Year: 2015

Good Shepherd 

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Psalm 23:1 
“The Lord is my Shepherd . . .”

In this Psalm, David uses the illustration of a shepherd to speak of God’s care for those who belong to Him. This Psalm speaks of the benefits true to all who are in a covenant relationship with God. He speaks of God’s provision, comfort, protection and care. Jesus used the same illustration in John 10 when He said, 

“But you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep, as I said to you. My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.” John 10:26-28

While the poetry of this Psalm is beautiful and comforting, it is important that we realize the promises are for those who have received Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. If you want to experience God in the way that David describes Him, it begins with surrendering your life to Christ and following Him. Once that has happened, all these great and precious promises belong to you. As long as you live like a sheep outside the fold of God, you miss out on the loving care of the Good Shepherd; life’s difficulties must be faced with your own strength and resources. However, the moment you surrender to Him, He becomes your Shepherd, and you begin to lie down in green pastures, walk by still waters, benefit from His rod and staff, and experience goodness and mercy following after you.

With all that is promised to the one who follows Christ, it is so foolish to refuse Him. What are you holding back from God that is better than all He wants to do for you? Will you make Him your Shepherd today?

Pastor Jim

 

Heritage 

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1 Samuel 25:3
“… but the man was harsh and evil in his doings. He was of the house of Caleb.”

THE-BLESSING-WIDE.jpgWebster’s dictionary defines heritage as, “something possessed as a result of one’s natural situation or birth.” While many things may be passed from one generation to the next, the most valuable commodity we can leave for the following generations, is a godly testimony. 


The character referred to in this passage is Nabal, a man who descended from one of the giants of Scripture. He came from the family line of Caleb, whose life was summed up in the phrase that “He wholly followed the Lord” (Joshua 14:14).  This statement was made about him because he daily walked with God and was willing to venture into service for the kingdom of God, regardless of the cost or obstacles. We know Caleb to be a man who was filled with the Spirit, who walked in accordance with the Word, and believed in the promises of God. Sadly, the example set by Caleb had little affect on the way Nabal lived. He was harsh, evil and foolish. 


There is no shortage of good and Godly examples surrounding the Christian today. All around us we see others who model prayer, bible reading, service, selflessness, kindness, mission work, and a host of other vital acts of the Christian life. We need to guard ourselves against the danger of ignoring our heritage and living like foolish Nabal. 


The-Choice-Is-Yours_Theme_Pastor-Steve-McCartt-Family-Worship-Center-Florence_Web-930x523.jpgIf it were not for the revealing nature of the word of God, we might have missed the real folly of this man. On the outside, he may have seemed quite wise; he was married to a beautiful woman and he had a successful and thriving business. However, his wealth and the honor that came with it, were a mere cover up of his actual folly. We read that he ignored the warnings, and perhaps even died unprepared to face eternity. Jesus spoke of a rich fool who had achieved much in this life, but was ill prepared for that which follows (Luke 12:16-20). 


Don’t be like Nabal, who trusted in his earthly accomplishments while ignoring eternity, for that is the ultimate folly. 


Pastor Jim 


Conviction

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1 Samuel 24:5
“Now it happened afterward that David’s heart troubled him because he had cut Saul’s robe.”

Life is filled with obstacles. We face constant trials that make this journey difficult. Yet, it seems we can handle almost anything except a troubled heart. When we are overwhelmed from within, it makes even the lightest burdens seem too great to bear. Our hearts are often troubled by loss, disappointment, fear or anxiety. David found there was another cause for a troubled heart – sin.

Whatever liberties others might have had, David knew for certain, he was “not to touch the Lord’s anointed.” In other words, David would not be the one to take Saul’s life, no matter what. David knew God wanted his complete trust. When he sat upon Israel’s throne, it would be because God had paved the way. On this particular day, David allowed his companions to influence his actions, and he crossed a line God set for him. Sneaking up behind Saul, he cut a piece of fabric from his coat. No sooner was the deed done, David’s heart began to speak to him. Guilt, disappointment, fear, and shame began to well up within him. How could he have done such a thing. He was the man after God’s heart, the worship leader of the palace, and the future king, yet he had stooped to disobedience under  pressure from his friends.

David is not alone in his actions. Countless saints have allowed their judgment to be influenced by the whispers of their friends. Men and women whose lives have been dedicated to Christ, have fallen under the sway of others and led into actions that trouble the heart. Fortunately for David, this is not the end. We read of David’s actions to right his wrong, and sooth his troubled soul.

Whatever the cause of your troubled heart, the remedy is found in coming to the Lord and receiving the sweet comfort He provides. If your heart is troubled by pain or loss, know that He suffered in all points as we do, and understands our ways. If your hearts is troubled because of sin, the right course of action is confession, repentance, and learning to cling to the promises of God.

Pastor Jim

 

Forsaken

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Psalm 22:1
“My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?
Why are You so far from helping Me,
And from the words of My groaning?”

Although David wrote this Psalm as an expression of the experiences he was facing, it has a much bigger application than he ever could have conceived. It was on the cross that Jesus uttered the opening words to this great Psalm.
“And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, ‘Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?’ which is translated, ‘My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?’” Mark 15:34

In order to speak from the cross, Jesus would have to endure unimaginable pain. He would have to straighten Himself up by pressing against the nail driven through His feet, and breathe in deeply to force any words out. When His silence was broken by these words, His followers would have been immediately drawn to the words of Psalm 22. After watching the crucifixion, there could be no other conclusion; David was speaking prophetically of Christ.

This Psalm, written almost one thousand years before Christ, gives a vivid picture of the events of that dark Friday. David speaks in advance of the ridicule that Jesus would endure. We know that the religious leaders, the crowd, the soldiers and even the thieves all mocked Jesus; calling for Him to prove that He was God and break free from the cross. David also describes the way Christ died with amazing detail. He speaks of His tongue clinging to His mouth in thirst, His hands and feet being pierced, His bones being unbroken, yet out of joint, and his heart melting like water within Him. This Psalm gives undeniable proof of the inspiration of the Word of God, and of the claims of Christ.

That being true, the cry of Christ from the cross does more than draw our attention to the prophetic words of David. It also reveals something of the suffering Jesus endured on the cross. While on the cross, Jesus was giving His life as a substitute for ours. He was bearing the penalty of our sin, so we would not have to. Paul put it like this;

“For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” 2 Corinthians 5:21

The penalty for sin is separation from God. While on the cross, bearing our sin, Jesus experienced sin’s penalty. His cry was not mere poetry, but the expression of what He must endure to save us. Our experiences allow us to understand the weight of sin to a small degree. We have all felt the heavy burden of committing sin, and knowing what it has done to our relationship with God, and with others. We can never imagine the weight of all the sin of humanity. Every vile thought, word, and action ever committed by every man,woman, and child who ever lived, bore down upon our Savior as He hung upon the cross, paying for our sin. And we read that the Father forsook His Son.

All this was done, Christ was forsaken, so that we would never be forsaken. Because of His substitutionary death, the writer of Hebrews was able to declare,

“For He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’” Hebrews 13:5

What love…

Pastor Jim

Questions for Psalm 22

This is what is referred to as a Messianic Psalm. It has a meaning in the life of the psalmist but also points prophetically to Christ.

  1. Verse 1 is spoken by Jesus from the cross. What is significant about Jesus speaking of being forsaken?
  2. What do you learn about the value of trusting the Lord from verses 4-5?
  3. How were verses 6-8 fulfilled in the crucifixion?
  4. How were verse 14-18 fulfilled in the crucifixion?
  5. How does the cross make verses 27-31 possible?

 

 

Greater Is He

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Psalms 21:11

“For they intended evil against You;

They devised a plot which they are not able to perform.”


The thing that makes following Christ so difficult is the enemies we face. The primary enemy of the Christian is the devil and his minions. Scripture describes the devil as a schemer who seeks to derail us from following and serving Christ. He will use the weakness of our humanity as a tool to get us to stumble into sin. When at times, it may seem as though the temptations and the obstacles  are too great to overcome, we can be greatly encouraged by this promise. 


Psalms 21:11

“For they intended evil against You;

They devised a plot which they are not able to perform.”


Satan sought to destroy Israel the moment they stepped out of Egypt, yet God intervened and their enemies were drown in the sea. Later, the same demonic plan was orchestrated by Haman,  whose wicked scheme was stopped by the actions of Esther and Mordechai. 


It brings great comfort to realize that “greater is He who is you than he that is in the world” (1John 4:4).


Pastor Jim 

  

Strong Hands 

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1 Samuel 23:16
“Then Jonathan, Saul’s son, arose and went to David in the woods and strengthened his hand in God.”

Things seem to be going from bad to worse for David. Saul’s rage forced him to flee the palace, and live the life of a fugitive. For safety sake, he dwelt in caves to hide from the king and his spies. He and his men came out of hiding at the command of the Lord, and risked their lives to rescue the city of Keilah from Philistine invaders, only to find the citizens of Keilah had sold them out to Saul. It is easy to see why both David and his men could become discouraged by their circumstances.

It is during this dark hour that David receives a visit from his closest friend. This visit will prove to be a source of great strength for David, and a powerful example for all who walk with Christ down through the ages. We read that Jonathan arrived and “strengthened the hands of David.” This figurative term speaks of encouraging him in such a way that David is able to step back into life and prevail over his difficulties. It is vitally important that we learn how to have our own hands, and the hands of others strengthened.

1 Samuel 23:17 “And he said to him, ‘Do not fear, for the hand of Saul my father shall not find you. You shall be king over Israel, and I shall be next to you. Even my father Saul knows that.’”

Notice Jonathan did not encourage David by simply painting a rosy picture of life. He did not give the patent “everything will be OK” speech. Platitudes and empty promises of hope are of little value in the real world. Jonathan gave David a true source of strength, reminding him of the promises of God. No matter what his circumstances said, the Word of God promised David would sit upon the throne of Israel. Jonathan brought David back to the unshakable promises of God, which brought strength to his weary soul. No matter what you are facing, you will find great encouragement in the pages of your Bible. Promise after promise is given, to strengthen our hands for the journey we are traveling, as we await the coming of the Lord.

Pastor Jim

 

Treasure 

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Psalm 19:10 
“More to be desired are they than gold, Yea, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.”

We have all had the silly daydream of winning the lottery, finding a stash of money in a secret compartment in the attic, inheriting millions from an unknown uncle,  or inventing the next great product everyone wants to own. Why? I think the answer is simply that we would all love to have an unlimited supply of cash; not for it’s intrinsic value, but because of what we can obtain with it, and for the security that it brings. Imagine never having to worry about the bills again.

Here the Psalmist declares there is something he desires, perhaps even daydreams about, more than riches. His desire was for the Word of God. Using such sweet poetry, he declares that God’s Words are of more value to him than gold, and sweeter to his ears than honey is to his lips. Why? Why did the Psalmist put such a high price tag upon his Bible? I think the answer is found when we consider what we gain from the Words of God.

David is delighting in the purchasing power of the Words of God. Each and every one of the precious promises found in the pages of your Bible has power to transform your life, and your living. He declares four things about God’s Word that makes it more precious than any treasure on earth. First, it is able to convert the soul. No amount of money can prepare a man for eternity, but one truth from the Word of God can convict a person of their sin, and lead to the cross; where they can be forgiven and redeemed. Second, the Word will make wise the simple. We are daily faced with difficult decisions, but the Bible is filled with daily direction. Third, it rejoices the heart. In the times of deep despair, when the sorrows of death encompass us, a single verse has the power to bring joy to the heart, setting us free from despair. And finally, it enlightens the eyes. There are so many roads in life, so many dangerous pitfalls to avoid. We can sometimes be overwhelmed with the decisions we are forced to make. Yet, the Word of God promises to illuminate our paths. Later in the Psalms, we will read that His Word is like a lamp for our feet and a light for our path (Psalm 119:105). No need to wander aimlessly through the darkness of life, when the Bible turns the lights on.

Instead of daydreaming about a bigger house, a newer car, a grand vacation, or pot of gold, let’s meditate upon the great and precious promises of God.

Pastor Jim

 

A Turning Point 

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1 Samuel 20:19
“And when you have stayed three days, go down quickly and come to the place where you hid on the day of the deed; and remain by the stone Ezel.”

The stone Ezel would forever mark a turning point in the life of David. He had been sensing more and more that Saul’s jealous fits of rage would result in his own death. To clarify the matter, he and Jonathan had developed a plan to uncover Saul’s true desires. David would skip out on the palace celebration. In a few days, it would become evident he was not there. If Saul’s reaction was hostile, they determined David must flee for his life. In order to keep David informed of the news, Jonathan would shoot three arrows into the distance. If the arrows fell short of his location, David would know it was good news. If they flew beyond him, he would know Saul’s rage had escalated, and he must live the life of a fugitive.

After three days in hiding, David stood by the stone Ezel to await the news from Jonathan. Three days of silence would be broken by the course of the arrows. Finally, the moment arrived, and David heard the sound of voices in the distance and the faint release of the bow. He watched as one by one the arrows flew beyond him, and landed in the distance. At that point, his whole world changed. He could no longer enter the palace, go home to his bride, or visit his family, but would begin a life “on the lam” that would last a decade.

David is not alone in his distress. Others have had events forever change their lives, too. For some, the results of a medical test, the loss of a loved one, or a message left on their phone, has forever altered the course of their life. Perhaps, what started as any other day, has become the turning point of your life. While in no way trying to lesson the severity of your circumstances, please allow me to encourage you with the example of David. Instead of looking at this day as the end of his life, David continued to cling to and serve the Lord. It was in his wilderness experience, he wrote some of the most inspiring poetry of all time. There, with a cave as his home and criminals as his companions, David would learn the mercy and love of God in a deeper way than he ever thought possible.

In your struggles, cling to the promises of the Lord, and allow your turning point to transform your life into one that magnifies the Lord.

Pastor Jim

 

The Sword 

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1 Samuel 21:9

“So the priest said, ‘The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom you killed in the Valley of Elah, there it is, wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod. If you will take that, take it. For there is no other except that one here.’And David said, ‘There is none like it; give it to me.’”


Saul’s rage forced David to flee for his life. He left home and family in such a hurry that he took almost nothing with him. When he arrived in Nob, he immediately searched for both food and weapons. Since he arrived at the home of the priest, and not a military compound, weapons were hard to come by.  The only available sword was the one David had taken from Goliath, and it probably sat in a display case. 


I find it interesting, this is not the first time David had handled someone else’s sword. On the day he went to battle against Goliath, Saul tried to suit David in his armor. Because of David’s size, the armor was much too big for him, and he went to battle with a sling and some stones. Now after years of growth and training David, is fit to handle the sword of a giant. 


While this passage is certainly not about the importance of the word of God, I think we can see an important spiritual principle tucked away in the text; the more we grow, the more apt we will be to handle the sword. The writer of Hebrews exhorts us, 


Hebrews 5:14

“But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.”


The more familiar we become with the scriptures, the more useful they will become in our everyday lives. As you read your bible, you will find its truths apply to the situations you face daily. A promise tucked away in the psalms, may become the guiding light you need to deal with a difficult family situation. A truth from the Gospel, will give you insight into how to help counsel a friend. We need to become more familiar with the Word, so we are more prepared for the battles. 


Pastor Jim 

Full Grown 

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Psalms 17:15 
“As for me, I will see Your face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied when I awake in Your likeness.”

I remember years ago listening to Pastor Chuck Smith teaching from John 15 on the Vine and the branches. To illustrate our need to bear fruit, he asked, “What does a full grown tree look like?” Immediately, my mind was filled with visions of the massive Redwoods of Northern California. I remember, as a child, driving our car through a tunnel cut out of a tree in Humboldt County. After pausing to let the question sink in, he responded, “A full grown tree looks like firewood.” You see, a tree grows as long as it is alive. The moment it stops growing, is the moment it has died.

We are like that. Once we begin a relationship with God, a process known as “Sanctification” begins. Sanctification is the work that God does in our lives to make us more like Jesus. The process starts with God removing the things from our lives that are harmful to us. Drugs, alcohol, pornography, unhealthy relationships, and the like, are all laid down at the cross, when we first receive Christ. But that does not complete our growth. Christianity is not just about what we don’t do. It is much more about who we become. As daily, we invest in the Word of God, prayer, fellowship and service, we find that the characteristics of Christ are being birthed in us. Paul called those attributes the fruit of the Spirit. The more we grow in Christ, the more we become like Him, until one day, we like David, will see His face in righteousness and be satisfied.

Until that day, lets determine to grow in Christ, by abiding in Him daily.

Pastor Jim