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Nome Community Baptist
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Weekly Thoughts
Will you be a Giant Killer? Many Defeated before they start Go from Defeat to Direct Expectation Deliverer Defeated 1 Samuel 17:4-11 (NIV) A champion named Goliath, who was from Gath, came out of the Philistine camp. He was over nine feet tall.
[5] He had a bronze helmet on his head and wore a coat of scale armor of bronze weighing five thousand shekels; [6] on his
legs he wore bronze greaves, and a bronze javelin was slung on his back. [7] His spear shaft was like a weaver's rod, and
its iron point weighed six hundred shekels. His shield bearer went ahead of him. [8] Goliath stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel, "Why do you come out and line up for battle? Am I not
a Philistine, and are you not the servants of Saul? Choose a man and have him come down to me. [9] If he is able to fight
and kill me, we will become your subjects; but if I overcome him and kill him, you will become our subjects and serve us."
[10] Then the Philistine said, "This day I defy the ranks of Israel! Give me a man and let us fight each other." [11] On hearing
the Philistine's words, Saul and all the Israelites were dismayed and terrified. What giants are before you today? Are you feeling defeated before the battle begins? This was Israel before the battle started, no one would come out, no one felt they could overcome the giant. What giants are before us today: Marriage problems Medical problems Relational problems A lost and dying world Definite Expectation We are in a place today, as are many, where because of what is behind us and before us…we might feel
defeated, but be of good cheer. 1 Chron. 20:4-8 (NIV) In the course of time, war broke out with the Philistines, at Gezer. At that time Sibbecai the Hushathite
killed Sippai, one of the descendants of the Rephaites, and the Philistines were subjugated. [5] In another battle with the Philistines, Elhanan son of Jair killed Lahmi the brother of Goliath the Gittite,
who had a spear with a shaft like a weaver's rod. [6] In still another battle, which took place at Gath, there was a huge man with six fingers on each hand
and six toes on each foot--twenty-four in all. He also was descended from Rapha. [7] When he taunted Israel, Jonathan son
of Shimea, David's brother, killed him. [8] These were descendants of Rapha in Gath, and they fell at the hands of David and his men. What has happened? Same people, similar situation Yet here they are killing giants all over the place What has changed? The Israelites believe because they know David killed a giant… So they too can kill giants, right. David’s leadership and war making ability became the things of legend. And because of David, the world came to know David’s mighty men. Through David his men received a "definite expectation"…David killed giants and so could they. But where did David get his ability to go and do battle? Delivered What was it about David that allowed him to kill giants? 1 Samuel 17:23-37 (NIV) As he was talking with them, Goliath, the Philistine champion from Gath, stepped out from his lines and shouted
his usual defiance, and David heard it. [24] When the Israelites saw the man, they all ran from him in great fear... [26] David asked the men standing near him, "What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine and removes
this disgrace from Israel? Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?"… [29] "Now what have I done?" said David. "Can't I even speak?" [30] He then turned away to someone else and
brought up the same matter, and the men answered him as before. [31] What David said was overheard and reported to Saul, and
Saul sent for him. [32] David said to Saul, "Let no one lose heart on account of this Philistine; your servant will go and fight
him." [33] Saul replied, "You are not able to go out against this Philistine and fight him; you are only a boy,
and he has been a fighting man from his youth." [34] But David said to Saul, "Your servant has been keeping his father's sheep. When a lion or a bear came
and carried off a sheep from the flock, [35] I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned
on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it. [36] Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised
Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God. [37] The Lord who delivered me from
the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine." Saul said to David, "Go, and the Lord be with you." Amazing, Saul offered David his armor, but David felt it was too heavy. Is your confidence in your armor? Your education? Your quick thinking ability? Your health? Your money? Many of us trust in many things apart from David’s greatest hope and sure deliverer. The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine."
David’s strength and ability were not rooted in David, it was fully and finally placed in God. Whatever came his way, it was God that would get him through it. What of you, will you trust that whatever comes our way, God will deliver us through it? Of course to become one with God and allow Him to lead and guide in our lives we must come into a relationship with Him. Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6 (NIV)
Through Christ you to can go from defeat, gain definite expectation and count on God for your deliverance. Do we have significant challenges before us today? Will you commit to trusting God through Christ to be your deliverer against the giants that surround us? After we have become accustomed to killing giants, will you commit to go to others and let them know that they to can kill
giants in God as we are called to "…go ye therefore"… |
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"God’s Gifts" God’s Gift of Ministry… God’s Gift of Preaching… God’s Gift of being "Set Apart"… When we receive a gift, it’s always a heart-moving experience. Surely you remember some past gift.
In the Bible, God deliberately used the word "gift" to clearly describe what salvation is in regard to lost
mankind. "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."
Romans 6:23. The following are true of God's wonderful "gifts". 1.) IT IS PURCHASED. "which he hath purchased with his own blood." Acts 20:28. Gifts are normally purchased at some price. When the Lord Jesus Christ went to Calvary, shed His precious blood, died, then three days later rose again
from the dead. Jesus "paid man’s full price for salvation". This is why no one goes to Heaven by "trying,"
but instead by "trusting" in the finished work of Christ. 2.) IT IS PERSONAL. "Ye must be born again." .John 3:7 Gifts are personal, they normally come with your name on them. Likewise, "My Salvation, having my sins forgiven are all personal things!" 3.) IT IS PRECIOUS. "to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus
Christ." II Peter 1:1 Gifts are always precious, and we are taught from our youth that we do not give them away or trade them. When we realize that we are sinners (deserving of Hell) and receive the Lord Jesus Christ as our Saviour,
the peace, joy and the privilege of being able to go to God in prayer should become the things that mean more to us than all
the things of this temporal world. Don't forget that receiving God's gift means going to Heaven when you die… Let’s look into the Gifts of God of which Paul teaches us today… God’s Gift of Ministry … Ephes. 3:7-8a (NIV) I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God's grace given me through
the working of his power. [8] Although I am less than the least of all God's people, this grace was given me: Have you, as Paul, answered God’s call upon you to be a partaker in His Gift of Ministry? Paul says he has become a diakonos, Gk., an attendant, a waiter; in the Christian sense
a teacher, pastor or deacon. Paul understood now the dignity of the call of becoming a servant of the most High God. It became a consuming desire for Him to serve. What of you? Paul considered it a privilege to: Teach (Ephes. 4:1); to sing (Ephes. 5:19); to speak for God (Ephes. 4:17); to visit (2 Cor. 13:1); to administer the affairs of the church (1 Cor. 7:1); to give his money (2 Cor. 8:1; 2 Cor. 9:1). Paul did not have to be coerced. He saw his call to be a minister of God as the greatest of all privileges. Do you? Paul saw this dorea, do-ra-ah; meaning gift or gratuity as the direct favor of God and understood the
high honor of this privilege. Paul understood from where he had come to be placed in this position of favor… Chief of sinners Pharisee of Pharisee’s But we have all come from death unto light if we have asked Jesus into our hearts, just like Paul… All who come to "New Life" in Christ are called into this ministry... "Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament" (2 Cor. 3:6). "Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not; but have renounced the hidden
things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth
commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God" (2 Cor. 4:1-2). "And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry
of reconciliation; to wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto
them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech
you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no
sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him" (2 Cor. 5:18-21). "Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working
of his power" (Ephes. 3:7). We are all to be minister’s of God’s faithfulness and to tell others the "good news" of Jesus
that "Salvation is available to all", and some have a higher calling to become "preachers" of God’s word. God’s Gift of Preaching… Ephes. 3:8b-9 …to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, [9] and to make plain to
everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things. Paul further tells us that he is called to "Preach" or euaggelizo, Gk., which mean to announce "good
news" which is the gospel message. Paul felt God leading him to… "And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God" (Acts 9:20). "For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of
Christ should be made of none effect" (1 Cor. 1:17). "But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification,
and redemption" (1 Cor. 1:30). "For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto
me, if I preach not the gospel!" (1 Cor. 9:16). "For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake"
(2 Cor. 4:5). Have you as Paul been called to "Preach" God’s "good news"? Fear not, we all have our places in ministry… God’s Gift of being "Set Apart"… Ephes. 3:10 (NIV) His intent was that now, through the (church), the manifold wisdom of God
should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, God intended through our wisdom gained that we the ekklesia
(church) or properly
those "set apart" people of God would make
His wisdom known to all. Are you going out and telling others the "good news"? Paul here is talking about all the ones who have called upon Jesus as Lord of their lives. Paul isn’t referring to people in building with crosses above them, but those that by the blood of Christ
walk a different path than those around them. A noticeably different walk as led by Jesus Christ. And in this walk we are to let others know the "good news"—that salvation is available to all. We are called to let them know: "O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and
his ways past finding out!" (Romans 11:33). "Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: that at the name
of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue
should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (Rom. 14:11, Phil. 2:9-11). So have you availed yourself of God’s free gifts? If you have, then are you offering those gifts to those around you? Is Christ speaking to your heart today to give yourself to becoming His "preacher", "minister", "servant"?
If so, please come forward and tell us of His call on your life. We want to be an encouragement to you as
you seek His guidance. As a recipient of "God’s gift" we become obliged to go and bring others the self same opportunity we
have received in Christ as we…"Go ye therefore"…
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