“Proper Perspective”

False Evidence Appearing Real

Fear can paralyze us when our perspective is faulty.  While we should be AWARE of the events that are occurring on earth, our FOCUS should not be a slave to these events. 

In 1 Samuel 17, the Israelite army was being terrorized by Goliath from the Philistine army and they were frightened of him.  During one of his visits, David came on the scene and inquired about the reward for disposing of this man who had the audacity to defy the army that belonged to God.  While the soldiers feared Goliath, David saw a defeated foe. 

After David assured Saul that Goliath would die like the bear and the lion that he had previously killed, he went out to engage the giant in combat.  When Goliath squared off with David, he may have been baffled by David’s confidence since he was almost five feet taller than David.  However, 1 Samuel 5 provides some history which could explain David’s lack of fear.  In that account, the Philistines captured the ark of God and took it to the house of Dagon, their god.  The next morning, they found Dagon on his face bowing down to the ark of God.  They set Dagon upright in his previous position.  The following morning, they saw that Dagon had once again fallen before the ark of God.  This time his hands and head had been broken off.  Following this incident, God afflicted the Philistines with tumors which caused them to realize that they needed to return the ark of God to the Israelites. 

God had already proven that when He intervenes in any situation, there isn’t any force that can contend with Him.  However, as the Israelite soldiers stood in front of Goliath, they feared him because they only saw how big he was.  David was not afraid of Goliath because he only saw how big God is.  It’s all a matter of having proper perspective.

Proverbs 3:25-26

²⁵ Do not be afraid of sudden danger,
Nor of trouble from the wicked when it comes;
²⁶ For the Lord will be your confidence,
And will keep your foot from being caught.

 

“Devotion”

Who Do We Give Our Allegiance To?

When people choose to follow the world over Christ, we should not keep them as friends or remain loyal to them.  Our devotion is to Jesus and our support is reserved for those who remain faithful to Him.

In Mark 10, Jesus was engaged in conversation with a young man who was financially wealthy.  This man wanted to understand the process to obtaining eternal life.  After reminding the young man of the commandments that had been given to the Israelites to live by, Jesus presented him with a challenge that would reveal where his heart was.  The challenge was to sell everything that he owned and give the money to the poor.  When the young man realized what he would have to do to prove his allegiance to God, he walked away.  Jesus did not pursue him or make him feel better for choosing things over God.  We all have our individual choice to make in regard to giving our allegiance to Christ or the world.   

1 John 2 :15-17

¹⁵ Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. ¹⁶ For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. ¹⁷ The world is passing away and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God continues to live forever.

 

 

“Honoring Leadership”

Respecting Authority

We are given biblical instructions to give respect to people who are in legitimate positions of authority.  Legitimate authority refers to people who have been selected by individuals to be an authority figure in their lives. This includes, but is not limited to pastors, employers, and husbands.  Legitimate authority also refers to individuals who are elected or appointed such as, governors, mayors, and police officers (Romans 13:1-8).

Respecting authority is a requirement for Christians even when the person in authority doesn’t have any reverence for God (1 Peter 2:13-20).  The reason God is such a stickler concerning respecting leadership is because unless you can properly honor a human leader, you can NEVER properly honor God’s position. 

1 John 4:20

²⁰ If someone says, “I love God,” and yet he hates his brother or sister, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother and sister whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen.

 

“Sound Doctrine”

Is It Written?

There are times when we, as the Body of Christ, differ in some of our practices.  These differences can sometimes place us at odds with one another.  Some of our teachings are not written in the Bible or SPECIFICALLY endorsed by the Word of God.  If the teaching or practice is not written in or eluded to by the word of God, we need to refrain from imposing it on others. 

In Luke 6:6-11, Jesus took time on the Sabbath to heal a man who had a withered hand.  The scribes and Pharisees were outraged by this miracle being performed on the Sabbath because they viewed it as a violation of the Law.  However, none of the laws found in Exodus thru Deuteronomy forbids anyone to heal on the Sabbath.  This was ADDED to the Law after the Israelites returned from Babylonian captivity. 

We may have practices or beliefs that are not found in the Word of God but they also do not conflict with the Word of God.  Although these practices may be beneficial to us, this still does not permit us to attack other believers who do not exercise our principles.  Titus 3:9 instructs us to avoid foolish disputes, genealogies, contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and useless.

 

“Godly Insight”

Proper Interpretation

It is important to take caution in applying the advice or counsel that we receive from others.  In First Samuel 24, Saul is in pursuit of David.  On one occasion, while searching for him, Saul decides to use the bathroom in a cave that David and his men have chosen to hide in.  David’s men advise him that God has caused Saul to be placed in a vulnerable position so that David can take him out.  However, David chose to reject the counsel of his men and allow his enemy to live.  And as a result, when the time came for him to become king over Israel, David was blameless of committing any wrong against Saul.  Saul died in battle against the Philistines instead of dying at the hands of David. 

David’s men improperly assumed that Saul had been gift wrapped by God so that David could eliminate him, but David’s ability to view the situation with godly insight kept him righteous.  Sometimes people believe that the easiest or most convenient way out of a situation is a display of God’s intervention, but it is important to properly evaluate the circumstance using Biblical insight.

Psalm 1:1-3

Blessed is the person who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked,

Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of scoffers!

² But his delight is in the Law of the Lord,

And on His Law he meditates day and night.

³ He will be like a tree planted by streams of water,

Which yields its fruit in its season, And its leaf does not wither;

And in whatever he does, he prospers.

 

“Idolatry”

Worship God Only

We have to be mindful that we reserve our worship for God and Him only.  An idol is anything that we honor above God.  It is acceptable to acknowledge the goodness or usefulness of something, but we should be careful that we do not adore the object or person above the adoration that we have for God.

An idol may even be something that God initially issued to us to serve a good purpose.  In Second Kings 18:4, we read about Hezekiah destroying the bronze snake that was erected by Moses to save the lives of the Israelites that had been bitten by snakes in Numbers 21.  Hezekiah had to destroy the image because, even though God used it to save the lives of everyone who would look at it, the Israelites decided to worship what God had provided to heal them rather than reserving their worship for the healer Himself.  Even though God may place people in our path who can supply us with information that may be essential to our success in this life, we are to reserve the highest level of adoration for God.

 

“Grace”

Grace With Others

While we are never to compromise the Gospel of Jesus, or our stand with Christ, we should extend grace to those who have not yet reached the position that we have attained in the growth process known as spiritual maturity. 

Paul, Barnabas, and John Mark travelled together preaching the Gospel.  At one point during the journey, when the going got tough, Mark got going and deserted Paul and Barnabas to return home.  When Paul decided to revisit the cities they had previously preached in, Barnabas suggested that they take John Mark along with them.  Paul was opposed to this idea and after arguing with Barnabas about it, the two of them eventually went their separate ways because they could not agree on this matter.  One thing that Paul had not taken into account was that when HE was a new convert, Barnabas was the one who endorsed him when others did not believe in the authenticity of his conversion.  However, as Paul matured, he recognized the maturity that Mark had developed as a result of being properly mentored by Barnabas.  In his later years, Paul began to once again, travel with Mark in ministry because he recognized Mark’s usefulness. 

When we first give our lives to Christ, none of us are the person we will become by the end of the journey.  Each of us will need to receive grace and EACH of us will need to extend grace.

Romans 15:1

Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those without strength, and not just please ourselves.