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Sunday, August 21, 2016

Giant Problems

Fighting Giants, or Facing Big Problems

Most of us have encountered some BIG problem in our lives? Something that appears unbeatable. Maybe it is something that just won’t go away. In the Old Testament GIANTS are the picture of this

Perhaps your problem was caused by someone else and you have no control over it. Maybe your parents split up, or you never even met one of your parents. Perhaps your problem is that someone close to you died. Maybe someone has done something terrible to you. Or you have an illness. So what is your giant?
How did David successfully fight the giant, Goliath, in his life? Did he make excuses? Did he let fear stop him? Did he just wait and hope it would go away? Did he try to do it under his own power? Did he run away and hide? To take on the big problems or giants in your life you need to face them and let God help you.
How can God help you with your giant?
First, He is the God of comfort. God can help ease the pain if you let him. Matthew 5:4. “God blesses those who morn, for they will be comforted.” 2 Corinthians 1; 3, says God is “the source of every mercy and the God who comforts.”
Second, you probably can’t do it under your own strength. When Samson was left to his own strength he was captured by the Philistines. When David fought Goliath with God’s strength he was victorious. When we work then we work. When we pray then God works.
Third, you probably don’t have enough knowledge to get the best results. Why not ask for the one who is the author of knowledge. God is all knowing and knows what action will get the best results. Romans 8:28: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
Fighting giants is an interesting business. Very few of us are Davids, or able to fight our giants alone. But there is another example of a "giant Fighter" in the bible. His name is Caleb. Caleb was one of the 12 people sent to spy out the Promised Land. While others came back and reported in fear of giants, Caleb did not see them as a problem.
In Numbers 14:9 Caleb said "Do not fear the people of the land for they are our bread".
What looked like giants to others or big problems looked like bread to Caleb. Why is this? Because he knew to face down the giants in our lives is the spiritual nourishment for growth and you must keep at it to stay spiritually strong. Caleb latter said in Joshua 14:11 that he was as strong today as on the day that Moses sent him. "Just as my strength was then, so is my strength for war, both for going out and coming in. By this time Caleb was physically old he is eighty five but look what he asks for when Joshua asks him what land he wants. Seen in (Joshua 14) also (Judges 1:20), He could take what ever location he wanted but he asked for the land where Hebron was. The reason he gave was because it was where the Anakim were and the cities were fortified. And he said (Joshua 14:12 "It may be that the Lord will be with me and I shall be able to drive them out as the Lord said". This is an eighty five year old man and he's not looking to retire. He is still ready to battle giants (the Anakim).
So Hebron is a unique place the word Hebron means "alliance" or simply "fellowship". Caleb understood that "alliance or fellowship" (Hebron) is the place to be if you want to defeat giants. Doing it alone is dangerous. That’s were the living stones comes in. We are just a worthless rock on our own but together we are a "spiritual house" as in 1 Peter 2:5. Together we make up the body of Christ. We all have different gifts and without each other we are a crippled body because we lack some parts. Psalm 11:14 says, "Where there is no counsel the people fall. But in the multitude of counselors there is safety". Well I have seen, first hand, mightier men of God than me fall. Jesus said we are to be "one" and that they will know us by how we love each other. The ability to battle the spiritual battle comes in fellowship. Where two or more come together in prayer.
So our enemies and our problems are the things that bring you closer to God and will refine you and make you change. The bad times also give us the best opportunity to do God’s work. I think that the bad times in our lives are where we bear the most fruit. This is where the biggest changes happen in us and how we react to bad times can make the biggest impact on others.
As for those who have broken families. God may not put your parents back together. He won’t return your lost loved ones either. But God does have an answer to help. God wants to adopt you into His family. This family has incredible benefits and the greatest father. God’s family has all the love you could ever need. Romans 8:14. For as many are led by the spirit of God, These are sons of God. Matthew 12:50. “For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.” Being part of God’s family can help you get past the family problems that you have.

Monday, March 23, 2015

Phil Keaggy, Shades of Green, Weaton College

No matter how many times I see Phil Keaggy I am always amazed. WOW!!!
 
WOW!!!!!!

Monday, April 22, 2013

Fireflight, Flevo Festival, 8-15-2008



Fireflight
Flevo Festival
Apeldoorn
Netherlands
8-15-2008
 
01 The Hunger
02 Serenity
03 Stand Up
04 So Help Me God
05 Brand New Day
06 1 Corinthians 13
07 Forever
08 Liar
09 You Gave Me a Promise
10 You Decide
11 Unbreakable

Total Time 40:36

Tuesday, April 9, 2013

Matt Redman, West Sussex, UK 2012

 
Matt Redman
Big Church Day Out
Wiston House
West Sussex, UK
June 2012
 
01 Our God
02 Not Ashamed
03 Untitled
04 Here for You
05 From the Inside Out
06 Sermon and altar call
07 You Never Let Go
08 We Are the Free
09 Dancing Generation
10 Matts Story
11 10,000 Reasons
 
Total Time 58:22
 
MP3/320k

Friday, March 1, 2013

Mavis Staples, Philadelphia, 2004

Mavis Staples began singing with her family in a band in the 1950s.  They started off singing in church, but soon rose to become one of the most well known voices in gospel music.  By the 1960s the Staple Singers became one of the voices of the civil rights movement.  With Mavis God has always been at the center of her music.
 
Mavis Staples
Theater of Living Arts
Philadelphia, PA
November 4 2004
Soundboard

1. Oh La De Da
2. If You're Ready (Come Go with Me)
3. Will The Circle Be Unbroken
4. The Weight
5. Have A Little Faith
6. God Is Not Sleeping
7. Respect Yourself
8. I'll Take You There
9. Touch A Hand, Make A Friend
 
Total Time 78:22
 
FLAC
 

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Mirror Mirror On The Wall


LOOK IN THE MIRROR DO YOU LIKE WHAT YOU SEE?

When you look at a mirror what do you see? Do you see the mirror or do you see what the mirror reflects?

Does it reflect light or darkness?

2 Corinthians 3:18. But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the spirit of the Lord.
Here is another translation of 2 Corinthians 3:18. And we, with our unveiled faces, reflecting like mirrors the brightness of the Lord, all grow brighter and brighter as we are turned into the image that we reflect. This is the work of the Lord who is Spirit.
So one says, “beholding as in a mirror”, and another says, “reflecting like mirrors. “ Which one is right? One translation implies contemplating what you see. The other implies you are the mirror reflecting the image.

The answer is they may both be right. You say, “How can they both be right?” Well the verb originally used was Katoptrizo, and it can be translated either way. Which meaning did the author, Paul intend? He was relating being a Christian to the experience of Moses on Mount Sinai as we can see earlier in 2 Corinthians 3.
In Exodus 34, we see that when Moses returned off the Mountain after being with God and beholding God’s glory his face reflected the glory of God.
Beholding God leads to becoming more Christ like and this leads to reflecting God’s glory or light.
What do you do when you behold something? Is it a quick glance or just a casual look? I think it means to study or to stare or contemplate.

How might you behold, study or contemplate God today? How could you study and contemplate what God’s glory is? Well Jesus is the Word that became flesh, so to READ AND STUDY THE BIBLE you are beholding, or studying Jesus who is God in the flesh.

If the mirror is covered with dirt and grime what do you see? Does it reflect a true image?

Sin or disobedience of God in our lives is like dirt on our mirror. It makes us reflect a poor image of God to others.
2 Corinthians 5:17 says we are to be God’s ambassadors. When an ambassador of a country does something wrong how does it make the country look? Even if the behavior does not represent the country, it is how outsiders will perceive the country. It is not a true reflection of the country.

Does it say in 2 Corinthians 3: 18 to absorb God’s glory or light, or to reflect God’s glory or light?
Should we keep all that God gives us for our own benefit?
Of course not! Reflect it out to others! Matthew 5:16. “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” Does it say so they will praise you? No, it's not about you.

We can see in 1 Peter 4:7-11. We are to glorify God by the way we treat others and glorify God with a lifestyle worthy of Him.

You are stranded on an island. You are going to use a mirror (by reflecting the light of the sun) to send a S.O.S. signal to a ship to rescue you. What if the mirror had a mind of its own? Instead it would choose to send its own message. If it had a big ego it would say “look at me.” Instead of save me. If it was insecure it might not want to be seen and not send a message at all.
You can be a mirror to reflect God’s light. Don’t let your insecurities, ego, or pride get in the way. Let God be in control of you and send the message through you that truly reflects His glory and light to others.

2 Thessalonians 1:11-12. We pray that God may count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of his goodness and the work of faith with power. That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you and you in Him, according to the grace of our God