Your Faith Encourages Others, Romans 1, June 7, 2015

Scripture, – “…that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith.”   Romans‬ ‭1‬:‭12‬

Observation – Paul encourages his fellow believers in Rome that he is encouraged by their faith and hopes his faith also encourages them.  He hears their stories of faith and  their growth in that faith and rejoices how that encourages him.  He sees his life as making an impact I theirs and how that makes him feel his life is not wasted.  He also wants them to know as well their lives ware not wasted either.  Look around your life. How is you life impacting others to grow in their faith?  Does that make you rejoice as you you see them going in the right direction?  If not, how could help them along the way.  Do the people in your life bring spiritual growth?  If not, maybe you need to start hanging with people who are more life giving.  How can you be more life giving to others  as well?

Application – I need to be more life giving to others around me so they will be encouraged.  I also need to surround myself with others that are life giving to me.

Prayer – Dear God, please help me to be more life giving to others in my life and surround myself more with people who are life giving to me.  Amen.

You Are The Man! 2 Samuel 12, May 31, 2015

Scripture – “Then Nathan said to David, ‘You are the man! This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul.'” Samuel‬ ‭12‬:‭7‬

Observation – David had taken Bathsheba sexually and she became pregnant.  David tried to cover it up by hoping Uriah would come off the battlefield and make love to his wife.  That didn’t work so he had Uriah killed in battle so David could then marry her.  All was going well until God had one of David’s best friends who was also a prophet go and deliver a message to David.  He told David a story about a a rich man who had everything but still stole a poor guy’s only lamb to feed some guests. David was angry and said this was wrong and the man would have to pay back four times what he stole.  That is when Nathan confronted David and said “You are the man!”  David was broken because of his sin and repented.  God forgave him but he still had to face consequences for what he had done.  We are like David.  Many times we think we get away with our sins and God either didn’t see it, wasn’t paying attention or just didn’t care about it.  Don’t be fooled.  We are the man.  There are consequences even if we don’t see them as connected or we are not visited by a prophet.  What do you need to make right or repent from?  Do it now.

Application – Sin in my life brings consequences.

Prayer – Father God, thank You for Your mercy and grace in forgiving me of all my sins.  Amen.

Being In The Wrong Place, 2 Samuel 11, May 30, 2015

Scripture – “In the spring, at the time when kings go off to war, David sent Joab out with the king’s men and the whole Israelite army. They destroyed the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah. But David remained in Jerusalem.”  2 Samuel‬ ‭11‬:‭1‬

Observation – At the very beginning of this story, we see that the time was when the Kings would go off to war.  But David “remained in Jerusalem.”  Instead of being where he was supposed to be, he stayed in Jerusalem.  If David had been with his men, he would not have been able to get caught up in this whole Bathsheba deal.  But he was in a Jerusalem and not with his men.  This appears to be one of those situations where he found himself in the wrong place at the wrong time.  And then David sinned.  He then attempted to cover it up by getting Uriah to come home so he could sleep with his wife.  But Uriah was more honorable than David.  So David had his sin of adultery covered up with having Uriah killed in battle. David thought he got away with it.  How many times have we gotten into trouble by being in the wrong place,  with the wrong people, or at the wrong time.  Are you where you ought to be right now?  What steps do you need to take to get where you are supposed to be? When will you begin to make your way back to where you belong?

Application – If I am where I am supposed to be, there is a less chance of me getting into trouble.

Prayer – Lord keep me in Your paths and following Your ways.  Amen.

Assumptions Can Get You Into Trouble! 2 Samuel 10, May 29, 2015

Scripture – “Do you think David is honoring your father by sending men to you to express sympathy? Hasn’t David sent them to you to explore the city and spy it out and overthrow it?”   2 Samuel 10:3

Observation – When the king of the Ammonites died, David sent a group of me as emissaries to express his respects for the king.   His son, now the new king was told by his advisors that David could care less about showing sympathy but was a ruse to spy out the land to conquer it.  His advisors jumped to a conclusion and assumed the wrong thing.  The Ammonites humiliated David’s men and sent them back.  When David found out, He told his men to take their time so their humiliation would be over.  The Ammonites then realized they had blown but instead of sending a peace emissary, they hired some mercenaries to fight David.  That didn’t end well for them.  When we jump to conclusions or make assumptions, we tend to imprint what we would do rather than know the other person’s motives.  Slow down. Get to know the facts.  Don’t assume just because you would act a certain way others will too.  When we jump to conclusions, we usually jump into irrationality because we really don’t have any idea.

Application – I must combat the temptation to jump to conclusions and make assumptions about people and their motives when I really do not have any idea.

Prayer – Dear God, give me discernment and wisdom that comes from you so I might make wise decisions based on truth not assumptions.  Amen.

Faithful Beyond Death, 2 Samuel 9, May 28, 2015

Scripture – “‘Don’t be afraid,’ David said to him, ‘for I will surely show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan. I will restore to you all the land that belonged to your grandfather Saul, and you will always eat at my table.'” 2 Samuel‬ ‭9‬:‭7

Observation – David had made a covenant with Jonathan, King Saul’s son, to honor each other no matter what.  After Saul and Jonathan were killed in battle, David, now King sought out a son of Jonathan that he could honor because of that agreement.  Mephibosheth had been injured as a child and was lame in both legs.  He would have been shunned by others and seen as an outcast.  But David saw an opportunity to honor his promise to Jonathan through Mephibosheth.  He made him to be like on of David’s sons by having him eat at the king’s table and giving back all of the lands King Saul once had.  Where do our promises end.  Can we be faithful to others because of what their fathers meant to us.  What a challenge!

Application – I need to honor those who have honored me even if it is beyond my friend’s death.

Prayer – Father, help me to be a man of honor.  Amen.

The Secret Of Success For Anyone In Authority! 2 Samuel 8, May 27, 2015

Scripture – “David reigned over all Israel, doing what was just and right for all his people.”  2 Samuel‬ ‭8‬:‭15‬

Observation – Wherever David went, God granted him great success over his enemies.  Look at the verse for today and you will see the secret of success as a leader – David reigned over all Israel, doing what was just and right for all his people.  If you are I’m authority over others like a boss, supervisor, in elected office or a police officer here is your cue.  Reign over meaning to take charge and lead.  Second do what is just for all your people, not playing favorites or doing one thing for one and then not being consistent.  Third, do what is right.  You cannot take anyone farther than you are yourself.  Clean your own act up and then expect those you lead to do the same.  Treat others the way you would want to be treated.  Follow these three simple but profound truths and you will be a successful leader.

Application – If I am to be successful as a church leader I need to led confidently, do what is just and treat others right.

Prayer – Help me Father to be the leader You want me to be and the people I lead need for me to be. Amen.

I Will Celebrate Before The Lord! 2 Samuel 6, May 25, 2015

Scripture – “David said to Michal, “It was before the Lord, who chose me rather than your father or anyone from his house when he appointed me ruler over the Lord’s people Israel—I will celebrate before the Lord.”  2 Samuel‬ ‭6‬:‭21‬

Observation – when Israel moved the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem, this was an occasion of great celebration. David the King left the group in dancing and playing instruments as praise to God.  When his wife saw him, she was angry and confented David.  She accused him of doing what he did to excite the slave girls sexually.  David answers her back that he was going to celebrate Before God the great things God had done in spite of what she thought.  Here is the deal. When God causes you to celebrate and worship Him I spirit and truth, do not let others dissuade you in your worship.  You are not worshipping a God to please them anyway. If y are raising your hands do not think about what others might think.  Think about how God is pleased.  Celebrate before the Lord the great things He has done.

Application – When I worship God it is to be for an audience of just One and no one else.

Prayer – God I worship You and for You alone do I worship.  Amen.

You Will Shepherd My People! 2 Samuel 5, May 24, 2015

Scripture – “In the past, while Saul was king over us, you were the one who led Israel on their military campaigns. And the Lord said to you, ‘You will shepherd my people Israel, and you will become their ruler.’ ”  ‭2 Samuel‬ ‭5‬:‭2‬

Observation – All the elders gathered to David and pledged their loyalty to him as their leader.  They recognized God’s anointing of him as their king even as far back as when he fought for Saul.  David made a covenant with them to be their King in return.  So David became King over all of Israel.  This was a partial fulfillment of God’s promise to David.  The ultimate fulfillment of that promise is in Jesus Christ who was born of as a relative of David. He is the ultimate King and Shepherd of Israel.  As our Shepherd, He leads, protects and provides for us on a daily basis.  Allow Him to be Your Shepherd and King.

Application – Jesus is my Shepherd and Ruler.

Prayer – Thank You Jesus for being my Good Shepherd Who leads, protects and provides me for on a daily basis.  Amen.

You Can’t Wrap Wickedness Up In A Favor! 2 Samuel 4, May 23, 2015

Scripture – “How much more–when wicked men have killed an innocent man in his own house and on his own bed–should I not now demand his blood from your hand and rid the earth of you!” 2 Samuel 4:11

Observation – After Abner was killed two of Saul’s men became afraid and thought of what could they do to ingratiate themselves to David.  So they went to Saul’s son’s house and murdered him.  They took off his head and brought it to David, thinking they were going to get a reward for their efforts as a favor to David.  The problem was these men knew nothing of the concept of honor or David’s heart.  They were thinking this will get them in good standing with David. Boy were they wrong!  David had them killed for their wickedness and as a lesson to the rest of Israel.  Saul was God’s anointed.  David would not think of killing him or his sons.  They attempted to wrap up their wickedness in a favor.  It cost them their lives.  Be careful if you think you can do something wrong and wrap it up in pretty wrapping with a bow.  It is still wrong.

Application – I need to see that wrong is wrong no matter how I attempt to justify it.

Prayer – Lord keep me from, self-delusions about what is wrong and right.  Amen.

Revenge Carries A High Price! 2 Samuel 3, May 22, 2015

Scripture – “May his blood fall upon the head of Joab and upon all his father’s house!³³ May Joab’s house never be without someone who has a running sore or leprosy or who leans on a crutch or who falls by the sword or who lacks food.”  2 Samuel 3:29

Observation – Abner was fed up with Saul’s son’s accusations so he decided to make a pact with David to bring all of Israel under David’s control.  So he went to David’s camp and pledged allegiance to David and promised the other tribes would follow him.  Bow Abner had killed Joab’s brother in battle, one of David’s men.  When he heard of Abner’s pact with David he was mad and wanted revenge.  So he deceitfully called Abner back to David’s camp where he murdered him in a doorway.  David was angry at Joab for his murderous rage and for his deceit of their pact.  David then put a curse on Joab and his whole house.  When we attempt to exact revenge on someone we doo not think of the consequences.  In fact, if someone tries to point them out we often say in the het of the moment, “I don’t care!”  We do not realize the high price of revenge.  That is why God tells us to not take revenge.  He will repay. When we take revenge, we are throwing God off the throne of our lives and think we can do a better job than He. You really can’t afford the cost of such an act on any level.

Application – I must allow God to settle my accounts.  Revenge is God’s area not mine.

Prayer – God I release those who have hurt me to You.  I will not take revenge on people.  Amen.