Today's treasure: 2 Samuel 1:23
Read Galatians 2:20 and think what this means to you
Our old body of sin,
the nature that must seek its own way, the person who is hopelessly depraved and resigned to failure,
hangs limp on the cross. Raised in its place is the Spirit of the Living God poured into a temple of flesh so that God's presence will remain among men. The armor that once we could only carry in our hands is now fitted for us and we rise from the dead--warriors. Oh that we would not cling to the things of our old body of sin. It is nothing but a decaying carcass. I must rise, turn away from the old things of death, take on His armor, and fight the good fight.
Romans 6:6 is a great memory verse
Read 1 Peter 2:16. The word servants, which Peter was urging as the position of all who are in Christ, is the Greek word doulos. It means "a slave, one who is in permanent relation of servitude to another, his will being altogether consumed in the will of the other" Sounds like an armor bearer, sacrificing his will and agenda for that of his master. The word permanent describes the kind of service God desires us to offer.
Do you see your role of servant of the Living Lord as absolutely and utterly permanent? Servanthood, not salvation. If you can say without a doubt that in your life, whether you still have your health, job, spouse, etc. that you will be serving God, then AMEN! A 'doulos' is a sold out servant , so what does 1 Corin. 4:1 list as one of our privileges as doulos of God?
Read Matthew 10:39...which of the following statements best describe this verse?
to love God is to lose your life
to lay down your life for Christ's sake is to find His
to find yourself is to lose everything else
Read 2 Samuel 1:1-16
according to verse 2, how long a period of time passed before David learned of Saul's death?
what lie did the Amalekite tell about Saul's death?
What gave David a unique right to ask the question in verse 14?
Few people in the Middle East would have failed to hear rumors of Saul's pursuit of David. Many must have followed them as closely as a faithful watcher of a modern soap opera. People love conflict. We revel in the sagas of the rich, famous and miserable.
When the men were returning home after David had killed the Philistine, the women met King Saul with singing, dancing. joyful songs, tambourines and lutes. Those women started a jealousy that cost both men dearly. "Saul was very angry; this refrain galled him. 'They have credited David with tens of thousands, 'he thought, 'but me with only thousands. What more can he get but the kingdom?' And from that time on Saul kept a jealous eye on David"
Read 2 Samuel 1:17-27
In David's song of lament, why did he not want word of Saul's death and the deaths of his sons told in Gath and Ashkelon?
In David's song of lament, his words suddenly turn from the refrain of the assembly to the grief of a single heart. The Hebrew word for brother was ach. It means "a brother, near relative" it is generally a term for affection.
David called his friend's love for him "wonderful". The Hebrew word for wonderful is pala..."to be separate, be extraordinary".
Clearly we see from the definition that David was distinguishing the sacrificial nature of this friendship from anything else anyone had ever demonstrated to him. So determined was Jonathan that David be king, a position that Jonathan stood to inherit, Jonathan committed his entire life to that end. David found it "astonishing"
David grieved the tragic loss of life that took place on Mount Gilboa. His thoughts must have been consumed with how differently he wished it had all happened.
In the next chapter we see that "in the course of time" ...some things just take the passing of time to pass, we experience God's healing wash over us..
Today's treasure: 1 Samuel 30: 6
Read 1 Samuel 29: 1-30:6
What two arguments did the Philistine commanders make against David to keep him out of battle?
Describe the response of David and his men according to 1 Samuel 30:4
Why would the men want to stone David? ( v. 6)
David was greatly distressed over the blame his men cast on him. He responded by finding "strength in the Lord his God."
The verses paint a perfect portrait of our human nature.
1. Hurting people often find someone to blame. When we've suffered a loss, just like David's men we often look for stones to throw--and someone at whom to throw them.
2. Nothing hurts more than our children in jeopardy. Many things hurt and cause us to search for stones to throw, but, as in verse 6, nothing has the potential to cause bitterness in spirit like matters involving the children.
David's men ultimately arrived at a place of reason. They chose not to act at the peak of emotions--a wise response for all of us!
3. Nothing helps more than finding strength in our God. Sometimes no one offers us encouragement of helps us find strength. Knowing how to encourage ourselves in the Lord is essential.
Read 1 Samuel 30: 7-31 and think on these questions:
How did David make the decision to pursue the captors?
Why did 200 men stay behind?
What was the raiding party doing when David saw them?
Assured victory does not mean easy wins. God told David in advance he would "certainly overtake them and succeed in the rescue" yet we see references to exhaustion, hard work, a nonstop 24 hour battle and 400 escapees. God was true to His word. God often gives us a victory that requires blood, sweat and tears. When He can bring about a victory and strengthen and mature us all at the same time, He will do it.
God revels in overcoming and undergirding all at once. God's idea of victory has virtually nothing to do with plunder. It has to do with people.
We don't have to win big to win. God called it a victory when even 400 men got away. If your family has come out of serious battle intact, fall on your face and praise our faithful God!
We constantly fight an unseen enemy. God has assured us victory, but He has told us to take an aggressive stand against the evil one, covering ourselves in His armor. !!!!
Today's treasure 1 Samuel 17:45
**Read 1 Samuel 17: 1-58
--Why did Jesse send David to the camp of his three older brothers?
--What all was promised to the man who killed Goliath?
--What were Eliab's feelings toward his youngest brother?
--What was David's claim to Saul in verse 37?
--Why didn't David wear Saul's armor?
**Read verse 45 carefully. What do you believe was David's most powerful weapon against Goliath?
(it was not the sling)
1. Take God's Word over the opinion of others . Eliab said everything he possibly could to discourage David. David's response evidenced the fact that Eliab and David were not at odds for the first time. Eliab was very critical of David. ? resulted from Eliab almost being anointed king. David remained undaunted by Eliab's criticisms because David took God's Word over the opinion of others. He and his brothers heard the promise of victory God made to the nation that would call upon His name and David believed these promises. (Psalm 71:5)
**Was there ever a time a family member discouraged you?
We can do ANYTHING God calls us to do through Christ who strengthens us (Phil 4:13).
2. Measure the size of your obstacle against the size of your God.
The obstacle of Goliath that was over 9 feet tall with over 140 pounds of armor shielding him was what God wanted David to use to bring Israel victory in the name of the Lord.
We tend to measure our obstacles against our own strength, thus we feel overwhelmed and defeated before the battle begins. David had to face a giant obstacle with strength he possessed, but his confidence in god caused a simple pebble to hit like a boulder.
--Is there an area in your life in which God wants to give you a victory but an obstacle seems to big to overcome?
3. Acknowledge an active and living God in your life.
--How did David refer to God in 1 Samuel 17:26?
--Do you approach every circumstance and conflict as a member of the army of the living God?
--Do you continually regard God as able?
--Do you stand in His name?
Our victory rests not on faith in our spirituality. Our victory rests on faith in our God.
Faith in faith is pointless. Faith in a living, active God moves mountains. Moses acknowledged Yahweh as the living God and led multitudes into the promised land. Daniel also did and the angel shut the mouths of the lions.
-- Are you allowing God to live smack in the middle of your life?
