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God’s Presence, Our Refuge

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1 Samuel 23; Psalms 31, 54; Matthew 7 “How great is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you, which you bestow in the sight of men on those who take refuge in you. In the shelter of your presence, you hide them from the intrigues of men; in your dwelling you keep them safe from accusing tongues.” Psalm 31:19, 20 David found refuge and relief, not in a physical retreat center, or a fortified castle, but in the presence of the Lord. In God’s presence, David experienced God’s goodness, his protection, and his favour. However, it was up to David to seek the presence of the Lord no matter where he was physically. While fleeing Saul, David lived as a hunted fugitive. Betrayal was a potential fate every day. Who could he trust? The words of those around him were like arrows of accusation. Only in the presence of the Lord did David find relief. Worship and meditation on the promises of God restored the strength and peace of his heart. David lived with an audience of one, ...
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Our Salvation

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1 Samuel 22; Psalms 17, 35; Matthew 6 “Contend, O Lord, with those who contend with me; fight against those who fight against me. Take up shield and buckler; arise and come to my aid. Brandish spear and javelin against those who pursue me. Say to my soul, ‘I am your salvation.’” Psalm 35:1-3 David processed his feelings and response to Saul’s campaign against him in his prayer journal. David believed that God literally would be a warrior contending with those who sought to kill him.   In our tests, do we look to fight flesh and blood? Or do we, like David, call on the Lord to deliver us and fight our battles for us? David relied on the inner voice of the Holy Spirit speaking salvation to him. This inner peace was based on the reality of God’s presence in David’s life. David’s humility released God to come to his aid. Will we, too, humble ourselves before God and in conflict, forgive and release others, and ask the Lord to fight our battles for us? When we process our feelings in pr...
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Who Do We Fear?

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1 Samuel 20-21; Psalms 34, Matthew 5   “I sought the Lord and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears…The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them…Fear the Lord, you his saints, for those who fear him lack nothing.” Psalm 34:4, 7, 9 Fear of man is a snare that traps us and keeps us from the freedom Christ has won for us. The fear of the Lord is the key to walking in wisdom and understanding. The fear of the Lord is a reverence for God’s presence and a commitment to walk in God’s ways. As David fled the presence of King Saul, he wrote about the fears he was fleeing from. However, David’s greater focus was his fear of the Lord and his desire to honor God in how he lived, even as a fugitive. David did not return evil with evil. Instead, he determined to “keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies. Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it” (Psalm 34:13, 14). When we fear God, we trust him to deliver us from our fe...
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Listening is Life-giving

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1 Samuel 19: 1 Chronicles 7; Psalms 59, Matthew 4 “Jesus answered, ‘It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God!’” Matthew 4:4 Jesus’ response to Satan’s temptation to turn stones into bread to satisfy his physical hunger was to quote Deuteronomy 8:3 and Moses’ words to Israel regarding their hunger in the desert. God humbled Israel, causing them to hunger in order to reveal to them their need for daily bread/manna which only he could provide. We, too, share the same need to be satisfied by God alone. When Jesus taught his disciples to pray, “Give us this day our daily bread…,” he was speaking about more than food. He was speaking about manna and the provision of life which we can only find from God. Listening to the Word - every word that comes from the mouth of God - is a privilege for the sons and daughters of God. We were made to listen and obey God’s Word and in doing so, find our life comes from him. Listening to the Word i...
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Jealousy

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1 Samuel 18; 1 Chronicles 6; Psalms 11, Matthew 3   “Saul was afraid of David because the Lord was with David but had left Saul. So he sent David away from him…When Saul realized that the Lord was with David and that his daughter Michal loved David, Saul became still more afraid of him, and he remained his enemy the rest of his days.” 1 Samuel 18:12, 13, 28, 29 Spiritual jealousy is deceptive because it can be justified by spiritual language and hidden by seemingly honorable actions. Saul used military campaigns and even marriage to his daughter in his attempt to destroy David. He was jealous of God’s evident presence with David. Jealousy and fear work together to form bitterness if we allow them access to our heart. If we enjoy the anointing of the Spirit of God in our lives, we, too, will face jealousy like Saul. How we respond will determine whether we will continue to walk in the Spirit’s anointing, or whether we will become like Saul. “Lord Jesus, I choose to forgive and bless...
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The Sword of the Spirit

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1 Samuel 17; Psalms 9; Matthew 2 “David said to the Philistine, ‘You come 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. This day the Lord will hand you over to me, and I will strike you down and cut off your head.’” 1 Samuel 17:45, 46 David might not have had a sword in his hand the day he faced Goliath, but the sword of the Lord was in his mouth as the faith-filled word of the Lord was proclaimed. As Paul described the armour of God, he included the “sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions…” (Ephesians 6:17, 18). Those filled with the Spirit as David was, speak the word of the Lord with great boldness. This “sword” defeats giants of fear, greed, lust, and pride that are opposing the people of God and the work of God. As we “listen to the word” our hearts grow in faith, and we have a word in season no matter what context or battle...
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Our Heart (God’s focus)

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1 Samuel 15-16; 1 Chronicles 5; Matthew 1   “But the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.’” 1 Samuel 16:7 What does the Lord see when he looks at us? The world focuses on our outward appearance and so do we. Huge industries are focused on updating and improving our outward appearance. Some of the top surgeons in the world are focused on cosmetic surgery, not on saving lives; however, God’s eyes are on the heart. David was a man after God’s own heart. Yet even David sinned and he let fear, murder, and lust fill his heart. In his prayer of repentance, David asked God to create in him a pure heart and to renew a steadfast spirit within him (Psalm 51:10). He prayed, “Search me, O God, and know my heart…” (Psalm 139:23). David knew God’s value on his heart.   Do we? Today, what is our response to God’s gaze ...
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