Posts

Do We Value the Harvest?

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1 Samuel 23; Psalms 31, 54; Matthew 7   “…’Look, the Philistines are fighting against Keilah and are looting the threshing floors,’ he inquired of the Lord, saying ‘Shall I go and attack these Philistines?’ The Lord answered him, ‘Go, attack the Philistines and save Keilah.’ But David’s men said to him, ‘Here in Judah we are afraid. How much more, then, if we go to Keilah against the Philistine forces!’” 1 Samuel 23:1-2 When the enemy is robbing our harvest we have a choice: cower in fear or advance in faith. David asked the Lord about this. Prayer is always the best place to start. The need does not constitute the call. David sought the Lord’s will, knowing only God could give the victory.   In the spiritual battles we face for the spiritual harvest in our day, are we seeking the Lord for his direction? David’s men responded with fear, as many do today. Pluralism has cut the ‘tongue’ out of the Church; we fear rejection by men more than we fear the Lord of the harvest.   Where are the
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Kingdom (Jesus) First

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  1 Samuel 22; Psalms 17, 35; Matthew 6   “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all things will be given to you as well.” Matthew 6:33 Worry about having enough, looking attractive enough, planning enough, being healthy enough can   consume a significant amount of energy and focus in our lives. Jesus calls us to place our focus, energy, and resources on seeking first his kingdom and his righteousness. Jesus is our righteousness and the only gate to the kingdom of heaven. Daily seeking to serve Jesus’ kingdom, will, and mission includes loving our neighbors as ourselves, listening for the gentle promptings of the Spirit, and daily surrendering our will to King Jesus. When we live this way, Jesus promises to take care of our needs. Those who seek and live within his kingdom as their first priority, testify that Jesus is faithful to meet every need, and so much more! “Lord Jesus, you are faithful and worth my full attention and focus, for your glory.”
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The Fear of the Lord

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I Samuel 20-21; Psalms 34, Matthew 5 “Come, my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord. Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days, keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies. Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.” Psalm 34:11-14 David said that the fear of the Lord is the key to enjoying life. What do we imagine when we hear the term ‘fear of the Lord’? Rather than a negative emotion connected to punishment or pain, the fear of the Lord is living in loving surrender to God’s will and his ways. It is reflected in keeping our tongue from evil speech, lies, and untruths. The fear of the Lord means we walk away from evil and instead pursue that which is good. We do good to others and seek peace and pursue it in every area of life. When we do good and pursue peace, the quality of our relationships increases and we positively influence the environment around us. Living in the fear of the Lord means that in this world, w
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Whose Kingdom?

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  1 Samuel 19: 1 Chronicles 7; Psalms 59, Matthew 4   “Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. ‘All this I will give you,’ he said, ‘if you will bow down and worship me.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.’” Matthew 4:8-10 The temptation to value our culture and power above the kingdom of God is still very much alive today. The glory of this world’s kingdoms will fade, while the glory of the kingdom of God is eternal. Jesus knew the pathway to greatness in the kingdom of his Father was at the cross and the denial of self. The same path must be followed by all disciples of Jesus. The kingdom of God is like a rock that struck the statue representing the kingdoms of the world. This rock grew to become a mountain which filled the whole world. Jesus represented that rock on which we can fall and be broken, or eventually be crushed. Jesus chose th
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Character Over Gifting

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1 Samuel 18; 1 Chronicles 6; Psalms 11, Matthew 3   “And from that time on Saul kept a jealous eye on David. The next day an evil spirit from God came forcefully upon Saul. He was prophesying in his house, while David was playing the harp, as he usually did. Saul had a spear in his hand and he hurled it, saying to himself, ‘I’ll pin David to the wall.’ But David eluded him twice.” 1 Samuel 18:9-11 It is possible to function with the gift of prophesy and other gifts, and still hold bitterness, jealousy, and even murder in our hearts. Like a jar that we fill with water, the gifts of the Spirit are expressed within the container of our character. Jesus, John the Baptist, Paul, and other New Testament writers focused on the heart, character, and life of a disciple. The anointing and gifting of the Spirit is powerful and essential for a fruitful life in mission; however, it is character that determines how the gifts of the Spirit will be used. Saul enjoyed worship and prophesying but these
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The Name of the Lord Almighty

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  1 Samuel 17; Psalms 9; Matthew 2   “…’You came against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.” 1 Samuel 17:45 “Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you.” Psalm 9:10 Our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers. If we do not know the name of the Lord Almighty personally, we are powerless to resist the enemy. As a young man, David knew the Lord and was filled with the Holy Spirit. He trusted in the Lord and not in his own weapons, skill, strength, or experience. What do we trust in when confronted with significant challenges? We learn God’s name as we learn to know him personally in the many battles of life. The many names of God were revealed to people, just like us, who sought God in their time of need. What spiritual giants are taunting us, and how will we respond? “Lord Jesus, your
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Responding to Rebuke

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1 Samuel 15-16; 1 Chronicles 5; Matthew 1   “Early in the morning Samuel got up and went to meet Saul, but he was told, ‘Saul has gone to Carmel. There he has set up a monument in his own honor and has turned and gone on down to Gilgal.’…’Why did you not obey the Lord? Why did you pounce on the plunder and do evil in the eyes of the Lord?’ ‘But I did obey the Lord,’ Saul said…” 1 Samuel 15:12, 19, 20 How do we respond when we are confronted with our sin? Defensive attitudes, pride, excuses, and blaming others are all common responses. Saul even honored himself publically, both before and after he was confronted and rebuked. Pride blinds us to our own sin, while humility welcomes rebuke, repents quickly, and learns from each experience. The more public our leadership, the more important our attitude is in responding well to rebuke. Saul enjoyed the plunder of his mission as do many leaders today. Blaming others for decisions related to how that plunder is used is a common deflection. Go
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