As a sophomore in high school, I weighed 135 (only a little bit more than Goliaths coat of mail) pounds. I was on the last string (6th) of our football team. The coach sometimes took the last string and used it as a scout team against the first string. We would run the defense and offense of the upcoming team in a scrimmage against our 1st string. One practice I was placed as a cornerback on the defense of the scout team. In this particular practice our first string offense was practicing a screen pass. This meant that our 1st string tackle, who weighed 235 and was all muscle, would be blocking me. Not only would he be blocking me, but he would have a running start. The first time that he hit me, I think that I was fully airborne for at least five yards. As I pulled myself back on my feet, the head coach looked at me and said, “I know he is big, but you’ve got to protect yourself, Chaffin.” I thought to myself, “Yeah, give me a loaded Smith and Wesson, and I’ll protect myself.” That was one time in my life when I felt that there was a literal giant, whom I had to face in battle.
There are times in our lives when the enemy of our soul appears as a giant looming over us. He appears large, crafty, fierce and ready to consume us. Where is the glory of the Lord in those situations? The enemy seems to smear the reputation of God in our sight. Why does not the Lord do something for the glory of His Name? David recognized the situation. But he saw beyond the scene. He saw the glory of the Lord. He had faced lesser giants before. He had depended upon the Lord before. He knew the glory of the Lord was at stake. When no other champion would defend the glory of the Lord, David knew that the Lord would defend His own glory. Knowing the glory of the Lord, David could confidently boast,
I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46“This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you and take your head from you. And this day I will give the carcasses of the camp of the Philistines to the birds of the air and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel!It wasn’t about who was the biggest, the strongest, the fiercest, the tallest, the smartest, or even the toughest. It was about the glory of the Lord. When it came to the glory of the Lord, Goliath never knew what hit him. When those times come in my life when the enemy looms over me, I have to find out what the Lord is doing for His glory in this situation. When I get on His side and work with Him. The enemy is the one who goes flying and He gets the glory. Indeed we serve a glorious King. Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
PSALM 55
Have you ever been betrayed by one whom you thought was a friend, if not a friend at least an ally? It is one thing to be attacked by an enemy; it is quite another thing to be attacked by one you thought to be a friend. That is why Shakespeare’s words, “Et tu Brute?” ring down true through the ages. It is a betrayal of expected trust and support that is suddenly gone when you need it. It leaves you reeling emotionally if nothing else. It is why adultery is so devastating. It is why church splits are so damaging. It is why many people are turned off toward the organized church. What do you do when the one with whom you worshipped and sought the counsel together turns and suggests that you are no longer worthy of walking with them? How do you handle it when the with whom you once sought God’s advice implies or says that you are incapable of hearing the voice of God, or even that you are mentally unstable, or if not unstable, at least dishonest. David experienced that:
It is not an enemy who reproaches me; Then I could bear it. Nor is it one who hates me who has exalted himself against me; Then I could hide from him. But it was you, a man my equal, My companion and my acquaintance. We took sweet counsel together, And walked to the house of God in the throng.Jesus also knew that pain. He knew it before it happened. He Himself said on the night on which he was betrayed, “I do not speak concerning all of you. I know whom I have chosen; but that the Scripture may be fulfilled, ‘He who eats bread with Me has lifted up his heel against Me.’”
Later when Judas came to betray Him, He said,
And while He was still speaking, behold, Judas, one of the twelve, with a great multitude with swords and clubs, came from the chief priests and elders of the people. Now His betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “Whomever I kiss, He is the One; seize Him.” Immediately he went up to Jesus and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed Him. But Jesus said to him, “Friend, why have you come?” Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and took Him.Jesus knew why he had come. He knew at supper what Judas was about to do. A friend does not betray a friend. Why does Jesus call him, “friend?” Jesus wasn’t casting accusation upon Judas. He was simply pointing out the fact of how He felt toward Judas. In light of that awesome love, He was forcing Judas to see what he was rejecting. He used a question to teach the point. Was this painful to Jesus? Oh yes it was! Then why does He treat Judas with such compassion? Because that is the way that Jesus is.
He had spent the night in prayer with His Father. He was ready for the pain. He could endure it for the joy that lay before Him. The wrestling in prayer had prepared Him for it. Interesting, that is how the Psalm begins, “Give ear to my prayer, O God, And do not hide Yourself from my supplication. Attend to me, and hear me; I am restless in my complaint, and moan noisily.” What can one do when one has experienced betrayal and the friend will not be reconciled? Matthew Henry says, “Prayer is a salve for every sore and a relief to the spirit under every burden.” I am particularly encouraged when I realize that Jesus Himself has experienced this pain to its fullest degree. He is able to fully relate to my pain. Indeed if I am honest with myself, I realize that I at times past have been that same kind of pain to Him, and He forgives me, He helps me through my own betrayals. WOW! Is He not glorious? Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
EZEKIEL 24
Sometimes the Lord is as cold as ice. Why? He always has one goal in mind, that we would know that He is Lord. It is the recurring stanza in the book of Ezekiel. It would seem in the flesh that if He wanted us to know that He is Lord, then He would present Himself as soft and warm and inviting. But our natures are corrupt enough that when we go astray and sear our consciences, that only tough action gets our attention. The Lord is furious with Jerusalem because of her sin, as we saw in chapter 21. He is going to melt her down and consume her dross, as we saw in chapter 22. He will treat her as an adulterous wife, as we saw in chapter 23. Here He makes Ezekiel be as cold as ice at the death of His beloved wife. He will not allow him to mourn her death. He does this to teach the nation that the end has come.
The siege of Jerusalem of Jerusalem has begun. Within two years she will have become so weak from the siege that she will buckle and fall. She, the unfaithful wife, will receive recompense for her unfaithful adulteries. She had been obstinate about repenting of her idolatry. When she falls, the inhabitants will not even be allowed the luxury of mourning. Thus Ezekiel was to be a sign to them before it happens. Why? So that they will know that He is Lord.
Lord, I want the dross burned away. But Lord, it would really be nice if I could just learn my lesson before I have to experience that you are as cold as ice and as hot as a burning pot. But You are the Lord! And it is Your glory to reveal that You are Lord! You are too gracious and too loving to permit us to continue in our sin. Indeed, we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john
1 CORINTHIANS 7:17-40
A small few have suggested from this passage that Paul is against marriage. Nothing could be further from the truth. Paul is for the glory of Christ. Knowing Jesus in His glory is far more fulfilling than the very best marriage relationship. And if you have one of those very best marriage relationships, you know that it is very fulfilling. But knowing Jesus in His glory is far more fulfilling! If you are one of those rare people who can truthfully say, "I have a very fulfilling marriage and I have a very fulfilling relationship with Jesus Christ," you know exactly what I mean here. Indeed, I do not believe that one's marriage can reach it fullest potential unless one first finds their fulfillment in Christ.Jesus. It is through knowing and experiencing our fulfillment in Him that enables us to give without expectation in return. The more things or people to whom we attach ourselves in this world, the more difficult it is to find our fulfillment in Christ. Paul's point is to be content in what condition you met Christ and find your fulfillment in Him first. Then as you are fulfilled through Him, if marriage is in the plan, that is good. If marriage is not in the plan, that is good--you are still fulfilled. It is the glory of Christ that He fulfill us, not the things or people, whom He gives to us. That is why speaking His glory to one another is so pivotal. It helps us focus on His glory. We cannot be fulfilled by His glory if we do not focus upon it. Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor John
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