This morning I continue our series entitled, “Standing on a Word from God.”  This is Part 25.  We have been looking at the life of Abraham for weeks.  Today I am going to share a few New Testament scriptures with you and then connect them the point I am making from the life of Abraham.  Please follow me as I build my case.

The most well known scripture in the Bible is John 3:16.  It says:

(John 3:16 KJV)

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

When Jesus was preparing to die, He said the following about his impending death:

(John 12:23,24 NIV)

“The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.  Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.”

After Jesus became that seed He talked about in John 12:24, after He was sown into the earth and died, we now see an amazing harvest.  Paul said:

(Romans 8:29 NIV)

For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.

So what does this mean to you today?  A few things.

1.  While Jesus was in the earth He was the “only begotten Son” of the Father.  He was the only one operating on the level He was operating on.  He was filled with the Holy Spirit. He was led of the Spirit in all things.  He only said what He heard the Father say and He only did what He saw (by revelation) the Father do.  He was the ONLY ONE living this way at the time. He was the ONLY ONE because He had not been sown into the ground as a seed yet.  Once He was sown as a seed and He died, His single seed produced a harvest that is still yielding fruit (souls) to this day.

2.  When Jesus was getting read to die He said this about His death: “Unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.”  He was talking about Himself.  He was a single seed. He was the ONLY begotten of the Father during that time.  But once He was sown into the ground as a seed, He produced an amazing harvest. It is so amazing that His single seed is still producing harvest to this day every time a person is Born-Again.

3.  When Jesus was in the earth He was the ONLY begotten of the Father.  After He was sown into the ground as a seed, the Bible says that He is now, “The firstborn among many brothers and sisters.”  When Jesus was in the earth He was singular.  But since the Father used Jesus’ life as a seed, Jesus is now the first of many, many brothers and sisters.  Jesus is no longer singular because His life was sown as a seed. You and I are part of the harvest. We are now supposed to live JUST LIKE JESUS in the earth.  As Jesus is, so are we, in this world (1 Jn 4:17).

4.  When Abraham had Isaac it was tremendous blessing.  We waited 25 years for that baby. However, Isaac was singular.  He was one boy. Abraham and Sarah could thank God for this one son.  But God’s promise was to bless the entire earth through Abraham and Sarah’s seed.  Like the Father did with Jesus, Abraham had to be willing to sow his son as a seed in order to reap the harvest of the full blessing.  

I will talk more about this 4th point tomorrow.  For today, I will close with a couple more quick points.

5.  Sometimes God gives us an amazing promise.  His promise becomes the dream that fuels our hopes and desires.  In the process of making His dream a reality in our lives, God manifests the promise in stages and levels.  Unfortunately, many Christians get so enamored by the partial blessing that they fail to continue to believe God for the FULL manifestation.  If Abraham was so caught up with Isaac (who was only PART of the promise) that He failed to do what God said, He could have missed out on the FULL manifestation of the promise.  God’s promise to Abraham HAS come to pass. The entire earth has been blessed through his descendants. It happened because Abraham was willing to SOW the seed in His hand for the DREAM in his heart.  Are you willing to do the same?

6.  Thank God for all He places in your hands.  But never settle for any less that the FULL manifestation of what God said.  If you hold on to your seed when God is telling you to SOW it, you will miss out on the harvest God planned for you to have.     

Closing Confession:  

Father, this is a season of expectation for me.  I live with an expectation of full manifestation.  I thank You for unfolding Your promises in my life in levels and stages.  I know it will not all come at once. But I live in expectation that IT WILL ALL COME!  I will never settle for any less than Your best. I thank You for ALL You place in my hands.  But if You lead me to SOW what You blessed me with AS A SEED, then SOW IT I WILL! I will never allow a SEED to take the place of a FULL HARVEST.  I am quick to SOW whatever You lead me to sow, because I live in expectation of Your FULL HARVEST in my life! I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name, Amen!

This is Today’s Word.  Apply it and prosper!

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*** NOTE:  I made it back from the Dominican Republic last night.  I believe we found the land God wants us to have. We are in the process of getting the title for the land cleared up so we can purchase it.  Let’s keep that in prayer. Now let’s get into the Word.

(1 Samuel 17:41-47)

This morning I continue our series entitled, “Standing on a Word from God.”  This is Part 43 of the series and Part 15 of the life of David.  

When last we left off the story David was walking into the valley to face Goliath.  Picture the scene upon the canvas of your mind.  Two armies face each other from adjacent mountain tops.  Only one representative from each army enters the valley that separates them.  From the Philistine side a giant proceeds, clothed with armor head-to-toe. Trailing the giant is his armor-bearer.  The armor-bearer is carrying a shield so big that it requires a second man to tote it around. With the giant in place, someone proceeds from the Israelite side.  It is clear that he is no giant and he is wearing no armor. He is more dressed like he is ready for chores than for battle.  He does not have a sword and he has never trained with one.  All he has is his shepherd’s staff, a slingshot, and five smooth stones.  But wait, I forgot, this little boy does have something else… he has the grace of God.  A few weeks earlier he was a nobody from nowhere.  This say he is a young man who is representing his entire nation in battle.  The weight of the nation is in his hands and his hands are in God’s hands.  That’s the scene, so now let’s pick up the story.

Goliath walked out toward David and sneered in contempt as he looked at his opponent.  Goliath asked, “Am I a dog, that you come at me with a stick?”  Goliath went on to curse David by the names of his gods.  However, Goliath had no idea that he could not curse what the only true God had already blessed.  Goliath went on to yell, “Come over here, and I’ll give your flesh to the birds and wild animals!”  David was unphased.  Unlike Saul and his men, David did not allow Goliath’s threats to strike fear in his heart.  David replied, “You come to me with sword, spear, and javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies—the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.”  For David this more than just a one-on-one hand-to-hand combat showdown.  This was about God and how He had been disrespected by Goliath. David was God’s emissary and he was going to let everyone present that day know what happens when you defy the God of Israel.  So with his faith firmly rooted in God David said, “Today the Lord will conquer you, and I will kill you and cut off your head.  And then I will give the dead bodies of your men to the birds and wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel!  And everyone assembled here will know that the Lord rescues his people, but not with sword and spear.  This is the Lord’s battle, and he will give you to us!”  We will stop here for today.

So what does this mean to you today?  A few things:

1.  You have nothing to fear.

a)  Fear is not the will of God.  The statement “Fear not” appears in the Bible, in some form, over 300 times.  Fear is never the will of God. If you are afraid, you are not in-faith.

b)  A king and an entire army were afraid of a man (Goliath).  But a shepherd boy (David), anointed by God, looked at the giant through the lens of faith and he knew he had nothing to fear.

c)  When you look at any situation from God’s perspective, you will quickly realize that you have no reason to fear.  There is nothing God can’t do and He is the one who lives IN you! What is possible for Him (all things) is possible for you!

2.  You are called to a life of faith.

a)  David’s confidence was not in his power, ability or strength.  David’s confidence was in God. He said to Goliath, “Today the Lord will conquer you… This is the Lord’s battle, and he will give you to us!”

b)  When you live by faith you launch out to attempt the seemingly impossible, knowing that God is the one who will work through you.  David said, “Today the Lord will conquer you, and I will kill you and cut off your head!”  Did you catch that?  David said “the Lord will conquer you.”  But that does not mean that we are supposed to sit around and wait for the Lord to do it FOR us.  NO! Faith means He does it THROUGH us! David went on to say, “and I will kill you and cut off your head!”  When you live by faith YOU ARE THE ONE who has to go and do what the Lord is leading you to go and do, fully expecting that HE WILL DO IT THROUGH YOU as you go!

c)  If God leads you to do something that is clearly beyond your natural ability, it is because He wants to flex His muscles through you so He can  get the glory. Let Him! Have faith in His ability. You submit and He will conquer!

We will discuss this further tomorrow.

Closing Confession:  

Father, this is a season of expectation for me.  I expect You to do ALL You planned to do in my life before I was born.  I cooperate with You and Your plans so You are free to operate through me.  I enter this day ready to slay any giant that is foolish enough to stand before me.  By Your Spirit I am able to see the invisible and perform the impossible. Because it is You Father, who lives in me.  You give me the words and You perform the work through me this day, for all the world to see. This is why I am quick to give You the glory for my life and living.  I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name, Amen!

This is Today’s Word!  Apply it and Prosper.

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(1 Samuel 17:41-47)

This morning I continue our series entitled, “Standing on a Word from God.”  This is Part 45 of the series and Part 17 of the life of David.  

Today I want to focus in on something David said to Goliath.  He said, “Today the Lord will conquer you, and I will kill you and cut off your head!”  Think about this statement for a minute.  Goliath was dressed in armor from head-to-toe.  David was dressed like a shepherd. Goliath had a sword and a shield.  David had a slingshot and a stone. David said that he was going to cut Goliath’s head off.  When we get into the story you will see that he actually did. Here’s my point today: your legs will never take you where your mind has never been.  David said he was going to cut Goliath’s head off and he wound up doing it, because he SAW IT in his mind well before everyone else saw it.  It did not matter that he did not have a sword. HE SAW a way to make it happen and God helped him manifest what was in his heart.

So what does this mean to you today?  A few things.

1.  You must get to the point where remove every artificial limit you have ever placed on your limitless God.  There is nothing God can’t do. He lives in you! Therefore, there is nothing you can’t do.

2.  The Father wants you to see yourself becoming the person you were born to be, doing what you were born to do, all for His glory.

3.  Your capacity to believe either releases God TO, or restricts God FROM, moving in your life.

4.  Once God reveals His plans for your life, your part is to accept and fully embrace the grace to become the man/woman God planned.  But you must be able to SEE YOURSELF in the Spirit. David saw himself cutting Goliath’s head off. So he has no problem DOING IT. But if he could not see it, he would never have done it.

5.  You must SEE IT to BE IT.  Your legs will never take you where your mind has never been.  If you can’t SEE IT, you can’t HAVE IT!

6.  When you look in the mirror the goal is to see the man/woman God called you to be.

7.  In the world people’s actions shape their identity.  In God’s Kingdom your divine identity shapes your actions.  You must know who you are! David did. Which is why he was able to kill a giant.

8.  You are who God says you are.  You can do what God says you can do.  Not by your power, but by His unearned and amazing grace.

9.  When you are Born-again your perspective of everything is supposed to change; especially your perspective of yourself.

10.  When you see yourself the way God sees you, you don’t get caught up in your past failures, and you don’t see limits in your future.  All you see is the person God called you to be.

11.  Your life will change drastically the day you believe what God believes about you!

Closing Confession:  

Father, this is a season of expectation for me because I have finally arrived at the point where I believe what You believe about me!  I am who You say I am. I can do what You say I can do. I am the person You birthed me to be. I walk in my divine assignment. Nothing and no one can stop me, because I believe what You believe.  I can see what You see. And since I can SEE IT, it is only a matter of time before I BE IT! You reveal Your plans to me, I behold the glory for my life, and I become what I behold! I declare this by faith.  In Jesus’ name, Amen!

This is Today’s Word!  Apply it and Prosper.

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This morning I continue our series entitled, “Standing on a Word from God.”  This is Part 52 of the series and Part 24 of the life of David.  

Yesterday I shared a message on purpose, vision, faith and grace.  If you have not read it, I recommend you do. Those are four key aspects of our walk with God.  We must get a revelation of each in order to fully maximize our purpose and potential while we are in the land of the living.  Today I am going to further emphasize the grace of God by focusing on two aspects of grace. In one sense, when God’s grace is flowing it has nothing to do with you.  It’s like God is doing what He does without regarding our performance.  In another sense, when the grace of God is flowing, it has everything to do with our performance.  God empowers us to perform beyond our ability, power and strength.  It is the Father, living in us, He gives us the words and He performs the work.  It’s like God puts His super on our natural, enabling us to perform the supernatural.  When the grace of God is flowing in and through us this way, it is clear to us and everyone around us that we are doing something we could never do without God.

I bring up these two aspects of God’s grace because in order to stand long enough to see the promises of God manifested in your life, you are going to have to fully embrace the grace of God.  On one hand you have to accept the fact that it has nothing to do with your performance. It is completely unearned and undeserved. On the other hand you also have to embrace the fact that God empowers you to perform.  The Apostle Paul explained this well in his letter to the church in Corinth. He said:

“I am the least important of all the apostles. In fact, I caused so much trouble for God’s church that I don’t even deserve to be called an apostle.  But God treated me with undeserved grace! He made me what I am, and his grace wasn’t wasted. I worked much harder than any of the other apostles, although it was really God’s grace at work and not me.”

(1 Corinthians 15:9,10 CEV)  

Two aspects of God’s grace:

Grace where you don’t do:  

This is the aspect of grace most are familiar with.  If you read the Gospels you will see account after account where Jesus blessed people, not because they did anything, or because they deserved it, but solely by the grace of God.  The woman caught in adultery, for example, did not perform God’s will. She was clearly in sin. She did nothing to earn forgiveness or her breakthrough. However, she received forgiveness and redemption by the grace of God.  When Samuel came to Jesse’s house and anointed David to be the next king of Israel, it was not because David did anything to initiate the contact. It was purely by the grace of God. The author of the text I have provided for you, the Apostle Paul, terrorized the church.  He worked against the cause of Christ with all his might. When God called him to the gospel ministry it had nothing to do with his performance. As a matter of fact, the call came despite his performance. It was totally by grace. This aspect of grace is undeserved, unmerited, often unexpected, and almost unbelievable.  

Grace to do:  

This aspect of God’s grace is often not understood.  Not only does God call us by grace, but He then graces us to fulfill the calling.  Said another way, God gives us our purpose by grace (without us earning it), and He then gives us the grace to achieve it.  In the scripture I have provided, the Apostle Paul acknowledged that God treated him with undeserved grace. Without grace Paul could have never received such an awesome assignment.  Paul did not deserve it, but God assigned Paul’s purpose to him before he was born, completely by grace. And then again Paul explains how he had to work hard to fulfill his calling.  Paul put all his effort into maximizing his purpose and potential.  But even then Paul acknowledged that he was not really the one working so hard.  It was the grace of God through him. Without grace Paul would not have been called and without grace he could not fulfill the call.  God gave Paul grace before he lifted a finger to perform God’s will, and He then gave him grace to fulfill the assignment he had been given.  Without an understanding of these two aspects of grace we will never fulfill our divine assignment.

So what does this mean to you today?  I have already given you many nuggets this morning.  Here are a few more:

1.  God looked past your faults, flaws and failures, in order to call you to your divine assignment.  He knew all the mistakes you were going to make and He called you anyway. This is the grace of God.

2.  God ordained you to a specific assignment before the world began.  He did this with a foreknowledge of your decisions. He knew what you would do right and what you would do wrong, and He called you despite your shortcomings.  He called you based on His goodness, not your own.

3.  Once you open your heart to God’s purpose and your answer the call, you quickly realize that you CANNOT do what God has called you to do.  It is beyond you. It exceeds your power, ability and strength. This then puts you in a position that requires the grace of God. Not only did you have to accept God’s grace to be forgiven.  But you must know embrace God’s grace to do what you were born to do, because you could never do it without Him!

4.  God calls you by grace and He gives us the grace to fulfill the call.  So receive His assignment by grace, knowing you could never earn it. And then walk out into your assignment by grace, knowing you will never be able to fulfill it without God.  David understood this. This is how we went from shepherd boy to sitting king. It was all by the grace of God.

Closing Confession:  

Father, this is a season of expectation for me.  I expect to become who You called me to be. My expectation is based solely on Your goodness towards me.  Both aspects of Your grace are in operation in my life. I acknowledge the fact that You called me by grace.  I was completely undeserving and You called me anyway. Now that I have answered the call, You give me the grace to fulfill it.  I have grace to do everything You have called me to do and I declare that I will. Like Paul, I declare that I am who I am by Your amazing grace.  Your grace towards me shall not be in vain! I will leave a mark in this world that will not easily be erased. Not because of me, but solely because of YOU!  I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name, Amen!

This is Today’s Word!  Apply it and Prosper.

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(1 Samuel 18:1-3)

This morning I continue our series entitled, “Standing on a Word from God.”  This is Part 55 of the series and Part 27 of the life of David.  

After David killed the giant and the Israelite army finished off the Philistines, David met with king Saul and he got to meet the king’s son, prince Jonathan.  When the two met they immediately connected. This was a supernatural connection.  The Bible says “there was an immediate bond between them, for Jonathan loved David.”  The Bible goes on to say that Jonathan “loved him as he loved himself.”  To seal the relationship, Jonathan entered into a covenant with David by swearing a solemn pact,  Jonathan took off his robe and gave it to David, along with his tunic, sword, bow, and belt. Symbolically, this meant that Jonathan was giving David everything he had.  Spiritually, it meant the two men were in covenant.  Jonathan’s father, king Saul, sanctioned the relationship and welcomed David into the palace.  David would never again live in Bethlehem. On a day when David was simply running an errand for his father, a funny thing happened on the way to lunch, he wound up killing a giant, and his life changed forever.

David had no way of knowing what Jonathan was going to mean to him.  Jonathan, the son of Saul, would eventually help David escape the attacks of his father, at the risk of his own life.  On more than one occasion Jonathan would be attributed with saving David’s life. Jonathan was being groomed to be king and he wound up establishing a covenant relationship with the man who would take his place.  

Jonathan also had no way of knowing what David would mean to him.  In addition to providing a special friendship while they were alive, David’s love and commitment to Jonathan would survive his death.  Jonathan had no way of knowing that both he and his father would die on the same day and that his son, Mephibosheth, an heir to the throne, would wind up crippled living in a barren place (LoDebar).  It was David who, because of his love for Jonathan, would later redeem Mephibosheth from LoDebar and restore him to the king’s palace.

David could not have planned a better relationship if he tried.  David did nothing to start the relationship. I believe the Lord was behind the special relationship.  I believe the Lord planned this relationship before the foundations of the world, because David needed Jonathan and Jonathan needed David.  Let’s stop here for today.

So what does this mean to you today?  A few things:

1.  There are no lone rangers in the Body of Christ.  You will never maximize your purpose and potential without the assistance of others.  I run into people all the time who say things like, “I don’t need anyone,” or “I am fine all by myself,” but if the truth be told these statements are birthed out of pain.  People say things like this because they have been hurt. That’s understandable.  People can be messy. Dealing with people can be painful. But no matter how bad you have been hurt by people, you need others and others need you.  As a believer you must allow the love of God to wash your hurt away. If you allow God to heal your heart, He will, and you will be able to welcome the relationships He has ordained for you to have.

2.  Covenant Relationships are special.  The word “friend” is used very loosely today — especially when people have thousands of “friends” on Facebook — but God given friends should be cherished.  I believe the Lord helped set up the relationship between Jonathan and David and if you take the time to acknowledge it, you will find that He has done the same for you.  The Father sends people our way, so we can be a blessing to them and so they can be a blessing to us. Life is better lived when enjoyed with the company of great friends.  

3.  Divine friends help usher us into our purpose.  If it were not for Jonathan we may not be reading about David.  Jonathan helped protect David from the attacks of his own father, king Saul.  Jonathan did this to help shield David for his divine assignment, even if it meant that David would eventually take his place as king and successor to his own father.  This was a divine connection. We all need people like Jonathan in our lives. If we open our hearts to God and His grace, we will be in position to also open our hearts to key and critical relationships that will help us become the men/women we were born to be.

4.  Friends help friends out of love.  Jonathan helped David, even when it meant going against his father.  He did this purely out of the love of God. And David helped Jonathan, even after he was dead, honoring Jonathan’s injured son.  David did this out of the love of God as wel. When you operate in God’s love you are able to help your friends because you simply want to help, not because you are looking for anything in return.  We all need people like this in our lives, because these are the types of relationships that help us endure for the long haul. So we can hold on long enough to see the manifestation of God’s promises in our lives.  Waiting on God’s promises is not easy, but having good people around you, people of like-precious-faith, will help you stand until you see what God said!

Closing Confession:  

Father, this is a season of expectation for me.  I expect Your best, which is my I open my heart to covenant relationships.  I acknowledge the fact that I will not be able to maximize my purpose or potential in life without others.  I cannot do it by myself. I am not a lone ranger and I won’t even attempt to be one. I need You and I need others.  I need the special people You have ordained to be a part of my life. I also know that they need me. So I release any pain from my past and I open my heart to receive the covenant relationships You desire for me to have.  I also commit to being a blessing to my friends, because I love them, without any expectation of anything in return. My friends will be part of my life’s story and I shall be part of theirs. And when we get to heaven we will be able to continue the fellowship.  I thank You Father for blessing me to have great friends. I enjoy them, they enjoy me, and together we leave a mark in this world that will not easily be erased! On this thanksgiving week I thank You for my friends and family, and I am determined TO BE a blessing to them as we get together.  I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name, Amen!

This is Today’s Word!  Apply it and Prosper.

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(Read 1 Samuel 18:6-9)

This morning I continue our series entitled, “Standing on a Word from God.”  This is Part 57 of the series and Part 29 of the life of David.  

Yesterday we discussed David’s incredible promotion.  David had just one fight on his resume (killing Goliath), he had never served a day in the military, he never led troops, he never attended training, and he had never even worn a coat of armor, but none of that mattered.  David, the teenager, was promoted to General. In a moment he was made the Commander of the men of war. Remember, this series is about believing God for the big promises He has made you and remaining in faith for the long haul.  The reason I take the time to highlight the many things that happen in the space between God’s promise and the performance of the promise is because that is the way life works. God can call you to something, but that does not mean you will start walking in that call tomorrow, or next week.  It could take months, years or decades. In the interim you must make the most of every level/stage of the journey, knowing that your today is preparing you for your tomorrow.

David accepted the promotion.  He knew he was called to be king, but for now, he accepted the promotion to General.  He went from the lowest position in his home to the highest position in the military in just a matter of weeks.  David went from being a “nobody” who spent his days tending his father’s sheep to a national hero who was invited to live in the palace with the king.  How did this happen?  The answer is simple: it was the grace of God.  God was preparing David for his life’s assignment.  The good news is that God does the same with us.

As the victorious Israelite army was returning home after David had killed Goliath, women from all the towns of Israel came out to meet king Saul and his army.  They sang and danced for joy with tambourines, cymbals, and flutes. This was their song: “Saul has killed his thousands, but David his tens of thousands!”  David did not ask these women to sing that song.  David did not have pride in his heart. David was not looking for recognition.  David was not placing himself above Saul. But none of that mattered to Saul. He was furious!  The king said, “What is this?  They credit David with tens of thousands and me with only thousands.  Next they’ll be making him their king!”  Saul had no idea how prophetic his words would prove to be.  Yes, David would be Saul’s successor, but it would happen in God’s timing.  The Bible says: “So from that day Saul kept a jealous eye on David.”

So what does this mean to you today?  A few things:

1.  Don’t try too hard to make things happen.  David was not trying to make anything happen. The Lord kept opening doors for him that no man could close.  Once the door was open, David stepped through it by faith. You would do well to learn from David. You can get out ahead of God (and mess things up in the process) by trying too hard to make things happen.  Remember, God operates in His timing. So wait on God and then move by faith when HE opens the door. If you move before His timing you will be operating without His grace.

2.  People will turn on you in a New York minute.  One minute king Saul was enamored with David.  The king had a national hero on his hands and he was loving it.  But then, in a split second, because of something David had nothing to do with, Saul turned on him.  My point is that some folk are fickle, phony and/or flat-out fake. The good news is that God is faithful.  God will never turn on you. People may smile in your face and then stab you in the back. But God will never do so.  I learned a long time ago that not everyone who is WITH you is FOR you. Which is why our confidence and trust must be in God.  This is not to say that God does not bless us with true friends, but it is to say that true friends are hard to find. When you find a true friend, cherish the relationship.

3.  The enemy’s poison cannot stop your purpose.  Saul was the king of Israel and we will learn later that he got to the point where he tried to have David killed.  But even the king of Israel, the most powerful man in the land, could not kill God’s anointed. Saul was a king, but David was being protected by the King of kings.  So no matter what anyone attempts to do to you, and no matter what their natural position in the earth is, if God is for you, He is more than the entire world against You.  

Closing Confession:  

Father, this is a season of expectation for me.  My heart is open to Your best. I know You have great plans for my life.  I know greatness is IN ME! I pursue my purpose with all my might. However, I refuse to get out ahead of You.  I will not attempt to make things happen unless You are leading me. I will wait patiently and confidently on Your timing.  I will not move until You say, “Go”. When You open the door, I will walk through it to say and do whatever I am led of Your Spirit to say and do.  As I go, I know Your grace will be on me to succeed. Even if men come against me with envy and strife, I will not be moved by people. I will only by moved by You!  Their poison can’t stop my purpose. You are my Lord. You are my God. You are my King, and I worship You. You are the author and finisher, creator and sustainer, beginning and end… all and all in my life.  I look unto You and as I do, You see to it that no weapon formed against me shall be able to prosper. Every tongue that rises up against me shall be condemned! I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name, Amen!

This is Today’s Word!  Apply it and Prosper.

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(Read 1 Samuel 18:8-11)

This morning I continue our series entitled, “Standing on a Word from God.”  This is Part 58 of the series and Part 30 of the life of David.  

Yesterday we learned that Saul allowed the green-eyed monster of jealousy to develop a stronghold in his heart when he heard Israelite women singing about David’s exploits.  All David did was kill one man, but the people attributed more confirmed-kills to David than to Saul. Saul could have, and should have, laughed it off.  What did the ladies know anyway?  But Saul did not laugh it off. He allowed what the women said to alter his opinion and perspective of David.  David had done nothing wrong to Saul. But Saul immediately developed bitterness in his heart toward David.

The very next day a tormenting spirit overwhelmed Saul.  This was not new. It had been happening since Saul disobeyed God.  In the past Saul would call for David and ask David to play his harp.  David’s anointed music was the only thing that could bring the king peace.  However, now that David was “the people’s favorite,” Saul’s inner insecurities would not allow him to summons David.  So Saul attempted to deal with the tormenting spirit without David’s music.  Sure enough, it did not work. Saul got to the point where he was running around the palace like a raving madman.  David saw what was happening, and since he had no issue with Saul, David went, got the harp, and started playing. However, Saul’s bitterness toward David was so strong that it made the harp playing ineffective.  King Saul had a spear in his hand while he was going crazy.  In his rage he hurled the spear at David. He wanted to pin David to the wall.  Thankfully David escaped the attack.  

Let’s look at this from David’s perspective.  David went from obscurity to national hero overnight.  One day he was delivering lunch for his big brothers and the next day he was living in the palace.  And on his way to the palace spontaneous crowds erupted in his honor and his trip took on a parade-like atmosphere.  People David did not know were calling his name and making up songs to honor his exploits.  The prophet came to town, spoke a few words, placed a few drops of oil on his head, and now, less than two months later, it seemed like it was working.  Whatever the prophet did, it initiated a move of God in his life that would change it forever. The only problem was Saul. David had done nothing wrong to Saul, but all of a sudden, the king who used to love him and his harp playing, was attempting to kill him.

David did not ask for any of this.  It was all part of his divine purpose.  It was part of God’s predestined plan for his life.  Guess what? The same happens in your life. When you open your heart to God’s plan things will start happening in your favor, but there will also be people who rise up against you, simply because you are being who God called you to be.

So what does this mean to you today?  A few things:

1.  Be secure in who God made you to be.  Saul was insecure and his insecurity led to envy, strife, and turmoil.

2.  Never let success get to your head.  David did not allow the sudden fame to usher him over into pride.  This is actually somewhat impressive. David was only a teenager and he was a national hero.  But he resisted the urge to be prideful. I believe it was because David knew God was doing it for him.  David was experiencing success by grace and that realization kept him humble.  When God graces you to succeed, never allow pride to get a grip of your heart.  Pride will stifle the flow of grace and you will quickly find yourself outside of the will of God.  

3.  Trouble seems to follow triumph.  When God blesses you richly, don’t think the devil is just going to sit around and be happy about it.  Satan will do everything he can to steal, kill, or destroy what God is doing in your life. The good news is that he can’t.  When God’s grace is on your life the enemy can try all he wants, but his attempts will always fail.  So keep your trust in God and don’t be surprised when the enemy raises his ugly head with trouble after a triumph.  If you remain humble, confident, and focused on your divine assignment, you the Father will bless you to trouble your trouble and not to be troubled by it.

4.  To walk with God you must be committed for the long haul.  There are things you are called to do what will not happen for months, years or decades.  You must take the long-approach with God. There will be times and seasons where everything seems to be going right.  There will be others when you will face trouble, obstacles and fierce opposition. People who love you today may turn on you tomorrow.  People may change, circumstances may change, and the way you thought things were going to work out may significantly change. But in the end, you must be committed to God NO MATTER WHAT!  Come what may, if you keep your eyes and your heart fixed and focused on Jesus, you will arrive at God’s overall expected end for your life.  And the best part is, you will enjoy the journey as you make Kingdom impact along the way.  

Closing Confession:  

Father, I thank You for this teaching.  I know who I am. More importantly, I know whose I am.  I rest in who You have made me to be. I will not allow jealousy to ever get a grip of my heart.  You may not have given me what You gave others, but You also did not give others what You gave me.  I walk in the grace You have placed on my life, and I rest in it. I know I am NOT a self-made man/woman.  I am who I am by Your grace and I will never forget it. The realization of Your grace on my life keeps me humble and dependent on You.  And lastly Father, I know that trouble may follow the many triumphs You have destined me to experience. I will not allow the trouble to trouble me.  I trouble my trouble by keeping my eyes stayed on You! I am in it for the long haul. Come what may, I shall not be moved! I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name, Amen!

This is Today’s Word!  Apply it and Prosper.

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(Read 1 Samuel 18:17-27)

This morning I continue our series entitled, “Standing on a Word from God.”  This is Part 61 of the series and Part 33 of the life of David.  

In our last message we saw that Saul kept sending David out on combat missions, hoping that he would be killed-in-action.  The plan backfired. As David led soldiers successfully in combat, mission after mission, he became even more popular with the people.  Saul then said to David, “I am ready to give you my older daughter, Merab, as your wife.  But first you must prove yourself to be a real warrior by fighting the Lord’s battles.”  This was strange and wrong.  Saul had ulterior motives. Back in 1 Sam 17:25 the Bible makes it clear that Saul had offered his daughter to whoever killed Goliath.  David did that. David should not have had to work for Merab’s hand in marriage. Nor did he have to prove himself in combat. David had killed the tallest, meanest, most terrifying man Saul had ever seen.  Further, he had already led soldiers on multiple successful combat missions. Telling David that he had to “prove himself” was ridiculous.  But Saul was calculating, conniving, and underhanded.  The amazing part is that David remained faithful to God and to Saul.  David was so humble that he said, “Who am I, and what is my family in Israel that I should be the king’s son-in-law?  My father’s family is nothing!”  In the end it did not matter, because Saul reneged on his offer and gave his daughter to Adriel the Meholathite in marriage.  

Meanwhile, Saul’s daughter Michal fell in love with David.  When Saul learned of it he was not happy, but he saw it as another opportunity to have David killed.  The Bible says he thought, “Ah, a second chance.  I’ll use Michal as bait to get David out where the Philistines will make short work of him.”  

Again Saul said to David, “You’re going to be my son-in-law.”  David did not accept the offer at first.  So Saul said to his servants, “Get David off by himself and tell him, ‘The king is very taken with you, and everyone at court loves you.  Go ahead, marry his daughter and become the king’s son-in-law!’”  But David was so humble that he could not see himself marrying royalty.  He said, “I can’t. I’m a nobody; I have nothing to offer.”  The servants went back to the king and relayed David’s message.  Saul said, “Go tell David this: “The king isn’t expecting any money from you; only this: Go kill a hundred Philistines and bring evidence of your vengeance on the king’s behalf. Avenge the king on his enemies.”  Once again, Saul expected David to be killed in action.  

This time David was happy.  He did not have a lot of money, but he could surely lead men in combat.  David and his men killed the hundred Philistines, brought their evidence back in a sack, and displayed it the king—mission accomplished!  Saul had no choice this time but to give his daughter to David in marriage.

So what does this mean to you today?  A few things:

1.  Vengeance and recompense belong to the Lord.  In the New Testament Paul quoted Leviticus when he said, “Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God.  For the Scriptures say, “I will take revenge; I will pay them back,” says the LORD” (Rom 12:19, Lev 19:18).  David could have easily gotten tired of Saul and fought against him, but David knew the Lord would see to it that Saul got what was coming to him.  Don’t try to get people back for the wrong they do to you. The Lord will do a better job than you ever could.

2.  Becoming the person God has called you to be requires divine patience.  There is no such thing as an overnight success.  David knew he was anointed to be Saul’s replacement, but he had to exercise divine patience, and endure senseless tactics from Saul, while he was waiting on God’s timing.  

3.  Use what you have.  David did not have money, but he did have the grace to fight, so he used that.  I may not know you, but I am sure there are lots of things you don’t have. Focusing on what you don’t have is not going to get you very far.  However, if you focus on what you do have, on what God has blessed and graced you with, you can then use what you do have to get what you don’t have.  Two fish and five loaves seemed like nothing in the little boy’s hands, but in Jesus’ hands that two piece fish dinner fed over 5,000. What you have this morning may not look like much compared to what you are facing, but if you put it in God’s hands He can take what you have (your seed) and use it to help you address your situation (your need).  

4.  They can’t stop you.  Saul could not stop David.  Scheme after scheme, plot after plot, all of Saul’s tactics failed, because the grace of God was on David.  When you are operating under the grace of God for your life the enemy cannot stop you. The only person who can stop you is you.  The only way you can lose is if you quit! So don’t worry about “them,” and keep going!

Closing Confession:  Father,  I look to You for all things.  I know You will see to it that I reap a harvest on every seed sown.  You will also see to it that others reap harvests on the seeds they sow.  Therefore, I don’t have to seek revenge. When people rise up against me, sowing bad seed, I know two things.  First, their attacks will fail, because Your hedge of protection keeps me from all harm. Second, You will see to it that they reap a bad harvest from their bad seed.  So I don’t have to go after them. Vengeance and recompense belong to You. Also, when faced with a situation that is too big for me (my need), I refuse to focus on what I do not have.  I look at what I do have (my seed) and I put it in Your hands. As I do, You bless it and empower me to receive all You desire for me to receive in this season. And lastly Father, I declare that every plot, plan, design, tactic, scheme and strategy the enemy devises against me shall fail!  No curse, hex, vex or spell has any power over me. I am covered by Your Blood and filled with Your Spirit! The enemy cannot curse what You have already blessed. I enjoy Your blessing today and every day!

This is Today’s Word!  Apply it and Prosper.

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(1 Samuel 18:28-30 NLT)  When Saul realized that the LORD was with David and how much his daughter Michal loved him, Saul became even more afraid of him, and he remained David’s enemy for the rest of his life.  Every time the commanders of the Philistines attacked, David was more successful against them than all the rest of Saul’s officers. So David’s name became very famous.

This morning I continue our series entitled, “Standing on a Word from God.”  This is Part 63 of the series and Part 35 of the life of David.  

After everything David had been through in the months following his triumphant victory over the giant, I am sure his wedding day was special.  David married the king’s daughter, Michal, the second princess offered to him, but the first that he loved. David and Michal were happily married and madly in love, David’s brother-in-law Jonathan was his best friend in the world, David’s men were willing to follow him to the end’s of the earth, and public could not get enough to David, loving everything he did.  If this happened today David and Michal would be followed by paparazzi, David would be on the cover of every magazine, and we would watch David tell his story on a special one-on-one session with Oprah.  An unknown eighth son from Bethlehem took Israel by storm.  From the outside you would say his life was amazing, and it was, but from within the palace gates something else brewing… Saul’s resentment towards David was growing day by day.  

Our text says, “Saul became even more afraid of him, and he remained David’s enemy for the rest of his life.”  Another translation says, “Saul’s fear of David increased and settled into hate.  Saul hated David.”  Isn’t that sad.  David was experiencing supernatural victory after supernatural victory in his life, but the man who was supposed to have the most power in the entire kingdom, a man David had done nothing wrong to, hated him.  While it is sad, the flipside is that Saul, who had earthly power, could do nothing to stop David.  The more the Philistines attacked and the more David went out to fight, the more David was able to outshine everyone else and the text says his name “became very famous.”  

How did this happen?  How did a nobody from nowhere become so famous that he was outshining the king?  How did a kid from a lowly family come into the palace and win over the king’s kids?  How did a teenager who had never served a day in the Army become the General on the cover of Israel’s Time magazine?  I’ll tell you how: GRACE!  While David had something to do with it, David could not take all the credit.  This was God’s handiwork. The hand of God was evident on David and he was experiencing overwhelming, immeasurable and undeserved grace.  Guess what?  That same grace is available to you.   

So what does this mean to you today?  A few things:

1.  When you tap into your purpose it unleashes God’s immeasurable grace.  

a)  By the time David got to the palace, he was doing what he was born to do.  David did not know it, but all his life the Lord was preparing him for his assignment.  Once he started walking in it, supernatural grace empowered him to experience divine success.  The same will happen for you once you start walking in your divine purpose.

b)  When you start living as the person you were born to be, nothing and no one can stop you.  God’s grace will empower you to accomplish your purpose.

2.  Prosperity will not come without opposition.  

a)  When people hear the word “prosperity” many immediately think of money.  While that is not necessarily incorrect, it is incomplete. Divine prosperity is not just tied to resources, it is about supernatural success.  The Lord wants us to succeed in life. He wants us to find, follow and ultimately finish our purpose, and His grace is on us to be successful as we do so.  But even divine success does not exonerate us from opposition and challenges. Make no mistake, you will be tested.

b)  The enemy is not going to sit around and watch as you become the man/woman God called you to be, and as  you do what you were born to do. He will attack you, because he is attacking your purpose. The greater the assignment from God, the greater the attack from satan.  The good news is that satan has no power over God.

3.  God’s grace cannot be stopped.  

a)  No matter how much opposition comes, if God is for you, He is more than the entire world against you.  His grace is unstoppable.

b)  King Saul was supposedly the most powerful man in the land and he could not stop a teenager who had the grace of God operating on him and through him.  When you are operating in God’s grace the enemy cannot stop was God has started.

Closing Confession:  Father, I declare by faith that I find, follow, and finish my divine purpose in life before I die.  As I find and follow the purpose You established for me, from the foundations of the world, I tap into Your immeasurable grace.  Your grace flows freely to me, because I am doing what You destined me to do, and since I am fulfilling Your purpose, You are well pleased with me.  You bless me richly. I know I will face opposition on the road to Your desired destination. I know it will not always be easy. I know I will have to overcome obstacle after obstacle.  But I also know that Your grace is unstoppable. The enemy cannot stop what You have started in my life. I look unto You as not just the author, but also the finisher of my faith. Like Paul, I am confident of this very thing, that You, who have begun a good work in me, shall perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.  You always finish what You start and what You have started in me is unstoppable! I declare this by faith! In Jesus’ name, Amen!

This is Today’s Word!  Apply it and Prosper.

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This morning I continue our series entitled, “Standing on a Word from God.”  This is Part 66 of the series and Part 38 of the life of David.  

(1 Samuel Chapters 29 and 30)

In our last message we saw how the Lord showed up for David when he hit rock bottom.  He was in a cave, all by himself, without his wife, without his best friend, and seemingly without God, but God was still moving and He was up to something.  Before David knew it, his family showed up in the cave to support him. Then men from everywhere started showing up and they pledged their allegiance to David.  They came to be known as “David’s Mighty Men”.  I love that part of David’s story.  I could go on and on for months on this, because I am going to wrap up David’s story this week, to get ready for next year.  So today we are going to fast-forward to another rock-bottom experience for David. It happened eight chapters later.

In 1st Samuel 29 the Israelites were engaged in a fierce battle with the Philistines.  But this time David and his mighty men joined enemy forces, so he could stay away from Saul and his attacks.  David and his men were marching with king Achish of Gath. The Gathean army there to supplement the Philistines.  However, one of the Philistine commanders recognized David and his band of Hebrews and demanded that they leave the warzone.  King Achish vouched for David, but it did not matter. The Philistine commanders were not having it.

Achish summoned David and said to him, “I swear by the LORD that you have been a trustworthy ally. I think you should go with me into battle, for I’ve never found a single flaw in you from the day you arrived until today.  But the other Philistine rulers won’t hear of it. Please don’t upset them, but go back quietly.”  Although David did not really want to fight the Israelite Army anyway, by this point he was upset because he was invested.  He and his men were a three-day journey away from home.

Chapter 30 opens with the men making the journey home to Ziklag.  With all the stress of the previous six days — from going to and from a battle they were forbidden from participating in — I am sure the men were simply looking forward to a hot meal, a warm bed, and a loving hug from their wives and kids.  However, what they received was completely unexpected.

While David and his men were gone the Amalekites raided Ziklag.  They destroyed all the homes, took all the spoils, and hauled off all the women and children as slaves.  When the men got home all they saw was the remains of a town burned to the ground. When the men looked around, seeing their homes destroyed and their families gone, the Bible says that they wept until they could not weep anymore.  They shed tears until they literally ran out of tears.  David had two wives by this point, Ahinoam from Jezreel and Abigail, the widow of Nabal from Carmel.  Both wives were among the captured.

David was mourning the loss, just like his men were, but David had additional pressure.  While his men were mourning, they began to turn on David.  Although David’s men had come to him as a band of misfits, and although he had turned their lives around and forged them into an elite fighting force, all they could think about at the time was their loss.  In the midst of their pain the finger of blame was directed towards David. They wanted to kill him.

So there he was… David was in a foreign land, rejected by the forces he connected with, betrayed by the men he invested the most in, and after living amongst the enemy for years (while he waited for God’s promise to make him king to come to pass), he was at a new all-time-low.  All David had left was God.  The Bible says, “David encouraged himself in the Lord his God.”  Another translation says, “David found strength in the LORD his God.”  We will stop here for today.

So what does this mean to you today?  A few things:

1.  The road to your destiny is a long one and it has many twists and turns.

a)  When God sent a prophet to anoint a 17yrd. old David to be the next king of Israel, the teenage David had no idea what he was going to have to go through to become king.  Like David, you must develop the perseverance required to endure all you must endure on the road to your purpose. God’s grace is on you to win, but you must decide to keep going!

b)  Things are going to happen that you never expected.  Things may get worse before they get better. But nothing that happens can stop you if you decide to keep going.  The one who lives IN YOU is much greater than anything that happens TO YOU.

2.  If you cannot have faith in anything else, you can always have faith in God’s faithfulness towards you.

a)  King Saul turned on David.  King Achish turned on David.  David’s men, the ones he invested in the most, turned on him as well.  His men wanted to kill him. But through it all, the one place David could always turn to for faithfulness was God.  The same can be said for you.

b)  God will never leave you, forsake you, or turn His back on you.  Even when you are faithfulness towards God, He remains faithful towards you.

3.  Sometimes you have to encourage yourself.

a)  David had no one else, so he had to encourage himself.  Sometimes you have to minister to yourself, preach to yourself, and build your own self up!

b)  If no one else is there, God is there.  Encourage yourself IN THE LORD!

Closing Confession:  

Father, understanding the frailty of humanity, I know there will be times when others are not there for me.  There will be times when I can’t get my Pastor on the phone. There will be times when my closest friends are out of reach.  And during those times, no matter how humanly alone I might feel, I know I am never all alone, because You are always with me.  I have a personal and intimate relationship with You and You are the source of my strength. You are my ever-present help in the time of trouble.  I call upon You and You answer me. No matter how hard times get, and no matter how much pressure I feel, and now matter how crazy the path to my purpose becomes, I can encourage myself in You, because You are always there!  You help me to keep going when the pressure is on me to quit. Therefore, I declare, that I shall never give up, cave in, or quit, because the Lord my God is with me whithersoever I go! I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name.  Amen!

This is Today’s Word!  Apply it and Prosper.

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