King David's First Acts Of Leadership

I have my Bible open and I'm looking for King David's first acts of leadership. Correct me if you think otherwise but I think this is it...

"And so it was, whenever the spirit from God was upon Saul, that David would take a harp and play [it] with his hand. Then Saul would become refreshed and well, and the distressing spirit would depart from him." - 1 Samuel 16:23 NKJV

We are told about David here but that was the first thing he 'did'.

"And Saul said unto his servants, Provide me now a man that can play well, and bring [him] to me. Then answered one of the servants, and said, Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, [that is] cunning in playing, and a mighty valiant man, and a man of war, and prudent in matters, and a comely person, and the LORD [is] with him." - 1 Samuel 16:17-18 KJV

We also see David doing this...

"But David went and returned from Saul to feed his father's sheep at Bethlehem." - 1 Samuel 17:15 KJV

and this...

"And David rose up early in the morning, and left the sheep with a keeper, and took, and went, as Jesse had commanded him; and he came to the trench, as the host was going forth to the fight, and shouted for the battle." - 1 Samuel 17:20 KJV

David took responsibility for things.

He keep the sheep and looked after their needs. He watched the King and saw his state and then ministered to him.

I find it interesting that David was exposed to bad leadership before he became a good leader. Saul was a moody rascal.

Jesus' first act of leadership was this...

"On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus also was invited to the wedding with his disciples. ... Jesus said to the servants, "Fill the jars with water." And they filled them up to the brim. And he said to them, "Now draw some out and take it to the master of the feast." So they took it." - John 2:1-2, 7-8 ESV

He turned water into wine at a wedding.

There was a need and Jesus took responsibility to act and minister.

"All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation." - 2 Corinthians 5:18-19 ESV

We can lead this way. We can 'provide leadership' this way.

--

Three Dimensions Of Freedom

I have been set free before
I am free now
I will be set free in the future

You and i can take a look back at what God has done in our lives...

Then confess...

"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, which have not benefited those devoted to them." - Hebrews 13:8-9 ESV

We can claim the freedom that is ours now...

What about the future?

"... He is faithful...." - 1 John 1:9b ESV

"No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it." - 1 Corinthians 10:13 ESV

"He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it." - 1 Thessalonians 5:24 ESV

"But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one." - 2 Thessalonians 3:3 ESV

"Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war." - Revelation 19:11 ESV

He faithful to free us. We don't know how or when.

"And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell bound into the burning fiery furnace. Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished and rose up in haste. He declared to his counselors, 'Did we not cast three men bound into the fire?' They answered and said to the king, 'True, O king.' He answered and said, 'But I see four men unbound, walking in the midst of the fire, and they are not hurt; and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods.' " - Daniel 3:23-25 ESV

The fire that was supposed to kill these men burned away their bonds.

Freedom may come that way. It may come in a moment. It may come from a word spoken and heard.

"So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then the wrath of the king abated." - Esther 7:10 ESV

The enemy that builds a way to trap and kill you may well end up hanging on their own gallows.

Are you free? Are you? You can be. You can remember. You can confess what God has done and you can rejoice in the fact that the God you worship is faithful.

--

Peace And Full Assurance

"If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed." - John 8:36 KJV

I spoke to a man yesterday who was worried about his eternal destiny. Something happened that took him by surprise and it rocked his world. Then the thought came, 'If I can be so wrong about this what if I'm wrong about my salvation?'

I asked him, 'Why are you saved? How did it happen? Was it you or Jesus that made that happen? Is it something you did or are doing or is it that Jesus died and rose again?'

"Jesus looked at them and said, 'With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.' " - Mark 10:27 ESV

Jesus said,
"Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me." - John 14:1 ESV

There are people who think they are going to Heaven but won't. They think something they did will get them there but it won't. Going to Heaven is impossible for man but God makes it possible though His Son.

A question like, 'Am I one of the elect or not?' can and has driven men crazy. It is just a bad question based on bad information.

Jesus is alive after dying a horrible death. That is impossible with men. Jesus and only Jesus can make you free indeed. If it is about Him in your mind. If it was only about Him just for a moment in your mind then a transfer has happened that is beyond you.

"Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated [us] into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, [even] the forgiveness of sins:" - Colossians 1:12-14 KJV

One moment of trusting Jesus guarantees a transfer out from under a power we do not understand that binds us up into a kingdom that progressively sets us free.

Trust Him. Trust only Him. He can do the impossible by making a place for you at His table forever.

---

The Finger Of God

Jesus is 'the finger of God'.

"And he gave to Moses, when he had finished speaking with him on Mount Sinai, the two tablets of the testimony, tablets of stone, written with the finger of God." - Exodus 31:18 ESV

"But if it is by the finger of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you." - Luke 11:20 ESV

A finger touches one thing at one time in one place.

"And a leper came to him, imploring him, and kneeling said to him, 'If you will, you can make me clean.' Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand and touched him and said to him, 'I will; be clean.' And immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean." - Mark 1:40-42 ESV

We need this touch to happen at specific times. It isn't general understanding. It is a visitation that happens in a moment.

If I'm in a hospital bed hurting and someone comes in and puts their hand on my shoulder that is special. That is more than a text message. It is weighty.

God reached out and touched the world two thousand years ago. A baby was born who changed the course of human events and opened Heaven to us.

Jesus Is sitting on a throne right now. That is His position and it is an important one for us.

"Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died--more than that, who was raised--who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?" - Romans 8:34-35 ESV

God can't forget us because Jesus is right there 'reminding' God as our representative.

Thank you for doing that God. You sent Your Son and now He Is seating beside You. You look at Him and see us.

--

Jumping To Doctrinal Conclusions

'Is that in the Bible or is it a conclusion that some person has come to?'

That is a question I often ask myself when hearing people speak or when I start coming to conclusions based on what I read.

No one knows who wrote the book of Hebrews. Perhaps the people around the time the book was written knew but we don't. The author is not mentioned in the book. Still, some teachers will come to a conclusion about who the author is and incorporate that conclusion into their teaching. We don't know. One day we will and we can wrestle with the question but we just don't know. A teacher who teaches, 'We don't know.' is one I can trust. They don't have to add to the scriptures. They have humility.

This morning I'm reading the Gospel of John... again. It is a book I am memorizing... slowly it seems.

"Nathanael said to him, "How do you know me?" Jesus answered him, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you." Nathanael answered him, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!" Jesus answered him, "Because I said to you, 'I saw you under the fig tree,' do you believe? You will see greater things than these." And he said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man."" - John 1:48-51 ESV

Some authors say, 'Nathanael must have been reading, thinking about or talking to God about Genesis 28 under that fig tree!'

"And he dreamed, and behold, there was a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven. And behold, the angels of God were ascending and descending on it!" - Genesis 28:12 ESV

Perhaps that is so but we don't know. The scripture just doesn't say. It fits but I have to jump to a conclusion to get to that idea. I'm not going to do that.

I do know that when Jesus spoke something resonated inside of Nathanael. It caused him to see Jesus' identity. The record of this exchange also shows us that God sees us when we think we are alone, takes note of important times and plans to reveal Himself to us when the time is right.

It is so easy to build doctrinal sand castles. Then when the water comes rushing in the mess that remains can make us and others doubt the real black and white truths that scripture provides us.

I want to be very careful how I handle God's book. It is of great value.

--

Apples In The Kitchen

Let's say that you have two apples in your hand and there are seven apples inside the your house in the kitchen. The house is being painted and you can't get into the kitchen right now.

How many apples do you have? Do you have two or nine?

You can eat the two apples now. You can give both apples away. Those two apples are accessible and you have the hope of seven more.

God's promises are like those apples. We have some things now and we will have other things later but our decisions can be based on what we will have later by faith.

"For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied." - 1 Corinthians 15:16-19 ESV

If Jesus died and is gone forever we only have two apples. Theft and abuse become viable options because we will starve unless we get more apples. Hope is only based on our 'apple getting' abilities.

"Simeon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have obtained a faith of equal standing with ours by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ: May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ." - 2 Peter 1:1-8 ESV

Peter saw the 'apples in the kitchen' and lived an excellent life. God's 'precious promises' opened up a world to Him where there were apples waiting around every corner.

We can live this way and we will never be hungry for very long.

--