by David Scott Robertson
(Luke 4:28 NIV) “All the people in the synagogue were furious when they heard this.
(Luke 4:29 NIV) They got up, drove him [Jesus] out of the town, and took him to the brow of the hill on which the town was built, in order to throw him down the cliff.
(Luke 4:30 NIV) But he walked right through the crowd and went on his way.”
Can you imagine the drama of this scene in the Bible?
Think about what was going on behind the scene between the angels and demons!
Were there any words spoken by Christ that persuaded the enraged crowd to change their mind?
Did He do something spectacular or miraculous that -
Suddenly, dramatically, amazingly -
Transformed a bloodthirsty mob into a passive crowd of spectators
Who cleared the way as Jesus walked (casually I’m sure) through the crowd?
Let’s quickly recreate the scene.
Jesus was in His hometown of Nazareth.
He was in church as usual (Luke 4:16) among His family and friends that He had grown up with.
Jesus was handed the scroll of Isaiah and He began to read:
(Isa 61:1 NIV) “The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners,
(Isa 61:2 NIV) to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor….”
Jesus stopped in mid-sentence on the last verse and sat down.
Everybody was staring at Him when He said:
(Luke 4:21 NIV) “…’Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.’"
What was their reaction?
(Luke 4:22 NIV) “All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his lips. ‘Isn't this Joseph's son?’ they asked.”
First, be careful when all speak well of you.
Mankind is so fickle.
They can bless you one minute and curse you the next.
It comes so, so natural to us.
Secondly, it seems that this last part of the people’s statement is what got Jesus explicit attention.
Their question absolutely demanded a response from the Messiah.
Whether He heard their whispers with His ears
Or He received the revelation by the Spirit as a word of knowledge,
The Lord discerned their question:
“Is this not Joseph’s son?”
(No as a matter of fact,
Jesus was not merely a man’s son with a little “s”
But God’s Son with a capital “S.”)
It was Jesus’ response to that question that tipped the scales against Him in their eyes.
When their wonder turned to
Religious fervor,
Righteous indignation,
And murderous rage.
Jesus spoke 100% truth when He replied:
(Luke 4:23 NIV) “Jesus said to them, "Surely you will quote this proverb to me: 'Physician, heal yourself! Do here in your hometown what we have heard that you did in Capernaum.'"
(Luke 4:24 NIV) "I tell you the truth," he continued, "no prophet is accepted in his hometown.”
Then He began to cite two examples,
One a Sidonian widow who Elijah ministered to
And next a Syrian leper whom Elisha healed
Of how Jehovah had mercy
On foreigners who accepted Him
Over His elect people who rejected Him.
Well, with that, the congregation of the local synagogue determined
That Jesus Christ of Nazareth was not fit to live.
(Luke 4:28 NIV) “All the people in the synagogue were furious when they heard this.
(Luke 4:29 NIV) They got up, drove him out of the town, and took him to the brow of the hill on which the town was built, in order to throw him down the cliff.”
What?
They “drove him out of town?”
They “took him to the brow of the hill?”
They desired to “throw him down the cliff?”
Part of what amazes me is that Jesus allowed them to do this.
It reminds me of when He allowed Satan to led him to the pinnacle of the temple
To tempt Him to jump off (Luke 4:9).
Another thing that intrigues me is that if this was His home synagogue where He had grown up,
Where was His family?
If Jesus were speaking at church that Sabbath, surely they would be there.
So where were His earthly brothers, sisters, and mother?
Were they in the press of the crowd screaming in His defense?
Were they fighting for Him?
Were they struggling against the mob to try and pacify them to leave their loved One alone?
Now comes the climax of this incredible scene
Where they are actually at the brow of the cliff
Ready to physically and forcibly toss Jesus over the side.
Then the most awesome thing happens.
(Luke 4:30 NIV) “But he walked right through the crowd and went on his way.”
Now I want to return to my original questions:
Were there any words spoken by Christ that persuaded the enraged crowd to change their mind?
Did He do something spectacular or miraculous that -
Suddenly, dramatically, amazingly -
Transformed a bloodthirsty mob into a passive crowd of spectators
Who cleared the way as Jesus walked (casually I’m sure) through the crowd?
My answer?
I don’t know!
Only God knows.
One thing I do know
Is that according to the scriptures,
The Lamb of God was born to die nailed to a cross to atone for the sins of the world.
He could die in no other way,
At no other time,
For no other reason.
The scriptures could not (and cannot and will not) be broken.
That is the answer for “why” Jesus did not get tossed over the cliff that day.
But as for the “how” He turned around and walked through the crowd…
I’ll guess we’ll just have to wait until we get to heaven
And watch the instant replay – in slow motion, I hope!
DSR
10/4/01
Thursday, October 4, 2001
Monday, September 24, 2001
The Man Who Hit Jesus
by David Scott Robertson
(Mat 26:66 NIV) What do you think?" "He is worthy of death," they answered.
(Mat 26:67 NIV) Then they spit in his face and struck him with their fists. Others slapped him
(Mat 26:68 NIV) and said, "Prophesy to us, Christ. Who hit you?"
“Who hit You?”
Jesus knew him.
Jesus knew him well.
The God-Man had the power and capacity to respond to this question.
The Messiah could have wheeled around and replied:
“Who hit Me?”
I’ll tell you…”
“His name is Bildad, son of Hoshea, the son of Matthias, the son of…
(He could have correctly listed the genealogy all the way back to Adam.)
Bildad is from the west side of Galilee and lives next to Aholiab the Tanner.
Bildad has a wife, three sons and a daughter
Whose names are (in the order of their birth…)
Bildad by trade is a perfumer
And his net profit – not counting all the business he’s done under the table this year – is exactly….
Bildad has precisely 976,143,119 hairs on his body.”
The incarnate God, Jesus Christ,
Literally had access to this kind of information by the power of the Holy Spirit
That was in Him without measure.
Why didn’t He do it?
Two reasons, I think.
Reason #1: It wouldn’t have done any good.
These men surrounding him like a pack of wolves closing in on the kill
Weren’t interested in knowing the truth --
They just spat and slapped Truth in the face.
Instead of asking Jesus
“… in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ,
in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. (Col 2:2-3 NIV),
They relied on their own flawed wisdom.
(Mat 26:66 NIV) What do you think?" "He is worthy of death," they answered.”
Who cares what man thinks?
What does Yahweh think of Jesus of Nazareth?
Reason #2: The scriptures had to be fulfilled concerning the Christ.
Jesus not only had at His dispatch unlimited spiritual gifts,
He also had unlimited angelic military resources.
(Mat 26:53 NIV) Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels?
(Mat 26:54 NIV) But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?"
Our Lord and Savior suppressed every natural, carnal, sinful desire
To retaliate in order for prophecy and the will of the Father to be fulfilled.
(Mat 26:56 NIV) But this has all taken place that the writings of the prophets might be fulfilled." Then all the disciples deserted him and fled.”
So, back to the original question…could He have answered it?
(Mat 26:68 NIV) “…’Prophesy to us, Christ. Who hit you?’"
Yes.
But before my (and perhaps your) righteous indignation rises up
And, like Peter, I want to take a sword (my tongue)
To begin to assassinate the character of these religious leaders…
I must admit,
Shamefully,
That it was MY sin that hit Him too.
I had my share in the nailing of the Son of God to the cross at Calvary.
So did you.
But Jesus endured it obediently, courageously, valiantly and voluntarily,
Walking out “not my will but yours be done” (Luke 22:42)
To fulfill that which was spoken of by the prophets centuries prior.
True to form,
Jesus did this so that one more prophecy could be fulfilled in the future tense:
(John 14:1 NIV) "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me.
(John 14:2 NIV) In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you.
(John 14:3 NIV) And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.
(John 14:4 NIV) You know the way to the place where I am going."
DSR
9/24/01
(Mat 26:66 NIV) What do you think?" "He is worthy of death," they answered.
(Mat 26:67 NIV) Then they spit in his face and struck him with their fists. Others slapped him
(Mat 26:68 NIV) and said, "Prophesy to us, Christ. Who hit you?"
“Who hit You?”
Jesus knew him.
Jesus knew him well.
The God-Man had the power and capacity to respond to this question.
The Messiah could have wheeled around and replied:
“Who hit Me?”
I’ll tell you…”
“His name is Bildad, son of Hoshea, the son of Matthias, the son of…
(He could have correctly listed the genealogy all the way back to Adam.)
Bildad is from the west side of Galilee and lives next to Aholiab the Tanner.
Bildad has a wife, three sons and a daughter
Whose names are (in the order of their birth…)
Bildad by trade is a perfumer
And his net profit – not counting all the business he’s done under the table this year – is exactly….
Bildad has precisely 976,143,119 hairs on his body.”
The incarnate God, Jesus Christ,
Literally had access to this kind of information by the power of the Holy Spirit
That was in Him without measure.
Why didn’t He do it?
Two reasons, I think.
Reason #1: It wouldn’t have done any good.
These men surrounding him like a pack of wolves closing in on the kill
Weren’t interested in knowing the truth --
They just spat and slapped Truth in the face.
Instead of asking Jesus
“… in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ,
in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. (Col 2:2-3 NIV),
They relied on their own flawed wisdom.
(Mat 26:66 NIV) What do you think?" "He is worthy of death," they answered.”
Who cares what man thinks?
What does Yahweh think of Jesus of Nazareth?
Reason #2: The scriptures had to be fulfilled concerning the Christ.
Jesus not only had at His dispatch unlimited spiritual gifts,
He also had unlimited angelic military resources.
(Mat 26:53 NIV) Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels?
(Mat 26:54 NIV) But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?"
Our Lord and Savior suppressed every natural, carnal, sinful desire
To retaliate in order for prophecy and the will of the Father to be fulfilled.
(Mat 26:56 NIV) But this has all taken place that the writings of the prophets might be fulfilled." Then all the disciples deserted him and fled.”
So, back to the original question…could He have answered it?
(Mat 26:68 NIV) “…’Prophesy to us, Christ. Who hit you?’"
Yes.
But before my (and perhaps your) righteous indignation rises up
And, like Peter, I want to take a sword (my tongue)
To begin to assassinate the character of these religious leaders…
I must admit,
Shamefully,
That it was MY sin that hit Him too.
I had my share in the nailing of the Son of God to the cross at Calvary.
So did you.
But Jesus endured it obediently, courageously, valiantly and voluntarily,
Walking out “not my will but yours be done” (Luke 22:42)
To fulfill that which was spoken of by the prophets centuries prior.
True to form,
Jesus did this so that one more prophecy could be fulfilled in the future tense:
(John 14:1 NIV) "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me.
(John 14:2 NIV) In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you.
(John 14:3 NIV) And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.
(John 14:4 NIV) You know the way to the place where I am going."
DSR
9/24/01
Friday, September 21, 2001
The Boy Who Touched God
by David Scott Robertson
(Mark 9:36 NIV) He [Jesus] took a little child and had him stand among them. Taking him in his arms, he said to them,
(Mark 9:37 NIV) "Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me."
I’m intrigued by this short encounter that Jesus has with an unnamed child.
We don’t know the little boy’s name,
But we know that the child was quite literally touched by God.
Can you imagine what it must have been like
To be taken in the arms of Christ Jesus and physically held?
As I read my Bible,
One quick, light touch of the Master’s hand cured any and every disease.
I like to think that Jesus smiled tenderly at the lad.
Jesus must have been a warm and inviting Person to the child as He made eye contact with him
That caused the child to willingly come to Jesus and let Him hold him.
You know how kids can be if they are intimidated by an adult.
Jesus sure intimidated his share of adults so much so that they wanted to rid the earth of Him.
But this little boy was not intimidated in the least
And came to Christ freely, fearlessly, joyfully.
I also wonder what long-term impact this encounter with the Lord had on the young man.
I wonder if the child,
Then or later in his life,
Realized that God has used him as an object lesson to teach the world
About how God wants people to come to Him.
I’m curious what his parent(s) might have told him about being held by Jesus.
I wonder what friends or neighbors who were on the scene told the boy
As each described how the very Son of God scooped him up in His arms for a few minutes.
I can’t help but think that the child’s destiny was altered by this one brief encounter.
Whether or not Jesus verbally “blessed” the little one before He let him go is not known.
But just being lovingly held in the arms of Christ,
I should think,
Would allow for a transfer of a measure of the anointing of the Holy Spirit.
Do you think the little boy grew up to be a man of God?
Do you think He might have joined Messiah’s Band?
Did he become a follower of The Way?
Did the nameless child grow up to be mentioned by name in scripture later on?
Only God knows.
I have an idea that this little boy’s life on earth and eternal destiny
Was forever changed by this one brief encounter with Christ.
DSR
9/21/01
(Mark 9:36 NIV) He [Jesus] took a little child and had him stand among them. Taking him in his arms, he said to them,
(Mark 9:37 NIV) "Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me."
I’m intrigued by this short encounter that Jesus has with an unnamed child.
We don’t know the little boy’s name,
But we know that the child was quite literally touched by God.
Can you imagine what it must have been like
To be taken in the arms of Christ Jesus and physically held?
As I read my Bible,
One quick, light touch of the Master’s hand cured any and every disease.
I like to think that Jesus smiled tenderly at the lad.
Jesus must have been a warm and inviting Person to the child as He made eye contact with him
That caused the child to willingly come to Jesus and let Him hold him.
You know how kids can be if they are intimidated by an adult.
Jesus sure intimidated his share of adults so much so that they wanted to rid the earth of Him.
But this little boy was not intimidated in the least
And came to Christ freely, fearlessly, joyfully.
I also wonder what long-term impact this encounter with the Lord had on the young man.
I wonder if the child,
Then or later in his life,
Realized that God has used him as an object lesson to teach the world
About how God wants people to come to Him.
I’m curious what his parent(s) might have told him about being held by Jesus.
I wonder what friends or neighbors who were on the scene told the boy
As each described how the very Son of God scooped him up in His arms for a few minutes.
I can’t help but think that the child’s destiny was altered by this one brief encounter.
Whether or not Jesus verbally “blessed” the little one before He let him go is not known.
But just being lovingly held in the arms of Christ,
I should think,
Would allow for a transfer of a measure of the anointing of the Holy Spirit.
Do you think the little boy grew up to be a man of God?
Do you think He might have joined Messiah’s Band?
Did he become a follower of The Way?
Did the nameless child grow up to be mentioned by name in scripture later on?
Only God knows.
I have an idea that this little boy’s life on earth and eternal destiny
Was forever changed by this one brief encounter with Christ.
DSR
9/21/01
Monday, September 3, 2001
Judas Iscariot: Remorse Without Repentance
by David Scott Robertson
“When Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty silver coins to the chief priests and the elders.
"I have sinned," he said, "for I have betrayed innocent blood." "What is that to us?" they replied. "That's your responsibility." (Mat 27:3-4 NIV)
Judas Iscariot, the disciple of Jesus Christ.
One of the Twelve.
A follower of the Messiah of Israel.
A man privileged to hear words directly from the lips of the Master Himself.
Words that prophets long dead yearned to hear in person.
Judas witnessed first-hand
What tens of millions of Christians today would have loved to have seen with their own eyes.
Judas was there, real-time, on-site, up-close-and-personal with the only begotten Son of God.
Could it be possible that Judas Iscariot,
In the early days of following Jesus of Nazareth,
Was out there destroying the works of the devil?
One thing we know for sure,
Somewhere along the way Judas left a door open to his heart.
He allowed a window to remain open just a crack.
Satan didn’t need a mile-wide channel to enter --
Just an inch…
A tiny lowering of the barrier of Judas’ free will
To gain legal access and control.
Judas began his descent into compromise little by little.
He began to the downward spiral subtlety.
He helped himself to a portion of the offering plate.
He allowed greet, the love of money, to take a toe-hold.
On God the Father knows all the moral violations that Judas permitted
To seep into his soul and the degree to which corruption had its work in him.
Judas began practicing betraying Christ is a dozen discrete ways.
He became good at it.
He became proficient at suppressing his guilty conscience,
Ignoring profound truth spoken in his hearing by Jesus.
“Then Judas, who was betraying Him, answered and said, ‘Rabbi, is it I?’ He said to him, ‘You have said it.’” (Matthew 26:25 NKJV – emphasis mine.)
The word “betraying” here indicates that it wasn’t a future event.
You see, Judas had been practicing.
As I read along in the biblical account of this tragedy,
I observe that the thing that really seemed to push Judas over the edge,
As I read it “the straw that broke the camel’s back,”
Was when the woman broke the alabaster box of perfume over Jesus’ feet,
Prophetically anointing Him for burial (Matthew 26:6-7).
(Mat 26:13 NIV) I [Jesus] tell you the truth, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her."
(Mat 26:14 NIV) Then one of the Twelve--the one called Judas Iscariot--went to the chief priests
(Mat 26:15 NIV) and asked, "What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you?" So they counted out for him thirty silver coins.
(Mat 26:16 NIV) From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over.” (emphasis mine).
Bible history tells the sorrowful story of how Judas Iscariot
(Who has rightly become the icon of betrayal)
Opened himself up for the devil personally to enter him
(Note that Satan didn’t delegate this important assignment to a subordinate demon).
Under the influence of the Prince of Darkness,
The pawn Judas played his part to betray Jesus of Nazareth to be condemned to death,
Yes, even death on a cross (Philippians 2:8).
Jesus commented on this earlier at His last meal with His disciples:
(Mat 26:24 NIV) The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born."
Now I want you to notice something:
Even at the intense climax of the betrayal,
The very moment before Judas is about to “officially” betray him “into the hands of sinners”
By the ironic signal of a kiss,
Jesus reaches out to Judas in a staggering show of love and mercy:
“But Jesus said to him, ‘Friend, why have you come?” (Matthew 26:50 NKJV)
Judas should have broke right then and there.
He could have stopped his part of the betrayal transaction.
He could have fallen at Jesus’ feet and said:
“Lord, I can’t go through with it! I just can’t betray you!”
I personally believe that even if Judas had a sudden burst of repentance before the Christ,
The momentum of the evil forces behind the chief priests and elders
Would have proceeded with the plot and plan
To murder Jesus with or without Judas.
It was past the point of no return.
Had Judas allowed his heart to be melted instead of hardened,
We might be reading today in scripture
Of one of God’s most massive objects of grace.
Some of us Christians may have even identified with Judas
Since we have all betrayed the Son of God to one extent on another.
Judas’ personal history and eternal destination,
In this one climactic moment,
Might (it was possible) have been altered forever in this,
His very last chance,
To gain an audience with the King of the Jews.
(Talk about your divine appointments!)
But he didn’t.
In a flash of time,
A moment of visitation in the very presence of God,
Choices were offered and available to Judas Iscariot:
To betray or not betray?
To repent or not repent?
Heaven or hell?
Join the ranks of one more repentant sinner who has come home or become the eternal betrayer?
Without “inquiring of the Lord” Judas made his split-second decision
In response to Jesus’ incredible question: “‘Friend, why have you come?’” (Matthew 26:50 NKJV)
Judas didn’t seal Jesus’ fate with a kiss but he did seal his own.
(Mat 26:50b KJV) “…Then came they, and laid hands on Jesus, and took him.”
Now the horror story of Judas’ downward spiral begins to close.
(Mat 27:1 NIV) Early in the morning, all the chief priests and the elders of the people came to the decision to put Jesus to death.
(Mat 27:2 NIV) They bound him, led him away and handed him over to Pilate, the governor.
(Mat 27:3 NIV) When Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty silver coins to the chief priests and the elders.
(Mat 27:4 NIV) "I have sinned," he said, "for I have betrayed innocent blood." "What is that to us?" they replied. "That's your responsibility."
Apparently, at some incredible moment during the night,
Judas had experienced an exorcism!
It seems apparent that a mighty deliverance had taken place in his life
And the Demon of all demons – Lucifer, Satan, vacated Judas’ body.
(John 13:27 NIV) As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him. "What you are about to do, do quickly," Jesus told him…”
The above scripture confirms that Judas had indeed been possessed of THE devil,
And now - consider the paradox – Judas is “seized with remorse”! (Matthew 27:3)
Do you really think if Judas was still possessed by Satan
That he would have any remorse?
I should think that Lucifer would have taken the opportunity
To manipulate his human host into boasting and bragging and parading around
In his trademark of pride and arrogance.
But no!
We see Judas remorseful!
Could it be that Judas is like so many unfortunate souls today
That are just worthless refuse to Satan
And the only reason the devil has anything dealing with them at all
Is for the purpose of manipulation, persuasion and intimidation?
He uses human puppets – like Judas - to do his bidding to hurt God the Father.
Once they have outlived their usefulness
They are good for nothing but self-destruction and death.
What about you?
Are you facing a moment of truth?
Have you “done messed up royally” and feel like it’s too late to change?
No! A thousand times no!
(Psa 2:11 NIV) Serve the LORD with fear and rejoice with trembling.
(Psa 2:12 NIV) Kiss the Son, lest he be angry and you be destroyed in your way, for his wrath can flare up in a moment. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.”
The kind of kiss that Jesus is looking for
Is a kiss of submission not a kiss of betrayal.
DSR
9/3/01
“When Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty silver coins to the chief priests and the elders.
"I have sinned," he said, "for I have betrayed innocent blood." "What is that to us?" they replied. "That's your responsibility." (Mat 27:3-4 NIV)
Judas Iscariot, the disciple of Jesus Christ.
One of the Twelve.
A follower of the Messiah of Israel.
A man privileged to hear words directly from the lips of the Master Himself.
Words that prophets long dead yearned to hear in person.
Judas witnessed first-hand
What tens of millions of Christians today would have loved to have seen with their own eyes.
Judas was there, real-time, on-site, up-close-and-personal with the only begotten Son of God.
Could it be possible that Judas Iscariot,
In the early days of following Jesus of Nazareth,
Was out there destroying the works of the devil?
One thing we know for sure,
Somewhere along the way Judas left a door open to his heart.
He allowed a window to remain open just a crack.
Satan didn’t need a mile-wide channel to enter --
Just an inch…
A tiny lowering of the barrier of Judas’ free will
To gain legal access and control.
Judas began his descent into compromise little by little.
He began to the downward spiral subtlety.
He helped himself to a portion of the offering plate.
He allowed greet, the love of money, to take a toe-hold.
On God the Father knows all the moral violations that Judas permitted
To seep into his soul and the degree to which corruption had its work in him.
Judas began practicing betraying Christ is a dozen discrete ways.
He became good at it.
He became proficient at suppressing his guilty conscience,
Ignoring profound truth spoken in his hearing by Jesus.
“Then Judas, who was betraying Him, answered and said, ‘Rabbi, is it I?’ He said to him, ‘You have said it.’” (Matthew 26:25 NKJV – emphasis mine.)
The word “betraying” here indicates that it wasn’t a future event.
You see, Judas had been practicing.
As I read along in the biblical account of this tragedy,
I observe that the thing that really seemed to push Judas over the edge,
As I read it “the straw that broke the camel’s back,”
Was when the woman broke the alabaster box of perfume over Jesus’ feet,
Prophetically anointing Him for burial (Matthew 26:6-7).
(Mat 26:13 NIV) I [Jesus] tell you the truth, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her."
(Mat 26:14 NIV) Then one of the Twelve--the one called Judas Iscariot--went to the chief priests
(Mat 26:15 NIV) and asked, "What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you?" So they counted out for him thirty silver coins.
(Mat 26:16 NIV) From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over.” (emphasis mine).
Bible history tells the sorrowful story of how Judas Iscariot
(Who has rightly become the icon of betrayal)
Opened himself up for the devil personally to enter him
(Note that Satan didn’t delegate this important assignment to a subordinate demon).
Under the influence of the Prince of Darkness,
The pawn Judas played his part to betray Jesus of Nazareth to be condemned to death,
Yes, even death on a cross (Philippians 2:8).
Jesus commented on this earlier at His last meal with His disciples:
(Mat 26:24 NIV) The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born."
Now I want you to notice something:
Even at the intense climax of the betrayal,
The very moment before Judas is about to “officially” betray him “into the hands of sinners”
By the ironic signal of a kiss,
Jesus reaches out to Judas in a staggering show of love and mercy:
“But Jesus said to him, ‘Friend, why have you come?” (Matthew 26:50 NKJV)
Judas should have broke right then and there.
He could have stopped his part of the betrayal transaction.
He could have fallen at Jesus’ feet and said:
“Lord, I can’t go through with it! I just can’t betray you!”
I personally believe that even if Judas had a sudden burst of repentance before the Christ,
The momentum of the evil forces behind the chief priests and elders
Would have proceeded with the plot and plan
To murder Jesus with or without Judas.
It was past the point of no return.
Had Judas allowed his heart to be melted instead of hardened,
We might be reading today in scripture
Of one of God’s most massive objects of grace.
Some of us Christians may have even identified with Judas
Since we have all betrayed the Son of God to one extent on another.
Judas’ personal history and eternal destination,
In this one climactic moment,
Might (it was possible) have been altered forever in this,
His very last chance,
To gain an audience with the King of the Jews.
(Talk about your divine appointments!)
But he didn’t.
In a flash of time,
A moment of visitation in the very presence of God,
Choices were offered and available to Judas Iscariot:
To betray or not betray?
To repent or not repent?
Heaven or hell?
Join the ranks of one more repentant sinner who has come home or become the eternal betrayer?
Without “inquiring of the Lord” Judas made his split-second decision
In response to Jesus’ incredible question: “‘Friend, why have you come?’” (Matthew 26:50 NKJV)
Judas didn’t seal Jesus’ fate with a kiss but he did seal his own.
(Mat 26:50b KJV) “…Then came they, and laid hands on Jesus, and took him.”
Now the horror story of Judas’ downward spiral begins to close.
(Mat 27:1 NIV) Early in the morning, all the chief priests and the elders of the people came to the decision to put Jesus to death.
(Mat 27:2 NIV) They bound him, led him away and handed him over to Pilate, the governor.
(Mat 27:3 NIV) When Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty silver coins to the chief priests and the elders.
(Mat 27:4 NIV) "I have sinned," he said, "for I have betrayed innocent blood." "What is that to us?" they replied. "That's your responsibility."
Apparently, at some incredible moment during the night,
Judas had experienced an exorcism!
It seems apparent that a mighty deliverance had taken place in his life
And the Demon of all demons – Lucifer, Satan, vacated Judas’ body.
(John 13:27 NIV) As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him. "What you are about to do, do quickly," Jesus told him…”
The above scripture confirms that Judas had indeed been possessed of THE devil,
And now - consider the paradox – Judas is “seized with remorse”! (Matthew 27:3)
Do you really think if Judas was still possessed by Satan
That he would have any remorse?
I should think that Lucifer would have taken the opportunity
To manipulate his human host into boasting and bragging and parading around
In his trademark of pride and arrogance.
But no!
We see Judas remorseful!
Could it be that Judas is like so many unfortunate souls today
That are just worthless refuse to Satan
And the only reason the devil has anything dealing with them at all
Is for the purpose of manipulation, persuasion and intimidation?
He uses human puppets – like Judas - to do his bidding to hurt God the Father.
Once they have outlived their usefulness
They are good for nothing but self-destruction and death.
What about you?
Are you facing a moment of truth?
Have you “done messed up royally” and feel like it’s too late to change?
No! A thousand times no!
(Psa 2:11 NIV) Serve the LORD with fear and rejoice with trembling.
(Psa 2:12 NIV) Kiss the Son, lest he be angry and you be destroyed in your way, for his wrath can flare up in a moment. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.”
The kind of kiss that Jesus is looking for
Is a kiss of submission not a kiss of betrayal.
DSR
9/3/01
Verily I Say Unto You...
by David Scott Robertson
“For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled” (Mat 5:18 KJV – emphasis mine).
Fifty-two times (52) in the gospels Jesus used the term “Verily I say unto you…” (King James Version)
Twenty-five times (25) in the gospels Jesus used the term, “Verily, verily, I say to you [or unto thee]…”
Seventy-seven (77) total times the Christ used this important phrase.
When Christ says something once it is of paramount importance.
When He repeats a phrase it’s for emphasis.
Even the way He says it has purpose and meaning.
Anything that is recorded in the canon of scripture
That is repeated seventy-seven different times
Must have a deeper meaning that the Holy Spirit intends for us to explore.
I challenge you, dear reader,
To meditate for a few moments right now on why did Jesus Christ say this so often,
And what did the Holy Spirit mean for us to know since
All scripture is “God-breathed” and inspired of God and is profitable– 2 Timothy 3:16.
(1) Mat 5:18; (2) Mat 5:26; (3) Mat 6:2; (4) Mat 6:5; (5) Mat 6:16; (6) Mat 8:10; (7) Mat 10:15; (8) Mat 10:23; (9) Mat 10:42; (10) Mat 11:11; (11) Mat 13:17; (12) Mat 16:28; (13) Mat 17:20; (14) Mat 18:3; (15) Mat 18:13; (16) Mat 18:18; (17) Mat 19:23; (18) Mat 19:28; (19) Mat 21:21; (20) Mat 21:31; (21) Mat 23:36; (22) Mat 24:2; (23.) Mat 24:34; (24) Mat 24:47; (25) Mat 25:12; (26) Mat 25:40; (27) Mat 25:45; (28) Mat 26:13; (29 ) Mat 26:21; (30) Mat 26:34; (31) Mark 3:28; (32) Mark 6:11; (33) Mark 8:12; (34) Mark 9:1; (35) Mark 9:41; (36) Mark 10:15; (37) Mark 10:29; (38) Mark 11:23; (39) Mark 12:43; (40) Mark 13:30; (41) Mark 14:9; (42) Mark 14:18; (43) Mark 14:25; (44) Mark 14:30; (45) Luke 4:24; (46) Luke 11:51; (47) Luke 12:37; (48) Luke 13:35; (49) Luke 18:17; (50) Luke 18:29; (51) Luke 21:32; (52) Luke 23:43; (53) John 1:51; (54) John 3:3; (55) John 3:5; (56) John 3:11; (57) John 5:19; (58) John 5:24; (59) John 5:25; (60) John 6:26; (61) John 6:32; (62) John 6:47; (63) John 6:53; (64) John 8:34; (65) John 8:51; (66) John 8:58; (67) John 10:1; (68) John 10:7; (69) John 12:24; (70) John 13:16; (71) John 13:20; (72) John 13:21; (73) John 13:38; (74) John 14:12; (75) John 16:20; (76) John 16:23; (77) John 21:18.
DSR
9/3/01
“For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled” (Mat 5:18 KJV – emphasis mine).
Fifty-two times (52) in the gospels Jesus used the term “Verily I say unto you…” (King James Version)
Twenty-five times (25) in the gospels Jesus used the term, “Verily, verily, I say to you [or unto thee]…”
Seventy-seven (77) total times the Christ used this important phrase.
When Christ says something once it is of paramount importance.
When He repeats a phrase it’s for emphasis.
Even the way He says it has purpose and meaning.
Anything that is recorded in the canon of scripture
That is repeated seventy-seven different times
Must have a deeper meaning that the Holy Spirit intends for us to explore.
I challenge you, dear reader,
To meditate for a few moments right now on why did Jesus Christ say this so often,
And what did the Holy Spirit mean for us to know since
All scripture is “God-breathed” and inspired of God and is profitable– 2 Timothy 3:16.
(1) Mat 5:18; (2) Mat 5:26; (3) Mat 6:2; (4) Mat 6:5; (5) Mat 6:16; (6) Mat 8:10; (7) Mat 10:15; (8) Mat 10:23; (9) Mat 10:42; (10) Mat 11:11; (11) Mat 13:17; (12) Mat 16:28; (13) Mat 17:20; (14) Mat 18:3; (15) Mat 18:13; (16) Mat 18:18; (17) Mat 19:23; (18) Mat 19:28; (19) Mat 21:21; (20) Mat 21:31; (21) Mat 23:36; (22) Mat 24:2; (23.) Mat 24:34; (24) Mat 24:47; (25) Mat 25:12; (26) Mat 25:40; (27) Mat 25:45; (28) Mat 26:13; (29 ) Mat 26:21; (30) Mat 26:34; (31) Mark 3:28; (32) Mark 6:11; (33) Mark 8:12; (34) Mark 9:1; (35) Mark 9:41; (36) Mark 10:15; (37) Mark 10:29; (38) Mark 11:23; (39) Mark 12:43; (40) Mark 13:30; (41) Mark 14:9; (42) Mark 14:18; (43) Mark 14:25; (44) Mark 14:30; (45) Luke 4:24; (46) Luke 11:51; (47) Luke 12:37; (48) Luke 13:35; (49) Luke 18:17; (50) Luke 18:29; (51) Luke 21:32; (52) Luke 23:43; (53) John 1:51; (54) John 3:3; (55) John 3:5; (56) John 3:11; (57) John 5:19; (58) John 5:24; (59) John 5:25; (60) John 6:26; (61) John 6:32; (62) John 6:47; (63) John 6:53; (64) John 8:34; (65) John 8:51; (66) John 8:58; (67) John 10:1; (68) John 10:7; (69) John 12:24; (70) John 13:16; (71) John 13:20; (72) John 13:21; (73) John 13:38; (74) John 14:12; (75) John 16:20; (76) John 16:23; (77) John 21:18.
DSR
9/3/01
Thursday, August 30, 2001
Oh That It Could Be Said Of Me
by David Scott Robertson
“And a voice came from heaven: "You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased." (Mark 1:11 NIV)
Wouldn’t you like to insert your name in the scripture above?
How about it?
Wouldn’t it be great if God’s audible voice from heaven spoke this out:
“You [insert your name here] are my Son [or son or daughter], whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”
There are certain statements quoted in the Bible,
Like this scripture found in the gospel of Mark,
That I can’t help but desiring with an earnest desire
That they could be said of me.
Now I know theologically that obedience pleases the Lord
And causes us to find favor with God.
But contained in the text of scriptures are remarkable comments
That the Lord God makes about particular individuals in certain circumstances.
Somehow, someday, some way,
Under the right circumstances,
I pray that my obedience to His explicit commands
Will position me to please Him and likewise cause Him to make remarkable comments.
I’m not pushing for power
Grappling for glory
Or foraging for fame –
I just plain want to please God.
I want to give Him “bragging rights.”
I want Jesus to be glad He made me.
I want the Holy Spirit to be able to comment “now this guy cooperates with Us.”
As I live,
And when I stop living at the God-appointed time,
I want it to be said of me what Jesus said in John 17:4:
“I glorified you [talking to His Father] on earth, having finished the work which you gave me to do.”
Oh that I would finish the work!
Oh that I would please the Lord!
Oh that it could be said of me such incredible statements found in the Bible like:
(1 Ki 21:29 NIV) "Have you noticed how [David Robertson] Ahab has humbled himself before me? Because he has humbled himself, I will not bring this disaster in his day…”
(Job 1:8 NIV) Then the LORD said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant [David Robertson] Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil."
(Gen 18:17 NIV) “Then the LORD said, "Shall I hide from [David Robertson] Abraham what I am about to do?”
(1 Ki 3:5 NIV) At Gibeon the LORD appeared to [David Robertson] Solomon during the night in a dream, and God said, "Ask for whatever you want me to give you."
(1 Ki 3:9 NIV) [Oh that I would make wise requests like Solomon did here!] So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?"
(1 Ki 3:10 NIV) The Lord was pleased that [David Robertson] Solomon had asked for this.”
(Acts 7:55 NIV) But [David Robertson] Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.
(Acts 7:56 NIV) "Look," he said, "I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God."
(Stephen provokes Jesus, who is seated at the right hand of His Father, to actually stand up!)
(Gen 6:8 NIV) “But [David Robertson] Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD.”
(Heb 11:5 NIV) “By faith [David Robertson] Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death; he could not be found, because God had taken him away. For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God.”
(John 13:23 NIV) “One of them, [David Robertson] the disciple whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to him.”
(Rev 1:10 NIV) “On the Lord's Day [David Robertson] I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet,”
(Acts 5:15 NIV) “As a result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least [David Robertson’s] Peter's shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by.”
(Acts 4:13 NIV) “When they saw the courage of [David Robertson] Peter and John and realized that [he] they [was an] were unschooled, ordinary [man] men, they were astonished and they took note that [David] these men had been with Jesus.”
(Rom 4:20 NIV) “Yet [David Robertson] he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God,
(Rom 4:21 NIV) being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.”
(2 Ki 10:16 NIV) “[David Robertson] Jehu said, "Come with me and see my zeal for the LORD." Then he had him ride along in his [red Buick Reatta) chariot.”
(1 Chr 11:24 NIV) “Such were the exploits of [David Robertson] Benaiah son of [Bill Robertson] Jehoiada; he too was as famous as the three mighty men.”
Oh that my name could be included anywhere in God’s catalog of faithful people
Like that found in the New Testament’s “Hall of Fame” in Hebrews chapter 11!
Oh that I could do exploits for God by His power!
Oh that it could be said of me that I have the testimony that I pleased God.
As it is written:
(2 Cor 10:18 NIV) “For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.”
I can’t help it…
I want to bring glory to His magnificent Name!
I want to be about my Father’s business (Luke 2:49 KJV).
It is not wrong for me to want these things.
As a matter of fact,
I think it pleases the Lord for me to want such things.
It has nothing to do with self-promotion,
On the contrary it requires dying to self that Christ might live in and through me.
It is through Christ alone that anything of eternal, lasting value happens.
I can do NO things WITHOUT Christ who strengthens me (Philippians 4:13).
In Him I live and move and have my being (Acts 17:28).
I am dead and my life is hidden with Christ in God (Colossians 3:3).
If for some reason I don’t do great things for God
At least I can do small things in a great way for my Master!
Oh that it could be said of me:
“At least David Robertson tried…”
“David never gave up…”
“David gave it his all…”
“David ran the race, finished the course, kept the faith.”
One day,
You and I have an appointment to appear before the Judge of all the earth.
Our record will be reviewed.
Our account will be settled.
Our reward (or punishment) will be dispensed.
If you are saved, then you will appear HERE:
(2 Cor 5:10 NIV) “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.”
If you are not saved you will appear HERE:
(Rev 20:11 NIV) Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. Earth and sky fled from his presence, and there was no place for them.
(Rev 20:12 NIV) And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books.
By God’s grace,
I’m going to begin now preparing for that interview at the Judgment Seat of Christ!
Oh that it could be said of me at that time:
(Mat 25:21 NIV) "His master replied, 'Well done, [David Robertson] good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'”
DSR
8/30/01
“And a voice came from heaven: "You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased." (Mark 1:11 NIV)
Wouldn’t you like to insert your name in the scripture above?
How about it?
Wouldn’t it be great if God’s audible voice from heaven spoke this out:
“You [insert your name here] are my Son [or son or daughter], whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”
There are certain statements quoted in the Bible,
Like this scripture found in the gospel of Mark,
That I can’t help but desiring with an earnest desire
That they could be said of me.
Now I know theologically that obedience pleases the Lord
And causes us to find favor with God.
But contained in the text of scriptures are remarkable comments
That the Lord God makes about particular individuals in certain circumstances.
Somehow, someday, some way,
Under the right circumstances,
I pray that my obedience to His explicit commands
Will position me to please Him and likewise cause Him to make remarkable comments.
I’m not pushing for power
Grappling for glory
Or foraging for fame –
I just plain want to please God.
I want to give Him “bragging rights.”
I want Jesus to be glad He made me.
I want the Holy Spirit to be able to comment “now this guy cooperates with Us.”
As I live,
And when I stop living at the God-appointed time,
I want it to be said of me what Jesus said in John 17:4:
“I glorified you [talking to His Father] on earth, having finished the work which you gave me to do.”
Oh that I would finish the work!
Oh that I would please the Lord!
Oh that it could be said of me such incredible statements found in the Bible like:
(1 Ki 21:29 NIV) "Have you noticed how [David Robertson] Ahab has humbled himself before me? Because he has humbled himself, I will not bring this disaster in his day…”
(Job 1:8 NIV) Then the LORD said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant [David Robertson] Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil."
(Gen 18:17 NIV) “Then the LORD said, "Shall I hide from [David Robertson] Abraham what I am about to do?”
(1 Ki 3:5 NIV) At Gibeon the LORD appeared to [David Robertson] Solomon during the night in a dream, and God said, "Ask for whatever you want me to give you."
(1 Ki 3:9 NIV) [Oh that I would make wise requests like Solomon did here!] So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?"
(1 Ki 3:10 NIV) The Lord was pleased that [David Robertson] Solomon had asked for this.”
(Acts 7:55 NIV) But [David Robertson] Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.
(Acts 7:56 NIV) "Look," he said, "I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God."
(Stephen provokes Jesus, who is seated at the right hand of His Father, to actually stand up!)
(Gen 6:8 NIV) “But [David Robertson] Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD.”
(Heb 11:5 NIV) “By faith [David Robertson] Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death; he could not be found, because God had taken him away. For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God.”
(John 13:23 NIV) “One of them, [David Robertson] the disciple whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to him.”
(Rev 1:10 NIV) “On the Lord's Day [David Robertson] I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet,”
(Acts 5:15 NIV) “As a result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least [David Robertson’s] Peter's shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by.”
(Acts 4:13 NIV) “When they saw the courage of [David Robertson] Peter and John and realized that [he] they [was an] were unschooled, ordinary [man] men, they were astonished and they took note that [David] these men had been with Jesus.”
(Rom 4:20 NIV) “Yet [David Robertson] he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God,
(Rom 4:21 NIV) being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.”
(2 Ki 10:16 NIV) “[David Robertson] Jehu said, "Come with me and see my zeal for the LORD." Then he had him ride along in his [red Buick Reatta) chariot.”
(1 Chr 11:24 NIV) “Such were the exploits of [David Robertson] Benaiah son of [Bill Robertson] Jehoiada; he too was as famous as the three mighty men.”
Oh that my name could be included anywhere in God’s catalog of faithful people
Like that found in the New Testament’s “Hall of Fame” in Hebrews chapter 11!
Oh that I could do exploits for God by His power!
Oh that it could be said of me that I have the testimony that I pleased God.
As it is written:
(2 Cor 10:18 NIV) “For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.”
I can’t help it…
I want to bring glory to His magnificent Name!
I want to be about my Father’s business (Luke 2:49 KJV).
It is not wrong for me to want these things.
As a matter of fact,
I think it pleases the Lord for me to want such things.
It has nothing to do with self-promotion,
On the contrary it requires dying to self that Christ might live in and through me.
It is through Christ alone that anything of eternal, lasting value happens.
I can do NO things WITHOUT Christ who strengthens me (Philippians 4:13).
In Him I live and move and have my being (Acts 17:28).
I am dead and my life is hidden with Christ in God (Colossians 3:3).
If for some reason I don’t do great things for God
At least I can do small things in a great way for my Master!
Oh that it could be said of me:
“At least David Robertson tried…”
“David never gave up…”
“David gave it his all…”
“David ran the race, finished the course, kept the faith.”
One day,
You and I have an appointment to appear before the Judge of all the earth.
Our record will be reviewed.
Our account will be settled.
Our reward (or punishment) will be dispensed.
If you are saved, then you will appear HERE:
(2 Cor 5:10 NIV) “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.”
If you are not saved you will appear HERE:
(Rev 20:11 NIV) Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. Earth and sky fled from his presence, and there was no place for them.
(Rev 20:12 NIV) And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books.
By God’s grace,
I’m going to begin now preparing for that interview at the Judgment Seat of Christ!
Oh that it could be said of me at that time:
(Mat 25:21 NIV) "His master replied, 'Well done, [David Robertson] good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'”
DSR
8/30/01
Wednesday, August 29, 2001
Walk by Faith Not by Sight
by David Scott Robertson
(Mat 28:16 NIV) Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go.
(Mat 28:17 NIV) When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted.”
“…but some doubted.”
But some doubted?
What? How? Why?
The Twelve (minus Judas)
Had obeyed Jesus’ first command to them since His resurrection from the dead
Given through the two Mary’s and Salome (Mark 16:1):
(Mat 28:10 NIV) Then Jesus said to them [the women at the tomb], "Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me."
Jesus had plainly told them before His crucifixion:
(Mat 26:32 NIV) But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee."
Never mind the fact that all eleven disciples weren’t in Caiaphas’ courtyard to support Jesus
During the darkest hours of His life.
They weren’t at the foot of the cross weeping at Golgotha.
They weren’t at the tomb.
At least they could have headed for Galilee after the crucifixion based on Jesus’
Without having to have the Lord’s order come through three women.
What? How? Why?
“…but some doubted.” (Matthew 28:17)
At this point we pick up with Jesus actually appearing in bodily form to the disciples.
And still, go figure, still some doubted!
I don’t get it.
What’s wrong with this picture?
But is that not what the text of the scriptures says?
(Mat 28:17 NIV) When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted.”
They had not believed the report of Mary Magdalene
To whom Jesus had appeared first (Mark 16:9).
(Mark 16:11 NIV) When they heard that Jesus was alive and that she had seen him, they did not believe it.”
Then they didn’t believe two additional witnesses of the resurrection.
(Mark 16:12 NIV) Afterward Jesus appeared in a different form to two of them while they were walking in the country.
(Mark 16:13 NIV) These returned and reported it to the rest; but they did not believe them either.”
Is it any wonder that Jesus’ first reunion with His beloved disciples
Was to deliver a message of rebuke?
(Mark 16:14 NIV) Later Jesus appeared to the Eleven as they were eating; he rebuked them for their lack of faith and their stubborn refusal to believe those who had seen him after he had risen.”
No wonder Jesus instructed them:
(Luke 24:49 NIV) I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high."
(Acts 1:8 NIV) But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
So it seems apparent that faith is far superior than sight.
(2 Cor 5:7 NIV) We live by faith, not by sight.”
Seeing isn’t always believing.
It wasn’t just “Doubting Thomas” who proved that.
(John 20:27 NIV) Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe."
Thomas bears the bad reputation but please note that he had company…
“…but some doubted.” (Matthew 28:17)
The Apostle Paul sums it all up well for me
In His excellent observation found in Galatians 2:20:
(Gal 2:20 NIV) I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
Paul [then Saul] saw Christ on the road to Damascus
And was from that point forth faithful to the heavenly vision.
Let’s resolve to walk by faith.
Let’s believe the word of the Lord regardless
Of what we see or don’t see.
(James 1:6 NIV) But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.
(James 1:7 NIV) That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord…”
DSR
8/29/01
(Mat 28:16 NIV) Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go.
(Mat 28:17 NIV) When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted.”
“…but some doubted.”
But some doubted?
What? How? Why?
The Twelve (minus Judas)
Had obeyed Jesus’ first command to them since His resurrection from the dead
Given through the two Mary’s and Salome (Mark 16:1):
(Mat 28:10 NIV) Then Jesus said to them [the women at the tomb], "Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me."
Jesus had plainly told them before His crucifixion:
(Mat 26:32 NIV) But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee."
Never mind the fact that all eleven disciples weren’t in Caiaphas’ courtyard to support Jesus
During the darkest hours of His life.
They weren’t at the foot of the cross weeping at Golgotha.
They weren’t at the tomb.
At least they could have headed for Galilee after the crucifixion based on Jesus’
Without having to have the Lord’s order come through three women.
What? How? Why?
“…but some doubted.” (Matthew 28:17)
At this point we pick up with Jesus actually appearing in bodily form to the disciples.
And still, go figure, still some doubted!
I don’t get it.
What’s wrong with this picture?
But is that not what the text of the scriptures says?
(Mat 28:17 NIV) When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted.”
They had not believed the report of Mary Magdalene
To whom Jesus had appeared first (Mark 16:9).
(Mark 16:11 NIV) When they heard that Jesus was alive and that she had seen him, they did not believe it.”
Then they didn’t believe two additional witnesses of the resurrection.
(Mark 16:12 NIV) Afterward Jesus appeared in a different form to two of them while they were walking in the country.
(Mark 16:13 NIV) These returned and reported it to the rest; but they did not believe them either.”
Is it any wonder that Jesus’ first reunion with His beloved disciples
Was to deliver a message of rebuke?
(Mark 16:14 NIV) Later Jesus appeared to the Eleven as they were eating; he rebuked them for their lack of faith and their stubborn refusal to believe those who had seen him after he had risen.”
No wonder Jesus instructed them:
(Luke 24:49 NIV) I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high."
(Acts 1:8 NIV) But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
So it seems apparent that faith is far superior than sight.
(2 Cor 5:7 NIV) We live by faith, not by sight.”
Seeing isn’t always believing.
It wasn’t just “Doubting Thomas” who proved that.
(John 20:27 NIV) Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe."
Thomas bears the bad reputation but please note that he had company…
“…but some doubted.” (Matthew 28:17)
The Apostle Paul sums it all up well for me
In His excellent observation found in Galatians 2:20:
(Gal 2:20 NIV) I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
Paul [then Saul] saw Christ on the road to Damascus
And was from that point forth faithful to the heavenly vision.
Let’s resolve to walk by faith.
Let’s believe the word of the Lord regardless
Of what we see or don’t see.
(James 1:6 NIV) But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.
(James 1:7 NIV) That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord…”
DSR
8/29/01
Monday, August 27, 2001
The Word Answered Not a Word
by David Scott Robertson
(Rev 19:13 NIV) He [Jesus] is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God.”
Jesus did not just speak the words of God.
He WAS the Word of God.
(John 1:1 NIV) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
(John 1:14 NIV) The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us…”
When the Word spoke words,
They carried weight, authority, and revelation.
His words also inspire awe, wonder, and utter amazement.
(John 7:45 KJV) Then came the officers to the chief priests and Pharisees; and they said unto them, Why have ye not brought him?
(John 7:46 KJV) The officers answered, Never man spake like this man.”
(Luke 4:36 KJV) And they were all amazed, and spake among themselves, saying, What a word is this! for with authority and power he commandeth the unclean spirits, and they come out.”
Now here’s a twist.
Jesus had the unusual ability to inspire awe, astonishment, and amazement
Not only by the words He spoke,
But by the words He did not speak!
(Mat 27:11 NIV) Meanwhile Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, "Are you the king of the Jews?" "Yes, it is as you say," Jesus replied.
(Mat 27:12 NIV) When he was accused by the chief priests and the elders, he gave no answer.
(Mat 27:13 NIV) Then Pilate asked him, "Don't you hear the testimony they are bringing against you?"
(Mat 27:14 NIV) But Jesus made no reply, not even to a single charge--to the great amazement of the governor.”
Jesus could literally just stand there
Not “doing anything,”
Not “saying anything”
And provoke “great marvel and astonishment” (v. 14, NKJV).
Why is that so significant?
The context tells the story.
There are situations where questions DEMAND a response:
(Mat 27:11 NIV) Meanwhile Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, "Are you the king of the Jews?" "Yes, it is as you say," Jesus replied.
Then, there are circumstances where questions do not DESERVE a response:
(Mat 27:12 NIV) When he was accused by the chief priests and the elders, he gave no answer.”
(Mat 27:13 NIV) Then Pilate asked him, "Don't you hear the testimony they are bringing against you?"
So what can we learn from our Master Mentor?
Here are “Eight Principles of Effective Communication”
Gleaned from this passage of scripture:
1. In speech, timing is important.
(Eccl 3:1 NIV) There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven:
(Eccl 3:7 NIV) a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak…”
2. You don’t have to be super-intelligent to benefit from shutting your mouth.
(Prov 17:28 NIV) Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent, and discerning if he holds his tongue.”
3. It’s never too late to stop talking.
(Job 40:4 NIV) "I [Job] am unworthy--how can I reply to you? I put my hand over my mouth.
(Job 40:5 NIV) I spoke once, but I have no answer-- twice, but I will say no more."
4. Like a professional boxer, you need to wear a mouth-guard.
(Psa 141:3 NIV) Set a guard over my [King David’s] mouth, O LORD; keep watch over the door of my lips.”
5. You need a heart transplant to speak well.
(Mat 12:34 NIV) You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.”
6. God richly rewards good speech.
(James 3:2 NIV) We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check.”
7. Listen twice as much as you speak (you have two ears and one mouth for a purpose!)
(James 1:19 NIV) My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry…”
8. The ability to keep silent is a fruit of the Spirit.
(Gal 5:22 NIV) But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
(Gal 5:23 NIV) gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” – emphasis mine
One of Jesus’ most impressive works,
At least to me,
Was the unnatural and uncanny ability to NOT speak!
When He was violated and blasphemed…
When He was despised and rejected of men…
When He was lied about and profoundly misunderstood…
When He was mocked and crucified…
Jesus, the Christ, remained silent.
When He did speak during traumatic experiences,
Out of the abundance of His heart His mouth spoke:
(Luke 23:34 NIV) Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing."
Let’s determine, with the help of the Holy Spirit, to do the works of the Jesus,
Even the greater works…
Speaking the truth in love
Or keep our mouths shut.
My mother was right after all –
“David, if you can’t say something nice don’t say anything at all.”
DSR
8/27/01
(Rev 19:13 NIV) He [Jesus] is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God.”
Jesus did not just speak the words of God.
He WAS the Word of God.
(John 1:1 NIV) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
(John 1:14 NIV) The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us…”
When the Word spoke words,
They carried weight, authority, and revelation.
His words also inspire awe, wonder, and utter amazement.
(John 7:45 KJV) Then came the officers to the chief priests and Pharisees; and they said unto them, Why have ye not brought him?
(John 7:46 KJV) The officers answered, Never man spake like this man.”
(Luke 4:36 KJV) And they were all amazed, and spake among themselves, saying, What a word is this! for with authority and power he commandeth the unclean spirits, and they come out.”
Now here’s a twist.
Jesus had the unusual ability to inspire awe, astonishment, and amazement
Not only by the words He spoke,
But by the words He did not speak!
(Mat 27:11 NIV) Meanwhile Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, "Are you the king of the Jews?" "Yes, it is as you say," Jesus replied.
(Mat 27:12 NIV) When he was accused by the chief priests and the elders, he gave no answer.
(Mat 27:13 NIV) Then Pilate asked him, "Don't you hear the testimony they are bringing against you?"
(Mat 27:14 NIV) But Jesus made no reply, not even to a single charge--to the great amazement of the governor.”
Jesus could literally just stand there
Not “doing anything,”
Not “saying anything”
And provoke “great marvel and astonishment” (v. 14, NKJV).
Why is that so significant?
The context tells the story.
There are situations where questions DEMAND a response:
(Mat 27:11 NIV) Meanwhile Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, "Are you the king of the Jews?" "Yes, it is as you say," Jesus replied.
Then, there are circumstances where questions do not DESERVE a response:
(Mat 27:12 NIV) When he was accused by the chief priests and the elders, he gave no answer.”
(Mat 27:13 NIV) Then Pilate asked him, "Don't you hear the testimony they are bringing against you?"
So what can we learn from our Master Mentor?
Here are “Eight Principles of Effective Communication”
Gleaned from this passage of scripture:
1. In speech, timing is important.
(Eccl 3:1 NIV) There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven:
(Eccl 3:7 NIV) a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak…”
2. You don’t have to be super-intelligent to benefit from shutting your mouth.
(Prov 17:28 NIV) Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent, and discerning if he holds his tongue.”
3. It’s never too late to stop talking.
(Job 40:4 NIV) "I [Job] am unworthy--how can I reply to you? I put my hand over my mouth.
(Job 40:5 NIV) I spoke once, but I have no answer-- twice, but I will say no more."
4. Like a professional boxer, you need to wear a mouth-guard.
(Psa 141:3 NIV) Set a guard over my [King David’s] mouth, O LORD; keep watch over the door of my lips.”
5. You need a heart transplant to speak well.
(Mat 12:34 NIV) You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.”
6. God richly rewards good speech.
(James 3:2 NIV) We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check.”
7. Listen twice as much as you speak (you have two ears and one mouth for a purpose!)
(James 1:19 NIV) My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry…”
8. The ability to keep silent is a fruit of the Spirit.
(Gal 5:22 NIV) But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
(Gal 5:23 NIV) gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” – emphasis mine
One of Jesus’ most impressive works,
At least to me,
Was the unnatural and uncanny ability to NOT speak!
When He was violated and blasphemed…
When He was despised and rejected of men…
When He was lied about and profoundly misunderstood…
When He was mocked and crucified…
Jesus, the Christ, remained silent.
When He did speak during traumatic experiences,
Out of the abundance of His heart His mouth spoke:
(Luke 23:34 NIV) Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing."
Let’s determine, with the help of the Holy Spirit, to do the works of the Jesus,
Even the greater works…
Speaking the truth in love
Or keep our mouths shut.
My mother was right after all –
“David, if you can’t say something nice don’t say anything at all.”
DSR
8/27/01
Friday, August 24, 2001
Biblical Extravagance
by David Scott Robertson
(Mat 26:6 NIV) While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of a man known as Simon the Leper,
(Mat 26:7 NIV) a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which she poured on his head as he was reclining at the table.
(Mat 26:8 NIV) When the disciples saw this, they were indignant. "Why this waste?" they asked.
(Mat 26:9 NIV) "This perfume could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor."
“Why this waste?”
That’s the carnal, worldly, shortsighted, uneducated, and thoroughly unspiritual response
Of many people who are confronted with biblical extravagance.
What God values
And what man values
Are often world’s apart.
I can imagine this indignant attitude cropping up repeatedly throughout scripture:
(1 Chr 22:14 NIV) "I have taken great pains to provide for the temple of the LORD a hundred thousand talents of gold, a million talents of silver, quantities of bronze and iron too great to be weighed, and wood and stone. And you may add to them.”
“Why this waste? "This treasure could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor!"
Biblical extravagance.
(1 Ki 3:4 NIV) The king went to Gibeon to offer sacrifices, for that was the most important high place, and Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings on that altar.”
“Why this waste? "These thousand animals could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor!"
Biblical extravagance.
(1 Ki 19:21 NIV) So Elisha left him and went back. He took his yoke of oxen and slaughtered them. He burned the plowing equipment to cook the meat and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he set out to follow Elijah and became his attendant.”
“Why this waste? "These two strong oxen could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor."
Biblical extravagance.
(Ezra 8:25 NIV) and I weighed out to them the offering of silver and gold and the articles that the king, his advisers, his officials and all Israel present there had donated for the house of our God.
(Ezra 8:26 NIV) I weighed out to them 650 talents of silver, silver articles weighing 100 talents, 100 talents of gold,
(Ezra 8:27 NIV) 20 bowls of gold valued at 1,000 darics, and two fine articles of polished bronze, as precious as gold.
(Ezra 8:28 NIV) I said to them, "You as well as these articles are consecrated to the LORD. The silver and gold are a freewill offering to the LORD, the God of your fathers.
“Why this waste? "These incredibly valuable articles could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor."
Biblical extravagance.
(1 Ki 17:10 NIV) So he went to Zarephath. When he came to the town gate, a widow was there gathering sticks. He called to her and asked, "Would you bring me a little water in a jar so I may have a drink?"
(1 Ki 17:11 NIV) As she was going to get it, he called, "And bring me, please, a piece of bread."
(1 Ki 17:12 NIV) "As surely as the LORD your God lives," she replied, "I don't have any bread--only a handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a jug. I am gathering a few sticks to take home and make a meal for myself and my son, that we may eat it--and die."
(1 Ki 17:13 NIV) Elijah said to her, "Don't be afraid. Go home and do as you have said. But first make a small cake of bread for me from what you have and bring it to me, and then make something for yourself and your son.
“Why this waste? Isn’t that just like a preacher? Down to your last meal and the preacher wants you to give part of it to him!”
Biblical extravagance.
(Mark 12:42 NIV) But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny.
(Mark 12:43 NIV) Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others.
(Mark 12:44 NIV) They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything--all she had to live on."
“Why this waste? Down to her last two coins and she gives it away!”
Biblical extravagance.
(Gen 22:9 NIV) When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood.
(Gen 22:10 NIV) Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son.
“Why this wasted life? Why proceed to offer your own son? Your only son?”
Biblical extravagance.
There have always been,
And I suppose always will be
Those who have no stomach, patience, or heart for biblical extravagance.
The god of this world has blinded the eyes of their understanding
So that their value system gets skewed and out of alignment with God’s Word.
What is trivial, meaningless, senseless and even “wasteful” to them
Is in fact of great value and worth to the Lord.
God’s response is spelled out plainly in scripture:
(Mat 16:26 NIV) What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?”
(Luke 12:15 NIV) Then he said to them, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions."
(1 Tim 6:10 NIV) For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.”
(1 Tim 6:6 NIV) But godliness with contentment is great gain.”
(Prov 22:1 NIV) A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold.”
(1 Sam 15:22 NIV) But Samuel replied: "Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.”
Our Heavenly Father knows all about biblical extravagance.
He invented it and constantly practices it:
From the inexpressible extravagances of creation spelled out in the book of Genesis (1:1-31).
To the indescribable extravagances of the New Jerusalem spelled out in the book of Revelation (21:18-21).
But the ultimate example of biblical extravagance would doubtless be this:
(John 3:16 NIV) "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
“What a waste! The life of the very Son of God in exchange for my life!
It’s too high a price for me!”
This may be true but the value that God placed on the redemption and reconciliation of a race
Exceeded His infinite love for His own Son, Jesus Christ.
Biblical extravagance is difficult for servants, slaves, and hirelings
But it is easy for lovers of the Bridegroom.
DSR
8/24/01
(Mat 26:6 NIV) While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of a man known as Simon the Leper,
(Mat 26:7 NIV) a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which she poured on his head as he was reclining at the table.
(Mat 26:8 NIV) When the disciples saw this, they were indignant. "Why this waste?" they asked.
(Mat 26:9 NIV) "This perfume could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor."
“Why this waste?”
That’s the carnal, worldly, shortsighted, uneducated, and thoroughly unspiritual response
Of many people who are confronted with biblical extravagance.
What God values
And what man values
Are often world’s apart.
I can imagine this indignant attitude cropping up repeatedly throughout scripture:
(1 Chr 22:14 NIV) "I have taken great pains to provide for the temple of the LORD a hundred thousand talents of gold, a million talents of silver, quantities of bronze and iron too great to be weighed, and wood and stone. And you may add to them.”
“Why this waste? "This treasure could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor!"
Biblical extravagance.
(1 Ki 3:4 NIV) The king went to Gibeon to offer sacrifices, for that was the most important high place, and Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings on that altar.”
“Why this waste? "These thousand animals could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor!"
Biblical extravagance.
(1 Ki 19:21 NIV) So Elisha left him and went back. He took his yoke of oxen and slaughtered them. He burned the plowing equipment to cook the meat and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he set out to follow Elijah and became his attendant.”
“Why this waste? "These two strong oxen could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor."
Biblical extravagance.
(Ezra 8:25 NIV) and I weighed out to them the offering of silver and gold and the articles that the king, his advisers, his officials and all Israel present there had donated for the house of our God.
(Ezra 8:26 NIV) I weighed out to them 650 talents of silver, silver articles weighing 100 talents, 100 talents of gold,
(Ezra 8:27 NIV) 20 bowls of gold valued at 1,000 darics, and two fine articles of polished bronze, as precious as gold.
(Ezra 8:28 NIV) I said to them, "You as well as these articles are consecrated to the LORD. The silver and gold are a freewill offering to the LORD, the God of your fathers.
“Why this waste? "These incredibly valuable articles could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor."
Biblical extravagance.
(1 Ki 17:10 NIV) So he went to Zarephath. When he came to the town gate, a widow was there gathering sticks. He called to her and asked, "Would you bring me a little water in a jar so I may have a drink?"
(1 Ki 17:11 NIV) As she was going to get it, he called, "And bring me, please, a piece of bread."
(1 Ki 17:12 NIV) "As surely as the LORD your God lives," she replied, "I don't have any bread--only a handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a jug. I am gathering a few sticks to take home and make a meal for myself and my son, that we may eat it--and die."
(1 Ki 17:13 NIV) Elijah said to her, "Don't be afraid. Go home and do as you have said. But first make a small cake of bread for me from what you have and bring it to me, and then make something for yourself and your son.
“Why this waste? Isn’t that just like a preacher? Down to your last meal and the preacher wants you to give part of it to him!”
Biblical extravagance.
(Mark 12:42 NIV) But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny.
(Mark 12:43 NIV) Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others.
(Mark 12:44 NIV) They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything--all she had to live on."
“Why this waste? Down to her last two coins and she gives it away!”
Biblical extravagance.
(Gen 22:9 NIV) When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood.
(Gen 22:10 NIV) Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son.
“Why this wasted life? Why proceed to offer your own son? Your only son?”
Biblical extravagance.
There have always been,
And I suppose always will be
Those who have no stomach, patience, or heart for biblical extravagance.
The god of this world has blinded the eyes of their understanding
So that their value system gets skewed and out of alignment with God’s Word.
What is trivial, meaningless, senseless and even “wasteful” to them
Is in fact of great value and worth to the Lord.
God’s response is spelled out plainly in scripture:
(Mat 16:26 NIV) What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?”
(Luke 12:15 NIV) Then he said to them, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions."
(1 Tim 6:10 NIV) For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.”
(1 Tim 6:6 NIV) But godliness with contentment is great gain.”
(Prov 22:1 NIV) A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold.”
(1 Sam 15:22 NIV) But Samuel replied: "Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.”
Our Heavenly Father knows all about biblical extravagance.
He invented it and constantly practices it:
From the inexpressible extravagances of creation spelled out in the book of Genesis (1:1-31).
To the indescribable extravagances of the New Jerusalem spelled out in the book of Revelation (21:18-21).
But the ultimate example of biblical extravagance would doubtless be this:
(John 3:16 NIV) "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
“What a waste! The life of the very Son of God in exchange for my life!
It’s too high a price for me!”
This may be true but the value that God placed on the redemption and reconciliation of a race
Exceeded His infinite love for His own Son, Jesus Christ.
Biblical extravagance is difficult for servants, slaves, and hirelings
But it is easy for lovers of the Bridegroom.
DSR
8/24/01
Tuesday, August 21, 2001
Love at First Sight
by David Scott Robertson
(Mat 20:30 NIV) Two blind men were sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was going by, they shouted, "Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!"
(Mat 20:31 NIV) The crowd rebuked them and told them to be quiet, but they shouted all the louder, "Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!"
(Mat 20:32 NIV) Jesus stopped and called them. "What do you want me to do for you?" he asked.
(Mat 20:33 NIV) "Lord," they answered, "we want our sight."
(Mat 20:34 NIV) Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed him.
Can you imagine what it must have been like to be blind all your life –
Not knowing, really, what anything at all looks like?
And the first sight,
The very first sight you see by a miraculous hand of God,
Is the face of Jesus Christ!
Can you stretch your imagination to consider this thought?
Can you at least attempt to fathom the unparalleled wonder,
The inexpressible amazement,
The sheer joy of it all?
Think of it!
To have your eyes, brain, and senses
Begin to function in a way that is unprecedented in your life experience
And, and, and
Being initiated into that experience
By seeing the beautiful face of Jesus of Nazareth,
The very Son of God!
The face the prophets longed to see but never did.
The face that modern-day followers of The Way longed to see but rarely have.
The face that agnostics and atheists would have their false paradigms dashed in one steady gaze.
What a rare and unusual privilege
These two obscure and extremely blessed ex-blind men had!
Can you meditate on the implications?
How many people on planet Earth in all it history and culture
Can testify of this experience?
Out of the personal tragedy these two blind men had endured in their lifetimes…
The heart-breaking disappointment their parents must have experienced
Realizing at some point that their precious new sons were born blind…
The hardships this must have created in trying to raise these handicapped children…
The inability to function properly in society,
The absence of a normal childhood,
The teasing of unkind teenagers,
The inability to work and make a living but consigned to beg to sustain themselves,
The impossible thought of marrying and having a family…
Who among us that has the gift of sight to read these words can even begin to understand?
(John 9:2 NIV) His disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?"
(John 9:3 NIV) "Neither this man nor his parents sinned," said Jesus, "but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life.
God had a plan from the foundation of the world for these two blind boys.
God knew them,
He loved them from the beginning,
He orchestrated time, space, events, culture, schedules, traffic flows, and other minute details
To get these two blind men to the place where
Destiny would intersect the timing and power of God.
Their blindness had been,
In a sense,
Their “school of hard-knocks.”
It had in fact uniquely prepared them,
Groomed them,
Trained them to be released to an unqualified ministry.
(Mat 20:34 NIV) “Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed him.” [emphasis mine]
And they followed Him.
Hundreds, thousands saw the face of Jesus of Nazareth
When the Son of God literally and physically walked the dusty roads of the ancient Middle East.
The multitudes saw His face but never knew Him
In the way these two healed blind men had come to know Him.
Who knows what this one encounter with Jesus
Did for these two men beyond restoring their sight?
Perhaps they on to live fruitful, productive lives in society.
Perhaps they had the delight and pleasure of learning a trade,
Using a newly acquired skill to “earn” a living and make a contribution to their family’s income.
Wouldn’t you like to have been at the dinner table with their parents
Describing story after story of how things used to be compared to how things are?
Maybe these men even went on to meet woman,
Fall in love,
Get married and raise a family.
What bedtime stories these men could tell their own sons and daughters
About the time the Messiah came to town and changed everything.
For all we do not know about the lives of these two former blind men
This one thing we do know…
…they followed him (Matthew 20:34).
Here’s where I’m going with this thought today:
To be born blind is not the worst thing that could ever happen to a person.
To see Jesus Christ
And not become His follower,
I should think,
Is a far greater tragedy than blindness.
DSR
8/21/01
(Mat 20:30 NIV) Two blind men were sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was going by, they shouted, "Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!"
(Mat 20:31 NIV) The crowd rebuked them and told them to be quiet, but they shouted all the louder, "Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!"
(Mat 20:32 NIV) Jesus stopped and called them. "What do you want me to do for you?" he asked.
(Mat 20:33 NIV) "Lord," they answered, "we want our sight."
(Mat 20:34 NIV) Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed him.
Can you imagine what it must have been like to be blind all your life –
Not knowing, really, what anything at all looks like?
And the first sight,
The very first sight you see by a miraculous hand of God,
Is the face of Jesus Christ!
Can you stretch your imagination to consider this thought?
Can you at least attempt to fathom the unparalleled wonder,
The inexpressible amazement,
The sheer joy of it all?
Think of it!
To have your eyes, brain, and senses
Begin to function in a way that is unprecedented in your life experience
And, and, and
Being initiated into that experience
By seeing the beautiful face of Jesus of Nazareth,
The very Son of God!
The face the prophets longed to see but never did.
The face that modern-day followers of The Way longed to see but rarely have.
The face that agnostics and atheists would have their false paradigms dashed in one steady gaze.
What a rare and unusual privilege
These two obscure and extremely blessed ex-blind men had!
Can you meditate on the implications?
How many people on planet Earth in all it history and culture
Can testify of this experience?
Out of the personal tragedy these two blind men had endured in their lifetimes…
The heart-breaking disappointment their parents must have experienced
Realizing at some point that their precious new sons were born blind…
The hardships this must have created in trying to raise these handicapped children…
The inability to function properly in society,
The absence of a normal childhood,
The teasing of unkind teenagers,
The inability to work and make a living but consigned to beg to sustain themselves,
The impossible thought of marrying and having a family…
Who among us that has the gift of sight to read these words can even begin to understand?
(John 9:2 NIV) His disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?"
(John 9:3 NIV) "Neither this man nor his parents sinned," said Jesus, "but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life.
God had a plan from the foundation of the world for these two blind boys.
God knew them,
He loved them from the beginning,
He orchestrated time, space, events, culture, schedules, traffic flows, and other minute details
To get these two blind men to the place where
Destiny would intersect the timing and power of God.
Their blindness had been,
In a sense,
Their “school of hard-knocks.”
It had in fact uniquely prepared them,
Groomed them,
Trained them to be released to an unqualified ministry.
(Mat 20:34 NIV) “Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed him.” [emphasis mine]
And they followed Him.
Hundreds, thousands saw the face of Jesus of Nazareth
When the Son of God literally and physically walked the dusty roads of the ancient Middle East.
The multitudes saw His face but never knew Him
In the way these two healed blind men had come to know Him.
Who knows what this one encounter with Jesus
Did for these two men beyond restoring their sight?
Perhaps they on to live fruitful, productive lives in society.
Perhaps they had the delight and pleasure of learning a trade,
Using a newly acquired skill to “earn” a living and make a contribution to their family’s income.
Wouldn’t you like to have been at the dinner table with their parents
Describing story after story of how things used to be compared to how things are?
Maybe these men even went on to meet woman,
Fall in love,
Get married and raise a family.
What bedtime stories these men could tell their own sons and daughters
About the time the Messiah came to town and changed everything.
For all we do not know about the lives of these two former blind men
This one thing we do know…
…they followed him (Matthew 20:34).
Here’s where I’m going with this thought today:
To be born blind is not the worst thing that could ever happen to a person.
To see Jesus Christ
And not become His follower,
I should think,
Is a far greater tragedy than blindness.
DSR
8/21/01
You Are Mistaken Because...
By David Scott Robertson
(Mat 22:23 NIV) That same day the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to him with a question.
(Mat 22:24 NIV) "Teacher," they said, "Moses told us that if a man dies without having children, his brother must marry the widow and have children for him.
(Mat 22:25 NIV) Now there were seven brothers among us. The first one married and died, and since he had no children, he left his wife to his brother.
(Mat 22:26 NIV) The same thing happened to the second and third brother, right on down to the seventh.
(Mat 22:27 NIV) Finally, the woman died.
(Mat 22:28 NIV) Now then, at the resurrection, whose wife will she be of the seven, since all of them were married to her?"
(Mat 22:29 NIV) Jesus replied, "You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God.”
The Sadducees claimed there was no resurrection.
(One preacher explained that’s why they were “sad-you-see!”)
Where in the world did the Sadducees get the idea that there was no resurrection?
The answer is in the question.
They got that doctrine “in the world” not from God.
Jesus set the record the record straight once for all
As to why the Sadducees (a very sincere and religious people group)
Missed entirely the important doctrinal truth of the resurrection.
Jesus revealed to them two things they did not know:
1. The scriptures
2. The power of God
The same could be said of
Mormons,
Jehovah’s Witnesses,
Muslims,
Hindus,
Buddhists,
New-agers,
And any other cult or pseudo-Christian cult.
(Mat 22:29 NIV) Jesus replied, "You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God.”
(Hosea 4:6 NIV) “My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge…”
(Col 2:2 NIV) My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ,
(Col 2:3 NIV) in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”
It takes God to know God.
It takes the Holy Spirit to life words of the printed page
And transfer them to a sincere and hungry heart.
(1 Cor 2:14 NIV) The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.”
Lord Jesus, help us to do two things better this year:
1. To know the scriptures
2. To experience the power of God
DSR
8/21/01
(Mat 22:23 NIV) That same day the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to him with a question.
(Mat 22:24 NIV) "Teacher," they said, "Moses told us that if a man dies without having children, his brother must marry the widow and have children for him.
(Mat 22:25 NIV) Now there were seven brothers among us. The first one married and died, and since he had no children, he left his wife to his brother.
(Mat 22:26 NIV) The same thing happened to the second and third brother, right on down to the seventh.
(Mat 22:27 NIV) Finally, the woman died.
(Mat 22:28 NIV) Now then, at the resurrection, whose wife will she be of the seven, since all of them were married to her?"
(Mat 22:29 NIV) Jesus replied, "You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God.”
The Sadducees claimed there was no resurrection.
(One preacher explained that’s why they were “sad-you-see!”)
Where in the world did the Sadducees get the idea that there was no resurrection?
The answer is in the question.
They got that doctrine “in the world” not from God.
Jesus set the record the record straight once for all
As to why the Sadducees (a very sincere and religious people group)
Missed entirely the important doctrinal truth of the resurrection.
Jesus revealed to them two things they did not know:
1. The scriptures
2. The power of God
The same could be said of
Mormons,
Jehovah’s Witnesses,
Muslims,
Hindus,
Buddhists,
New-agers,
And any other cult or pseudo-Christian cult.
(Mat 22:29 NIV) Jesus replied, "You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God.”
(Hosea 4:6 NIV) “My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge…”
(Col 2:2 NIV) My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ,
(Col 2:3 NIV) in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”
It takes God to know God.
It takes the Holy Spirit to life words of the printed page
And transfer them to a sincere and hungry heart.
(1 Cor 2:14 NIV) The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.”
Lord Jesus, help us to do two things better this year:
1. To know the scriptures
2. To experience the power of God
DSR
8/21/01
Lord, You Enlarge My Border
by David Scott Robertson
"Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, "Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain." And God granted his request." (1 Chronicles 4:10 NIV)
The "Prayer of Jabez" has been brought from obscurity to popularity in recent times.
It has been popularized by a well-written book of the same title
That has made the New York Times best-seller list.
This prayer chronicles how a man,
Whose name means "Pain,"
Cried out to God from a desperate and honorable heart that Jehovah,
Among other things,
Would "enlarge his territory" or borders, or coast (KJV).
The text plainly tells us the Almighty's response:
God granted him his request.
Millions have gathered strength and hope from Jabez' simple but potent prayer.
His brief prayer seemed to have captured the heart of God to grant the petition.
"Enlarge my territory [border]" has been a phrase that has experienced revival.
But notice another group of people mentioned in scripture
Who, like Jabez, were also interested in enlarging their borders.
(Mat 23:5 KJV) But all their [scribes and Pharisees] works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments…
(Mat 23:13 KJV) But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in." (emphasis mine).
Quite a different response from God concerning enlarging borders!
In the Old Testament, God granted Jabez an enlargement of his territory.
In the New Testament the Pharisees took matters into their own hands.
They enlarged their own borders of their garments (to be seen of men)
And received public rebuke from the Messiah as a result.
Jabez probably would have made a crummy Pharisee.
Jabez' motives were right in the sight of God.
The Pharisees were filled with ambitious conquest.
Anytime you see a "my kingdom come" instead of a "thy kingdom come" mentality – watch out!
When you observe this kind of attitude:
"Well, if God won't do anything about it, I will!"
You'd better steer clear – danger is present and judgement is forthcoming.
(Prov 16:18 NIV) Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall."
The moral of this story is:
Let God "enlarge your territory."
If you don't,
He may allow you to take on land that has giants in it
And leave you there to fight them all by your prideful self.
DSR
8/21/01
"Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, "Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain." And God granted his request." (1 Chronicles 4:10 NIV)
The "Prayer of Jabez" has been brought from obscurity to popularity in recent times.
It has been popularized by a well-written book of the same title
That has made the New York Times best-seller list.
This prayer chronicles how a man,
Whose name means "Pain,"
Cried out to God from a desperate and honorable heart that Jehovah,
Among other things,
Would "enlarge his territory" or borders, or coast (KJV).
The text plainly tells us the Almighty's response:
God granted him his request.
Millions have gathered strength and hope from Jabez' simple but potent prayer.
His brief prayer seemed to have captured the heart of God to grant the petition.
"Enlarge my territory [border]" has been a phrase that has experienced revival.
But notice another group of people mentioned in scripture
Who, like Jabez, were also interested in enlarging their borders.
(Mat 23:5 KJV) But all their [scribes and Pharisees] works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments…
(Mat 23:13 KJV) But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in." (emphasis mine).
Quite a different response from God concerning enlarging borders!
In the Old Testament, God granted Jabez an enlargement of his territory.
In the New Testament the Pharisees took matters into their own hands.
They enlarged their own borders of their garments (to be seen of men)
And received public rebuke from the Messiah as a result.
Jabez probably would have made a crummy Pharisee.
Jabez' motives were right in the sight of God.
The Pharisees were filled with ambitious conquest.
Anytime you see a "my kingdom come" instead of a "thy kingdom come" mentality – watch out!
When you observe this kind of attitude:
"Well, if God won't do anything about it, I will!"
You'd better steer clear – danger is present and judgement is forthcoming.
(Prov 16:18 NIV) Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall."
The moral of this story is:
Let God "enlarge your territory."
If you don't,
He may allow you to take on land that has giants in it
And leave you there to fight them all by your prideful self.
DSR
8/21/01
Monday, August 20, 2001
Are You Dead Yet?
by David Scott Robertson
“An offended brother is more unyielding than a fortified city, and disputes are like the barred gates of a citadel.” (Prov 18:19 NIV)
“Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.” (Psa 119:165 KJV)
“For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.” (Col 3:3 NIV)
“You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.” (Isa 26:3 NIV)
If you are a Christian,
You have no RIGHT to be offended.
If you are offended at someone as you read this…
Then you have satisfactorily met one of the three conditions
Listed in the above mentioned scriptures:
1. You do not love the law of the Lord (Psalm 119:165).
2. You are not keeping your mind on God (Isaiah 26:3).
3. Your fleshly, carnal nature is not dead yet (Colossians 3:3).
YOU are the guilty party if you are offended!
YOU are the one who is guilty of violating the scriptures!
And this to your own hurt!
Make it right now!
(Eph 4:26 NIV) "In your anger do not sin" : Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry,
(Eph 4:27 NIV) and do not give the devil a foothold.”
(James 1:20 NIV) for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.”
(Mat 5:23 NIV) "Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you,
(Mat 5:24 NIV) leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.”
God’s Word is explicit.
His counsel is always right and He is never wrong.
(Rom 3:4 NIV) “…Let God be true, and every man a liar. As it is written: "So that you may be proved right when you speak and prevail when you judge."
God has provided in His Word more than three methods to steer clear of offense.
However, if we just practice the three mentioned here
All will go well with us.
Instead of offense, we can reap:
Great and perfect peace (Psalm 119:165; Isaiah 26:3)
And hidden-ness in Christ (Colossians 3:3).
Which would you prefer?
(Mat 18:7 NIV) "Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to sin! Such things must come, but woe to the man through whom they come!”
DSR
8/20/01
“An offended brother is more unyielding than a fortified city, and disputes are like the barred gates of a citadel.” (Prov 18:19 NIV)
“Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.” (Psa 119:165 KJV)
“For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.” (Col 3:3 NIV)
“You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.” (Isa 26:3 NIV)
If you are a Christian,
You have no RIGHT to be offended.
If you are offended at someone as you read this…
Then you have satisfactorily met one of the three conditions
Listed in the above mentioned scriptures:
1. You do not love the law of the Lord (Psalm 119:165).
2. You are not keeping your mind on God (Isaiah 26:3).
3. Your fleshly, carnal nature is not dead yet (Colossians 3:3).
YOU are the guilty party if you are offended!
YOU are the one who is guilty of violating the scriptures!
And this to your own hurt!
Make it right now!
(Eph 4:26 NIV) "In your anger do not sin" : Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry,
(Eph 4:27 NIV) and do not give the devil a foothold.”
(James 1:20 NIV) for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.”
(Mat 5:23 NIV) "Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you,
(Mat 5:24 NIV) leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.”
God’s Word is explicit.
His counsel is always right and He is never wrong.
(Rom 3:4 NIV) “…Let God be true, and every man a liar. As it is written: "So that you may be proved right when you speak and prevail when you judge."
God has provided in His Word more than three methods to steer clear of offense.
However, if we just practice the three mentioned here
All will go well with us.
Instead of offense, we can reap:
Great and perfect peace (Psalm 119:165; Isaiah 26:3)
And hidden-ness in Christ (Colossians 3:3).
Which would you prefer?
(Mat 18:7 NIV) "Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to sin! Such things must come, but woe to the man through whom they come!”
DSR
8/20/01
Inhale and Breathe
by David Scott Robertson
(Ezek 47:3 NIV) As the man went eastward with a measuring line in his hand, he measured off a thousand cubits and then led me through water that was ankle-deep.
(Ezek 47:4 NIV) He measured off another thousand cubits and led me through water that was knee-deep. He measured off another thousand and led me through water that was up to the waist.
(Ezek 47:5 NIV) He measured off another thousand, but now it was a river that I could not cross, because the water had risen and was deep enough to swim in--a river that no one could cross.”
There are many references to water in the Word of God.
The crystal sea (Revelation 4:6).
The river of life (Revelation 22:1).
The former rain and the latter rain (Deuteronomy 11:14).
The springs of living water (Revelation 7:17).
Jesus even said that whoever drinks the water He gives will never thirst again (John 4:14).
Many of these references to water in its various forms
Are symbolic of deep spiritual truths.
I submit the following thought to you that was a revelation to me:
When a scuba diver plunges into the ocean,
He or she has strapped on their back a device called “air tanks.”
Obviously the tanks contain oxygen to enable the diver to breathe underwater.
The diver is immersed in a hostile environment that cannot sustain his or her life.
To remove the air tube from their mouth is to remove life from their bodies.
It’s called drowning.
Water displaces air in the lungs and the human body dies.
The message of this writing today is a message about control.
Holding on versus letting go.
Struggling and striving versus entering God’s rest.
Laboring versus ceasing from our labor.
Trusting in ourselves versus trusting in the Lord.
Living versus dying
And dying versus living.
May I suggest to you
That in a very real spiritual sense our Christian experience
Is very much like the scuba diver submerged in the ocean.
Figuratively, we are all swimming, snorkeling, or scuba diving in the river of God.
As we are swimming in the river of God,
Often we are exerting effort and energy to fight against the current.
We want to go a different way than the current is leading us.
If we are snorkeling in the river of God,
We have brought along some man-made equipment
To try and help us see underwater better.
Snorkeling emphasizes the visual aspect of the experiences.
Looking, gazing, gawking at the “signs and wonders” of it all.
If we are scuba diving in the river of God,
We are actually immersed in the river.
We have, in a sense, become a part of the river but not one with it.
To us, it still is an alien environment
Because we carry with us a life support system of human design strapped to our backs.
We want to experience God but not totally experience God.
We are still drawing our life’s breath from the world – our natural habitat.
Now here’s the thought I want to share with you today –
Swimming, snorkeling, and scuba diving in a natural river is one thing.
We understand that we must either hold our breath or use artificial means to sustain our air supply
While submerged in the water of a natural river.
However, in the river of God
It’s exactly the opposite.
In God’s ecosystem, we must remove any man-made effort,
Any mechanical approach to God,
Any life-sustaining device from our mouths and while underwater in the river of God
We must do something that our entire natural body resists with everything within it…
We must inhale.
We must breathe IN the water.
We must do the exact opposite of what our flesh screams out to do, to “hold” our breath!
But it’s in the process of inhaling,
Of drowning,
Of dying
That we enter into true life.
In the supernatural order of God,
To breathe in the river means life…spiritual life, abundant life.
The act of “letting go” and yielding actually leads to a greater experience.
An experience that is alien to our natural world.
Paul said in Galatians 2:20:
“ I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
Paul inhaled the river water.
In the Book of Revelation,
John entered into the flow of God’s river:
(Rev 1:17 NIV) When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: "Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last.
(Rev 1:18 NIV) I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.”
John inhaled the river water.
Ezekiel watched an entire army of dead, dry bones come together by the breath of God:
(Ezek 37:9 NIV) Then he said to me, "Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to it, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe into these slain, that they may live.'"
(Ezek 37:10 NIV) So I prophesied as he commanded me, and breath entered them; they came to life and stood up on their feet--a vast army.”
The army inhaled the river water.
(Phil 1:21 NIV) For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.”
Inhaling river water has its advantages!
What about you?
Are you dead yet?
Are you ready to dive into the river of God and drown?
DSR
8/20/01
(Ezek 47:3 NIV) As the man went eastward with a measuring line in his hand, he measured off a thousand cubits and then led me through water that was ankle-deep.
(Ezek 47:4 NIV) He measured off another thousand cubits and led me through water that was knee-deep. He measured off another thousand and led me through water that was up to the waist.
(Ezek 47:5 NIV) He measured off another thousand, but now it was a river that I could not cross, because the water had risen and was deep enough to swim in--a river that no one could cross.”
There are many references to water in the Word of God.
The crystal sea (Revelation 4:6).
The river of life (Revelation 22:1).
The former rain and the latter rain (Deuteronomy 11:14).
The springs of living water (Revelation 7:17).
Jesus even said that whoever drinks the water He gives will never thirst again (John 4:14).
Many of these references to water in its various forms
Are symbolic of deep spiritual truths.
I submit the following thought to you that was a revelation to me:
When a scuba diver plunges into the ocean,
He or she has strapped on their back a device called “air tanks.”
Obviously the tanks contain oxygen to enable the diver to breathe underwater.
The diver is immersed in a hostile environment that cannot sustain his or her life.
To remove the air tube from their mouth is to remove life from their bodies.
It’s called drowning.
Water displaces air in the lungs and the human body dies.
The message of this writing today is a message about control.
Holding on versus letting go.
Struggling and striving versus entering God’s rest.
Laboring versus ceasing from our labor.
Trusting in ourselves versus trusting in the Lord.
Living versus dying
And dying versus living.
May I suggest to you
That in a very real spiritual sense our Christian experience
Is very much like the scuba diver submerged in the ocean.
Figuratively, we are all swimming, snorkeling, or scuba diving in the river of God.
As we are swimming in the river of God,
Often we are exerting effort and energy to fight against the current.
We want to go a different way than the current is leading us.
If we are snorkeling in the river of God,
We have brought along some man-made equipment
To try and help us see underwater better.
Snorkeling emphasizes the visual aspect of the experiences.
Looking, gazing, gawking at the “signs and wonders” of it all.
If we are scuba diving in the river of God,
We are actually immersed in the river.
We have, in a sense, become a part of the river but not one with it.
To us, it still is an alien environment
Because we carry with us a life support system of human design strapped to our backs.
We want to experience God but not totally experience God.
We are still drawing our life’s breath from the world – our natural habitat.
Now here’s the thought I want to share with you today –
Swimming, snorkeling, and scuba diving in a natural river is one thing.
We understand that we must either hold our breath or use artificial means to sustain our air supply
While submerged in the water of a natural river.
However, in the river of God
It’s exactly the opposite.
In God’s ecosystem, we must remove any man-made effort,
Any mechanical approach to God,
Any life-sustaining device from our mouths and while underwater in the river of God
We must do something that our entire natural body resists with everything within it…
We must inhale.
We must breathe IN the water.
We must do the exact opposite of what our flesh screams out to do, to “hold” our breath!
But it’s in the process of inhaling,
Of drowning,
Of dying
That we enter into true life.
In the supernatural order of God,
To breathe in the river means life…spiritual life, abundant life.
The act of “letting go” and yielding actually leads to a greater experience.
An experience that is alien to our natural world.
Paul said in Galatians 2:20:
“ I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
Paul inhaled the river water.
In the Book of Revelation,
John entered into the flow of God’s river:
(Rev 1:17 NIV) When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: "Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last.
(Rev 1:18 NIV) I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.”
John inhaled the river water.
Ezekiel watched an entire army of dead, dry bones come together by the breath of God:
(Ezek 37:9 NIV) Then he said to me, "Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to it, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe into these slain, that they may live.'"
(Ezek 37:10 NIV) So I prophesied as he commanded me, and breath entered them; they came to life and stood up on their feet--a vast army.”
The army inhaled the river water.
(Phil 1:21 NIV) For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.”
Inhaling river water has its advantages!
What about you?
Are you dead yet?
Are you ready to dive into the river of God and drown?
DSR
8/20/01
Saturday, August 18, 2001
With Vision Comes God's Provision
by David Scott Robertson
As I write these words,
I am facing an enormous challenge in my ministry.
I have been tasked to do something
So big,
So outside my natural abilities,
So beyond my training and education and experience
That I simply cannot do it.
I don’t question the leadership under whose authority I gladly submit to
However the immensity of the ministry assignment that they have given me
Has, well, left me staggering.
What will I do?
What can I do?
What should I do?
Oh God, what in the world am I going to do?
I am going to do the only thing I know to do in such an impossible situation –
Cry out to God!
Fast and pray!
Use the P.U.S.H. method of prayer - P-ray U-ntil S-omething H-appens!
Call on the Name (Oh that Name!) of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!
Believe God for supernatural intervention to do a miracle.
You know the kind of miracles I’m talking about:
I roll the stone, God raises the dead.
I bring Him water, He turns it in to wine.
I bring what little have, just some loaves of bread and a few fish, He feeds the multitude.
Now we’re talking!
With God little is much even if it is me we’re dealing with!
Hey, I’ve got enough faith inside me to believe that God is able!
Let me do a quick inventory of all the faith in my life to face this “giant in my land”…
Oh here it is,
Final tally?
I have faith about the size of a mustard seed!
God says that’s enough!
(Mat 17:20 NIV) “He replied, "Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."
Yes!
That mustard seed is going to germinate and generate some God-sized power
To address my present crisis!
(Mat 13:31 NIV) “He [Jesus] told them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field.
(Mat 13:32 NIV) Though it is the smallest of all your seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and perch in its branches."
My tiny mustard seed of faith is growing into a large garden of plants and is becoming a tree!
Lo, behold what God is going to provide me to face my enormous task:
An entrepreneur spirit
Prophetic strategies
Divine creativity
Godly visitations
Rhythm and synchronicity with God’s will
Perfect timing
Radical love for the Bridegroom
A fresh anointing for a new wineskin
A militant, combat faith
The ministry and favor of Joseph and Daniel
A new day of hope
A year of Jubilee
With the call comes the anointing to fulfill it.
With vision comes God’s pro-vision.
The equipping tools listing above
Are tools that I have an authentic need for in my situation.
How about you?
Are you facing a similar giant in your land?
Is there something you’ve been asked to do that stretches you to the max?
Are you concerned that you are going to fail?
Are you convinced that you are not the right person for the job?
Does your pedigree fall miserably short?
Hey, I feel your pain.
But feel the pleasure
Of letting go and letting God have His wonderful way in and through you!
I assure you,
He will not buckle under the pressure.
Why not swap yokes with Christ?
(Mat 11:29 NIV) “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
(Mat 11:30 NIV) For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
One final thing:
When you obtain victory,
And you will obtain victory,
Do not, I repeat, do not take any glory for yourself!
Do not disqualify yourself from being trusted by God
To be given future tough assignments because you have a problem
Differentiating between His glory and yours.
(John 15:5 NIV) "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”
DSR
8/18/01
As I write these words,
I am facing an enormous challenge in my ministry.
I have been tasked to do something
So big,
So outside my natural abilities,
So beyond my training and education and experience
That I simply cannot do it.
I don’t question the leadership under whose authority I gladly submit to
However the immensity of the ministry assignment that they have given me
Has, well, left me staggering.
What will I do?
What can I do?
What should I do?
Oh God, what in the world am I going to do?
I am going to do the only thing I know to do in such an impossible situation –
Cry out to God!
Fast and pray!
Use the P.U.S.H. method of prayer - P-ray U-ntil S-omething H-appens!
Call on the Name (Oh that Name!) of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!
Believe God for supernatural intervention to do a miracle.
You know the kind of miracles I’m talking about:
I roll the stone, God raises the dead.
I bring Him water, He turns it in to wine.
I bring what little have, just some loaves of bread and a few fish, He feeds the multitude.
Now we’re talking!
With God little is much even if it is me we’re dealing with!
Hey, I’ve got enough faith inside me to believe that God is able!
Let me do a quick inventory of all the faith in my life to face this “giant in my land”…
Oh here it is,
Final tally?
I have faith about the size of a mustard seed!
God says that’s enough!
(Mat 17:20 NIV) “He replied, "Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."
Yes!
That mustard seed is going to germinate and generate some God-sized power
To address my present crisis!
(Mat 13:31 NIV) “He [Jesus] told them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field.
(Mat 13:32 NIV) Though it is the smallest of all your seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and perch in its branches."
My tiny mustard seed of faith is growing into a large garden of plants and is becoming a tree!
Lo, behold what God is going to provide me to face my enormous task:
An entrepreneur spirit
Prophetic strategies
Divine creativity
Godly visitations
Rhythm and synchronicity with God’s will
Perfect timing
Radical love for the Bridegroom
A fresh anointing for a new wineskin
A militant, combat faith
The ministry and favor of Joseph and Daniel
A new day of hope
A year of Jubilee
With the call comes the anointing to fulfill it.
With vision comes God’s pro-vision.
The equipping tools listing above
Are tools that I have an authentic need for in my situation.
How about you?
Are you facing a similar giant in your land?
Is there something you’ve been asked to do that stretches you to the max?
Are you concerned that you are going to fail?
Are you convinced that you are not the right person for the job?
Does your pedigree fall miserably short?
Hey, I feel your pain.
But feel the pleasure
Of letting go and letting God have His wonderful way in and through you!
I assure you,
He will not buckle under the pressure.
Why not swap yokes with Christ?
(Mat 11:29 NIV) “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
(Mat 11:30 NIV) For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
One final thing:
When you obtain victory,
And you will obtain victory,
Do not, I repeat, do not take any glory for yourself!
Do not disqualify yourself from being trusted by God
To be given future tough assignments because you have a problem
Differentiating between His glory and yours.
(John 15:5 NIV) "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”
DSR
8/18/01
Thursday, August 16, 2001
Whatever
by David Scott Robertson
I want the fullness of Jesus Christ working in and through me…
…whatever it looks like.
…wherever it takes me.
…however much it costs.
…whomever it puts me in front on.
…whenever it requires me to move into action.
No matter how unqualified I may think I am
And how undignified it may make me appear
I want the fullness of God’s Spirit to rest on me!
I don’t want 99.9% of God.
I desire,
I crave,
I yearn for the 100%!
I won’t settle for less that the whole deal.
I don’t want to fall short of God’s glorious ideal for me.
I don’t want to stop at a place only a half-mile before entering His rest.
I need God!
I want the Lord!
I desire with an earnest desire the Holy Spirit!
Whatever that looks like,
Absolutely whatever it involves
I simply must obtain the fullness of God in my life.
DSR
8/16/01
I want the fullness of Jesus Christ working in and through me…
…whatever it looks like.
…wherever it takes me.
…however much it costs.
…whomever it puts me in front on.
…whenever it requires me to move into action.
No matter how unqualified I may think I am
And how undignified it may make me appear
I want the fullness of God’s Spirit to rest on me!
I don’t want 99.9% of God.
I desire,
I crave,
I yearn for the 100%!
I won’t settle for less that the whole deal.
I don’t want to fall short of God’s glorious ideal for me.
I don’t want to stop at a place only a half-mile before entering His rest.
I need God!
I want the Lord!
I desire with an earnest desire the Holy Spirit!
Whatever that looks like,
Absolutely whatever it involves
I simply must obtain the fullness of God in my life.
DSR
8/16/01
Thursday, July 19, 2001
Natural Distractions and Common Invaders
by David Scott Robertson
I started my prayer walk about 5am this morning.
A new day was being birthed on my side of the planet.
The sounds, smells, sensations, and sight of dawn
Were sweeping over me in all their glory.
No wonder Jesus made it a personal policy
To rise early in the morning and enjoy quality time with His Father.
(Mark 1:35 NIV) Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.
So, in His footsteps I began my day.
Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, David got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.
But today, something interrupted this nearly ideal situation.
Something invaded my comfort zone
So stealthily,
So effectively that it literally shut down my prayer time.
This thing caused me to pull away
From a mental, emotional, and spiritual quest for the Lord Jesus Christ.
You may be wondering
What could possibly dislodge a committed Christian person from his or her prayer path?
What in the world (or perhaps “not of” this world)
Could so suddenly and so thoroughly cut off
My hot pursuit of God on my prayer path?
First, I will tell you what it was not.
It was not evil.
It was not demonic.
It was not anything horrible or supernaturally powerful that you might imagine.
As a matter of fact,
It was something so natural and commonplace
That you will probably snicker and chuckle a little
When you read the answer in the next few lines…
You see, I received “a call” that interrupted my prayer time
And it wasn’t from my cell phone.
It was “a call of nature.”
I had to “go to the bathroom.”
I had to “use the facilities.”
I had to “visit the toilet.”
Whatever cute or polite way your family taught you to say it
The bottom line was that
My digestive system was screaming to me
In no uncertain terms
“I need attention now!”
Suddenly and with little warning
I found myself in a predicament being a long way from home on my prayer path.
You would be surprised how quickly I ceased
From singing praise and worship songs,
Praying in the Spirit,
Interceding for loved ones,
Glorifying and magnifying the Lord
And trying to seek Him and hear His precious voice.
Right then I stopped prayer walking
And turned and started running back towards my house…cutting through yards!
Oh I was praying all right
But not for anybody else.
I was praying I would make it home in time!
Well, even this little silly circumstance
At least for me packed a spiritual wallop.
(The Holy Spirit is such a creative and innovative Teacher!)
I understand,
Better,
That people can have a difficult time
Hearing, receiving, and being tender to the spiritual side of life
When their physical needs are screaming loudly.
In my case,
When my physical need was met,
I settled right down and quickly, happily, peacefully with contentment
Picked up my Bible and began to enjoy reading the Word of God.
But five minutes earlier,
To be quite honest,
The last thing on my mind was to pick up my Bible and read it!
Think about this
The next time you are trying to share the gospel with a friend or stranger…
Consider their situation.
Get discernment.
Try to see them through God’s eyes.
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you
If there are any
Natural distraction or common invaders
Occurring in their lives that might obstruct the message?
Are there genuine felt needs
That may need to be dealt with before
The message of the cross,
The truth of the gospel,
Can be shared in such a way that it can be heard?
DSR
7/19/01
I started my prayer walk about 5am this morning.
A new day was being birthed on my side of the planet.
The sounds, smells, sensations, and sight of dawn
Were sweeping over me in all their glory.
No wonder Jesus made it a personal policy
To rise early in the morning and enjoy quality time with His Father.
(Mark 1:35 NIV) Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.
So, in His footsteps I began my day.
Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, David got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.
But today, something interrupted this nearly ideal situation.
Something invaded my comfort zone
So stealthily,
So effectively that it literally shut down my prayer time.
This thing caused me to pull away
From a mental, emotional, and spiritual quest for the Lord Jesus Christ.
You may be wondering
What could possibly dislodge a committed Christian person from his or her prayer path?
What in the world (or perhaps “not of” this world)
Could so suddenly and so thoroughly cut off
My hot pursuit of God on my prayer path?
First, I will tell you what it was not.
It was not evil.
It was not demonic.
It was not anything horrible or supernaturally powerful that you might imagine.
As a matter of fact,
It was something so natural and commonplace
That you will probably snicker and chuckle a little
When you read the answer in the next few lines…
You see, I received “a call” that interrupted my prayer time
And it wasn’t from my cell phone.
It was “a call of nature.”
I had to “go to the bathroom.”
I had to “use the facilities.”
I had to “visit the toilet.”
Whatever cute or polite way your family taught you to say it
The bottom line was that
My digestive system was screaming to me
In no uncertain terms
“I need attention now!”
Suddenly and with little warning
I found myself in a predicament being a long way from home on my prayer path.
You would be surprised how quickly I ceased
From singing praise and worship songs,
Praying in the Spirit,
Interceding for loved ones,
Glorifying and magnifying the Lord
And trying to seek Him and hear His precious voice.
Right then I stopped prayer walking
And turned and started running back towards my house…cutting through yards!
Oh I was praying all right
But not for anybody else.
I was praying I would make it home in time!
Well, even this little silly circumstance
At least for me packed a spiritual wallop.
(The Holy Spirit is such a creative and innovative Teacher!)
I understand,
Better,
That people can have a difficult time
Hearing, receiving, and being tender to the spiritual side of life
When their physical needs are screaming loudly.
In my case,
When my physical need was met,
I settled right down and quickly, happily, peacefully with contentment
Picked up my Bible and began to enjoy reading the Word of God.
But five minutes earlier,
To be quite honest,
The last thing on my mind was to pick up my Bible and read it!
Think about this
The next time you are trying to share the gospel with a friend or stranger…
Consider their situation.
Get discernment.
Try to see them through God’s eyes.
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you
If there are any
Natural distraction or common invaders
Occurring in their lives that might obstruct the message?
Are there genuine felt needs
That may need to be dealt with before
The message of the cross,
The truth of the gospel,
Can be shared in such a way that it can be heard?
DSR
7/19/01
Friday, July 13, 2001
I Will Help You Speak
by David Scott Robertson
The Torah talks about a man named Moses.
In Exodus chapter four,
Jehovah calls Moses to be His apostolic statesman to Egypt.
Almighty God had decided to offer Moses the privilege of being His ambassador
To the government of Egypt on behalf of His enslaved Israeli people.
But Moses was reluctant to take God up on His generous offer.
Why?
Because Moses had a speech impediment.
He didn’t t-t-t-talk well.
Listen to what Moses says in Exodus 4:10 and the incredibly generous offer
That Jehovah makes to him that I believe He is also extending that offer to us today:
(Exo 4:10 NIV) “Moses said to the LORD, "O Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue."
Have you ever felt that way?
Have you ever felt unqualified to speak for God?
Have you ever been intimidated about speaking in front of large (or small) groups of people?
Does it make you feel uncomfortable to speak one-on-one with someone
A weighty message that you know is going to make them furiously mad?
Well, Moses could relate to how you feel!
But when feelings get in the way of God’s commands
Guess which one has to go?
Now here’s the sweet deal that God offered to Moses to offset his fear:
(Exo 4:11 NIV) “The LORD said to him, "Who gave man his mouth? Who makes him deaf or mute? Who gives him sight or makes him blind? Is it not I, the LORD?
(Exo 4:12 NIV) Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say."
God plays no favorites.
If He did it for Moses I’m convinced He’ll do it for us.
God WILL help us speak.
God WILL teach us what to say.
God WILL fill our mouths with good words to speak on His behalf
If we will just have the faith to accept this truth.
Never forget that truth overrides facts.
The fact of the matter may be that we,
Like Moses,
Have never been eloquent but we are slow of speech and tongue (Exodus 4:10).
Please note that God didn’t rebuke Moses for lying.
He was disappointed in him for not believing, for not trusting God:
(Exo 4:13 NIV) “ But Moses said, "O Lord, please send someone else to do it."
(Exo 4:14 NIV) Then the Lord's anger burned against Moses…”
Never forget that truth overrides facts.
Faith always overrides circumstances.
And faith is something God highly prizes and greatly rewards.
(Heb 11:6 NIV) “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”
Therefore,
(Heb 4:16 NIV) “Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”
Please realize that although you may be limited in your own abilities
It is not your own abilities that you are relying on.
You must come to understand, fully believe, and act upon the established truth that
God will do for you what He did for Moses:
(Exo 4:12 NIV) “Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say."
(Mat 10:19 NIV) “But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say,
(Mat 10:20 NIV) for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.”
DSR
7/13/01
The Torah talks about a man named Moses.
In Exodus chapter four,
Jehovah calls Moses to be His apostolic statesman to Egypt.
Almighty God had decided to offer Moses the privilege of being His ambassador
To the government of Egypt on behalf of His enslaved Israeli people.
But Moses was reluctant to take God up on His generous offer.
Why?
Because Moses had a speech impediment.
He didn’t t-t-t-talk well.
Listen to what Moses says in Exodus 4:10 and the incredibly generous offer
That Jehovah makes to him that I believe He is also extending that offer to us today:
(Exo 4:10 NIV) “Moses said to the LORD, "O Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue."
Have you ever felt that way?
Have you ever felt unqualified to speak for God?
Have you ever been intimidated about speaking in front of large (or small) groups of people?
Does it make you feel uncomfortable to speak one-on-one with someone
A weighty message that you know is going to make them furiously mad?
Well, Moses could relate to how you feel!
But when feelings get in the way of God’s commands
Guess which one has to go?
Now here’s the sweet deal that God offered to Moses to offset his fear:
(Exo 4:11 NIV) “The LORD said to him, "Who gave man his mouth? Who makes him deaf or mute? Who gives him sight or makes him blind? Is it not I, the LORD?
(Exo 4:12 NIV) Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say."
God plays no favorites.
If He did it for Moses I’m convinced He’ll do it for us.
God WILL help us speak.
God WILL teach us what to say.
God WILL fill our mouths with good words to speak on His behalf
If we will just have the faith to accept this truth.
Never forget that truth overrides facts.
The fact of the matter may be that we,
Like Moses,
Have never been eloquent but we are slow of speech and tongue (Exodus 4:10).
Please note that God didn’t rebuke Moses for lying.
He was disappointed in him for not believing, for not trusting God:
(Exo 4:13 NIV) “ But Moses said, "O Lord, please send someone else to do it."
(Exo 4:14 NIV) Then the Lord's anger burned against Moses…”
Never forget that truth overrides facts.
Faith always overrides circumstances.
And faith is something God highly prizes and greatly rewards.
(Heb 11:6 NIV) “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”
Therefore,
(Heb 4:16 NIV) “Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”
Please realize that although you may be limited in your own abilities
It is not your own abilities that you are relying on.
You must come to understand, fully believe, and act upon the established truth that
God will do for you what He did for Moses:
(Exo 4:12 NIV) “Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say."
(Mat 10:19 NIV) “But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say,
(Mat 10:20 NIV) for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.”
DSR
7/13/01
Monday, July 2, 2001
Today, Yes Today, Is a New Day
by David Scott Robertson
It’s been a long time.
It’s been a long time since I’ve recording any of my thoughts about God on paper.
That is something I like to do a great deal.
To write about the Lord,
To write to the Lord,
Is something that is, at least for me,
Unusually fulfilling, satisfying, precious to my soul.
What does it for you?
What is your hot button?
What jerks you out of bed in the morning?
What do you dream about?
If money wasn’t an issue
And you had all the time in the world to do the thing,
What would it be?
Maybe you’re a painter.
A sketch artist.
A songwriter.
A musician.
A writer.
A composer.
A dancer.
A sculptor.
Maybe you used to visit the nursing home,
Mow lawns for sick folks,
Or volunteer in the church office.
Maybe you used to do a lot of things that you don’t do anymore, because…
Well, just because.
But also like me…
Perhaps it’s been a long time
Since you’ve allowed creativity or acts of service to bubble up.
Could it be that you have dammed up a spring that used to gush forth so easily?
Is it possible that you, yourself,
(There’s no one else to blame, really)
Have squelched and squashed a gift that God has implanted in you
To be used for His glory?
Have you,
Like so many others
(Why does that fact that the multitudes are doing it seem to lessen to severity of slothfulness?)
Allowed the busy-ness of business
To subtlety and stealthily
Suppress the joy of inner-most expression?
That’s been my deal.
I can’t point my finger at anyone but the man in the mirror.
I could ramble off a long list of good reasons why I couldn’t, haven’t, didn’t…
But the bottom line is where there’s a will there’s way
And where there ain’t there’s not.
My painful conclusion?
I didn’t will it.
I didn’t want it bad enough.
I didn’t hurt enough.
I wasn’t persecuted enough.
I wasn’t threatened enough.
I wasn’t hungry enough.
I wasn’t motivated enough internally and was waiting on external circumstances to change.
Bad move.
Fatal move.
Our fleshly, carnal desires are supposed to die not the gifts of God inside us.
If that’s you
Then I encourage you to do what I have done today:
Declare to yourself that today is a new day.
Today begins a new era in your life history.
Today,
Yes, today,
Even now
Is the precise moment when destiny intersects time
And you move out in a conscious decision
To release what is held hostage inside of you.
My recommendation to you
Is to pay whatever the cost of starting might be
And get on with it.
The anything that we are doing
Is better than the nothing that we have done.
There is great wisdom, therapy, and enjoyment
In waking up dormant gifts.
Great energy is released when we fan into flame the spark of creativity
And it is a special victory to start a fire in a rainstorm.
Whatever the opposition,
Real or imagined,
If God be for you then who can be against you?
Just make sure God is in the thing
Or you’ll end up scrambling to climb the ladder of success
Only to discover
(Sometimes years later)
That it’s been leaning against the wrong wall all the time.
So I would say to you today:
Declare,
Decree,
Announce,
Acknowledge,
Speak forth,
Proclaim that today is a new day for yourself, in Jesus’ name.
Today you will return to the ancient paths.
Today you will revive something you know at one time worked well in your life.
Today you will begin the journey of a thousand miles with the first step.
Today you will engage your will and begin what seems impossible.
Today you will call upon the name of the Lord for His help
In pushing through the excuses
And conquering the greatest hindrance to our progress –
Our own mental limitations and restrictions
(I’ve met the real enemy and he is me.)
I say,
Today,
In the name of Jesus Christ,
Do it!
And remember this most important factor:
“And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him” (Colossians 3:17 NIV)
DSR
7/2/01
It’s been a long time.
It’s been a long time since I’ve recording any of my thoughts about God on paper.
That is something I like to do a great deal.
To write about the Lord,
To write to the Lord,
Is something that is, at least for me,
Unusually fulfilling, satisfying, precious to my soul.
What does it for you?
What is your hot button?
What jerks you out of bed in the morning?
What do you dream about?
If money wasn’t an issue
And you had all the time in the world to do the thing,
What would it be?
Maybe you’re a painter.
A sketch artist.
A songwriter.
A musician.
A writer.
A composer.
A dancer.
A sculptor.
Maybe you used to visit the nursing home,
Mow lawns for sick folks,
Or volunteer in the church office.
Maybe you used to do a lot of things that you don’t do anymore, because…
Well, just because.
But also like me…
Perhaps it’s been a long time
Since you’ve allowed creativity or acts of service to bubble up.
Could it be that you have dammed up a spring that used to gush forth so easily?
Is it possible that you, yourself,
(There’s no one else to blame, really)
Have squelched and squashed a gift that God has implanted in you
To be used for His glory?
Have you,
Like so many others
(Why does that fact that the multitudes are doing it seem to lessen to severity of slothfulness?)
Allowed the busy-ness of business
To subtlety and stealthily
Suppress the joy of inner-most expression?
That’s been my deal.
I can’t point my finger at anyone but the man in the mirror.
I could ramble off a long list of good reasons why I couldn’t, haven’t, didn’t…
But the bottom line is where there’s a will there’s way
And where there ain’t there’s not.
My painful conclusion?
I didn’t will it.
I didn’t want it bad enough.
I didn’t hurt enough.
I wasn’t persecuted enough.
I wasn’t threatened enough.
I wasn’t hungry enough.
I wasn’t motivated enough internally and was waiting on external circumstances to change.
Bad move.
Fatal move.
Our fleshly, carnal desires are supposed to die not the gifts of God inside us.
If that’s you
Then I encourage you to do what I have done today:
Declare to yourself that today is a new day.
Today begins a new era in your life history.
Today,
Yes, today,
Even now
Is the precise moment when destiny intersects time
And you move out in a conscious decision
To release what is held hostage inside of you.
My recommendation to you
Is to pay whatever the cost of starting might be
And get on with it.
The anything that we are doing
Is better than the nothing that we have done.
There is great wisdom, therapy, and enjoyment
In waking up dormant gifts.
Great energy is released when we fan into flame the spark of creativity
And it is a special victory to start a fire in a rainstorm.
Whatever the opposition,
Real or imagined,
If God be for you then who can be against you?
Just make sure God is in the thing
Or you’ll end up scrambling to climb the ladder of success
Only to discover
(Sometimes years later)
That it’s been leaning against the wrong wall all the time.
So I would say to you today:
Declare,
Decree,
Announce,
Acknowledge,
Speak forth,
Proclaim that today is a new day for yourself, in Jesus’ name.
Today you will return to the ancient paths.
Today you will revive something you know at one time worked well in your life.
Today you will begin the journey of a thousand miles with the first step.
Today you will engage your will and begin what seems impossible.
Today you will call upon the name of the Lord for His help
In pushing through the excuses
And conquering the greatest hindrance to our progress –
Our own mental limitations and restrictions
(I’ve met the real enemy and he is me.)
I say,
Today,
In the name of Jesus Christ,
Do it!
And remember this most important factor:
“And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him” (Colossians 3:17 NIV)
DSR
7/2/01
Wednesday, April 4, 2001
The Benefits of Behaving Wisely
by David Scott Robertson
(1 Sam 18:5 KJV) And David went out whithersoever Saul sent him, AND BEHAVED HIMSELF WISELY: and Saul set him over the men of war, and he was accepted in the sight of all the people, and also in the sight of Saul's servants.
(1 Sam 18:14 KJV) And David BEHAVED HIMSELF WISELY in all his ways; and the LORD was with him.
(1 Sam 18:30 KJV) Then the princes of the Philistines went forth: and it came to pass, after they went forth, that David BEHAVED HIMSELF MORE WISELY than all the servants of Saul; so that his name was much set by.
Who reading this desires to be successful?
Who wants to enjoy the benefits of God's blessing?
Who longs to do the thing that works that will advance his cause among God and man?
I do!
And another David,
The Son of Jesse,
Did as well.
David's life as detailed in the Old Testament book of 1 Samuel,
At least to me,
Reads like a modern-day personal development seminar:
"10 Habits of a Highly Successful Man."
"How to Win Friends and Influence People."
"The Winning Attitude."
"10 Keys to Success in Your Career."
David had discovered the art of "behaving wisely"
And as a result reaped the benefits of such a lifestyle.
What attributes did David consistently display
That caused the God Himself to document David’s action in scripture as "wise behavior?"
1. David was HUMBLE.
(1 Sam 18:18 KJV) And David said unto Saul, WHO AM I? AND WHAT IS MY LIFE, OR MY FATHER'S FAMILY IN ISRAEL, THAT I SHOULD BE SON IN LAW TO THE KING?
(1 Sam 18:23 KJV) And Saul's servants spake those words in the ears of David. And David said, SEEMETH IT TO YOU A LIGHT THING TO BE A KING'S SON IN LAW, SEEING THAT I AM A POOR MAN, AND LIGHTLY ESTEEMED?
(1 Sam 20:41 KJV) And as soon as the lad was gone, David arose out of a place toward the south, AND FELL ON HIS FACE TO THE GROUND, AND BOWED HIMSELF THREE TIMES: AND THEY KISSED ONE ANOTHER, AND WEPT ONE WITH ANOTHER, until David exceeded.
2. David was PATRIOTIC.
(1 Sam 17:26 KJV) And David spake to the men that stood by him, saying, What shall be done to the man that killeth this Philistine, AND TAKETH AWAY THE REPROACH FROM ISRAEL? FOR WHO IS THIS UNCIRCUMCISED PHILISTINE, THAT HE SHOULD DEFY THE ARMIES OF THE LIVING GOD?
3. David was OBEDIENT.
(1 Sam 18:5 KJV) AND DAVID WENT OUT WHITHERSOEVER SAUL SENT HIM, and behaved himself wisely: and Saul set him over the men of war, and he was accepted in the sight of all the people, and also in the sight of Saul's servants.
4. David was a man of FAITH.
(1 Sam 23:3 KJV) And David's men said unto him, Behold, we be afraid here in Judah: how much more then if we come to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines?
(1 Sam 23:4 KJV) THEN DAVID INQUIRED OF THE LORD YET AGAIN. And the LORD answered him and said, Arise, go down to Keilah: for I will deliver the Philistines into thine hand.
(1 Sam 23:5 KJV) So David and his men went to Keilah, and fought with the Philistines, and brought away their cattle, and smote them with a great slaughter. So David saved the inhabitants of Keilah.
(1 Sam 17:46 KJV) THIS DAY WILL THE LORD DELIVER THEE [GOLIATH] INTO MINE HAND; AND I WILL SMITE THEE, AND TAKE THINE HEAD FROM THEE; AND I WILL GIVE THE CARCASES OF THE HOST OF THE PHILISTINES THIS DAY UNTO THE FOWLS OF THE AIR, AND TO THE WILD BEASTS OF THE EARTH; THAT ALL THE EARTH MAY KNOW THAT THERE IS A GOD IN ISRAEL.
5. David was FEARFUL OF GOD AND FEARLESS OF MAN
(Psa 27:1 NIV) Of David. The LORD is my light and my salvation-- WHOM SHALL I FEAR? The LORD is the stronghold of my life-- OF WHOM SHALL I BE AFRAID?
(1 Sam 17:24 KJV) AND ALL THE MEN OF ISRAEL, when they saw the man [Goliath], FLED FROM HIM, AND WERE. SORE AFRAID.
(1 Sam 17:45 KJV) Then said David to the Philistine, THOU COMEST TO ME WITH A SWORD, AND WITH A SPEAR, AND WITH A SHIELD: BUT I COME TO THEE IN THE NAME OF THE LORD OF HOSTS, THE GOD OF THE ARMIES OF ISRAEL, WHOM THOU HAST DEFIED.
6. David EXCEEDED EXPECTATIONS..
(1 Sam 18:25 KJV) And Saul said, Thus shall ye say to David, The king desireth not any dowry, but AN HUNDRED FORESKINS OF THE PHILISTINES, to be avenged of the king's enemies. But Saul thought to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines.
(1 Sam 18:26 KJV) And when his servants told David these words, it pleased David well to be the king's son in law: AND THE DAYS WERE NOT EXPIRED.
(1 Sam 18:27 KJV) Wherefore David arose and went, he and his men, AND SLEW OF THE PHILISTINES TWO HUNDRED MEN; AND DAVID BROUGHT THEIR FORESKINS, and they gave them in full tale to the king, that he might be the king's son in law. And Saul gave him Michal his daughter to wife.
7. David knew how to be IN AUTHORITY and UNDER AUTHORITY.
(1 Sam 22:2 KJV) And every one that was in distress, and every one that was in debt, and every one that was discontented, GATHERED THEMSELVES UNTO HIM; AND HE BECAME A CAPTAIN OVER THEM: AND THERE WERE WITH HIM ABOUT FOUR HUNDRED MEN.
(1 Sam 18:13 KJV) Therefore Saul removed him from him, AND MADE HIM HIS CAPTAIN OVER A THOUSAND; and he went out and came in before the people.
(1 Sam 24:6 KJV) And he said unto his men, THE LORD FORBID THAT I SHOULD DO THIS THING UNTO MY MASTER, THE LORD'S ANOINTED, TO STRETCH FORTH MINE HAND AGAINST HIM, SEEING HE IS THE ANOINTED OF THE LORD.
(1 Sam 24:7 KJV) So David stayed his servants with these words, and suffered them not to rise against Saul. But Saul rose up out of the cave, and went on his way.
8. David was a WORSHIPPER.
(1 Sam 13:14 KJV) But now thy kingdom shall not continue: THE LORD HATH SOUGHT HIM A MAN AFTER HIS OWN HEART, and the LORD hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the LORD commanded thee.
9. David was a PROMISE KEEPER..
(1 Sam 20:15 KJV) BUT ALSO THOU SHALT NOT CUT OFF THY KINDNESS FROM MY [JONATHAN’S] HOUSE FOR EVER: no, not when the LORD hath cut off the enemies of David every one from the face of the earth.
(1 Sam 20:16 KJV) SO JONATHAN MADE A COVENANT WITH THE HOUSE OF DAVID, saying, Let the LORD even require it at the hand of David's enemies.
(2 Sam 9:6 KJV) Now when Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, was come unto David, he fell on his face, and did reverence. And David said, Mephibosheth. And he answered, Behold thy servant!
(2 Sam 9:7 KJV) And David said unto him, FEAR NOT: FOR I WILL SURELY SHOW THEE KINDNESS FOR JONATHAN THY FATHER'S SAKE, AND WILL RESTORE THEE ALL THE LAND OF SAUL THY FATHER; AND THOU SHALT EAT BREAD AT MY TABLE CONTINUALLY.
10. David was interested in being a BLESSING.
(1 Sam 22:22 KJV) And David said unto Abiathar, I knew it that day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would surely tell Saul: I have occasioned the death of all the persons of thy father's house.
(1 Sam 22:23 KJV) Abide thou with me, FEAR NOT: FOR HE THAT SEEKETH MY LIFE SEEKETH THY LIFE: BUT WITH ME THOU SHALT BE IN SAFEGUARD.
David was one highly motivated individual!
This humble, patriotic, obedient, faith-filled, God-fearing, fearless, overachieving, Jehovah-worshipping, covenant-keeping, authority figure was a blessing to God and to man.
David behaved more wisely than all his superiors, subordinates, and peers combined.
What about you?
Do you aspire to behave more wisely than your companions?
Consider David’s exceptional example and follow his lead.
In so doing, perhaps you can bring dignity to the term “wise guy.”
So now, what are the BENEFITS OF BEHAVING WISELY?
Does all this effort count?
Does it pay off?
Does honor await the wise person?
Let’s take a look at the benefits that David’s lifestyle of integrity reaped for him:
1. David got PROMOTED.
(1 Sam 18:13 NIV) So he sent David away from him AND GAVE HIM COMMAND OVER A THOUSAND MEN, and David LED THE TROOPS in their campaigns.
2. God gave David mighty VICTORIES.
(1 Sam 18:15 NIV) WHEN SAUL SAW HOW SUCCESSFUL HE [DAVID] WAS, he was afraid of him.
(1 Sam 17:50 NIV) SO DAVID TRIUMPHED OVER THE PHILISTINE with a sling and a stone; without a sword in his hand HE STRUCK DOWN THE PHILISTINE AND KILLED HIM.
3. David PLEASED the people he served and those who served him.
(1 Sam 18:5 NIV) Whatever Saul sent him to do, David did it so successfully that Saul gave him a high rank in the army. This pleased all the people, and Saul's officers as well.
4. David was greatly LOVED.
(1 Sam 18:3 NIV) And Jonathan made a covenant with David BECAUSE HE LOVED HIM AS HIMSELF.
(1 Sam 18:20 NIV) NOW SAUL'S DAUGHTER MICHAL WAS IN LOVE WITH DAVID, and when they told Saul about it, he was pleased.
(1 Sam 18:16 NIV) BUT ALL ISRAEL AND JUDAH LOVED DAVID, because he led them in their campaigns.
5. David had WIDESPREAD FAME and REPUTATION.
(1 Sam 18:6 NIV) When the men were returning home after David had killed the Philistine, the women came out from all the towns of Israel to meet King Saul with singing and dancing, with joyful songs and with tambourines and lutes.
(1 Sam 18:7 NIV) AS THEY DANCED, THEY SANG: "SAUL HAS SLAIN HIS THOUSANDS, AND DAVID HIS TENS OF THOUSANDS."
(1 Sam 18:30 NIV) The Philistine commanders continued to go out to battle, and as often as they did, David met with more success than the rest of Saul's officers, AND HIS NAME BECAME WELL KNOWN.
6. Wise behavior EXTENDED DAVID’S LIFE.
(1 Sam 19:10 NIV) Saul tried to pin him to the wall with his spear, BUT DAVID ELUDED HIM AS SAUL DROVE THE SPEAR INTO THE WALL. THAT NIGHT DAVID MADE GOOD HIS ESCAPE.
(1 Sam 18:6 NIV) WHEN THE MEN WERE RETURNING HOME AFTER DAVID HAD KILLED THE PHILISTINE, the women came out from all the towns of Israel to meet King Saul with singing and dancing, with joyful songs and with tambourines and lutes.
7. David’s enemies WERE AFRAID OF HIM.
(1 Sam 18:12 NIV) SAUL WAS AFRAID OF DAVID, because the LORD was with David but had left Saul.
(1 Sam 18:29 NIV) SAUL BECAME STILL MORE AFRAID OF HIM, and he remained his enemy the rest of his days.
(1 Sam 19:8 NIV) Once more war broke out, and David went out and fought the Philistines. HE STRUCK THEM WITH SUCH FORCE THAT THEY FLED BEFORE HIM.
8. David was given SPIRITUAL INSIGHT.
(1 Sam 21:5 NIV) David replied [to Ahimelech the priest], "Indeed women have been kept from us, as usual whenever I set out. THE MEN'S THINGS ARE HOLY EVEN ON MISSIONS THAT ARE NOT HOLY. HOW MUCH MORE SO TODAY!"
9. David experienced material PROVISION.
(1 Sam 21:9 NIV) The priest replied, "The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom you killed in the Valley of Elah, is here; it is wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod. IF YOU WANT IT, TAKE IT; there is no sword here but that one." David said, "There is none like it; give it to me."
10. David earned the COMPASSION and RESPECT of others.
(1 Sam 20:34 NIV) Jonathan got up from the table in fierce anger; on that second day of the month he did not eat, BECAUSE HE WAS GRIEVED AT HIS FATHER'S SHAMEFUL TREATMENT OF DAVID.
11. David gave David FAVOR.
(1 Sam 20:3 NIV) But David took an oath and said, "YOUR FATHER KNOWS VERY WELL THAT I HAVE FOUND FAVOR IN YOUR EYES, and he has said to himself, 'Jonathan must not know this or he will be grieved.' Yet as surely as the LORD lives and as you live, there is only a step between me and death."
12. David had CREATIVE INGENUITY.
(1 Sam 19:12 NIV) SO MICHAL LET DAVID DOWN THROUGH A WINDOW, AND HE FLED AND ESCAPED.
(1 Sam 19:14 NIV) When Saul sent the men to capture David, Michal said, "He is ill."
(1 Sam 21:12 NIV) David took these words to heart and was very much afraid of Achish king of Gath.
(1 Sam 21:13 NIV) SO HE PRETENDED TO BE INSANE IN THEIR PRESENCE; AND WHILE HE WAS IN THEIR HANDS HE ACTED LIKE A MADMAN, making marks on the doors of the gate and letting saliva run down his beard.
(1 Sam 21:14 NIV) Achish said to his servants, "Look at the man! He is insane! Why bring him to me?
(1 Sam 22:1 NIV) David left Gath AND ESCAPED TO THE CAVE OF ADULLAM. When his brothers and his father's household heard about it, they went down to him there.
13. David enjoyed FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD’S CHOICE SERVANTS.
(1 Sam 19:18 NIV) When David had fled and made his escape, HE WENT TO SAMUEL AT RAMAH and told him all that Saul had done to him. Then he and Samuel went to Naioth and stayed there.
14. David had SUPERNATUAL SIGNS AND WONDERS OPERATING IN HIS LIFE.
(1 Sam 19:20 NIV) so he [Saul] sent men to capture him [David]. But when they saw a group of prophets prophesying, with Samuel standing there as their leader, THE SPIRIT OF GOD CAME UPON SAUL'S MEN AND THEY ALSO PROPHESIED.
15. David enjoyed UNCONDITIONAL GENEROSITY.
(1 Sam 20:4 NIV) Jonathan said to David, "WHATEVER YOU WANT ME TO DO, I'LL DO FOR YOU."
16. David was offered RARE OPPORTUNITIES.
(1 Sam 18:17 NIV) Saul said to David, "HERE IS MY OLDER DAUGHTER MERAB. I WILL GIVE HER TO YOU IN MARRIAGE; only serve me bravely and fight the battles of the LORD." For Saul said to himself, "I will not raise a hand against him. Let the Philistines do that!"
17. God caused David’s enemies plans TO BACKFIRE.
(1 Sam 18:25 NIV) Saul replied, "Say to David, 'The king wants no other price for the bride than a hundred Philistine foreskins, to take revenge on his enemies.'" SAUL'S PLAN WAS TO HAVE DAVID FALL BY THE HANDS OF THE PHILISTINES.
(1 Sam 18:27 NIV) DAVID AND HIS MEN WENT OUT AND KILLED TWO HUNDRED PHILISTINES. He brought their foreskins and presented the full number to the king so that he might become the king's son-in-law. Then Saul gave him his daughter Michal in marriage.
(1 Sam 18:28 NIV) WHEN SAUL REALIZED THAT THE LORD WAS WITH DAVID AND THAT HIS DAUGHTER MICHAL LOVED DAVID,
(1 Sam 18:29 NIV) Saul became still more afraid of him, and he remained his enemy the rest of his days.
18. God was with David.
(1 Sam 18:14 NIV) In everything he did he had great success, BECAUSE THE LORD WAS WITH HIM.
19. God will BLESS and DELIVER those you REPRESENT.
(1 Sam 19:5 NIV) HE TOOK HIS LIFE IN HIS HANDS WHEN HE KILLED THE PHILISTINE. THE LORD WON A GREAT VICTORY FOR ALL ISRAEL, and you saw it and were glad. Why then would you do wrong to an innocent man like David by killing him for no reason?"
And the half has not been told!
The opportunities,
The escapes,
The joy David brought to the people,
The leadership abilities that God invested in the wise young man David
That enabled him to grow to be the wise old man David
Are absolutely astonishing!
The point is this:
There are indeed benefits of behaving wisely.
Let’s use David as a template of what to do
In whatever field of endeavor the Lord our God has placed us.
The Lord will not hesitate to award the same “benefits package”
To you and me
That He offered to David
If (and only if) what was said of David in 1 Samuel 18:14 can be said of us:
(1 Sam 18:14 KJV) And [INSERT YOUR NAME HERE] BEHAVED HIMSELF WISELY in all his ways; and the LORD was with him.”
DSR
4/4/01
(1 Sam 18:5 KJV) And David went out whithersoever Saul sent him, AND BEHAVED HIMSELF WISELY: and Saul set him over the men of war, and he was accepted in the sight of all the people, and also in the sight of Saul's servants.
(1 Sam 18:14 KJV) And David BEHAVED HIMSELF WISELY in all his ways; and the LORD was with him.
(1 Sam 18:30 KJV) Then the princes of the Philistines went forth: and it came to pass, after they went forth, that David BEHAVED HIMSELF MORE WISELY than all the servants of Saul; so that his name was much set by.
Who reading this desires to be successful?
Who wants to enjoy the benefits of God's blessing?
Who longs to do the thing that works that will advance his cause among God and man?
I do!
And another David,
The Son of Jesse,
Did as well.
David's life as detailed in the Old Testament book of 1 Samuel,
At least to me,
Reads like a modern-day personal development seminar:
"10 Habits of a Highly Successful Man."
"How to Win Friends and Influence People."
"The Winning Attitude."
"10 Keys to Success in Your Career."
David had discovered the art of "behaving wisely"
And as a result reaped the benefits of such a lifestyle.
What attributes did David consistently display
That caused the God Himself to document David’s action in scripture as "wise behavior?"
1. David was HUMBLE.
(1 Sam 18:18 KJV) And David said unto Saul, WHO AM I? AND WHAT IS MY LIFE, OR MY FATHER'S FAMILY IN ISRAEL, THAT I SHOULD BE SON IN LAW TO THE KING?
(1 Sam 18:23 KJV) And Saul's servants spake those words in the ears of David. And David said, SEEMETH IT TO YOU A LIGHT THING TO BE A KING'S SON IN LAW, SEEING THAT I AM A POOR MAN, AND LIGHTLY ESTEEMED?
(1 Sam 20:41 KJV) And as soon as the lad was gone, David arose out of a place toward the south, AND FELL ON HIS FACE TO THE GROUND, AND BOWED HIMSELF THREE TIMES: AND THEY KISSED ONE ANOTHER, AND WEPT ONE WITH ANOTHER, until David exceeded.
2. David was PATRIOTIC.
(1 Sam 17:26 KJV) And David spake to the men that stood by him, saying, What shall be done to the man that killeth this Philistine, AND TAKETH AWAY THE REPROACH FROM ISRAEL? FOR WHO IS THIS UNCIRCUMCISED PHILISTINE, THAT HE SHOULD DEFY THE ARMIES OF THE LIVING GOD?
3. David was OBEDIENT.
(1 Sam 18:5 KJV) AND DAVID WENT OUT WHITHERSOEVER SAUL SENT HIM, and behaved himself wisely: and Saul set him over the men of war, and he was accepted in the sight of all the people, and also in the sight of Saul's servants.
4. David was a man of FAITH.
(1 Sam 23:3 KJV) And David's men said unto him, Behold, we be afraid here in Judah: how much more then if we come to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines?
(1 Sam 23:4 KJV) THEN DAVID INQUIRED OF THE LORD YET AGAIN. And the LORD answered him and said, Arise, go down to Keilah: for I will deliver the Philistines into thine hand.
(1 Sam 23:5 KJV) So David and his men went to Keilah, and fought with the Philistines, and brought away their cattle, and smote them with a great slaughter. So David saved the inhabitants of Keilah.
(1 Sam 17:46 KJV) THIS DAY WILL THE LORD DELIVER THEE [GOLIATH] INTO MINE HAND; AND I WILL SMITE THEE, AND TAKE THINE HEAD FROM THEE; AND I WILL GIVE THE CARCASES OF THE HOST OF THE PHILISTINES THIS DAY UNTO THE FOWLS OF THE AIR, AND TO THE WILD BEASTS OF THE EARTH; THAT ALL THE EARTH MAY KNOW THAT THERE IS A GOD IN ISRAEL.
5. David was FEARFUL OF GOD AND FEARLESS OF MAN
(Psa 27:1 NIV) Of David. The LORD is my light and my salvation-- WHOM SHALL I FEAR? The LORD is the stronghold of my life-- OF WHOM SHALL I BE AFRAID?
(1 Sam 17:24 KJV) AND ALL THE MEN OF ISRAEL, when they saw the man [Goliath], FLED FROM HIM, AND WERE. SORE AFRAID.
(1 Sam 17:45 KJV) Then said David to the Philistine, THOU COMEST TO ME WITH A SWORD, AND WITH A SPEAR, AND WITH A SHIELD: BUT I COME TO THEE IN THE NAME OF THE LORD OF HOSTS, THE GOD OF THE ARMIES OF ISRAEL, WHOM THOU HAST DEFIED.
6. David EXCEEDED EXPECTATIONS..
(1 Sam 18:25 KJV) And Saul said, Thus shall ye say to David, The king desireth not any dowry, but AN HUNDRED FORESKINS OF THE PHILISTINES, to be avenged of the king's enemies. But Saul thought to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines.
(1 Sam 18:26 KJV) And when his servants told David these words, it pleased David well to be the king's son in law: AND THE DAYS WERE NOT EXPIRED.
(1 Sam 18:27 KJV) Wherefore David arose and went, he and his men, AND SLEW OF THE PHILISTINES TWO HUNDRED MEN; AND DAVID BROUGHT THEIR FORESKINS, and they gave them in full tale to the king, that he might be the king's son in law. And Saul gave him Michal his daughter to wife.
7. David knew how to be IN AUTHORITY and UNDER AUTHORITY.
(1 Sam 22:2 KJV) And every one that was in distress, and every one that was in debt, and every one that was discontented, GATHERED THEMSELVES UNTO HIM; AND HE BECAME A CAPTAIN OVER THEM: AND THERE WERE WITH HIM ABOUT FOUR HUNDRED MEN.
(1 Sam 18:13 KJV) Therefore Saul removed him from him, AND MADE HIM HIS CAPTAIN OVER A THOUSAND; and he went out and came in before the people.
(1 Sam 24:6 KJV) And he said unto his men, THE LORD FORBID THAT I SHOULD DO THIS THING UNTO MY MASTER, THE LORD'S ANOINTED, TO STRETCH FORTH MINE HAND AGAINST HIM, SEEING HE IS THE ANOINTED OF THE LORD.
(1 Sam 24:7 KJV) So David stayed his servants with these words, and suffered them not to rise against Saul. But Saul rose up out of the cave, and went on his way.
8. David was a WORSHIPPER.
(1 Sam 13:14 KJV) But now thy kingdom shall not continue: THE LORD HATH SOUGHT HIM A MAN AFTER HIS OWN HEART, and the LORD hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the LORD commanded thee.
9. David was a PROMISE KEEPER..
(1 Sam 20:15 KJV) BUT ALSO THOU SHALT NOT CUT OFF THY KINDNESS FROM MY [JONATHAN’S] HOUSE FOR EVER: no, not when the LORD hath cut off the enemies of David every one from the face of the earth.
(1 Sam 20:16 KJV) SO JONATHAN MADE A COVENANT WITH THE HOUSE OF DAVID, saying, Let the LORD even require it at the hand of David's enemies.
(2 Sam 9:6 KJV) Now when Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, was come unto David, he fell on his face, and did reverence. And David said, Mephibosheth. And he answered, Behold thy servant!
(2 Sam 9:7 KJV) And David said unto him, FEAR NOT: FOR I WILL SURELY SHOW THEE KINDNESS FOR JONATHAN THY FATHER'S SAKE, AND WILL RESTORE THEE ALL THE LAND OF SAUL THY FATHER; AND THOU SHALT EAT BREAD AT MY TABLE CONTINUALLY.
10. David was interested in being a BLESSING.
(1 Sam 22:22 KJV) And David said unto Abiathar, I knew it that day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would surely tell Saul: I have occasioned the death of all the persons of thy father's house.
(1 Sam 22:23 KJV) Abide thou with me, FEAR NOT: FOR HE THAT SEEKETH MY LIFE SEEKETH THY LIFE: BUT WITH ME THOU SHALT BE IN SAFEGUARD.
David was one highly motivated individual!
This humble, patriotic, obedient, faith-filled, God-fearing, fearless, overachieving, Jehovah-worshipping, covenant-keeping, authority figure was a blessing to God and to man.
David behaved more wisely than all his superiors, subordinates, and peers combined.
What about you?
Do you aspire to behave more wisely than your companions?
Consider David’s exceptional example and follow his lead.
In so doing, perhaps you can bring dignity to the term “wise guy.”
So now, what are the BENEFITS OF BEHAVING WISELY?
Does all this effort count?
Does it pay off?
Does honor await the wise person?
Let’s take a look at the benefits that David’s lifestyle of integrity reaped for him:
1. David got PROMOTED.
(1 Sam 18:13 NIV) So he sent David away from him AND GAVE HIM COMMAND OVER A THOUSAND MEN, and David LED THE TROOPS in their campaigns.
2. God gave David mighty VICTORIES.
(1 Sam 18:15 NIV) WHEN SAUL SAW HOW SUCCESSFUL HE [DAVID] WAS, he was afraid of him.
(1 Sam 17:50 NIV) SO DAVID TRIUMPHED OVER THE PHILISTINE with a sling and a stone; without a sword in his hand HE STRUCK DOWN THE PHILISTINE AND KILLED HIM.
3. David PLEASED the people he served and those who served him.
(1 Sam 18:5 NIV) Whatever Saul sent him to do, David did it so successfully that Saul gave him a high rank in the army. This pleased all the people, and Saul's officers as well.
4. David was greatly LOVED.
(1 Sam 18:3 NIV) And Jonathan made a covenant with David BECAUSE HE LOVED HIM AS HIMSELF.
(1 Sam 18:20 NIV) NOW SAUL'S DAUGHTER MICHAL WAS IN LOVE WITH DAVID, and when they told Saul about it, he was pleased.
(1 Sam 18:16 NIV) BUT ALL ISRAEL AND JUDAH LOVED DAVID, because he led them in their campaigns.
5. David had WIDESPREAD FAME and REPUTATION.
(1 Sam 18:6 NIV) When the men were returning home after David had killed the Philistine, the women came out from all the towns of Israel to meet King Saul with singing and dancing, with joyful songs and with tambourines and lutes.
(1 Sam 18:7 NIV) AS THEY DANCED, THEY SANG: "SAUL HAS SLAIN HIS THOUSANDS, AND DAVID HIS TENS OF THOUSANDS."
(1 Sam 18:30 NIV) The Philistine commanders continued to go out to battle, and as often as they did, David met with more success than the rest of Saul's officers, AND HIS NAME BECAME WELL KNOWN.
6. Wise behavior EXTENDED DAVID’S LIFE.
(1 Sam 19:10 NIV) Saul tried to pin him to the wall with his spear, BUT DAVID ELUDED HIM AS SAUL DROVE THE SPEAR INTO THE WALL. THAT NIGHT DAVID MADE GOOD HIS ESCAPE.
(1 Sam 18:6 NIV) WHEN THE MEN WERE RETURNING HOME AFTER DAVID HAD KILLED THE PHILISTINE, the women came out from all the towns of Israel to meet King Saul with singing and dancing, with joyful songs and with tambourines and lutes.
7. David’s enemies WERE AFRAID OF HIM.
(1 Sam 18:12 NIV) SAUL WAS AFRAID OF DAVID, because the LORD was with David but had left Saul.
(1 Sam 18:29 NIV) SAUL BECAME STILL MORE AFRAID OF HIM, and he remained his enemy the rest of his days.
(1 Sam 19:8 NIV) Once more war broke out, and David went out and fought the Philistines. HE STRUCK THEM WITH SUCH FORCE THAT THEY FLED BEFORE HIM.
8. David was given SPIRITUAL INSIGHT.
(1 Sam 21:5 NIV) David replied [to Ahimelech the priest], "Indeed women have been kept from us, as usual whenever I set out. THE MEN'S THINGS ARE HOLY EVEN ON MISSIONS THAT ARE NOT HOLY. HOW MUCH MORE SO TODAY!"
9. David experienced material PROVISION.
(1 Sam 21:9 NIV) The priest replied, "The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom you killed in the Valley of Elah, is here; it is wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod. IF YOU WANT IT, TAKE IT; there is no sword here but that one." David said, "There is none like it; give it to me."
10. David earned the COMPASSION and RESPECT of others.
(1 Sam 20:34 NIV) Jonathan got up from the table in fierce anger; on that second day of the month he did not eat, BECAUSE HE WAS GRIEVED AT HIS FATHER'S SHAMEFUL TREATMENT OF DAVID.
11. David gave David FAVOR.
(1 Sam 20:3 NIV) But David took an oath and said, "YOUR FATHER KNOWS VERY WELL THAT I HAVE FOUND FAVOR IN YOUR EYES, and he has said to himself, 'Jonathan must not know this or he will be grieved.' Yet as surely as the LORD lives and as you live, there is only a step between me and death."
12. David had CREATIVE INGENUITY.
(1 Sam 19:12 NIV) SO MICHAL LET DAVID DOWN THROUGH A WINDOW, AND HE FLED AND ESCAPED.
(1 Sam 19:14 NIV) When Saul sent the men to capture David, Michal said, "He is ill."
(1 Sam 21:12 NIV) David took these words to heart and was very much afraid of Achish king of Gath.
(1 Sam 21:13 NIV) SO HE PRETENDED TO BE INSANE IN THEIR PRESENCE; AND WHILE HE WAS IN THEIR HANDS HE ACTED LIKE A MADMAN, making marks on the doors of the gate and letting saliva run down his beard.
(1 Sam 21:14 NIV) Achish said to his servants, "Look at the man! He is insane! Why bring him to me?
(1 Sam 22:1 NIV) David left Gath AND ESCAPED TO THE CAVE OF ADULLAM. When his brothers and his father's household heard about it, they went down to him there.
13. David enjoyed FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD’S CHOICE SERVANTS.
(1 Sam 19:18 NIV) When David had fled and made his escape, HE WENT TO SAMUEL AT RAMAH and told him all that Saul had done to him. Then he and Samuel went to Naioth and stayed there.
14. David had SUPERNATUAL SIGNS AND WONDERS OPERATING IN HIS LIFE.
(1 Sam 19:20 NIV) so he [Saul] sent men to capture him [David]. But when they saw a group of prophets prophesying, with Samuel standing there as their leader, THE SPIRIT OF GOD CAME UPON SAUL'S MEN AND THEY ALSO PROPHESIED.
15. David enjoyed UNCONDITIONAL GENEROSITY.
(1 Sam 20:4 NIV) Jonathan said to David, "WHATEVER YOU WANT ME TO DO, I'LL DO FOR YOU."
16. David was offered RARE OPPORTUNITIES.
(1 Sam 18:17 NIV) Saul said to David, "HERE IS MY OLDER DAUGHTER MERAB. I WILL GIVE HER TO YOU IN MARRIAGE; only serve me bravely and fight the battles of the LORD." For Saul said to himself, "I will not raise a hand against him. Let the Philistines do that!"
17. God caused David’s enemies plans TO BACKFIRE.
(1 Sam 18:25 NIV) Saul replied, "Say to David, 'The king wants no other price for the bride than a hundred Philistine foreskins, to take revenge on his enemies.'" SAUL'S PLAN WAS TO HAVE DAVID FALL BY THE HANDS OF THE PHILISTINES.
(1 Sam 18:27 NIV) DAVID AND HIS MEN WENT OUT AND KILLED TWO HUNDRED PHILISTINES. He brought their foreskins and presented the full number to the king so that he might become the king's son-in-law. Then Saul gave him his daughter Michal in marriage.
(1 Sam 18:28 NIV) WHEN SAUL REALIZED THAT THE LORD WAS WITH DAVID AND THAT HIS DAUGHTER MICHAL LOVED DAVID,
(1 Sam 18:29 NIV) Saul became still more afraid of him, and he remained his enemy the rest of his days.
18. God was with David.
(1 Sam 18:14 NIV) In everything he did he had great success, BECAUSE THE LORD WAS WITH HIM.
19. God will BLESS and DELIVER those you REPRESENT.
(1 Sam 19:5 NIV) HE TOOK HIS LIFE IN HIS HANDS WHEN HE KILLED THE PHILISTINE. THE LORD WON A GREAT VICTORY FOR ALL ISRAEL, and you saw it and were glad. Why then would you do wrong to an innocent man like David by killing him for no reason?"
And the half has not been told!
The opportunities,
The escapes,
The joy David brought to the people,
The leadership abilities that God invested in the wise young man David
That enabled him to grow to be the wise old man David
Are absolutely astonishing!
The point is this:
There are indeed benefits of behaving wisely.
Let’s use David as a template of what to do
In whatever field of endeavor the Lord our God has placed us.
The Lord will not hesitate to award the same “benefits package”
To you and me
That He offered to David
If (and only if) what was said of David in 1 Samuel 18:14 can be said of us:
(1 Sam 18:14 KJV) And [INSERT YOUR NAME HERE] BEHAVED HIMSELF WISELY in all his ways; and the LORD was with him.”
DSR
4/4/01
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