Salvation is still available

Psalms 3

O Lord, how many are my foes!
    Many are rising against me; ² many are saying of my soul,
    there is no salvation for him in God. Selah^[a]

³ But you, O Lord, are a shield about me,
    my glory, and the lifter of my head. ⁴ I cried aloud to the Lord,
    and he answered me from his holy hill. Selah

Psalms 3 starts with a title that tells us David wrote this when he was running away from Absalom his son.  David had invested his life to establishing a people who worshiped God.  His children turned against him.  He was fleeing literally for his life.  He could see Absalom’s army growing larger and their discontent for him growing angrier.

Listen to his complaint.  Those against him are growing in numbers.  They are also becoming more vocal in their disdain for him.  But it is the accusation against his character that has the greatest punch.  “Many are talking about him”.    There is no deliverance, help, no one to save him…not even God.

David really had to wonder if God had rejected him.  He had seen rejection before…that is before he was king.  Saul had killed his thousand, but David had killed ten thousand.  The people were applauding David as hero, and Saul as a “has been”.  “Is it true that now God has rejected me?” David thought. 

The Hebrew word for salvation is Yeshua.  It should look or at least sound familiar, it is the Hebrew word for Jesus.  Listen to that Phrase again.  Many are saying , “there is no Jesus available for him any longer in God.”  Or look how he runs…surely Jesus has nothing left for him.  Look at the end results of all his victories, goals, campaigns, worship to God has brought David to this.  He has nothing, and the people have rejected him,  Our past accomplishments do not protect us from the accusations of the enemy.

David changes his focus from the Horizontal to the vertical.  Yes it is true that there are many who have rejected him.  BUT YOU  YAWEH.  David looks to God for help.  And THE LORD is described as a shield.  The primary purpose for a shield is protection from attacks of the enemy.  True David was fleeing for his life….but the biggest attack was the words….there is no help, no Yeshua, salvation, deliverance available for David any longer. 

How does the Lord become a shield against destructive and accusatory words?  First, we need to ask in faith that God would stop the words from having their full effect upon our lives.  Second, we ask that God would protect our heart and mind from being infected with poison of “getting even” or the contagiousness of “bitterness” or the jadedness of a “critical spirit”.  Our mouths will reveal if our heart has been contaminated. 

 Third, the new testament says that “faith” itself is a shield.  Just wishing things were different is not faith.  Nor is explaining to others about the trial that you are experiencing an expression of your faith.  Faith will require you to have some type of action that will make you feel  vulnerable and exposed.  Someone may say, “are you just going to let them say that about you?”  But His shield will protect your  heart.  Matt 5:11-12 ¹¹ “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. ¹² Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

There is yet another principle for protection in this passage.  David says that THE LORD is his glory. This is the same Hebrew word that describes God’s character.  Kavod in Hebrew.  And carries the idea of weighty.  We really don’t have a good word to capture glory…but it carries the idea of something tangible.  David is saying that God’s presence is something almost tangible for him.  It is not just mear imagery, rather it is tangible.  We would use the expression “are you worth your weight in gold”.  David is declaring where he is doing his banking of TRUST.  Despite his circumstances, David is putting all of his stock in GOD.  His focus is not horizontal or on other people…It is on  God.

God is “and the lifter of my head.”  Why would he need his head lifted.  When we are weighed down, our countenance falls.  God is the one to lift up our countenance when we begin to look at Him.  This is not just semantics.  Physically look up when we are weighed down.  “I lift my eyes up unto the heavens…”  The one who sees all that is happening to us , has the best perspective In how to navigate our lives.  Physically lifting our eyes puts us in the position to see his answer.  If you are going to follow someone you can’t keep looking at your toes

May we walk with our heads lifted high

To serve our King and our Lord

Have a little "WALK" with Jesus

An aspect of Jesus life that is easy to look over is that “he walked” to most of the places that he visited.  Sometimes we read that he got in a boat to go to another place, but his primary mode of transportation was to walk.  Not on sidewalks or beautiful park pathways, but on dusty, rocky, hilly, and dry roads.  Not necessarily deserted, but open to the elements and rough terrain.  This walking would be fatiguing to the body, but everybody was walking.  True some road in wagons that were pulling produce to markets. But His travel was slow enough (everyday) for him to smell the roses and see the need.

In Matthew 9 we read, ³⁵ Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. ³⁶ When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. ³⁷ Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. ³⁸ Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”
In verse 36, we read that “Jesus saw the crowds”.  When did He see the crowds?  Did he just look over the country side and think, “wow, these are some messed up people?”(greg’s translation).  No, in verse 35 we read that Jesus “went through all the towns and villages” (he walked).  His pace was slow enough that he had time to stop and teach in the synagogues, and take time to touch and heal those who were sick.  Today we may call such a person an “::itinerant evangelist”.  I am not suggesting that we get rid of our cars or change our vocation.  Rather, I want us to see how Jesus gained his heart of compassion.
All were harassed and helpless.  All were in need of a shepherd.  And the realization of this need evoked such a response that Jesus told his disciples to “Ask the Lord of the Harvest”.  Our response would be to develop a plan first, try to “figure” out  what is there problem and how we could “fix it”.  Yet Jesus asked us to pray.  Let me reverse the thinking…if we are not praying much for the multitudes…we probably are not moved with compassion…because we are not “seeing” the needs of the people. Ouch, that’s stepping on my toes too.
So, let this be our first prayer…”Lord, open my eyes to see the needs of the people”.  Not just their physical needs, but also their spiritual, emotional, relational, and financial needs.  Begin asking the Lord to have ears to hear the needs that are around us.  Let’s ask to send forth workers and then tell him he can use us first.  May there be an eruption of intercession as we begin praying for those who are hurting among us.
What if God is inviting us to participate in reaching out to others?  What if God is ready to move, as soon as we ask Him to begin to change the events in people’s lives?  Jesus told us to “Ask”, so let’s start asking
Today, I am going to A-day.  This is a time for the inter squads of the Alabama football team to play an exhibition game.  We will have close to 90,000 families come to the free event to watch their favorite team.  Melody and I will be selling programs…why?  Because, I get the opportunity for 4-5 hours to walk among the multitudes.  Will you pray with me today for Jesus to send forth worker (that means somebody has to go…not just invite them to come) into the harvest.  And I am praying for you to “look” and “pray”.  Jesus is thankful that you gave your heart to Him….now He wants to share His heart with you!
God loves you a whole bunch
Greg

Rain Drops Keep Falling on My Head!

Rain Drops Keep Falling on My Head!

This was the title to a popular song by recording artist B J Thomas. As I sit here this morning, there is a very gentle rain that I am watching through our picture window.  In I John 3:1 we read, "See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!
The word lavished is a term used for water.  Specifically it means the drenching that one would receive during a heavy downpour.  Just trying to make it through the rain, you would be drenched all over.  You don't even have to do anything to try to get wet, other than be in the presence of the rain.  You are going to get drenched.
In this verse the love of our heavenly Father is the water in which we will be drenched.  In ordered to receive this blessing you just have to be in His presence.  His love is being poured out (a drenching rain) upon His children.
What would this love look like?  Often many people say they feel dry when it comes to their relationship with God.  Are there some activities that we can do, to help make us aware of God's "lavishing" love?
1.  Ask God to help you "tune" into His voice.  Jesus said often, let him who has ears to hear, let him hear what the Holy Spirit is saying.  In another place Jesus said, "My sheep know my voice and they follow me." As children we have been given the capacity to hear his voice.  Can you hear Him rejoicing over you with singing?
2.  Marinate yourself in worship!  Some food taste so great when it has been given a lengthy time in a marinating sauce.  Listen to your favorite songs, read the scriptures out loud, turn off the radio and tv, go for a silent walk and observe the beauty of the earth, and attend worship with other believers.  I am totally convinced that God desires to meet with you, if we would just acknowledge His presence.  "Behold, I stand at the door and knock,  if anyone opens the door, I will come and dine with him and he with me.
3.  Find an outlet to give.  I am not talking about money.  Find a way to give and serve other people.  Most of us are consumed with ourselves and trying to survive this world.  Jesus gave us an illustration that showed him serving his disciples through washing their feet.  I can't fully explain it, but something begins to happen when we intentionally serve others.  Not out of a marytr spirit..."if I don't help them, no one will".  But seeing a need and being the source of comfort, support or help to another.  A single mom was in line a McDonalds to feed her children before church the other day.  The gentleman in front of them, who they did not know, paid for their breakfast.  The mom took the money that she was going to use on breakfast and gave it to the children for offering that morning.  It made a major impact on the kids.  You see, our heavenly Father is watching us.  And just like parents watching their children, He loves to see us "give" out of the love we have for others.  God will lavish His love upon children as we express our giving to one another.

So if God's loving rain drops keep falling on our head...let's go play in the rain!  Do you care to join me?