Usually Mondays find me working away at the computer updating my blogs, but a holiday threw me for a loop! :-) President's Day gave me a little extra rest and relaxation. . .and time to go shopping with Brenda and Caleb for some shoes. School at Heritage academy holidayed, but our tutoring schedule remained unchanged.
Last Sunday night I began a new series on the life of David, a Man After God's Heart. The message focused on some observations from 1 Samuel 13:13-14. Here is the main outline:
We began with some
1. GENERAL OBSERVATIONS answering some of those basic observation questions like Who?, What? When?. . .
- This phrase was spoken by Samuel, the preacher, to Saul, the rebellious, impatient king.
- This phrase showed that Samuel was hearing from God. He was relaying the Word of God. God called His next choice of a king a man after his own heart.
- The man of whom this was spoken was, at this time,a a very young man. Let us not take our children for granted. Look at them with the eye toward what God may be able to do through them. Guard your tongue! Be careful of what you say to them. If you think what you say does not matter, then remember the harsh, hateful, and harmful words adults spoke to you when you were younger.
- As an aside, but very important in our time, God does not seek to be excluded, and indeed cannot be, in government. The affairs of state are still in His hands for good or for judgment. Saul forfeited the kingdom whether or not judgment fell that day or not. "The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord. . .". If the courts of the United States, the elected officials, the special interest groups, and the influential people with money think that they are in control, let them be warned and reminded: GOD IS IN CONTROL. He cannot be legislated off the planet. While He might be scorned, He will be revered in the end!
2. GRAMMATICAL OBSERVATIONS
- God sought for "a" man. . .one. God still looks for those who will honor Him, live for Him, and lift Him up one at a time. He seeks a personal audience with you for salvation. People do not get saved in groups, though there may be more than one saved at a particular meeting or service. People get saved one at a time as God deals with each soul personally. God calls out individuals to serve Him, to leave their comfort zones, to cross the seas to other fields one by one. When you are faced with the crises, the only sustaining factor you will have at times is this personal encounter you have had with God.
- God sought for a "man". I realize that this is simple, but God still uses people. He usually uses the ordinary, or the less-than-ordinary, people to do the most for Him. He seeks all to love Him and serve Him, but if your intellectual pride stands in your way, He will use an imbecile to confound you. If your physical pedigree makes you "too good" to stoop and humbly serve the King of kings, He will use a Samaritan of some sort to show you what real honor is. 1 Corinthians 1 reminds us of this and shows us the reason, "That no flesh should glory in his presence." If you are feeble, God will use you. If you are not the sharpest tool in the shed, God can still use you. If you are willing to be used by God on His terms and timetable, He will use you and bring great glory to Himself. God sought for a MAN.
- God sought for a man "after". . .This word points to the character of the man. Here is not the couch potato, but the hungry individual. Here is someone who could be called a disciple, a follower.
- Energy and movement are not enough. These must be directed. The direction is defined in the next words, "his own heart". When this is your direction, be assured that God desires to use you. Sadly, there are not many in this group. A lot of people seek God as a "sugar-daddy" Who will give them what they want on their terms. Some are stimulated only by the high thoughts of the Lord and His Word without the humble spirit to obey His commands. Saul had talent and ability, but was unwilling to accept God's timing when it threatened him. He was unwilling to submit to God's plan when it limited him and cramped his style. A lot of people talk about loving God, but they don't want God or anybody else defining their morals or deriding their "lifestyles". The person God sought, David, was submissive to His will, willing to adjust to God's Word, able to wait on Gods time, and fervent in prayer and praise. There is so much more, but that will have to come in the next few weeks.
3. GRAVE (serious) OBSERVATIONS
- We live in days where the Word of God is also being twisted and tortured by personal tastes and human philosophies. Popular religion neglects the "darker" side of the truth, if there really is such a thing. People want the Bible, if it reads like they think it should. How do I know this? So-called Christians live just like their worldly neighbors. There is NO DIFFERENCE in their speech. There is NO DIFFERENCE in their habits. There is NO DIFFERENCE in their music or TV selections. God's Word cannot change and so, if you are going to live in sin, you will have to ignore It. Conscience becomes seared when you make this a habit.
- Many claim the role of modern prophets, but are like Ahab's false preachers. They are popular, but untrue.
- Sadly, a man after God's own heart is still a man. Yes, David was a great man. He may have been the greatest of Israel's historical characters apart from Jesus Christ, but his life contains some very dark chapters. He still sinned grievously. Praise the Lord, he was also a great repenter! Do not look to men for perfection or you will be sadly disappointed. Keep your eyes on Jesus!
4. GLORIOUS OBSERVATION - What God can do with a single individual who is "after his own heart". The list is long, but here are a few characters to note:
- From Abraham, God raised up a nation.
- Through Joseph, God spared His people.
- Using Moses, God delivered His people.
God does not need an army of millions to turn the world upside down. He had an upper room-full and used them to do that job.
Will you allow God to use you? D.L. Moody was led to Christ by Edward Kimbell, his Sunday School teacher. Moody was greatly used by God and the torch was passed from him up to the present day. Moody's talents did not match something more important - His heart for God and God's Word. He sought to be a man totally yielded to God. He studied Scripture to a degree that shames modern preacher due to his own humility and hunger for the Word. He would read, according to his own study plan, a passage of Scripture 18 times and then would just be beginning to understand It's meaning. He willingly invested the time in such diligent study, and God said, "I can use him." Ask God to give you a new heart today. If you have never trusted Christ, remember what He did for you at Calvary. "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved and thy house." Rid your heart of any idols you might be even unwittingly worshiping. Become a person after God's heart.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
JESUS: THE SOUL-WINNER
Do you remember when you met Him? Nobody who meets Him ever forgets it. He makes more of an impact on our lives than anyone else we could ever meet, so how could we forget? In John 4, Jesus met the woman of Samaria at Jacob's well outside of Sychar.
Her conversion was IMMEDIATE
Her conversion was INCREDIBLE
Her conversion was IMPELLING
Neither this woman, or any of the others who came out to the well and met Jesus as Savior, would ever be the same again! How did this conversion happen? Jesus brought this event about.
He came to Sychar on purpose. Just like He came to this world, He "must needs go through Samaria". He came to this earth on purpose. Born of a virgin and thus without sin, Jesus came to pay for my sin and for your sin at the cross. He knew when He came the reason why He came. John the messenger, the forerunner, cried out, "Behold, the Lamb of God!"
Jesus waited at the well for a person. This woman was known to Jesus. I believe that Jesus wants to save the worst person in town, the greatest sinner in town. He did it here, it would seem. He did it over in Jericho when He saved Zachaeus. Jesus is in the soul-saving work. He sent the disciples into the town to find food, but He Himself knew that there was a sinful woman coming out to the well at the time of day when others avoided the heat. He arranges these meetings with individuals ON PURPOSE. He wants to go one-on-one with you today. That is the way people get saved. We have a personal encounter with the Savior. Others may be in the room, but there is only One that matters. Others may be kneeling at the altar, but there is only One Whose voice you hear.
Jesus demonstrated His power. "I that speak unto thee am he," He told the woman. After He had told her all about herself, provoked her to honesty, and discussed real worship, Jesus revealed Himself to her. He minced no words. In one of the most clear exposures of Who Jesus is, He says, "I that speak unto thee am he." He is making it clear beyond a doubt that He is the Christ, the One coming to save! That in itself demonstrates His power, but the power was also applied. Here is a woman who hears Who Jesus is and believes on Him. She leaves her waterpot. She runs back to the city, and tells the men of the city to come out and see a man that had revealed her own heart. She challenged them, "Is not this the Christ?" Jesus' power to reveal and to change hearts and lives is demonstrated in this woman's life, but also in the lives of those who came out and also believed on Him.
He will do the same thing today. If you have not met Him, will you trust Him today? Christ died for our sin. He was buried for three days. He arose and lives forever! Right now you have the opportunity to trust Him to forgive your sin and to make you a brand new creature. Then, you can pass the word along, "Come see a Man!"
Her conversion was IMMEDIATE
Her conversion was INCREDIBLE
Her conversion was IMPELLING
Neither this woman, or any of the others who came out to the well and met Jesus as Savior, would ever be the same again! How did this conversion happen? Jesus brought this event about.
He came to Sychar on purpose. Just like He came to this world, He "must needs go through Samaria". He came to this earth on purpose. Born of a virgin and thus without sin, Jesus came to pay for my sin and for your sin at the cross. He knew when He came the reason why He came. John the messenger, the forerunner, cried out, "Behold, the Lamb of God!"
Jesus waited at the well for a person. This woman was known to Jesus. I believe that Jesus wants to save the worst person in town, the greatest sinner in town. He did it here, it would seem. He did it over in Jericho when He saved Zachaeus. Jesus is in the soul-saving work. He sent the disciples into the town to find food, but He Himself knew that there was a sinful woman coming out to the well at the time of day when others avoided the heat. He arranges these meetings with individuals ON PURPOSE. He wants to go one-on-one with you today. That is the way people get saved. We have a personal encounter with the Savior. Others may be in the room, but there is only One that matters. Others may be kneeling at the altar, but there is only One Whose voice you hear.
Jesus demonstrated His power. "I that speak unto thee am he," He told the woman. After He had told her all about herself, provoked her to honesty, and discussed real worship, Jesus revealed Himself to her. He minced no words. In one of the most clear exposures of Who Jesus is, He says, "I that speak unto thee am he." He is making it clear beyond a doubt that He is the Christ, the One coming to save! That in itself demonstrates His power, but the power was also applied. Here is a woman who hears Who Jesus is and believes on Him. She leaves her waterpot. She runs back to the city, and tells the men of the city to come out and see a man that had revealed her own heart. She challenged them, "Is not this the Christ?" Jesus' power to reveal and to change hearts and lives is demonstrated in this woman's life, but also in the lives of those who came out and also believed on Him.
He will do the same thing today. If you have not met Him, will you trust Him today? Christ died for our sin. He was buried for three days. He arose and lives forever! Right now you have the opportunity to trust Him to forgive your sin and to make you a brand new creature. Then, you can pass the word along, "Come see a Man!"
Monday, February 1, 2010
MIRACLES AT ZACCHAEUS' HOUSE
Sunday night we looked at some truths that brought great changes to the home of Zacchaeus, the wee little man who climbed up in the sycamore tree. Consider these truths and rejoice in the love of our Lord.
Luke 19:10
1. Jesus IDENTIFIES with us. He calls Himself the "Son of man". As the Son of God he reveals a special relationship with the Heavenly Father, and as the Son of man, He reveals a special relationship with us.
"Emmanuel" God with us. Jesus is all God.
Born of a virgin. Jesus is, at the same time, all man.
He is able to identify with our human weakness. He was tempted in all points like as we are, yet without sin according to Hebrews 4:15. What a comfort!!
As the Son of man, Jesus is able to become our substitute. He is God's Isaac sacrificed upon the altar so that we might be saved. God has provided Himself a Lamb.
2. Jesus INTERVENES for us. "For the Son of man IS COME. . ."
He stepped in when no one would or could. He intervened.
Ephesians 2:4 makes the remarkable statement, "But God, who is rich in mercy for his great love wherewith he loved us even when we were dead in sins hath quickened us together with Christ, by grace are ye saved." Though we were dead in trespasses and sins, God, in the person of Jesus Christ came to bring salvation.
3. Jesus INVESTIGATES. He searches. He seeks the lost. This is part of the reason why He came. TO SEEK.
In these days of the "seeker-sensitive" mentality, it is wonderful to know that JESUS SEEKS. He is really the only Seeker. There is not a man or woman who would seek after God, according to Romans 3, unless God first sought them. "We love him because he first loved us." Instead of dipping our standards and adopting unscriptural methods in efforts to win those who are lost, let's ask the Lord to magnify the Lord Jesus Christ, to shed abroad His love in our hearts so that He might do His wonderful work of seeking the lost. Certainly He uses believers in this effort.
We pray that He would give us the heart to GO THROUGH SAMARIA. He made an out-of-the-ordinary stop at Jacob's well so that souls could be saved. Why? He is the Seeker. There are places and people groups today who are neglected in our outreach, but who are loved and sought after by the Master. Who will take the path of the Savior and enter these "Samarias" for Him?
We ask that He would give us the determination to win the one. Jesus made a trip across the Sea of Galilee. He met one man, the outcast of society, the devil-possessed wild man. He delivered him. Then, Jesus sent out this one as a missionary, and returned to the other side of the sea. All that way for one, but He was still not discouraged. How often do we see the single soul saved after much effort and bow our heads in discouragement? Let us continue to SEEK the one. Phillip went out to the desert at the leading of the Holy Spirit so that one man could trust Jesus. Phillip never saw the results of this one man's witness. He rejoiced to be able to obey the Lord and lead one to Christ.
4. Jesus INTERPOSES Himself for our salvation. He is our Substitute. . .mighty to save. "For the Son of man is come to seek AND TO SAVE. . ."
The old hymn says, "He to rescue me from danger interposed His precious blood." Making the ultimate sacrifice, Jesus stepped in and took our punishment, our judgment, on the cross. He was made sin for us so that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.
Like a secret service agent stepping in and taking a bullet for the president, Jesus stepped in and took the weight of sin's penalty on Himself at Calvary. Beyond the terrifying physical suffering, He endured the mental and spiritual suffering as well so that you and I might be saved.
At Los Alamos, NM in 1946, a young scientist was conducting an experiment that he had done several times before. He was trying to determine the critical mass of two spheres of U-235 for the atomic project to be tested later at Bikini atoll in the South Pacific. He would normally bring the two halves together and then separate them at the last second with a screwdriver. This time the screwdriver slipped, and the pieces began to fuse sending out an eerie blue haze. Without wasting a second, the young man reached and with his bare hands he separated the two spheres averting a major nuclear catastrophe! There were 7 others in the lab with him who owe their lives to his daring feat. He said to his companions, as they awaited medical attention, "You'll come through this all right, but I haven't the faintest chance myself." Nine days later he died a horrible death. Over 2,00 years ago, the Lord Jesus walked directly into the critical mass of sin's radiation, allowed Himself to become accursed for us, laid down His precious life, and broke the chain reaction Adam had started in Eden. He broke the power of sin!!! He SAVES!!
5. Jesus ILLUMINATES our minds and hearts. He reveals that we need to be saved. You see He came to seek and to save THAT WHICH WAS LOST.
We must have our eyes opened! A young boy had a sign up: Democrat Puppies for sale. Of course such a sign drew great interest and a man stopped in to see the pups. They looked like ordinary puppies of the hound dog variety. Buying one, the man asked no questions about the "Democrat" label. But two days later, the sign read differently, "Republican Puppies for SALE". He had to stop just to find out what was going on. "I purchased a puppy from you a couple of days ago when your sign said, 'Democrat Puppies for sale', what made you change the sign? Did you not sell enough with the other sign?" "No, that was not the reason for the change," the boy replied. "I changed my sign because the pups eyes opened yesterday."
Unless the Holy Spirit of God reproves our hearts of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment, we will not recognize our need of the Savior or open our hearts to Him.
God has given His Word so that we might recognize that we are lost and that Jesus saves the lost. The Good News is "Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures. . .". Are your eyes open?
"For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost." Luke 19:10
Let the Lord work a miracle at your house, in your heart, today.
Luke 19:10
1. Jesus IDENTIFIES with us. He calls Himself the "Son of man". As the Son of God he reveals a special relationship with the Heavenly Father, and as the Son of man, He reveals a special relationship with us.
"Emmanuel" God with us. Jesus is all God.
Born of a virgin. Jesus is, at the same time, all man.
He is able to identify with our human weakness. He was tempted in all points like as we are, yet without sin according to Hebrews 4:15. What a comfort!!
As the Son of man, Jesus is able to become our substitute. He is God's Isaac sacrificed upon the altar so that we might be saved. God has provided Himself a Lamb.
2. Jesus INTERVENES for us. "For the Son of man IS COME. . ."
He stepped in when no one would or could. He intervened.
Ephesians 2:4 makes the remarkable statement, "But God, who is rich in mercy for his great love wherewith he loved us even when we were dead in sins hath quickened us together with Christ, by grace are ye saved." Though we were dead in trespasses and sins, God, in the person of Jesus Christ came to bring salvation.
3. Jesus INVESTIGATES. He searches. He seeks the lost. This is part of the reason why He came. TO SEEK.
In these days of the "seeker-sensitive" mentality, it is wonderful to know that JESUS SEEKS. He is really the only Seeker. There is not a man or woman who would seek after God, according to Romans 3, unless God first sought them. "We love him because he first loved us." Instead of dipping our standards and adopting unscriptural methods in efforts to win those who are lost, let's ask the Lord to magnify the Lord Jesus Christ, to shed abroad His love in our hearts so that He might do His wonderful work of seeking the lost. Certainly He uses believers in this effort.
We pray that He would give us the heart to GO THROUGH SAMARIA. He made an out-of-the-ordinary stop at Jacob's well so that souls could be saved. Why? He is the Seeker. There are places and people groups today who are neglected in our outreach, but who are loved and sought after by the Master. Who will take the path of the Savior and enter these "Samarias" for Him?
We ask that He would give us the determination to win the one. Jesus made a trip across the Sea of Galilee. He met one man, the outcast of society, the devil-possessed wild man. He delivered him. Then, Jesus sent out this one as a missionary, and returned to the other side of the sea. All that way for one, but He was still not discouraged. How often do we see the single soul saved after much effort and bow our heads in discouragement? Let us continue to SEEK the one. Phillip went out to the desert at the leading of the Holy Spirit so that one man could trust Jesus. Phillip never saw the results of this one man's witness. He rejoiced to be able to obey the Lord and lead one to Christ.
4. Jesus INTERPOSES Himself for our salvation. He is our Substitute. . .mighty to save. "For the Son of man is come to seek AND TO SAVE. . ."
The old hymn says, "He to rescue me from danger interposed His precious blood." Making the ultimate sacrifice, Jesus stepped in and took our punishment, our judgment, on the cross. He was made sin for us so that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.
Like a secret service agent stepping in and taking a bullet for the president, Jesus stepped in and took the weight of sin's penalty on Himself at Calvary. Beyond the terrifying physical suffering, He endured the mental and spiritual suffering as well so that you and I might be saved.
At Los Alamos, NM in 1946, a young scientist was conducting an experiment that he had done several times before. He was trying to determine the critical mass of two spheres of U-235 for the atomic project to be tested later at Bikini atoll in the South Pacific. He would normally bring the two halves together and then separate them at the last second with a screwdriver. This time the screwdriver slipped, and the pieces began to fuse sending out an eerie blue haze. Without wasting a second, the young man reached and with his bare hands he separated the two spheres averting a major nuclear catastrophe! There were 7 others in the lab with him who owe their lives to his daring feat. He said to his companions, as they awaited medical attention, "You'll come through this all right, but I haven't the faintest chance myself." Nine days later he died a horrible death. Over 2,00 years ago, the Lord Jesus walked directly into the critical mass of sin's radiation, allowed Himself to become accursed for us, laid down His precious life, and broke the chain reaction Adam had started in Eden. He broke the power of sin!!! He SAVES!!
5. Jesus ILLUMINATES our minds and hearts. He reveals that we need to be saved. You see He came to seek and to save THAT WHICH WAS LOST.
We must have our eyes opened! A young boy had a sign up: Democrat Puppies for sale. Of course such a sign drew great interest and a man stopped in to see the pups. They looked like ordinary puppies of the hound dog variety. Buying one, the man asked no questions about the "Democrat" label. But two days later, the sign read differently, "Republican Puppies for SALE". He had to stop just to find out what was going on. "I purchased a puppy from you a couple of days ago when your sign said, 'Democrat Puppies for sale', what made you change the sign? Did you not sell enough with the other sign?" "No, that was not the reason for the change," the boy replied. "I changed my sign because the pups eyes opened yesterday."
Unless the Holy Spirit of God reproves our hearts of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment, we will not recognize our need of the Savior or open our hearts to Him.
God has given His Word so that we might recognize that we are lost and that Jesus saves the lost. The Good News is "Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures. . .". Are your eyes open?
"For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost." Luke 19:10
Let the Lord work a miracle at your house, in your heart, today.
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