Make Peace With Your Neighbor Before Inquiring Of God

Today I am reading in 2 Samuel 20, and I came across an interesting thought. This is one I had read in the New Testament, yet I have not noticed how a very similar idea is played out here with King David. The verse that I'm thinking of is Matthew 5:23, 24. It talks about how if you are offering a sacrifice and you realize that you have something against a brother (or vice versa), you should leave the sacrifice and make amends (as best as possible) with that brother.

I think it's an interesting concept, going back to the idea that we should be pure an holy before a pure and holy God, which includes being right with God and others.

But back to the passage I'm reading today, at this time there was a famine in the land for 3 years. This famine affected David and his kingdom, even though the sin that brought it on was that of Saul. So the first thought in my mind is that consequences (whether good or bad) spread not only across the life of the person, but also those around them and even entire nations. So David was suffering from Saul's sin of trying to wipe out the Gibeonites. And what does he do then? He decided to make peace with them. Knowing that Saul's sin had caused the famine, and that the Gibeonites had an offense against them, David decided to make amends with the Gibeonites, knowing that's the only way to get rid of these consequences.

So the Gibeonites gave their request to David and David gave them what the asked for. I won't describe the details (you can read that on your own), but the point I want to bring up is that David was willing to do his best to make amends for the wrong that his predecessor caused. And in doing so, he regained the favor of the Gibeonites, and God began to then hear the prayers for the land.

So how does this become personal in our lives? I think one of the greatest things we can learn is that if we are unwilling to do our part in making amends with someone we have a problem with, then how can we say we understand the willingness of God to make amends with us, as sinners? If we are truly Christians, and we can't resolve conflict with others, we've missed the whole concept of true forgiveness and reconciliation. Even when we continue to go against God, and try to do our own thing, His love and forgiveness rains down on us, never ceasing. So who are we to say that God can forgive us of all our sins, but we - for whatever reason - can't forgive another, and work to make amends?

The second thing I think we can learn is that even though problems may occur within our sphere of influence which are caused not by us, but by someone else, we still may suffer the consequences and have to show proactive personal commitment to resolve conflict that we feel has landed in our laps (as it did with David).

Just thought I'd share.

Somebody Otta Do It

· Introduction

· Throughout the Bible, we will see how God directs His people to do His Will, especially in the Old Testament with Israel. However, the New Testament is filled with such things as well. For example, we will talk tonight about what is called the Great Commission.

· The Great Commission is the calling for every Christian to go out and bring others to Christ, along with teaching them to actively live a Christian life.

· Theme: Although we know that the Great Commission is for every Christian, there are so many times that we live our lives in such a way that we consider it to always be directed at somebody else instead of us.

· The GC calls us to go out and do missions (evangelism).

· There are 2 ways you can do missions

· Over There

· Many people go to other countries, and we call them missionaries. These people have felt God's call to go and tell people in other countries about Him and His salvation.

· Over Here

· The rest of the people who don't go over there are over here. These people may not have felt that call to leave where they are and go somewhere else to tell others about Christ.

· Does that mean that they are not called to missions? NO!

· Does that mean that they are not called to tell others about Christ? NO!

· Why do we have to do all this?

· Matthew 28:19-20 - Read

· Title Defined: Who is that passage talking to? (You? Me? Missionaries? Etc...) Everyone!

· Does your life reflect that answer? Are you making disciples? But what does that mean?

· Making Disciples

· What? Defined: “An active follower or adherent of someone”...

· These are those who would shadow your every move, carefully watching to see how you talk, think, act, and live. And they will take those aspects of your life and imitate them.

· Disciples are those who follow Christ. They are Christians, and are marked by a continual desire to know God more and grow closer and closer to Him.

· Who? Go “ye” - we are all called to make disciples. As Christians, we are called to lead others

· Everyone is called to be a disciple of Christ (to love, learn and live)

· Everyone is called to be a disciple maker (to love and lead)

· When? Always (1 Peter 3:15, 2 Tim 4:2, 2 Cor 6:2)

· “Be ready always to give an answer” (1 Peter 3:15)

· “Preach the Word. Be ready in season and out of season” (2 Tim 4:2)

· “Now is the day of salvation” (2 Cor 6:2)

· Life is but a breath. Once over, it's judgment time and there are no more opportunities.

· How? Teaching them. (Matthew 28:20)

· Lead them to Christ

· Baptizing them

· Teaching them to observe the things Christ commanded

· Why? God's Will. (2 Peter 3:9)

· God does not want anyone to go to Hell.

· He wants all to come to repentance and know Him

· So what's the result when we start trying to make disciples? What's the point?

· Why do we need to make disciples? Why not just witness to people?

· But reaching 1 person is such a small thing... How can it really matter all that much?

· Church Planting

· Like a tree planted and growing (Mark 4:1-10)

· Begins with a call to go – We are commissioned to go share. We are called to go somewhere.

· Persistence in going (look at Paul's journeys in Galatia)

· Build a church to stand up on it's own

· Parents raise you to be an adult, not dependent on them forever (Question to Ryan about Jacob)

· There are two essentials in Church Planting

· Those who are parents – They go out and start the work. They make disciples.(Paul)

· Those who are children – They learn as disciples and then go out as parents. (Galatian elders)

· We are all called to be Church Planters

· Did you know that? (Matthew 28:19-20)

· Isaiah said “Here am I. Send Me” - God is calling out for people, but are we going to listen to the call? Where will we go (link back to over here/there)

· Are you ready/willing to go? (Why not? Go!)

· Why Won't You Go?

· Do you love God?

· Why don't you read/pray the way you should then?

· Why don't you witness?

· Why don't you learn to share Him?

· Do you realize that people are going to Hell (100c people every minute)?

· Do you care? Does your life reflect that you care?

· All those without Christ go to Hell. ALL. No one comes except through Christ.

· Other reasons

· Are you scared?

· Are you shy?

· Is there too much pressure out there?

· Do you feel that you aren't smart enough?

· Do you not know how to approach someone?

· The idea is to lead into a conversation. You can't treat people like an assignment. All others are people too and require a relationship. Remember that. Questions? See me afterward.

· Do you know the kinds of people God has worked with in the past?

· Noah (Genesis 6:8) – In the midst of a world full of sin, Noah obeyed God as the only righteous one. Can you imagine the pressure of that? What became of Noah?

· Abraham (Genesis 12:1-4) – God told him to get up and just leave. You think he was scared? What became of Abraham?

· Moses (Exodus 4) – Moses questioned God 2 times (verses 1 & 10) Look how God responds. Moses was scared. And felt like he wasn't good enough to be used by God. Do you feel that way?

· Paul (Multiple) – Paul was a Christian killer. God used him.

· And God can use you too. Do you believe that?

· Do you believe God can use you, despite your “flaws”?

· What Would Make You Go?

· Catalyst: “something that causes an important event to happen”

· What makes you do these good Christian things?

· Reward

· Do you read your Bible, or pray, or witness because you get a reward (skiing, camp, etc)?

· Conviction?

· Do you do all that because you love God and want to obey Him?

· Talk about this in your groups tonight. What will it take for you to go out and make disciples?

· What is the biggest thing holding you back? If you are afraid, or don't know how, or feel like you just can't do it. PLEASE talk to one of us. Let us help you get to the point that you need to be.

· If you're here for a reward, there's a problem. Friends? Food? Fun? There's a problem.

· You are here because you need to be challenged. You need to know that God has commanded all of us to go out and make disciples.

· Conclusion

· There are people going to Hell every day because we aren't telling them

· I'm not trying to guilt you into doing this. I want you to want to do this.

· Are you living for yourself? Do you have no desire to make disciples?

· Then you need to talk to us. Please do that.

· The great commission talks about making disciples, which includes leading people to Christ (which involves talking to them and living a Godly life, and taking opportunities to share Christ), and about leading them to grow in their walk (and if you don't feel able to do that, please point them to one of us who can help them in those steps). But you have to remember that it is not written to just somebody else. It's written to you and it's written to me.

· So we MUST obey and we MUST go.

The Curse of David

As I read in 2 Samuel 16 today, I came across an interesting bit of text... verses 5 - 14 deal with David and his humility. It's interesting to navigate through the life of David, because he has been in so many different situations, and seeing his reactions to certain things gives you many different views of who he is as a person.

Take for example his early life. He was a shepherd who was willing to give his life for the sheep. He fought off numerous animals, so we know he was strong and able to fight well. Yet he was still the smallest of his family, least likely to be chosen for king. We know he was a great musician because Saul requested his presence, and throughout that whole ordeal, David did what he could to honor the king and love him, even in the face of death. So David was a 'man after God's own heart', and yet we see in his later life as a king, when he should have been at war, he was falling into sin. Lust, adultery, and death. It reminds me of James 1:15-16. Desire, when it has conceived, results in sin, and sin, when it is finished, brings forth death. And we see the rest of the life of David was marked by the shame and treason of his son, and as God said to David, the sword will never be removed from his house.

But that's just the history of David. Now we get back to 2 Samuel 16, and I'm looking specifically at verses 5 - 14.

Shimei Curses David

⁵ Now when King David came to Bahurim, there was a man from the family of the house of Saul, whose name was Shimei the son of Gera, coming from there. He came out, cursing continuously as he came. ⁶ And he threw stones at David and at all the servants of King David. And all the people and all the mighty men were on his right hand and on his left. ⁷ Also Shimei said thus when he cursed: “Come out! Come out! You bloodthirsty man, you rogue! ⁸ The LORD has brought upon you all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose place you have reigned; and the LORD has delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom your son. So now you are caught in your own evil, because you are a bloodthirsty man!”
⁹ Then Abishai the son of Zeruiah said to the king, “Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Please, let me go over and take off his head!”
¹⁰ But the king said, “What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah? So let him curse, because the LORD has said to him, ‘Curse David.’ Who then shall say, ‘Why have you done so?’”
¹¹ And David said to Abishai and all his servants, “See how my son who came from my own body seeks my life. How much more now may this Benjamite? Let him alone, and let him curse; for so the LORD has ordered him. ¹² It may be that the LORD will look on my affliction, and that the LORD will repay me with good for his cursing this day.” ¹³ And as David and his men went along the road, Shimei went along the hillside opposite him and cursed as he went, threw stones at him and kicked up dust. ¹⁴ Now the king and all the people who were with him became weary; so they refreshed themselves there.

I was particularly drawn to verse 12. "It may be that the LORD will look on my affliction, and that the LORD will repay me with good for his cursing this day."

Now I don't know about you, but I don't think that most people would respond to verbal attacks - let alone, physical attacks - with calmness and humility, saying "the LORD has ordered him", even if we know it's the truth. See, what Shimei is saying about David is true. He was put into Saul's place and God had given the kingdom over to his son and he was caught up in his bloodthirsty ways. So it couldn't really be argued that Shimei was just lying about David.

Even so, how would you have responded? Who really likes to hear about what they did wrong. Didn't David already confess and ask for forgiveness? So why should old wounds be re-opened? Doesn't that go against the grain of how we think things should be? And even then, do you think you would have said to Abishai "Yes, take his head off before he smears my name any more". But David, still a man after God's own heart (note that when we say heart, it means David's heart and desire was for God, even though his actions were sometimes sinful, which makes since, seeing that David was as human as we are and had a sin nature), says not to do anything.

There's a lot of humility there. David is being reminded of the sins that he committed all because of his lust for a woman, and yet he says that perhaps God will look on him and bless him for the way he is responding his current circumstances. David here is trying to do what's right. He doesn't want to cause unnecessary bloodshed (unlike with Uriah), and he wants to respond with humility to the cursing of Shimei. David understood that he couldn't get away from his sin or the consequences of it, and he resorted to making the best of the situation with a positive attitude, rather than what our sin nature would say to do, and add on to his own sinful acts.

So I think that there's something we can see from all this. There are two types of words that can be used against us. There are those that are true and those that are lies.

With lies, there's something to be said for a holy life. I am reminded of a verse (though I can't remember the reference) that talks about when someone brings up a lie against you, you shouldn't have to counter it. People should know that - based on how you live - it's a lie. This requires living a holy and righteous life, which most of us don't try to hard to do. We constantly fall into sin and don't spend the necessary time in prayer and communication with God to work on that temptation. But that is how we should live, so that people will know we are who we claim to be.

With truths, who are we to squelch the truth? People today talk about transparency, and what's more transparent than the truth. Usually, when attacks containing truth come out, most people respond with a personal attack of some kind, because you can't deny the truth without adding on to your stack of sins. But who wants to sit there and accept something that makes them look bad? David did. He let Shimei continue cursing and his attitude was - to be cliche - that if "he did the crime, he'll do the time".

Let's learn from this. What are you and what am I going to do when these things arise in our lives (or are we going to strive to live in a way that these things never happen)? How will we respond? Make the decision now, and it'll be easier to follow later.

David's Prayer - 2 Samuel 7:18-27

So I'm reading in 2 Samuel 7 today, and I come across this prayer of David's, and I noticed something I found a little humorous. I have always thought it was interesting when people use God's name many times during a prayer, and I've always wondered if it's become a filler term...

But then I read this section, and David calls God by name about 9 times in these few verses.

Just thought that was funny.

1 Samuel 28 - Saul Consults A Medium

It's strange how the Bible speaks of certain things and they seem contrary to our current perspective. I've run across an example of that today, and I'm not quite sure how exactly to figure it out.

As the title of this post says, I read today 1 Samuel 28, a chapter that deals with Saul, after seeing the army of the Philistines, and not hearing any reply from God, decides to consult a medium.

As best as I know, in my understanding, a medium typically uses a form of witchcraft, and Satan allows the person to seemingly see certain spirits and communicate with them. Now, I've never really delved into study of witchcraft or mediums or that part of the spiritual realm, so I could simply just misunderstand things. But, in as much as I know, I didn't think that a medium would be able to consult a dead person, especially one, like Samuel, a believer.

Yet, somehow, this medium that 1 Samuel speaks of, gets into contact with Samuel (dead and buried at this point), and Saul has a conversation with him.

It brings up the question about mediums in today's society, what the Bible says about the topic, and how to resolve any difficulties believing this type of account...

Still not sure what I think, but I imagine I should research it, and figure out the answers to my questions.

Thoughts?

Future Blessings through Current Suffering

So I have finished my reading in Judges and now and moving on to the book of Ruth. Of course it's a familiar book to most, and quite an important one as well.

Reading the first chapter has reminded me of something that I thought I would write down so I don't forget it.

I want to look specifically at Naomi and the things she goes through in this chapter. To start, her home land was suffering through a famine, causing her husband (Elimilech) to take their family (she and her two sons (Mahlon and Chilion)) to the land of Moab.

Of course, Moab is typically seen as an enemy of Israel, and yet, during a time of famine among God's people, we see that Moab is doing fine, and able to feed their people. Well, what does that have to do with anything? Well, sometimes God allows His people to go through suffering and allows His enemies to enjoy prosperity and contentment. It happened with Israel, and it happens with us. Why do some Christians live in poverty while some of the worst moral offenders live in prosperity? It's because God has a plan. Now Jeremiah 29:11 says "of peace and not of evil". So how do we reconcile the lack of peace in time of suffering? Does "thoughts of peace" mean that our lives will be marked only by blessing and no trouble? No; but what it does mean is that God's ultimate plan for our lives includes a peace only He can give and His will is never to harm us. (Off topic, but note that God's chastisement of His people is not to harm us. It is to correct us, as a parent corrects their child).

Elimilech brings his family to Moab, to stay there temporarily, in order to wait out the famine. Once the famine was over, it would be his intent to go back home. However, we know that Elimilech died before that happened. We also see where their two sons were given wives from Moab, Orpah and Ruth. Of course, we know that this is in God's divine providence that Ruth should become a part of Naomi's family, but at the time, I wonder what they thought about taking Moabite wives.

We know that during their time in Moab, Elimilech, Mahlon and Chilion all died. This left Naomi with no men in her family to take care of them, and no children of her sons to continue their legacy. This is why later in the chapter, when the people say "Is this Naomi?", she replies to them saing "Do not call me Naomi (Pleasant); call me Mara (Bitter), for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me." We can see what God was doing, since hindsight is alwasy 20/20, but at the time, Naomi was certainly having a struggle with it.

But as the famine subsided in Israel, Naomi decided to return to her homeland and allow Orpah and Ruth to stay in theirs. However, we see where Orpah leaves after being entreated twice by Naomi, but Ruth promises to stay with her ("Your people shall be my people and your God shall be my God... The Lord do so to me, and more also, if anything but death parts you and me.")

As we know from the remainder of the book of Ruth, God uses Ruth in mighty ways; the most significant of which is being in the direct line of Jesus. It's funny how sometimes God will take the most ill-seeming people and places, and use them in the most significant ways?

But let's try to apply this chapter in some way to our own lives? Let's think... what would have happened without the famine? Would Ruth have been brought into Naomi's family? What would have happened if Elimilech had not died? Or her sons as well? Somehow, despite all the problems that arise in life, and despite all the suffering that we face, could it be that God is preparing us for the work of His Will? Many times, I know that obstacles in life can seem to be against God's Will, when in fact He uses them for that Will. I can say with 100% certainty that there are situations in Sarah's and my life that we are very tempted to ask God "Why"? Why does God let these situations arise? How could it possibly be part of His plan? But I'll say that whenever those questions arise, I remember the words of Paul, "who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God".

Never forget that if God puts you in a situation, there is always a reason. When you are in a position, left with no other option but to wonder "Why, God?", there is a hope. There is a reason you struggle. You may not see it now, and sometimes, you may never see it unfold. But never forget, that "a man's heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps".

"my mother, she believed in heaven so she's covered"

Ok, so last night I watched the movie Ratatouille (yea, I'm still straight), and I had a couple interesting thoughts about it. One quote toward the beginning of the movie kind of stuck with me the whole time.

Skinner: Ah, yes, Renata. How is she?
Linguini: She's good... well, not good, she's been better. She's, uh... she's -...
Horst: She died.
Skinner: [carelessly] Oh, I'm sorry
Linguini: Oh, no, don't be. She believed in Heaven, so she's covered... after-life speaking. -IMDB

Now, when I heard that, I thought is was -in the words of Linguini later in the movie - "'rat' and 'patootie.' Rat-patootie". So as I went to bed and laid there, such thoughts as the following entered my mind:

I will be the first to tell you God exists, and that He forgives. We see it throughout the Bible, but there is a statement in the movie Ratatouille that epitomizes the modern thought of how that forgiveness is extended. "my mother, she believed in heaven so she's covered." A very typical view of salvation I'd say that comes from our current post-moderned culture.

If baffles me to no end that people believe in God and will call themselves Christians, yet never even know what the bible says about how to be one. It will probably make no sense, but true to follow my logic here

if (F + G) makes P a subset of C,
then how can it be that a P would expect to be a subset of C when they have no F that adds to G?
(Where F=faith, G=grace, P=person, C=Christian)

It's not even about calling yourself a Christian and acting like it.
It's not even about your belief of consubstantiation and transubstantiation.
It's not even about whether you're a regular or a CrEaster.
It's not even about whether you're a priest or a pauper.

I'm drawn more toward the idea everyday that it's not even about how we "stack up" with the "Christian Walk". But I'll tell you. It is about a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. It's not about saying a prayer. It's not about subscribing to Adrian Rogers podcast (LWF). Using a phrase from Refuge by Darrell Evans, "When the world is shaken and nothing stands", where does your Spirit lie? In the arms of Christ? Under the wing of God? Inside the fold of the Good Shepherd? What's it to you? A simple book? A modern narrative, as has become the crux of many a modern church movement? Just a good idea? Simply one possibility among many others? I venture to say NO. It's Christ. It's the death and resurrection of Christ. It's the loving sacrifice that Christ made 2000 years ago on a hill called Calvary. It's God's Word. It's God's Truth. It's God's Son. It's God's Promise.

But it's your choice. I will say that line from the Ratatouille should be changed from "my mother, she believed in heaven so she's covered" to ""my mother, she believed in heaven so she's dead in her sins and trespasses, spending eternity in Hell". There is no substitute for the True Substitutionary Lamb. Heaven is reserved for those who believe God, and have the faith in who He is and in His promise, which for us, comes through the faithful acceptance of the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ.