A Lesson Worth Reading

Below is the lesson that was taught at Men's Fraternity this morning. Everyone should take time to study it.

Some giant life lessons

1 Samuel 17 (read the whole chapter)

Goliath taunted the Israelites for forty days. God was setting the stage for a legendary victory.

David was just a boy and Goliath. had been in the army since he was a boy. (17:33)

Israel had become a nation dominated by fear. 

LESSONS FROM GOLIATH (He felt no need to go to Men's Fraternity.)

1. Self-confidence alone is a flawed philosophy. It is the thought that you don't need anybody. You don't need Men's Fraternity, church, godly friendships, or a deeper walk with God. Everyone loses sometimes. It cost G. his life. 

2. Pride will always lead to disaster. Prov 16:18 pride comes before destruction, Rom 12:3 

3. False god's will fail us. Goliath. cursed David by his god. Goliath. was spiritually blind. Be careful where you put your trust. 

4. Tunnel vision sets us up for deception. Goliath. only knew one way to fight and live. 

LESSONS FROM DAVID

1. God's reputation must always be first. David was pissed off because the armies of the living God was being taunted. It was not his national pride but his spiritual commitment. In David's mind to attack Israel was to attack God. 1 Cor 10:31 

2. Confidence in God leads to success/victory. (17:37, 45-46). Psalm 20:7 "Some trust in chariots and some in horses but we trust in the name of the Lord our God". 

3. Balance is the key. David also brought his sling. The armor of Saul did not fit. He could not win trying to be something he was not. So he fought the fight in a shepherd boys attire instead of a warrior. BE WHO YOU ARE. remember John 15:5, "without Me you can do nothing". 

4. Opportunities come when we are prepared. Be prepared for all God brings your way. David had been practicing with his sling for years. Judges 20:16 is a story of snipers who used the slingshot. David had no idea he would be in a fight that day when he got out of bed and headed on his journey, BUT HE WAS PREPARED JUST IN CASE. 

I Think I Was Wrong - REALLY

As recently as yesterday I gave an illustration that looked like this in Sunday School.

 

And here is what I said, God has a path for us to walk, a life to live, His will to follow and it was indicated by the straight line.

Then I added that the curvy line illustrates the path/life/will we take. Furthermore, when we get off the straight line we will hear God’s voice guiding us how to get back to where we ought to be.

^“And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left.” (Isaiah 30:21, ESV)

I think I have been wrong in using this illustration and led others to the same conclusion. I actually think that this illustration is part of our problem in the Christian life. All straight lines look the same and they do appear the easy path. So, we all try to take the same path, live the same life and see God total will for our lives as identical. Well, they are not. So, I want to use the same illustration and change the parts. The curvy line is my life following God and the straight line is the one I think I should have or deserve. Let me illustrate it like this. 

The straight line does not have any of the difficulties or successes in it. It does not indicate things in my childhood. It does not indicate my parents divorce. It does not indicate my marriage and the death of my grandmother one month later. It does not indicate having children, changing jobs, my mother's death, Mary Anne's dad's death, the start of Lord of the Harvest or Harvest Church. It does not show when God saved me and then called me to preach. My life has been curvy and God was always there to navigate the curves. My life has been far from a straight line. I have had time of deep doubt, discouragement and depression. I have also had some mountain top experiences and some great successes and yes I have had some brief times in my life when it was straight, but very few. So the illustration works but it need to be reversed. Let us quit trying to walk this straight line and just walk the path that God has for us with all the curves and His guidance. 

So, today pay attention because on the curvy road you cannot put you life on cruise control it is VFR (visual flight rules) just listen to that voice - IT IS THE HOLY SPIRIT.