Christ

Take That Off

Uncategorized /

Knowing who you are in Christ is paramount to getting the victory over giants in your life. Giants like Goliath will stop you from taking a step of faith and doing God’s will when there is an identity crisis. In the story of David and Goliath, before David stepped onto the battlefield, there was an issue concerning his identity.

SCRIPTURES

“So Saul clothed David with his armor, and he put a bronze helmet on his head; he also clothed him with a coat of mail. 39 David fastened his sword to his armor and tried to walk, for he had not tested [them.] And David said to Saul, “I cannot walk with these, for I have not tested [them.]” So David took them off.”  I Samuel 17:38-39
I’m certain King Saul had good intentions in giving David his armor.  After all, what solder goes into battle without armor?  However, Saul’s good intentions were going to get David killed. David couldn’t even walk in Saul’s armor, much less defeat Goliath.  But the message here is far greater than what we wear into battle, it’s a message to us about our identity.  Saul was attempting to transfer his image onto David and to look like every other solder in Israel’s army. Please listen, this is what the world tries to do to every born again child of God, to find your identity in the world.  But God’s Word teaches us our identity is found in Christ and in God’s Word! The world wants to clothe you like Saul clothed David with the armor.
If you let the world tell you who you are, there will always be giants that stop you from doing great things and overcoming great obstacles. God’s Word says you are more  than a conqueror, that you are loved, accepted, adopted, forgiven, and righteous in Christ Jesus.  People around you will clothe you by speaking things into your life.  Instead, let God’s Word speak into your life.
Are you wearing something you shouldn’t be wearing?  If so, do what David did with Saul’s armor, “So David took them off.”  When you know who you are in Christ, you can take down every giant that comes against you!

Take That Off Read More »

A History of Victories

Uncategorized /

Before David was allowed to go against Goliath in the valley of Elah, he provided King Saul his track record of victories.  David didn’t just show up one day on the battle field to fight against the giant who had paralyzed the army of God without first getting some victories that no one really knew about.  Here is what David said to King Saul to convince him he could win the championship match against Goliath.

“But David said to Saul, “Your servant used to keep his father’s sheep, and when a lion or a bear came and took a lamb out of the flock, 35 “I went out after it and struck it, and delivered [the lamb] from its mouth; and when it arose against me, I caught [it] by its beard, and struck and killed it. 36 “Your servant has killed both lion and bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, seeing he has defied the armies of the living God.”  I Samuel 17:34-36

Because David fought and killed both the lion and the bear, he saw Goliath as nothing more than one of them.  David had not lived a sheltered life from danger.  Compared to Goliath, the victory over the lion and bear were insignificant, but equally dangerous, yet the consequences were much greater.

Everyone reading this needs to get a track record of victories with God against the enemy.  What you are facing today may be preparation for what you will face tomorrow.  Spiritual victories in our lives builds our confidence to trust in God more and more.  David went after Goliath just like he went after the lion and the bear.  David struck down Goliath just like he struck down the lion and the bear.  Goliath was an imposing threat against the flock of God that David removed and it was all because he had a history with God and completely trusted in God.  It’s time for you to start getting a history of victories with God.  David never mentioned to the King how skilled he was with a sling and stones, he only said, “The LORD will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.”  V. 37. 

Get a victory today in the Name of Jesus Christ.  Pray to God and trust in God and then watch God deliver.  Bring your history of victories with God to every battle you face and they will always serve to strengthen your confidence in God.

A History of Victories Read More »

Fallen

Uncategorized /

It appears that our youngest son has fallen in love.  He met a young lady a few months back and we have met her, had dinner with her a few times and have spent a weekend together.  Now this may not be a big deal to many parents, but we know our son had really never been in a serious relationship up to this point.  And our son has a very quiet and gentle personality, so he is not the most talkative person in the world.  We also know and have jokingly advised him that in order to have a relationship with someone, it’s beneficial to be able to talk and communicate.  It’s amazing, however, the transformation that takes place when you find that person that seems to fit you and you fall for them.  Our son hasn’t told us that he has fallen for this young lady, but he doesn’t have to.  You see, our son has never really been the affectionate type, but nowadays when he comes home, he loves on his mother more.  He hugs me and seems to be the happiest he has ever been.  My wife has talked about the noticeable change in his life.  To us, he has fallen in love with someone, and his love and affections are being poured out on to us as well.  

Let me ask you, have you ever fallen in love with someone?  Shouldn’t what has happened in our son’s life happen in the life of every Believer who loves Jesus Christ?  Our love for Jesus ought to be noticeable in how we love on the people who are around us.  His love for her has been expressed in love for us.  I think this is Biblical.  If you love God, your affection for Him should be noticeably expressed on those around you.  But is that happening in your life?  Do you love Christ so much that those around you are reaping the benefits?  If not, then why not fall in love with Christ again?

Fallen Read More »

Follow Christ!

Uncategorized /

Are you following Him?  Here is something you desperately need to know—if you make a claim to be a follower of Christ but somehow are not following Him, your life will look like everyone else’s.  It’s true.  Jesus said “Follow Me” for a reason. First off, He didn’t say to follow because He was on an ego trip. He said to follow because He is the only One who knows how to navigate through the darkest valleys and crooked places of our lives. He is the only One who knows exactly where the enemy has set the traps. He is the only One aware of the Father’s divine appointments. And Jesus said, “Follow Me,” because in the trail behind Him flows the abundant life. If you are not intentionally following Jesus, you are not experiencing the fullness of life God has for you. All you have to do is examine your life closely and honestly, and if indeed you are on the heels of Jesus, you are experiencing joy and peace and hope continually. But if you have abandoned the mission of following Him and have gone astray (we’ve all done it—Isaiah 53:6), then you will not even desire the life you are living.

Follow Him again!  Don’t follow a religious program and don’t follow lifeless Christians, but follow the One who is constantly calling you and waiting for you.  Follow Christ, because He alone has life.

Follow Christ! Read More »

Coverup

Uncategorized /

You have seen that person walk in the room with their shirt perfectly pressed, tie squared and snugged to position at the collar, and not a hair out of place and then heard the whisper of thought gust through your mind, “That’s someone who has it all together.”  And if we’re honest that’s the way we want people to look at us, and for the most part, we put on a pretty good show—but we know the truth.  There are a few exceptions to this display of perfection, and those people will declare, “I don’t care what people think about me.”  More than likely they do, but maybe they have experienced the exhaustion of keeping it all together, or maybe this attitude has been engrained in them since childhood.  But most of us do care about the way we look and what others think, so we do our best everyday to present to the public the person we want them to see.  

However, there are times we need the reminder that no one has it all together, so you can lighten up on yourself.  No one knows what that man or woman who looks like they could be on the cover of any magazine struggles with behind the scenes of their life.  I know what can go on behind the scenes and so do you if you think about it.  It’s called struggle—and we all struggle with something.  All that we see is the coverup of that struggle, but it’s there.  It may be a struggle with guilt or low self-esteem.  It is often the struggle with the way one looks or depression or anxiety.  We makeover the struggle of failure and disappointments.  We cover the struggle of addictions and fractured or broken relationships.  We hide our sinful habits and fleshly desires.  We cover selfish ambitions and our unwillingness to love as Christ has loved us.  Don’t be fooled, this is what people do.  So rest when you don’t have it all together, and silence that false notion when you see someone who appears to have it all together.  Most of all, remember the way God sees you.  

“But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For [the LORD does] not [see] as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”  1 Samuel 16:7

What Jesus did on the cross was a coverup for each one of us.  By His sacrificial death and the cleansing power of His blood, He covered all our sin.  He is the One who had it all together because He knew we never could!

Coverup Read More »