SET YOUR SAIL

A sailboat has many parts that need to be put in place for it to go to the desired location. It is the job of the seaman to set the sail. However, when the sail it set the seaman has no control over the wind. The wind is in the hand of God. This is applicable to the Christian life. It is our job to put things in the right place and order. Proverbs say, "make the horse ready for the day of battle, but the victory is the Lord's" (Prov 21:31). It is our job to set the sail and it is His job to send the wind (wind is often used as a word picture of the Holy Spirit)  to move us in the right direction. Raising our sail is an act of obedience. It is prayer. It is reading and meditating on His Word. It is service. It is being in the right place at the right time. Today, begin to set your sail and who knows where the Holy Spirit will take you.

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. 

ORANGEjuice

God has spoken to me so clearly this morning. I had a great day yesterday. I battled the “live by faith and not by sight” (2 Cor 5:7) battle most of the morning. It is amazing how I can teach on a topic then God puts me to the test. It’s like He says, “Alright big boy let’s see how you are doing on this topic.” I am glad I had just been teaching on it again in my Sunday School class. Our attendance was down yesterday due to a few different factors: Mother’s Day, Air Show, Graduation, pretty weather, etc. So as I looked out in the parking lot during Sunday School the devil started that live based on what you see thing. I was a battle for me but I believe the promises of God won out.

After church, Mary Anne and I, Jeremy and Krista Dyer, Christy Wise and her sons Alex and Mason went out to East Tuscaloosa and gave out brown bag lunches to about 50 people (there numbers were down also). It was good to help folks. I had a man about 55 come up to me and said he helped paint the Family Life Center. He began to cry and asked me to pray for his mom who had just been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Her name is Mable if you would like to pray for her now. We prayed together and I watched this grown man walk away crying for his mom get on his bike and ride away. He was why I was to be there. It was not about a certain number of people. It was about one man yesterday.

Paul wrote to the church at Philippi, “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, ¹³ for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.” Phil 2:12–13 (ESV)

It is our job to work out (v12) what God has worked in (v12). You ministry opportunities this week might be to a crowd or to one man on a bike. Work it out. Obey in the moment. Go ahead and make the commitment to Christ that you will walk in obedience today by the moment. Don’t worry about tonight or tomorrow. Work it out in the moment.

Christ has been raise so nothing you do for Him is in vain. (ESV) “And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain.” (1 Corinthians 15:14).

“But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.” 1 Corinthians 15:57–58 (ESV).