Don’t Be Like the Mule

Be not like a horse or a mule, without understanding, which must be curbed with bit and bridle, or it will not stay near you. (Psalm 32:9)

Picture God’s people as a farmyard of all sorts of animals. God cares for his animals, he shows them where they need to go, and supplies a barn for their protection.

But there is one beast on this animal farm that gives God an awful time, namely, the mule. He’s stupid and he’s stubborn and you can’t tell which comes first — stubbornness or stupidity.

Now the way God likes to get his animals into the barn for their food and shelter is by teaching them that they all have a personal name and then calling them by name. “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go” (Psalm 32:8).

But the mule will not respond to that sort of direction. He is without understanding. So God gets in his pick-up truck and goes out in the field, puts the bit and bridle in the mule’s mouth, hitches it to the truck, and drags him stiff-legged and snorting all the way into the barn.

That is not the way God wants his animals to come to him for blessing and protection.

One of these days it is going to be too late for that mule. He’s going to get clobbered with hail and struck by lightning, and when he comes running, the barn door is going to be shut.

Therefore, don’t be like the mule. “Be not like a horse or a mule, without understanding, which must be curbed with bit and bridle.”

Instead, let everyone who is godly come to God in prayer at a time when he may be found (Psalm 32:6).

The way not to be a mule is to humble ourselves, to come to God in prayer, to confess our sins, and to accept, as needy little farmyard chicks, the direction of God into the barn of his protection and provision.

John Piper 

Why do people suffer?

BIBLE MEDITATION:

And unto Adam He said… “cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life. Thorns and thistles shall it bring forth to thee…” Genesis 3:17-18a

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

Before His crucifixion, the Lord Jesus was crowned with thorns, a sick form of torture. Yet in another sense, His being crowned with thorns was part of a drama written before the world was swung into space. It was not accidental that God allowed wicked men to do this. It was part of God’s magnificent plan.

What does a crown of thorns symbolize? The curse upon humanity—you, me, all of us—because of sin. In God’s newly created earth, there were no thorns, thistles or brambles. The first rose bloomed without thorns. The curse came upon Adam and Eve because they disobeyed God.

Jesus wore that crown because He bore the curse that came upon everything due to our rebellion.

No matter your occupation or station in life, you’ll be working among thorns. And your body, like the apostle Paul’s, will find a thorn in the flesh. The thorns Jesus wore spoke of the hardship, sickness and suffering we all experience because something happened to creation (Romans 8:22). Death always accompanies sin.

ACTION POINT:

Sin brought the thorny pathway we walk, the bed of briars we sleep on, the curse on everything. Every hospital, mental institution, and jail, every twisted, warped body, all heartache pain and anguish, testifies, “Sin did this.” Who is taking care of your sin? Who is paying the price for it? Is it under the blood? Are you trusting Christ alone for that?

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Life Lessons from a Shepherd

David - God uses him in a mighty way!

A lowly shepherd, used by God.

In Your discouragement, remember this!

The LORD said to Samuel, "How long will you grieve over Saul, since I have rejected him from being king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and go. I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have provided for myself a king among his sons." - 1 Samuel 16:1

6 When they came, he looked on Eliab and thought, "Surely the LORD's anointed is before him."

7 But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart."

8 Then Jesse called Abinadab and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, "Neither has the LORD chosen this one."

9 Then Jesse made Shammah pass by. And he said, "Neither has the LORD chosen this one."

10 And Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel. And Samuel said to Jesse, "The LORD has not chosen these."

11 Then Samuel said to Jesse, "Are all your sons here?" And he said, "There remains yet the youngest, but behold, he is keeping the sheep." And Samuel said to Jesse, "Send and get him, for we will not sit down till he comes here."

12 And he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy and had beautiful eyes and was handsome. And the LORD said, "Arise, anoint him, for this is he." - 1 Samuel 16:6-12

1. God's thoughts are not our thoughts.

The brothers were passed over in favor of David who would be king.

God sometimes uses the least likely for His glory.

Just be available.

He's looking for humble hearts.

He alone gets all the glory!

26 For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth.

27 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong;

28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are,

29 so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.

30 And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption,

31 so that, as it is written, "Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord." - 1 Corinthians 1:26-31

But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart." - 1 Samuel 16:7

2. Hang on to God's promises!

David was God's anointed.

He was around 15 years old.

But it was much later when he became king.

With a humble heart, he hung onto God's promise.

4 David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years.

5 At Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months, and at Jerusalem he reigned over all Israel and Judah thirty-three years. - 2 Samuel 5:4-5

Your self esteem, your identity, must not be based on what you do but to Whom You belong.

You belong to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

14 Now the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and a harmful spirit from the LORD tormented him.

15 And Saul's servants said to him, "Behold now, a harmful spirit from God is tormenting you.

16 Let our lord now command your servants who are before you to seek out a man who is skillful in playing the lyre, and when the harmful spirit from God is upon you, he will play it, and you will be well."

17 So Saul said to his servants, "Provide for me a man who can play well and bring him to me."

18 One of the young men answered, "Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, who is skillful in playing, a man of valor, a man of war, prudent in speech, and a man of good presence, and the LORD is with him."

19 Therefore Saul sent messengers to Jesse and said, "Send me David your son, who is with the sheep."

20 And Jesse took a donkey laden with bread and a skin of wine and a young goat and sent them by David his son to Saul.

1 Samuel 16:14-20

David waited patiently in the Lord just tending his sheep.

Shovel sheep poop one day then be king the next.

3. Authentic worship opens the door for God's presence and power!

Worship is more than singing in church.

21 And David came to Saul and entered his service. And Saul loved him greatly, and he became his armor-bearer.

22 And Saul sent to Jesse, saying, "Let David remain in my service, for he has found favor in my sight." - 1 Samuel 16:21-22

And whenever the harmful spirit from God was upon Saul, David took the lyre and played it with his hand. So Saul was refreshed and was well, and the harmful spirit departed from him. - 1 Samuel 16:23

David worshiped and God's spirit calmed Saul.

Power in prayer and worship through God alone.

David defeats Goliath by God's power and worship.

46 This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down and cut off your head. And I will give the dead bodies of the host of the Philistines this day to the birds of the air and to the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel,

47 and that all this assembly may know that the LORD saves not with sword and spear. For the battle is the LORD's, and he will give you into our hand."

48 When the Philistine arose and came and drew near to meet David, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet the Philistine.

49 And David put his hand in his bag and took out a stone and slung it and struck the Philistine on his forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell on his face to the ground.

50 So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and struck the Philistine and killed him. There was no sword in the hand of David.

51 Then David ran and stood over the Philistine and took his sword and drew it out of its sheath and killed him and cut off his head with it. When the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they fled.

52 And the men of Israel and Judah rose with a shout and pursued the Philistines as far as Gath and the gates of Ekron, so that the wounded Philistines fell on the way from Shaaraim as far as Gath and Ekron.

53 And the people of Israel came back from chasing the Philistines, and they plundered their camp.

54 And David took the head of the Philistine and brought it to Jerusalem, but he put his armor in his tent. - 1 Samuel 17:46-54

1 I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? 

2 My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth.  - Psalm 121:1-2

There is no God like our God!!

4. Guard your heart!

David, a man after God's own heart.

Then he saw Bathsheba, committed adultery and put her husband into battle to be killed when she became pregnant.

He was trying to cover up their sin.

It's a slow descend.

Guard your heart.

Your heart is wicked.

But there is forgiveness.

1 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. 

2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin! 

3 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. 

4 Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment. 

5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me. 

6 Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart. 

7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. 

8 Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have broken rejoice. 

9 Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. 

10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. 

11 Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. 

12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit. 

13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will return to you. 

14 Deliver me from blood guiltiness, O God, O God of my salvation, and my tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness. 

15 O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise. 

16 For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; you will not be pleased with a burnt offering. 

17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. 

18 Do good to Zion in your good pleasure; build up the walls of Jerusalem; 

19 then will you delight in right sacrifices, in burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings; then bulls will be offered on your altar.  - Psalms 51

Thanks Pastor Kevin!

Pray for His Fame

Pray then like this: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.’” (Matthew 6:9)

Dozens of times Scripture says that God does things “for his name’s sake.”

He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. (Psalm 23:3)

For your name’s sake, O Lord, pardon my guilt. (Psalm 25:11)

He saved them for his name’s sake. (Psalm 106:8)

For my name’s sake I defer my anger. (Isaiah 48:9)

Your sins are forgiven for his name’s sake. (1 John 2:12)

If you ask what is really moving the heart of God in all those statements (and many like them), the answer is that God delights in having his name known and honored.

The first and most important prayer that can be prayed is, “Hallowed be your name.” I used to think this is an acclamation. Like, “Hallelujah! The Lord’s name is hallowed!” But it’s not an acclamation. It’s a petition. Actually a kind of imperative or command. Lord, let it be! Cause it to be. May your name be hallowed. This is my request, my prayer. I am urging you to this: Cause people to hallow your name. Cause me to hallow your name!

God loves to have more and more people “hallow” his name. That’s why his Son teaches Christians to pray for it. In fact, Jesus makes it the very first and paramount prayer. Because this is the first and great passion of the Father.

“Lord, cause more and more people to hallow your name,” that is, esteem, admire, respect, cherish, honor, reverence, and praise your name. More and more people! So, you can see it is basically a missionary prayer.

John Piper 

Victory Is Just a Prayer Away

BIBLE MEDITATION:

Uphold me according unto Thy Word, that I may live: and let me not be ashamed of my hope. Psalm 119:116

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

Do you feel like you’re in a prison cell of sorts today? Every door shuts in your face? Maybe you’re in a prison of despair and doubt. Perhaps you just heard from the doctor and received a bad report, or are dreading a visit this week. Maybe you’re in a financial prison of debt. Or a domestic prison of abuse. You feel there is no way out. 

Paul did much of his writing from a prison cell.

Friend, I want to tell you, there IS a way out for you. God is still on His throne. He hears and answers every prayer.

Victory over your situation is just a prayer away. The circumstances may not change, but your perspective and attitude will change as you begin to pray and praise God. There is no need you and I have that God cannot meet.

ACTION POINT:

Pray this prayer today: “Father, I need You. I need You to forgive me where I have failed You. I need You to change my heart and strengthen my faith so I see my circumstances not as a prison but as a palace—a place from which You are going to work in my life. Change my attitude from dread to joy, from jealousy to contentment, from worry to trust. I love You. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Talk to Your Tears

Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy! He who goes out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, bringing his sheaves with him. (Psalm 126:5–6)

There is nothing sad about sowing seed. It takes no more work than reaping. The days can be beautiful. There can be great hope of harvest.

Yet the psalm speaks of sowing “in tears.” It says that someone “goes out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing.” So, why are they weeping?

I think the reason is not that sowing is sad, or that sowing is hard. I think the reason has nothing to do with sowing. Sowing is simply the work that has to be done, even when there are things in life that make us cry.

The crops won’t wait while we finish our grief or solve all our problems. If we are going to eat next winter, we must get out in the field and sow the seed, whether we are crying or not.

If you do that, the promise of the psalm is that you will “reap with shouts of joy.” You will “come home with shouts of joy, bringing [your] sheaves with [you].” Not because the tears of sowing produce the joy of reaping, but because the sheer sowing produces the reaping, and you need to remember this even when your tears tempt you to give up sowing.

So, here’s the lesson: When there are simple, straightforward jobs to be done, and you are full of sadness, and tears are flowing easily, go ahead and do the jobs with tears. Be realistic. Say to your tears, “Tears, I feel you. You make me want to quit life. But there is a field to be sown (dishes to be washed, car to be fixed, sermon to be written).”

Then say, on the basis of God’s word, “Tears, I know that you will not stay forever. The very fact that I just do my work (tears and all) will in the end bring a harvest of blessing. So, go ahead and flow if you must. But I believe — though I do not yet see it or feel it fully — I believe that the simple work of my sowing will bring sheaves of harvest. And my tears will be turned to joy.”

John Piper 

Who’s in the Spotlight?

BIBLE MEDITATION:

But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, He shall testify of Me. John 15:26

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:

Some people get caught up in what they believe are the actions of the Holy Spirit. They turn their focus to miracles, healings, signs, and more. Friend, beware of those who make the Holy Spirit the figurehead of their faith, because this does not best describe the work and ministry of the Holy Spirit.

In John 15:26, Jesus says that when the Holy Spirit comes, He will “testify of Me.” The Holy Spirit has one cause: to testify of Jesus Christ. He is single-minded. He’s not interested in doing ten things for God – just one. This is the cause of the Spirit: “He will not speak of Himself, but He will glorify Me.”

The mark of a person who’s filled with the Holy Spirit is not that they’re always talking about the fact that they’re filled with the Spirit, but that they’re always glorifying the Lord Jesus Christ.

ACTION POINT:

I challenge you to make this pledge to God: I will bring my talents, my business, my time, and my resources – all for the cause of Christ. This one thing I do – sink or swim, live or die – Jesus will be glorified in my life today and every day!

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers