Have you heard, or know of, a person(s) who is always doing good , they give to charities and other worthy causes. This person(s) might be involved in the community and help out their neighbors?
They might have a great reputation and considered upstanding in character, moral ethical and very outgoing and friendly always wanting to make things better for those around them.
We may assume that such a one(s) may well be a Christian(s) it is hopped that such person(s) are or is a Christian for Christan are to do good and be upstanding people and embracing values such as family integrity, honesty and concern for other.
But good works, morals , ethics and values are no the sole property of Christianity, we can find persons doing good who are not Christians. Buddhist, Hindus and even atheist do good works and be person(s) of high character and integrity , warm and friendly, these qualities are seen in the life of non-Christians as well and unfortunately more so than in the life of some Christians.
Not Good Enough
Morals, ethics, , good works , character and values are all very good things, BUT they are not of them selves good enough. All theses things apart from Jesus Christ ,and is not born out of our relationship with Him are only temporary for this life alone and have only limited impact.
It is good to do good but good apart from Jesus is, for the here and the now only. However, what emerges out of a relationship with Jesus Christ can transform a life forever and impact that person beyond the confines of this world. Even if it is a simple act of kindness of just giving a cool cup of water, and if this good work comes out of the Holy Spirit in our lives then it has power to change a life forever.
Evidence of Jesus
What should be evident in the life of a Christian is the residency of our Lord Jesus Christ .The Christan life is to reflect the truth that our Lord Jesus is living, that we are in participation with Him, joining Him in His eternal ministry.
The Ministry of Jesus did not end at His Ascendance into the Heavens, nor did He abdicate it to humanity, that is the Church, rather He brings us into what He has and is doing.
The Ministry of Jesus did not end at His Ascendance into the Heavens, nor did He abdicate it to humanity, that is the Church, rather He brings us into what He has and is doing.
With Him
"David said to Saul, Your servant kept his father's sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock: And I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him. Your servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he has defied the armies of the living God. David said moreover, The LORD that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine." 1Samuel:17:34-37
The Christian life is more than just, "doing" it is "being" that is being who we are meant to be in Jesus Christ and being in a relationship with Him , knowing Him, spending our time in relationship.
It is important that our private moments, when none but our Lord's eyes are upon us, that we are focused on Him for it is this private life or prayer and reading of the word of God that gives impact to our public life. It is time in communion which our Lord that we are transformed.
It is important that our private moments, when none but our Lord's eyes are upon us, that we are focused on Him for it is this private life or prayer and reading of the word of God that gives impact to our public life. It is time in communion which our Lord that we are transformed.
David Prepared for the Time and the Time Prepared for David
We can see that in the life of David as he watched over the flocks of his father Jesse that God was transforming David from a shepherd to a warrior and then King. As David cared for the sheep and thought upon the word of God he was equipped to deal with the challenges of governing a nation.It was in these private moments out of sight of the world at large God made David into a person whose impact upon the world would be felt for generations. David was prepared for the time and the time prepared for David.
The Lion and Bear
It was in his times apart from the public eye that David dealt with a threat to the the flock under his care. Two predators, a Lion and a Bear came against the flocks and David fearlessly confronted them, giving him confidence of God's providential oversight of his life. David recounted this to King Saul as he offered to go and do battle with the Philistine giant Goliath.
"David said to Saul, Your servant kept his father's sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock: And I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him. Your servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he has defied the armies of the living God. David said moreover, The LORD that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine." 1Samuel:17:34-37
David came to know his God in his private life, so when that moment of time arose to confront Goliath who threaten the freedom of Israel and spoke blasphemy against the great God of Israel .David was prepared to face him and defeat him even as more season warriors and King Saul were dismayed.
"Now the Philistines gathered together their armies to battle, and were gathered together at Shochoh, which belongs to Judah, and pitched between Shochoh and Azekah, in Ephesdammim. And Saul and the men of Israel were gathered together, and pitched by the valley of Elah, and set the battle in array against the Philistines. And the Philistines stood on a mountain on the one side, and Israel stood on a mountain on the other side: and there was a valley between them. And there went out a champion out of the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span. And he had an helmet of brass on his head, and he was armed with a coat of mail; and the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of brass. And he had greaves of brass on his legs, and a target of brass between his shoulders. And the staff of his spear was like a weaver's beam; and his spear's head weighed six hundred shekels of iron: and one bearing a shield went before him. And he stood and cried to the armies of Israel, and said to them, Why are you come out to set your battle in array? am not I a Philistine, and you servants to Saul? choose you a man for you, and let him come down to me. If he be able to fight with me, and to kill me, then will we be your servants: but if I prevail against him, and kill him, then shall you be our servants, and serve us. And the Philistine said, I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together. When Saul and all Israel heard those words of the Philistine, they were dismayed, and greatly afraid." 1Samuel:17:1-11
David came to know His God and grew in godly confidence, he with the help of God learned how to face the challenges and as a result the threat against the people of God was defeated. The men of Israel' armies withdrew from the sight of the Giant Goliath but not David.
"And all the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him, and were sore afraid.
And
the men of Israel said, Have you seen this man that is come up? surely
to defy Israel is he come up: and it shall be, that the man who kills
him, the king will enrich him with great riches, and will give him his
daughter, and make his father's house free in Israel.
And
David spoke to the men that stood by him, saying, What shall be done to
the man that kills this Philistine, and takes away the reproach from
Israel? for who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy
the armies of the living God?" 1Samuel:17:24-26David knew that his God would stand with and for him and that victory would come not through his own "efforts" but from his God. As a result the problem which confronted the nation was overcome and Israel was made secured for a time.
"And the Philistine came on and drew near to David; and the man that bore the shield went before him. And when the Philistine looked about, and saw David, he disdained him: for he was but a youth, and ruddy, and of a fair countenance. And the Philistine said to David, Am I a dog, that you come to me with staves? And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. And the Philistine said to David, Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the fowls of the air, and to the beasts of the field. Then said David to the Philistine, You come to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day will the LORD deliver you into my hand; and I will smite you, and take your head from you; and I will give the carcasses of the host of the Philistines this day to the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saves not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD's, and he will give you into our hands.
And
it came to pass, when the Philistine arose, and came, and drew near to
meet David, that David hastened, and ran toward the army to meet the
Philistine. And
David put his hand in his bag, and took there a stone, and slang it,
and smote the Philistine in his forehead, that the stone sunk into his
forehead; and he fell on his face to the earth.
So
David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and
smote the Philistine, and slew him; but there was no sword in the hand
of David.Therefore
David ran, and stood on the Philistine, and took his sword, and drew it
out of the sheath thereof, and slew him, and cut off his head
therewith. And when the Philistines saw their champion was dead, they
fled"1Samuel:41-51
Knowing Him
David's private life was spent in preparation, it was out of the sight of others in obscurities with his God that he was developed into all that he became.In private he dealt with and killed the bear and lion. David's life has had generational impact and led David to the throne of Israel.
It is when we spend our private lives in Communion with the great God that we too can be prepared for that which our Lord may have for us. It is out of sight that we need to face the bear and lions of our lives that make us ready to take on the great giants and Goliaths we may face.
Be Still
The private moments that David spent with God were largely in quiet and in peaceful consideration upon the word of God and Who that word reveals God to be, in these still time David came to know his God, not just know about Him, but knew Him.
" "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." Psalm:46:10
It is in the times alone, in private moments with our Lord that He will touch our lives and prepare us for our service to Him. He may be working in the midst of each of our lives to face a Goliath threat that may arise in our lives or the lives of those around us.
A Time Comes
As the years pass and evil days arise in the future, of us all the people of God may be called on as never before to share the Gospel regarding Jesus Christ , and the public impact they have maybe found in the private moments that they have spent coming to know, in a deep personal communion , our Lord Jesus Christ.
"And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits." Daniel:11:32
God may be preparing His people for a time and a time for His people to have an impact that we may have never thought possible doing great exploits of lifting the name of Jesus Christ high over all the earth impacting many here and now and on into eternity. We may face a Goliath challenge and through Jesus Christ we will prevail.Our private life will have a public impact. Amen
Rev.Todd Crouch, Pastor
The Fountain of Life Church a Congregation of Grace Communion
Washington, Pennsylvania.
The Fountain of Life Broadcast heard on the RKP
Radio Network 1710 & 1670 AM in Washington and North Franklin, Pennsylvania. and on 1710 AM in Bentleyville ,
Pennsylvania. And online around the world at www.rkpradio.com
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