David's Faith

“Then David said, "The LORD who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine." Saul said to David, "Go, and may the LORD be with you." ~1 Samuel 17:37 HCSB

One of the most famous stories of the Bible is the story of David and Goliath.  Goliath was a huge man!  He was 9’ 6” and taunted the Israelites everyday with a challenge.  He would fight the Israelites champion and the losers people would be enslaved to the winner.  He cursed God and did everything he could do to insult King Saul’s army, but nobody would take up such a challenge.  David who was bringing food to his brothers over heard the giant and became inflamed with anger.  He asked if he could take on the mighty giant.  Where could this boy, a teenager find the courage to take on this challenge nobody else would take.

I think you have to look back as David did.  This wasn’t David’s first encounter with danger.  As a shepherd he had defended his sheep on more than one occasion and he knew who had delivered him.  David knew it was the Lord who had rescued him from both the bear and the lion.  So David knew God would deliver him from this giant call Goliath.  We know how the story ends with David killing Goliath with one stone and a lot of faith.  So how does this story carry over to our lives?

We are to live by faith and not by sight. (2 Cor. 5:7)  We are to trust God with everything, even with the giants in our lives.  As we start out as Christians God build our faith through life circumstances.  Life is going to happen and as we learn to trust God with the little things in life, we learn to trust God with the big things in life.  An example of this is David.  David didn’t face Goliath first. No it was after he had faced a lion and a bear, did he take on the giant.  David had learned God was watching out for him and he knew nothing was impossible for God. So what are you facing this morning?  What giants do you have challenging you and are you trusting God or yourself?  

Lord build our faith in you.  Lord help us to trust you with everything in our lives.  Help us to face the bears and the lions in faith.  Lord help us to have the courage to face the giants in your name.  Lord may you be glorified in our lives, may people around us see us as giant slayers and my you receive all the glory!  Amen.  

Sin and Grace

“Christ has liberated us to be free. Stand firm then and don't submit again to a yoke of slavery.” ~Galatians 5:1 HCSB

I have been thinking a lot about sin.  We all struggle with it.  Sinclair Ferguson said this, “But this freedom from the dominion of sin is not the end of our struggle against sin.  In fact it is the beginning of a new conflict with it.  For while we have died to sin, sin has not died in us….it remains, and it is still sin.   What has changed in not its presence within our hearts, but its status (it no longer reigns) and our relationship to (we are no longer its slave).”  As a Christians how do we live with this new relationship with sin?  

First we have to recognize our sin.  Randy Alcorn writes this “Only one who is deeply aware of his evil tendencies will be humbly take the necessary steps to guard his heart from sin”.  It is only when we understand the depths of our sin can we begin to understand the height of God’s grace.  We must keep before us the cross of Christ.  He was nailed to the cross along with our sin.  He died for you and me.  We did nothing to deserve this incredible display of grace.  This act not only removed our sin but it also gave us a new standing with God.  We are now adopted, heirs to a throne, a children of God Himself.  

This new status for the Christian changes everything.  The Christian can endure their life long struggle with sin with confidence because of our new identity.  With the Holy Spirit indwelling us empowering us to obey Christ rather than sin.  But the key is we do not put our confidence in our own abilities to defeat sin, but our confidence is in God’s grace.  It all starts with the way we think about our sin.  Charles Spurgeon put it this way: “Too many think lightly of sin, and therefore think lightly of the Savior”.  Again Alcorn writes, “Grace isn’t about God lowering his standards.  It’s about God fulfilling those standards through the substitutionary suffering of Jesus Christ.  Grace never ignores or violates truth.  Grace gave what truth demanded: the ultimate sacrifice for our wickedness.  

God’s grace is greater than my sin. But my ability to measure the greatness of his grace depends upon my willingness, in brokenness before him, to recognize the greatness of my sin.  “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble” (1 Peter 5:5).  The proud deny their evil; the humble confess it.  A profound awareness of my evil should move my heart to praise God for the wonders of his grace.” (Randy Alcorn “If God is Good”)       

Lord help us to live in your grace!  Lord help us to understand the depths of our sin.  Lord help to see your incredible act of grace displayed though the cross.  The cross where you took upon yourself the penalty of my sin.  Lord enable me to humbly obey you through your Holy Spirit.  Amen

All Your Heart

“Samuel told them, "If you are returning to the LORD with all your heart, get rid of the foreign gods and the Ashtoreths that are among you, dedicate yourselves to the LORD, and worship only Him. Then He will rescue you from the hand of the Philistines." ~1 Samuel 7:3 HCSB

The people of Israel had lost the Ark of the Covenant to the Philistines.  While the Ark was being held by the enemy God inflicted them with terror and tumors.  So it was only a matter of time before they gladly handed the Ark back.   Meanwhile the people of Israel were defeated in their hearts over losing Ark and desperately wanted it back.  With the Ark being returned the people wanted to get right with the Lord.  They began to seek the Lord in fasting and praying.  Samuel tells them if you’re serious about this do with all your heart.  Get rid of all the things that separate you from God.  Get rid for false gods, get rid of the sex goddess and all that goes along with her and dedicate yourselves to the Lord.     

Man hasn’t changed in the 3000 years in which this was written.  The same principles apply today as they did then.  To return to the Lord, to know the Lord you have to do so from the heart.  It cannot be a half hearted effort.  It has to be with all of our hearts.  To be wholehearted we need to rid ourselves of all the ‘things’ that will hinder or ensnare us.  False gods need to be removed.  What does this mean?  People in Samuel’s time worshiped many others god’s to help them succeed in life, or better yet survive.  Ashtoreths were the goddess of fertility, love and war and were worshiped by many. 

People worshiped false god’s to meet needs and desires.  Israel had the one true God who could actually care for them.  They choose to turn to things made of wood and bronze to meet their needs.  By doing so God handed them over to their enemies.  We do the same thing today, we turn to other people and ‘things’ or idols to meet needs in our lives only God can fulfill. When we turn from God he hands us over to the very desires (the enemy) that made us turn.  If we want victory in our lives over our enemies we need to turn to God wholehearted and with His help rid our lives of the false god’s that hinder us.  

I know that sound so easy and in reality it seems impossible.  The only way you can overcome sin is by the power of God working in your life.  God has to do the work of changing your desires, by giving you a new heart.  It is truly the only way.  I want to encourage you to seek the Lord and to ask God to give you His desires for your life.  To give you a heart tender for His will, for what He wants for you.  He can and will meet your needs and give you desires that will exceed all your expectations.  Trust Him today! 

Lord help us to seek you with all of our hearts.  Lord please meet our needs and give us a heart that desires you and you alone.  Lord help me to repent of the idols I have in my life, help me to turn from them and to turn to you.  Lord help me to live the life you desire for me.  May you use me to bring glory to your name!  Amen.               

Speak, Lord

“Speak, LORD, for Your servant is listening.” 1 Samuel 3:9b HCSB

Young Samuel was given to the priest Eli when he was weaned from his mother Hannah.  He was being raised by the old priest whose eyesight was failing.  In those days the word from the Lord was rare.  One evening laying down in the tabernacle the Lord called to Samuel.  Samuel not recognizing the voice ran to Eli and asked Eli what he wanted, to which Eli said, “I didn’t call, my son”.  This happened three times before Eli realized what was happening.  He instructed Samuel to go back and when he heard the voice again to reply, “Speak, Lord, for Your servant is listening.”  In the life of Samuel this is the first of many conversations with God.  

 I love the innocence of young Samuel.  A young boy raised from the very beginning in the ways of the Lord.  Several things I take from this when I read it, firstly Samuel in a place to hear the Lord.  It was the tabernacle, but mainly it was still and quiet.  In our world today we very rarely have quiet.  There is always sound, distracting sound.  We have music and television in a verity of formats.  We can’t go anywhere these days and not have one or both.  My son sits on the couch watching TV listening to his mp3 player! We need to unplug and listen.  Find somewhere quiet, go for a walk, and discipline yourself for silence.   

Secondly, Samuel was expecting.  He was waiting to hear from the Lord, expectantly.  So how does God speak to us today?  God speaks to us in the quiet, the small still voice in our hearts.  He speaks to us through his word as we pray fully read. God also speaks to us through other believers and lastly through circumstances.  I believe God speaks today and we have to test what is said against the Bible.  God’s voice will never contradict His word.  But the big question is not weather God speaks but if we are willing to listen.  I feel many of us fear more what God will tell us to do more than hearing His voice.    

Lord give us the heart of Samuel!  A heart waiting to hear from you.  Lord speak to us, give us hearts longing to hear your voice.  Guide us and direct us.  Give us willing spirits to trust and obey today!  Amen.

Hannah's Prayer

After weaning the child she so earnestly prayed for, Hannah gave her young son to the priest Eli as she promised.  Hannah prayed this prayer, it is amazing! 

Hannah prayed: My heart rejoices in the LORD;

my horn is lifted up by the LORD.

My mouth boasts over my enemies,

because I rejoice in Your salvation.

There is no one holy like the LORD.

There is no one besides You!

And there is no rock like our God.

Do not boast so proudly,

or let arrogant words come out of your mouth,

for the LORD is a God of knowledge,

and actions are weighed by Him.

The bows of the warriors are broken,

but the feeble are clothed with strength.

Those who are full hire themselves out for food,

but those who are starving hunger no more.

The woman who is childless gives birth to seven,

but the woman with many sons pines away.

The LORD brings death and gives life;

He sends some to Sheol, and He raises others up.

The LORD brings poverty and gives wealth;

He humbles and He exalts.

He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the garbage pile.

He seats them with noblemen and gives them a throne of honor.

For the foundations of the earth are the LORD's;

 He has set the world on them.

He guards the steps of His faithful ones,

but the wicked perish in darkness,

for a man does not prevail by his own strength.

Those who oppose the LORD will be shattered;

He will thunder in the heavens against them.

The LORD will judge the ends of the earth.

He will give power to His king;

He will lift up the horn of His anointed.

1 Samuel 2:1-10 HCSB

Lord give us the heart of Hannah!  Amen