New Things I Declare

Behold, the former things have come to pass, and new things I declare; before they spring forth I tell you of them. (Is 42:9)

The dawn of a new year is a unique time.  Many of us will reflect on our lives over the course of the past year; was it a “good year?”  “Bad year?”  Somewhere in between?

I suppose that the thing that determines whether we consider 2011 a ‘good’ or ‘bad’ year has something to do with our perspective; how we measure the past year of our life.  If I asked you to rate the past year, what criteria would you use?

Finances?  Career? Health? Relationships? Spiritual growth?

In reality, all of these are valid areas to evaluate, as they are all important aspects of our lives.  

From a biblical standpoint, there isn’t a scripture that tells us that on January 1^st we should take stock of our lives, and make new years resolutions.  But there are verses that tell us to examine ourselves. For instance, Galatians 6:4 tell us:

But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. (Gal 6:4)

This Sunday I’ll be sharing more on this subject, but until then I will leave you with three questions to ponder:

#1 Are the things I am doing today; physically, emotionally, spiritually, working for my life?

#2 Am I being a good and faithful steward of the things God has entrusted to me?

#3 Am I living my life with purpose?

Join us Sunday at 9 or 11 am for our New Years Day service:  New Things I Declare.

… till the whole world hears,

Pastor Clay

The Greatest Gift

This week as I’ve been preparing for the message on Sunday, the Lord took me, of all places, to Malachi. Malachi is an interesting book in that the message to Israel came at a time when there was a great cloud of spiritual apathy hovering over the nation.  The people were half-hearted towards the things of God.  There was a great divide between God and His people, and no matter how much God encouraged His people to turn back to Him, they seemed to have this “ho hum” attitude towards Him.  The people were so focused on their own lives, their prosperity, and their comfort, they didn't really have time for God.

In a way this scenario reminds me of the attitude our society has towards Christmas.  The focus is on whether sales will be up or flat; or how people are adjusting to the new financial situation; or whether a town can display a nativity scene on public property.

Perhaps just as Malachi urged the nation of Israel to turn their hearts back to God, we should be urged to recognize this holiday for it’s true meaning: The celebration of the greatest gift ever given, God’s Son, the Lord Jesus Christ!

Join us this Sunday for "Christ, the Greatest Gift"

Pastor Clay

Love Believes the Best

Now it had happened as they were coming home, when David was returning from the slaughter of the Philistine, that the women had come out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tambourines, with joy, and with musical instruments. So the women sang as they danced, and said: “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.”

Then Saul was very angry, and the saying displeased him; and he said, “They have ascribed to David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed only thousands. Now what more can he have but the kingdom?” So Saul eyed David from that day forward. (1 Sam 18:6-9)

What an interesting study of human behavior this little section of scripture is.  See, you would think that because David was so highly regarded by the people, it would be a good thing for the Kingdom.  For Saul to have a person on staff that was doing a great job and that the people were totally excited about, it should have been a reflection of Saul’s wisdom in promoting David. But because Saul was self-absorbed, he saw David’s popularity as a threat to his leadership, even his position as king.

From this point forward Saul’s mind is filled with suspicion towards David. He’ll begin to hear most everything David says with suspicious ears.  He’ll look at most all David’s actions with suspicious eyes.  His thoughts about David will be twisted by suspicion.  In Saul we see the exact opposite of what God calls us to:

Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. (1 Cor 13:4-7)

In other words, as God’s people we are called to believe the best about people. I have found this principle to be life changing in every relationship in my life.  When someone does or says something that I don’t like I can do one of two things:

I can assume the worst:  That they don’t like me, that they are trying to hurt me, that they have an agenda against me.

Or, I can assume the best:  Perhaps I misunderstood them, perhaps what they said didn’t come out the way they meant it, or perhaps they were just having a bad day!

See when I believe the worst about a person or a situation, I start taking everything they say or do personal.  I start wondering what else they may have said about me.  Before too long, I have convicted and condemned that person in my mind.  And of course, once I’ve convicted them of the crime, the next logical step is the punishment. My thoughts can very easily lead to negative actions against them.

But if I am willing to be obedient to Gods word, and believe the best about that person, the complete opposite happens.  I don’t worry about what else they might be saying, or what they really think about me.  I don’t take what they say or do personal. I give grace. My thoughts still lead to actions, but they are positive actions!

So next time someone says or does something that upsets you, consider 1 Cor 13, and ask the God to help you believe the best about that person!

… till the whole world hears,

Pastor Clay

Give Thanks...

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving Day, and people everywhere are busy preparing, traveling, cleaning, and getting ready for company.  Things are no different here at CCW, as we are preparing for our Thanksgiving Feast tomorrow, where we expect to feed over 200 people (CLICK HERE for more info). 

But before we get too busy, let’s take time to remember why we are thankful.  Sure we are thankful for having a place to live, food to eat, family, these are not small things.  But as Christians we have so much more reason to be thankful, because we have been given a kingdom which cannot be shaken (Heb 12:28), we have been given eternal life (John 3:15), we have been given abundant life (John 10:10), all through the person of Jesus Christ! 

O Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD; Let us shout joyfully to the rock of our salvation. Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms. For the LORD is a great God, And a great King above all gods, In whose hand are the depths of the earth; The peaks of the mountains are His also. The sea is His, for it was He who made it; And His hands formed the dry land. Come, let us worship and bow down; Let us kneel before the LORD our Maker. -- Psalm 95:1-6

This Sunday will be normal service times, 9 & 11 am, and we’ll be finishing up the account of David and Goliath: Rally in the Valley Part 2!

… till the whole world hears,

Pastor Clay

Rally in the Valley

This Sunday we are going to explore what could be said to be the most famous battle ever fought:  David & Goliath.  It’s the quintessential story of good vs evil, of the weak vs the strong, the story of the victory of the underdog. It’s the Old Testament version of Rocky!

Something that really intrigues me about this account is the aspect of God’s plan, linked together with David’s obedience, empowered by David’s faith and God’s Spirit working in David, produced a result that absolutely no one was expecting. No one, that is, except God!

See sometimes it seems that we’re all alone in our endeavor.  No one is for us, and no one is willing to go into the battle with us. But saints, we are NOT alone.  God is for us, and He will empower us if we will step out in faith to what He has called us to.  Even slaying giants!

Join us Sunday, for 1 Samuel 17, Rally in the Valley!

…till the whole world hears,

Pastor Clay

The Power of Worship

And so it was, whenever the spirit from God was upon Saul, that David would take a harp and play it with his hand. Then Saul would become refreshed and well, and the distressing spirit would depart from him. – 1 Sam 16:23

This past Sunday we learned a powerful truth that I believe has the power to change our walk with Christ:  The Power of Worship.

We learned that worship has power:  Power to bring refreshment, power to bring victory, and power to bring the Kingdom!

But why is worship really important?  What’s the big deal?  Isn’t it just music? 

Worship can involve music, but it is so much more.  Worship is something that dates to eternity past that involved an angel who was called the “seal of perfection.” His name was Lucifer:

“You were the seal of perfection, Full of wisdom and perfect in beauty.
You were in Eden, the garden of God; Every precious stone was your covering: The sardius, topaz, and diamond, Beryl, onyx, and jasper, Sapphire, turquoise, and emerald with gold. The workmanship of your timbrels and pipes was prepared for you on the day you were created.
“You were the anointed cherub who covers; I established you; You were on the holy mountain of God; You walked back and forth in the midst of fiery stones.
-- Ez 28:12-14

Ezekiel is describing an angelic being that radiated the splendor of God in all of His creative ability.  This being was crafted to produce beauty: He was beautiful to look upon, and beautiful to listen to.  This being was created to bring glory to the Living God in the eternal realm.

But there was a problem – apparently Lucifer was so splendid, so incredible, that he became completely enamored of himself, and decided that he should be the one receiving worship. And this was a problem:

You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created, till iniquity was found in you.
“By the abundance of your trading You became filled with violence within, And you sinned; Therefore I cast you as a profane thing Out of the mountain of God; And I destroyed you, O covering cherub, From the midst of the fiery stones.
“Your heart was lifted up because of your beauty; You corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor; I cast you to the ground, I laid you before kings, that they might gaze at you.
-- Ez 28:12-17

Isaiah 14 describes the fall:

Your pomp is brought down to Sheol, and the sound of your stringed instruments; The maggot is spread under you, and worms cover you.’
“How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, you who weakened the nations!
For you have said in your heart:‘ I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation on the farthest sides of the north;
I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.’
Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol, to the lowest depths of the Pit.
“Those who see you will gaze at you, and consider you, saying:‘ Is this the man who made the earth tremble, who shook kingdoms,
Who made the world as a wilderness and destroyed its cities, who did not open the house of his prisoners?’
-- Is 14:11-17

From this we learn that worship is holy, that it is set apart for God alone, for God alone is the only being worthy of our worship.  Lucifer, who we now call Satan, is not worthy of our worship, yet he desires it more than anything else.  That tells you something about the importance and value of worship.  And it brings us back to our truth about what worship brings:

Refreshment

When we are engaged in worship of the true and Living God, the result is refreshment.  But its not refreshing because the music is nice, it is refreshing because God is enthroned on the praise of His people:

But You are holy, enthroned in the praises of Israel. – Ps 22:3

In other words, when we praise Him, a spiritual reality is happening, we are enthroning God in our praise.  As we enthrone God, God refreshes us – as rain refreshes the fields:

Ask the LORD for rain, in the time of the latter rain. The LORD will make flashing clouds; He will give them showers of rain, grass in the field for everyone.
– Zech 10:1

Victory

This is pretty simple to me.  Satan desires to receive worship as God, but he isn’t God.  When we worship the true God, it throws that reality right in Satan’s face!  He can’t stand it. The enemies of God flee when God’s people worship Him. In military terms, when you’re enemy runs away, it’s called victory!

Kingdom

As Christians we live with the promise of the future eternal kingdom of God in heaven, but there is a present sense of the kingdom of God that we should not miss: God working in and through us!  When the Pharisee’s asked Jesus about the kingdom, He replied:

The kingdom of God does not come with observation; nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you. -- Luke 17:20-21

Saints, we should keep our eye’s focused on the coming of our Lord:

For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ… -- Phil 3:20

But we also should walk in the power and freedom of the kingdom of God that is within us.  Worship is something that recognizes that kingdom, embraces that kingdom, and manifests the power and presence of the Living God in our lives right now – today!

Oh, sing to the LORD a new song! Sing to the LORD, all the earth.
Sing to the LORD, bless His name; Proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day.
Declare His glory among the nations, His wonders among all peoples.
For the LORD is great and greatly to be praised; He is to be feared above all gods.
For all the gods of the peoples are idols, But the LORD made the heavens.
Honor and majesty are before Him; Strength and beauty are in His sanctuary.
 Give to the LORD, O families of the peoples, Give to the LORD glory and strength.
Give to the LORD the glory due His name; Bring an offering, and come into His courts.
Oh, worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness! Tremble before Him, all the earth.
-- Ps 96:1-9

Think about these truths the next time you come to worship the Lord, whether in church, your home, or sitting on the beach.  

Pastor Clay

God's Plan for your life

Last week we were introduced to a young man named David, who at the time was only a young boy keeping sheep, but we know that God had bigger plans for David’s life!

I hear many people ask the question: “Does God have a plan for my life?” Here’s the deal: The question is NOT “does God have a plan,” but rather “What is God’s plan for my life?” Because rest assured, God DOES have a plan for your life! You may not know it yet, God may not have revealed it to you completely, but I want you to know, for sure, God has a plan for you!  The problem is that often we see ourselves as just one of billions, and we think God has other, more important people to work with.

This past week the population of the earth passed seven BILLION. That is a lot of people! But here’s the thing:  

You are not just a speck of life in a pool of humanity; God specifically designed you in your mother’s womb as a unique individual, different from each and every other of the seven billion people on this planet.   

And if God custom designed you, then it stands to reason that He custom designed you for a purpose!  And that purpose cannot be fulfilled by any other of the seven billion people on this planet, because they are not YOU! And it really doesn’t matter if our purpose seems to be as important as the next person because everything that God does works together to fulfill His great commission: to spread the gospel message from one end of the earth to the other.  There are no minor parts.  Every part is important.

So folks, don’t limit what God can do through based on your view of your importance, or your age, or even your ability’s, because that is not what God needs.  God only needs two things in order to work through us, like we learned about David:

#1 – A heart that seeks after God

#2 – The filling of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

That’s it!  I know, it sounds simple.  That’s why a lot of people miss it completely. I think it’s time we begin to fully and completely seek after God, and ask be filled with the Holy Spirit of God, and let’s just see what God might do! Trust me, if you seek Him, He will answer.  Jesus promised it:

For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.  Luke 11:10

Pastor Clay

David, God's Chosen King

One of the things that Christians often struggle with is knowing the will and call of God on their life. We’ll assess our gifts, our abilities, and our circumstances, and try to figure out what God has in store for us. 

The problem is we often see ourselves as small and unimportant; a mere speck in the pool of seven billion lives on this planet. But if that is how we see ourselves, we would be wrong! Each and every life is important to God. Each and every believer has a plan and a purpose for the life they have received. Jesus said

I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly! -- John 10:10

You see, God’s ways are higher than ours. He see’s the future, we cannot.  He see’s what we are capable of, while we do not.  Even more important, God can see what He is going to accomplish through us by the working of His mighty power in our lives.

This Sunday we will be introduced to a young man named David who, it could be said, was fairly obscure.  He was the youngest of eight brothers.  He was the least of all the members of his family.  He was so unimportant that when the prophet Samuel invited his family to a sacrifice and a meal, he wasn’t even invited.  But God knew who David was.  God had already searched the heart of this young man named David, and saw things in his future that David had never even dreamed of.

What was the defining characteristic of David?  Was he big and strong?  Was he valiant?  Was he skilled with a sword? Doubtful, as David was probably between 10-15 years old at that time. But there were two things in particular that set David apart:

#1 – David was a man after God’s heart:

The LORD has sought for Himself a man after His own heart, and the LORD has commanded him to be commander over His people – 1 Sam 13:14

#2 – The Spirit of the Lord was on David:

…the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. -- 1 Sam 16:13

The interesting thing about these two attributes is that we aren’t born with them, and they aren’t the result of good genes or family endowment.  These are attributes that are available to any born-again believer that is willing to submit their life to God, and walk in the power of the Holy Spirit.

God’s choice of David shows that we don’t have to quit our jobs and enter into full-time ministry to be people after God’s own heart. We don’t need to be famous or prominent to be people after God’s own heart. We don’t need to be respected or even liked by others to be people after God’s own heart. We don’t need status, influence, power, the respect or approval of men, or great responsibilities to be people after God’s own heart.All we need is a heart that is submitted to God and to the Holy Spirit that lives within us.

Don’t miss this Sunday, as we open a new chapter in our study of 1 Samuel: David, God’s Chosen King

… till the whole world hears,

Pastor Clay

Manly Revolution

What an incredible weekend at Calvary Wilmington! We had a great turnout for the Manly Revolution men’s conference, powerful worship, hard-hitting teaching, and some super manly completion (let’s hear it for the GREEN team!)!

I really appreciated Pastor Sandy Adams coming to teach, encourage, exhort, and even correct us with God’s word. We learned some powerful truths about being a godly man, a godly husband, and a godly father.  For me personally, I gained a new respect for the responsibility that God has given me to raise up the next generation of world-changers and god-lovers.

This weekend has also given me a vision for the 2012 Men’s Breakfast emphasis, to continue the Manly Revolution here at Calvary of Wilmington. I will be asking you men to pray with me as I seek the Lord to put together the teachings and the events for next year. Starting in 1Q12, we will be focusing our monthly sessions on digging deeper into our role as men, husbands, and fathers.  I can’t wait to see the results!

Yesterday I took my boys to see Courageous, and I bumped into several men from the church (awesome!).  At the end of the movie, the main character stood at the podium of his church and challenged the men sitting in the congregation, “who will stand and fight for our families,” then he answers his own question:  “I WILL!” While that might have been a great movie scene, the question begs to be answered in our own churches:  "Who will stand and fight for our families?"  I hope your answer is "I WILL!"

FYI, if you missed the conference, we will have the conference audio sessions available in about 2 weeks. 

Pastor Clay

The Offering

Dear church, 

recently we have made some changes to our services.  One of the changes was to have one of the pastors come up and pray for the offering.  I have received feedback on this part of our service; some positive, some negative. 

I realize that there will be many perspectives among the church regarding something as personal as the offering, and I know that it is not possible to please everyone regarding this matter, but I do feel it’s important to let you know where our hearts are regarding this part of our service.

As a pastoral staff, our heart is to find a balance where…

1. We ensure the congregation has an understanding of how money and possessions are dealt with in God’s kingdom;
2. We give people an opportunity to participate in His kingdom, both spiritually, practically, and financially.
3. We do not make people feel guilty if the aren't able to give, or don't want to give. 

I realize that having one of the pastors come up to bless the offering may seem we are bringing attention to the offering time, but please know that is not our intent.  Our intent is that our offering would be a time of spiritual worship and thanksgiving. If we get the sense that the way we take the offering is not what’s best for the church and the congregation, we will change it.

Also, we’ve been reminding the congregation about the offering we are taking this Sunday for the Children’s Ministry modular classroom. This follows the model that the apostle Paul gave us in 2 Corinthians 9, as he sent word to the church that he was coming to collect an offering for the saints in Jerusalem. He told them what the need was, that he was coming to pick it up, and that he wanted them to be prepared. He then went on to preach a mini-sermon on giving:

Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

As it is written:  “They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor; their righteousness endures forever.” Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.

This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, others will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!

 – 2 Cor 9:6-15 (NIV)

It is an interesting fact: There are approximately five hundred verses in the bible that deal with prayer, approximately five hundred verses that deal with faith, but there are over two thousand verses that deal with the subject of money and possessions.  Jesus talked about money in sixteen of His thirty eight parables.  While I would not go so far to say that money is a central theme of the bible, or Jesus’ ministry, it is clear that God wants us to understand His principles concerning money and possessions. 

So I will leave you with this:  At CCW our desire is to do all we have been given by the Lord with excellence and integrity, and we will trust the Lord to provide all that we need for every work that He gives us.  There will be times where we let you know what the needs are so that you may seek the Lord regarding your gift, and as Paul noted “Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”

… till the whole world hears,

Pastor Clay

...in the multitude of Your mercy.

This coming Sunday is communion service.  To be honest, I was unaware of it until someone texted me and ask about it.  Yes, I have an excuse:  I have been having some serious technical issues with my computer and my ‘smart phone’ (which, it turns out, isn’t so smart!). All of my calendar events were wiped out, including my reminder of Communion this Sunday.

But then as I started reviewing the latter part of 1 Samuel 14, something really jumped out at me.  See I was reading about how Saul, once he saw that the Philistine army was in chaos, made the men of the army take an oath that they would not eat anything until the Philistine army was defeated. His exact words were “Cursed is the man who eats any food until evening, before I have taken vengeance on my enemies” (1 Sam 14:24).

What Saul did was wrong on so many level’s (which we will get into later!), but there was one specific way that stood out to me:  Saul took something that was good and spiritual, a fast, and forced it on his men.

As I read that, and contemplated on our upcoming communion service, I had to ask:  Are we doing it just because it’s on our calendar, and we always do it the second Sunday of the month?  Or are we coming to communion with hearts ready to fellowship with the Lord, and with one another?

I don’t know about you, but I never want to approach something as holy and spiritual as the Lord’s Supper with an attitude of “well, it’s communion Sunday again!”  For me, I am going to take time this week to reflect on who Jesus Christ is to me, what He has done for me, and how I can be closer to Him.  I encourage you to do the same, and then on Sunday let’s come together, the Lord Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit in our presence, and worship our Lord and our King!

But as for me, I will come into Your house in the multitude of Your mercy; In fear of You I will worship toward Your holy temple.  Ps 5:7

 

… till the whole world hears,

Pastor Clay

Does the bible have application for us today?

Edmund Allenby, the "bloody bull"

Last week we learned about how Jonathan used a unique rock formation to his advantage in gaining an upper hand against the Philistines, even though he was on lower ground. God was working supernaturally, through the natural.  God wins the same kind of victories today. In fact, one military man read this account and used Jonathan’s exact strategy to win an important battle. Here is the story from Major Vivian Gilbert, a British Army Officer

 -------------------

In the First World War a brigade major in Allenby’s army in Palestine was on one occasion searching his Bible with the light of a candle, looking for a certain name. His brigade had received orders to take a village that stood on a rocky prominence on the other side of a deep valley. It was called Michmash and the name seemed somehow familiar. Eventually he found it in 1 Samuel 13 and read there: 

“And Saul, and Jonathan his son, and the people that were present with them, abode in Gibeah of Benjamin but the Philistines encamped in Michmash.” 

It then went on to tell how Jonathan and his armour-bearer crossed over during the night “to the Philistines’ garrison” on the other side, and how they passed two sharp rocks: “there was a sharp rock on the one side, and a sharp rock on the other side: and the name of the one was Bozez and the name of the other Seneh.” They clambered up the cliff and overpowered the garrison, “within as it were a half acre of land, which a yoke of oxen might plough.” The main body of the enemy awakened by the melee thought they were surrounded by Saul’s troops and “melted away and they went on beating down one another.” Thereupon Saul attacked with his whole force and beat the enemy. “So the Lord saved Israel that day.”

The brigade major reflected that there must still be this narrow passage through the rocks, between two spurs, and at the end of it the “half acre of land.” He woke the commander and there read the passage through together once more. Patrols were sent out. They found the pass, which was thinly held by the Turks, and which led past two jagged rocks - obviously Bozez and Seneh. Up on top, beside Michmash, they could see by the light of the moon a small flat field. The brigadier altered his plan of attack. Instead of deploying the whole brigade he sent one company through the pass under cover of darkness. The few Turks whom they met were overpowered without a sound, the cliffs were scaled, and shortly before daybreak the company had taken up a position on “the half acre of land.”

The Turks woke up and took to their heels in disorder since they thought they were being surrounded by Allenby’s army. They were all killed or taken prisoner. And so, after thousands of years British troops successfully copied the tactics of Saul and Jonathan. (Keller, The Bible As History, pages 179-180)

------------------

Does the bible have application for us today?  Just ask Allenby!

Fearless - follow up

Last week we looked at 1 Samuel 14, and how Jonathan was a man that was fearless and full of faith!  We learned four great truths from the scriptures last week:

Lesson #1 - Sometimes we have to step out in faith

We can sit around and hope God raises up someone to go into the Philistine camp…

Or we can stand up and say “here I am God, I’m ready, use me”

Lesson #2 - When we step out into God’s plan, God will meet us there.

We can say “Oh look, God is working over there, that is just so awesome…”  as we sit under our tree.

Or we can get up and get involved in what God is doing!

Lesson #3 - The enemy is not as tough as we think.

We can look at our circumstances, our situation, and think “I can’t be used by God right now, because I have too many problems”, “or I’m too busy,” or “it’s too big for me to handle,” or “it won’t work…”

Or we can get up and face our Philistines in the power of the Living God!

Lesson #4 - Our faith encourages others

There may be people around you that are too afraid to move, paralyzed by their situations, sitting in fear, perhaps even walked away from God altogether.

Saints, when those people see you step out, fearless and full of faith, it will give them the courage to get up, and get back into the fight!

So, where are you today with the Lord?   

Are you like Saul, sitting in the shade of your Pomegranate tree, wondering what to do next?

 Or are you like Jonathan, looking out at the world around you, and thinking “I’m going to step out in faith, and see what God might do through me?”

… till the whole world hears,

Pastor Clay

Fearless

Our journey in 1 Samuel has been quite a ride! But what is really amazing to me is that wherever we are in God’s word, there is application that speaks directly into our lives today: as individuals, and as a church.

Last week we looked at 1 Sam 13:1-14 as an encouragement that we never want to find ourselves in the situation where we are lamenting “what could have been, if only I had obeyed God!”  This message challenged me, as I know it did many of you, that we should seek to live our lives in full obedience to God, no matter what He calls us to.  For in that obedience we will find our true fulfillment, our purpose for which we were created!

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. – Eph 2:10

But stepping out in obedience can be a little risky.  Actually it can be very risky.  What if we fail?  What if God isn’t with us?  What if…??

This Sunday we’ll be introduced to a young man who believes God, and is not afraid to put that belief to the test.  While his dad Saul sits under a tree, Jonathan goes up to face the Philistines with only his armor-bearer at his side.  There is only one word to describe this young man, Jonathan:  Fearless!

I love it.  Just when it looks like things are going south, their leader has failed them, most of the men have melted away into the forest or into caves, here comes this young man, fearless and full of faith! 

It never ceases to amaze me what God can do through a single person.  Imagine what He can do through five people, or ten people, or a hundred saints, full of faith and fearless!

Join us Sunday at 9 & 11 am, 1 Samuel 13:15-14:23 – Fearless.

… till the whole world hears,

Pastor Clay

What could have been...

“You acted foolishly,” Samuel said. “You have not kept the command the LORD your God gave you; if only you had, he would have established your kingdom over Israel for all time.” 1 Samuel 13:13

It’s a moment you never want to have. A 13:13 moment.

A 13:13 moment is that moment you realize what you could have had, if only you had ______ (fill in the blank).

What a scary verse this is. Besides the fact that you have a double instance of an unlucky number (13:13), what Samuel is saying to Saul should be a cautionary note to all of us: I never want to say “I could have had the blessing of God, if only I had…”

See, when we think about the consequences of sin or disobeying a specific instruction from God, we usually focus on the negative consequences that happen to us as a result.

…if you sleep around, you could get an STD or get pregnant.

…if you cut a corner at work, you could lose your job.

…if you ignore God’s calling, you could end up in the wrong career.

Those are definitely bad consequences, but there is another side of the equation that we should consider:  If we are unwilling to obey God, we may miss an incredible blessing that God has planned for our lives.

...the ministry you could have had.

...the marriage you could have had.

...the life you could have had.

Last week I challenged you to go home to fast and pray, and seek the Lord as to what He would have for you.  

...what ministry He has for you.  

...who He wants you to reach out to. 

...what He wants you to invest in His kingdom.  

Whatever God is asking of you, believe me, it’s not about what He wants from you. It’s what He wants for you.

And you can have it, if only you will…

Join us Sunday, as we return to our study of 1 Samuel 13.

... till the whole world hears, 

Pastor Clay

Audacious Prayers

This morning, as we do every Wednesday, our pastors came together to pray for YOU, the church.  It’s a great time of fellowship and unity, praying in agreement for the ministries and the people! 

But I wanted you to know that we are not just praying, we are PRAYING BIG.  We are asking God to do BIG THINGS in our church.  Not so much “make us the biggest church,” but rather “Lord, do big things in the life of every person that we come in contact with!”

• When a person walks in that is addicted to alcohol or drugs, God we ask you to do a big thing: Break the bondage of addiction and set them free!
• When a marriage is on the rocks, God we ask you to do a big thing:  Remove the anger and bitterness, and set that couple on a path of reconciliation in love and humility.
• When a family is struggling financially, God we ask you to do a big thing:  Open the windows of heaven and pour out a blessing that cannot be contained!

We often proclaim how big our God is, and how great His power is, but do we pray expecting big and great things?  I have to admit, sometimes I don’t.  Sometimes I pray and ask for the minimum.  Why do I do that?  Perhaps because I'm not sure God will come through, so only ask for a little bit, and if nothing happens, then perhaps no one will notice.  Enough of that! God is changing how I pray.  No more little prayers.  No more asking for the bare minimum. From now on I want to pray big prayers. Audacious prayers!

James had it right when he said

“You do not have because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures” -- James 4:2-3

Jesus told His disciples that if they had faith, they could move mountains…

“Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done. If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.” – Matt 21:21-22

I’ll be honest church; there are some mountains in our midst that need to be moved.  There are some big things God wants to do, and we wont be able to do them without the power of God on our lives (Eph 1:18-21).

Will we believe God for the big things?  Will we even ask for the big things?

Church, I believe we should ask for the big things.