Listening to the Word

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...

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 ...

1 Samuel 14; 1 Chronicles 4; 2 Corinthians 13   “Finally, brothers [and sisters], good-by! Aim for perfection, listen to my appeal, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you.” 2 Corinthians 13:11 In Paul’s final words to the Corinthian church, he called them to joy, to full restoration from the influences of sin, to encouraging each other, to unity, and to peace. How would all this be possible? The God of love and peace would be with them - and with us. Most of Paul’s final words focus on relationships with each other and with God. Paul was their spiritual father and he wanted his children to love each other and love God who had birthed them into his family. Are these our priorities as we reflect on our life and the church in which we are a part? Are we walking in joy in the most important relationships in our lives? Who can we encourage today? Where are we being invited into a “one mind” unity with others who love and follow Jesus? In what ways ...

I Samuel 13; I Chronicles 2-3; 2 Corinthians 12   “’…the Lord has sought out a man after his own heart and appointed him leader of his people, because you have not kept the Lord’s command.’” 1 Samuel 13:14 The Lord sought out a man after his own heart, one who would obey his commands and live under his authority. Samuel declared this intention of the Lord to Saul at the beginning of his leadership of Israel. Insecurity, fear of man, and other pre-existing strongholds in Saul’s life grew because of his awareness of the requirement. Saul knew that the Lord was not pleased with his heart and would eventually replace him. How attentive are we to the state of our heart? Are we more interested in God’s perspective than that of others? It is the Lord who pursues leaders to fill strategic positions in his kingdom. David replaced Saul because the Lord sought out David’s heart and it pleased him. When the Lord is our focus, he will position us in his kingdom where he chooses. Let the Lord ta...

I Samuel 11-12; 1 Chronicles 1; 2 Corinthians 11 “’…serve the Lord with all your heart. Do not turn away after useless idols. They can do you no good, nor can they rescue you, because they are useless. For the sake of his great name, the Lord will not reject his people, because the Lord was pleased to make you his own.’” 1 Samuel 12:20-22 “I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ…Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches.” 2 Corinthians 11:2, 28) Both Samuel and Paul ended their public ministries with a call to God’s people to be faithful to the Lord. Both Samuel and Paul were clear that the people of God belonged to the Lord, not to these leaders. When leaders who plant churches or begin ministries believe people are serving them rather than the Lord, they lose their way. Few dynamic ministries finish well. To finish well we must continue to die to self and follow Jesus so that he becomes greater a...

1 Samuel 8-10; 2 Corinthians 10 “…Finally Saul son of Kish was chosen. But when they looked for him, he was not to be found. So they inquired further of the Lord, ‘Has the man come here yet?’ And the Lord said, ‘Yes, he has hidden himself among the baggage.’” 1 Samuel 10:21, 22 “’By the meekness and gentleness of Christ, I appeal to you - I, Paul, who am “timid” when face to face with you, but “bold” when away.’” 2 Corinthians 10:1 There is a big difference between the fear of man and humility. Before he was filled with the Holy Spirit, Saul feared man. Although physically taller than others, Saul’s fear of man would later become a snare in his life. He also feared failure because of how failure would make him appear in the eyes of others. Fear is rooted in comparison with others and an identity of never being enough. We feel we are not smart enough, rich enough, beautiful enough, or strong enough because we have not yet found our sufficiency in the love of God for us. Paul, whose name...