FUN d MENTAL pastor

What’s in it for Me?

1 Corinthians 10:23-24 

"Everything is permissible"--but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible"--but not everything is constructive. Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others.

Questionable things:

Should we or shouldn’t we participate in Halloween?

Is it ok for Christians to drink or smoke?

What kind of music should be in the church?

Different followers have come up with many contradictory answers, each with much conviction.

The answer here is everything is permissible.

In essence “Yes you may”.

May I have a pork chop when there are those who believe that it is morally wrong?

“Yes you may”.

May I have a gin and tonic with a friend even though some believe it is a sin?

“Yes you may”.

That solves the question from the I/my perspective.

But it may not be beneficial or constructive.

Beneficial is not that pork is bad for my cholesterol, therefore it would be better for me to not to eat it.

Beneficial here has to do with bearing and bringing together; to help another.

Do I have permission? Yes.

Does it benefit someone else? Will it bring us closer or keep us apart?

Now those are better questions.

Constructive?

Does it edify? Does it build the Church of God? Does it bring others closer to Christ?

That’s another couple of good questions.

May I …? Yes.

Should I?  How will others be effected?

I will not be close to Christ when it all comes down to what’s in it for me.

Are you seeking Christ’s will . . . a good check is are you seeking the good of others?

It’s not about me
It’s all about You
It’s not about my pride
It’s all about Your truth

And so right here from the start
I open up my heart
And say Lord here’s every part
Cause it’s all about You

Jesus, Jesus
Jesus, it’s all about You

Big Daddy Weave

 

Blessings,

Pastor Douglas

Uriah the Hittite

2 Samuel 23:39a  and Uriah the Hittite . . .

This is one of the saddest verses in the Old Testament. It is also a verse that sings the mighty work of God.

David’s mighty men. 37 elite men – empowered by the Spirit to do mighty deeds to serve and protect their king.

Among them an Ammonite and a Hittite. Proof that Our Lord has and always will except any from among the nations who will put their trust in Him.

They were supposed to be enemies of Israel; but stood and protected God’s anointed one.

Some of their exploits are mentioned just before the list of 30. What are the exploits of these men though? Most we will never know on this side of glory.

Except for Uriah the Hittite. . .

We find the greatness of Uriah at the same time we see David at his worst.

Back in chapter 11 we see their stories come together through Bathsheba; Uriah’s wife. We find a king who wouldn’t control himself and a soldier who deprived himself of every pleasure to uphold his king and his fellow troops.

Uriah’s true strength was in his honor. In this case an honor that was greater then God’s anointed. This coming from a Hittite!

Who acted with more reverence towards his king; David or Uriah?

Who should have known better?

Who had more to lose?

Is there a Hittite of today (a non-Christian) that is acting with more honor than you?

Are there non-Christians who have more reverence towards our Lord then you do?

David learned, to late, in this instance that God is forgiving, and ever faithful.

A child died; a family destroyed; a king whose soul was rotted to nothing until he admitted his sin, focusing once again on his Lord and not his own self.

Through this sadness the Lord’s grace shines through.

It’s not too late to turn back to God. You can say at the end just like David …

`When one rules over men in righteousness,  when he rules in the fear of God, he is like the light of morning at sunrise  on a cloudless morning,  like the brightness after rain  that brings the grass from the earth.' “Is not my house right with God?  Has he not made with me an everlasting covenant, arranged and secured in every part?  Will he not bring to fruition my salvation and grant me my every desire?

2 Samuel 23:3-5

Blessings,

Pastor Douglas

All the Lord's Promises Prove True

2 Samuel 22:31-32   New Living Translation

“God’s way is perfect. All the Lord’s promises prove true.

He is a shield for all who look to him for protection.

For who is God except the Lord? Who but our God is a solid rock?

In his life David learned to trust God’s word.

Although David had failed at times the Lord never wavered from what He had said.

Nothing has changed in three thousand years… Our Father has continued doing exactly what he promised to do.

His children still need to learn to trust His word.

Our Lord’s promises were not just for those bible people.

He has plenty of promises for all of us today also

Here are just 5 out of 41 that Wilmington had in his book of Bible Lists:

Answers to prayer    1 John 5:14

God’s protecting care 1 Pet. 5:6–7

Spiritual fullness    John 6:35

Victory  1 John 5:4

A heavenly home        John 14:1–3

When we learn to trust the Lord as David and others have then we also can say along with David…

For who is God except the Lord? Who but our God is a solid rock?

Blessings,

Pastor Douglas

Fireproof

1 Corinthians 3:10-15 According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it.  For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.

 

    A humbling thought for each of us.

    The Day will bring Christ in judgment towards the ungodly, which we like to hear about. It also comes with a testing for those in Christ; not one of our enjoyable thoughts.

 

What each one of us works for and adds upon Christ Jesus’ work of the Cross and Resurrection will one day be tested.

    One simple test . . . Fire.

 

    Much of what we put effort and importance to will be vaporized in a moments flash; gone for all eternity.

 

    Church buildings will be gone.

    Books, Cds, tapes, dvds- all gone.

 

    Devotions, Worship, Service, Prayers, Sacrifices, Witnessing, and Love will remain.

 

    On that Day we are left with rewards and ashes.

 

    What are we laboring to build?

    Will it stand the test, is it fireproof?

 

   

Blessings,

Pastor Douglas

Three groups, Three “needs”.

1 Corinthians 1:22-24 

Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

    Jews – Those who know what God has said but they want it confirmed by something seen. In the church today are those just like the crowd who followed Jesus around in John 6.

    “Show us something and we’ll believe”.

    What more was Jesus to show, to prove.

    They were there because they saw the miracles, the day before he made a meal for thousands from a young boys small lunch.

    “Not enough show us more”!

    Jesus discusses his body and blood and says that’s enough.

    Most left.

    Today the cross is behind us… but still there are those who say “Not enough show us more”!

    “Give us some special sign of your presence; then we’ll believe you are here”.

 

    Greeks- those who want to look skilled and sophisticated – important enough for Gods attention. Why not? The world sees their sophistication and abilities. They’re on most people’s A list.

    They want a gospel that brings out their importance.

    Jesus told us to die to ourselves but they think others need to die to their desires and “needs”.

    They like a Jesus that brings prosperity and political clout.

 

    The called – They live by the Death. Their power is in a cross.

    “Whatever grace is extended to me today is because of what Jesus did back then”.

    The world doesn’t find them worthy; they know their worth is in Christ

    The world calls them “morons”; the Father calls them “Sons”.

    The world overlooks them; God chose them, called to them, sought them, redeemed them, and made them His family.

 

    Which group do you fit into?

    Is Christ enough for you today?

Saul’s Second Hand Family

1 Samuel 18:28-29 When Saul realized that the Lord was with David and that his daughter Michal loved David,  29 Saul became still more afraid of him, and he remained his enemy the rest of his days.

    Saul’s whole family is at this point second hand.

   

    Jonathan and Michal both show a propensity to love others, their father less and less so.

    Saul was willing to use his family’s love of David to find ways to bring about David’s death.

 

    Saul is becoming sicker and sicker with jealousy and bitterness.

 

    He has been told that God was going to bring on a better man. Saul is going to crush anyone who stands in his way.

    Saul shows us that we cannot have a second hand God, and get through life without destroying everything else.

 

    The fullness of his spiritual disease is seen in his using his own daughter’s feelings to achieve his evil plot against the younger and increasingly more popular David.

 

    This disease will not leave him. While David would enjoy the presence of the Spirit for his lifetime, Saul would harbor resentment, destroying his family in the process.

 

    This sadly is where Saul and David become quite alike. Their actions will destroy their families.

    Where they will differ in is that Saul will blame David…

David will own the responsibility of his choices. (see Psalm 51)

 

    Saul’s family goes into obscurity.

    David’s will bring the Messiah to the throne.

Saul’s Second Hand Soldier

1 Samuel 17:38-39  Then Saul dressed David in his own tunic. He put a coat of armor on him and a bronze helmet on his head.  39  David fastened on his sword over the tunic and tried walking around, because he was not used to them.  "I cannot go in these," he said to Saul, "because I am not used to them." So he took them off.

 

    The contrast between David and Saul is once again presented in Chapter 17 in one of the most well known stories in history.

 

    For the forty days Saul and the army of Israel have been cowering across the valley from the Philistines and their big guy Goliath.

    For forty days Goliath has been taunting their army, their bravery, their God.

    Saul was brave enough to offer a great reward for any soldier who would meet and defeat the giant man. Tax exemption and his daughter to the valiant soldier were waved in front of the Israeli army.

The soldiers obviously discussed the reward with each other; but none were moved to action.

 

They sound a lot like their King.

 

Then here comes David, just in time for Goliath’s daily taunt.

 

David unlike the others wonders why none are going out and showing the lowly Philistine that he is not going to get away saying such things about the Lord of the universe.

 

David is even more intrigued when the reward is announced.

Of course big brothers have to have their comments. The king must present his doubts.

 

But in the end David becomes Saul’s second hand soldier.

 

David may be small, but if would only wear the kings armor and use his sword he could get by. Saul could then take some credit also.

 

David realized that the armor doesn’t make the soldier, but rather that the Soldier is made by his Lord.

 

Saul needed David; but David just needed the Lord.

 

A young man with faith that the Lord would defeat the giant took the step that none in Israel would take for the last forty days.

 

The Lord gained the victory.  

 

 

Blessings,

Pastor Douglas

20090804 Devotion: Saul’s Second Hand spirit

1 Samuel 16:23 Whenever the spirit from God came upon Saul, David would take his harp and play. Then relief would come to Saul; he would feel better, and the evil spirit would leave him.

 

            The Holy Spirit had been removed from Saul, and God gave him an “evil” spirit to torment him instead.  That was the chances you took before the day of Pentecost. The Spirit could come and the Spirit could leave.

            But, the second hand spirit given to him to torment him is quite unique and is in contrast to the Holy Spirit, or as Jesus would later refer to Him as the Comforter.

            God removed Saul’s comfort and gave him torment instead.

 

            David is the only one before Pentecost (except for Jesus) that it was ever said that the Spirit never left him. He was the prototype Christian.

            Even in his sin the Spirit never left.

            David would ruin his family, but the Spirit never left.

            David would harm his nation, but the Spirit never left.

            God wouldn’t allow David to build a Temple, but David was himself the Temple of the Holy Spirit.

 

            Saul worshipped God through Samuel, David had a personal relationship.

 

            Many people today will end like Saul; holding on to things that bring them torment. They will go to an eternity of torment.

            Christians today need to be like David, whose presence (because of the Spirit) was enough to lessen the torment that others were facing.

Saul’s Second Hand Relationship

1 Samuel 15:30-31 Saul replied, “I have sinned. But please honor me before the elders of my people and before Israel; come back with me, so that I may worship the Lord your God.”  31 So Samuel went back with Saul, and Saul worshiped the Lord.

                Isn’t it interesting to see in the last few words of verse 30 Saul’s relationship with God?  Actually we should call it a lack of relationship.

            While Saul admits sin; his first concern is for Samuel show honor to him before the people of Israel. His whole focus of worship is to be lifted up himself. Apparently he learned nothing in the first 29 verses. God tearing Israelfrom Saul’s grasp will take 18 Years; with Saul fighting it to his last breath.

            What can drive a man like that?

            The answer could be in the words “the LORD your God”.

            Saul‘s relationship with the Lord is through Samuel, he has no direct relationship.

Saul is a man living on someone else’s faith. Worship to Saul is something the Prophet (pastor) does and he watches from the sidelines.

No direct participation or relationship.

God told Saul that he was going to give the kingdom to someone better then him.

He had in mind a twelve year old shepherd boy named David.

Whatever may have been a David’s problems, and there was a few, it wasn’t with his relationship with God.

Listen to the difference in David’s words:

2 Samuel 22:1  David sang to the LORD the words of this song when the LORD delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul.  2  He said:  "The LORD is  my  rock,  my  fortress and  my  deliverer;  3  my   God  is  my  rock, in whom I take refuge,  my  shield and the horn of  my  salvation.  He is  my  stronghold,  my  refuge and  my  savior--  from violent men you save me.

           

            Saul worshiped through Samuel; David sings directly to God.

            Saul Worshipped Samuel’s God; David calls the Lord My: Rock, Fortress, Deliverer, Refuge, Shield, Horn of Salvation, Stronghold, and Savior.

            Saul lifted himself up; David was a man after God’s heart.

            How is your relationship?

Citizen Paul - 20090801

Acts 22: 23 - 25 As they were shouting and throwing off their cloaks and flinging dust into the air, 24 the commander ordered Paul to be taken into the barracks. He directed that he be flogged and questioned in order to find out why the people were shouting at him like this.  25 As they stretched him out to flog him, Paul said to the centurion standing there, "Is it legal for you to flog a Roman citizen who hasn't even been found guilty?"  (NIV)

                When I read this passage I couldn’t help but think about what Paul mentions about citizenship in Philippians 3:20: But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ . . .

                How do we deal with this duel citizenship? Is it proper for Christians to uphold their national rights?

                As our nation debates such things as abortion, health care, gay rights we need to remember that just as Paul had done in Acts 22 we can also make use of the rights and privileges of being citizens of the

US

.

                We have the right to speak our minds in a public forum. We have a right to petition, and appeal. We can use any legal means to influence voters and representatives.

                How far does that go?

                As far as it doesn’t confuse us of our primary citizenship.

                Do we gain anything when we protect our earthly rights when we do not take care of our heavenly responsibilities?

                No!

                We cannot be citizens of Heaven if we petition against the government without petitioning the Lord in prayer.

                We cannot be citizens of Heaven if we spend time reading and forwarding emails and spend brief moments in God’s Word.

                We cannot be citizens of Heaven if persuade people how to vote, but not who their Lord is.

                We cannot be citizens of Heaven if we concentrate our goals for power to control here, rather than concentrate on Him who through His control will change us there.

Blessings,

Pastor Douglas