion, to reconcile those relationships as well.
Sin is a big deal! It comes at so great a cost! We don't realize the danger of just a "morsel" of sin. It causes damage to friends, families, even kingdoms. We need to obey the Word at all costs. Psalm 119:109 says, "My life hangs in the balance, but I will not give up obedience to your laws." We need to understand that urgency. Our very lives are at stake.
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
P Greg
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
Thursday, May 28, 2009
5.28.9 "The DNA of Undisciplined Thought"
"The DNA of Undisciplined Thought"
1 Samuel 13:1-39
John 17:1-26
Psalm 119:81-95
Proverbs 16:6-7
What does it mean to NOT live the DREAM? Well, the principle of the Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship is obedience, so that must mean it's to live in disobedience. The principle of Relationships Devoted to Unity is Submission, so that must mean to live in rebellion. When we get to Empowered Through Biblical Training we know the principle is Discipline. That means to NOT live the E is a lack of discipline. What we fail to realize sometimes is the effect it has on others when we don't live the way God intended.
As we looked at a couple days ago in Psalm 119, David spoke of his dedication for the Word, and how even at the midnight hour his thoughts would be on God's word. The contrast of that was 2 Samuel 11 where he rose to find his thoughts on Bathsheba. He dwelt on them to the point of allowing his flesh to believe, "I must have her". We know what ensued.
Follow this DNA strain that's passed on to Amnon, David's son. In 2 Samuel 13, He began to entertain thoughts of "I must have her" toward his sister. He allowed this to grow to the point of making him sick. An obsession. He allowed a friend (cousin) into his life who only served to feed the undisciplined thought. This thought grew to the point of action being taken, and rather than this desire being fulfilled, the result was "now he hated her more than he had loved her."
As a result of all that David's son, Absalom, had undisciplined thought that was the unbridled hatred for his brother. For 2 years it simmered, until he killed his brother.
The collateral damage of undisciplined thought should not be underestimated. Undisciplined thought can almost become an "alternate universe" where truth has no "gravitational pull". When there has been undisciplined thought for an extended period of time, it seems truth has no impact. There's almost a glazing of the eyes like the old "night of the living dead" zombies. Individuals who become slaves to their own lack of discipline begin to wander aimlessly muttering, "I must have...."
This thought process becomes so self serving, one begins to lose all concept of the needs of others. I had a friend tell me after being freed from the bondage of pornography about what happens in the mind. He said you begin to lose any concern for your family and their needs. Everything revolves around the need for the addiction.
To further the universe analogy, this undisciplined thought grows to the point of itself having the gravitational pull that only truth should have. We see how that brought such destruction to the house of David. I think this is ultimately why we have such moral relativism in our country today. "It's all about me" is the natural result of undisciplined thought.
So what kind of rocket booster does it take to break from the orbit of undisciplined thought? Psalm 119:95b says, "I will quietly keep my mind upon your promises." The only cure is disciplined thought.
Ps 119:92-93 says, "I would have despaired and perished unless you laws had been my deepest delight. I will never lay aside your laws for you have used them to restore my joy and health." The only hope is being "Empowered through Biblical training."
Knowing the danger of undisciplined thought should help us aggressively guard the "candy store" of our mind that we can easily allow ourself the luxury of window shopping. It's confections of lust, revenge, jealousy, greed, even comfort should come with a hidden warning label that declares "this product is highly addictive." Garrison Keiller has a saying, "if you don't wanna go to Minneapolis, don't get on the train." If you don't want the trouble that comes, don't even board the train. Don't start. Don't try it.
We MUST stay far away from the attractions of our thoughts lest we infuse ourselves with a DNA strain we were never intended to have.
The proverb for today is 16:6-7: Iniquity is atoned for by mercy and TRUTH; evil is avoided by reverence for God.
Make sure you are taking your supplemental TRUTH vitamin today through God's word!!! It is like a radioactive agent fighting the cancer of the flesh.
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
P Greg
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
1 Samuel 13:1-39
John 17:1-26
Psalm 119:81-95
Proverbs 16:6-7
What does it mean to NOT live the DREAM? Well, the principle of the Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship is obedience, so that must mean it's to live in disobedience. The principle of Relationships Devoted to Unity is Submission, so that must mean to live in rebellion. When we get to Empowered Through Biblical Training we know the principle is Discipline. That means to NOT live the E is a lack of discipline. What we fail to realize sometimes is the effect it has on others when we don't live the way God intended.
As we looked at a couple days ago in Psalm 119, David spoke of his dedication for the Word, and how even at the midnight hour his thoughts would be on God's word. The contrast of that was 2 Samuel 11 where he rose to find his thoughts on Bathsheba. He dwelt on them to the point of allowing his flesh to believe, "I must have her". We know what ensued.
Follow this DNA strain that's passed on to Amnon, David's son. In 2 Samuel 13, He began to entertain thoughts of "I must have her" toward his sister. He allowed this to grow to the point of making him sick. An obsession. He allowed a friend (cousin) into his life who only served to feed the undisciplined thought. This thought grew to the point of action being taken, and rather than this desire being fulfilled, the result was "now he hated her more than he had loved her."
As a result of all that David's son, Absalom, had undisciplined thought that was the unbridled hatred for his brother. For 2 years it simmered, until he killed his brother.
The collateral damage of undisciplined thought should not be underestimated. Undisciplined thought can almost become an "alternate universe" where truth has no "gravitational pull". When there has been undisciplined thought for an extended period of time, it seems truth has no impact. There's almost a glazing of the eyes like the old "night of the living dead" zombies. Individuals who become slaves to their own lack of discipline begin to wander aimlessly muttering, "I must have...."
This thought process becomes so self serving, one begins to lose all concept of the needs of others. I had a friend tell me after being freed from the bondage of pornography about what happens in the mind. He said you begin to lose any concern for your family and their needs. Everything revolves around the need for the addiction.
To further the universe analogy, this undisciplined thought grows to the point of itself having the gravitational pull that only truth should have. We see how that brought such destruction to the house of David. I think this is ultimately why we have such moral relativism in our country today. "It's all about me" is the natural result of undisciplined thought.
So what kind of rocket booster does it take to break from the orbit of undisciplined thought? Psalm 119:95b says, "I will quietly keep my mind upon your promises." The only cure is disciplined thought.
Ps 119:92-93 says, "I would have despaired and perished unless you laws had been my deepest delight. I will never lay aside your laws for you have used them to restore my joy and health." The only hope is being "Empowered through Biblical training."
Knowing the danger of undisciplined thought should help us aggressively guard the "candy store" of our mind that we can easily allow ourself the luxury of window shopping. It's confections of lust, revenge, jealousy, greed, even comfort should come with a hidden warning label that declares "this product is highly addictive." Garrison Keiller has a saying, "if you don't wanna go to Minneapolis, don't get on the train." If you don't want the trouble that comes, don't even board the train. Don't start. Don't try it.
We MUST stay far away from the attractions of our thoughts lest we infuse ourselves with a DNA strain we were never intended to have.
The proverb for today is 16:6-7: Iniquity is atoned for by mercy and TRUTH; evil is avoided by reverence for God.
Make sure you are taking your supplemental TRUTH vitamin today through God's word!!! It is like a radioactive agent fighting the cancer of the flesh.
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
P Greg
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
5.27.9 "Sin as God Sees It"
"Sin as God Sees It"
2 Samuel 12:1-31
John 16:1-33
Psalm 119:71-80
Proverbs 16:4-5
David, the King of Israel, the man after God's own heart, has sinned. He allowed his eyes to wander, he saw a wife of another man, had an affair, and to hide it all, he had the man killed. How could this be? How could this great man get so far off course?
2 Samuel 12 is when King David is called to account for his actions. It's fascinating how the Lord, through the prophet Nathan describes David's sin. Here's the story:
"There were two men in a certain town. One was rich, and one was poor. The rich man owned a great many sheep and cattle. The poor man owned nothing but one little lamb he had bought. He raised that little lamb, and it grew up with his children. It ate from the man's own plate and drank from his cup. He cuddled it in his arms like a baby daughter. One day a guest arrived at the home of the rich man. But instead of killing an animal from his own flock or herd, he took the poor man's lamb and killed it and prepared it for his guest." (2 Samuel 12:1-4)
This story of injustice angered David, as it would all of us. How could anyone think of doing such a thing??
Nathan's rebuke brings it home: "Then Nathan said to David, "you are that man! The Lord, the God of Israel says: I anointed you king of Israel and saved you from the power of Saul. I gave you your master's house and his wives and the kingdoms of Israel and Judah. And if that had not been enough, I would have given you much, much more. Why, then, have you despised the word of the Lord and done this horrible deed?" (2 Sam. 12:7-9)
In the context of this story is a perspective that is important for us to note. This story was an analogy of how God saw David's sin. The rich man represented David. The "guest" represents desire that shows up unannounced at times. Often this opens the door to the arrival of temptation. Temptation wants us to feel that we can't meet this need with what we have. It tells us we must cheat. If we give in, we go outside of God's plan and God's blessing to meet our desires in our own way, and thus, we despise the word of the Lord.
A very key phrase that should not be overlooked is: "And if that had not been enough, I would have given you much, much more." This expresses the all-sufficiency of God. He can, and will, supply EVERY need.
So often we are lured into sin because we allow ourself to entertain the thought of "If i do it God's way, I'll never get what I want." Then we dive into the short-cut and the cheat of the sin. The truth is that when we walk in obedience and trust him to meet the needs, and for him to place his desires in us, we experience the bounty of his blessing.
Sin, from God's perspective, is so foolish! He has everything we need at his disposal, and yet we shut ourselves off to him to pursue fleeting desires and things we feel we "deserve", and in doing that we lose out on so much!
The next time that the "guest" of desire appears at your door, trust God. Trust that He will meet your need, and that he will give you the strength to follow HIS plan!
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
P Greg
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
2 Samuel 12:1-31
John 16:1-33
Psalm 119:71-80
Proverbs 16:4-5
David, the King of Israel, the man after God's own heart, has sinned. He allowed his eyes to wander, he saw a wife of another man, had an affair, and to hide it all, he had the man killed. How could this be? How could this great man get so far off course?
2 Samuel 12 is when King David is called to account for his actions. It's fascinating how the Lord, through the prophet Nathan describes David's sin. Here's the story:
"There were two men in a certain town. One was rich, and one was poor. The rich man owned a great many sheep and cattle. The poor man owned nothing but one little lamb he had bought. He raised that little lamb, and it grew up with his children. It ate from the man's own plate and drank from his cup. He cuddled it in his arms like a baby daughter. One day a guest arrived at the home of the rich man. But instead of killing an animal from his own flock or herd, he took the poor man's lamb and killed it and prepared it for his guest." (2 Samuel 12:1-4)
This story of injustice angered David, as it would all of us. How could anyone think of doing such a thing??
Nathan's rebuke brings it home: "Then Nathan said to David, "you are that man! The Lord, the God of Israel says: I anointed you king of Israel and saved you from the power of Saul. I gave you your master's house and his wives and the kingdoms of Israel and Judah. And if that had not been enough, I would have given you much, much more. Why, then, have you despised the word of the Lord and done this horrible deed?" (2 Sam. 12:7-9)
In the context of this story is a perspective that is important for us to note. This story was an analogy of how God saw David's sin. The rich man represented David. The "guest" represents desire that shows up unannounced at times. Often this opens the door to the arrival of temptation. Temptation wants us to feel that we can't meet this need with what we have. It tells us we must cheat. If we give in, we go outside of God's plan and God's blessing to meet our desires in our own way, and thus, we despise the word of the Lord.
A very key phrase that should not be overlooked is: "And if that had not been enough, I would have given you much, much more." This expresses the all-sufficiency of God. He can, and will, supply EVERY need.
So often we are lured into sin because we allow ourself to entertain the thought of "If i do it God's way, I'll never get what I want." Then we dive into the short-cut and the cheat of the sin. The truth is that when we walk in obedience and trust him to meet the needs, and for him to place his desires in us, we experience the bounty of his blessing.
Sin, from God's perspective, is so foolish! He has everything we need at his disposal, and yet we shut ourselves off to him to pursue fleeting desires and things we feel we "deserve", and in doing that we lose out on so much!
The next time that the "guest" of desire appears at your door, trust God. Trust that He will meet your need, and that he will give you the strength to follow HIS plan!
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
P Greg
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
5.26.9 "Stay in the Vine"
"Stay in the Vine"
2 Samuel 9:1- 11:27
John 15:1-27
Psalm 119:53-70
Proverbs 16:1-3
In Psalm 119, we get to see into the heart of David. He has such a passion for the word! "I am angry with those who spurn your commands. For these laws or yours have been my source of joy & singing through all these years of my earthly pilgrimage." (119:53-54) "I am firmly anchored in your laws" (61) "I obey your laws with all my heart." (69) "Anyone is my brother who fears and trusts the Lord." (63)
Take special note of 119:55. David says "I obey them even at night and keep my thoughts, O Lord, on you. What a blessing this has been to me -- to constantly obey."
Now look at the reading from 2 Sam 11. This is David's "big fall". We've heard about the story of Bathsheba many times. This story is tragic on so many levels.
2 Sam 11:2 says "One night he couldn't get to sleep and went for a stroll on the roof of the palace... he noticed a woman..." Then things go awry. Do you remember what we just read in 119:55? "I obey them even at night and keep my thoughts..." Compare that with "One night... he noticed a woman."
What a contrast between this chapter and Psalm 119. What happened? How could this be?
We "know" this stuff. We're thinking "David! How could you do this! Remember all the things God has done in your life?? How could this be!" In our piety, we could even chastise David... but who of us has written Psalm 119? What puts us beyond this ability to fail? What can keep us from from the same situation?
John 15:4-5 says, "Take care to live in me, and let me live in you. For a branch can't produce fruit when severed from the vine. Nor can you be fruitful apart from me. Yes, I am the Vine; you are the branches. Whoever lives in me and I in him shall produce a large crop of fruit. For apart from me you can't do a thing."
FOR APART FROM ME YOU CAN'T DO A THING. What is it in our nature that makes it so easy for us to forget that?!
David is so connected to the Word as he's writing Psalm 119. He's desperate for it. Dependent on it. For all we know, he could have written it the week before his rooftop stroll. But in the "comfort" of his state, his discipline dies, and he operates separate from the vine of God's Word.
"...apart from me you can't do a thing." Were Jesus' words. We need to remember that! In John 15:2-3 He says, "He lops off every branch that doesn't produce. And he prunes those branches that bear fruit for even larger crops. He has already tended you by pruning you back for greater strength and usefulness by means of the commands I gave you."
Are you beginning to see the importance of staying in God's word? Who of us is beyond this?
We used to have a dogwood bush. We planted it on the side hill near our dining room window. We are not gardeners, and we let that thing go. MAN, DID IT GROW! It was crazy! We hacked it way down, and it grew a bit more respectably. If we don't "prune" the flesh with God's word, we are DESTINED for trouble.
David's branch was getting a little out of hand. He was not being pruned "by means of the command" of scripture. The discipline to keep his mind on the things of God was gone. There was no longer truth to hold him back.
Remember how David tried to cover up his sin by getting Uriah to come back from the battle? The only problem was Uriah's discipline: Knowing what his purpose was, he would not relax within the freedom he was given. He slept on the steps. It's not like David didn't have this discipline at other times of his life. Look at Ps 119:59,60 "I thought about the wrong direction in which I was headed, and turned around and came running back to you."
There is no excuse to falling into sin. We can't blame anyone else. I find it interesting that in Ps 119: 61 David says, "Evil men have tried to drag me into sin, but I am firmly anchored to your laws." Sure, no one could drag him to sin, but on that night on the roof, he so easily walked into it.
Lord, you are the vine, I am grafted to you not out of obligation, but of desperation. Hold me to your Word. Keep your hand on me to constrain me to do right. To guard my thoughts. Guard my intentions. Guard my times of peace. Help me to acknowledge my inability to accomplish anything unless you hold my hand. Sustain me through your word. I need you more at this moment than I even realize.
Today's proverb says, "We can make our plans, but the final outcome is in God's hands. We can always 'prove' that we are right, but is the Lord convinced? Commit your work to the Lord, then it will succeed." (Prov 16:1-3)
Stay in the Vine today! ... and tomorrow... and... There is no way we can truly comprehend how important this really is!
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
P Greg
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
2 Samuel 9:1- 11:27
John 15:1-27
Psalm 119:53-70
Proverbs 16:1-3
In Psalm 119, we get to see into the heart of David. He has such a passion for the word! "I am angry with those who spurn your commands. For these laws or yours have been my source of joy & singing through all these years of my earthly pilgrimage." (119:53-54) "I am firmly anchored in your laws" (61) "I obey your laws with all my heart." (69) "Anyone is my brother who fears and trusts the Lord." (63)
Take special note of 119:55. David says "I obey them even at night and keep my thoughts, O Lord, on you. What a blessing this has been to me -- to constantly obey."
Now look at the reading from 2 Sam 11. This is David's "big fall". We've heard about the story of Bathsheba many times. This story is tragic on so many levels.
2 Sam 11:2 says "One night he couldn't get to sleep and went for a stroll on the roof of the palace... he noticed a woman..." Then things go awry. Do you remember what we just read in 119:55? "I obey them even at night and keep my thoughts..." Compare that with "One night... he noticed a woman."
What a contrast between this chapter and Psalm 119. What happened? How could this be?
We "know" this stuff. We're thinking "David! How could you do this! Remember all the things God has done in your life?? How could this be!" In our piety, we could even chastise David... but who of us has written Psalm 119? What puts us beyond this ability to fail? What can keep us from from the same situation?
John 15:4-5 says, "Take care to live in me, and let me live in you. For a branch can't produce fruit when severed from the vine. Nor can you be fruitful apart from me. Yes, I am the Vine; you are the branches. Whoever lives in me and I in him shall produce a large crop of fruit. For apart from me you can't do a thing."
FOR APART FROM ME YOU CAN'T DO A THING. What is it in our nature that makes it so easy for us to forget that?!
David is so connected to the Word as he's writing Psalm 119. He's desperate for it. Dependent on it. For all we know, he could have written it the week before his rooftop stroll. But in the "comfort" of his state, his discipline dies, and he operates separate from the vine of God's Word.
"...apart from me you can't do a thing." Were Jesus' words. We need to remember that! In John 15:2-3 He says, "He lops off every branch that doesn't produce. And he prunes those branches that bear fruit for even larger crops. He has already tended you by pruning you back for greater strength and usefulness by means of the commands I gave you."
Are you beginning to see the importance of staying in God's word? Who of us is beyond this?
We used to have a dogwood bush. We planted it on the side hill near our dining room window. We are not gardeners, and we let that thing go. MAN, DID IT GROW! It was crazy! We hacked it way down, and it grew a bit more respectably. If we don't "prune" the flesh with God's word, we are DESTINED for trouble.
David's branch was getting a little out of hand. He was not being pruned "by means of the command" of scripture. The discipline to keep his mind on the things of God was gone. There was no longer truth to hold him back.
Remember how David tried to cover up his sin by getting Uriah to come back from the battle? The only problem was Uriah's discipline: Knowing what his purpose was, he would not relax within the freedom he was given. He slept on the steps. It's not like David didn't have this discipline at other times of his life. Look at Ps 119:59,60 "I thought about the wrong direction in which I was headed, and turned around and came running back to you."
There is no excuse to falling into sin. We can't blame anyone else. I find it interesting that in Ps 119: 61 David says, "Evil men have tried to drag me into sin, but I am firmly anchored to your laws." Sure, no one could drag him to sin, but on that night on the roof, he so easily walked into it.
Lord, you are the vine, I am grafted to you not out of obligation, but of desperation. Hold me to your Word. Keep your hand on me to constrain me to do right. To guard my thoughts. Guard my intentions. Guard my times of peace. Help me to acknowledge my inability to accomplish anything unless you hold my hand. Sustain me through your word. I need you more at this moment than I even realize.
Today's proverb says, "We can make our plans, but the final outcome is in God's hands. We can always 'prove' that we are right, but is the Lord convinced? Commit your work to the Lord, then it will succeed." (Prov 16:1-3)
Stay in the Vine today! ... and tomorrow... and... There is no way we can truly comprehend how important this really is!
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
P Greg
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
Monday, May 25, 2009
5.25.9 "What is God Telling You To Do?"
"What is God Telling You To Do?"
2 Samuel 7:1-8:18
John 14:15-31
Psalm 119:36-52
Proverbs 15:33
"If you love me, obey me... The one who obeys me is the one who loves me; and because he loves me, my Father will love him; and I will too, and I will reveal myself to him." (John 14:15,21)
There is a very clear message in today's readings: Obey.
"Anyone who doesn't obey me doesn't love me." (14:24)
So the question stands: Do I love God? "Sure, I'm saved..." A man once told his wife, "I told you I loved you when I married you, and if I change my mind I'll let you know." How loving is that? We don't love God by coming to church once a week and singing a song or two. That's not how we show our love. While that IS the fruit of loving God, we show we love God by obeying him on a daily basis. Then we can't help but show up at church and sing songs of victory.
Imagine a worship service filled with the voices of those who've had a week of walking in radical obedience. Because of these steps of obedience they've seen giants fall, waters part, and souls added to the kingdom.
So what is God telling you to do? You get interesting responses when you ask others that question. Often it's "I don't know". We too often find ourselves deaf to his voice. How do we find him? "I will only reveal myself to those who love me and obey me." (14:23) Psalm 119:34-35 says, "Give me understanding and I will obey your instructions; I will put them into practice with all my heart. Make me walk along the path of your commands, for that is where my happiness is found." Hearing his voice is a result of being in his word and keeping his commandments, and keeping pure.
What's the last thing you knew that God was telling you to do? Did you do it? When we disobey or even delay obedience, we callous our heart to his voice. Then we miss out on hearing what he would have us to do.
We must live the Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship. We must live in obedience.
"Help me to prefer obedience to making money! Turn me away from wanting any other plan than yours. Revive my heart toward you." Ps 119:38
Let's make that our prayer today!
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
P Greg
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
2 Samuel 7:1-8:18
John 14:15-31
Psalm 119:36-52
Proverbs 15:33
"If you love me, obey me... The one who obeys me is the one who loves me; and because he loves me, my Father will love him; and I will too, and I will reveal myself to him." (John 14:15,21)
There is a very clear message in today's readings: Obey.
"Anyone who doesn't obey me doesn't love me." (14:24)
So the question stands: Do I love God? "Sure, I'm saved..." A man once told his wife, "I told you I loved you when I married you, and if I change my mind I'll let you know." How loving is that? We don't love God by coming to church once a week and singing a song or two. That's not how we show our love. While that IS the fruit of loving God, we show we love God by obeying him on a daily basis. Then we can't help but show up at church and sing songs of victory.
Imagine a worship service filled with the voices of those who've had a week of walking in radical obedience. Because of these steps of obedience they've seen giants fall, waters part, and souls added to the kingdom.
So what is God telling you to do? You get interesting responses when you ask others that question. Often it's "I don't know". We too often find ourselves deaf to his voice. How do we find him? "I will only reveal myself to those who love me and obey me." (14:23) Psalm 119:34-35 says, "Give me understanding and I will obey your instructions; I will put them into practice with all my heart. Make me walk along the path of your commands, for that is where my happiness is found." Hearing his voice is a result of being in his word and keeping his commandments, and keeping pure.
What's the last thing you knew that God was telling you to do? Did you do it? When we disobey or even delay obedience, we callous our heart to his voice. Then we miss out on hearing what he would have us to do.
We must live the Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship. We must live in obedience.
"Help me to prefer obedience to making money! Turn me away from wanting any other plan than yours. Revive my heart toward you." Ps 119:38
Let's make that our prayer today!
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
P Greg
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
Sunday, May 24, 2009
5.24.9 "Live It!"
"Live It!"
2 Samuel 4:1-6:23
John 13:31-14:14
Psalm 119:17-35
Proverbs 15:31-32
God's people need to be in God's Word. We live in a day when the mentality of many is "just enough to get by". Sadly, there are believers who are content to live that kind of Christian life. We don't realize the urgency there is in seeking his ways.
"Open my eyes to see wonderful things in your Word. I am but a pilgrim here on earth: how I need a map - and your commands are my chart and guide. I long for your instructions more than I can tell." (Ps. 119:18-20) I love that last verse. I need God more than I can tell. Many are dying of thirst without even realizing it.
God's word is the MAP. It's our guide to growth in our Christian walk. We use the DREAM as an outline of how to apply spiritual principles to our lives. Each day God's word gives us instruction in each of these principles. Today I want to just pull an example of each element out of today's reading.
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
As we've discovered in I Samuel, the highest form of worship is obedience. David shows us the "D" in Psalm 119:33-34, "Just tell me what to do and I will do it, Lord. As long as I live I'll wholeheartedly obey." Remember David was considered "a man after God's own heart." It was because of his obedience. We need to apply the principle of obedience to our life daily.
Relationships Devoted to Unity
"And so I am giving a new commandment to you now - love each other just as much as I love you. Your strong love for each other will prove to the world that you are my disciples." (John 13:34-35) Jesus places a GREAT priority on our love for one another. In fact, our "mission" depends on it. It is in itself the proof that we are followers of Christ.
Empowered Through Biblical Training
"Your laws are both my light and my counselors." (Ps 119:24-25) So often when we are in need of direction in life, we prefer to talk to everyone before seeking out what God's Word says. This is often how so many can develop a "circumstantial theology". That's when beliefs about God change according to the circumstances of life. We NEED to realize the priority of being empowered through the training of God's Word.
Active Ministry Involvement
God has given us each resources to use for his glory. It's not for our benefit, but to bring glory to his name, and to benefit others. "David now realized why the Lord had made him the king and blessed his kingdom so greatly - it was because God wanted to pour out his kindness on Israel, his chosen people." (2 Sam 5:12) We have a responsibility to be faithful stewards of what God has given us, and where he placed us. We may not understand, but we need to make this responsibility the highest priority.
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
"There are many homes up there where my Father lives, and I am going to prepare them for your coming. When everything is ready, then I will come and get you, so that you can always be with me where I am. If this weren't so, I would tell you plainly. And you know where I am going and how to get there... I am the Way - yes, and the Truth and the Life. No one can get to the Father except by means of me." (John 14:2-4,6) This is our purpose. We must show people the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
God's word shows us the way to live. We must dive into it everyday. We must seek him. We must know him. Our world is desperate for us to be who he has created us to be. Don't delay! Read his Word today! Live it!
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
P Greg
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
2 Samuel 4:1-6:23
John 13:31-14:14
Psalm 119:17-35
Proverbs 15:31-32
God's people need to be in God's Word. We live in a day when the mentality of many is "just enough to get by". Sadly, there are believers who are content to live that kind of Christian life. We don't realize the urgency there is in seeking his ways.
"Open my eyes to see wonderful things in your Word. I am but a pilgrim here on earth: how I need a map - and your commands are my chart and guide. I long for your instructions more than I can tell." (Ps. 119:18-20) I love that last verse. I need God more than I can tell. Many are dying of thirst without even realizing it.
God's word is the MAP. It's our guide to growth in our Christian walk. We use the DREAM as an outline of how to apply spiritual principles to our lives. Each day God's word gives us instruction in each of these principles. Today I want to just pull an example of each element out of today's reading.
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
As we've discovered in I Samuel, the highest form of worship is obedience. David shows us the "D" in Psalm 119:33-34, "Just tell me what to do and I will do it, Lord. As long as I live I'll wholeheartedly obey." Remember David was considered "a man after God's own heart." It was because of his obedience. We need to apply the principle of obedience to our life daily.
Relationships Devoted to Unity
"And so I am giving a new commandment to you now - love each other just as much as I love you. Your strong love for each other will prove to the world that you are my disciples." (John 13:34-35) Jesus places a GREAT priority on our love for one another. In fact, our "mission" depends on it. It is in itself the proof that we are followers of Christ.
Empowered Through Biblical Training
"Your laws are both my light and my counselors." (Ps 119:24-25) So often when we are in need of direction in life, we prefer to talk to everyone before seeking out what God's Word says. This is often how so many can develop a "circumstantial theology". That's when beliefs about God change according to the circumstances of life. We NEED to realize the priority of being empowered through the training of God's Word.
Active Ministry Involvement
God has given us each resources to use for his glory. It's not for our benefit, but to bring glory to his name, and to benefit others. "David now realized why the Lord had made him the king and blessed his kingdom so greatly - it was because God wanted to pour out his kindness on Israel, his chosen people." (2 Sam 5:12) We have a responsibility to be faithful stewards of what God has given us, and where he placed us. We may not understand, but we need to make this responsibility the highest priority.
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
"There are many homes up there where my Father lives, and I am going to prepare them for your coming. When everything is ready, then I will come and get you, so that you can always be with me where I am. If this weren't so, I would tell you plainly. And you know where I am going and how to get there... I am the Way - yes, and the Truth and the Life. No one can get to the Father except by means of me." (John 14:2-4,6) This is our purpose. We must show people the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
God's word shows us the way to live. We must dive into it everyday. We must seek him. We must know him. Our world is desperate for us to be who he has created us to be. Don't delay! Read his Word today! Live it!
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
P Greg
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
Saturday, May 23, 2009
5.23.9 "True Leadership"
"True Leadership"
2 Samuel 2:12-3:39
John 13:1-30
Psalm 119:1-16
Proverbs 15:29-30
Each one of us is a leader. We each have responsibility for someone. We have influence. What is a leader? What is a godly leader? There are many books on the market about what type of leader to be, and how to get people to do what you want, etc. There's really no better book on leadership than God's word. The "A" of DREAM is Active Ministry Involvement. As we've studied in the past, "A" is not about "participation", it's about responsibility. It's about being a good steward of all the resources God has placed in our care. When it comes to leadership, our resources are the individuals in our care.
Let's compare two leaders: Judas and Jesus.
John 13 is John's account of the Last supper. In the opening verses, we find out that Jesus "knew it would be his last night on earth before returning to his Father." We also learn that "the devil had already suggested to Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, that this was the night to carry out his plan to betray Jesus." The very next sentence is "Jesus knew that the Father had given him everything and that he had come from God and would return to God. And how he loved his disciples!"
Contrast that with the previous chapter where Judas said, "'That perfume was worth a fortune. It should have been sold and the money given to the poor.' Not that he cared for the poor, but he was in charge of the disciples' funds and often dipped into them for his own use!"
Both of these were given resources to care for. One knew it was from the Father, and would return to the Father. The other had begun to gain an unhealthy attachment... he started to treat it like it was his. What was the fruit?
A note in the Message bible says: "Because leadership is necessarily an exercise of authority, it easily shifts into an exercise of power. But the minute it does that, it begins to inflict damage on both the leader and the led. Paul, studying Jesus, had learned a kind of leadership in which he managed to stay out of the way so that the others could deal with God without having to go through him."
Each one of us as leaders must guard ourselves from touching God's resources. The fruit of "not loving the poor" was manipulation: Betraying Jesus. What was the fruit of "and how he loved his disciples!"? "He got up from the supper table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his loins, poured water into a basin, and began to wash the disiples' feet and to wipe them with the towel he had around him."
We have a mandate as to what the fruit of our leadership must be. John 13:14-17 says, "And since I, the Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other's feet. I have given you an example to follow: do as I have done to you. How true it is that a servant is not greater than his master. Nor is the messenger more important than the one who sends him. You know these things-- now do them! That is the path of blessing."
I am a person who loves to figure things out! I love so see things work. In this 'quest' to solve the puzzles of life, I have to be careful to trust in God's timing. I can't "fix" people, I just have to serve them, do my best to meet their need, connect them to God, and let Him do his work. I MUST constrain myself to rush to servanthood, not manipulation. We have to consistently guard against the devil's suggestions. We must make sure that our "exercise in authority" does not turn into an "exercise of power".
We must also then turn and train those in our charge to do the same thing. We have to teach people to fish! As we lead individuals by example, we must follow up to help them develop as the leaders God has intended them to be.
As Jesus said, "You know these thing-- now do them! That is the path of blessing." John 13:17
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
P Greg
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
2 Samuel 2:12-3:39
John 13:1-30
Psalm 119:1-16
Proverbs 15:29-30
Each one of us is a leader. We each have responsibility for someone. We have influence. What is a leader? What is a godly leader? There are many books on the market about what type of leader to be, and how to get people to do what you want, etc. There's really no better book on leadership than God's word. The "A" of DREAM is Active Ministry Involvement. As we've studied in the past, "A" is not about "participation", it's about responsibility. It's about being a good steward of all the resources God has placed in our care. When it comes to leadership, our resources are the individuals in our care.
Let's compare two leaders: Judas and Jesus.
John 13 is John's account of the Last supper. In the opening verses, we find out that Jesus "knew it would be his last night on earth before returning to his Father." We also learn that "the devil had already suggested to Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, that this was the night to carry out his plan to betray Jesus." The very next sentence is "Jesus knew that the Father had given him everything and that he had come from God and would return to God. And how he loved his disciples!"
Contrast that with the previous chapter where Judas said, "'That perfume was worth a fortune. It should have been sold and the money given to the poor.' Not that he cared for the poor, but he was in charge of the disciples' funds and often dipped into them for his own use!"
Both of these were given resources to care for. One knew it was from the Father, and would return to the Father. The other had begun to gain an unhealthy attachment... he started to treat it like it was his. What was the fruit?
A note in the Message bible says: "Because leadership is necessarily an exercise of authority, it easily shifts into an exercise of power. But the minute it does that, it begins to inflict damage on both the leader and the led. Paul, studying Jesus, had learned a kind of leadership in which he managed to stay out of the way so that the others could deal with God without having to go through him."
Each one of us as leaders must guard ourselves from touching God's resources. The fruit of "not loving the poor" was manipulation: Betraying Jesus. What was the fruit of "and how he loved his disciples!"? "He got up from the supper table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his loins, poured water into a basin, and began to wash the disiples' feet and to wipe them with the towel he had around him."
We have a mandate as to what the fruit of our leadership must be. John 13:14-17 says, "And since I, the Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other's feet. I have given you an example to follow: do as I have done to you. How true it is that a servant is not greater than his master. Nor is the messenger more important than the one who sends him. You know these things-- now do them! That is the path of blessing."
I am a person who loves to figure things out! I love so see things work. In this 'quest' to solve the puzzles of life, I have to be careful to trust in God's timing. I can't "fix" people, I just have to serve them, do my best to meet their need, connect them to God, and let Him do his work. I MUST constrain myself to rush to servanthood, not manipulation. We have to consistently guard against the devil's suggestions. We must make sure that our "exercise in authority" does not turn into an "exercise of power".
We must also then turn and train those in our charge to do the same thing. We have to teach people to fish! As we lead individuals by example, we must follow up to help them develop as the leaders God has intended them to be.
As Jesus said, "You know these thing-- now do them! That is the path of blessing." John 13:17
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
P Greg
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
Friday, May 22, 2009
5.22.9 "Not That Way!"
"Not That Way!"
2 Samuel 1:1-2:11
John 12:20-50
Psalm 118:19-29
Proverbs 15:27-28
Saul is Dead! Isn't that GREAT? David was anointed king so long ago. After all that running and all that discouragement and fear, and frustration, his chance is finally here! Go storm the castle David!
"David and his men tore their clothes in sorrow when they heard the news. They mourned and wept and fasted all day for Saul and his son Jonathan, and for the Lord's people, and for the men of Israel who died that day." (2 Sam. 1:11-12)
There's this little Amalekite dude who thinks he can score some points with David. Even though Saul had killed himself this little weasel lies and tells David that he's the one who killed him. He's thinking like we would think. "i took the obstacle out of your way! Now go be king!"
What's David's response to that? "'Why did you kill's God's chosen king?' David demanded...'You die self-condemned,' David said, 'for you yourself confessed that you killed God's appointed king.'"(2 Sam 1:14,16)
We all have dreams and aspirations to some extent. They may be related to a job or a position of authority, or a solo, or maybe it's even just a hope that a longing & a need will be met. These needs, hopes and dreams are God given. They are based on desires that God has placed within us.
Enter the temptation. Satan has one desire. He wants to destroy us. There's only one way he can do that. He must entice us to destroy ourselves. He does that by tempting us to take short-cuts. These kind of thoughts go through our mind: "If only so-and-so wasn't in the picture... THEN I could succeed!" "If only my spouse was like that other person, then I would be fulfilled."
Pretty soon the "if-only"s give way to "Hey, I deserve this", and all of the sudden we're on the destructive path of sin.
Jesus knew this danger. The number of people who believed in him was increasing. He knew he was the Messiah, but those who believed had their own impression of who they thought the Messiah should be. Jesus had spoken of his death and their response was, "'Die?' asked the crowd. 'We understood that the Messiah would live forever and never die. Why are you saying he will die? What messiah are you talking about?'" (John 12:34)
Oh, that must have been so tempting! Take the short-cut! Jesus knew he must constrain himself to God's timing and God's plan. "'Shall I pray, "Father save me from what lies ahead"? But that is the very reason why I came!'" (12:27)
God's ways are not like ours. His timing and his plan are perfect. It's interesting that what drives us is "self-promotion", but the path is usually death to self.
"'I must fall and die like a kernel of wheat that falls into the furrows of the earth. Unless I die I will be alone - a single seed. But my death will produce many new wheat kernels - a plentiful harvest of new lives. If you love your life down here - you will lose it. If you despise your life down here - you will exchange it for eternal glory.'" (12:23-25)
This principle applies to all of us. If we really want to live, we must die to flesh. If we want to achieve the goals and dreams and fulfillment that God has for us, we must actually die to those desires. When we go around "storming the castle" to accomplish our goals, we are laying a foundation of rebellion. Rebellion separates us from God. That's not the path we are to pursue.
Seek God. Wait for his timing. Die to self.
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
P Greg
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
2 Samuel 1:1-2:11
John 12:20-50
Psalm 118:19-29
Proverbs 15:27-28
Saul is Dead! Isn't that GREAT? David was anointed king so long ago. After all that running and all that discouragement and fear, and frustration, his chance is finally here! Go storm the castle David!
"David and his men tore their clothes in sorrow when they heard the news. They mourned and wept and fasted all day for Saul and his son Jonathan, and for the Lord's people, and for the men of Israel who died that day." (2 Sam. 1:11-12)
There's this little Amalekite dude who thinks he can score some points with David. Even though Saul had killed himself this little weasel lies and tells David that he's the one who killed him. He's thinking like we would think. "i took the obstacle out of your way! Now go be king!"
What's David's response to that? "'Why did you kill's God's chosen king?' David demanded...'You die self-condemned,' David said, 'for you yourself confessed that you killed God's appointed king.'"(2 Sam 1:14,16)
We all have dreams and aspirations to some extent. They may be related to a job or a position of authority, or a solo, or maybe it's even just a hope that a longing & a need will be met. These needs, hopes and dreams are God given. They are based on desires that God has placed within us.
Enter the temptation. Satan has one desire. He wants to destroy us. There's only one way he can do that. He must entice us to destroy ourselves. He does that by tempting us to take short-cuts. These kind of thoughts go through our mind: "If only so-and-so wasn't in the picture... THEN I could succeed!" "If only my spouse was like that other person, then I would be fulfilled."
Pretty soon the "if-only"s give way to "Hey, I deserve this", and all of the sudden we're on the destructive path of sin.
Jesus knew this danger. The number of people who believed in him was increasing. He knew he was the Messiah, but those who believed had their own impression of who they thought the Messiah should be. Jesus had spoken of his death and their response was, "'Die?' asked the crowd. 'We understood that the Messiah would live forever and never die. Why are you saying he will die? What messiah are you talking about?'" (John 12:34)
Oh, that must have been so tempting! Take the short-cut! Jesus knew he must constrain himself to God's timing and God's plan. "'Shall I pray, "Father save me from what lies ahead"? But that is the very reason why I came!'" (12:27)
God's ways are not like ours. His timing and his plan are perfect. It's interesting that what drives us is "self-promotion", but the path is usually death to self.
"'I must fall and die like a kernel of wheat that falls into the furrows of the earth. Unless I die I will be alone - a single seed. But my death will produce many new wheat kernels - a plentiful harvest of new lives. If you love your life down here - you will lose it. If you despise your life down here - you will exchange it for eternal glory.'" (12:23-25)
This principle applies to all of us. If we really want to live, we must die to flesh. If we want to achieve the goals and dreams and fulfillment that God has for us, we must actually die to those desires. When we go around "storming the castle" to accomplish our goals, we are laying a foundation of rebellion. Rebellion separates us from God. That's not the path we are to pursue.
Seek God. Wait for his timing. Die to self.
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
P Greg
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
Thursday, May 21, 2009
5.21.9 "Why Do We Do What We Do?"
"Why Do We Do What We Do?"
I Samuel 29:1-31:13
John 11:54-12:19
Psalm 118:1-18
Proverbs 15:24-26
In John chapter 12, Jesus is attending a banquet in his honor. Lazarus is there, and it's quite a celebration. "Then Mary took a jar of costly perfume made from essence of nard, and anointed Jesus' feet with it and wiped them with her hair. And the house was filled with fragrance. But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples - the one who would betray him - said, 'That perfume was worth a fortune. It should have been sold and the money given to the poor.' Not that he cared for the poor, but he was in charge of the disciples' funds and often dipped into them for his own use!" (John 12:3-6)
We've heard this scripture so many times, and there are songs about the alabaster box, and we file it away in our mind thinking, "How could Judas miss the point?" Hold on a second. How often do we miss the point?
Sunday's are a pretty busy day for me. I try to get to church between 6:30-6:45, make sure the music is ready to go, have sound check at 7:15, run through the choir song, take care of details, go through the first service, teach sunday school, get ready for the second... be ready for 5:00 choir practice, and the evening service... It's a busy day...
In the same way that Judas lost sight of the Master, I can easily do the same. I could get so focussed on the "task" that I fail to focus on why I am really here. I am here to connect to God, and to help others do the same. I can be so busy in preparation for the service that I walk right by someone who has a need to be connected to the Body, and needs to be connected to Christ.
It's possible to "DO" everything right, and completely fail. We must have hearts that are transformed in Christ so we can BE what we're supposed to be. Then what we DO flows out of a love for Christ. Then we don't miss the point.
We have purpose. It is our Mission to Reach our World for Christ. Let's be motivated by that purpose. We don't want our motivation to consist of what people think of us, or what gives us selfish gain, or personal pride. Let's live according to His purpose! THAT'S why we do what we do!
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
P Greg
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
I Samuel 29:1-31:13
John 11:54-12:19
Psalm 118:1-18
Proverbs 15:24-26
In John chapter 12, Jesus is attending a banquet in his honor. Lazarus is there, and it's quite a celebration. "Then Mary took a jar of costly perfume made from essence of nard, and anointed Jesus' feet with it and wiped them with her hair. And the house was filled with fragrance. But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples - the one who would betray him - said, 'That perfume was worth a fortune. It should have been sold and the money given to the poor.' Not that he cared for the poor, but he was in charge of the disciples' funds and often dipped into them for his own use!" (John 12:3-6)
We've heard this scripture so many times, and there are songs about the alabaster box, and we file it away in our mind thinking, "How could Judas miss the point?" Hold on a second. How often do we miss the point?
Sunday's are a pretty busy day for me. I try to get to church between 6:30-6:45, make sure the music is ready to go, have sound check at 7:15, run through the choir song, take care of details, go through the first service, teach sunday school, get ready for the second... be ready for 5:00 choir practice, and the evening service... It's a busy day...
In the same way that Judas lost sight of the Master, I can easily do the same. I could get so focussed on the "task" that I fail to focus on why I am really here. I am here to connect to God, and to help others do the same. I can be so busy in preparation for the service that I walk right by someone who has a need to be connected to the Body, and needs to be connected to Christ.
It's possible to "DO" everything right, and completely fail. We must have hearts that are transformed in Christ so we can BE what we're supposed to be. Then what we DO flows out of a love for Christ. Then we don't miss the point.
We have purpose. It is our Mission to Reach our World for Christ. Let's be motivated by that purpose. We don't want our motivation to consist of what people think of us, or what gives us selfish gain, or personal pride. Let's live according to His purpose! THAT'S why we do what we do!
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
P Greg
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
5.20.9 "The Opportunity to Believe"
"The Opportunity to Believe"
I Samuel 26:1-28:25
John 11:1-53
Psalm 117:1-2
Proverbs 15:22-23
There's nothing more frustrating than being in a situation that looks hopeless. It can be as "superficial" a softball game when you're down by too many runs, or as life-threatening as a cancerous tumor that seems to be spreading. We can all relate at some level to insurmountable obstacles.
In today's reading the the book of John we find the story of Lazarus. It's a story that's familiar to us. I think we can remember from childhood the pictures of Lazarus coming out from the tomb. I remember an old song that Carmen did. In his big booming voice he yells, "Lazarus! Come forth!" It's pretty exciting. We love stories like that.
We also like the story about how David becomes king. We love the great endings. When it comes to our own lives, we want the great endings now. We can even get mad at God because he's not taking care of things in our timing. We can so easily fall into despair.
David wasn't far from there. He says, "Must I die on foreign soil, far from the presence of Jehovah?" (I Sam 26:20) "But David kept thinking to himself, 'Some day Saul is going to get me. I'll try my luck among the Philistines until Saul gives up and quits hunting for me; then I will finally be safe again.'" (I Sam. 27:1) David and his men then move to the town of Ziklag, and live there for A YEAR AND FOUR MONTHS!
We often find ourselves in the middle of a difficult situation. Maybe it's a relationship that's experiencing turmoil, marriage difficulties, grief, health, employment... the list can go on. When we encounter this "waiting period", we can easily lose hope.
We need to recognize this season as the opportunity to BELIEVE, not the opportunity to despair. Jesus got the message that Lazarus had died. "But when Jesus heard about it he said, 'The purpose of his illness is not death, but for the glory of God. I, the Son of God, will receive glory from this situation.'" (John 11:4) We LOVE that. I'm sure the disciples were excited. then in verse 6 it says, "He stayed where he was for the NEXT TWO DAYS AND MADE NO MOVE TO GO TO THEM."
HE MADE NO MOVE! What happens inside of us when we perceive that God makes no move? We need to understand God's timing. We need to surrender to it. WE NEED to experience that waiting. It is often the waiting itself that is necessary to transform us into who God has created us to be. As a friend said to me, "The waiting also gives our SELF time to die so that we can be resurrected as a new creation."
"And for your sake, I am glad I wasn't there, for this will give you another opportunity to believe in me." (John 11:15) Those words are profound. We need to recognize the opportunities to believe. Waiting periods need to be times for faith to grow, not for faith to die!
"Praise the Lord, all nations everywhere. Praise him, all the peoples of the earth. For he loves us very dearly, and his truth endures. Praise the Lord." (Ps 117:1-2) His truth endures!
Whatever the situation, we need to be secure in God's timing. Sometimes we may be in front of Lazarus' tomb for two days. Other times we will be in Ziklag for 16 months. We may be running for our lives, wondering when the promise will come to pass, but we must remember in all things, His truth endures! We have the opportunity to believe!
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
P Greg
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
I Samuel 26:1-28:25
John 11:1-53
Psalm 117:1-2
Proverbs 15:22-23
There's nothing more frustrating than being in a situation that looks hopeless. It can be as "superficial" a softball game when you're down by too many runs, or as life-threatening as a cancerous tumor that seems to be spreading. We can all relate at some level to insurmountable obstacles.
In today's reading the the book of John we find the story of Lazarus. It's a story that's familiar to us. I think we can remember from childhood the pictures of Lazarus coming out from the tomb. I remember an old song that Carmen did. In his big booming voice he yells, "Lazarus! Come forth!" It's pretty exciting. We love stories like that.
We also like the story about how David becomes king. We love the great endings. When it comes to our own lives, we want the great endings now. We can even get mad at God because he's not taking care of things in our timing. We can so easily fall into despair.
David wasn't far from there. He says, "Must I die on foreign soil, far from the presence of Jehovah?" (I Sam 26:20) "But David kept thinking to himself, 'Some day Saul is going to get me. I'll try my luck among the Philistines until Saul gives up and quits hunting for me; then I will finally be safe again.'" (I Sam. 27:1) David and his men then move to the town of Ziklag, and live there for A YEAR AND FOUR MONTHS!
We often find ourselves in the middle of a difficult situation. Maybe it's a relationship that's experiencing turmoil, marriage difficulties, grief, health, employment... the list can go on. When we encounter this "waiting period", we can easily lose hope.
We need to recognize this season as the opportunity to BELIEVE, not the opportunity to despair. Jesus got the message that Lazarus had died. "But when Jesus heard about it he said, 'The purpose of his illness is not death, but for the glory of God. I, the Son of God, will receive glory from this situation.'" (John 11:4) We LOVE that. I'm sure the disciples were excited. then in verse 6 it says, "He stayed where he was for the NEXT TWO DAYS AND MADE NO MOVE TO GO TO THEM."
HE MADE NO MOVE! What happens inside of us when we perceive that God makes no move? We need to understand God's timing. We need to surrender to it. WE NEED to experience that waiting. It is often the waiting itself that is necessary to transform us into who God has created us to be. As a friend said to me, "The waiting also gives our SELF time to die so that we can be resurrected as a new creation."
"And for your sake, I am glad I wasn't there, for this will give you another opportunity to believe in me." (John 11:15) Those words are profound. We need to recognize the opportunities to believe. Waiting periods need to be times for faith to grow, not for faith to die!
"Praise the Lord, all nations everywhere. Praise him, all the peoples of the earth. For he loves us very dearly, and his truth endures. Praise the Lord." (Ps 117:1-2) His truth endures!
Whatever the situation, we need to be secure in God's timing. Sometimes we may be in front of Lazarus' tomb for two days. Other times we will be in Ziklag for 16 months. We may be running for our lives, wondering when the promise will come to pass, but we must remember in all things, His truth endures! We have the opportunity to believe!
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
P Greg
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
5.19.9 "Unity in Action"
"Unity in Action"
1 Samuel 24:1-25:44
John 10:22-42
Psalm 116:1-19
Proverbs 15:20-21
God's word is full of life principles that we need not only to learn from, but we need to apply it to our lives. From this morning's reading in the One Year Bible we see the principles of unity in action. Before looking at the story, let's look at the anatomy of conflict resolution:
1. All Conflict is the result of an unmet need.
2. A need can only be met through the principle of Submission.
-the Definition of Submission is - The setting aside of pride, will, opinion, and convenience to meet the need of another.
3. The submission often comes from one who "shouldn't" have to.
Today's reading is the story of David & his 400 men in their journey in the wilderness. They are low on provisions, and they com upon Nabal. There is a history here. David's men have been protectors for Nabal's herds in the past.
Now, David is put in the place of needing to ask for resources. This is a vulnerable place to be. It takes humility. At the same time, he knows what he's called to do. Nabal is, for lack of a more tactful description, a jerk. He says no. This angers David to the point of taking 400 men to make his point. "All conflict is the result of an unmet need." David's need has not been met, so they are about to get busy in conflict.
Enter the Intercessors. The first is one of Nabal's men. He goes to Abigail & lets her know there's going to be trouble. She then, knowing the need, first makes provision to meet the need. (loads donkeys with food).
It's kind of funny to read how as Abigail approaches, David has been muttering to himself, "All that I get for my trouble is insults..." He's been feeling sorry for himself, and has resolved to have vengeance on Nabal. We do see later that this would not have been of God, but the intensity of frustration has motivated the action which brings about God's plan.
Abigail says something that I think is huge. She bows before David and says, "I accept all blame in this matter." In an act of submission, she takes responsibility for the actions of her household. She is aggressively submissive in standing in the gap for the one in authority over her. She intercedes for his very life.
She also knows she is saving David from doing wrong. "When the Lord has done all the good things he promised you and has made you king of Israel, you won't want the conscience of a murderer who took the law into his own hands!" This is speaking the truth in love.
David's response is "Bless you for keeping me from murdering the man and carrying out vengeance with my own hands." Don't forget, he just came out of the cave where he could have killed Saul. He passed a MAJOR test, and was just about to fail a minor one! Abigail's RD2U (Relationship Devoted to Unity) helped him stay the course.
God did complete his vengeance on Nabal. He died. David, having seen the character of Abigail, "wasted no time in sending messengers to Abigail to ask her to become his wife....she readily agreed."
What if the story were different? What if Abigail still brought the food (met the need), but told David where Nabal was hiding so he could go kill him? I don't think David would have thought, "Now THAT'S a woman for me!!!"
All things work together for good for them who love God and are called according to his purpose.
God used this circumstance to further the refining process in David, and it was through the submission of a woman named Abigail. Submission is such an ugly word when we are people so bent on pride, will and opinion. But when we see it in action, we realize it can change the world.
Let's remember in this "comprehensive test of life" that the little things make a difference. In any given day, you could be David, Abigail, the servant, or Nabal. It all makes a difference. Apply the principles of unity today.
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
P Greg
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
1 Samuel 24:1-25:44
John 10:22-42
Psalm 116:1-19
Proverbs 15:20-21
God's word is full of life principles that we need not only to learn from, but we need to apply it to our lives. From this morning's reading in the One Year Bible we see the principles of unity in action. Before looking at the story, let's look at the anatomy of conflict resolution:
1. All Conflict is the result of an unmet need.
2. A need can only be met through the principle of Submission.
-the Definition of Submission is - The setting aside of pride, will, opinion, and convenience to meet the need of another.
3. The submission often comes from one who "shouldn't" have to.
Today's reading is the story of David & his 400 men in their journey in the wilderness. They are low on provisions, and they com upon Nabal. There is a history here. David's men have been protectors for Nabal's herds in the past.
Now, David is put in the place of needing to ask for resources. This is a vulnerable place to be. It takes humility. At the same time, he knows what he's called to do. Nabal is, for lack of a more tactful description, a jerk. He says no. This angers David to the point of taking 400 men to make his point. "All conflict is the result of an unmet need." David's need has not been met, so they are about to get busy in conflict.
Enter the Intercessors. The first is one of Nabal's men. He goes to Abigail & lets her know there's going to be trouble. She then, knowing the need, first makes provision to meet the need. (loads donkeys with food).
It's kind of funny to read how as Abigail approaches, David has been muttering to himself, "All that I get for my trouble is insults..." He's been feeling sorry for himself, and has resolved to have vengeance on Nabal. We do see later that this would not have been of God, but the intensity of frustration has motivated the action which brings about God's plan.
Abigail says something that I think is huge. She bows before David and says, "I accept all blame in this matter." In an act of submission, she takes responsibility for the actions of her household. She is aggressively submissive in standing in the gap for the one in authority over her. She intercedes for his very life.
She also knows she is saving David from doing wrong. "When the Lord has done all the good things he promised you and has made you king of Israel, you won't want the conscience of a murderer who took the law into his own hands!" This is speaking the truth in love.
David's response is "Bless you for keeping me from murdering the man and carrying out vengeance with my own hands." Don't forget, he just came out of the cave where he could have killed Saul. He passed a MAJOR test, and was just about to fail a minor one! Abigail's RD2U (Relationship Devoted to Unity) helped him stay the course.
God did complete his vengeance on Nabal. He died. David, having seen the character of Abigail, "wasted no time in sending messengers to Abigail to ask her to become his wife....she readily agreed."
What if the story were different? What if Abigail still brought the food (met the need), but told David where Nabal was hiding so he could go kill him? I don't think David would have thought, "Now THAT'S a woman for me!!!"
All things work together for good for them who love God and are called according to his purpose.
God used this circumstance to further the refining process in David, and it was through the submission of a woman named Abigail. Submission is such an ugly word when we are people so bent on pride, will and opinion. But when we see it in action, we realize it can change the world.
Let's remember in this "comprehensive test of life" that the little things make a difference. In any given day, you could be David, Abigail, the servant, or Nabal. It all makes a difference. Apply the principles of unity today.
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
P Greg
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
Monday, May 18, 2009
5.18.9 "This is What Sin Does"
"This is What Sin Does"
1 Samuel 22:1-23:29
John 10:1-21
Psalm 115:1-18
Proverbs 15:18-19
"The thief's purpose is to steal, kill and destroy. My purpose is to give life in all its fullness." John 10:10
I don't know how many times I've heard that verse. You may be in the same position. You hear something, but you don't really get it until you see it first hand. One of the hardest parts of ministry is to see lives destroyed through this little three letter word called "sin".
When sin enters, it entices, twists, distorts, blinds, and ultimately kills. Those who pursue sin often do it willingly. They're willing to risk it because the enticement presents comfort, pleasure, and a false sense of peace. Then the twisting kicks in. "I deserve this." These are the words spoken by one who follows after sin. This twisting of truth and justification creates a distortion; an alternate reality where it becomes "other people's problems" that are the cause of all this. Then the blindness sets in. The light of Truth can no longer be seen, and the voice of God can no longer be heard. Then like sheep to the slaughter...
Why don't we see this? Why don't we believe it? Why do we think it can't happen to us? There may be individuals in your home who are walking down this path. There are friends of yours. There are people at work. They don't see where they're headed. They don't see what sin has done to their ability to reason, to think clearly, to make good decisions.
In I Samuel chapters 22 & 23 we read of David's flight from Saul. He has to hide in caves, and run from town to town and live in the countryside. I was struck with a few statements Saul made. Saul hears where David is hiding, and yells at his men, "Is that why you are against me? For not one of you has ever told me that my own son is on David's side. You're not even sorry for me. Think of it! My own son - encouraging David to come and kill me!" (I Sam 22:8)
We all know the story well enough to realize that Saul is a bit whacked. We know that David is not out to kill Saul. The opposite is true. And yet that is how sin has twisted Saul's ability to reason. He even wants people to feel sorry for him. Reading the following chapter as well we see how the hardness of his heart has created an alternate reality from what is really true.
It's so easy for us to see it in Saul's life. Why do we not see it in our own? Why don't we see it in the person sitting next to us. We think, "It's just a little sin..." We MUST understand that EVERY sin has the same purpose! ...to kill and destroy...
Christ has come that we might have life. "I am the Good Shepherd and know my own sheep, and they know me, just as my Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep." John 10:14-15 We need to hear his voice, and not be destroyed by sin.
To live the Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship, we must separate ourselves from sin. We must walk in obedience. We need to live life to the fullest!
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
P Greg
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
1 Samuel 22:1-23:29
John 10:1-21
Psalm 115:1-18
Proverbs 15:18-19
"The thief's purpose is to steal, kill and destroy. My purpose is to give life in all its fullness." John 10:10
I don't know how many times I've heard that verse. You may be in the same position. You hear something, but you don't really get it until you see it first hand. One of the hardest parts of ministry is to see lives destroyed through this little three letter word called "sin".
When sin enters, it entices, twists, distorts, blinds, and ultimately kills. Those who pursue sin often do it willingly. They're willing to risk it because the enticement presents comfort, pleasure, and a false sense of peace. Then the twisting kicks in. "I deserve this." These are the words spoken by one who follows after sin. This twisting of truth and justification creates a distortion; an alternate reality where it becomes "other people's problems" that are the cause of all this. Then the blindness sets in. The light of Truth can no longer be seen, and the voice of God can no longer be heard. Then like sheep to the slaughter...
Why don't we see this? Why don't we believe it? Why do we think it can't happen to us? There may be individuals in your home who are walking down this path. There are friends of yours. There are people at work. They don't see where they're headed. They don't see what sin has done to their ability to reason, to think clearly, to make good decisions.
In I Samuel chapters 22 & 23 we read of David's flight from Saul. He has to hide in caves, and run from town to town and live in the countryside. I was struck with a few statements Saul made. Saul hears where David is hiding, and yells at his men, "Is that why you are against me? For not one of you has ever told me that my own son is on David's side. You're not even sorry for me. Think of it! My own son - encouraging David to come and kill me!" (I Sam 22:8)
We all know the story well enough to realize that Saul is a bit whacked. We know that David is not out to kill Saul. The opposite is true. And yet that is how sin has twisted Saul's ability to reason. He even wants people to feel sorry for him. Reading the following chapter as well we see how the hardness of his heart has created an alternate reality from what is really true.
It's so easy for us to see it in Saul's life. Why do we not see it in our own? Why don't we see it in the person sitting next to us. We think, "It's just a little sin..." We MUST understand that EVERY sin has the same purpose! ...to kill and destroy...
Christ has come that we might have life. "I am the Good Shepherd and know my own sheep, and they know me, just as my Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep." John 10:14-15 We need to hear his voice, and not be destroyed by sin.
To live the Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship, we must separate ourselves from sin. We must walk in obedience. We need to live life to the fullest!
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
P Greg
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
Sunday, May 17, 2009
5.17.9 "¡La Presencia!"
"¡La Presencia!"
1 Samuel 20:1-21:15
John 9:1-41
Psalm 113:1-114:8
Proverbs 15:15-17
Psalm 114:5-8 (TLB) What's wrong, Red Sea, that made you cut yourself in two? What happened, Jordan River, to your waters? Why were they held back? Why, mountains, did you skip like rams? Why, little hills, like lambs? Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the Lord, the God of Jacob.
It may because I'm a junior higher at heart, but I think these verses could be read in a taunting voice to the tune of "na na na na boo boo". Yeah, that may be a bit much, but there is something significant to be gleaned from this portion of scripture. Remember John 3, flesh gives birth to flesh, and spirit gives birth to spirit? Well I just feel this intense "reminder" (for lack of a better word) to make sure every step we take in everything we do to make sure that it is bathed in the presence of God.
Why DID the Red Sea part? It's important to understand that it wasn't because there was a need! It parted because of the presence of God! His presence was with the Hebrews. We so often pray for miracles because we need miracles. We miss the fact that miracles don't come because there's a need. Miracles come because the presence of God is there. This must be our focus. We must be utterly dependent upon the presence of God!
I feel so often that we pursue the miraculous without understanding the need for His presence to be fully evident in our life. The Priority is His presence, NOT his miracles. So what does it take to pursue "La Presencia"? (just flashing my bilingualness)
There's a complete surrender that must precede the presence of God. It took the "obstacle" of the Red Sea and the Egyptians about to strike to get the Israelites to the place where they were utterly dependent. Once their dependence was "made known", "La Presencia" came through. When they were waiting to cross the Jordan with Joshua, it was a different story. There were no Egyptians. In Joshua 3:5, "Joshua told the people, 'Consecrate yourselves for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you.'"
God is desiring to do some amazing things among his people. Why? NOT because there is a need! It's because of His presence. We can work up great ministry ideas, and plans for reaching people, but as cool as our "formula" is to improve ministry and discipleship, it is flesh giving birth to flesh without this dependence on God, and passion for His presence.
So which situation will it be that causes us to consecrate ourselves? Will it be Egyptians hot on our tail, or will it be God's people seeking His face? "Lord, don't send the Egyptians to get my attention!"
The challenge to all this is that "consecrate yourselves" is a discipline, and we are people who don't like discipline. There are so many conveniences that take us off course. As we travel down the road of obedience, I think we're often surprised about the intersecting streets. They have names like "Easy road", "comfort lane", "Selfish ambition", "popularity", "status quo". They look so much more inviting and well paved than the trail of consecration that lies before. Yet we will never be disappointed when we choose to continue on in this path of obedience.
Consecrate yourself today. Set yourself apart to experience La Presencia! Then have a great day seeing the waters part!
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
P Greg
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
--
Posted By P Greg to DEVO DREAM at 5/17/2008 07:01:00 AM
1 Samuel 20:1-21:15
John 9:1-41
Psalm 113:1-114:8
Proverbs 15:15-17
Psalm 114:5-8 (TLB) What's wrong, Red Sea, that made you cut yourself in two? What happened, Jordan River, to your waters? Why were they held back? Why, mountains, did you skip like rams? Why, little hills, like lambs? Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the Lord, the God of Jacob.
It may because I'm a junior higher at heart, but I think these verses could be read in a taunting voice to the tune of "na na na na boo boo". Yeah, that may be a bit much, but there is something significant to be gleaned from this portion of scripture. Remember John 3, flesh gives birth to flesh, and spirit gives birth to spirit? Well I just feel this intense "reminder" (for lack of a better word) to make sure every step we take in everything we do to make sure that it is bathed in the presence of God.
Why DID the Red Sea part? It's important to understand that it wasn't because there was a need! It parted because of the presence of God! His presence was with the Hebrews. We so often pray for miracles because we need miracles. We miss the fact that miracles don't come because there's a need. Miracles come because the presence of God is there. This must be our focus. We must be utterly dependent upon the presence of God!
I feel so often that we pursue the miraculous without understanding the need for His presence to be fully evident in our life. The Priority is His presence, NOT his miracles. So what does it take to pursue "La Presencia"? (just flashing my bilingualness)
There's a complete surrender that must precede the presence of God. It took the "obstacle" of the Red Sea and the Egyptians about to strike to get the Israelites to the place where they were utterly dependent. Once their dependence was "made known", "La Presencia" came through. When they were waiting to cross the Jordan with Joshua, it was a different story. There were no Egyptians. In Joshua 3:5, "Joshua told the people, 'Consecrate yourselves for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you.'"
God is desiring to do some amazing things among his people. Why? NOT because there is a need! It's because of His presence. We can work up great ministry ideas, and plans for reaching people, but as cool as our "formula" is to improve ministry and discipleship, it is flesh giving birth to flesh without this dependence on God, and passion for His presence.
So which situation will it be that causes us to consecrate ourselves? Will it be Egyptians hot on our tail, or will it be God's people seeking His face? "Lord, don't send the Egyptians to get my attention!"
The challenge to all this is that "consecrate yourselves" is a discipline, and we are people who don't like discipline. There are so many conveniences that take us off course. As we travel down the road of obedience, I think we're often surprised about the intersecting streets. They have names like "Easy road", "comfort lane", "Selfish ambition", "popularity", "status quo". They look so much more inviting and well paved than the trail of consecration that lies before. Yet we will never be disappointed when we choose to continue on in this path of obedience.
Consecrate yourself today. Set yourself apart to experience La Presencia! Then have a great day seeing the waters part!
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
P Greg
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
--
Posted By P Greg to DEVO DREAM at 5/17/2008 07:01:00 AM
Saturday, May 16, 2009
5.16.9 "DREAM or DRAM?"
"DREAM or DRAM?"
1 Samuel 18:5-19:24
John 8:31-59
Psalm 112:1-10
Proverbs 15:12-14
"Jesus said to them, 'You are truly my disciples if you live as I tell you to, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.'" (John 8:31)
In the last half of John 8, Jesus has a great discourse with the Jewish leaders. I'm sure they didn't see it as being so great. At the end, they were scrambling for stones to do him in. But throughout his discussions with them, Jesus is incredibly equipped because of his knowledge of the Father.
How equipped are we? We know that to Live the DREAM, we must be "Empowered through Biblical Training". We've discussed in the past how that means we must apply discipline to our lives to align ourselves with God's word. We must equip ourselves with truth to truly be free.
I think we'd all agree that that sounds great. We're all for it. The question is, with what intensity do we pursue "E"? How desperate are we to make sure we are Empowered? What value do we put on it?
We may be able to answer those questions by looking at how casually and how easily we can "live without" the "E". I'd venture to guess that the most common response for many is, "Well I read the bible, but not every day. I've got a busy schedule. I can't get up in the morning."
I'm wondering if we realize how dangerous that is. We don't realize that a lack of "E" in our life is a lack of truth. We need to understand that when you lack truth, you are in actuality set in opposition to it. Let's look at this in comparison to some of the other DREAM elements.
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship - We know that the principle is "obedience". So when we don't live the "D", we are living in disobedience.
Relationships Devoted to Unity - The principle is "submission". When we don't live the "R", we are living in rebellion.
Active Ministry Involvement - "Responsibility" with our resources. When we don't live the "A", we squander our time, talent and treasure.
Mission to Reach our World for Christ - "Purpose" Without that we live direction-less self-serving lives.
So what about Empowered through Biblical Training? The principle is "discipline". When we are not living the "E" we are living undisciplined. When you are living undisciplined, who is master? Jesus has the answer for the Jewish leaders.
"Jesus replied, 'You are slaves of sin, every one of you... you are following the advice of your father... for you are the children of your father the devil and you love to do the evil things he does. He was a murderer from the beginning and a a hater of truth - there is not an iota of truth in him. When he lies, it is perfectly normal; for he is the father of liars. And so when I tell the truth, you just naturally don't believe it!" (8:34,38,44-45)
When we don't align ourselves with truth by getting into the Word, we are not only going without feeding the Spirit, we are feeding the flesh. We are giving life to our human nature.
So have you read the Word today? If you haven't, does it worry you? If it doesn't concern you, who are you "feeding"... the flesh or the spirit?
We need to ask ourselves. "Am I Living the DREAM or the DRAM"? Am I living "E" or no "E"? Power up! Live the E! Increase your discipline... Live for Truth!
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
P Greg
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
1 Samuel 18:5-19:24
John 8:31-59
Psalm 112:1-10
Proverbs 15:12-14
"Jesus said to them, 'You are truly my disciples if you live as I tell you to, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.'" (John 8:31)
In the last half of John 8, Jesus has a great discourse with the Jewish leaders. I'm sure they didn't see it as being so great. At the end, they were scrambling for stones to do him in. But throughout his discussions with them, Jesus is incredibly equipped because of his knowledge of the Father.
How equipped are we? We know that to Live the DREAM, we must be "Empowered through Biblical Training". We've discussed in the past how that means we must apply discipline to our lives to align ourselves with God's word. We must equip ourselves with truth to truly be free.
I think we'd all agree that that sounds great. We're all for it. The question is, with what intensity do we pursue "E"? How desperate are we to make sure we are Empowered? What value do we put on it?
We may be able to answer those questions by looking at how casually and how easily we can "live without" the "E". I'd venture to guess that the most common response for many is, "Well I read the bible, but not every day. I've got a busy schedule. I can't get up in the morning."
I'm wondering if we realize how dangerous that is. We don't realize that a lack of "E" in our life is a lack of truth. We need to understand that when you lack truth, you are in actuality set in opposition to it. Let's look at this in comparison to some of the other DREAM elements.
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship - We know that the principle is "obedience". So when we don't live the "D", we are living in disobedience.
Relationships Devoted to Unity - The principle is "submission". When we don't live the "R", we are living in rebellion.
Active Ministry Involvement - "Responsibility" with our resources. When we don't live the "A", we squander our time, talent and treasure.
Mission to Reach our World for Christ - "Purpose" Without that we live direction-less self-serving lives.
So what about Empowered through Biblical Training? The principle is "discipline". When we are not living the "E" we are living undisciplined. When you are living undisciplined, who is master? Jesus has the answer for the Jewish leaders.
"Jesus replied, 'You are slaves of sin, every one of you... you are following the advice of your father... for you are the children of your father the devil and you love to do the evil things he does. He was a murderer from the beginning and a a hater of truth - there is not an iota of truth in him. When he lies, it is perfectly normal; for he is the father of liars. And so when I tell the truth, you just naturally don't believe it!" (8:34,38,44-45)
When we don't align ourselves with truth by getting into the Word, we are not only going without feeding the Spirit, we are feeding the flesh. We are giving life to our human nature.
So have you read the Word today? If you haven't, does it worry you? If it doesn't concern you, who are you "feeding"... the flesh or the spirit?
We need to ask ourselves. "Am I Living the DREAM or the DRAM"? Am I living "E" or no "E"? Power up! Live the E! Increase your discipline... Live for Truth!
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
P Greg
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
Friday, May 15, 2009
5.15.9 "The Slingshot Heard 'Round the World"
"The Slingshot Heard 'Round the World"
1 Samuel 17:1-18:4
John 8:21-30
Psalm 111:1-10
Proverbs 15:11
I Samuel 17 has to be a favorite chapter for many people. We've heard innumerable references to it, and many sermons. Each time you read it, you can find new morsels of truth in the story of this boy after God's own heart. I think we relate to it so well because every single one of us face giants of some shape or size. We often find ourselves paralyzed and intimidated. I believe that the Lord would have us learn not only from the details of the story, but from the character of the hero.
Here's what it takes to be a giant killer:
1. Be a servant - Serve faithfully where you're at with all your heart.
"David was the youngest son, and was on Saul's staff on a part-time basis. He went back and forth to Bethlehem to help his father with the sheep... One day Jesse said to David, 'Take this bushel of roasted grain and these ten loaves of bread to your brothers. Give this cheese to their captain and see how the boys are getting along; and bring us back a letter from them!... So David left hte sheep with another shepherd and took off early the next morning with the gifts." (I Sam 17:14-20)
You have to remember that we're now in chapter 17. It was chapter 16 that David was anointed. For many of us, our reaction is, "Hey, I've been anointed king! Send someone else to deliver pizza to the brothers!" Not David. He would go back & forth from playing the harp for Saul to tending the sheep. We cannot overlook that David's heart is being prepared in all of this. It's this faithfulness that prepares him to lead a nation. He was even faithful to make sure that someone was taking care of the sheep back home.
What kind of tasks do you see before you that seem "beneath" you? Do you feel "over-qualified" for something you're asked to do, or some task that's placed at your hand? You must serve faithfully. It prepares you to kill giants.
2. Don't get discouraged - recognize discouragement as the enemy.
"When Saul and the Israeli army heard this, they were dismayed and frightened... As [David] was talking with them, he saw Goliath the giant step out... As soon as they saw him the Israeli army began to run away in fright. 'Have you seen the giant?' The soldiers were asking.... But when David's oldest brother, Eliab, heard David talking like that, he was angry. 'What are you doing around here anyway?' he demanded. 'What about the sheep you're supposed to be taking care of? I know what a cocky brat you are; you just want to see the battle!'... 'Don't worry about a thing,' David told him. 'I'll take care of this Philistine!' 'Don't be ridiculous!' Saul replied. 'How can a kid like you fight with a man like him? You are only a boy and he has been in the army since he was boy..." (vs. 11,23-25,28,32-33)
After all of that negative influence, most of us would give up. We would become paralyzed by fear & discouragement like everyone else. We too often allow discouragement to live with us, rather than seeing it as a weapon of the enemy. We need to battle it with the same intensity we would the giant. Instead, we invite discouragement to sit down with us. We feed it. We make it our friend. And then pretty soon we have plenty of excuses about why it shouldn't be my job to kill the giant. "I can't do it." "I'm not good enough."
3. It's not about you! - Realize who you are in Christ and fight on those terms.
"David talked to some others standing there to verify the report. 'What will a man get for killing this Philistine and ending his insults to Israel?' he asked them. 'who is this heathen Philistine, anyway, that he is allowed to defy the armies of the living God?'... 'I have done this to both lions and bears, and I'll do it to this Philistine too, for he has defied the armies of the living God! The Lord who saved me... will save me from this Philistine!'... David shouted in reply, 'You come to me with a sword and a spear, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of the armies of heaven and of Israel - the very God whom you have defied. Today the Lord will conquer you... and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel!" (vs. 26,36-37,45-46)
So many times we think about how the giant effects us. We don't even consider that the giant is out to tarnish the name of God. I am God's representative. He has called me. He has a plan, and I have purpose. We are commissioned to be giant killers. The world around us is needing us to step up and sling some stones. They need to see that the name of the Lord is great!
We must get that fact that it's about God's reputation, and not ours. Sometimes we go out to fight a giant armed with an offended spirit. "How dare you do this to me!" Contrast that with David's offense: "How dare you do this to the name of the Lord!"
It wasn't HUGE steps that David took to beat the giant, it was a series of small, faithful steps. That is within the grasp of each one of us. My giant looks different than yours, and ours looks different than David's, but the scriptural principles apply to all of us!
We've all got 5 smooth stones: D, R, E, A, M... Now, get out there & slay the giant!
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
P Greg
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
1 Samuel 17:1-18:4
John 8:21-30
Psalm 111:1-10
Proverbs 15:11
I Samuel 17 has to be a favorite chapter for many people. We've heard innumerable references to it, and many sermons. Each time you read it, you can find new morsels of truth in the story of this boy after God's own heart. I think we relate to it so well because every single one of us face giants of some shape or size. We often find ourselves paralyzed and intimidated. I believe that the Lord would have us learn not only from the details of the story, but from the character of the hero.
Here's what it takes to be a giant killer:
1. Be a servant - Serve faithfully where you're at with all your heart.
"David was the youngest son, and was on Saul's staff on a part-time basis. He went back and forth to Bethlehem to help his father with the sheep... One day Jesse said to David, 'Take this bushel of roasted grain and these ten loaves of bread to your brothers. Give this cheese to their captain and see how the boys are getting along; and bring us back a letter from them!... So David left hte sheep with another shepherd and took off early the next morning with the gifts." (I Sam 17:14-20)
You have to remember that we're now in chapter 17. It was chapter 16 that David was anointed. For many of us, our reaction is, "Hey, I've been anointed king! Send someone else to deliver pizza to the brothers!" Not David. He would go back & forth from playing the harp for Saul to tending the sheep. We cannot overlook that David's heart is being prepared in all of this. It's this faithfulness that prepares him to lead a nation. He was even faithful to make sure that someone was taking care of the sheep back home.
What kind of tasks do you see before you that seem "beneath" you? Do you feel "over-qualified" for something you're asked to do, or some task that's placed at your hand? You must serve faithfully. It prepares you to kill giants.
2. Don't get discouraged - recognize discouragement as the enemy.
"When Saul and the Israeli army heard this, they were dismayed and frightened... As [David] was talking with them, he saw Goliath the giant step out... As soon as they saw him the Israeli army began to run away in fright. 'Have you seen the giant?' The soldiers were asking.... But when David's oldest brother, Eliab, heard David talking like that, he was angry. 'What are you doing around here anyway?' he demanded. 'What about the sheep you're supposed to be taking care of? I know what a cocky brat you are; you just want to see the battle!'... 'Don't worry about a thing,' David told him. 'I'll take care of this Philistine!' 'Don't be ridiculous!' Saul replied. 'How can a kid like you fight with a man like him? You are only a boy and he has been in the army since he was boy..." (vs. 11,23-25,28,32-33)
After all of that negative influence, most of us would give up. We would become paralyzed by fear & discouragement like everyone else. We too often allow discouragement to live with us, rather than seeing it as a weapon of the enemy. We need to battle it with the same intensity we would the giant. Instead, we invite discouragement to sit down with us. We feed it. We make it our friend. And then pretty soon we have plenty of excuses about why it shouldn't be my job to kill the giant. "I can't do it." "I'm not good enough."
3. It's not about you! - Realize who you are in Christ and fight on those terms.
"David talked to some others standing there to verify the report. 'What will a man get for killing this Philistine and ending his insults to Israel?' he asked them. 'who is this heathen Philistine, anyway, that he is allowed to defy the armies of the living God?'... 'I have done this to both lions and bears, and I'll do it to this Philistine too, for he has defied the armies of the living God! The Lord who saved me... will save me from this Philistine!'... David shouted in reply, 'You come to me with a sword and a spear, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of the armies of heaven and of Israel - the very God whom you have defied. Today the Lord will conquer you... and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel!" (vs. 26,36-37,45-46)
So many times we think about how the giant effects us. We don't even consider that the giant is out to tarnish the name of God. I am God's representative. He has called me. He has a plan, and I have purpose. We are commissioned to be giant killers. The world around us is needing us to step up and sling some stones. They need to see that the name of the Lord is great!
We must get that fact that it's about God's reputation, and not ours. Sometimes we go out to fight a giant armed with an offended spirit. "How dare you do this to me!" Contrast that with David's offense: "How dare you do this to the name of the Lord!"
It wasn't HUGE steps that David took to beat the giant, it was a series of small, faithful steps. That is within the grasp of each one of us. My giant looks different than yours, and ours looks different than David's, but the scriptural principles apply to all of us!
We've all got 5 smooth stones: D, R, E, A, M... Now, get out there & slay the giant!
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
P Greg
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
Thursday, May 14, 2009
5.14.9 "Sometimes It Costs Everything"
"Sometimes It Costs Everything"
1 Samuel 15:1-16:23
John 8:1-20
Psalm 110:1-7
Proverbs 15:8-10
I wonder what people would say when asked this question? "Who are you most like? Saul or David?" I don't know that there are many out there who list Saul as one of their heroes. I find Saul's story incredibly fascinating. Unfortunately it's because I find that we are so much like him.
We've read in the past few days about how Saul has a habit of taking things that are "about God" and making them "about Saul". This is true in the story of the Amalekites in I Sam. 15. The Lord says this to Saul through Samuel, "I have decided to settle accounts with the nation of Amelek... Now go and completely destroy the entire Amelek nation - men, women, babies, little children, oxen, sheep, camels and donkeys." (I Sam. 15:2-3)
Those instructions sound pretty specific, don't they. No, they're not pretty, and it doesn't sound easy, but none the less, the instructions are clear. So how did Saul follow through? He did a lot of killing, but "He captured Agag, the king of the Amalekites, but Killed everyone else. However, Saul and his men kept the best of the sheep and oxen and the fattest of the lambs - everything, in fact that appealed to them. They destroyed only what was worthless or of poor quality." (15:8-9)
As we read this a few thousand years later, we shake our heads, and say, "Saul, how could you be so stupid?" We don't realize that we fall into the same trap. We are all jazzed up about walking in obedience, as long as it means destroying only what is "worthless or of poor quality." I've never been a drug user. Never even tried it. So it's not hard for me to stay away from cocaine because hey, that's what God has commanded me to do. But what about when obedience costs me something I love, or something that appeals to me?
Christians get into trouble when it comes to purity before the Lord because sometimes we actually love the sin too much to give it up. There's "value" to it in our minds. Saul wasn't lacking for sheep or camels. Yet he kept them. His excuse was, "I was afraid of the people and did what they demanded." (15:24)
There may be times that obedience to the Lord will cost everything. We need to remember the quote from Jim Elliot. "He is no fool who gives up that which he cannot keep only to gain that which he cannot lose." Though the sacrifice may be great when we walk in total obedience, it is worth it when we live in the reward of blessing.
When we aren't willing to give it all up, we end up losing it anyway, and we also lose the privilege of the blessing of the obedient life. Saul found that out the hard way. "'Oh, please pardon my sin now and go with me to worship the Lord.' But Samuel replied, 'It's no use! Since you have rejected the commandment of the Lord, he has rejected you from being the king of Israel.'" (I Sam. 15:26)
Oh that we could remember that there is NO cost too great in following Christ. He will never call us to do anything without giving us the strength to obey. There will be a sacrifice. It may very well be the sacrifice of our desire, our comfort, and our flesh. But it is Worth IT!
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
P Greg
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
1 Samuel 15:1-16:23
John 8:1-20
Psalm 110:1-7
Proverbs 15:8-10
I wonder what people would say when asked this question? "Who are you most like? Saul or David?" I don't know that there are many out there who list Saul as one of their heroes. I find Saul's story incredibly fascinating. Unfortunately it's because I find that we are so much like him.
We've read in the past few days about how Saul has a habit of taking things that are "about God" and making them "about Saul". This is true in the story of the Amalekites in I Sam. 15. The Lord says this to Saul through Samuel, "I have decided to settle accounts with the nation of Amelek... Now go and completely destroy the entire Amelek nation - men, women, babies, little children, oxen, sheep, camels and donkeys." (I Sam. 15:2-3)
Those instructions sound pretty specific, don't they. No, they're not pretty, and it doesn't sound easy, but none the less, the instructions are clear. So how did Saul follow through? He did a lot of killing, but "He captured Agag, the king of the Amalekites, but Killed everyone else. However, Saul and his men kept the best of the sheep and oxen and the fattest of the lambs - everything, in fact that appealed to them. They destroyed only what was worthless or of poor quality." (15:8-9)
As we read this a few thousand years later, we shake our heads, and say, "Saul, how could you be so stupid?" We don't realize that we fall into the same trap. We are all jazzed up about walking in obedience, as long as it means destroying only what is "worthless or of poor quality." I've never been a drug user. Never even tried it. So it's not hard for me to stay away from cocaine because hey, that's what God has commanded me to do. But what about when obedience costs me something I love, or something that appeals to me?
Christians get into trouble when it comes to purity before the Lord because sometimes we actually love the sin too much to give it up. There's "value" to it in our minds. Saul wasn't lacking for sheep or camels. Yet he kept them. His excuse was, "I was afraid of the people and did what they demanded." (15:24)
There may be times that obedience to the Lord will cost everything. We need to remember the quote from Jim Elliot. "He is no fool who gives up that which he cannot keep only to gain that which he cannot lose." Though the sacrifice may be great when we walk in total obedience, it is worth it when we live in the reward of blessing.
When we aren't willing to give it all up, we end up losing it anyway, and we also lose the privilege of the blessing of the obedient life. Saul found that out the hard way. "'Oh, please pardon my sin now and go with me to worship the Lord.' But Samuel replied, 'It's no use! Since you have rejected the commandment of the Lord, he has rejected you from being the king of Israel.'" (I Sam. 15:26)
Oh that we could remember that there is NO cost too great in following Christ. He will never call us to do anything without giving us the strength to obey. There will be a sacrifice. It may very well be the sacrifice of our desire, our comfort, and our flesh. But it is Worth IT!
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
P Greg
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
5.13.9 "Pride Leads to Sin"
"Pride Leads to Sin"
1 Samuel 14:1-52
John 7:31-53
Psalm 109:1-31
Proverbs 15:5-7
God does great things. He moves in each of our lives in incredible ways. Sometimes we can see it, other times we miss it. As we know, Saul is a man with character flaws. Samuel has already declared that he would be replaced as king because of them. As the story in chapter 14 is told, we see Saul's flaws come to the surface.
In this chapter, Saul & his small army are positioned across the valley from the Philistine army. Saul's son Jonathan & his armor bearer decide to sneak up to attack the Philistines. God moves and the Philistines are sent into a panic. Saul & his men rally to give chase.
Saul makes a statement in verse 24-25, "Saul had declared, 'A curse upon anyone who eats anything before evening - before I have full revenge on my enemies.'".
Notice that Saul takes what the Lord is doing and makes it about himself. We have to be careful and not get personal about the things God is doing. This seemingly insignificant statement sets off a bad chain of events for the reign of Saul.
His son, Jonathan doesn't know about the curse, and eats honey. His men tell him about it, and he says, "That's ridiculous! A command like that only hurts us." Saul's prideful command gives way to his son maligning his authority.
Once Saul's men finish killing the enemy, they are so hungry, they begin to eat even raw meat which is against God's law for them. Saul's statement has now also positioned his men to sin.
At that point Saul decides he wants to hear what God has to say, but in verse 37 it says, "So Saul asked God, 'Shall we go after the Philistines? Will you help us defeat them?' But the Lord made no reply all night." There was sin in the camp that caused them to not hear the voice of God.
Saul makes the statement that "Whoever is the sinner must die. Even if it's my own son." Well, as it turns out, it is his son. He's eaten the honey...
Saul decides Jonathan must die. The men can't take it anymore, so they say, "'Jonathan, who saved Israel today, shall die? Far from it! We vow by the life of God that not one hair on his head will be touched, for he has been used of God to do a mighty miracle today.' So the people rescued Jonathan." (vs. 45)
I believe this is where Saul's reign has really fallen apart. He has lost authority in his family & in his army. What was his problem? He's impetuous, speaks without seeking God first, and is motivated by pride.
We have to be careful to understand that it's the little things in life that can cause the crumble. Just like Saul, our pride leads to sin. We do things for "me" rather than to please God. Some times the actions we take and statements we make set those around us up for trouble as well.
When we can't hear the voice of God, we must check for sin. We must make sure we are pure before him. We need to make sure we are hearing him BEFORE we move in the flesh. We need to lay down our pride and live pure, holy, and obedient before the Lord.
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
P Greg
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
1 Samuel 14:1-52
John 7:31-53
Psalm 109:1-31
Proverbs 15:5-7
God does great things. He moves in each of our lives in incredible ways. Sometimes we can see it, other times we miss it. As we know, Saul is a man with character flaws. Samuel has already declared that he would be replaced as king because of them. As the story in chapter 14 is told, we see Saul's flaws come to the surface.
In this chapter, Saul & his small army are positioned across the valley from the Philistine army. Saul's son Jonathan & his armor bearer decide to sneak up to attack the Philistines. God moves and the Philistines are sent into a panic. Saul & his men rally to give chase.
Saul makes a statement in verse 24-25, "Saul had declared, 'A curse upon anyone who eats anything before evening - before I have full revenge on my enemies.'".
Notice that Saul takes what the Lord is doing and makes it about himself. We have to be careful and not get personal about the things God is doing. This seemingly insignificant statement sets off a bad chain of events for the reign of Saul.
His son, Jonathan doesn't know about the curse, and eats honey. His men tell him about it, and he says, "That's ridiculous! A command like that only hurts us." Saul's prideful command gives way to his son maligning his authority.
Once Saul's men finish killing the enemy, they are so hungry, they begin to eat even raw meat which is against God's law for them. Saul's statement has now also positioned his men to sin.
At that point Saul decides he wants to hear what God has to say, but in verse 37 it says, "So Saul asked God, 'Shall we go after the Philistines? Will you help us defeat them?' But the Lord made no reply all night." There was sin in the camp that caused them to not hear the voice of God.
Saul makes the statement that "Whoever is the sinner must die. Even if it's my own son." Well, as it turns out, it is his son. He's eaten the honey...
Saul decides Jonathan must die. The men can't take it anymore, so they say, "'Jonathan, who saved Israel today, shall die? Far from it! We vow by the life of God that not one hair on his head will be touched, for he has been used of God to do a mighty miracle today.' So the people rescued Jonathan." (vs. 45)
I believe this is where Saul's reign has really fallen apart. He has lost authority in his family & in his army. What was his problem? He's impetuous, speaks without seeking God first, and is motivated by pride.
We have to be careful to understand that it's the little things in life that can cause the crumble. Just like Saul, our pride leads to sin. We do things for "me" rather than to please God. Some times the actions we take and statements we make set those around us up for trouble as well.
When we can't hear the voice of God, we must check for sin. We must make sure we are pure before him. We need to make sure we are hearing him BEFORE we move in the flesh. We need to lay down our pride and live pure, holy, and obedient before the Lord.
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
P Greg
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
5.12.9 "God's Timing"
"God's Timing"
1 Samuel 12:1-13:23
John 7:1-30
Psalm 108:1-13
Proverbs 15:4
How important is it to wait for God's timing? I think patience is one of the most challenging areas of growth in the Christian life. It can be frustrating to want to do something, and yet have to wait. It can even be a greater challenge when we know it's the right thing to do, and yet God says, "wait."
We all know God has a plan for our life. He gives us big dreams. He calls us to great things. Sometimes he gives a picture of what it will be like. He places the desires within us. Here's where we get into trouble. "I know God has called me to do such and such, so now I'm going to make it happen." We then manipulate situations, and circumstances to make it happen. It's not a big deal, right? I mean it's the thing he's called us to do!
In I Samuel 13, Saul and his army are waiting to go to war with the Philistines. "When the men of israel saw the vast mass of enemy troops, they lost their nerve entirely and tried to hide in caves, thickets, coverts, among the rocks, and even in tombs and cisterns... Meanwhile, Saul stayed at Gilgal, and those who were with him trembled with fear at what awaited them. Samuel had told Saul earlier to wait seven days for his arrival, but when he still didn't come, and Saul's troops were rapidly slipping away, he decided to sacrifice the burnt offering and the peace offerings himself. But just as he was finishing, Samuel arrived. Saul went out to meet him and to receive his blessing, but Samuel said, 'What is this you have done?'" (I Sam. 13:6-11)
Saul makes excuses about why he went ahead with the sacrifice, but Samuel says, "'You fool!' Samuel exclaimed. 'You have disobeyed the commandment of the Lord your God. He was planning to make you and your descendants kings of Israel forever, but now your dynasty must end; for the Lord wants a man who will obey him.'" (13:13-14)
Wow! that's a pretty heavy consequence for such a "seemingly small" step of disobedience. Why is that? Let's compare this with a conversation that Jesus has with his brothers in John 7.
"But soon it was time for the Tabernacle Ceremonies, one of the annual Jewish holidays, and Jesus' brothers urged him to go to Judea for the celebration. 'Go where more people can see your miracles!' they scoffed. 'You can't be famous when you hide like this! If you're so great, prove it to the world!' For even his brothers didn't believe in him. Jesus replied, 'It is not the right time for me to go now. But you can go anytime and it will make no difference... You go on, and I'll come later when it is the right time.'" (John 7:2-8) Jesus did end up going a little later, but "incognito".
What is the difference between Jesus and Saul? One of them understood the importance of the right timing in doing what he was called to do. There's a bigger picture. Not only is there the right thing to do, there is a right time to do it. To do the right thing at the wrong time is doing the wrong thing.
One of the things we see by the consequence upon Saul is the HUGE importance God puts on obedience. There is always more at stake than we think. When we take short cuts, we risk EVERYTHING. Jesus knew this when he was being tempted by Satan. If we don't have a full understanding of our call and the value God places on our obedience, we will sell it for a bowl of soup without even thinking about it.
You are valuable to God. When you understand that value, you will make decisions that reflect the intensity and importance of what you are called to do. Remember when Jesus says, "My yoke is easy and my burden is light."? That is only true when we are walking in step with him. If we are trying to move too fast or too slow, or turn one way or another, we are pulling against his will. We are exerting a lot of fleshly effort.
We need to constrain ourselves to his will. We need to understand the precious cargo we are carrying. We have the call of God on our life. This "burden" should not be a lack of peace. It's similar to that feeling as you walk out of the hospital with your first born. That is an almost indescribable sense. Not in the fact that it's a bad feeling, but rather you feel the awesome responsibility of doing the right thing.
Let's never forget the precious cargo of the calling and the burden of obedience that we carry with us each and every day.
The essence of the Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship is Obedience. Walk in obedience today. Obedience is better than sacrifice!
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
P Greg
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
1 Samuel 12:1-13:23
John 7:1-30
Psalm 108:1-13
Proverbs 15:4
How important is it to wait for God's timing? I think patience is one of the most challenging areas of growth in the Christian life. It can be frustrating to want to do something, and yet have to wait. It can even be a greater challenge when we know it's the right thing to do, and yet God says, "wait."
We all know God has a plan for our life. He gives us big dreams. He calls us to great things. Sometimes he gives a picture of what it will be like. He places the desires within us. Here's where we get into trouble. "I know God has called me to do such and such, so now I'm going to make it happen." We then manipulate situations, and circumstances to make it happen. It's not a big deal, right? I mean it's the thing he's called us to do!
In I Samuel 13, Saul and his army are waiting to go to war with the Philistines. "When the men of israel saw the vast mass of enemy troops, they lost their nerve entirely and tried to hide in caves, thickets, coverts, among the rocks, and even in tombs and cisterns... Meanwhile, Saul stayed at Gilgal, and those who were with him trembled with fear at what awaited them. Samuel had told Saul earlier to wait seven days for his arrival, but when he still didn't come, and Saul's troops were rapidly slipping away, he decided to sacrifice the burnt offering and the peace offerings himself. But just as he was finishing, Samuel arrived. Saul went out to meet him and to receive his blessing, but Samuel said, 'What is this you have done?'" (I Sam. 13:6-11)
Saul makes excuses about why he went ahead with the sacrifice, but Samuel says, "'You fool!' Samuel exclaimed. 'You have disobeyed the commandment of the Lord your God. He was planning to make you and your descendants kings of Israel forever, but now your dynasty must end; for the Lord wants a man who will obey him.'" (13:13-14)
Wow! that's a pretty heavy consequence for such a "seemingly small" step of disobedience. Why is that? Let's compare this with a conversation that Jesus has with his brothers in John 7.
"But soon it was time for the Tabernacle Ceremonies, one of the annual Jewish holidays, and Jesus' brothers urged him to go to Judea for the celebration. 'Go where more people can see your miracles!' they scoffed. 'You can't be famous when you hide like this! If you're so great, prove it to the world!' For even his brothers didn't believe in him. Jesus replied, 'It is not the right time for me to go now. But you can go anytime and it will make no difference... You go on, and I'll come later when it is the right time.'" (John 7:2-8) Jesus did end up going a little later, but "incognito".
What is the difference between Jesus and Saul? One of them understood the importance of the right timing in doing what he was called to do. There's a bigger picture. Not only is there the right thing to do, there is a right time to do it. To do the right thing at the wrong time is doing the wrong thing.
One of the things we see by the consequence upon Saul is the HUGE importance God puts on obedience. There is always more at stake than we think. When we take short cuts, we risk EVERYTHING. Jesus knew this when he was being tempted by Satan. If we don't have a full understanding of our call and the value God places on our obedience, we will sell it for a bowl of soup without even thinking about it.
You are valuable to God. When you understand that value, you will make decisions that reflect the intensity and importance of what you are called to do. Remember when Jesus says, "My yoke is easy and my burden is light."? That is only true when we are walking in step with him. If we are trying to move too fast or too slow, or turn one way or another, we are pulling against his will. We are exerting a lot of fleshly effort.
We need to constrain ourselves to his will. We need to understand the precious cargo we are carrying. We have the call of God on our life. This "burden" should not be a lack of peace. It's similar to that feeling as you walk out of the hospital with your first born. That is an almost indescribable sense. Not in the fact that it's a bad feeling, but rather you feel the awesome responsibility of doing the right thing.
Let's never forget the precious cargo of the calling and the burden of obedience that we carry with us each and every day.
The essence of the Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship is Obedience. Walk in obedience today. Obedience is better than sacrifice!
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
P Greg
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
Monday, May 11, 2009
5.11.9 "I Got a New Attitude!"
"I Got a New Attitude!"
1 Samuel 10:1-11:15
John 6:43-71
Psalm 107:1-43
Proverbs 15:1-3
In I Samuel 10, Samuel is anointing Saul as king. He pours oil on him and says, "I am doing this because the Lord has appointed you to be the king of his people, Israel!" (vs.1) Samuel then begins to prophecy over him, and lets him know some things that are going to happen to him on his way home.
"'At that time the Spirit of the Lord will come mightily upon you, and you will prophesy with them and you will feel and act like a different person. From that time on your decisions should be based on whatever seems best under the circumstances, for the Lord will guide you. Go to Gilgal and wait there seven days for me, for I will be coming to sacrifice burnt offerings and peace offerings. I will give you further instructions when I arrive.'
"As Saul said good-bye and started to go, God gave him a new attitude, and all of Samuel's prophecies came true that day." (I Sam. 1:6-9)
Anyone need a "new attitude"?
We must be transformed by the power of God. In John 6:57, Jesus says, "I live by the power of the living Father who sent me, and in the same way those who partake of me shall live because of me!"
Are we living the transformed life? I've used the phrase before that too often we "surrender" just enough to God to feel good about "me" instead of surrendering all to him. If we are truly living in the power of the Spirit, there is a transformation that MUST happen.
How does your attitude compare with that of one year ago? Is it the same? Are you the same person? How are you dealing with conflict? How are you dealing with trials? How are you responding to authority? What about your habits? Is it all the same?
In verse 7 Samuel had said, "From that time on your decisions should be based on whatever seems best under the circumstances..." There are many of us who think thats GREAT! We are living THAT verse! The problem is we aren't experiencing the verse before it. We are not putting ourselves in a place where we experience the transforming power of the Spirit.
Therefore, our lives are not motivated by the Spirit, but by the circumstances. We have a circumstantial theology. Our beliefs about God change with the wind.
I MUST experience the power of his Spirit! I MUST be transformed. This is not a great suggestion. This is a cry of Desperation! "Holy Spirit, Change ME!"
Often we mistake "Chronological" growth in Christ as "Maturing" in Christ. In other words, We feel that the "longer" we're saved, the better we are. That's ONLY true if the Spirit is allowed to continually transform and guide and direct and shape. The moment I step out of this process, I am in trouble. A spirit that is not continually refreshed by the presence of God quickly "spoils". It turns sour. It turns prideful, self-reliant, rebellious and stale. It becomes a stench rather than the sweet aroma it is intended to be.
Make it your priority to put yourself in a position of transformation. Walk in the Spirit. Be led by the Spirit.
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
P Greg
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
1 Samuel 10:1-11:15
John 6:43-71
Psalm 107:1-43
Proverbs 15:1-3
In I Samuel 10, Samuel is anointing Saul as king. He pours oil on him and says, "I am doing this because the Lord has appointed you to be the king of his people, Israel!" (vs.1) Samuel then begins to prophecy over him, and lets him know some things that are going to happen to him on his way home.
"'At that time the Spirit of the Lord will come mightily upon you, and you will prophesy with them and you will feel and act like a different person. From that time on your decisions should be based on whatever seems best under the circumstances, for the Lord will guide you. Go to Gilgal and wait there seven days for me, for I will be coming to sacrifice burnt offerings and peace offerings. I will give you further instructions when I arrive.'
"As Saul said good-bye and started to go, God gave him a new attitude, and all of Samuel's prophecies came true that day." (I Sam. 1:6-9)
Anyone need a "new attitude"?
We must be transformed by the power of God. In John 6:57, Jesus says, "I live by the power of the living Father who sent me, and in the same way those who partake of me shall live because of me!"
Are we living the transformed life? I've used the phrase before that too often we "surrender" just enough to God to feel good about "me" instead of surrendering all to him. If we are truly living in the power of the Spirit, there is a transformation that MUST happen.
How does your attitude compare with that of one year ago? Is it the same? Are you the same person? How are you dealing with conflict? How are you dealing with trials? How are you responding to authority? What about your habits? Is it all the same?
In verse 7 Samuel had said, "From that time on your decisions should be based on whatever seems best under the circumstances..." There are many of us who think thats GREAT! We are living THAT verse! The problem is we aren't experiencing the verse before it. We are not putting ourselves in a place where we experience the transforming power of the Spirit.
Therefore, our lives are not motivated by the Spirit, but by the circumstances. We have a circumstantial theology. Our beliefs about God change with the wind.
I MUST experience the power of his Spirit! I MUST be transformed. This is not a great suggestion. This is a cry of Desperation! "Holy Spirit, Change ME!"
Often we mistake "Chronological" growth in Christ as "Maturing" in Christ. In other words, We feel that the "longer" we're saved, the better we are. That's ONLY true if the Spirit is allowed to continually transform and guide and direct and shape. The moment I step out of this process, I am in trouble. A spirit that is not continually refreshed by the presence of God quickly "spoils". It turns sour. It turns prideful, self-reliant, rebellious and stale. It becomes a stench rather than the sweet aroma it is intended to be.
Make it your priority to put yourself in a position of transformation. Walk in the Spirit. Be led by the Spirit.
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
P Greg
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
Sunday, May 10, 2009
5.10.9 "Give Us What We Want"
"Give Us What We Want"
1 Samuel 8:1-9:27
John 6:22-42
Psalm 106:32-48
Proverbs 14:34-35
"Give us a king like all the other nations have..." (I Sam. 8:5)
"Give us free bread every day..." (John 6:31)
"... their love of idols was adultery in the sight of God." (Psalm 106:39)
There seemed to be a recurring theme in the One-Year Bible today. There's incredible danger in being selfish. When we are selfish, we lose sight of all that is right. We are not living with Christ as our Lord.
In I Samuel, the people wanted to be like other nations. They were supposed to trust in the Lord for their guidance, but they determined that just wasn't working for them. When they approached the prophet Samuel with this request, he was pretty upset about it. He goes to the Lord about it.
"'Do as they say,' the Lord replied, 'for I am the one they are rejecting, not you - they don't want me to be their king any longer. Ever since I brought them from Egypt they have continually forsaken me and followed other gods. And now they are giving you the same treatment. Do as they ask, but warn them about what it will be like to have a king!'" (I Sam. 8:7-9)
I find that to be a very sad scripture. It greatly saddens the Lord that the people refuse to accept his guidance, and he knows them well enough to know that their lesson may have to be learned the hard way. The people declare "give us what we want!" and they get it.
In John 6, Jesus sees through to the heart of the people. "'The truth of the matter is that you want to be with me because I fed you, not because you believe in me.'" (John 6:26)
What incredible love the Lord has for us. His patience is beyond what we can even understand. We are selfish people. Our prayer requests are more like a Christmas wish list than they are expressing a desire to know God more. We want him to give us what we want. We too easily forget that he is all we need.
Listen to the example that Christ sets for us. "For I have come here from heaven to do the will of God who sent me, not to have my own way." (John 6:38)
Oh that we would live THAT life. instead of petitioning for what we want we should be seeking his heart and his will. We need to know God. We need to hear his voice & walk in his ways. We need to subject our desires to him. Heaven forbid that some of our prayers are answered! When he allowed them to have a king, they found themselves given over to their own troubles. We must make sure that it's his will we want, and not earthly pleasures, or a desire to be like everyone else. We must want to know him!
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
P Greg
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
1 Samuel 8:1-9:27
John 6:22-42
Psalm 106:32-48
Proverbs 14:34-35
"Give us a king like all the other nations have..." (I Sam. 8:5)
"Give us free bread every day..." (John 6:31)
"... their love of idols was adultery in the sight of God." (Psalm 106:39)
There seemed to be a recurring theme in the One-Year Bible today. There's incredible danger in being selfish. When we are selfish, we lose sight of all that is right. We are not living with Christ as our Lord.
In I Samuel, the people wanted to be like other nations. They were supposed to trust in the Lord for their guidance, but they determined that just wasn't working for them. When they approached the prophet Samuel with this request, he was pretty upset about it. He goes to the Lord about it.
"'Do as they say,' the Lord replied, 'for I am the one they are rejecting, not you - they don't want me to be their king any longer. Ever since I brought them from Egypt they have continually forsaken me and followed other gods. And now they are giving you the same treatment. Do as they ask, but warn them about what it will be like to have a king!'" (I Sam. 8:7-9)
I find that to be a very sad scripture. It greatly saddens the Lord that the people refuse to accept his guidance, and he knows them well enough to know that their lesson may have to be learned the hard way. The people declare "give us what we want!" and they get it.
In John 6, Jesus sees through to the heart of the people. "'The truth of the matter is that you want to be with me because I fed you, not because you believe in me.'" (John 6:26)
What incredible love the Lord has for us. His patience is beyond what we can even understand. We are selfish people. Our prayer requests are more like a Christmas wish list than they are expressing a desire to know God more. We want him to give us what we want. We too easily forget that he is all we need.
Listen to the example that Christ sets for us. "For I have come here from heaven to do the will of God who sent me, not to have my own way." (John 6:38)
Oh that we would live THAT life. instead of petitioning for what we want we should be seeking his heart and his will. We need to know God. We need to hear his voice & walk in his ways. We need to subject our desires to him. Heaven forbid that some of our prayers are answered! When he allowed them to have a king, they found themselves given over to their own troubles. We must make sure that it's his will we want, and not earthly pleasures, or a desire to be like everyone else. We must want to know him!
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
P Greg
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
Saturday, May 9, 2009
5.9.9 "Leanness of Soul"
"Leanness of Soul"
1 Samuel 5:1-7:17
John 6:1-21
Psalm 106:13-31
Proverbs 14:32-33
Today's reading from Psalms is sad. The chapter starts out talking about the greatness of God, and how awesome it was that he delivered them from the bondage of Egypt. But listen to this:
"Yet how quickly they forgot again! They wouldn't wait for him to act, but demanded better food, testing God's patience to the breaking point. So he gave them their demands, but sent them leanness in their souls." (Ps106:13-14)
The scriptures that follow lay out the continuous cycle of the rebellion and waywardness of God's people.
It's verse 14 that sticks in my mind. "So he gave them their demands, but sent them leanness in their souls." I was thinking about how true that is. When we get what we want, there is something lacking inside of us.
Think of it like a spoiled child. If you've ever experienced a child who gets whatever they ask for, you notice something. Yes, they have a lot of stuff, but they're not happy. There's something lacking inside. Many times it's a matter of ungratefulness, or rudeness, but there's almost a "leanness of soul" that is visible.
How would you describe "leanness of soul"? It would be a life that's never satisfied. It would be a life that's self-centered and constantly looking for gratification. It would be a life that compromises moral standards for the sake of self. All of this would still result in an incredible emptiness that is beyond description. There would be an attempt to fill the void with more things, more food, medication, alcohol, noise, anything to hide the need.
That sounds a lot like the state of the world around us. As we meet people everyday we are looking into the eyes of people who are getting "what they want", and living life "my way", but they are experiencing leanness of soul.
I'm not just talking about people who don't know Christ. I think often the people of God do things their own way and find themselves outside the umbrella of God's pleasure, and it's a bad place to be.
Whenever we elevate our opinions or desires above the will of God, we are in danger of this. We risk the joy of hearing his voice. We risk the abundant life he has for us. In Deuteronomy it speaks of the danger of forgetting God when we are "fat" with his blessings. We must never take for granted the greatness of our God the way the Israelites did. We must humbly accept his will for our lives.
We must find our satisfaction in him. We must live in the blessing of his timing. We must rejoice in his provision, and allow his Spirit to fill our souls with abundant life.
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
P Greg
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
1 Samuel 5:1-7:17
John 6:1-21
Psalm 106:13-31
Proverbs 14:32-33
Today's reading from Psalms is sad. The chapter starts out talking about the greatness of God, and how awesome it was that he delivered them from the bondage of Egypt. But listen to this:
"Yet how quickly they forgot again! They wouldn't wait for him to act, but demanded better food, testing God's patience to the breaking point. So he gave them their demands, but sent them leanness in their souls." (Ps106:13-14)
The scriptures that follow lay out the continuous cycle of the rebellion and waywardness of God's people.
It's verse 14 that sticks in my mind. "So he gave them their demands, but sent them leanness in their souls." I was thinking about how true that is. When we get what we want, there is something lacking inside of us.
Think of it like a spoiled child. If you've ever experienced a child who gets whatever they ask for, you notice something. Yes, they have a lot of stuff, but they're not happy. There's something lacking inside. Many times it's a matter of ungratefulness, or rudeness, but there's almost a "leanness of soul" that is visible.
How would you describe "leanness of soul"? It would be a life that's never satisfied. It would be a life that's self-centered and constantly looking for gratification. It would be a life that compromises moral standards for the sake of self. All of this would still result in an incredible emptiness that is beyond description. There would be an attempt to fill the void with more things, more food, medication, alcohol, noise, anything to hide the need.
That sounds a lot like the state of the world around us. As we meet people everyday we are looking into the eyes of people who are getting "what they want", and living life "my way", but they are experiencing leanness of soul.
I'm not just talking about people who don't know Christ. I think often the people of God do things their own way and find themselves outside the umbrella of God's pleasure, and it's a bad place to be.
Whenever we elevate our opinions or desires above the will of God, we are in danger of this. We risk the joy of hearing his voice. We risk the abundant life he has for us. In Deuteronomy it speaks of the danger of forgetting God when we are "fat" with his blessings. We must never take for granted the greatness of our God the way the Israelites did. We must humbly accept his will for our lives.
We must find our satisfaction in him. We must live in the blessing of his timing. We must rejoice in his provision, and allow his Spirit to fill our souls with abundant life.
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
P Greg
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
Friday, May 8, 2009
5.8.9 "Recognizing the Voice of God"
"Recognizing the Voice of God"
1 Samuel 2:22-4:22
John 5:24-47
Psalm 106:1-12
Proverbs 14:30-31
How does God speak to you? There have been times in my life where I've felt like I've sensed his voice loud and clear. There have been other times when I'm not sure. What is necessary in helping us find his voice?
I love the book of I Samuel. God has used many of these passages to transform my life. We read yesterday about Hannah and how she gave Samuel to the service of the Lord. Today in chapter 3 we read a story I remember hearing when I was just a kid. It's the story of God calling to Samuel.
"Meanwhile little Samuel was helping the Lord by assisting Eli. Messages from the Lord were very rare in those days, but one night after Eli had gone to bed... and Samuel was sleeping in the Temple near the Ark, the Lord called out, 'Samuel! Samuel!' 'Yes?' Samuel replied, 'What is it?' He jumped up and ran to Eli. 'Here I am. What do you want?' he asked.
"'I didn't call you,' Eli said. 'Go on back to bed.' So he did. Then the Lord called again, 'Samuel!' And again Samuel jumped up and ran to Eli. 'Yes?' he asked 'What do you need?' 'No, I didn't call you, my son,' Eli said. 'Go on back to bed.' (Samuel had never had a message from Jehovah before.)
"So now the Lord called the third time, and once more Samuel jumped up and ran to Eli. 'Yes?' he asked. 'What do you need?' Then Eli realized it was the Lord who had spoken to the child. So he said to Samuel, 'Go and lie down again, and if he calls again, say, "Yes, Lord, I'm listening."' So Samuel went back to bed.
"And the Lord came and called as before, 'Samuel! Samuel!' And Samuel replied, 'Yes, I'm listening.'" (I Sam. 3:1-10)
I probably didn't need to type in all 10 verses, but there's so much within the context of the story.
Look at verse 1. "Messages from the Lord were very rare in those days..." Why is that? Eli is the High Priest, and his two sons, Hophni & Phineas were living wicked lives. I Sam 2:22 says, "Eli was now very old, but he was aware of what was going on around him. He knew, for instance, that his sons were seducing the young women who assisted at the entrance of the Temple."
God cannot dwell where sin abounds. When we allow sin in our lives, it clouds his voice. If we are having trouble hearing God, we need to take the time to make sure we are pure before him. Disobedience causes us to disconnect from his voice. There are many times when I've talked to those who are trying to hear God and I'll ask them, "What's the last thing you KNOW he told you to do." They'll say what it is. It's often something very small. I then ask, "did you do it?" Their response is usually, "Well, no, but..."
It's like hanging up the phone to God and wondering why we can't hear him. It doesn't make any sense at all.
Also, take note of how Samuel is sleeping near the Ark. In the Old Testament, the Ark represents God's presence. To hear his voice, we need to put ourselves in a position of hearing him. We have noisy lives. Most people wake up to alarm clocks set to radio stations, (one morning Lisa's radio got accidently set to a mexican polka station... easy to get up that day!) Many have the TV on day & night, and there's rarely a chance for peace & quiet. There's no time set aside to be near "the Ark". There's no quieting of the heart to even give our ears a chance to hear him.
Probably what I think the main point of this story is, is the fact that Samuel had to LEARN to recognize the voice of God. He heard something, and it was Eli who told him how to recognize it. We need to teach one another how to hear the voice of God. When someone says, "God told me..." Ask how he told them. Not to discredit it, but to learn from it. For me, I've never heard an "audible" voice from God. I've never heard with my physical ears. But at the same time, I've felt an intense pressure in my chest, knowing it's his voice. (Not the heart attack kind of pressure!)
For me, when I hear his voice, it USUALLY is not a big thing. It's usually small. It often stems from something like, "you should call so-and-so to see how they're doing". It's even smaller than that sometimes. What I'm learning is that as I become obedient to those little things he does tell me, I am in a place to recognize in a greater way the "big" things he's telling me.
In the NIV I Sam. 3:19 says, "The Lord was with Samuel as he grew up, and he let none of his words fall to the ground." Hearing the voice of God and responding to it became a way of life to Samuel. That's the way I want to be. I want to want what God wants. I want to say what God wants me to say. I want to do what He wants me to do.
That can only happen as I learn to recognize his voice.
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
P Greg
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
1 Samuel 2:22-4:22
John 5:24-47
Psalm 106:1-12
Proverbs 14:30-31
How does God speak to you? There have been times in my life where I've felt like I've sensed his voice loud and clear. There have been other times when I'm not sure. What is necessary in helping us find his voice?
I love the book of I Samuel. God has used many of these passages to transform my life. We read yesterday about Hannah and how she gave Samuel to the service of the Lord. Today in chapter 3 we read a story I remember hearing when I was just a kid. It's the story of God calling to Samuel.
"Meanwhile little Samuel was helping the Lord by assisting Eli. Messages from the Lord were very rare in those days, but one night after Eli had gone to bed... and Samuel was sleeping in the Temple near the Ark, the Lord called out, 'Samuel! Samuel!' 'Yes?' Samuel replied, 'What is it?' He jumped up and ran to Eli. 'Here I am. What do you want?' he asked.
"'I didn't call you,' Eli said. 'Go on back to bed.' So he did. Then the Lord called again, 'Samuel!' And again Samuel jumped up and ran to Eli. 'Yes?' he asked 'What do you need?' 'No, I didn't call you, my son,' Eli said. 'Go on back to bed.' (Samuel had never had a message from Jehovah before.)
"So now the Lord called the third time, and once more Samuel jumped up and ran to Eli. 'Yes?' he asked. 'What do you need?' Then Eli realized it was the Lord who had spoken to the child. So he said to Samuel, 'Go and lie down again, and if he calls again, say, "Yes, Lord, I'm listening."' So Samuel went back to bed.
"And the Lord came and called as before, 'Samuel! Samuel!' And Samuel replied, 'Yes, I'm listening.'" (I Sam. 3:1-10)
I probably didn't need to type in all 10 verses, but there's so much within the context of the story.
Look at verse 1. "Messages from the Lord were very rare in those days..." Why is that? Eli is the High Priest, and his two sons, Hophni & Phineas were living wicked lives. I Sam 2:22 says, "Eli was now very old, but he was aware of what was going on around him. He knew, for instance, that his sons were seducing the young women who assisted at the entrance of the Temple."
God cannot dwell where sin abounds. When we allow sin in our lives, it clouds his voice. If we are having trouble hearing God, we need to take the time to make sure we are pure before him. Disobedience causes us to disconnect from his voice. There are many times when I've talked to those who are trying to hear God and I'll ask them, "What's the last thing you KNOW he told you to do." They'll say what it is. It's often something very small. I then ask, "did you do it?" Their response is usually, "Well, no, but..."
It's like hanging up the phone to God and wondering why we can't hear him. It doesn't make any sense at all.
Also, take note of how Samuel is sleeping near the Ark. In the Old Testament, the Ark represents God's presence. To hear his voice, we need to put ourselves in a position of hearing him. We have noisy lives. Most people wake up to alarm clocks set to radio stations, (one morning Lisa's radio got accidently set to a mexican polka station... easy to get up that day!) Many have the TV on day & night, and there's rarely a chance for peace & quiet. There's no time set aside to be near "the Ark". There's no quieting of the heart to even give our ears a chance to hear him.
Probably what I think the main point of this story is, is the fact that Samuel had to LEARN to recognize the voice of God. He heard something, and it was Eli who told him how to recognize it. We need to teach one another how to hear the voice of God. When someone says, "God told me..." Ask how he told them. Not to discredit it, but to learn from it. For me, I've never heard an "audible" voice from God. I've never heard with my physical ears. But at the same time, I've felt an intense pressure in my chest, knowing it's his voice. (Not the heart attack kind of pressure!)
For me, when I hear his voice, it USUALLY is not a big thing. It's usually small. It often stems from something like, "you should call so-and-so to see how they're doing". It's even smaller than that sometimes. What I'm learning is that as I become obedient to those little things he does tell me, I am in a place to recognize in a greater way the "big" things he's telling me.
In the NIV I Sam. 3:19 says, "The Lord was with Samuel as he grew up, and he let none of his words fall to the ground." Hearing the voice of God and responding to it became a way of life to Samuel. That's the way I want to be. I want to want what God wants. I want to say what God wants me to say. I want to do what He wants me to do.
That can only happen as I learn to recognize his voice.
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
P Greg
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
Thursday, May 7, 2009
5.7.9 "Prompted by Pain"
"Prompted by Pain"
1 Samuel 1:1-2:21
John 5:1-23
Psalm 105:37-45
Proverbs 14:28-29
There is Preciousness in Frustration! What??? How can that be? Frustration is a bad thing isn't it???
The story of Hannah in the first chapter of I Samuel is the story that first got me thinking about the Preciousness of Frustration.
Hannah is barren. What makes this even more difficult is that her husband's other wife Peninnah has children. "Peninnah made matters worse by taunting Hannah because of her barrenness. Every year it was the same - Peninnah scoffing and laughing at her as they went to Shiloh, making her cry so much she couldn't eat." (I Sam 1:6-7)
There are times in our lives when we may be in a situation like this. We are hurt, and we are frustrated. We may even feel angry. We don't realize what is at stake in these moments. We too often don't understand the importance of our next step.
What was Hannah's response to the pain? She went to God in worship. "She was in deep anguish and was crying bitterly as she prayed to the Lord. And she made this vow: 'O Lord of heaven, if you will look down upon my sorrow and answer my prayer and give me a son, then I will give him back to you, and he'll be yours for his entire lifetime, and his hair shall never be cut." (1:10-11)
As if she wasn't frustrated enough, Eli, the priest at the tabernacle, saw the way she was praying and accused her of being drunk. For me, I think that would be the last straw. That would be my signal to go off on someone. I would use my pain to fuel an explosion of fleshly venom. Not Hannah. She responds in humility and respect.
And guess what...God answers prayer! And to make the story even more profound, she commits a tremendous act of obedience, as she returns to the Tabernacle to present her son, Samuel to the Lord's service. This boy Samuel becomes a great man of God.
In life we will have pain. What will we do with it? In our "victim" society we excuse inappropriate actions because we are "hurting". In Christian circles we say, "I'm just venting...". We need to recognize pain and frustration as an opportunity for God to move. The Obstacle is the Opportunity. As is the case in the story of Hannah, "The Greater the Pain, the Greater the Promise." From her great anguish came the man who would lead the people back to God.
Who would have thought that Hannah's barrenness was connected to God's plan for greatness. Who would have thought that the frustration you are going through is actually the pathway to an incredible move of God in your life and the lives of those around you.
There is only one appropriate response to pain and frustration. It's the pathway of seeking God. Of worshiping Him and responding to His direction with radical obedience. When we live THAT Lifestyle of Worship, we will understand "Dynamic" at a whole new level!
Seek him today, hear his voice. Cry out to Him. He's got great plans for you!
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
P Greg
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
1 Samuel 1:1-2:21
John 5:1-23
Psalm 105:37-45
Proverbs 14:28-29
There is Preciousness in Frustration! What??? How can that be? Frustration is a bad thing isn't it???
The story of Hannah in the first chapter of I Samuel is the story that first got me thinking about the Preciousness of Frustration.
Hannah is barren. What makes this even more difficult is that her husband's other wife Peninnah has children. "Peninnah made matters worse by taunting Hannah because of her barrenness. Every year it was the same - Peninnah scoffing and laughing at her as they went to Shiloh, making her cry so much she couldn't eat." (I Sam 1:6-7)
There are times in our lives when we may be in a situation like this. We are hurt, and we are frustrated. We may even feel angry. We don't realize what is at stake in these moments. We too often don't understand the importance of our next step.
What was Hannah's response to the pain? She went to God in worship. "She was in deep anguish and was crying bitterly as she prayed to the Lord. And she made this vow: 'O Lord of heaven, if you will look down upon my sorrow and answer my prayer and give me a son, then I will give him back to you, and he'll be yours for his entire lifetime, and his hair shall never be cut." (1:10-11)
As if she wasn't frustrated enough, Eli, the priest at the tabernacle, saw the way she was praying and accused her of being drunk. For me, I think that would be the last straw. That would be my signal to go off on someone. I would use my pain to fuel an explosion of fleshly venom. Not Hannah. She responds in humility and respect.
And guess what...God answers prayer! And to make the story even more profound, she commits a tremendous act of obedience, as she returns to the Tabernacle to present her son, Samuel to the Lord's service. This boy Samuel becomes a great man of God.
In life we will have pain. What will we do with it? In our "victim" society we excuse inappropriate actions because we are "hurting". In Christian circles we say, "I'm just venting...". We need to recognize pain and frustration as an opportunity for God to move. The Obstacle is the Opportunity. As is the case in the story of Hannah, "The Greater the Pain, the Greater the Promise." From her great anguish came the man who would lead the people back to God.
Who would have thought that Hannah's barrenness was connected to God's plan for greatness. Who would have thought that the frustration you are going through is actually the pathway to an incredible move of God in your life and the lives of those around you.
There is only one appropriate response to pain and frustration. It's the pathway of seeking God. Of worshiping Him and responding to His direction with radical obedience. When we live THAT Lifestyle of Worship, we will understand "Dynamic" at a whole new level!
Seek him today, hear his voice. Cry out to Him. He's got great plans for you!
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
P Greg
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
5.6.9 "Reverence"
"Reverence"
Ruth 2:1-4:22
John 4:43-54
Psalm 105:16-36
Proverbs 14:26-27
"Reverence for God gives a man deep strength; his children have a place of refuge and security. Reverence for the Lord is a fountain of life; its waters keep a man from death." (Prov. 14:26-27)
In the dictionary "reverence" means "A feeling of profound awe and respect and often love." Looking at today's verse from Proverbs, I'm challenged to rate myself on the "reverence scale". Do I have "reverence" for God?
We have the privilege and benefit of being New Testament believers. We understand that we can "boldly approach the throne of grace." The danger in stating "I am a friend of God" is that we can turn it in to a very casual thing and lose the sense of reverencing God. That's not supposed to happen. Yes, Jesus died on the cross to bridge the gap between God and man, but in no way did that make God less holy, nor did it negate the fact that we need to reverence him.
As I read these verses today I was looking at the "benefit" of reverence.
"Deep strength". Do I want that? Who doesn't! What I think of is the ability to remain stable in any storm. The Christian life can have storms. I don't think that comes to anyone as a shock. As we mature in Christ, these storms should not have as great effect on us as they did before. We should increase our stability. This comes through reverencing God. Reverencing God is not walking into his kitchen throwing open his fridge, and drinking a miracle from the carton. Reverencing God is trusting him in any situation to equip us with what we need to carry out his will.
"... his children have a place of refuge and security." Do I want that for my daughter? You bet I do! I don't know if you've seen children who do not have this safety and security. They walk through life as if they're carrying a suitcase full of rocks of fear and insecurity. Peace is hard to find. When I have reverence for God, I am not only finding my strength, I am paving the road to peace for those around me.
"... a fountain of life; it's waters keep a man from death." Sound good? count me in! The "fountain of youth" seemed to be the plot of a bunch of different shows when I was a kid. Everyone wants to find the "magical" formula to cheat death. The truth is that the fountain of life is found in Reverence for God. No, it wont necessarily keep you "young", and you may still get wrinkles, but you will experience life more abundantly!
I cannot find a reason why I wouldn't want to reverence God. As I try to think of what holds me back from it, all I can come up with is the issue of "forgetfulness". I think we just "forget" to reverence him. When I don't show him reverence, I do things my own way. I treat his laws casually. I don't walk in obedience, and I don't discipline myself to study the Word. If I want to Live the DREAM, I must reverence the Lord.
Show Him Reverence today!
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
P Greg
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
Ruth 2:1-4:22
John 4:43-54
Psalm 105:16-36
Proverbs 14:26-27
"Reverence for God gives a man deep strength; his children have a place of refuge and security. Reverence for the Lord is a fountain of life; its waters keep a man from death." (Prov. 14:26-27)
In the dictionary "reverence" means "A feeling of profound awe and respect and often love." Looking at today's verse from Proverbs, I'm challenged to rate myself on the "reverence scale". Do I have "reverence" for God?
We have the privilege and benefit of being New Testament believers. We understand that we can "boldly approach the throne of grace." The danger in stating "I am a friend of God" is that we can turn it in to a very casual thing and lose the sense of reverencing God. That's not supposed to happen. Yes, Jesus died on the cross to bridge the gap between God and man, but in no way did that make God less holy, nor did it negate the fact that we need to reverence him.
As I read these verses today I was looking at the "benefit" of reverence.
"Deep strength". Do I want that? Who doesn't! What I think of is the ability to remain stable in any storm. The Christian life can have storms. I don't think that comes to anyone as a shock. As we mature in Christ, these storms should not have as great effect on us as they did before. We should increase our stability. This comes through reverencing God. Reverencing God is not walking into his kitchen throwing open his fridge, and drinking a miracle from the carton. Reverencing God is trusting him in any situation to equip us with what we need to carry out his will.
"... his children have a place of refuge and security." Do I want that for my daughter? You bet I do! I don't know if you've seen children who do not have this safety and security. They walk through life as if they're carrying a suitcase full of rocks of fear and insecurity. Peace is hard to find. When I have reverence for God, I am not only finding my strength, I am paving the road to peace for those around me.
"... a fountain of life; it's waters keep a man from death." Sound good? count me in! The "fountain of youth" seemed to be the plot of a bunch of different shows when I was a kid. Everyone wants to find the "magical" formula to cheat death. The truth is that the fountain of life is found in Reverence for God. No, it wont necessarily keep you "young", and you may still get wrinkles, but you will experience life more abundantly!
I cannot find a reason why I wouldn't want to reverence God. As I try to think of what holds me back from it, all I can come up with is the issue of "forgetfulness". I think we just "forget" to reverence him. When I don't show him reverence, I do things my own way. I treat his laws casually. I don't walk in obedience, and I don't discipline myself to study the Word. If I want to Live the DREAM, I must reverence the Lord.
Show Him Reverence today!
Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!
P Greg
Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ
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