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


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