God Ain't Home

2 Samuel 6:9

David was afraid of the lord that day; and he said, "How can the Ark of the Lord come to me?”

It is amazing how we can worship God in public, attend a religious gathering but fail to bring God home with us. Most of the time God doesn’t get past the church parking lot because we are too scared to bring him home with us. I’m not talking about the bible you have on your living room table or the crucifix hanging in the hallway, or your grandmother’s picture of the Last Supper next to the picture of President Obama. I’m talking about the presence of God and a life accountable to his authority. We are scared to bring God home.

King David wanted to bring the Ark of the Covenant to the city of David. Israel used to inquire of the Lord by going before the Ark to pray. They believed that the presence of God sat on top of the Ark between the two Cherubim. If you remember the movie, “Raiders of the Lost Ark" with Indiana Jones, you will know that the movie used a replica of the Ark. In the movie the enemy died when he looked inside the Ark because of how Holy God is. That was the movie, but in real life when David tried to bring the Lost Ark home his friend died trying to steady the Ark touching the outside. He was not a priest and he touched the Ark with his bare hands.

Prior to that David and his men were worshipping “with all their might” but in one instance of careless casualness with God, God got angry with the cavalier attitude of how they handled his presence and broke out against David’s friend and killed him. It can be traumatizing to worship God with all your might and something tragic still happen. You were only trying to bring the presence of God back with you and tragedy strikes. That’s enough to make you want to leave the Ark right where it is.

The bible says David became angry and fearful of God. He said, “How can I bring God home after he’s done something like this?” David had good intentions but he went about it the wrong way. He didn’t take God serious enough and God broke out. You can’t just keep treating God’s presence any old kind of way and not expect him to break out. God is Holy, therefore we must be Holy, maybe that’s why God ain’t home. Or more specifically, maybe that’s why we refuse to bring him home because we are scared he might break out.

If the truth be told David is not the only one who refuses to bring God home because we are afraid that if I bring God home he might break out against me. If he broke out against my friend for trying to get the ark steady what will he do to me if I take him home and he sees how cavalier I live. If God were to see some of the things I do at home, he might break out against me too. I’m scared of God.

How come God ain’t Home?

1. We are still angry at God because of the loss of some friend/family member. Many of us are traumatized over a loss that happened while we were believers and it didn’t make sense to us. Give yourself time to heal and even tell God how you really feel. He can handle it.

2. We are afraid God will hold us accountable for all the stuff that’s wrong. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, but we must also know that God is gracious. Now that we have relationship with Jesus, we do not have to fear the wrath of God because now God sees us through the righteousness of his son. Jesus is our great high priest who intercedes for us so that God won’t have to strike us down because of our filthiness. God sees Jesus in us before he sees our dirt. WE don’t have to be afraid to bring God home because Jesus is already there.

3. We are scared we will die. Jesus said, he who tries to save his life will lose it, but he who loses his life for God’s sake will find it. In order to live, we must die to our old ways.

After David got mad and left the ark at Obed Edom’s house, he heard that everything Obed had God blessed. Obed’s entire house was blessed because God was at his home! David went and brought the Ark back after he heard that Obed was blessed. But when he brought the ark back this time, he did it the right way. He had priests, not common men, carrying the Ark on poles. This time, every six steps he made a sacrifice to God. This time, he worshipped God so hard he came out of his clothes. This time, he blessed everybody at home with gifts after he brought God home. Don’t you think it’s time to bring God home?

Dear God, I want you to come all the way in my house. I don’t want there to be any difference between my public worship and my private devotion. I want my house to be a sanctuary, Lord, for you. May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you. Lord let me be a living sanctuary for you, pure and Holy, tried and true. Take away my fear and heal my anger and please come back home with me. My house is your house. Stay with me Lord.

In Jesus Name.

Amen.

Get Behind Me, Satan

Matthew 16:23

But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.

Some people thinking they are protecting you are really blocking you. There can be some well meaning people in your life who are being used by the enemy and they don’t even know it. It’s easy to spot the devil in hateful people and jealous people who try to block your advancement in life, work, and ministry, but it’s not always that easy to see the devil at work in some of your closest friends. We always think that those closest to us will always tell us what’s right but they too can be used by Satan if you are not careful.

Jesus had just commended Peter for allowing the Holy Sprit to use him to rightly reveal that Jesus was the Son of the living God. Jesus said to Peter, “On this Rock (Peter’s confession of faith), I will build my church and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.“ Then, Jesus gave Peter the Keys of the Kingdom of heaven and the authority to bind and loose on earth.

But right after that Jesus tells the disciples they will be handed over to the chief priests to be killed and after three days be raised. Peter didn’t like that ending for Jesus’ life. Friends don’t let Friends die. So Peer took Jesus to the side. Peter said, “This ain’t going to happen to you.” Jesus turns and says to the man he just blessed and says, “Get Behind me Satan!” How does he bless him in one breath and call him Satan in the Next?!

It can happen that quickly. People who are used of the Holy Spirit can also be influenced by Satan if they let him. It happened to your Mother…Eve. She knew through direct revelation from God not to eat from the tree of the Knowledge of good and evil. She had been given the keys to paradise, but she allowed Satan to influence her. In turn, she went and offered the devil’s advice to the one closest to her, Adam. Adam should have rebuked her, but instead, he ate it hook, line, and sin-ker.

When do you tell a friend to get back?

1. When you hear things contrary to what God has already told you. Jesus knew who he was and what his mission from God was. From Childhood he knew. He told his mother and father at age 12, "Did you not know that I would be in my Father’s house?” When you know who you are early people can’t change your mind later.

2. When you hear the enemies voice in the mouth of a friend. Jesus wasn’t calling Peter, Satan. He was speaking to the Spirit trying to influence his friend. Peter would become one of the greatest apostles after Jesus' death, but Satan tried to sift Peter, influence Peter, and Peter denied Jesus. But Jesus knowing the potential of Peter came back to restore him. It goes to show that you can be very anointed but still be at risk to be used by Satan. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

3. When they want the things of men and not the things of God. Man’s way is not God’s way, as high as the heaven is from the earth, so is God’s way from man’s way. Don’t let your friends talk you into what’s popular when God has called you to die to the way that men do things.

Dear God, help me to discern when you are talking and when Satan is talking through my friends. No matter how anointed they appear to be always allow me to know who I am and what you are saying before I bite into bad advice sent from the enemy. Put the devil behind me and Jesus in front of me. I always want to hear your voice above all.

In Jesus Name.

Amen.

Crumb Snatcher

Matthew 15:27

And she said, “Yes Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters table.

Every little bit helps. I never will forget growing up, my mother said, "Never despise what people give you. Even if you don’t like it say thank you and be appreciative.” That has taken me a long way in life. You don’t always get what you want but thank God you have what you need.

There was a woman in Jesus' day who was an outsider, she was a Canaanite. Her daughter was possessed by demons and she was following after Jesus asking for help but he ignored her at first. Has there ever been a time in your life when you felt like God ignored you? This woman kept on asking until it got on the disciples nerves and they started asking Jesus to do something. Sometimes to get a prayer through, you need other people praying for you.

Jesus finally acknowledged the woman but it seemed like an insult. He said, “I have come for the lost sheep of Israel.” But then the woman started worshiping Jesus, and said, “Lord help me!” Sometimes when you don’t seem like you are getting what you need, you ought to go into worship because you know who he is and what he’s capable of.

Then Jesus said, “It’s not good to throw the children’s bread to the dogs.” Jesus referenced those not under the covenant with the God of Israel as “little dogs.” He called them house pets and said he can’t give the Children’s bread to the little dogs. But the woman was desperate and wanted to help her daughter and she said, “But even the little dogs get the crumbs from the table.”

I have a little dog named Coco who is like a family member. Whenever we eat, she sits under the table staring up at us patiently. I asked Rhonda, “Why is she staring at us?” She replied, “She’s waiting for the crumbs to fall." She’s a crumb snatcher! If you can get enough crumbs you can get a meal. Every now and then you ought to be so desperate for what you need that you start snatching crumbs!
Jesus said, “Woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed that hour.

In order to be a crumb snatcher and get what you need you have to:

1. You have to be persistent.
2. You have to be Prayerful. Pray without ceasing.
3. You can’t be too prideful. Don’t be too proud to get crumbs, take what people give you and be appreciative.
4. You have to give him the Praise for the crumbs.

Dear God thank you for my crumbs. You have given me my hearts desire. You provided and healed my family for that I am grateful to be a crumb snatcher. Thank you for hearing my cry.

In Jesus Name.

Amen.

I’m Sinking…Lord Save Me!

Matthew 14:30

But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, Save Me!”

It’s amazing what you can accomplish when you walk by faith. During these turbulent times many of us are walking by faith, not sure how we are going to make it or where our next step is going to take us. Truth be told it gets a little scary every now and then. It’s hard not to notice the things that are happening around us: Layoffs, foreclosures, sickness, war, epidemics. It’s enough to make you lose focus and feel overwhelmed.

Peter found himself in the midst of a storm. He and the disciples were out in the middle of a storm in a boat. There was not much they could do in the middle of a storm, but take comfort that they were all in the same boat together. It’s amazing how there is more solidarity now with many Americans because we are in the same boat. The Disciples were in the middle of the storm in the same boat when something Supernatural happened. They saw something or somebody walking in the storm on the water towards them. “It’s a Ghost!” Jesus spoke through the storm, “No it’s just me.”
Peter said, “If it’s you tell me to come out there with you.” It’s alarming and comforting to see Jesus in a storm. You want to get closer to him but you are scared to step out of what is keeping you even though it’s unstable. Peter stepped out and miraculously walked on water. As long as he kept his eyes on Jesus he stayed on top of the water; but when he started looking at the boisterous winds, he began to sink.

Like Peter many of us are barely staying afloat. In fact it’s miraculous, but when we pay more attention to what’s going on around us than we do looking at Jesus we begin to sink. How do we stay afloat during the storm of Recession?

1. Keep your eyes on Jesus. He is the author and the finisher of our faith. My faith is built on nothing less than Jesus Christ and his righteousness, I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus name.

2. Don’t look at the waves. Stop watching so much TV and the news. Give yourself 30 minutes to catch up on the news and spend more time reading God’s word, books, and being productive.

3. Don’t listen to the wind. Don’t allow what you hear to make you lose focus. Don’t allow negative people to have your ear. Monitor what you listen to on the radio. Control what you hear.

4. Cry Out, Lord Save Me! When you feel overwhelmed by the storms of life don’t forget you have a life line and his name is Jesus!

Dear God, keep us afloat. This economy, these wars and rumors of wars, this recession has got us all shaky, but if we can stay focused on you, keep our eyes on the prize, I believe we can make it! Lord Save us from the storms! Lift us up out of his mess and quiet the storms that threaten our lives.

In Jesus Name.

Amen.

Are You Ashamed of Me?

Matthew 10:33
Whoever is ashamed of me before men I will be ashamed of you before the Father.

I remember as a teenager reaching an age where I was embarrassed when my mother came to pick me up. I loved my Mama, but it just wasn’t cool to have your Mama pick you up from school especially when everybody else was driving cool cars and she picked me up in the ’78 Pontiac Lemans with the rust spots. I had a great mother, she worked hard as a nurse, raised 3 kids by herself, survived breast cancer, she was and is a beautiful woman. I felt bad for being ashamed of my mother as a teen-ager. She was never ashamed of me when I was smaller than everybody else. She told me that when I was born her friend said, “Your baby has a big ole head.” She said it hurt her feelings but she still loved me. I was shorter than everybody my age but she never once was embarrassed by me. She encouraged me. When I was dirty as a child she cleaned me up, or when I struck out in Little League Baseball she was always there after every strike out. She was never ashamed of me, how could I be ashamed of her?

We all reach an age where we get ashamed of the one who loved us the most, Jesus. When we become socially conscious that it’s not Politically Correct to bring him to work or it’s unsettling to bring him around your friends especially at parties. When you were struggling and dependent upon Jesus to survive, you loved him unashamedly and unapologetically but now that you are “mature” it’s just something embarrassing about seeing the carpenter pull up in his First Century garments, riding his donkey, nail scarred hands, and “out-dated” teachings. More and more post-modern Christians are becoming ashamed of Jesus.

There is so much talk about Miss California and Perez Hilton’s question to her: “What do you think about Same Sex Marriage?” She was very fair and diplomatic in her response, “It’s great that we have a choice in America as to who you want to marry, but I believe, according to my faith and how I was raised, that marriage is between a man and a woman.” Why is it an offense to believe what Jesus believed but not an offense to believe what Perez believes? Because it’s not cool, politically correct, scientifically accurate to believe what Jesus believed. Miss California should have answered the way Perez wanted it answered and she might have won Miss America.NOT!

I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ for it is the power unto salvation! Jesus said, “if you are ashamed of me before men than I will be ashamed of you before the Father.” The embarrassment and shame Miss California felt from taking her stand does not compare to the embarrassment we will feel when we try to get into heaven with the whole angelic host standing behind God and Jesus says, “Father I don’t know them.” We will say, but Jesus I went to church!” Jesus will say, "But when it really mattered you were ashamed of me, you would rather win a popularity contest than to be associated with me. Depart from me I don’t know you.”

How are we ashamed of Jesus?

1. When you conform to the world's values just to fit in. Romans 12:2 Do not conform to the patterns of this world but be ye transformed by the renewing of your minds.

2. When You Deny that you know him. Peter denied Jesus three times and on the third time the Cock crowed and Jesus caught eyes with Peter from the courthouse window. Peter felt so ashamed that he denied Jesus that he wept uncontrollably. Have you ever caught eyes with Jesus after you denied him? You will one day.

3. When you don’t stand up for what you believe.

4. When you remain silent in the face of Injustice.

Dear God, give me boldness to always give an account for what I believe no matter how unpopular it is. I am not ashamed of you thank you for not being ashamed of me. I love you Father.

In Jesus Name.
Amen.

Leave that Fool Alone

I Samuel 25:17

Now therefore, know and consider what you will do, for harm is determined against our master and against all his household for he is such a scoundrel that one cannot speak to him.

There is one person you shouldn’t waste any time speaking to or trying to get revenge on and that is a fool. We’ve all run into him or her in our lifetime. It’s the person that doesn’t listen to wise council. They like hearing their own voice. You can’t get a word in edge wise because he/she is a fool. Leave that fool alone!

Fools come in all shapes, sizes, and colors. There are rich fools and poor fools, but the advice is the same leave those fools alone. David had been watching over the property of a very rich fool named Nabal, whose name means son of Belial or fool. Nabal was an insolent, rude, and contentious man. During the time of feasting when Nabal was celebrating his flocks going to market, David decided to send his men to get a return on his favor. David and his men had been doing makeshift security for Nabal’s shepherds while they were watching their 3,000 sheep in the desert. His men even said, “They were like a wall by day and night for us.” But when David’s men came to ask for some food this fool gets rude and sends them away empty handed, talking about “who is David and who is the son of Jesse that I should give him some bread and water?” He picked the wrong somebody to mess with. This is David and six hundred of the most feared warriors. They have been living in caves, fighting Philistines and running from Saul.

David is fed up. He tells everybody to strap up and roll out. His plan is to kill every male in Nabal’s family. Nabal was blessed to be married to Abigail who was a woman of good understanding and beautiful. One of the servants ran to tell her to do something because David was on his way. He said to Abigail, “you know that nobody can talk to your husband, he’s a scoundrel.”

Abigail goes out to save her family to meet David with a peace offering of food and wine. She saves her family by:

1. Recognizing God’s anointed. When she meets David, she immediately gets off her Donkey and bows down before David. Mind you he’s not even king yet. He doesn’t look like a king, but she is a woman of understanding and recognizes the anointing on his life.

2. She apologizes for her husband’s ignorance. She recognizes she’s married to a fool but tells David don’t you be a fool just because he is.

3. She offers gifts to David for the good he’s done for her family. She knows that there would be no feast or profit had it not been for David and his men protecting her husband’s herds. When people do us good we ought to do good back to them.

4. She speaks into the life of David. She somewhat prophesies into David’s life and tells him that when he become’s King he doesn’t want this to tarnish his reputation.

5. She speaks truth in love to her husband after he sobers up. She told him what could have happened had she not intervened. Even though she was married to a fool, she still stood up and covered him by doing what was right. She didn’t withhold the truth. She just shared it at a time when the fool could receive it.

In doing so, Abigail saves her family and David’s reputation. David would have tainted his anointing by messing with a fool. Nabal died of a heart attack some time later and David sent for Abigail to be his wife because he recognized a woman of God when he saw one. Both of them left that fool alone.

Dear God, don’t let me waste my time fighting fools. You are rewarded of them that do good. My gifts will make room for me and bring me in the presence of great men and keep me from the presence of fools. A fool and his money will soon depart and wise men will get what belongs to him one way or the other. Thank you for dealing with the fools so I can focus on what you have anointed me to do. Today, I’m leaving every fool that tries my patience alone.

In Jesus Name.

Amen.

Don't Listen to Them

I Samuel 24:10

Look this day your eyes have seen that the Lord delivered you today into my hands in the cave, and someone urged me to kill you. But my eye spared you and I said, “I will not stretch out my hand against my Lord, for he is the Lord’s anointed.”

People around you can hype you up into situations that God never meant for you to be in. That is why it’s important to know who you are and whose you are before you get into leadership because if you don’t have strong values, you will be swayed by the opinions of others. David had been raised with the fear of the Lord and how to respect authority. David knew that the Lord had anointed him to be King and God would be the one to raise him up in God’s own time.

David was in a tight spot. I ain't even going to front, if it had been me, there might have been a different ending to this story. Saul had been chasing David and trying to kill him for no good reason other than he was jealous of David. One day King Saul happened to wander into the very cave David and his men were hiding in to relieve himself. David caught him with his pants down. David’s men, like our friends said, “Man here’s your chance, God has delivered Saul into your hands, it’s time for you to be king.” David is hungry, tired, hurt…he raises his knife and cuts off a piece of Saul’s Robe and retreats back into the dark like a ninja. His men are looking at him like, “that’s it!” David is conscience stricken because he even thought about killing Saul.

David comes out of the cave and told Saul as he was walking away, ”I could have killed you, but you are my father, my lord the king, more than that you are God’s anointed. I’m not your enemy.” Because of David’s goodness, in contrast to Saul’s evil. Saul finally saw himself and he wept. He told David he would be king because he was more righteous than he was. David was in a tight spot, but David did six things right according to John Maxwell:

1. Displayed God-confidence from the beginning.
2. Didn’t assume any right or privilege
3. Obeyed God in the little things
4. Maintained integrity by respecting Saul
5. Consistently submitted to Authority
6. Desired to increase God’s reputation
7. Listened to his inner conscience rather than the clatter of friends

Dear God, help me to hear you over the opinions and advice of others. Even in tight spots deliver me before I take matters into my own hands. Give me wisdom under pressure.

In Jesus name.

Amen.