Month: July 2019

1 Chronicles 18:1  After this David defeated the Philistines and subdued them, and he took Gath and its villages out of the hand of the Philistines. And he defeated Moab, and the Moabites became servants to David and brought tribute. David also defeated Hadadezer king of Zobah-Hamath, as he went to set up his monument at the river Euphrates. And David took from him 1,000 chariots, 7,000 horsemen, and 20,000 foot soldiers. And David hamstrung all the chariot horses, but left enough for 100 chariots. And when the Syrians of Damascus came to help Hadadezer king of Zobah, David struck down 22,000 men of the Syrians. Then David put garrisons in Syria of Damascus, and the Syrians became servants to David and brought tribute. And the Lord gave victory to David wherever he went. And David took the shields of gold that were carried by the servants of Hadadezer and brought them to Jerusalem. And from Tibhath and from Cun, cities of Hadadezer, David took a large amount of bronze. With it Solomon made the bronze sea and the pillars and the vessels of bronze. When Tou king of Hamath heard that David had defeated the whole army of Hadadezer, king of Zobah, he sent his son Hadoram to King David, to ask about his health and to bless him because he had fought against Hadadezer and defeated him; for Hadadezer had often been at war with Tou. And he sent all sorts of articles of gold, of silver, and of bronze. These also King David dedicated to the Lord, together with the silver and gold that he had carried off from all the nations, from Edom, Moab, the Ammonites, the Philistines, and Amalek.
And Abishai, the son of Zeruiah, killed 18,000 Edomites in the Valley of Salt. Then he put garrisons in Edom, and all the Edomites became David’s servants. And the Lord gave victory to David wherever he went.

From shepherd to king, and from hiding in a cave and fearful for his life, to conquering king and subduer of many cities and nations.  This is the life of David.  David’s heart was wholly God’s.  David’s life was one of humble service, honor, and wanting to do what was right in light of who God is.  David recognized the awesome working power of God and rejoiced, worshiped, sang praises from his heart.  David’s heart and mind were seeking and desiring God.  “Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”

We seem to remember the conquering David but don’t always remember all of the trials and troubles David faced.  Many of his trials and troubles were at the hands of those who rejected God.  At the hands of those who lived self-centered, self-important, self-honored, self-worthy, self-satisfied, and self-made.  These people caused David to run, hide, and seek God with an ache in his heart.  We can see this ache and hurt in many of Davids Psalms.  We also see the hope and trust David had in God’s sovereign power and love for those who chose to follow Him, honor Him, trust Him, follow Him, seek Him, desire Him, and obey Him.

The point I am trying to get to is; life, this side of eternity, has many trials and victories.  Neither of which are outside of God’s protection and sovereign plan and purpose.  “we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”  Sometimes I think we think we should only have a bed of roses before us and blessings of prosperity, no trials or troubles, peace, health, and comfort.

We are going to have trials, troubles, and earthly victories this side of eternity because of the sinful nature of mankind.  We are not to be consumed with anxious thoughts, fears, or worry.  We are to keep our eyes focused on Jesus Christ and eternity.  Too much of our time is focused on this world and what it has to offer and not enough time focused on our victory in Jesus Christ.  A victory for eternity in heaven.  A victory above what is temporal in the current world we live.  A victory that has already been won.  We need to live victorious lives in and for Jesus Christ with our eyes focused on eternity, heaven, rather than worldly and this side of eternity.

In John Chapter 15 we see Jesus say a lot about the importance of abiding in Him. One thing He said on this subject is bearing fruit will inevitably occur with every person who abides in Him. He also said that for those who do not bear fruit they will be gathered like a branch that withers and thrown away into the fire. Considering the importance of abiding in and bearing fruit for Jesus it would be wise to know what abiding and bearing fruit are. Theologian James Montgomery Boice (1938-2000) explains about abiding in Christ with these words, “When our Lord says: Abide in me he is talking about the will, about the choices, the decisions we make. We must decide to do things which expose ourselves to him and keep ourselves in contact with him. This is what it means to abide in him.” The Enduring Word Bible App says these things about bearing fruit, “The purpose of the branch is to bear fruit. Though there are uses for grape leaves, people don’t raise grape vines to look at the pretty leaves. They take the trouble to cultivate, plant, water and tend the vines so that fruit can be enjoyed. In this sense, we can say that fruit represents Christian character (such as the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5). God’s work in us and our connection to Him should be evident by fruit, and perhaps by much fruit”, and “The concept of abiding is not restricted to our abiding in Jesus; it also includes His abiding in us (and I in him). It is a mutual dynamic that expects our life to be spiritually and practically in vital connection with Jesus, and that expects Him to indwell us in an active, real way. In no way is the responsibility for abiding only upon the believer.” Knowing these things we all need to examine ourselves to God’s Word and determine if we are abiding in Jesus, resulting in fruit in our life, and thus passing one of the tests in our life about having Biblical assurance we will not be gathered up and thrown into the fire. Amen and God bless.

1 Chronicles 17:1  Now when David lived in his house, David said to Nathan the prophet, “Behold, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of the covenant of the Lord is under a tent.”

2 Samuel 7:1    Now when the king lived in his house and the LORD had given him rest from all his surrounding enemies,

2 Chronicles 6:7-9   Now it was in the heart of David my father to build a house for the name of the LORD, the God of Israel.  But the LORD said to David my father, ‘Whereas it was in your heart to build a house for my name, you did well that it was in your heart.

Haggai 1:4     “Is it a time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, while this house lies in ruins?

Haggai 1:9     You looked for much, and behold, it came to little. And when you brought it home, I blew it away. Why? declares the LORD of hosts. Because of my house that lies in ruins, while each of you busies himself with his own house.

“It was in your heart to build a house for my name, you did well that it was in your heart”  David had a heart that sought and followed after God.  He placed God first in all he did, thought, and said.  In Davids’ heart, God was always present and all-powerful.  We can see from David’s life what it means to have your whole heart, mind, and soul fixed on God.  He lived in a house of cedar and God’s house was a tent and David did not think this was right.

Placing God first in our heart and mind is a choice that is intentional.  It means we choose to meditate on Him.  Think about David’s heart and how much scripture there was present during His life.  His heart and mind thought long and deep about God.  He made decisions based on keeping God first.  He rejoiced in God’s presence and goodness and love.  He rested in knowing that it was God who forgives man, not a man who does acts worthy of God’s forgiveness.  It is in God’s sovereign hands.  David knew to stay close to God, seek God, desire God, and follow God was where he found joy, peace, happiness, strength, courage, and forgiveness.

We do well to place God first, because if He is not first then something else is and that something else certainly will not be where we find joy, peace, happiness, strength, courage, and forgiveness.  When God is first and everything else is second is when we know that our heart, soul, and mind are fully given and surrendered to God.  It is when we think more and more about Him and wants to know more and more about Him, and when we want to honor, glorify, worship, follow, trust, and obey Him more than anything else in our life. It is a choice to stay in His word.  It is a choice to live this way each day.  It is a choice to think, speak, and act in ways that bring honor and glory to God.  Make Him your intentional choice to honor, glorify, and worship.