Mar 4:5 And some fell on stony ground, where it had not much earth; and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of earth
Mar 4:6 But when the sun was up, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away.
Roots deep into the earth.
Roots deep into the word of God.
Mar 4:16 And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness;
Mar 4:17 And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word's sake, immediately they are offended.
When affliction or persecution arises for Jesus' sake.
How often would you say you are afflicted or persecuted for Jesus' sake? Take a few moments and think about it. Take a few more minutes if you need to. For worshipping God, for loving God, for believing in Jesus, for following your Savior- when were you afflicted for that? When were you persecuted. I don't know about you, but I'm afflicted and persecuted daily. No, I don't get stones thrown at me. I don't have people rioting about my house threatening to kill me. I don't have people verbally abusing me for my faith. Many are persecuted that way, many are afflicted with heavy burdens by other people for their faith, probably a lot more people than we realize face a lot of hardship just because they believe in God and God's Son.
The affliction and persecution I'm talking about is different than the sort we often envision upon reading these verses. We think back to the early days of Christianity and how horrifically the followers of Christ were treated- tortured mercilessly. We think of that sort of persecution and often fail to consider this other sort of persecution and affliction.
Eph 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
The Contemporary English Version of the Bible says this--
(CEV) We are not fighting against humans. We are fighting against forces and authorities and against rulers of darkness and powers in the spiritual world.
The International Standard Version says this--
(ISV) For our struggle is not against a human opponent, but against rulers, against authorities, against cosmic powers in the darkness around us, against evil spiritual forces in the heavenly realm.
Struggling, fighting, wrestling- does this sound like affliction and persecution? To struggle, to fight, to wrestle you have to have an opponent to do this with. Even when people say they are fighting with themselves they are fighting against opposing self desires- the desire to follow God and do things acceptable to Him and the desire to follow self and fall to the tempter's snares. A fight involves at least a dual component.
Our persecution is a daily, on going event in our lives and like a lot of things some days it will be more and some days less. The afflictions can come at any time and make no mistake, most of our upsets are Satan induced. If Satan can persecute us and get us to give up on God, get us to lose faith, he will!
Mar 4:16 And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness;
Mar 4:17 And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word's sake, immediately they are offended.
People hearing about Jesus, people lost in the love of Jesus, people immersed in the new birth with their Savior seem to have a protective bubble about them. The newness of it all just overwhelms every other thing in life. The invincibility of that new walk with Christ truly is like that seed falling to the ground and finding all it needs to come to life. The hard outer shell of the seed breaks open due to the nutrients it finds in the soil and along with moisture and sunlight it begins its new life. How happy are you when you sow seeds and a few days or so later you witness the seedling rising from the ground. I don't know about you but I'm thrilled! I love witnessing the sight of new life, new growth it sparks something inside me to see the fruitfulness of that dry seed becoming so much more. Then I watch it, tending it and day after day I'm pleased with it's growing. I'm not pleased when one of the seedlings withers and dies, not pleased at all. When that root doesn't take, and there is no protection in the little seedling to keep the sun's heat from destroying it, I'm far from happy. The death of that new life is tragic. Seriously. Maybe it's not tragic on the level of human life, but it's still life that has withered up and away never reaching its full potential, its full growth. When we do NOT partake of the spiritual food necessary to our spiritual growth, we will wither up and away as well. I don't care if you've been a Christian for two days, two months, two years, or two decades- your spiritual life can die. As a new Christian facing hardship - facing spiritual persecution and affliction, yes, you're more likely to just return to your former life. But any Christian is susceptible to succumbing to the scorching heat of Satan's abuse. The oldest living tree could have the deepest roots, the thickest trunk, but it too can die if all it's sustenance is taken away- it might take awhile but it will die.
We need to recognize that spiritual affliction can be found in the smallest thing that irritates us. Satan would have us just blow it off to being part of 'life', but in truth he's hard at work using every little thing he can to afflict us, to persecute us and ruin our Christian life. Anything that would take us away from our walk with Christ is potential disaster. We need to protect our roots, nurture our roots. If we want to be strong Christians we have to have very deep roots buried in the Word of God, buried in our Savior, entwined and twisted about each and every word of our Lord - ready to draw all the spiritual nutrients we can from our source of spiritual sustenance.
By the grace and mercy of our Savior!
Amen.
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Monday, December 13, 2010
God's Way
As David lived with the Philistines and the Philistines prepared to do battle against God's chosen people, Israel, not all the Philistines were pleased with David- an Israelite who had fought against them- who had slain Goliath, who had been touted as having slain thousands of those against Israelites.
Read this…
1Sa 29:1 Now the Philistines gathered together all their armies to Aphek: and the Israelites pitched by a fountain which is in Jezreel.
1Sa 29:2 And the lords of the Philistines passed on by hundreds, and by thousands: but David and his men passed on in the rereward with Achish.
1Sa 29:3 Then said the princes of the Philistines, What do these Hebrews here? And Achish said unto the princes of the Philistines, Is not this David, the servant of Saul the king of Israel, which hath been with me these days, or these years, and I have found no fault in him since he fell unto me unto this day?
1Sa 29:4 And the princes of the Philistines were wroth with him; and the princes of the Philistines said unto him, Make this fellow return, that he may go again to his place which thou hast appointed him, and let him not go down with us to battle, lest in the battle he be an adversary to us: for wherewith should he reconcile himself unto his master? should it not be with the heads of these men?
1Sa 29:5 Is not this David, of whom they sang one to another in dances, saying, Saul slew his thousands, and David his ten thousands?
They didn't want David and his armies to fight with them, they were worried David would turn on them instead of fighting against his own people. Yes, Saul was his enemy. Yes, Saul wanted him dead, but more than once David could have slain Saul and yet he spared his life because he'd been anointed king by God Himself and David wasn't about to murder him- even though Saul had no trouble wanting David murdered.
Imagine it, seriously, make it personal to you for a moment. You are taken in by a king appointed by God so and then that king turns on you. You have to run and hide so you're not murdered by this king and his minions. Then miraculously you are presented with an opportunity to kill before you are killed, your mortal enemy is right there- delivered into your hands seemingly by God Himself! No one would fault you for killing someone who is trying to kill you first, no one. It's self-defense right? It's self preservation! Can you imagine living knowing someone is out to kill you? We'd go to the police and they'd try to get a hold of this person and see if there is any real threat. They might issue a restraining order which we ALL know means NOTHING if someone wants you dead- they aren't caring about obeying an order of restraint. How many battered woman have taken out restraining orders on abusive husbands only to be killed by them, how much is that order really worth in the grand scheme of things? Still we obey the law and get that restraining order and hope for the best. Sometimes we'll get a weapon to defend ourselves- pepper spray, a gun, a knife. We do this so we can try to protect our lives just incase the one who is after us gets close enough to try and hurt us. Now I've just been describing this in more civil terms and not warfare related. Let's take it to the battlefield where there is an army intent on killing you for your enemy's sake. Imagine our soliders over in Afghanistan being hunted by a band of killers, they miraculously get into a situation where they come upon those hunting them and can over take them- the LEAST they would do would be to take them prisoner- right? Would they ever just choose to let them go? Maybe but it wouldn't be something considered prudent, would it?
David could have killed his arch nemesis, Saul, but David didn't dare because he feared God more than he feared man.
The Philistines knew that David had done this, they knew that David had spared the life of their enemy even though that enemy was set on killing David. It's no wonder at all that they didn't want David going to war with them. They really couldn't trust that during battle David would kill those they were killing. It was the right thing to do to send David and his armies back. How did David react to this...
1Sa 29:6 Then Achish called David, and said unto him, Surely, as the LORD liveth, thou hast been upright, and thy going out and thy coming in with me in the host is good in my sight: for I have not found evil in thee since the day of thy coming unto me unto this day: nevertheless the lords favour thee not.
1Sa 29:7 Wherefore now return, and go in peace, that thou displease not the lords of the Philistines.
1Sa 29:8 And David said unto Achish, But what have I done? and what hast thou found in thy servant so long as I have been with thee unto this day, that I may not go fight against the enemies of my lord the king?
David wasn't happy with being sent away from the battle to come, was he? He asked- 'What have I done? I've been with you all this time and did nothing against you. I want to fight against the enemies of my lord the king.'
David was giving his civil allegiance to the Philistine King, not to King Saul. David was giving his allegiance to the one giving him shelter from Saul. But it wasn't enough.
1Sa 29:9 And Achish answered and said to David, I know that thou art good in my sight, as an angel of God: notwithstanding the princes of the Philistines have said, He shall not go up with us to the battle.
1Sa 29:10 Wherefore now rise up early in the morning with thy master's servants that are come with thee: and as soon as ye be up early in the morning, and have light, depart.
1Sa 29:11 So David and his men rose up early to depart in the morning, to return into the land of the Philistines. And the Philistines went up to Jezreel.
The king found nothing wrong with David, King Achish called him 'an angel of God'. Still David had to leave.
Isn't it all a little bizarre? To us it's strange and yet God had it all in hand. God uses situations, God allows situations that we can't possibly understand, to take place for our own good yet we can't always see that. We have to have… FAITH. David was holding fast to God in faith in the situations he was in.
After David was sent back to where he lived this happened…
1Sa 30:1 And it came to pass, when David and his men were come to Ziklag on the third day, that the Amalekites had invaded the south, and Ziklag, and smitten Ziklag, and burned it with fire;
1Sa 30:2 And had taken the women captives, that were therein: they slew not any, either great or small, but carried them away, and went on their way.
1Sa 30:3 So David and his men came to the city, and, behold, it was burned with fire; and their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, were taken captives
Another enemy can attacked while they were gone, taking their wives, their children, their goods!
So what does David do? Does he rush off to get them back? NO. David consulted God first!
1Sa 30:7 And David said to Abiathar the priest, Ahimelech's son, I pray thee, bring me hither the ephod. And Abiathar brought thither the ephod to David.
1Sa 30:8 And David enquired at the LORD, saying, Shall I pursue after this troop? shall I overtake them? And he answered him, Pursue: for thou shalt surely overtake them, and without fail recover all.
David's trust in God was amazing! Is it any wonder God favored him????
1Sa 30:17 And David smote them from the twilight even unto the evening of the next day: and there escaped not a man of them, save four hundred young men, which rode upon camels, and fled.
1Sa 30:18 And David recovered all that the Amalekites had carried away: and David rescued his two wives.
1Sa 30:19 And there was nothing lacking to them, neither small nor great, neither sons nor daughters, neither spoil, nor any thing that they had taken to them: David recovered all.
1Sa 30:20 And David took all the flocks and the herds, which they drave before those other cattle, and said, This is David's spoil.
David did not get to do what he wanted to do.
David wanted to go fight with the Philistine king, but he was sent away.
David did not just rush off to fight to retrieve what was stolen from him- his wife and children.
David wanted God's guidance!
We need to see the reality of David's life for what it was and not glamorize it. God worked in David's life and God will work in our lives if we give our lives to Him. God needs to come first in our lives.
We can't judge ANYONE'S situation. We don't know how God is working in people's lives. We might never imagine God in some situations using those situations for ultimate good, but it's not up to us to do so. God is in charge! God is in control! It is our job, our duty, to LOVE God and to LOVE one another, not to judge, not to presume to know things we can't possibly know.
By the grace of our Lord and Savior may we be found in Him now and forever!
In His amazing love!
Amen.
Read this…
1Sa 29:1 Now the Philistines gathered together all their armies to Aphek: and the Israelites pitched by a fountain which is in Jezreel.
1Sa 29:2 And the lords of the Philistines passed on by hundreds, and by thousands: but David and his men passed on in the rereward with Achish.
1Sa 29:3 Then said the princes of the Philistines, What do these Hebrews here? And Achish said unto the princes of the Philistines, Is not this David, the servant of Saul the king of Israel, which hath been with me these days, or these years, and I have found no fault in him since he fell unto me unto this day?
1Sa 29:4 And the princes of the Philistines were wroth with him; and the princes of the Philistines said unto him, Make this fellow return, that he may go again to his place which thou hast appointed him, and let him not go down with us to battle, lest in the battle he be an adversary to us: for wherewith should he reconcile himself unto his master? should it not be with the heads of these men?
1Sa 29:5 Is not this David, of whom they sang one to another in dances, saying, Saul slew his thousands, and David his ten thousands?
They didn't want David and his armies to fight with them, they were worried David would turn on them instead of fighting against his own people. Yes, Saul was his enemy. Yes, Saul wanted him dead, but more than once David could have slain Saul and yet he spared his life because he'd been anointed king by God Himself and David wasn't about to murder him- even though Saul had no trouble wanting David murdered.
Imagine it, seriously, make it personal to you for a moment. You are taken in by a king appointed by God so and then that king turns on you. You have to run and hide so you're not murdered by this king and his minions. Then miraculously you are presented with an opportunity to kill before you are killed, your mortal enemy is right there- delivered into your hands seemingly by God Himself! No one would fault you for killing someone who is trying to kill you first, no one. It's self-defense right? It's self preservation! Can you imagine living knowing someone is out to kill you? We'd go to the police and they'd try to get a hold of this person and see if there is any real threat. They might issue a restraining order which we ALL know means NOTHING if someone wants you dead- they aren't caring about obeying an order of restraint. How many battered woman have taken out restraining orders on abusive husbands only to be killed by them, how much is that order really worth in the grand scheme of things? Still we obey the law and get that restraining order and hope for the best. Sometimes we'll get a weapon to defend ourselves- pepper spray, a gun, a knife. We do this so we can try to protect our lives just incase the one who is after us gets close enough to try and hurt us. Now I've just been describing this in more civil terms and not warfare related. Let's take it to the battlefield where there is an army intent on killing you for your enemy's sake. Imagine our soliders over in Afghanistan being hunted by a band of killers, they miraculously get into a situation where they come upon those hunting them and can over take them- the LEAST they would do would be to take them prisoner- right? Would they ever just choose to let them go? Maybe but it wouldn't be something considered prudent, would it?
David could have killed his arch nemesis, Saul, but David didn't dare because he feared God more than he feared man.
The Philistines knew that David had done this, they knew that David had spared the life of their enemy even though that enemy was set on killing David. It's no wonder at all that they didn't want David going to war with them. They really couldn't trust that during battle David would kill those they were killing. It was the right thing to do to send David and his armies back. How did David react to this...
1Sa 29:6 Then Achish called David, and said unto him, Surely, as the LORD liveth, thou hast been upright, and thy going out and thy coming in with me in the host is good in my sight: for I have not found evil in thee since the day of thy coming unto me unto this day: nevertheless the lords favour thee not.
1Sa 29:7 Wherefore now return, and go in peace, that thou displease not the lords of the Philistines.
1Sa 29:8 And David said unto Achish, But what have I done? and what hast thou found in thy servant so long as I have been with thee unto this day, that I may not go fight against the enemies of my lord the king?
David wasn't happy with being sent away from the battle to come, was he? He asked- 'What have I done? I've been with you all this time and did nothing against you. I want to fight against the enemies of my lord the king.'
David was giving his civil allegiance to the Philistine King, not to King Saul. David was giving his allegiance to the one giving him shelter from Saul. But it wasn't enough.
1Sa 29:9 And Achish answered and said to David, I know that thou art good in my sight, as an angel of God: notwithstanding the princes of the Philistines have said, He shall not go up with us to the battle.
1Sa 29:10 Wherefore now rise up early in the morning with thy master's servants that are come with thee: and as soon as ye be up early in the morning, and have light, depart.
1Sa 29:11 So David and his men rose up early to depart in the morning, to return into the land of the Philistines. And the Philistines went up to Jezreel.
The king found nothing wrong with David, King Achish called him 'an angel of God'. Still David had to leave.
Isn't it all a little bizarre? To us it's strange and yet God had it all in hand. God uses situations, God allows situations that we can't possibly understand, to take place for our own good yet we can't always see that. We have to have… FAITH. David was holding fast to God in faith in the situations he was in.
After David was sent back to where he lived this happened…
1Sa 30:1 And it came to pass, when David and his men were come to Ziklag on the third day, that the Amalekites had invaded the south, and Ziklag, and smitten Ziklag, and burned it with fire;
1Sa 30:2 And had taken the women captives, that were therein: they slew not any, either great or small, but carried them away, and went on their way.
1Sa 30:3 So David and his men came to the city, and, behold, it was burned with fire; and their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, were taken captives
Another enemy can attacked while they were gone, taking their wives, their children, their goods!
So what does David do? Does he rush off to get them back? NO. David consulted God first!
1Sa 30:7 And David said to Abiathar the priest, Ahimelech's son, I pray thee, bring me hither the ephod. And Abiathar brought thither the ephod to David.
1Sa 30:8 And David enquired at the LORD, saying, Shall I pursue after this troop? shall I overtake them? And he answered him, Pursue: for thou shalt surely overtake them, and without fail recover all.
David's trust in God was amazing! Is it any wonder God favored him????
1Sa 30:17 And David smote them from the twilight even unto the evening of the next day: and there escaped not a man of them, save four hundred young men, which rode upon camels, and fled.
1Sa 30:18 And David recovered all that the Amalekites had carried away: and David rescued his two wives.
1Sa 30:19 And there was nothing lacking to them, neither small nor great, neither sons nor daughters, neither spoil, nor any thing that they had taken to them: David recovered all.
1Sa 30:20 And David took all the flocks and the herds, which they drave before those other cattle, and said, This is David's spoil.
David did not get to do what he wanted to do.
David wanted to go fight with the Philistine king, but he was sent away.
David did not just rush off to fight to retrieve what was stolen from him- his wife and children.
David wanted God's guidance!
We need to see the reality of David's life for what it was and not glamorize it. God worked in David's life and God will work in our lives if we give our lives to Him. God needs to come first in our lives.
We can't judge ANYONE'S situation. We don't know how God is working in people's lives. We might never imagine God in some situations using those situations for ultimate good, but it's not up to us to do so. God is in charge! God is in control! It is our job, our duty, to LOVE God and to LOVE one another, not to judge, not to presume to know things we can't possibly know.
By the grace of our Lord and Savior may we be found in Him now and forever!
In His amazing love!
Amen.
Sunday, December 12, 2010
David and the Philistines
I've been reading a bit about David lately and I want to share the following passages-
1Sa 28:1 And it came to pass in those days, that the Philistines gathered their armies together for warfare, to fight with Israel. And Achish said unto David, Know thou assuredly, that thou shalt go out with me to battle, thou and thy men.
1Sa 28:2 And David said to Achish, Surely thou shalt know what thy servant can do. And Achish said to David, Therefore will I make thee keeper of mine head for ever.
(David was dwelling with Achish- the king of Gath. Remember this…
1Sa 17:4 And there went out a champion out of the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span.
Also remember this…
1Sa 21:12 And David laid up these words in his heart, and was sore afraid of Achish the king of Gath.)
Goliath was of Gath, Achish, the king of Gath was sheltering David when David was trying to keep Saul from killing him. This is the same king David went to and feigned madness so he could escape to hide in a cave. Eventually David went to this king again and this time He went with an army of 600 men and asked the king to shelter him.
1Sa 27:5 And David said unto Achish, If I have now found grace in thine eyes, let them give me a place in some town in the country, that I may dwell there: for why should thy servant dwell in the royal city with thee?
1Sa 27:6 Then Achish gave him Ziklag that day: wherefore Ziklag pertaineth unto the kings of Judah unto this day.
1Sa 27:7 And the time that David dwelt in the country of the Philistines was a full year and four months.
As David dwelled in the lands of King Achish- the Philistines were preparing to fight against Israel. Remember David was the Lord's. David was part of Israel. David fought for the Lord against Goliath of Gath a Philistine and defeated Goliath and the Philistines. Yet here we have David taking refuge with a Philistine king and this king is preparing to war against Israel- God's chosen people, and the king expected David to go out and do battle with him against his own people.
Isn't this a super strange relationship? Think about it. God's chosen to fight against God's chosen?
David living in Philistine lands. The Philistines were godless people, the Philistines were enemies of God. The Philistines worshipped false gods-
Jdg 16:23 Then the lords of the Philistines gathered them together for to offer a great sacrifice unto Dagon their god, and to rejoice: for they said, Our god hath delivered Samson our enemy into our hand.
These worshippers of false gods were those David chose to live with, in their good graces, and yet David was NOT rejected of God for this, why? Because even though he took refuge among the godless pagans, he NEVER took on their beliefs, NEVER. David never forsook God, David never stopped worshipping God. Living in the land belonging to the godless and under s godless king, David still lived with God.
We are told often that we aren't to give place to the godless etc. etc. etc. And I'm not saying we are to choose to live with godless people. There is a GREAT danger when we associate with those who aren't God's that we'll be led astray by them- look at Solomon- the wisest of the wise. Yet, God has His ways and we cannot JUDGE the eternal life of people. We have to believe that God has His reasons for some of the situations we find ourselves in, situations that some would be shocked about. Some people who call themselves Christians, who believe they are among God's chosen are shocked and quick to judge when they see others among the ungodly. The supposed people of God in Jesus' day rejected Jesus because he dwelt with sinners! God's Son! The MESSIAH! The Holy One, associated Himself with sinners! He associated with those that people would call godless.
David wasn't living in his own little world among God's chosen people, David believed he was forced to live among the godless to protect himself from God's anointed king, Saul. God stayed with Him and God used David for His will. We don't HAVE to understand all the ways of God, we can't understand them all. We have to trust that wherever we are led that God will use us for His purposes and NOT be quick to judge the situations believing we are abandoned by God. We need to be God's always in every situation. When our understanding fails we have to believe that God's never will.
More on this tomorrow…. God willing.
All glory to our God!
In Christ now and forever!
Amen.
1Sa 28:1 And it came to pass in those days, that the Philistines gathered their armies together for warfare, to fight with Israel. And Achish said unto David, Know thou assuredly, that thou shalt go out with me to battle, thou and thy men.
1Sa 28:2 And David said to Achish, Surely thou shalt know what thy servant can do. And Achish said to David, Therefore will I make thee keeper of mine head for ever.
(David was dwelling with Achish- the king of Gath. Remember this…
1Sa 17:4 And there went out a champion out of the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span.
Also remember this…
1Sa 21:12 And David laid up these words in his heart, and was sore afraid of Achish the king of Gath.)
Goliath was of Gath, Achish, the king of Gath was sheltering David when David was trying to keep Saul from killing him. This is the same king David went to and feigned madness so he could escape to hide in a cave. Eventually David went to this king again and this time He went with an army of 600 men and asked the king to shelter him.
1Sa 27:5 And David said unto Achish, If I have now found grace in thine eyes, let them give me a place in some town in the country, that I may dwell there: for why should thy servant dwell in the royal city with thee?
1Sa 27:6 Then Achish gave him Ziklag that day: wherefore Ziklag pertaineth unto the kings of Judah unto this day.
1Sa 27:7 And the time that David dwelt in the country of the Philistines was a full year and four months.
As David dwelled in the lands of King Achish- the Philistines were preparing to fight against Israel. Remember David was the Lord's. David was part of Israel. David fought for the Lord against Goliath of Gath a Philistine and defeated Goliath and the Philistines. Yet here we have David taking refuge with a Philistine king and this king is preparing to war against Israel- God's chosen people, and the king expected David to go out and do battle with him against his own people.
Isn't this a super strange relationship? Think about it. God's chosen to fight against God's chosen?
David living in Philistine lands. The Philistines were godless people, the Philistines were enemies of God. The Philistines worshipped false gods-
Jdg 16:23 Then the lords of the Philistines gathered them together for to offer a great sacrifice unto Dagon their god, and to rejoice: for they said, Our god hath delivered Samson our enemy into our hand.
These worshippers of false gods were those David chose to live with, in their good graces, and yet David was NOT rejected of God for this, why? Because even though he took refuge among the godless pagans, he NEVER took on their beliefs, NEVER. David never forsook God, David never stopped worshipping God. Living in the land belonging to the godless and under s godless king, David still lived with God.
We are told often that we aren't to give place to the godless etc. etc. etc. And I'm not saying we are to choose to live with godless people. There is a GREAT danger when we associate with those who aren't God's that we'll be led astray by them- look at Solomon- the wisest of the wise. Yet, God has His ways and we cannot JUDGE the eternal life of people. We have to believe that God has His reasons for some of the situations we find ourselves in, situations that some would be shocked about. Some people who call themselves Christians, who believe they are among God's chosen are shocked and quick to judge when they see others among the ungodly. The supposed people of God in Jesus' day rejected Jesus because he dwelt with sinners! God's Son! The MESSIAH! The Holy One, associated Himself with sinners! He associated with those that people would call godless.
David wasn't living in his own little world among God's chosen people, David believed he was forced to live among the godless to protect himself from God's anointed king, Saul. God stayed with Him and God used David for His will. We don't HAVE to understand all the ways of God, we can't understand them all. We have to trust that wherever we are led that God will use us for His purposes and NOT be quick to judge the situations believing we are abandoned by God. We need to be God's always in every situation. When our understanding fails we have to believe that God's never will.
More on this tomorrow…. God willing.
All glory to our God!
In Christ now and forever!
Amen.
Saturday, December 11, 2010
David's Fear
1Sa 21:10 And David arose, and fled that day for fear of Saul, and went to Achish the king of Gath.
1Sa 21:11 And the servants of Achish said unto him, Is not this David the king of the land? did they not sing one to another of him in dances, saying, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands?
1Sa 21:12 And David laid up these words in his heart, and was sore afraid of Achish the king of Gath.
1Sa 21:13 And he changed his behaviour before them, and feigned himself mad in their hands, and scrabbled on the doors of the gate, and let his spittle fall down upon his beard.
1Sa 21:14 Then said Achish unto his servants, Lo, ye see the man is mad: wherefore then have ye brought him to me?
1Sa 21:15 Have I need of mad men, that ye have brought this fellow to play the mad man in my presence? shall this fellow come into my house?
1Sa 22:1 David therefore departed thence, and escaped to the cave Adullam: and when his brethren and all his father's house heard it, they went down thither to him.
When we think of David, the beloved of God, we don't often envision him fearful. He slew Goliath! He faced a giant and claiming the Lord as His champion he defeated him with a stone to the forehead, finishing him by cutting off his head. This does not sound like a man that would be fearful does it? Yet David did feel fear, GREAT fear.
We are often told that if we fear it's a sign of weakness, of not placing our trust in God. Somehow being a Christian we should have no fear at all. Of course we have Jesus telling us to fear not, and then we have this verse.
2Ti 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
Yet fear is part of our lives to a certain extent, isn't it?
It'd be foolish to come face to face with an gun wielding wild man and not feel any fear. It'd be foolish to have your car half hanging off a cliff due to an accident and feel no fear. Fear is a natural response in certain situations and that fear causes the adrenaline in our bodies to kick into gear often saving our lives.
There is situational fear and there is a general fear of life- two different things.
Luk 21:26 Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.
Living in fear of the future, living in fear, letting it overpower all our thoughts, letting fear forever eclipse the power of love found in God, isn't something from God. But to say all fear is wrong, all fear is bad, feeling fear means you're not God's- is not true.
I think that's why I found this passage about David fascinating. It didn't show a fearless warrior of God, it didn't depict David as God's champion bold and brazenly claiming God's power. This passage shows David running in fear from Saul and then being fearful of the godless king he'd run to- so fearful David quickly feigned MADNESS! David used trickery, David pretended, David deceived the king and his men into believing that he was a lunatic. The description given has David drooling into his own beard! We've all seen this sort on television at least if not real life. Mad men, men out of their minds, men so mentally distraught their mouths hang open and the salvia just flows unchecked. We've seen people scrabbling at walls, at doors with their madness controlling their actions. These types have been locked up in insane asylums, these types have been cast out, these types live on our streets among the homeless, people have shut this sort up in rooms in their own houses to protect them and others from them. Madness, not in their right minds, crazy, lunatic, we have all kinds of names for them. David pretended to be one of these people because he was fearing for his life. Was this in God's plan for David? Wouldn't God have rather had David stand up tall and meet this king in his kingdom straight on proclaiming God as his champion- able to defeat them all? Where was the fearless David who stood before the Philistines greatest champion- the giant Goliath?
See, this fearful David isn't one we know, this fearful David isn't in the story books we read to our children. We hide this David, but God didn't hide this David. This David is revealed in the word of God for us to see, for those of us who WANT to see.
The beloved of God weren't superhuman men and woman. The beloved of God were men and women just like you and I. These men and woman had great moral characters, but they had normal human emotions as well, they had normal human failings, the sin prone frailties were a part of their lives just as they are part of our lives.
We've commonly heard the tale of David and Bethsheba- David sinning and committing adultery, and murder so he could have Bethsheba, he lusted after her another man's wife. Yes, we've heard that story and it reveals David's humanity as well. I've pointed it out myself more than once. David remained God's beloved- punished for his sins- yet forgiven upon repentance, upon great remorse. Yet, this other tale of David's fear isn't something declared. David as a broken repentant man is waved about like a banner, David standing up to Goliath is so declared that even many who don't follow God still know that story.
I think it's important for us to see the whole picture. We can shove this fearful David aside, we can hide Him because there is not great tale of bravery or overcoming, but we shouldn't. We need to see this David - sore afraid, so greatly afraid he pretends to be a mad man. Because of his pretend madness David escapes possible death at the hand of the very man he ran to because he was afraid of another and escaping David runs to a cave to hide. Was this all God's plan? Was David allowed to experience this fear for a purpose we don't know? Was this a lesson David needed to learn about something? Are we to learn from this? What happened because David went to that cave to hide?
1Sa 22:2 And every one that was in distress, and every one that was in debt, and every one that was discontented, gathered themselves unto him; and he became a captain over them: and there were with him about four hundred men.
Men gathered to him. David's fear, David's intense fear that caused him to feign madness leading him to get away from hiding under another king's protection and running to hide in a cave left him open for others that didn't want to be a part of that kingdom or any other- to gather to him forming his own army something that couldn't have happened had he holed up with that king he initially ran to. Fear had him running for protection but the protector he was running to caused him even more fear. So David's fear had Him running wildly looking for protection and in the end he hid in a cave. By being in that cave under no king's rule or protection, David attracted the attention of those who had heard of his fame and they flocked to him wanting David to lead them.
So when we think of David we can also think about this fear he felt and his reaction to his fear and we can know that every time we face our fears it's not always because we're NOT trusting in God, but sometimes God uses our fear for His purpose in our lives.
Satan would have us believe in ANYTHING that will lead us to doubt our relationship with God. Satan will use ANYTHING he can to part us from our faith. Satan never stops trying to worm his sneaky way into our lives to catch us and trip us up so that we turn our eyes off of Christ and onto our own failings telling us we don't trust God, telling us we aren't worthy of God, telling us anything and everything he can to get us to be his and not God's.
So, yes, the Bible tells us not to fear, but the Bible also shows us how fear in the lives of God's beloved men and women has been used for God's purposes. We are here to learn, here to be molded and made after God's will and He uses chastening and such to guide us in His love to Him.
These great men and women of the Bible were human just like you and I and subject to the same shortcomings. We learn lessons from our shortcomings when we open our eyes and see through the Holy Spirit's guidance. They learned lessons, and life is full of them. Having faith through all the lessons is paramount, holding on to our God, our Creator, our King, our Savior, our Lord, our Ruler no matter what comes our way- even if we are consumed by great fear, or encumbered by various failings, we can't let go! Satan wants us to lose faith if he can get us to lose faith we are his. We must hold on NO MATTER what place we find ourselves in during our lives- in the darkest and in the lightest- we must cling to God, we live by His grace and mercy, by his LOVE.
Forever and always God's!
Amen.
1Sa 21:11 And the servants of Achish said unto him, Is not this David the king of the land? did they not sing one to another of him in dances, saying, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands?
1Sa 21:12 And David laid up these words in his heart, and was sore afraid of Achish the king of Gath.
1Sa 21:13 And he changed his behaviour before them, and feigned himself mad in their hands, and scrabbled on the doors of the gate, and let his spittle fall down upon his beard.
1Sa 21:14 Then said Achish unto his servants, Lo, ye see the man is mad: wherefore then have ye brought him to me?
1Sa 21:15 Have I need of mad men, that ye have brought this fellow to play the mad man in my presence? shall this fellow come into my house?
1Sa 22:1 David therefore departed thence, and escaped to the cave Adullam: and when his brethren and all his father's house heard it, they went down thither to him.
When we think of David, the beloved of God, we don't often envision him fearful. He slew Goliath! He faced a giant and claiming the Lord as His champion he defeated him with a stone to the forehead, finishing him by cutting off his head. This does not sound like a man that would be fearful does it? Yet David did feel fear, GREAT fear.
We are often told that if we fear it's a sign of weakness, of not placing our trust in God. Somehow being a Christian we should have no fear at all. Of course we have Jesus telling us to fear not, and then we have this verse.
2Ti 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
Yet fear is part of our lives to a certain extent, isn't it?
It'd be foolish to come face to face with an gun wielding wild man and not feel any fear. It'd be foolish to have your car half hanging off a cliff due to an accident and feel no fear. Fear is a natural response in certain situations and that fear causes the adrenaline in our bodies to kick into gear often saving our lives.
There is situational fear and there is a general fear of life- two different things.
Luk 21:26 Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.
Living in fear of the future, living in fear, letting it overpower all our thoughts, letting fear forever eclipse the power of love found in God, isn't something from God. But to say all fear is wrong, all fear is bad, feeling fear means you're not God's- is not true.
I think that's why I found this passage about David fascinating. It didn't show a fearless warrior of God, it didn't depict David as God's champion bold and brazenly claiming God's power. This passage shows David running in fear from Saul and then being fearful of the godless king he'd run to- so fearful David quickly feigned MADNESS! David used trickery, David pretended, David deceived the king and his men into believing that he was a lunatic. The description given has David drooling into his own beard! We've all seen this sort on television at least if not real life. Mad men, men out of their minds, men so mentally distraught their mouths hang open and the salvia just flows unchecked. We've seen people scrabbling at walls, at doors with their madness controlling their actions. These types have been locked up in insane asylums, these types have been cast out, these types live on our streets among the homeless, people have shut this sort up in rooms in their own houses to protect them and others from them. Madness, not in their right minds, crazy, lunatic, we have all kinds of names for them. David pretended to be one of these people because he was fearing for his life. Was this in God's plan for David? Wouldn't God have rather had David stand up tall and meet this king in his kingdom straight on proclaiming God as his champion- able to defeat them all? Where was the fearless David who stood before the Philistines greatest champion- the giant Goliath?
See, this fearful David isn't one we know, this fearful David isn't in the story books we read to our children. We hide this David, but God didn't hide this David. This David is revealed in the word of God for us to see, for those of us who WANT to see.
The beloved of God weren't superhuman men and woman. The beloved of God were men and women just like you and I. These men and woman had great moral characters, but they had normal human emotions as well, they had normal human failings, the sin prone frailties were a part of their lives just as they are part of our lives.
We've commonly heard the tale of David and Bethsheba- David sinning and committing adultery, and murder so he could have Bethsheba, he lusted after her another man's wife. Yes, we've heard that story and it reveals David's humanity as well. I've pointed it out myself more than once. David remained God's beloved- punished for his sins- yet forgiven upon repentance, upon great remorse. Yet, this other tale of David's fear isn't something declared. David as a broken repentant man is waved about like a banner, David standing up to Goliath is so declared that even many who don't follow God still know that story.
I think it's important for us to see the whole picture. We can shove this fearful David aside, we can hide Him because there is not great tale of bravery or overcoming, but we shouldn't. We need to see this David - sore afraid, so greatly afraid he pretends to be a mad man. Because of his pretend madness David escapes possible death at the hand of the very man he ran to because he was afraid of another and escaping David runs to a cave to hide. Was this all God's plan? Was David allowed to experience this fear for a purpose we don't know? Was this a lesson David needed to learn about something? Are we to learn from this? What happened because David went to that cave to hide?
1Sa 22:2 And every one that was in distress, and every one that was in debt, and every one that was discontented, gathered themselves unto him; and he became a captain over them: and there were with him about four hundred men.
Men gathered to him. David's fear, David's intense fear that caused him to feign madness leading him to get away from hiding under another king's protection and running to hide in a cave left him open for others that didn't want to be a part of that kingdom or any other- to gather to him forming his own army something that couldn't have happened had he holed up with that king he initially ran to. Fear had him running for protection but the protector he was running to caused him even more fear. So David's fear had Him running wildly looking for protection and in the end he hid in a cave. By being in that cave under no king's rule or protection, David attracted the attention of those who had heard of his fame and they flocked to him wanting David to lead them.
So when we think of David we can also think about this fear he felt and his reaction to his fear and we can know that every time we face our fears it's not always because we're NOT trusting in God, but sometimes God uses our fear for His purpose in our lives.
Satan would have us believe in ANYTHING that will lead us to doubt our relationship with God. Satan will use ANYTHING he can to part us from our faith. Satan never stops trying to worm his sneaky way into our lives to catch us and trip us up so that we turn our eyes off of Christ and onto our own failings telling us we don't trust God, telling us we aren't worthy of God, telling us anything and everything he can to get us to be his and not God's.
So, yes, the Bible tells us not to fear, but the Bible also shows us how fear in the lives of God's beloved men and women has been used for God's purposes. We are here to learn, here to be molded and made after God's will and He uses chastening and such to guide us in His love to Him.
These great men and women of the Bible were human just like you and I and subject to the same shortcomings. We learn lessons from our shortcomings when we open our eyes and see through the Holy Spirit's guidance. They learned lessons, and life is full of them. Having faith through all the lessons is paramount, holding on to our God, our Creator, our King, our Savior, our Lord, our Ruler no matter what comes our way- even if we are consumed by great fear, or encumbered by various failings, we can't let go! Satan wants us to lose faith if he can get us to lose faith we are his. We must hold on NO MATTER what place we find ourselves in during our lives- in the darkest and in the lightest- we must cling to God, we live by His grace and mercy, by his LOVE.
Forever and always God's!
Amen.
Friday, December 10, 2010
The Power of Choice
Have you ever been laughed at because of something you've said? Laughed at when you weren't trying to be funny? Have you ever been ridiculed by someone? Has anyone ever made you feel foolish because you couldn't quite get out what you were trying to get across? It's not a good feeling having someone do that to you, not a good feeling at all. In fact, with me it's a feeling that lingers and I don't like that it lingers. That hurt feeling that someone could be cruel that way. It's even worse when it's someone you care about. Sure, they might believe they are being harmless but their insensitive words ridiculing what you've said can really hurt.
We aren't supposed to let another's ridicule hurt us though, right? We are supposed to just chalk it up to their own failings and pray for them, yes? We're supposed to let it roll right off us as the saying goes- like water off a duck's back.
Sometimes I can do that, sometimes I can get it right and I do just let it go and it doesn't linger to gnaw at me. Other times I can't let it go and it nibbles away at me and I try to make sense of it all and put it into proper perspective so I can just let it go and get onto other things. During that trying to make sense of it process once in a while it becomes clear that there is a lesson I need to learn and until I learn that lesson or at least begin to learn it, it will just keep nagging at me.
Tonight during Bible study one of my sisters walked through the room (not attending the study) and she heard just a bit of what we were saying and then I said something about having the opportunity to choose, that we can't have that opportunity unless there is something to choose between- or something to that effect. My sister laughed and made some ridiculing remark I couldn't make out clearly but what was clear was she thought what I'd said was pure stupidity, it was as if she'd said a great big DUH! No kidding, fool. And after she did that I was left with that nagging, nibbling, gnawing feeling of hurt and partly of shame. Like how could I have said something so stupid. When I'd had that thought it hadn't seemed stupid to me at the time. The study was partly on Genesis and the choice given to Adam and Eve in the garden- to eat the fruit of the forbidden tree or not.
As I went over much later in my head what I was trying to get across it occurred to me in such a big way that I had to write this.
Having the power of choice is a HUGE thing, it's a matter of LIFE and DEATH for us, yet we don't think about that power often enough. We don't think about the choices we make nearly enough as we should. Or rather we don't think about the consequences of the choices we make. We are flippant with the consequences, not considering that making the wrong choices REALLY do have grave consequences. We especially don't take time to think about our choices in terms of our eternity. If a choice we make now doesn't have any immediate consequences it's so much easier to just forget about consequences altogether.
How often do you make choices?
We make them every single day of our lives!
Upon waking up we begin that process of choosing one thing or another.
We choose each day whether or not we are going to let God lead us or try to go it alone. It's not enough to say you choose to follow God one time and then never make that choice again. As we go through our daily lives the choices we make are reflections upon the choice we make to follow God and His ways or not to follow Him, but follow our own ways.
Adam and Eve could have been placed in a garden upon earth without any forbidden tree. Think about it for a moment. If they were placed in a garden without the forbidden tree would they be following God out of choice? If there is NOTHING to choose between- you have NO power of choice, right?
See this is the idea I had in my head but obviously didn't articulate properly and left myself open to my sister's passing ridicule. I'd meant to jog by memory and expound upon the thought but after the passing ridicule I was left feeling foolish. Obviously I was meant to think this through much more thoroughly than I would have otherwise. It's not pleasant this chastening of the Lord's, but we were told chastening isn't pleasant- it's not supposed to be. Chastening is meant to teach us, we are suppose to learn from situations that are very unpleasant to us, right? These times of ridicule meant by Satan to wound us and leave us feeling bitter and hurt can be used as times of chastening, times we can learn from if we allow. We can be given a blessing in disguise- if we allow.
Did my sister mean to wound me? Most likely. That's a harsh thing to say, but a true thing. You don't laugh at something someone is trying to say as you're passing through a room if you aren't intending to make them feel like a fool, letting them know that you believe what they are saying is stupid, idiotic even. I can't reason out any good intention from her comments, none, so I'm left with the conclusion she meant to hurt me. God, please help me to forgive her, and help me to learn from this lesson. Help me to learn not to take offense at the arrows she's throwing my way, but rather help me to pray for her, to be understanding as You would have me be understanding. Truly her ridicule has turned into a blessing because it has me delving deeper into the Lord's word, deeper into the things that the Spirit of God would have me learn and understand.
Pro 1:10 My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.
Pro 1:15 My son, walk not thou in the way with them; refrain thy foot from their path
Pro 1:22 How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge?
Pro 1:28 Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me:
Pro 1:29 For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD:
Pro 1:30 They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof.
Pro 1:33 But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.
Sinners- DID NOT CHOOSE the fear of the LORD.
There is a choice! We choose. The opportunity of choice exists because we have a loving God that did not simply set Adam and Eve up in a garden without that ability. He did not create beings to obey Him because they had NO CHOICE but to obey Him. There is NO freedom without the possibility of enslavement, right? By giving them the power to choose between obeying their Creator or not obeying their Creator, God gave them power. Adam and Eve were empowered by the ability to choose right from wrong. Adam and Eve were free beings when they were given the power of choice. Without that power of choice they would have been no better than slaves of God. Today we EACH have that same power of choice- to follow God or not, to obey our Creator or not.
May God help us because without His help we are lost. Help us to understand, help us to choose right over wrong, life over death, Christ over Satan.
By the mercy of our Lord and Savior may we live always and forever in Him, by HIS righteousness.
All glory!
All honor!
All praise to our Creator and King, our Savior, our Life, our Love!
Amen.
We aren't supposed to let another's ridicule hurt us though, right? We are supposed to just chalk it up to their own failings and pray for them, yes? We're supposed to let it roll right off us as the saying goes- like water off a duck's back.
Sometimes I can do that, sometimes I can get it right and I do just let it go and it doesn't linger to gnaw at me. Other times I can't let it go and it nibbles away at me and I try to make sense of it all and put it into proper perspective so I can just let it go and get onto other things. During that trying to make sense of it process once in a while it becomes clear that there is a lesson I need to learn and until I learn that lesson or at least begin to learn it, it will just keep nagging at me.
Tonight during Bible study one of my sisters walked through the room (not attending the study) and she heard just a bit of what we were saying and then I said something about having the opportunity to choose, that we can't have that opportunity unless there is something to choose between- or something to that effect. My sister laughed and made some ridiculing remark I couldn't make out clearly but what was clear was she thought what I'd said was pure stupidity, it was as if she'd said a great big DUH! No kidding, fool. And after she did that I was left with that nagging, nibbling, gnawing feeling of hurt and partly of shame. Like how could I have said something so stupid. When I'd had that thought it hadn't seemed stupid to me at the time. The study was partly on Genesis and the choice given to Adam and Eve in the garden- to eat the fruit of the forbidden tree or not.
As I went over much later in my head what I was trying to get across it occurred to me in such a big way that I had to write this.
Having the power of choice is a HUGE thing, it's a matter of LIFE and DEATH for us, yet we don't think about that power often enough. We don't think about the choices we make nearly enough as we should. Or rather we don't think about the consequences of the choices we make. We are flippant with the consequences, not considering that making the wrong choices REALLY do have grave consequences. We especially don't take time to think about our choices in terms of our eternity. If a choice we make now doesn't have any immediate consequences it's so much easier to just forget about consequences altogether.
How often do you make choices?
We make them every single day of our lives!
Upon waking up we begin that process of choosing one thing or another.
We choose each day whether or not we are going to let God lead us or try to go it alone. It's not enough to say you choose to follow God one time and then never make that choice again. As we go through our daily lives the choices we make are reflections upon the choice we make to follow God and His ways or not to follow Him, but follow our own ways.
Adam and Eve could have been placed in a garden upon earth without any forbidden tree. Think about it for a moment. If they were placed in a garden without the forbidden tree would they be following God out of choice? If there is NOTHING to choose between- you have NO power of choice, right?
See this is the idea I had in my head but obviously didn't articulate properly and left myself open to my sister's passing ridicule. I'd meant to jog by memory and expound upon the thought but after the passing ridicule I was left feeling foolish. Obviously I was meant to think this through much more thoroughly than I would have otherwise. It's not pleasant this chastening of the Lord's, but we were told chastening isn't pleasant- it's not supposed to be. Chastening is meant to teach us, we are suppose to learn from situations that are very unpleasant to us, right? These times of ridicule meant by Satan to wound us and leave us feeling bitter and hurt can be used as times of chastening, times we can learn from if we allow. We can be given a blessing in disguise- if we allow.
Did my sister mean to wound me? Most likely. That's a harsh thing to say, but a true thing. You don't laugh at something someone is trying to say as you're passing through a room if you aren't intending to make them feel like a fool, letting them know that you believe what they are saying is stupid, idiotic even. I can't reason out any good intention from her comments, none, so I'm left with the conclusion she meant to hurt me. God, please help me to forgive her, and help me to learn from this lesson. Help me to learn not to take offense at the arrows she's throwing my way, but rather help me to pray for her, to be understanding as You would have me be understanding. Truly her ridicule has turned into a blessing because it has me delving deeper into the Lord's word, deeper into the things that the Spirit of God would have me learn and understand.
Pro 1:10 My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.
Pro 1:15 My son, walk not thou in the way with them; refrain thy foot from their path
Pro 1:22 How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge?
Pro 1:28 Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me:
Pro 1:29 For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD:
Pro 1:30 They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof.
Pro 1:33 But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.
Sinners- DID NOT CHOOSE the fear of the LORD.
There is a choice! We choose. The opportunity of choice exists because we have a loving God that did not simply set Adam and Eve up in a garden without that ability. He did not create beings to obey Him because they had NO CHOICE but to obey Him. There is NO freedom without the possibility of enslavement, right? By giving them the power to choose between obeying their Creator or not obeying their Creator, God gave them power. Adam and Eve were empowered by the ability to choose right from wrong. Adam and Eve were free beings when they were given the power of choice. Without that power of choice they would have been no better than slaves of God. Today we EACH have that same power of choice- to follow God or not, to obey our Creator or not.
May God help us because without His help we are lost. Help us to understand, help us to choose right over wrong, life over death, Christ over Satan.
By the mercy of our Lord and Savior may we live always and forever in Him, by HIS righteousness.
All glory!
All honor!
All praise to our Creator and King, our Savior, our Life, our Love!
Amen.
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Suffer the Word
Heb 13:22 And I beseech you, brethren, suffer the word of exhortation: for I have written a letter unto you in few words.
Endure the word of exhortation.
Greek Definition
Suffer-
G430
anechomai
an-ekh'-om-ahee
Middle voice from G303 and G2192; to hold oneself up against, that is, (figuratively) put up with: - bear with endure, forbear, suffer.
We need to endure the words of exhortation given to us, don't we?
Greek Definition
Exhortation-
G3874
paraklēsis
par-ak'-lay-sis
From G3870; imploration, hortation, solace: - comfort, consolation, exhortation, intreaty.
Endure the entreaties? We really do have to bear with and hold ourselves up against the entreaties, the exhortations, the implorations- don't we?
Let's consider the Bible writers and scripture.
2Ti 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
2Ti 3:17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
All the Bible writers were INSPIRED of God. All Bible writers spoke the words that God inspired them to write. When we read the Bible we are reading GOD'S word to us. Sometimes it seems as if it's just one man speaking to another, or one man speaking to a group of others, but WE are that group, we are that one man. We have to listen to these messages that seem to have been given so long ago people would have us believe they aren't relevant to us. The simplest exhortation in the Bible is for OUR consideration and if we do not 'suffer the word of exhortation' , if we do not endure the entreaties given to us by men of God as they were INSPIRED by God then we are in danger of not following God's will.
2Sa 23:2 The Spirit of the LORD spake BY me, and his word was in my tongue.
Mat 22:31 '... have ye not READ that which was spoken unto you by God,'
Mar 12:24 And Jesus answering said unto them, Do ye not therefore err, because ye know not the scriptures, neither the power of God?
WHAT a powerful question from Jesus!
'Do ye not therefore ERR- because ye know NOT the scriptures, NEITHER the power of God?'
Rom 15:4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.
Such a beautiful message. This is a message for YOU, for ME, RIGHT NOW!
Heb 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
The word of God.
Heb 13:22 And I beseech you, brethren, suffer the word of exhortation: for I have written a letter unto you in few words.
This letter of a few words are powerful, powerful words! I've been studying the book of Hebrews since August off and on and I know that there is so much more I could learn from studying it over and over again. God's word is like that though. We study and unlike a meal of bread which is consumed and gone forever, we get a spiritual meal that is endless just as the love of our Savior is endless, just as we long for an endless existence with Him and His love through His amazing forgiveness and unfathomable mercy.
Feeding our spiritual selves is a necessity. May God continue to guide us all as we seek to feast on His word, eating the meat that is given to us to consume so that our spiritual lives will mature in Christ. May we all suffer the word of exhortation.
By His grace.
Amen.
Endure the word of exhortation.
Greek Definition
Suffer-
G430
anechomai
an-ekh'-om-ahee
Middle voice from G303 and G2192; to hold oneself up against, that is, (figuratively) put up with: - bear with endure, forbear, suffer.
We need to endure the words of exhortation given to us, don't we?
Greek Definition
Exhortation-
G3874
paraklēsis
par-ak'-lay-sis
From G3870; imploration, hortation, solace: - comfort, consolation, exhortation, intreaty.
Endure the entreaties? We really do have to bear with and hold ourselves up against the entreaties, the exhortations, the implorations- don't we?
Let's consider the Bible writers and scripture.
2Ti 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
2Ti 3:17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
All the Bible writers were INSPIRED of God. All Bible writers spoke the words that God inspired them to write. When we read the Bible we are reading GOD'S word to us. Sometimes it seems as if it's just one man speaking to another, or one man speaking to a group of others, but WE are that group, we are that one man. We have to listen to these messages that seem to have been given so long ago people would have us believe they aren't relevant to us. The simplest exhortation in the Bible is for OUR consideration and if we do not 'suffer the word of exhortation' , if we do not endure the entreaties given to us by men of God as they were INSPIRED by God then we are in danger of not following God's will.
2Sa 23:2 The Spirit of the LORD spake BY me, and his word was in my tongue.
Mat 22:31 '... have ye not READ that which was spoken unto you by God,'
Mar 12:24 And Jesus answering said unto them, Do ye not therefore err, because ye know not the scriptures, neither the power of God?
WHAT a powerful question from Jesus!
'Do ye not therefore ERR- because ye know NOT the scriptures, NEITHER the power of God?'
Rom 15:4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.
Such a beautiful message. This is a message for YOU, for ME, RIGHT NOW!
Heb 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
The word of God.
Heb 13:22 And I beseech you, brethren, suffer the word of exhortation: for I have written a letter unto you in few words.
This letter of a few words are powerful, powerful words! I've been studying the book of Hebrews since August off and on and I know that there is so much more I could learn from studying it over and over again. God's word is like that though. We study and unlike a meal of bread which is consumed and gone forever, we get a spiritual meal that is endless just as the love of our Savior is endless, just as we long for an endless existence with Him and His love through His amazing forgiveness and unfathomable mercy.
Feeding our spiritual selves is a necessity. May God continue to guide us all as we seek to feast on His word, eating the meat that is given to us to consume so that our spiritual lives will mature in Christ. May we all suffer the word of exhortation.
By His grace.
Amen.
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
That Great Shepherd of the Sheep
Heb 13:20 Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,
Heb 13:21 Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
The God of peace...
God- who brought our Lord to life again after He was murdered.
God- who raised the GREAT Shepherd of the sheep to life.
God- of the everlasting covenant through the blood of our Lord Jesus.
This wonderful, most amazing, all powerful God can make us perfect in every good work to do HIS will.
This wonderful God can work in us what is well-pleasing in His sight.
Our God can do all this through our Savior, Jesus Christ, who deserves ALL glory forever and ever!
Did you read that? Our God, through our Savior CAN make us perfect to do HIS will. We have to be willing to be sheep. Seriously, we have to understand our submissive role as a creature. Yes, we were created with the ability to rebel- we were created with the ability to believe deception. Eve believed the deception of Satan - that NOT obeying God would result in her being a god.
Here read it…
Gen 3:5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.
Be as gods!
And ever since that tried and true deception people have continued to believe they are gods. Did Eve's disobeying God result in her becoming a god? No. Why then do so many believe they are their own god? That they are their own creator born of other creators. Yes, it's true we can join with one another and create life, but we had nothing to do with the first creation, nothing to do with HOW life is created within and from us. Parts of us are used in our ability to create but we cannot MAKE those parts, we cannot bring the seed of man into existence from nothing. Yet so many continue to believe they are their own god, in need of NO other god.
When someone says they don't believe in God what are they saying? They are denying their creator, denying they are a product of creation.
People find it incredibly hard to be sheep and Satan loves it that way.
We have a 'Great Shepherd', if we have a 'Great Shepherd' we must be the sheep of that 'Great Shepherd.' I don't know about you but I WANT to be a sheep of the Great Shepherd! I want to be a sheep that hears, that follows, that lets the Great Shepherd lead me, feed me, care for all my needs, protects me. I do NOT want to be a shepherd, but many, many do. Many want to be shepherds among other shepherds caring very little for the sheep they tend. There are good shepherds and there are BAD shepherds, make no mistake about it. I'm not suggesting there aren't leaders of Christ's followers- those called to lead but they are much lesser shepherds that are only tending to the GREAT Shepherd's flock in very small ways compared to the Great Shepherd.
We can be made perfect to do God's will, we truly can. God will do IN us what we can't do ourselves. Jesus died to make it possible for God to unite with us once again. Jesus died so we could live as God's children. YOU will never be old enough to stop being a child and this is true in believers and non-believers. Parents can die, but you will always have been their child. You can have your own children, grandchildren and so on, but you will always be a child. What is true in the physical realm is true in the spiritual realm. We can't escape it, but we sure try to. We love to claim our adulthood, wearing it like some sort of crown believing it frees us from the restrictions of being a child, from being immature. I will forever proclaim my childhood and God my Father!
By the grace of our Lord and Savior may we be in Christ all He would have us to be now and forever!
Amen.
Heb 13:21 Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
The God of peace...
God- who brought our Lord to life again after He was murdered.
God- who raised the GREAT Shepherd of the sheep to life.
God- of the everlasting covenant through the blood of our Lord Jesus.
This wonderful, most amazing, all powerful God can make us perfect in every good work to do HIS will.
This wonderful God can work in us what is well-pleasing in His sight.
Our God can do all this through our Savior, Jesus Christ, who deserves ALL glory forever and ever!
Did you read that? Our God, through our Savior CAN make us perfect to do HIS will. We have to be willing to be sheep. Seriously, we have to understand our submissive role as a creature. Yes, we were created with the ability to rebel- we were created with the ability to believe deception. Eve believed the deception of Satan - that NOT obeying God would result in her being a god.
Here read it…
Gen 3:5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.
Be as gods!
And ever since that tried and true deception people have continued to believe they are gods. Did Eve's disobeying God result in her becoming a god? No. Why then do so many believe they are their own god? That they are their own creator born of other creators. Yes, it's true we can join with one another and create life, but we had nothing to do with the first creation, nothing to do with HOW life is created within and from us. Parts of us are used in our ability to create but we cannot MAKE those parts, we cannot bring the seed of man into existence from nothing. Yet so many continue to believe they are their own god, in need of NO other god.
When someone says they don't believe in God what are they saying? They are denying their creator, denying they are a product of creation.
People find it incredibly hard to be sheep and Satan loves it that way.
We have a 'Great Shepherd', if we have a 'Great Shepherd' we must be the sheep of that 'Great Shepherd.' I don't know about you but I WANT to be a sheep of the Great Shepherd! I want to be a sheep that hears, that follows, that lets the Great Shepherd lead me, feed me, care for all my needs, protects me. I do NOT want to be a shepherd, but many, many do. Many want to be shepherds among other shepherds caring very little for the sheep they tend. There are good shepherds and there are BAD shepherds, make no mistake about it. I'm not suggesting there aren't leaders of Christ's followers- those called to lead but they are much lesser shepherds that are only tending to the GREAT Shepherd's flock in very small ways compared to the Great Shepherd.
We can be made perfect to do God's will, we truly can. God will do IN us what we can't do ourselves. Jesus died to make it possible for God to unite with us once again. Jesus died so we could live as God's children. YOU will never be old enough to stop being a child and this is true in believers and non-believers. Parents can die, but you will always have been their child. You can have your own children, grandchildren and so on, but you will always be a child. What is true in the physical realm is true in the spiritual realm. We can't escape it, but we sure try to. We love to claim our adulthood, wearing it like some sort of crown believing it frees us from the restrictions of being a child, from being immature. I will forever proclaim my childhood and God my Father!
By the grace of our Lord and Savior may we be in Christ all He would have us to be now and forever!
Amen.
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