David’s Five Stones

Posted on Jul 23, 2015 in Uncategorized |

I Samuel 17:40 “And he took his staff in his hand, and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in a shepherd’s bag which he had, even in a scrip; and his sling was in his hand: and he drew near to the Philistine.”

The story of David & Goliath is probably the most famous of Old Testament Biblical events. The story of good triumphing over evil, the small conquering the giant, the implausible to a miraculous result.

 
I’d like to concentrate however on the five stones. These stones were in the running brook since the creation of the world. These stones at one time were rough rock, but through the diligence of the running water over the many years, the rough edges were worn off.
 
David couldn’t use rocks with rough markings because they couldn’t be trusted to fly where he would be aiming. They would sail in all kinds of directions because of the adverse wind hitting the rough areas of the stone.
 
These stones waited patiently and inconspicuously, going through the adversity of the running water, being prepared for their purpose. One day God would call on them. What a day that was when these seemingly insignificant stones were chosen to be a participant in one of the greatest miracles of all time.
 
You may think you’re insignificant, that God will never use you in a great way. Lightening will strike! Continue to be diligent in your Christian walk. Let Him continue to take off the rough edges of your character. Then when you’re ready, God will do a great thing in your life.

Don’t Let Go!

Posted on Jul 23, 2015 in Uncategorized |

“…and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day. And he said ‘Let me go, for the day breaketh’. And he said ‘I will not let thee go, except thou bless me’.” (Genesis 32:24-26) kjv
 
Jacob’s name means “deceiver”. He lived true to his name up to this point in his life. He stole, deceived, manipulated people to get what he wanted in life. Now, the treachery of his past has caught up with him. His brother has arrived with 400 men to kill Jacob for ‘stealing’ his blessing from their father Isaac.
 
He sent gifts, but gifts and money alone wouldn’t be enough to get him out of this ‘life and death’ predicament. He needed divine intervention. He needed an encounter with God. He found an isolated place to pray, and pray he did! This wasn’t a devotional prayer, this was a desperate prayer. If he were ever to see his family again and to live another day, he needed to get God’s attention.
 
As he prayed, and angel appeared and wrestled with him ’til daylight. Jacob was ‘holding his own’ until the angel broke Jacob’s thigh. God had Jacob where he wanted him all along, clinging dependently on him. Although Jacob was now at a disadvantage, he would not let go. The angel even said “Let me go!’
 
When many of us grow weary of prayer, or, of our service to the Lord… When many of us hang around the altar making a ‘good show’… Jacob said “I won’t let you go until you bless me!” What passion, what tenacity! His reward? God changed him from the inside out. He changed his name from Jacob (deceiver) to Israel (friend of God). As a result of this encounter, his situation changed. Esau embraced Jacob and made peace.
 
If you need your situation changed, pray like you’ve never prayed before and say “I will not let you go (give up) until I receive my answer”. God loves and responds to this kind of prayer. Don’t wait another day. Have an encounter with God today!

Defeated Or Victorious Living?

Posted on Jul 23, 2015 in Uncategorized |

Romans 6:1 “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?”
 
One of the biggest problems in the church today, is that many have resigned themselves to giving in to the flesh (carnal desires) and casually mentioning that the grace of God will cover it. The result, living a defeated life with it’s prisons and addictions.
 
Here’s the problem with that theology, I John 3:8 tells us not to “practice sin” and that “the purpose Jesus was manifested was to destroy the works of Satan.” Galatians 5:16 says “…live according to your new life in the Holy Spirit. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves.”
 
I don’t want to be a Christian that admits defeat to the works of the flesh. I want to demonstrate the “Power Of The Cross!” Galatians 5:24 says “Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to His cross and crucified them there.”

Let’s demonstrate the “fruits of righteousness” (Philippians 1:11) so that God receives the glory and that others may see the “power of God” working in our lives!


Doing The Right Thing When The Wrong Thing Seems Right

Posted on Jul 23, 2015 in Uncategorized |

I Samuel 24:4 “Now’s your opportunity!” David’s men whispered to him. “Today is the day the Lord was talking about when He said ‘I will certainly put Saul into your power to do with as you wish'”.
 
Saul was very jealous of David because God had chosen him to be king. Saul selected 3,000 “special forces members” to find and kill David. Saul went into a cave at Engedi to “relieve himself”. What he didn’t know, was that David and his men were in that very cave!
 
David’s men tried to persuade David to sneak up behind him while he was preoccupied  and kill him stating “This is God answering our prayers!” The problem with that thinking is that God’s law stated not to touch His anointed (Kings, Priests, Prophets). David knew this and he rebuked his men.
 
When you’re praying for God to answer your prayer, what seems like the right thing to do could very well be the wrong thing. Make sure your decision lines up with God’s principles. Proverbs 16:25 says “There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death.”

Waiting Faithfully

Posted on Jul 23, 2015 in Uncategorized |

Psalm 105:18-19 “There in prison, they bruised his feet with fetters and placed his neck in an iron collar. Until the time came to fulfill His word: the word of the Lord tried him.” (nkjv)
 
If there was ever a man that could have had feelings of resentment against God, his family, the judicial system, and society, it was Joseph. Think about it, God told him in a dream that he would be mighty and powerful…even above his parents and his brothers.
 
Then he experienced a series of jealousy, hatred, betrayal, temptation, and false accusation. He now finds himself in prison for 12 years. The secret to his rise to power (2nd only to Pharoah) is found in this verse.
 
“Until the time came to fulfill His word (dabar: spoken): the word (imrah: written) of the Lord tried him.” He knew that God spoke to him and knew God would keep His promise. For that promise to be fulfilled, Joseph knew he needed to be faithful to God’s written word in spite of the difficulty that surrounded him.
 
God has spoken into your life as well. Do you want to know what He has spoken? Live faithfully according to His written word (Bible), and watch God make something of you that you can’t make of yourself. In Genesis, when God spoke, the world was created. When God speaks, He will create something great in you.

Get Out Of The Cave!

Posted on Jul 23, 2015 in Uncategorized |

I Kings 19:9 “There he came to a cave, where he spent the night. But the Lord said to him “What are you doing here Elijah?”
 
Elijah was a courageous prophet, full of faith. He prophesied there would be no rain for 3 1/2 years and so it was. God sustained Elijah by a running brook (Cherith), and ravens that brought him bread and meat twice a day. God used him to miraculously save a woman and her son. He confronted 450 prophets of Baal with a dramatic ‘duel of the True God!’ The answer came as fire comes out of the night sky and favors Elijah’s prayer.
 
Now we see Elijah in a cave, fearful and depressed. Have you ever done great things in your past only to find yourself in a cave of depression? Do you feel no one understands? Do you feel the best part of your life is in the past? Here’s what God said “What are you doing here Elijah?” Elijah’s response was very revealing: “I am the only one that’s serving you!” God said “I have 7,000 other prophets just like you who have not bent their knee to Baal.”
 
If you’re in a cave of depression, know this, God is on your side. Listen to His still small voice. You have more for you than you have against you. The best part of your life is still ahead of you. Read II Kings 2 to find out the greatest event that took place in Elijah’s life.

A Miracle In The Midst Of Your Battle

Posted on Jul 23, 2015 in Uncategorized |

Judges 15:15 “Then he picked up a donkey’s jawbone that was lying on the ground and killed a thousand Philistines with it.”
 
Samson was ‘turned in’ by his own people. The people that he was assigned by God to protect betrayed him. As he was bound, he was surrounded by his enemy. The Philistines felt if they could capture and eventually destroy Israel’s leader and judge, that they could eventually destroy Israel. Samson knew what was at stake.
 
As they were going through Lehi, Samson found a jawbone of a donkey. With it, the Spirit of God ‘moved’ upon Samson and he utterly defeated his enemy.
 
Remember, when you are going through a battle, God will place a miracle in the midst of that battle. When you’re going through it, don’t panic, don’t fear, but look for ‘that divine instrument’ in the midst of your battle to defeat the enemy.

Caught In The Act!

Posted on Jul 23, 2015 in Uncategorized |

John 8:3 “As (Jesus) was speaking, the teachers of religious law and Pharisees brought a woman they had caught in the act of adultery. They put her in front of the crowd.”
 
The religious crowd seemed to be more interested in “catching” someone in their offense instead of “restoring” them. The religious crowd asked Jesus “Moses’ law says to kill her, what do you say?” Jesus stooped on the ground to write something. Many ask, “what did he write?” Wrong question. The right question is “why was Jesus on the ground?” He was on the ground because she was on the ground. You know the rest of this story.
 
This is the heart of Jesus…Restoration! When we fail, He doesn’t fail us. He simply says “re-do!” Matthew 12:20 says ” A bruised reed shall He not break, and smoking flax shall He not quench.”

How Close (Involved) Is God To Us?

Posted on Jul 23, 2015 in Uncategorized |

James 4:8 “Draw nigh unto God and He will draw nigh unto you” (kjv). All through the Bible, we see God is full of “action”. But here, we see that He “reacts” to how we act. Using the Old Testament Tabernacle, it shows that we (initiate) enter His gates with thanksgiving… we (initiate) enter His courts with praise… we (initiate) go to the brazen altar and laver… we continue to draw nigh to Him by going into the Holy Place among the candlestick, altar of incense and table of shewbread… then we find ourselves in the Holy of Holies where the Shekinah (Glory, Presence) of God is! What a great pattern to show us how prayer and worship works. If we approach God, He will sweep us into His presence!

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