Category: Covenant

Word-Inspired Corporate Prayer Extends Your Sphere of Influence (Insights in Psalms)

3/2/2013

"Scripture calls us to pray for many things: for all saints ; for all men; for kings and all rulers; for all who are in adversity; for the sending forth of laborers; for those who labor in the gospel; for all converts; for believers who have fallen into sin; for one another in our immediate circles" (Andrew Murray).

Word-inspired worship music creates atmosphere to seek the Lord and His strength as you remember God's covenant. Corporate prayer empowers the proclamation of His reign among the nations as you redeem His disciples for kingdom rule. Trust in the Holy Spirit and obey God to extend your sphere of influence.

Follow God's Word in Worshiping Him through Music
After David constructed buildings for himself in Jerusalem, he pitched a tent for the ark of God. He said Levites carried and ministered before the ark forever. David assembled all Israel and called together the descendants of Aaron and the Levites. He summoned Zadok and Abiathar the priests and several heads of Levitical families to consecrate themselves and bring the ark to the place David prepared. God's anger broke out because they did not inquire how to do it in the prescribed way. The priests and Levites consecrated themselves to carry the ark with poles as Moses commanded. The Levites appointed singers to sing joyful songs accompanied by musical instruments. Kenaniah was in charge of singing because he was skillful at it. Because God helped the Levites carrying the ark, seven bulls and seven rams were sacrificed along with shouts, rams' horns and trumpets, cymbals and playing of lyres and harps. Michal despised David when she saw him dancing and celebrating (1 Chron. 15:1-29). Follow God's word in worshiping Him with all your heart through music.

Seek the Lord and His Strength By Remembering His Covenant
They set the ark inside the tent David pitched while presenting burnt and fellowship offerings. He gave a loaf of bread and cake of dates and raisins to each Israelite. Some Levites made petition, gave thanks and praised the Lord. Some played the lyresa and harps, Asaph sounded the trumpets and Benaiah and Jahaziel the priests blew the trumpets regularly before the ark. David committed to Asaph this psalm of thanks to the Lord. Call on his name and make known among the nations what He did. Sing praise to Him, tell of His wonderful acts and glory in His holy name. Let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice. Look to the Lord and His strength; seek His face always. Remember His wonders, miracles and judgments. God made a covenant to Abraham and confirmed it with Isaac and Jacob. He gave the land of Canaan for their inheritance. God allowed no man to oppress them and rebuked kings for their sake (1 Chron. 16:1-22). Seek the Lord and His strength by remembering God's miracles and His covenant with Abraham.

Pray Corporately to Empower Proclamation
All the earth would sing to the Lord and proclaim His salvation every day. Declare His glory among the nations and His marvelous deeds among all peoples. For great is the Lord and most worthy of praise to be feared above all gods or idols of the nations. His dwelling place contains strength and joy. Ascribe to the Lord glory due His name. Worship the Lord in the splendor of His holiness. Let people and all creation say among the nations, "The Lord reigns!" God's love endures forever. Cry out to God our Savior to save and deliver us from the nations so we may give thanks to His holy name and glory in His praise. David left Asaph and his associates before the ark to minister their regularly according to each day's requirements. He left gatekeeper Obed-Edom and his 68 associates to minister with them. He left Zadok the priest and fellow priests before the Lord's tabernacle at the high place in Gibeon to present burnt offerings regularly according to the Law (1 Chron. 16:23-43). Pray corporately to empower the proclamation of God's glory, salvation, reign and love among the nations.

Let God Build His Disciples for Kingdom Rule
David told Nathan he lived in a cedar palace while the ark was under a tent. God told Nathan that David was not the one to build Him a house to live in. God moved from one tent site to another and never asked any leader to build Him a house of cedar. God said He took David from tending sheep to be ruler over Israel. He was with him wherever David went and cut off his enemies. God made his name great, provided a place for Israel and planted them in a home of their own without disturbance. Wicked people would not oppress them. The Lord built a house for him, raised up his son to establish his kingdom, build a house for God and establish His throne forever. He would set him over His house, His kingdom and His throne to be established forever (1 Chron. 17:1-15). Let God build His disciples for kingdom rule from His throne forever.

Pray that God Defeats Nations and Redeems His People
David humbled himself before God in prayer saying He honored His servant as the most exalted of men. He made known His promises as an incomparable God who redeemed Israel for Himself. He made a name for Himself, performed great wonders, drove out nations and redeemed Israel from Egypt. David prayed that God's promise about His house be established forever so His name would be great forever. Men would then say the Lord Almighty was Israel's God. He revealed to David that He would build a house for him (1 Chron. 17:16-27). Pray that God defeats nations and redeems His people forever.

Trust in Holy Spirit and Obey God for Spiritual Victory to Extend Sphere of Influence
David defeated the Philistines and Moabites who became subject to him. He fought Hadadezer king Zobah and established his control along the Euphrates River. David captured 1,000 of his chariots, 7,000 charioteers and 20,000 foot soldiers. The Lord gave David victory everywhere he went. David took the gold shields and bronze used by Solomon to make articles and brought them to Jerusalem. Hadoram brought varieties of gold, silver and bronze after hearing David defeated the army of Hadadezer. David dedicated these articles to the Lord, reigned over all Israel and did what was just and right for all his people (1 Chron. 18:1-17). Trust in the Holy Spirit and obey God to extend your sphere of influence.

Call upon God to do the following things:

Follow God's word in worshiping Him
Seek the Lord and His strength by remembering His covenant
Pray corporately to empower the proclamation of God's reign among the nations
Let God build His disciples for kingdom rule
Pray that God defeats nations and redeems His people
Trust in the Holy Spirit and obey God to extend your sphere of influence

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Encouragements To Trusting and Obeying God (Insights in Prophets)

2/23/2013

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"All God's revelations are sealed to us until they are opened to us by obedience. You will never get them open by philosophy or thinking. Immediately you obey, a flash of light comes. Let God's truth work in you by soaking in it, not by worrying into it. Obey God in the thing He is at present showing you, and instantly the next thing is opened up. We read tomes on the work of the Holy Spirit when...five minutes of drastic obedience would make things clear as a sunbeam. We say, I suppose I shall understand these things some day. You can understand them now: it is not study that does it, but obedience. The tiniest fragment of obedience, and heaven opens up and the profoundest truths of God are yours straight away. God will never reveal more truth about Himself till you obey what you know already. Beware of being wise and prudent" (Oswald Chambers).

God encourages you to trust and obey Him by binding yourself to His covenant, rest in Him who defends your cause, trust in His power and wisdom, remember how He defends your cause and beware of consequences in disobeying God.

Bind Yourself to God's Covenant
Jeremiah said Babylon would be captured, Bel and her images shamed and Marduk and her idols filled with terror. Nations from the north attacked and laid waste her land. Israel and Judah had tears as they sought the Lord, asked the way to Zion and bound themselves in an eternal covenant. Shepherds led God's people astray, devoured by their enemies and sinned against the Lord. All who passed Babylon were horrified because of her wounds. Israel was a scattered flock devoured by the king of Assyria and Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon. God punished Babylon and Assyria because in arrogance they opposed and defied Him (Jer. 50:1-32). Bind yourself to God's covenant to prevent shame, wounds and defeat.

Rest in God Who Defends Your Cause
The Redeemer and Lord Almighty vigorously defended Israel's and Judah's cause. He brought rest to their land and unrest to Babylon. A sword went against her false prophets and they became fools. Warriors became filled with terror while horses, chariots and foreigners became like women. Their treasures became plundered and their idols went mad with terror. No one lived in the land. Anguished gripped the Babylonian king. No one could challenge God and no shepherd could stand against Him (Jer. 50:33-46). Rest in God who defends your cause and defeats spiritual enemies.

Trust in God's Power and Wisdom
God stirred up the spirit of a destroyer against Babylon to give everything over to the Lord. He did not forsake Israel and Judah even though they were full of guilt. Babylon made the whole earth drunk as nations drank her wine and went mad. Babylon could not be healed as her judgment reached to the skies. The Lord stirred up the kings of the Medes because His purpose was to destroy Babylon. God made and founded the earth by His power and wisdom. He stretched out the heavens by His understanding. Every man was senseless, without knowledge and shamed by his idols. His images were worthless. God's people were His weapon for battle to shatter nations and destroy kingdoms including every inhabitant. God repaid Babylon for all the wrong they did in Zion since His purposes stood. He exhausted the strength of Babylon's warriors (Jer. 51:1-32). Trust in God's power and wisdom to destroy Satanic kingdoms.

Remember How God Defends Your Cause
Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon threw God's people into confusion, swallowed them like a serpent and spewed them out. God defended the cause of His people. Babylon became a heap of ruins and an object of horror where no one lived. God's people were to remember the Lord and think on Jerusalem as they were disgraced, insulted and shamed because foreigners entered the holy places of the Lord's house. God made Babylon's officials, wise men, governors, officers and warriors drunk and they all died. The Lord Almighty leveled Babylon's thick wall and set her high gates on fire. The peoples exhausted themselves for nothing. Their labor was fuel for the flames. Jeremiah told Seraiah to read aloud the disasters predicted for Babylon, tie a stone to the scroll and throw it into the Euphrates. It represented how Babylon would sink and rise no more (Jer. 51:33-64). Remember how God defends your cause so you don't exhaust your strength.

Beware of Consequences in Disobeying God
Zedekiah's evil in rebelling against the king of Babylon thrusted him from God's presence. Babylon kept Jerusalem under siege for two years resulting in famine and the city wall broken. Babylon captured Zedekiah and his army, killed his sons, blinded Zedekiah's eyes and put him in prison until he died. They burned the temple, royal palace and every house in Jerusalem. Babylon broke down all the walls around Jerusalem and carried most of the people into exile. They took the bronze in the temple along with gold and silver articles used in the temple service. The Babylonian king executed key leaders like Seraiah the chief priest, Zephaniah the priest next in rank, three doorkeepers, officer over the fighting men, seven royal advisors, chief officer and 60 of his men (Jer. 52:1-34). Beware of consequences in disobeying God resulting in spiritual and physical death.

Which of the following items most encourage you to trust and obey God?
1. Bind yourself to God's covenant to prevent shame, wounds and defeat
2. Rest in God who defends your cause and defeats spiritual enemies
3. Trust in God's power and wisdom to destroy Satanic kingdoms
4. Remember how God defends your cause so you don't exhaust your strength
5. Beware of consequences in disobeying God resulting in spiritual and physical death.

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God's Promises to Abraham, Moses and David Foundational to Understanding Gospel of Christ (Insights in NT)

3/23/2012

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People need more than the Four Spiritual Laws when you preach the gospel to them. Let's take a look at Stephen's preaching when he shared how God worked with Abraham, Moses and David. You're thinking, "I don't want to get stoned like Stephen," but look at the results. Peoples' hearts were convicted and it made a deep impression on Saul who later became the great apostle Paul. God's promises to Abraham, Moses and David are foundational in understanding and responding to the gospel of Christ.

Stephen answered the high priest saying the God of glory appeared to Abraham when lived in Mesopotamia and said to leave his country and relatives and come to the land He would show him. After Abraham's father died in Haran, God brought him to Israel and gave it to him and his offspring as a possession. They would be slaves and mistreated in a foreign land for 400 years. God would judge Egypt and allow them to come out and serve Him. Abraham became the father of Isaac with Jacob his grandson who had 12 sons as patriarchs. Jealousy led the patriarchs to sell Joseph into Egypt. God rescued him from all afflictions and made him governor over Egypt and his household. When famine came in Egypt and Canaan, Joseph made himself to known to his brothers. Joseph invited Jacob his father and 75 relatives when they heard about the grain there. The people multiplied fulfilling God's promise to Abraham before Moses was born (Acts 7:1-19). Abraham received God's promise of possessing land and descendants unconditionally.

The Egyptians educated Moses and he became powerful in words and deeds. After taking vengeance when an Israelite was mistreated, Moses fled to Midian. After 40 years, an angel appeared in a burning bush to tell Moses to rule and deliver the Israelites. He performed wonders and signs in Egypt, Red Sea and wilderness for 40 years. Moses received living oracles on Mt. Sinai that they disobeyed by making a golden calf and worshiping Mooch and Rompha. Moses instructed them on how to build the tabernacle of testimony that Joshua brought while dispossessing the nations until the time of David (Acts 7:20-45). Moses received God's promise concerning unconditional ownership of the land, but enjoyed his relationship with God through obedience.

David asked to find a dwelling place for the God of Jacob, but Solomon built a house for Him even though the Most High does not dwell in houses made by humans since heaven is His throne and the earth His footstool. You men always resist the Holy Spirit and disobey the law like your fathers that killed the prophets who announced the coming of the Righteous One (Acts 7:46-53). David received God's promise of establishing His house, kingdom and throne eternally and unconditionally once he gave up control.

They were convicted by Stephen's preaching and began gnashing their teeth at him. Stephen was full of the Holy Spirit, saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. They began stoning him and the witnesses laid their robes at the feet of Saul. Stephen called upon the Lord and cried out, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them!" and then died (Acts 7:54-60). Preaching and teaching God's covenants with Abraham, Moses and David convict people of sin and lead to dramatic response.

Do you understand God's covenant to Abraham, Moses and David? If not, study Gen. 12-15; Deut. 28-30; and 2 Sam. 7. What difference does it make in helping you understand the gospel of Christ?

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Ingredients in Living Under the Reign of God (Insights in Psalms)

10/25/2011

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Robert Webber, in his book, The Younger Evangelicals wrote, “The calling of the church in every culture is to be mission. That is, the work of the church is not to be an agent or servant of the culture. The churches’ business is not to maintain freedom or to promote wealth or to help a political party or to serve as the moral guide to culture. The church’s mission is to be the presence of the kingdom… The church’s mission is to be show the world what it looks like when a community of people live under the reign of God.” Psalm 105 explains the ingredients necessary for people to live under the reign of God.

Intimacy
Thank, praise, speak and glory in His holy name and wonderful acts. Those who seek the Lord and His strength continually will have glad hearts. Abraham's offspring will remember His judgments (Ps. 105:1-7). Gladness and knowing God's glory come by seeking the Lord and His strength.

Covenant
God's faithfulness continues throughout all generations beginning with His covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. He promised Canaan as their inheritance when they were few in number. He protected their prophets, permitted no man to oppress them and reproved kings for their sakes (Ps. 105:8-15). Relying on God's covenant with Abraham protects and allows you to prosper.

Wisdom
When famine came, God sent Joseph who was sold as a slave and tested before being made ruler to teach his elders wisdom. God caused His people to be very fruitful and stronger than their adversaries (Ps. 105:16-24). Wisdom and strength comes from God through His called people.

Deliverance
When hate came, God sent Moses and Aaron to perform miracles like sending darkness, turning waters to blood, causing fish to die, and a land swarming with frogs, flies, locusts and hail. Lastly, God killed all the first-born and first-fruits (Ps. 105:25-36). Deliverance through miracles comes from God mediated through His called people.

Obedience
He brought them out with silver and gold. God spread a cloud for a covering and fire to illumine by night. They asked and He brought quail, bread of heaven and water from a rock. He remembered his promise to Abraham and gave them the nations' lands so they could take possession of the peoples' labor and observe His laws (Ps. 105:37-45). Obey God's word and receive His provision, guidance and inheritance of the nations.

Consider how you are living under the reign of God:
1. I seek to know God intimately every day
2. I appreciate the protection and promises of the Abrahamic Covenant
3. I am open to God's wisdom and strength in everyday life
4. I embrace God's deliverance through His miracles
5. I obey God's word and receive His provision, guidance and inheritance

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Which Pathway Will You Choose? (Insights in Psalms)

5/4/2011

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The pathway to true prosperity and abundance is brokenness, reverent faith, Christ reigning and prayer for deliverance (Ps. 72). Even as believers, we are tempted to adopt the strategies of the wicked since they seem to succeed, at least for the short-term. When Christ is number one, your life will be characterized by righteousness, peace, power, compassion and prosperity. When I go into default mode and follow the world's ways, confusion, heartache and devastation result. I have experienced both pathways. Which one will you and I choose?

God is good to those who have pure hearts. A major stumbling block is envying the prosperity of the wicked who seem to have smooth sailing through life. The Psalmist asserted that the wicked have no cares or problems because their pride and unfeeling heart shielded them from life's normal concerns. Their tongues mock the righteous as they oppress the disenfranchised and those on the margins (Ps. 73:1-9).

Even though God's people drink waters of abundance, they wonder if He's paying attention to the wicked who are at ease and increasing in wealth. It's tempting for the godly to think spiritual disciplines are a waste of time compared to the wicked who get ahead in life (Ps. 73:10-14).

Understanding came after the Psalmist spent time with God and considered the destiny of the wicked. Their lives will be destroyed in a moment, swept away by sudden terrors and despised by the Lord (Ps. 73:15-20).

This revelation does not come all at once. God takes you through a process as you reflect on the true reality about the prosperity of the wicked. At first, your heart is bitter and wounded as you consider how the wicked get ahead and achieve great things through devious means. Proper perspective comes as you make God your chief glory (Ps. 73:21-24).

Instead of celebrating the world's allurements and pleasures, the nearness of God becomes your joy, desire and foundation. You make Him your refuge and supreme good (Ps. 73:25-28).

How do you make God your refuge and joy instead of the world? Psalm 74 answers that question.

First, you must cry for help when it seems that God has rejected and forgotten you (Ps. 74:1-2).

Second, you must consider the present devastation. The enemy has set up worldly standards in the church and defiled true worship of God. His people have been oppressed and intimidated so they don't follow Christ's command to make disciples. Prophets are lacking who can lead God's people in obtaining their birthright as children of God. From all appearances, God has allowed the enemy to overwhelm us (Ps. 74:3-11).

Third, remember that God is your powerful king. He is the one who delivered the Israelites from Egyptian bondage by dividing the Red Sea. He is the one who created the heavens and earth along with the seasons (Ps. 74:12-17).

Fourth, remind God that the world, flesh and devil reviles His people continually. Meditate on the truths that His literal and unconditional promise within the Abrahamic Covenant of land (kingdom rule), descendants (multiplied disciples) and blessings forever still apply even though the land is full of spiritual deadness and blindness, including oppression and injustice among the least of these without a voice (Ps. 74:18-21).

Lastly, ask God to plead His own cause and defeat the adversaries that prevent His kingdom from expanding through the discipleship of His people (Ps. 74:22-23).

Please take the following actions:

1. Cry for help because you are desperate
2. Consider the devastation (worldly standards) in your life and in the church
3. Remember God's past deliverances in the Bible, creation and in your life
4. Meditate on the truths of the Abrahamic Covenant that God has promised you: unconditional kingdom rule, multiplied disciples and blessings forever
5. Ask God to defeat the world, flesh and devil in your life and the church, which prevent His kingdom rule from expanding through making disciples

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Word-Inspired Corporate Prayer Extends Your Sphere of Influence (Insights in Psalms)

Encouragements To Trusting and Obeying God (Insights in Prophets)

God's Promises to Abraham, Moses and David Foundational to Understanding Gospel of Christ (Insights in NT)

Ingredients in Living Under the Reign of God (Insights in Psalms)

Which Pathway Will You Choose? (Insights in Psalms)

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