November 22, 2015

"And that all this assembly may know that the Lord saves not with a sword and spear. For the battle is the Lord's, and He will give you into our hand." I Samuel 17:47

Where do you find courage when you need it?

I am identifying a four-fold spiritual development of courage from God's Word.

First, courage is based on God's credentials in Creation. At creation God spoke all the wonders of the universe into existence where there was nothing existing. As Hebrews 11:1 says, "That is the substance of faith."

Second, courage is based on God's character. God is the same "yesterday, today and forever" so, if God could create back then He can do what needs to be done today! As Hebrews 11:1 also says, that is the "evidence of things hoped for".

Third, courage is based on God's calling. It is significant to know that God who did great things before can still do great things today but it's even more significant to believe He can do it through me!

Fourth, courage is based on God's cause. David found courage from God as he took on the cause of God's Name, and the cause of God's Fame and the cause of God's Claim!

David knew Goliath had to be taken down when He heard him cursing and blaspheming the Name of God. God's Holy Name is worthy of worship not curses. And David knew Goliath must be dealt with when He defamed the honor of God through his curses and accusations. And finally, David knew he had to defeat the giant to defend God's Claim.

What do I mean, God's Claim?

The answer is found in the phrase, "The battle is the Lord's". In other words, what God says He will do - HE WILL DO! Or even better, when God says He will do something IT IS AS GOOD AS DONE!

When you know you have won before you have begun it's not hard to find courage!

David, in this well-known Bible Story shows how to have courage and how to use it. 

Courage comes from committing to God's cause for fighting giants - defending God's Name, God's Fame and proving God's Claim!

There are plenty of giants still out there.......

November 21, 2015

"This day the Lord will deliver you into my hands, and I'll strike you down and cut off your head. This very day I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds and the wild animals, and the whole world will know that that there is a God in Israel."
I Samuel 17:46

Do you think it is important for the whole world to know about our God?

David thought so and he though it was worth fighting a giant over it. There is time to get some courage and confront a giant.

Defending the Name of God is a cause for fighting giants.

Defending the Fame of God IS a cause for fighting giants.

The giant was cursing God and defaming Him. That was unacceptable to David because he knew God's Name and God's fame must be honored! David understood that if he remained silent his silence would join in the dishonoring of God. David knew that either Goliath would define God's character to the world or he would. He refused to allow an ungodly Philistine to defame the God of Abraham! 

David's courage arose from the cause of defending his God.

Confronting Starbucks over their cup design is not a cause for fighting a giant. Retail stores refusing to say, "Merry Christmas is not a cause for fighting giants.

Giant attacks on the Name of God and the Nature of God are a call to war. 

You must be courageous to speaking the truth in the face of political correctness.

You must be courageous to live godly lives in an ungodly culture.

You must be courageous to preach the Gospel in a world that is often offended by it.

You must be courageous to reach out to hurting people in the Name of the Lord and offering help, hope and healing.

You must be committed to supporting the ministry and message of your local church as it seeks to make Him known in your community!

You must be committed to sending and supporting missionaries to declare God's fame around the world!

Courage arises as you love God's Name and God's Fame more than you love your own life.

Giants can fall when God's people stand in His strength and courageously declare the truth about our God!

November 20, 2015

^“David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.”  I Samuel 17:45

One thing you love more than just about anything else is your name! You love to see it written, you love to hear it spoken, you get happy when you are complimented by name and get angry when someone insults your name.

When you are a Christ-follower the One Name you need to remember above all others is the Name of God! His name is the Name above all Names!

Salvation is in the Name of the Lord!

Power is in the Name of the Lord!

Authority is in the Name of the Lord!

Victory is in the Name of the Lord!

Hope is in the Name of the Lord!

Healing is in the Name of the Lord!

Peace is in the Name of the Lord!

Joy is in the Name of the Lord!

Life is in the Name of the Lord!

No wonder the first three commandments have to do with the reverence of God and His Name.

1) You shall have no other gods before Me.

2) You shall not make idols.

3) You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain.

David’s Name is remembered because He was jealous and zealous for the Name of his God!

For David, when someone disrespected the Name of God those were fighting words no matter how big the guy was! David found courage when He took up the cause of defending God’s Name!

In the Hebrew mind, and most of that ancient culture, a name was the essence of a person’s identity and being. So, when Goliath mocked and blasphemed the Name of God David took it so personally the giant had to die!

We know how highly David esteemed the Name of the Lord because of how he referenced it so reverently and majestically in His Psalms!

Rabbi Harvey Minkoff writes:

The Psalms contain about 100 references to the "shem" of God. Careful attention to the context indicates that the correct interpretation of “shem” varies, including, most significantly, essential nature, power, and reputation. Moreover, comparison of different translations often reveals contrasting implications of this word for "name." The issue is one of interpretation, not translation.

The English word name, too, has various applications: "reputation" as in "ruin his good name"; "fame" as in "made a name for himself"; "authority" as in "I arrest you in the name of the law." Since “shem” has all these connotations, and more, it is accurate to translate “shem” as "name" so long as we exert ourselves to understand what the translation connotes, which may be multiple senses in a single occurrence.

The Name of the Lord is a REAL BIG deal because God is a REALLY BIG deal. So, holding His name in reverence is a big deal. Not reverencing His name is also a big deal.

So, here’s the bottom line, as a follow of Jesus Christ you are expected to love God’s Name above all other names.

Do you? Do you love the Name of God more than you love your own life?

Are you living to make a name for yourself or making a name for God?

How do you speak of His name?

How do you honor His name in your daily living?

You won’t find courage until you commit to the cause of God’s Name and love Him more that life itself.

I’m thinking what it would look like if a church, let’s say FredWes for example, decided the cause of God’s name was more important than making a name for ourselves? What if you and I decided that we loved the name of God more than life itself?

If we are going to take up the cause of “Loving People to LIFE” should that begin with loving God more that life?

November 19, 2015

“And David said, ‘What have I now done? Is there no cause? He then turned away to someone else and brought up the same matter, and the men answered him as before.” I Samuel 17:29-30

David was minding his business doing what his father Jesse had asked him to do – bring a supply of homemade goodies to his brothers on the front lines of the battle against the ferocious Philistines. But when he got there he discovered to his deep disappointment the Army of God was not minding their business. They were cowering in fear while the Philistine Giant boldly blasphemed their God.

That’s an example of what can happen when you lose sight of your cause. It’s very sad isn’t it?

Goliath had a cause and he was committed to it. Because he was clear on his cause and clearly committed to his cause he was winning the day!

The one who is most committed to his cause has the best chance to succeed. If he is willing to devote all the focus and energy and resources of his life to his cause he has a distinct advantage over the uncommitted or marginally committed.

I am convinced that courage flows out of commitment to a cause.

“But Brad,” you’re thinking, “Goliath was twice as big as any of them! What could they do?”

When you are truly committed to a cause you will find a way or you will die trying. Had the soldiers stood a hundred strong, taken him on one at a time eventually they would have worn him out! He could have beaten any of them but he couldn’t have beaten all of them!

David couldn’t match Goliath’s size or strength but he certainly could match his courage because he was more committed to his God cause than Goliath was committed to his!

Perhaps the most powerful lesson that comes from the story of David versus Goliath is this: when two people equally committed to their causes confront each other the best cause wins!

David’s victory over Goliath routed the Philistines and rallied the Israelites because he proved their God was greater than all other gods!

Evil seems to be winning the day in which we live. Giants of Islam and anti-Christian philosophies are on the march primarily because they seem to be more committed to their causes than the people of God.

It’s time for some courageous Christians to stand against the giants and for the cause of Christ. I know this for sure, when your commitment and my commitment equals the commitment of the anti-faith people I believe our cause will prevail!

Courage arises when you commit to a cause that is worth living for or dying for. Courage comes when you believe your cause is greater than any other cause on earth.

David believed it and he was right! Goliath doubted it and he is dead!

Could you use some courage?

What do you believe?

What are you committed to!

Is it worth living for?

Is it worth dying for?

November 18, 2015

“And David said, What have I now done? Is there not a cause?” I Samuel 17:28

I have identified four factors that build courage:

1) God’s Credentials – He is the Creator Who spoke the universe into existence from nothing.

2) God’s Character – He is still the same God today that Created the universe with His word.

3) God’s Calling – The God Who can do everything can so something through me.

4) God’s Cause – Courage rises from the conviction God’s cause is worth fighting for.

Young David the shepherd boy was sent by his father, Jesse, to bring provisions to his three brothers who were soldiers in the Army of God. What he found when he arrived was not what he had expected. David was expecting to see a fighting force but instead he saw a frightened force.

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Every day for 40 days, Goliath the massive Philistine had stepped forward to challenge the army of Israel and curse their God and for 40 days they cowered in fear.

An army that has forgotten what it is fighting for is not worth much. Goliath found it amusing and David found it annoying.

David was confident in God’s credentials. He saw a Giant God but they saw a godless giant.

David was confident in God’s character. He knew God was as powerful and present as ever but they doubted their God.

David was confident God had called him. He had killed a lion and he had killed a bear with his own hands. The only call they could hear was Goliath’s taunts.

David was zealous for the cause of God. I will be writing about the three great causes that David was compelled to fight for. The army of God was compelled by their fears.

What David found upon arriving at the battle front only increased his zeal. When he pressed the issue with his brothers he was rebuked by them. That is when he questioned their courage and resolve with his question, “Is there not a cause?”

Just like an army without a compelling cause is worthless, so is a local church. And so is a follower of Christ.

Your world is filled with giants. Are you confronting them or cowering from them?

Let me ask you, “What is the compelling cause that drives your life?”

Is that cause worth living for?

Is your cause worth fighting for?

Are you willing to die for your cause?

Those are defining questions that demand and deserve serious consideration.

An army without a cause to fight for should not engage the battle. Armies are called together to fight.

A church without a cause is going to drift and decay.

And a Christian without a cause will have little impact.

November 17, 2015

^"Wait and hope for and expect the Lord; be brave and of good courage and let your heart be stout and enduring. Yes, wait for and hope for and expect the Lord." Psalm 27:14 (Amplified Bible)

This one summary verse captures the essence of being free from fear - have faith in the Lord! When life doesn't make sense and you are tempted to fear just wait courageously. Yes, that's right - just wait!

In thinking of this I wonder if one of the reasons so many Christians struggle with fearfulness is because so many struggle with waiting on the Lord. Could that be?

Waiting seems so passive. You want to do something active and make something happen. While there are times that is necessary, waiting on the Lord is not one of the them. While you are waiting you are praying to God and hoping in Him. And you are watching to see how He will work.

When you wait on God you are saying, "I trust in you, Father and I have placed my hopes in you. I know you are at work in this circumstance and I will wait to see what you are doing and let You show me what I need to do."

Does that make sense?

Another way to say it is, "Waiting on the Lord conquers fear."

Let's talk about why that is:

One thing that causes fear is the need for control. The truth is, life is beyond your ability to control it. It is too complex and too unpredictable for any mortal to control it. So, feeling a need to be in control while knowing that there are things beyond your control is frightening!

But as you patiently wait upon God you are, in effect, saying to Him, "God I know I am not in control of my life so I will allow you to be in control and I will watch to see what You do!" That will relieve your fear.

Another common cause of fear is a lack of confidence. When you do not have confidence in yourself you feel powerless and overwhelmed by life, which induces fear. A lack of confidence causes you to doubt your ability to be successful and contributes to the fear of failure.

By waiting on the Lord you say to Him, "I am placing my confidence in You! I trust You to do what is best for me and enable me to do what You want me to do."

That confession of faith in God removes fear!

One more common cause of fear is a lack of courage. When you feel afraid to speak up or take a stand for yourself, for others, or for your beliefs you live in fear of others who seem more courageous.

Often a lack of courage is really a lack of commitment. Fully committed people have strong convictions and those convictions inspire courage. Courage arises from true convictions and faith in those convictions overcomes the fear of not defending them.

For example, a conviction that freedom is worth defending is what gives a man the courage to become a soldier and go into battle. He isn't courageous by nature, but he is committed to remaining free.

Waiting on the Lord demonstrates the courage of your convictions. Believing that He will do what His Word says He will do gives you courage to overcome your fears!

Do you often struggle with fear?

Is fear the dominant emotion of your life?

Does fear keep you from realizing your dreams?

Could your fear be a result of control issues? 

Could it be a lack of confidence or do you lack courage?

Take it to the Lord and wait before Him.

November 15, 2015

“Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey."  Matthew 25:14-15

Let's review this part of the story:

The master, before he left on a long trip called his servants to leave them in charge of his fortune. He divided it up in an uneven way giving one servant five bags, another servant two bags and a third servant one.

Frankly, that sounds sort of unfair. Now, granted when you have eight bags and three servants the math gets a little tricky. But fairness would dictate that he divide them three, three and two.

But he didn't. In this parable the master represents God, so does this mean God is unfair?

Fairness has become an important value in our culture. It was a big issue in the recent Presidential campaigns. The Democrats promise to make outcomes more fair while the Republicans promised to make opportunities more fair.

Think of how much money and man hours and energy and legislation is invested in the attempts to make our society a fairer place.

There are a number of great truths in this well-known parable and among them is that God isn't nearly as concerned about fairness as we are.

Brad, are you saying God is unfair? No, I am not. I am saying to God fairness isn't as important as it is to us. God is beyond fairness - He is just and He is righteous which means that when all is said and done He will make everything perfectly fair.

Lest you unfairly accuse God of being unfair, consider several facts in this story:

1) The master owned all the gold so it his right to do whatever he wants with it. It would be unfair of you to tell him what to do with his gold!

2) He owned the servants, too! It was their duty to serve him by doing what he told them to do. A master had all the rights and his servants had all the responsibility.

3) The master wanted to increase his wealth not just preserve it. Who doesn't want to increase his wealth? You do! I do!

Considering that and factoring how the story ended, this master could have had a greater increase had he given all the gold to the five-talent servant. Think about it. The one with five got five more and the one with two got two more and plus the one equaled 14 bags of gold. But if he had given all eight to the one servant and he doubled it that would have added up to 16!

So, in fact, his attempt to be fair with his servants may have cost him some profit.

Like the master in the parable God is not unfair but He is more concerned with fruitfulness than He is with fairness. You should be too!

I think it is fair to say that we would all be better off if we worried more about fruitfulness and less about fairness. Thus saith the parable!