David's Many Wives

And David sent and proposed to Abigail, to take her as his wife. When the servants of David had come to Abigail at Carmel, they spoke to her saying, “David sent us to you, to ask you to become his wife.” Then she arose, bowed her face to the earth, and said, “Here is your maidservant, a servant to wash the feet of the servants of my lord.” So Abigail rose in haste and rode on a donkey, attended by five of her maidens; and she followed the messengers of David, and became his wife. David also took Ahinoam of Jezreel, and so both of them were his wives. (1 Sam 25:39-43)

I stumbled upon a web site recently titled “Polygamy in the bible – it really is biblical!”  It was a site dedicated to showing how great men of the bible had multiple wives, and therefore, so should we! The site used David as an example; before it’s all over David will have eighteen wives. Wow.  It’s all I can do to be a good husband to one wife; I can’t imagine eighteen.

But there is something that I believe should be pointed out:  In the instances when David inquires of the Lord about a matter, and heeds the voice of the Lord, things turn out well for David. 

However, when David goes forward without seeking the counsel of Lord, things usually blow up. And come to think of it, I don’t see one instance in scripture where David seeks counsel from the Lord on which woman he should marry, or how many women he should marry. This leads me to believe that as much as David was a man after Gods heart, David may have had an area of weakness in his life; Women! And this weakness led to all kinds of problems in David house.  

Join us Sunday as we continue our study in 1 Samuel.

The Fool in Me

This past Sunday we walked through an account where David came very close to ruining his future as king (1 Sam 25).  A harsh, evil man named Nabal rejected David’s request for compensation for protecting his flocks, and he disrespected David in front of his men.  I can imaging as David heard the words of Nabal repeated to him by the young men sent to collect the gift, the anger came like a wave.  This could not be tolerated. David knew what needed to be done to teach this man a lesson:  He would pay a visit to Nabal, and he would kill Nabal, and every single male in his household.  Nabal was a fool, and David was going to cure his foolishness. Like, forever!

(click below to read the full article)

Five things from the life of Samuel

Last Sunday at Calvary Chapel of Wilmington we looked at the life of Samuel the prophet.  Samuel was a transitional figure between the time that God ruled the nation of Israel through His appointed judges, and the monarchy that we established under king Saul.  But Samuel was also much more than just a judge; he was a model of godly leadership. Samuel was a man who had learned to hear the voice of God, be obedient to His words, and speak the truth, no matter what the consequences might be. Samuel was like EF Hutton: When he spoke, everyone listened!

(click below to read the rest of the article)

Then Samuel Died...

This Sunday we are going to make great strides in our study of 1 Samuel; we’re going to cover ONE VERSE!

Then Samuel died; and the Israelites gathered together and lamented for him, and buried him at his home in Ramah.  (1 Sam 25:1)

I thought it worth taking a scenic diversion to highlight the life of God’s man during the transition period from the nation being led by prophet/judges, to kings: Samuel. We’ll look at a panorama of his life and see what we can learn from this great man of God.

Samuel was a one of the greatest men in the bible (not my words, but God’s, see Jeremiah 15:1).  What was it that made him such an incredible man of God?  Was he born into this greatness? Was he special?  Was he just lucky to be born at the right time, in the right place? Actually, none of these things could account for Samuel's greatness.  Samuel was a great man of God because of three things:

• He sought to hear the voice of God
• He was obedient to God’s voice
• He truthfully spoke the word of God.

 Join us Sunday, 9:30 & 11:30, as we look at the life and times of Samuel.

Pastor Clay

PAYBACK!

All of us at some point have experienced someone doing us wrong, or deliberately hurting us. When it happens, it stings!  But its interesting that many times the tables will eventually turn.  Somewhere along the way the very person that hurt us will be in a position of needing something from us.  At some juncture we'll be in a position where we are the one in power, where we can harm them.  What goes around, comes around, as they say.

When that happens the question is rarely "what do i want to do?"  We KNOW what we want to do; Its PAYBACK TIME!  I think the real questions is "what WILL I do?"  Will I be led by my flesh, which always wants payback, or will I be led by the Spirit and word of God, which tells us " Vengeance is Mine, I will repay" (Rom 12:9)? 

It is those moments when we are in control, when we have the power, that reveals what is truly in our heart.  Those are the defining moments of our lives.  

In 1 Samuel 24 we find David in that exact situation:  Saul is vulnerable, he has been delivered up to Davids hand, and David can do with Saul whatever seems good to David.  What will David do?

Join us Sunday, May 13, for PAYBACK! a study of 1 Samuel 24.

Pastor Clay

This might be the tipping point

Many thoughtful and sincere friends have given me counsel about my public comments regarding politics, and our president, noting that “being political” could hamper my effectiveness as a pastor.  I understand their sentiments, and their concern for the church in general.

But this week our president has done something that may well push me past the point of silence.  No, it wasn’t his coming out in support of gay marriage.  I can disagree with the president on an issue (actually many issues), and still respect the position of president (Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king. 1 Peter 2:7).

What president Obama did that I find particularly offensive is that in his statements in support for gay marriage, he invoked the name of Jesus Christ:

“This is something that, you know, [Michelle and I have] talked about over the years and she, you know, she feels the same way, she feels the same way that I do. And that is that, in the end the values that I care most deeply about and she cares most deeply about is how we treat other people and, you know, I, you know, we are both practicing Christians and obviously this position may be considered to put us at odds with the views of others but, you know, when we think about our faith, the thing at root that we think about is, not only Christ sacrificing himself on our behalf, but it’s also the Golden Rule, you know, treat others the way you would want to be treated…”

So let me get this straight Mr. President; You support homosexual relationships, and your basis for that support is your faith in Jesus Christ? You believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross to pay the penalty for the sins of mankind, and that means we must promote and condone a lifestyle that is not only at odds with “others,” but is at odds with God’s word?

Mr. President, I support your right to hold whatever position you wish on the issue of gay marriage. But I take offense that you would invoke the name of Jesus Christ as the basis for that support, as if Jesus Himself would support gay marriage.  If you wish to know Jesus’ position on marriage, He stated it quite clearly in Matthew 19:

Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning ‘made them male and female,’  and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate. (Matt 19:4-6)

Yes we are instructed in scripture to honor the king, but that doesn’t mean that we must stay silent when the name of Jesus is blasphemed.  John the Baptist was imprisoned, then beheaded, because he confronted Herod over this marriage to his brothers wife, Herodias:

For Herod himself had sent and laid hold of John, and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife; for he had married her. Because John had said to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife. (Mark 6:17-18)

I encourage every follower of Jesus Christ to contact the White House, and RESPECTFULLY state your position on the president’s comments.  (Honor the Lord in all you do, including raising an objection to our political leaders.)

and ... PRAY for our nation.  that our leaders would seek the face of God, and that there would be revival and repentance in the land.  

Why is it important?  For one, he has grossly misrepresented the name and nature of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Second, it deceives those who may not know any better, leading them to believe that somehow God would condone gay marriage. Third, God sees the sins of a nation, and at some point when those sins are filled up, God will bring judgment to that nation (see Ezekiel 22 below). 

http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/submit-questions-and-comments

(I notice that the white house contact form is currently “undergoing maintenance.  Hmmm.)

you can also phone: 202-456-1111

And the word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Son of man, say to her: ‘You are a land that is not cleansed or rained on in the day of indignation.’ The conspiracy of her prophets in her midst is like a roaring lion tearing the prey; they have devoured people; they have taken treasure and precious things; they have made many widows in her midst. Her priests have violated My law and profaned My holy things; they have not distinguished between the holy and unholy, nor have they made known the difference between the unclean and the clean; and they have hidden their eyes from My Sabbaths, so that I am profaned among them. Her princes in her midst are like wolves tearing the prey, to shed blood, to destroy people, and to get dishonest gain. Her prophets plastered them with untempered mortar, seeing false visions, and divining lies for them, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord God,’ when the Lord had not spoken. The people of the land have used oppressions, committed robbery, and mistreated the poor and needy; and they wrongfully oppress the stranger. So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one. Therefore I have poured out My indignation on them; I have consumed them with the fire of My wrath; and I have recompensed their deeds on their own heads,” says the Lord God. (Ez 22:23-31)

JUMP!

Have I not commanded you? “Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go. (Joshua 1:9)

FACT: Most Americans have never taken a significant risk in any area of their lives. The ease of our lifestyle and the comfort of our standard of living has, in many ways, created a risk-averse societal perspective. In America we love our life, and so we like to stay in the “safety zone.” Most people stay within their family boundaries for their entire life. Many have never ventured outside of the state in which they live, they will never see the shores of a foreign country. Few people have ever jumped out of a plane, scuba dived, gone over 70 mph in a car, or played a contact sport.

But in the context of our Christian walk, there is this thing called FAITH, and faith often requires us to be willing to step outside of that safety zone, and take a risk.  My question to you this week:  Are you living in the “spiritual safe zone?

This Sunday we’ll be hearing from some of our CCW folks who took a risk, stepped out, and obeyed God.  They got on a plane and flew to a far-away country.  They took a venture of faith, and Sunday you will hear their story.  Don’t miss it.

Pastor Clay