tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-40185877758140301212024-03-12T23:33:54.906-07:00Pastor Jeff ZubeckPastor Jeffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00826249875385631030noreply@blogger.comBlogger155125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4018587775814030121.post-49242463370693259612015-09-15T21:30:00.000-07:002015-11-17T22:14:15.712-08:00Power From On High Part 3--Praying in Tongues<div class="ecxMsoNormal">
Today, we tackled the difficult and tricky topic of praying in tongues.</div>
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We started by discussing 3 Things Satan Tries to Keep Believers from Having:</div>
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<span>1 1) <span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span>Prosperity (not just money)– health, wealth, joy, peace, highly favored</div>
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<span>2 2) </span>Grace – wants to keep you (feeling) separated from God. Grace is our assurance that sin cannot separate us from God or keep us from being used by God.</div>
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<span>3 3) </span>Praying in the Spirit – because it is prayer that he can’t stop</div>
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We also discussed our makeup as Christians:</div>
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1) Body/Flesh – Temple of the Holy Spirit</div>
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2) Soul – Holy Place – mind, will emotions – where understood prayer takes place</div>
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3) Spirit – Holy of Holies – where praying in the Spirit takes place</div>
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Why does the enemy hate praying the Spirit? Sometimes we wonder why he cares, since we don't even know what we are saying. Neither does he! We do tremendous damage to His kingdom, because Satan can't counteract what he doesn't know is coming. We are praying the Word of God and the enemy doesn't understand what we are praying. Also, when we pray with understanding (which is important to do also), we can doubt what we are praying. When we pray in the Spirit, we can't doubt what we are praying because we don't know what we are praying. When we pray with understanding, often Satan is right there to put doubt in our heads. We can then pray the perfect will of God without any doubt entering in!</div>
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Why all this babbling? We looked at Genesis 11. We noted this passage last week also. God said that with one common language nothing will be impossible. At this time, he was worried because they weren't employing God. When we pray in the Spirit, we don't sound the same, but we are speaking God's word through His Spirit. </div>
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Sometimes we don't pray in tongues because we don't understand it. Do we all completely understand how our cellphone or our car works? Does that hinder us from using it. If we know it works, why not utilize it?</div>
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Why tongues? We looked at James 3:1-10 and Proverbs 18:21. These speak of the power of the tongue and our inability to tame it. In Acts 2:2-4, the Spirit takes control of the tongues of the disciples. Finally, our tongues can speak His words. Then will I just babble all the time? We must submit to the Spirit to allow this to flow, so we can discern when it is necessary and when we should refrain.</div>
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Why an unintelligible language? Wouldn't be less weird that way, and I'd understand it better? That's the problem. Once we understand, we either start doubting or try to take over and do it our way. </div>
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Does praying in the Spirit really mean praying in tongues, or just "really intense prayer?" If that was the case, we'd see praying in the Spirit mentioned in the Old Testament, but it doesn't appear until after Acts 2. We looked at Jude 20 and 1 Corinthians 14:14-19. We edify ourselves by praying in the Spirit, and there is a proper place and time for the use of this tool. We are to pray with understanding and with the Spirit, depending on the situation. Paul says that he does both, but in their proper time and place. Praying in tongues doesn't edify others because they, like us, cannot understand what is being said (this is different than the gift of speaking in tongues with interpretation). </div>
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Is praying in tongues really essential? We looked at Ephesians 6:10-18. The list of the armor of God is usually listed as 6 items (belt of truth, breastplate of righteousness, feet fitted with the Gospel of peace, shield of faith, helmet of salvation, and sword of the Spirit), but verse 18 INCLUDES praying in the Spirit. God's number of perfection and completion is 7, not 6. Day 7 was the day of rest. Praying in the Spirit allows us to enter His rest. We don't have to worry about what we pray or how God is going to do it. We are told to make sure to put the FULL armor on. Without praying in the Spirit, it is not complete.</div>
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Pastor Jeff Zubeck Living Word Ahwatukeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08630178381336634751noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4018587775814030121.post-45048196804434809112015-09-07T20:44:00.000-07:002015-11-17T21:29:04.749-08:00Power From On High Part 2--baptism of the Holy SpiritThis week, we continued our series on the Holy Spirit. This week we started in Acts 1:8. There are many questions about receiving the Holy Spirit that we addressed that are critical.<br />
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Who is it for? We looked at Acts 2:17. The gift of the Holy Spirit is for all people. Just like salvation, we have to choose to receive the gift to have it, but anyone who believes can have it.<br />
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When is it for? Some believe that the Holy Spirit was only for a certain time in history, but Joel says it is for "all flesh" in the "last days," which is the time after Jesus until He comes again. <br />
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What is it for? It's to empower us to achieve our God-given purpose. We have provision to walk out our purpose for each day, no matter how big or how small it may be. Some days our purpose may be just living for God in what may seem to be small ways, and others bigger, but all of them can be huge when done with the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. God's power to do all those things is available to us through the Holy Spirit.<br />
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Didn't I get the Holy Spirit when I got saved? Why is there this other thing I am to receive? John 20 says yes, the Spirit is "in us" at salvation, but the baptism of the Spirit is the Spirit "upon us," which is God's power on us. Jesus breathed on them here to signify the Holy Spirit in them. The word here is the same word used elsewhere for the soul that God put within us that makes us different than other creatures. This was restoring the life and relationship with God Adam and Eve had in the garden. Then Jesus tells them to wait for the power of the Holy Spirit to come. We also looked at Luke 4:18, which shows that the Spirit "upon us" empowers us to fulfill our God-given purpose. In the Old Testament, the power of the Spirit came upon people for specific purposes (Samson is one example). Back then, it wasn't always available, but only in certain situations. Since we now have the Spirit in us, we can have that all the time! We also looked at John 14:16 and following. Jesus adds to the Holy Spirit in and upon us, "with us." We could also call it "among us." This is when believers come together in unity and connects us to each other and to Him, like in worship, where we can even "feel" His presence.<br />
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Why do we call it the baptism of the Holy Spirit? If it is in, with, and upon us, we are immersed completely in it. <br />
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How do I receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit? Many times we as Christians have made it difficult to receive this by putting rules on how and when we can receive the gift of the baptism of the Holy Spirit, but it really is as available to us as salvation is to anyone who believes.<br />
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Do I have to pray in tongues to receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit? Tongues is one evidence of the baptism of the Holy Spirit, but not the only one; however, it is still an important part of the baptism of the Holy Spirit. We looked at Genesis 11:1, where the people were unified with one language, and God said nothing would be impossible for them. Praying in tongues gives us one language, God's language, to pray in. It may not sound the same, but we are praying God's words, and that unifies us toward His purpose. <br />
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Pastor Jeff Zubeck Living Word Ahwatukeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08630178381336634751noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4018587775814030121.post-34645162060135514002015-08-31T20:08:00.000-07:002015-11-17T20:42:58.588-08:00Power From On High Part 1This is the first part of a series about the Holy Spirit, to help us understand how to tap into the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Adam and Eve in the garden had the Spirit living in them, but once the fall occurred, a separation took place so that man could not house the Holy Spirit. Now, the blood of Jesus has made us pure before God, so that because of Christ in us, we can have the Holy Spirit dwelling in us. The Holy Spirit gives us power and authority to equip us to do the assignment God has given us.<br />
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Today, we looked at the coming of the Holy Spirit. When Jesus went to the cross He:<br />
1) Gave us salvation, restored us in our relationship with God.<br />
2) Allowed us to have the Spirit of God dwell inside us.<br />
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We went to Joel 2:25 and following. This shows how the things that were being destroyed because of sin would be restored because of Jesus. God doesn't only restore what we lost, but He restores more (see Job). Joel also talks about how God truly satisfies our hunger and is the only one who can. Verse 28 then alludes to what happens after the Holy Spirit comes. We then looked at Acts 1 and 2, the account of the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. This exemplifies one of the elements that put us in an environment where the Holy Spirit's power can flow: unity. The disciples were in unity, and then the Spirit fell upon them. Unity is not complete agreement, but a choice to be unified despite whether we agree or not. Without this kind of unity, we miss a lot of the power that God can display in us through the Spirit. <br />
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This is the foundation for the messages in the coming weeks.Pastor Jeff Zubeck Living Word Ahwatukeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08630178381336634751noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4018587775814030121.post-1030077327129077162014-10-31T11:04:00.000-07:002014-11-10T11:12:11.133-08:00Two Kings Two Thrones Part 16
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This week, we looked at how David handles an attack by the Amalekites on his
people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>1 Samuel 30 opens with David and
his men coming upon Ziklag, a Philistine outpost where he and his men have been
hiding from Saul. When they get there, they discover that the city has been
burned down and all of their families and possessions were gone, stolen by
raiding Amalekites.<o:p></o:p><br />
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How could this happen? David is out trying to defeat
Philistines, doing God’s work. Let’s look a little at what David was doing that
kept him away from protecting his family. In chapter 29, we find David was in a
year-long ploy to double-cross the Philistines. He had been hiding among them,
and they were about to attack Saul. David offers to go into battle with them,
all the while planning to double-cross them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The advisors to the Philistine leader express that they think it is a
bad idea to bring David and his men with them, so David is sent away. It seemed
like such a great plan, but it was all for naught. Why?<o:p></o:p></div>
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Remember that Saul is a type of the law, while David is a
type of grace. There are also a few other important types to understand. In the
Old Testament, Egypt is a type for the world, the Philistines a type for our
sin, and the Amalekites a type for unprovoked attack.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Law and grace do not mix. You cannot battle
sin with a mix of law and grace. You can’t succeed in defeating sin with law,
and you cannot do it mixing grace with some law.<o:p></o:p></div>
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David is prevented from going into battle against the
Philistines in conjunction with Saul. That actually never happened in the story
of these two kings, they never went into battle together against Philistines.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While David was out trying to do something
that was outside of his purpose – specifically attempting a futile battle
against “sin,” the Amalekites attack. This was an unprovoked attack. Have you
ever been cruising along and felt like you were attacked for no reason?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have always taught that there are three
sources of trouble in life. There is certainly our sin that produces trouble.
Sometimes the enemy is attacking. The third is “Amalekite” attacks, those
troubles we face simply because the world is a mess, and other people do things
that make a mess for us.<o:p></o:p></div>
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When David and his men see what has happened, it says
that they wept until they could weep no more. All of their strength was gone. I
know we have all been there before. The book of Psalms records David’s
struggles in dealing with the troubles in life. He often asks God “what gives?”
That is my paraphrase, of course. God knows we are human and that we get tired
and frustrated with the things that happen in life sometimes. In the Psalms, we
frequently see how David moves from that emotion to confidence and victory by
reminding himself of how big God is and what He had done in the past.<o:p></o:p></div>
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David does the same here. His life was at a low point.
Since he was anointed to be the next king, the current king sought to kill him
and now he had lost his family. If that was not bad enough, now David’s men, in
their frustration, want to kill him. Instead of doing what condemnation would
do – which is recount all the ways in which he may have failed that caused this
turn of events, he “strengthened himself in the Lord his God.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is the first step. After we’ve cried it
all out and dealt with the emotion, we need to find strength in the Lord. That
will only happen when we have a revelation of grace. We must know that, by the
blood of Jesus, we deserve God to strengthen us.<o:p></o:p></div>
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David did not do what we so often do – make an emotional
decision to take revenge on the Amalekites. It would have satisfied his
emotions and might have appeased his men who wanted to kill him. Instead he
found strength in God and then went right to God’s presence to inquire of God
what to do next.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He goes to the priest
and says, “bring me the ephod.” The ephod was a priestly garment made of
precious metals and gems. In its center was a breastplate that was used in
seeking God’s direction for the people. David was not a priest. He had no
business under the law being near the ephod, but he needed to talk to God and
saw the law as no obstacle.<o:p></o:p></div>
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David took a breath, let the emotions cool down and asked
God what to do. We would have so much less trouble if we would follow that
model. God tells him that he will be successful if he attacks the Amalekites.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ultimately, David does successfully attack
and recover all that was lost including all of their family members and all the
plunder that the raiders had taken from other Philistine camps. <o:p></o:p></div>
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How powerful we can be in this world to redeem it
for God’s kingdom if we will walk in the grace He has given us!<o:p></o:p></div>
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To listen to the entire sermon go to <a href="http://ahwatukeechurch.com/media.php"><span style="color: blue;">http://ahwatukeechurch.com/media.php</span></a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To learn more about Living Word Ahwatukee,
visit <a href="http://ahwatukeechurch.com/"><span style="color: blue;">http://ahwatukeechurch.com/</span></a>.<o:p></o:p></div>
Pastor Jeff Zubeck Living Word Ahwatukeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08630178381336634751noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4018587775814030121.post-44507790206997146222014-10-29T10:34:00.000-07:002014-11-10T11:04:02.586-08:00Part 15 Two Kings Two Thrones
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This week, we looked at an interaction between David and
a man named Nabal in 1 Samuel 25.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nabal
lives in Carmel. In Carmel, Saul had built a memorial to his own glory. This is
the same place that Saul was told that he would no longer be king because he
disobeyed God by sparing the life of King Agag the Amalekite. At the time, it
seemed that was a harsh punishment for one mistake. When we read our Bible, we
find out that King Agag’s life is spared, and he continues having children. Out
of those children descends Haman. Haman is the one in the book of Esther who
nearly destroys ALL of the Jewish people. Saul’s disobedience almost caused the
destruction of God’s people – if not for God working through Esther and
Mordecai.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes we don’t realize the
significance of obeying God. It is not the act of disobedience that is the
problem, but the fruit of that act. God’s grace and his mercy overcame Saul’s
disobedience.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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Nabal is devoted to King Saul who, as we have been
studying, is a type and picture of the law, while David is a type and picture
of grace. David sends his men to ask Nabal to share food with them from a
festival that is about to be celebrated. Nabal refuses and insults the name of
David. Remember that law (and those committed to it) hates grace and is jealous
of it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>David’s men return and report
what Nabal had said. David’s response was “grab your swords,” and let’s not let
him disrespect us like that. Now, this is not in the character or in the
purpose for David. He is about to make a grave mistake. vowed to destroy every
male in Nabal’s household, which was the ultimate humiliation of a family name.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Word of Nabal’s response to David gets to Abigail,
Nabal’s wife. She is infuriated by her husband’s actions. She sets out to make
things right with David. She arrives and convinces David that attacking Nabal
is a foolish idea. She reminds him that doing what he plans makes him no better
than Nabal or Saul and that his actions could adversely affect his purpose.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In this story, I believe Abigail is a picture
of the Holy Spirit. You see, first we are told that she did NOT talk to Nabal.
The Holy Spirit is not able to talk to law or reason with it. It talks to and
through grace. She warns David in the same way that the Holy Spirit warns us
when we are about to step outside of God’s will for us. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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In John chapters 14-16, Jesus talks a great deal about
the Holy Spirit that would come to man after He completed His work. Among the
things that we are told about the Holy Spirit is that He is a Counselor to us.
The word used here for counselor is not like a person you go to for a counseling
session. It is a legal term. It is best defined as one who assists those in
trouble with the law, not just a lawyer but something beyond that. Isn’t that
what we need? Our sin puts us in trouble with the “law.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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Jesus also said that the Holy Spirit will convict us in
sin and righteousness. Convict does not mean to condemn. Convict means to point
you to the truth. The Holy Spirit not only tells us when we have already messed
up, but it warns us when we are moving in the wrong direction. He is also there
when we mess up and do that wrong thing anyway. That is when He reminds us that
we are still righteous before God because of what Jesus did for us. He also
reminds us to run to God when we sin and not hide in condemnation. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>David heard from this voice of the Spirit in
Abigail and heeded her warning because he lived by grace. Living by grace
allows us to hear the voice of the Spirit, not just the voice of the law that
condemns. He thanks her for her words, which allowed him not to make a grave
mistake.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the end, when Abigail tells
Nabal, his anger burns so strongly that within a few days he is dead.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Law’s anger again is directed at grace in a
very severe way.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Finally, there is another important detail in David’s
story. Nabal, who was committed to Saul/law, refused to give David what he
requested. When Abigail goes to meet David, she brings an abundant gift – far
beyond what David had requested. The Spirit, by grace, can bring us abundance
that law cannot. When we receive grace abundantly, we can also give it! What a
great story that illustrates for us how God interacts with His people.<o:p></o:p></div>
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To listen to the entire sermon go to <a href="http://ahwatukeechurch.com/media.php"><span style="color: blue;">http://ahwatukeechurch.com/media.php</span></a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To learn more about Living Word Ahwatukee,
visit <a href="http://ahwatukeechurch.com/"><span style="color: blue;">http://ahwatukeechurch.com/</span></a>.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
To listen to the entire sermon go to <a href="http://ahwatukeechurch.com/media.php"><span style="color: blue;">http://ahwatukeechurch.com/media.php</span></a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To learn more about Living Word Ahwatukee,
visit <a href="http://ahwatukeechurch.com/"><span style="color: blue;">http://ahwatukeechurch.com/</span></a>.<o:p></o:p></div>
Pastor Jeff Zubeck Living Word Ahwatukeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08630178381336634751noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4018587775814030121.post-14494426252415388542014-10-24T09:50:00.000-07:002014-11-10T10:29:35.329-08:00Part 14--Two Kings Two Thrones
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In this part, we looked at the first of two opportunities
that David has to take Saul’s life. This is in 1 Samuel 24. Before we went there,
we backtracked just a little bit because I believe the Holy Spirit gave me
deeper understanding on something we discussed a while back. <o:p></o:p></div>
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In 1 Samuel 9:16, where Saul is about to be anointed by
Samuel to be Israel’s first king, his purpose is stated. Previously we stated
that his purpose was to destroy the Philistines. Technically, though, he was
not destined to destroy the Philistines, but to “deliver my people from the
hand” of the Philistines. There is a subtle, but important, difference. To
deliver from the hand is more a defensive or reactive action. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When you examine Saul’s life as king, you find
that he never initiates conflict with the Philistines. He either reacts in
defense of Israel when they are attacked or joins in the fight already started
by his son Jonathan.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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This is not only in line with his purpose as king but
also with his being a type and picture of the Law. The Law was never intended
to defeat sin. It was a defense against it until grace, the power to defeat
sin, came. King David, the picture of grace, defeated Philistines everywhere he
went. In fact, when we look at his appearance on the scene, we find Saul and
his army powerless against Goliath. David shows up, goes on the attack and is
victorious. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Law cannot defeat sin. Trying to make yourself not sin
does not help you overcome it (though that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try to
have a little self-control). Only grace operating on the inside of you can
change your heart so that you no longer desire to sin. Law is a defensive tool,
and grace is an offensive weapon against sin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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There are 3 reasons law seeks to destroy grace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The first is jealousy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have discussed this quite a bit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Law is jealous of what grace can do. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The second is that law thinks grace is undoing
all its hard work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The third is the
opposite point of view on how to deal with sin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Law thinks grace is dangerous.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Now, let’s get to 1 Samuel 24. In verse two, it says that
Saul was pursuing David with 3000 men. The number 3000, especially in relation
to law and grace, is important.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In
Exodus 32:28, just after the giving of the 10 Commandments, 3000 people die. In
Acts 2:41, when the Holy Spirit filled those in the upper room, Peter preached
his first “Spirit-filled” sermon and 3000 people were born again – or received
eternal life. Both events happened on the “Day of Pentecost.” In Exodus, that
feast had not yet been established, but we can trace the day to 50 days
after the first “Passover” as they were set free from Egypt. Of course, the
coming of the Holy Spirit also happened on that 50<sup>th</sup> day after the
true Passover Lamb was slain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The coming
of the Holy Spirit was the true completion of Christ’s work. His death, burial
and resurrection paved the way for the Holy Spirit to be able to come in power
upon all believers. It is the sealing of the Covenant of Grace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In 2 Corinthians 3:3 and 3:6, the Law is
called a ministry of death and the Spirit a ministry of life. What amazing
pictures the Lord paints for us!<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
In 1 Samuel 24:2 it says that Saul is looking for David
in the “Crags of Wild Goats.” Remember that Saul was a donkey herder. God saw
that His people were stubborn and needed someone accustomed to dealing with
donkeys. Goats are much like donkeys in their stubbornness. They require strict
boundaries – i.e. LAW.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>David, the one
who was a shepherd, was hidden in the caves along the way where the sheep
grazed. Sheep are not stubborn but know the voice of their shepherd and obey.
Grace leads sheep. We know His voice and do not need to be ruled by lists of
rules, but His voice. These caves are where the sheep would be hidden to
protect them when predators were near. This is also where Saul goes to “relieve
himself.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
In 1 Samuel 24:4 David’s men tell him that Saul coming
into this cave is confirmation that God was delivering his enemy into his
hands. This is a great example of why it is so important to hear from God and
not men. His men were getting it all wrong. First of all, the “enemy” God spoke
of was not Saul, but the Philistines. Second, David was not called to destroy
Saul. David sneaks up and cuts a corner off of Saul’s robe. A king’s robe
was an extension of themselves. It was also symbolic of their victories. When a
king conquered another king, it was common to take a piece of the robe of the
defeated king and attach it to his robe, thereby growing the “train” of his
robe. This is why the train of God’s robe fills the temple. He has been
victorious over ALL!<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
Immediately after doing, so David is “conscience
stricken” (verse 5). He realizes he had declared before Saul and God that he
would never harm Saul, even though Saul was trying to kill him. His guilty
conscience did what it is supposed to do and can do only under grace – deal
with the problem. A guilty conscience, under law, will bring condemnation and
separation. Law-mindedness would have cause David to declare he was no longer
worthy to be king. Grace says your mistakes do not cost you your future – not
if we bring them to God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>David ends up
apologizing for this in the end.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
Hebrews 9:14 tells us that the blood of Jesus cleanses us
from a guilty conscience. Hebrews 10:22 says much the same. Grace does not
cleanse us from the need of a conscience all together, just a guilty
conscience. Grace leads us to bring our failures to God, not hide in fear and
condemnation. This is a hallmark of David’s life. He deals with his failures
head-on before God and finds grace and mercy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span> Just as Saul did not provoke attack against the Philistines, David
never attacks Saul. He continued to serve a king who wanted to kill him.
Meanwhile, he continued destroying Philistines.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
In Matthew 5:17-20, Jesus talks about how He did not come
to destroy the Law, but fulfill it. David did not destroy Saul, but served him
faithfully (with Saul as a picture of the Law). Going on, Jesus says that not
one “jot or tittle” of the law would pass away until all is fulfilled. The
law-minded like to point to these words directly from Jesus as evidence that we
must still uphold the Law. What is missed is the fact that He said that it was
until all was fulfilled. He had just stated that He came to fulfill the law. He
is saying this before He had finished that work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Praise God, He DID fulfill all the righteous
requirements of the Law. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The law is
there for instructions about how to interact in life, but it does not rule us
any more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He did what we could not. He
delivered us from the ministry of death!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Don’t ever let your failures disqualify you from your purpose. Continue
to run to God with your failures and see what He will do with your life.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
To listen to the entire sermon go to <a href="http://ahwatukeechurch.com/media.php"><span style="color: blue;">http://ahwatukeechurch.com/media.php</span></a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To learn more about Living Word Ahwatukee,
visit <a href="http://ahwatukeechurch.com/"><span style="color: blue;">http://ahwatukeechurch.com/</span></a>.<o:p></o:p></div>
Pastor Jeff Zubeck Living Word Ahwatukeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08630178381336634751noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4018587775814030121.post-69932043759633854512014-10-20T09:49:00.000-07:002014-11-10T09:49:45.518-08:00Part 13--Two Kings Two Thrones<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
In this part, we saw David run from Saul.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We noticed that David attracted the
distressed, those in debt, and the discontented to him when he goes home to the
tribe of Judah.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I believe these 3
categories are the people who need grace the most.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Distress comes when we are faced with
situations where there is no hope. Grace gives these people hope.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those in debt are imprisoned, often
literally, until it is paid.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are
held back by these burdened.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Grace
offers freedom to those who are in bondage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Discontented person are those you are usually told in leadership to
remove from your team.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>People who are disenfranchised
from the church are mad at God and are in need of His grace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are mad at Christians who lived
judgmentally and in condemnation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Love
doesn’t ignore sin, but it does cover them up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>These people became a mighty army (started with 400 and constantly grew)
because they didn’t stay distressed, in debt, and discontented.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This army is not used to fight Saul but to fight
the Philistines.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is still serving
Saul.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
<o:p> </o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
We looked at Luke 13:10.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Jesus sees a woman crippled, not by God, but just by life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He immediately acts and speaks that she is
set free from her infirmity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is
setting her free from her prison.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
lays hands after setting her free.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then
she straightens up and praises God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Jesus healing people involved them believing and receiving healing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He doesn’t say “I have healed you” but
instead “you are set free.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They still
have to believe what he says to receive it. The synagogue rules say the Sabbath
is not the day to be healed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are
angry both with Jesus and with the woman.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
<o:p> </o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
In Mark 5:21-43 we see a synagogue ruler who by
approaching Jesus, with whom other synagogue rulers are angry, is risking his
position, seeing his daughter healed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In
the midst of the story, the woman with the issue of blood is healed by simply
touching the edge of Jesus’ robe (a robe was considered the extension of a
person’s power).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
To listen to the entire sermon go to <a href="http://ahwatukeechurch.com/media.php"><span style="color: blue;">http://ahwatukeechurch.com/media.php</span></a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To learn more about Living Word Ahwatukee,
visit <a href="http://ahwatukeechurch.com/"><span style="color: blue;">http://ahwatukeechurch.com/</span></a>.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
<o:p> </o:p></div>
Pastor Jeff Zubeck Living Word Ahwatukeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08630178381336634751noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4018587775814030121.post-46027661204445012232014-09-23T11:43:00.000-07:002014-09-23T11:43:00.702-07:00Two Kings Two Thrones Part 12
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
This week, we continued the “Two Kings, Two Thrones”
series. In this part, we looked at David fleeing Saul and running to the house
of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We started in 1 Samuel 20.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>David has had a third spear thrown at him and
decides he needs to flee.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>David tells
Jonathan that Saul is planning to kill David.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They devise a plan so Jonathan can find out what Saul’s intentions
are.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was a feast of the new moon, David
does not go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On the first day, Saul does
not notice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On the second day, Saul
notices but assumes David is ceremonially unclean and can’t attend.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On the third day, Saul hears that David just
decided not to come and Saul throws a spear at Jonathan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jonathan then alerts David that he should
flee</div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
In 1 Samuel 21, David has finally convinced Jonathan that
Saul wants David gone. His anger toward David was fierce. When David gets to
the tabernacle he speaks to Ahimelech, the priest. He asks if there is any food
for him and his men. Ahimelech says that there is no food except for the
consecrated bread from the tabernacle. This bread was only to be eaten by the
priest in the <st1:street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on">Holy Place</st1:address></st1:street>.
If there was bread leftover, the other priests could eat it. A non-priest was
not to eat this consecrated bread, yet, Ahimelech offers this bread to David.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Notice also that David asked for 5 loaves,
just like the 5 loaves (and 2 fish) Jesus multiplied to feed thousands.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have not had time to research further the
correlation here, but I’m sure there is one.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
This event illustrates how the spirit of the law is more
important than the letter of the law. It was unlawful for David to eat this
bread, but the hunger of David was more important than that law. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus uses this event to illustrate that same
point in Matthew 12. The Pharisees confront Him because His disciples were
picking and eating grain on the Sabbath. This was unlawful. Now, Jesus
was not doing so, but only his disciples. Remember, He was fulfilling the law
for us. <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
In verse 6, Jesus tells them that one greater than the
temple was here. We generally believe He is speaking of himself. The Greek word
that is used for “one” is more frequently translated “something.” This means He
may have been saying “something greater than the <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Temple</st1:place></st1:city>” was here. In the context of what He
had just said in the previous verses and was about to say in the next verse,
that actually makes more sense. That “something” was grace. In the next verse,
He says that mercy is greater than sacrifice (quoting Hosea 6:6). The temple
was the picture of sacrifice. It was where the people made their sacrifices to
Him. Grace was going to make the sacrifice for us and eliminate our requirement
of making those sacrifices. Jesus became THE sacrifice.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
Jesus used the same verse just a couple chapters earlier
in Matthew 9. There He told the Pharisees to go learn what it meant. Now, by
their words and accusations, they demonstrated they had not learned – which is
why in Chapter 11 he says, “If you had known” instead of “go and learn.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Finally, Jesus says He is Lord of the
Sabbath. Another way of saying that is “ruler of God’s rest.” As the ruler of
rest, He determines what is most important – the rules for how to rest or the
needs of one who cannot rest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is
calling us to enter His rest. We no longer must make sacrifice for our sins,
but receive the gift of salvation and His righteousness. Then we can help
others enter that rest. Sounds like He has a plan!<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
<o:p> </o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
To listen to the entire sermon go to <a href="http://ahwatukeechurch.com/media.php"><span style="color: blue;">http://ahwatukeechurch.com/media.php</span></a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To learn more about Living Word Ahwatukee,
visit <a href="http://ahwatukeechurch.com/"><span style="color: blue;">http://ahwatukeechurch.com/</span></a>.</div>
Pastor Jeff Zubeck Living Word Ahwatukeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08630178381336634751noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4018587775814030121.post-71004266174176918602014-09-22T11:08:00.002-07:002014-09-22T11:08:46.408-07:00two kings two thrones part 11<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
This week, <span style="color: #1f497d;">we continued the
“Two Kings, Two Thrones” series. The premise is that King Saul is a type and
picture of rule by law and King David is a type and picture of rule by grace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In this part, we examined the growth of
Saul’s jealousy toward David. Law is always jealous of what grace can
accomplish. It can’t understand how God can possibly use someone “less
obedient” than itself. Doesn’t God know they smoke? Maybe I need to remind Him.
He must not notice how good I am. Maybe I should remind Him of that too </span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: Wingdings;">J <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
<span style="color: #1f497d;">We see in 1 Samuel 18:12-14
that whatever David was given by Saul to do, he did with great success because
the Lord was with him. If the Lord is with us, we can be nothing but
successful. There is not one single instance of anyone in the Bible having God
with them and following His lead who lost.</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="color: #1f497d;">Grace is what
gives us the full confidence that God is with us. When living under law, we
have no confidence that the Lord is with us. According to law, any sin might
cause the “Spirit to lift,” but under grace we have full confidence that He
never leaves us or forsakes us – through the blood of Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>1 John 3:19 tells us how we have this
confidence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Notice that the only
commands that are considered part of the deal are to believe in Jesus and love
one another.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sin doesn’t rob us of
confidence God is with us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A guilty
conscience does.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
<span style="color: #1f497d;">Also, Saul tries to pin David
with a spear not once but twice, but David didn’t leave.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He stayed faithful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also, why does verse 10 say Saul’s evil
spirit was from God?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is probably a translation issue, but we
looked at 1 John 1:5. God’s mercy and protection were gone from Saul. When God’s
anointing was gone, Saul began to reap the fruit of what he had sown.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mercy protects us from that.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
<span style="color: #1f497d;"> Now, does that mean you
can do anything you want and God will make you successful? If I told you that
you would likely call me a liar. We’ve all experienced doing things we thought
were of God and failing. There are a few parameters we want to follow if we
want to have success in the Lord in all we do:</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
1.<span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span>You will experience success in those things the Lord calls you to do.</div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
2.<span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span>You will experience success in those things that are part of your
God-given destiny<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
<span style="color: #1f497d;"> Now, those things might
be a little hard to specify. Looking at some of what does NOT qualify as things
that the Lord will be with you on might help…</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
3.<span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span>No guarantee of success in selfish or sinful plans (he’s not going to
help you destroy yourself or others).</div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
4.<span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span>No guarantee of success in “good ideas” that were not “God ideas.” We
often fail because we endeavor to do something that is good, but not something
God anointed us to do.</div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
<span style="color: #1f497d;">5.</span><span style="color: #1f497d; font-size: 7pt;"> </span><span style="color: #1f497d;">No guarantee of success in working on His plans MY way.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
<span style="color: #1f497d;"> The next thing we looked
at in David’s story was Saul’s offering of two of his daughters in marriage and
why one was accepted by David and the other not accepted. First, Saul offers
his oldest daughter, Merab, to him. This would have been tradition – that the
eldest daughter would be married first.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Saul
puts a qualification on David obtaining this bride. The groom traditionally
paid a dowry to the father of the bride. David knew he could not afford the
dowry of a king’s daughter. Saul says he can have her if he fights Saul’s
battles against the Philistines and leads his armies.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
<span style="color: #1f497d;">A couple thing are important
about this exchange. First, this bride was rightfully David’s because he
defeated Goliath. It was part of what was promised to the victor. Secondly, law
is always going to keep demanding more before you can earn the promise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Merab’s name in Hebrew means “increase” or
“multiplication.” David had already earned it, but the law keeps adding more
qualifications. We’ll never be perfect and qualified to receive the blessing of
God. It can only be obtained as a gift through Christ.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
<span style="color: #1f497d;">Also, Saul made this offer
with the hope that the Philistines would do his dirty work. He wanted David
dead (law wants grace to just go away). He wanted to send David out to battle
worldly sin (what the Philistines represent – see previous messages in this
series). If you continue to try and battle sin with more law, eventually sin is
going to destroy you.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
<span style="color: #1f497d;">Then there is Saul’s next
daughter, Michal. Her name means “who is like God.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Isn’t it cool that the person who is like God
is drawn to grace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is discovered that
she is in love with David. Saul sees another opportunity to complete his plan
to have David murdered by the Philistines. This time David accepts Saul’s offer
because he sees the price as something he is capable of paying, and this
daughter loves him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The gift of salvation
is available to ALL of mankind, but only those who choose to love Jesus are
going to receive that gift and enjoy that gift.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
<span style="color: #1f497d;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
<span style="color: #1f497d;">Saul’s price is 100
Philistine foreskins (eww!!!). David actually delivers 200 (double eww!!!).
What a great picture of Christ. Jesus will not only pay the debt to purchase
us, but far exceed it for those who love him! Now, we love Him because He first
loves us – but receiving that love depends on making a choice to love Him. What
a great exchange.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
<span style="color: #1f497d;"> </span> To
listen to the entire sermon go to <a href="http://ahwatukeechurch.com/media.php"><span style="color: blue;">http://ahwatukeechurch.com/media.php</span></a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To learn more about Living Word Ahwatukee,
visit <a href="http://ahwatukeechurch.com/"><span style="color: blue;">http://ahwatukeechurch.com/</span></a>.</div>
Pastor Jeff Zubeck Living Word Ahwatukeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08630178381336634751noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4018587775814030121.post-43171404830127475182014-09-22T10:29:00.002-07:002014-09-22T10:29:29.193-07:00Two Kings Two Thrones Part 10
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
This week, we continued the “Two Kings, Two Thrones”
series. In this part, we began seeing Saul’s jealousy toward David emerging.
After the men return from the defeat of Goliath, the people are shouting and
singing about how Saul slays his thousands and David his tens of thousands.
Needless to say, Saul was not happy about this.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
Law will always be jealous of grace and what it can do –
particularly what it thinks grace is not qualified to do. It just doesn’t seem
fair to those living by law that some sinner can be used by God. After all,
they’ve done all the works necessary to be deemed qualified. If the work truly
had qualified them, they would be used, but works are not the qualifier – faith
in His grace and a desire to partner with God is the qualifier. It is not about
obedience to the letter of the law, but obedience to the voice of the Spirit.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
I don’t know if you have ever thought about HOW Jesus was
able to live life without sinning. Perhaps you just assumed it was because He
was God, but, if Jesus were not capable of falling to temptation, He would not
have been a truly sympathetic high priest. Jesus was God, but He was also man.
So what gave Him the power to overcome sin? It was the Holy Spirit inside of
Him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No one had ever lived on earth
since the Garden with the Holy Spirit inside of them. The Holy Spirit is our
teacher and our tutor. He is our supervisor. He is all the things that the law
tried to be but failed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also, as in
Matthew 3, the Spirit descended on Jesus as well.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
You see, learning all about the grace of God is vitally
important, but unless we learn to be led by the Spirit, we can make grace the
“license to sin” that some make it out to be. In fact, it is interesting to
note that the churches and denominations that are very strong in their
admonishment against the grace message (calling it dangerous and a license to
sin) are also generally the ones that do not believe in the baptism of the Holy
Spirit or that the gifts of the Spirit are for today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Apart from intimate relationship with the
Holy Spirit, grace can indeed become dangerous. If we have NO tutor or
supervisor and are simply left to what the flesh feels like it wants to do, we
will find destruction because of destructive behaviors.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
The Holy Spirit is alive in us once we are born again.
When we seek and receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit, then the Spirit is
also ON us – empowering us to follow His leading.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus had that Spirit alive in Him from the
very beginning. It was literally in His DNA. The Holy Spirit came upon Mary and
she conceived. In a sense, the Holy Spirit was His “daddy.” We were not born in
such a way. We are born entirely of the flesh – of a man and a woman. We must
become born again to ignite the Spirit in us. The Spirit is then alive in us
and speaking to us – leading us into all truth. The baptism of the Holy Spirit
is what gives us supernatural power to DO what the Spirit is leading us to do.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
Many Christians receive that gift of salvation and the
Spirit in them, but without the power of the Spirit in and on them, they return
to being governed by law. The law is a poor tutor because it can only govern
the outside of man. The Spirit desires to work inside of us and change us in a
way that law cannot – at the heart level.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Remember what Paul told us – that the law is no longer written on stone
tablets, but upon the hearts of men. It does not magically appear there, but
the Spirit is doing the writing. As He writes, the heart changes.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
We also spent some time looking at how this worked in
Jesus’ ministry on earth. At the end of Matthew 7 as the “sermon on the mount”
draws to a close, the people are amazed at the authority with which Jesus
speaks – an authority that the teachers of the law lacked. The Holy Spirit in
Him gave Him that authority. There is no authority in the law – only hopeless
submission. Grace allows the Holy Spirit to operate with authority through the
believer.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
When we think about what Jesus was teaching at the sermon
on the mount, we could say He was teaching us how to slay the giants in our
hearts – much like David had just slayed the giant Goliath and brought the
jealousy of Saul upon him. After Jesus teaches and then demonstrates this
authority through healing and casting out demons (all symptoms of sin and loss
of authority to the enemy), we see that the teachers of the law and the
Pharisees were becoming jealous of Jesus. He was doing what they could not;
what they had no authority to do. He was taking authority over the fruit of
mankind’s sin – sickness, affliction, and disease.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
In Matthew 9, a paralytic man is brought to Jesus.
Instead of focusing on the man’s body, He tells him that his sins are forgiven.
This man’s sickness may have been a result of sin. Ultimately all sickness,
disease and lack is a result of the sin of mankind. Jesus was getting to the
root problem. He was also irritating the Pharisees with the authority He was
exercising. Since He was without sin, He had authority to demand its effects to
stop.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, it was the Holy Spirit that
empowered Jesus to not sin. That is the same Holy Spirit you have in you. It is
also the same power made available to us on the day of Pentecost. It is not
just Spirit in us but also on us. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unlike
Jesus, we were not born that way, and we must continually renew our minds to
this new way of thinking that is in line with the Spirit and empowered by the Spirit.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
<o:p> </o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
To listen to the entire sermon go to <a href="http://ahwatukeechurch.com/media.php"><span style="color: blue;">http://ahwatukeechurch.com/media.php</span></a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To learn more about Living Word Ahwatukee,
visit <a href="http://ahwatukeechurch.com/"><span style="color: blue;">http://ahwatukeechurch.com/</span></a>.</div>
Pastor Jeff Zubeck Living Word Ahwatukeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08630178381336634751noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4018587775814030121.post-30876353307505539112014-09-05T14:35:00.000-07:002014-09-05T14:35:05.844-07:00Two Kings Two Thrones Part 9
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
This week, we continued on with the “Two Kings, Two
Thrones” series. This week, we looked at how Jonathan, Saul’s son, works into
the picture.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As King Saul’s son, he is
heir to the throne of his father. God has already told Saul that his throne
would not go to his child, and that he also is going to lose his throne. When
we read about Saul’s actions, however, we find that he continued on as though
he expected to remain king and pass his throne on to Jonathan with or without
God.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
In this series, we have defined Saul as a type and
picture of the law or life under rule of the law. Jonathan’s “inheritance” was
empty and, according to God, dead. The apostle Paul tells us that the law is a
ministry of death. It has no future. It lost its purpose when Christ fulfilled
it for us. <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
In 1 Samuel 18:1, just after David defeats Goliath, we
are told that Jonathan becomes one in spirit with David. I believe Jonathan is
a picture of the believers of Jesus’ time here on earth – His disciples and
those who followed Him. They became one in spirit with Him and His message, yet
remained slaves to the law. Jonathan never forsook his father. He was loyal to
David because he saw God’s hand upon him. He never betrays his father, but he knows
there is no future in his father’s kingdom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
Galatians 3 tells us a lot about inheritance under
the law and inheritance in Christ. Jonathan was making a decision that could
impact his inheritance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Galatians
3:23-25 tells us that this new inheritance is established through this “faith”
that had come. We know that faith is Jesus based on the context of Paul’s words,
but there is also further evidence.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
In Hebrews 11:1, the famous faith verse, it says,
“Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things unseen.”
That word, substance, is a Greek word hupostasis. That same Greek word is also
used in Hebrews 1:3 in a seemingly different way. It describes Christ as the
“image of his person.” The words “his person” are also the Greek word hupostasis.
That “his person” is Jesus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
We also looked at John 1 and compared bara creation
(faith creation, something out of nothing) in John 1 and Genesis 1 with assah
creation (creating something out of something else).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bara is used in the Bible 56 times, used to
describe God creating in the past tense. It is used to mean “to cut down” twice
(in Joshua where he cuts down the enemies in the promised land).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s used sarcastically by God once.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is used prophetically to talk about
Jerusalem/New Covenant, and twice in Ezekiel to mean choose.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bara is bet and resh, meaning head of
household, and aleph, meaning power.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So
Bara is the power of the head of the household.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Barak (to bless) is bet and resh again, plus kaph, taking what you have
and gives it a second person possessive (you/yours).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This means the power of the head of the
household is yours.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This denotes a
transfer of authority.</div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
We also talked about assah creation, especially as used
in Exodus 19:8, where the people say that with the law they can make their own
way.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
With that understanding, we can look at Hebrews 11:1 a
little differently. That substance is Jesus. Jesus is the substance of things
hoped for and the evidence of things unseen. The context of the rest of Hebrews
11 bears that out, for it talks about all the great warriors of faith of the
Old Testament and how they never “SAW” the inheritance that we now see and
have. That promise was Jesus.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
In fact, the very promise referred to both in Hebrews 11
and Galatians 3 is the promise made to Abraham in Genesis 12:2-3. The key part
of that promise that is being referenced in those New Testament verses is the
last part – that all the world would be blessed through his seed. That seed is
Jesus. He physically descended from Abraham, and He is the spiritual promise as
well.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
Taking it one step further, the true promise is the Holy
Spirit. That is what was unavailable to anyone before Christ’s completed work.
Abraham lived before the law and he, by his faith and belief, was declared
righteous by God – as anyone living apart from the law (like us), but what
makes us New Testament believers unique is that we now have the Holy Spirit
available to us.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
That Holy Spirit is the one who will teach us and guide
is in our walk with God. Galatians 3:25 tells us that, in Christ, we no longer
need the law as a supervisor. That goes against what we generally believe. When
you get saved, it’s by grace, but we think we must have the rules for
righteousness to learn to walk the straight and narrow. Paul is saying, “no!”
The Holy Spirit is the gift of God. He lives inside of us and now writes the
law upon our hearts instead of on stone tablets.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Holy Spirit allows us to have direct
communication, guidance, mentoring and training from God Himself – not life by
a list of rules and interpreters of rules.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
I believe we should spend less time teaching new
believers about what you they are now allowed and not allowed to do as a
Christian and more time teaching them about the Holy Spirit and how to develop
a relationship with Him. That is how God designed it to work. It is why Jesus
did the work He did. We need to learn to trust Him to do what He said He would
do!<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
To listen to the entire sermon go to <a href="http://ahwatukeechurch.com/media.php"><span style="color: blue;">http://ahwatukeechurch.com/media.php</span></a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To learn more about Living Word Ahwatukee,
visit <a href="http://ahwatukeechurch.com/"><span style="color: blue;">http://ahwatukeechurch.com/</span></a>.</div>
Pastor Jeff Zubeck Living Word Ahwatukeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08630178381336634751noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4018587775814030121.post-60321838504546583712014-09-02T13:59:00.000-07:002014-09-05T13:59:37.016-07:00Two Kings Two Thrones Part 8
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
This Sunday, we continued the “Two Kings, Two Thrones”
series. In this part, I looked deeper at one aspect of the story of David and
Goliath.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In 1 Samuel 17:37-38, Saul
(remember that he is a picture of the law) tries to clothe David in his armor
in preparation for facing Goliath. Goliath was a picture of the enemies in the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">land</st1:placetype> of <st1:placename w:st="on">Canaan</st1:placename></st1:place>. In fact, he was a descendant of
those very giants. For us, the Promised Land is our heart – where God desires
to bless is through producing His kingdom through us. The giants in that land
are the thoughts, beliefs and perceptions that reside within us. In short, it
is our sin.</div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
In order to fruitfully produce in the Kingdom and to
inherit all of the blessing attached to the New Covenant, we must work with God
to drive those giants out of our hearts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span> </div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
Trying to face those giants “clothed” in the law’s armor
will cause us to fail. A few weeks back, we read about how Saul would put an
unnecessary disadvantage on his men by declaring rule and law that came from
him and by threatening punishment from God.</div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
Saul’s armor was huge and clunky for little David, just
like the law is a huge weight on us in trying to overcome sin. Don’t we need
more law to help us stop sinning? NO!!! We need the Spirit in us, changing us
from the heart level. That is what gives us the power to overcome sin. Man’s
heart cannot be changed from the outside.</div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
The armor of Saul sounds a lot like the imagery of the
Armor of God in Ephesians 6. This passage is often misunderstood. Spiritual
warfare goes on. There are demons that need casting out, but this Scripture is
not about those things. It is about taking control of and maintaining control
of your thought life. To prove this, we must look at what these verses actually
say and not what we think they say.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
are told that this armor is to protect us against the schemes of the enemy.
What are his schemes? They are lies. It may come as a shock to some, but Satan
cannot DO anything to anyone. All he can do is bring lies. People believe those
lies and act accordingly. If he could kill people outright, we’d all be dead by
now. He operates on a massive and elaborate web of lies. I’m not discounting
demonic activity on other levels, but this passage is talking about our thought
life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The enemy also brings lies that
are a slight twist of the truth, but they limit us and cause us to hurt others.</div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
We not only need ALL the armor (not only a few pieces),
and we need them in a certain order.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Each
gives us what we need to utilize the next piece properly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The armor we are told to put on begins with a
belt of truth. TRUTH is the most important weapon against lies. It is not a
defense against wicked actions or demonic activity. It is the ultimate weapon
against lies. What does a belt do? We don’t have to get all spiritual to answer
that either. Belts hold up pants. Put it this way. Without a belt of truth, we
are walking around with our pants falling down, embarrassing ourselves and
everyone around us.</div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
Next is the breastplate of righteousness. What we see is
that these pieces of armor are discussed in a specific order for a reason. You
need the TRUTH about righteousness to be your breastplate or protection over
your life. Your breastplate better be made of HIS righteousness and not your
own. If you are fitted with a breastplate of your own righteousness, you will
be defeated or you may not even go into battle because you know just how weak it
is.</div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
Next come the feet fitted with the gospel of peace. Now
that we have truth about righteousness, that should lead us to peace, and all
that needs to happen before we run off to battle. What is peace? It is not just
everyone getting along in harmony – everyone who disagrees with me chooses to
just change their minds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Peace truly
only comes about when all opposition of peace has been eliminated. That is
going to take war – or it took war. This is about the gospel of peace. Jesus
won that war. He removed every roadblock and hindrance to peace. When we know
the truth about righteousness, we can WALK in that peace. </div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
Next comes the shield of faith, which I did not spend a
great deal of time on because it could be multiple sermons all by itself. Then
comes the helmet of salvation. After we’ve done all we can to renew the mind
and bring it into alignment with the truth, we need to wear this helmet to
protect the old ways and thoughts from returning. As soon as we fall into a
familiar situation or circumstance, we can easily fall back into old ways.
Protect your mind with knowledge of salvation.</div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
Finally, after all of that, we get a sword. There are a
lot of Christians out there swinging a sword of the Word at people without the
grounding of a renewed mind. The military does not round up a bunch of guys and
give them guns and send them off to battle without first training them to think
the way they want them to think and react the way they want them to react.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After we get the sword, we are not done. We
are told to then pray continually. Prayer is about staying in communication
with the General. When one army is set to attack another, one of the first
things they try to take out is communication. If you can break the lines of
communication, you create confusion. Who is the author of confusion? Satan. He
wants you to go into battle with confusion.</div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
To summarize, here is our warrior’s checklist/toolkit:</div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in 1em 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><!--[endif]-->Truth</div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in 1em 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><!--[endif]-->Righteousness—His,
not yours</div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in 1em 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><!--[endif]-->Peace</div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in 1em 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><!--[endif]-->Boots</div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in 1em 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><!--[endif]-->Faith,
shield</div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in 1em 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">6.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><!--[endif]-->Helmet
protecting thoughts</div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in 1em 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">7.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><!--[endif]-->Sword/weapon</div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in 1em 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">8.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><!--[endif]-->Pray/maintain
communication</div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
We finished with Romans 14, where Paul contrasts grace
and law followers and tells them not to judge and condemn each other.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We read it in the message Bible also, and I
encourage you to do so this week also.</div>
Pastor Jeff Zubeck Living Word Ahwatukeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08630178381336634751noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4018587775814030121.post-2346536085125811732014-08-28T14:11:00.000-07:002014-08-28T14:11:38.616-07:00Two Kings Two Thrones part 7
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
This Sunday, we were so blessed to have Pastor Tammy
bring a great message. Pastor Tammy continued in the “Two Kings, Two Thrones”
series regarding the kingdoms of Saul and David and how Saul represents rule by
law and David rule by grace. She looked at one of the most well-known stories
in the Bible – that of David and Goliath.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There are so many little things hidden in this story that are often
overlooked. <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
At this time, David had been anointed to be the next king
of <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Israel</st1:place></st1:country-region>
but was not yet the king. Saul and his army are camped out around a valley
where the Philistines are sending out a giant by the name of Goliath to taunt
them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Remember that the Philistines are
the enemy that God designated Saul to destroy. He has had only minor success,
and he and his men are now cowering in fear at the taunting of Goliath.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
Where did the giant Goliath come from? The Bible
describes him as being over 9 feet tall. Is that even possible? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is the writer exaggerating? Goliath is a
descendant of Anak. These were the “giants” in the promised land when Joshua
led God’s people in. In Joshua 11, when they were driven out, they dispersed in
many places. One of them was <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Gath</st1:place></st1:city>
(Joshua 11), and that is where Goliath is from.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
So, in some ways, David is finishing the work of Joshua
in destroying the giants in the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">land</st1:placetype>
of <st1:placename w:st="on">Canaan</st1:placename></st1:place>. In fact,
during David’s reign, he finally captures all of the territory that had been
promised to God’s people. With David being a type of grace and of Christ, we
see this battle as one of Spiritual significance to us.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
Why didn’t Saul go out and challenge Goliath?
Remember that we read that Saul was described as a head and shoulders taller
than all the other Israelites. Not only was he the king, but he was the one
most physically suited to face Goliath, but Saul represents law. Law cannot
defeat the giants in the land. Law causes us to cower in fear when faced with
the giants. The law tells us we are undeserving and unqualified to do mighty
work for God. <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
When Goliath taunts the Israelites, he calls them
servants of Saul. God is never mentioned. When we are servants of the law, we
are ill-equipped to face giants in life. Grace is the power of God working
through us despite our imperfections. Remember that David was anointed king by
Samuel without having gone through the purification of the law like his
brothers (who were rejected) had done. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
Goliath came out for 40 days.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is always a big number in the Bible (40
days Jesus in the wilderness, then defeat of the enemy; 40 years in the
wilderness).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is always a big
finish at the end of the 40.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
Israelites could not defeat the enemy, but David/grace can.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
David arrives on the scene because he was sent to bring
food and supplies to his brothers (the purified ones who were cowering in fear
at the feet of the giant). Before he leaves, he makes sure the sheep he is
given charge of are cared for – since that is what a good shepherd would do. David
hears Goliath’s taunting, and hears about the reward for defeating him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He also stated that Goliath was not allowed
to defy the “armies of the living God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
David is upset about Goliath’s taunting of God’s people
and insists that God can give them victory.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>His eldest brother, Eliab, accuses him of being prideful and assumes he
left the sheep unattended. Neither is true.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>David was definitely confident in who he was in God. He was not prideful.
We know that Proverbs tells us that pride comes before the fall. David did not
fall. Proverbs also tells us that God resists the prideful. Obviously, God
didn’t resist David. Pride is not confidence. Humility is not lack of
confidence. Humility is simply being teachable. David lived a life that showed
a pattern of being teachable by God – confident in God and reliant upon Him. <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
Saul hears what David has said and tells him he cannot do
it because he is young.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>David tells
stories of how God has equipped him to deliver lambs from bears and lions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Law will always try to tell you what you can’t
do when you are in grace, and how big the enemy is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>David talks about what God did and will
do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Saul tries to clothe David in his
armor in order to prepare him. Remember how huge Saul was? His armor is not going
to fit young David. It was made for Saul,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>David quickly realizes that the armor would be an encumbrance. The armor
of God fits us perfectly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is what
David chooses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We learned earlier in the
series that the law puts us at an unnecessary disadvantage. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Armor made from the law is heavy and
oppressive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>David chose not to put on
the law’s self-righteousness – or its armor. It would have weighed him down and
been an obstacle to victory.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
Instead David takes five smooth stones and his sling and
approaches Goliath. There are a lot of theories about why he grabs five and not
just one. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Was he accounting for the
“just in case I miss?” Did he have the foresight to be prepared for being
attacked by the Philistines after he took down their giant? We don’t really
know. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The number 5 does represent grace
in the word (the 5<sup>th</sup> Hebrew letter represents the breath of
God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think the idea that the weapon of
choice was a smoothed stone is important. What is it that smoothes stones? It
is flowing water. It makes us think of being washed in the water of the Word
and being planted by streams of living water. The Word makes the perfect
weapon.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
When David approaches Goliath he informs him that he’ll
be going down, but David does not identify himself as a servant of Saul (or law
in our illustration) but that of the Most High God. When we live by grace, we
serve God and not the law. He also calls Goliath an uncircumcised Philistine.
Circumcision had to do with partnership with God or covenant with Him, so David
is calling Goliath an enemy of God.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
Of course we know David takes down Goliath with one
stone. He then cuts off Goliath’s head with Goliath’s sword. Imagine young
David wielding the sword of a 9-foot giant. He used his own weapon against him.
When we operate by grace, we destroy sin with its own weapons! When you know
who you are in Christ and you partner with the Spirit of God, you can face your
giants without being afraid and without being dismayed.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
To listen to the entire sermon go to <a href="http://ahwatukeechurch.com/media.php"><span style="color: blue;">http://ahwatukeechurch.com/media.php</span></a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To learn more about Living Word Ahwatukee,
visit <a href="http://ahwatukeechurch.com/"><span style="color: blue;">http://ahwatukeechurch.com/</span></a>.</div>
Pastor Jeff Zubeck Living Word Ahwatukeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08630178381336634751noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4018587775814030121.post-52334380836013388362014-08-17T12:59:00.000-07:002014-08-28T13:29:39.384-07:00two kings two thrones part 6<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
This Sunday, we continued the “Two Kings, Two Thrones”
series. In it we have been examining the contrasts between the kingdoms of Saul
and David. Saul was a type and picture of rule by law and David a type and
picture of rule by grace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In this part
we looked at the anointing of David to be the king following Saul. Previously,
Saul had been told that God’s anointing on him had lifted and that God was
bringing up another king “better than him.” In the same way, the new covenant
is better than the old covenant. The old covenant was powerless to bring
righteousness. Saul, for all his efforts, never truly accomplished what God
told him his purpose was – to destroy the Philistines. He battled against them
and had moments of success, but he never found true victory. Law will never
defeat sin, only grace can defeat sin at its heart.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
In 1 Samuel 16:4, it says that the elders of <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Bethlehem</st1:place></st1:city> trembled in
fear at the sight of Samuel the priest. They asked if he was coming in peace.
The people had been under oppressive law under Saul. Saul had actually gotten
to the point that the rules he was handing down did not come from God, but he
was using God’s wrath as the threat of not keeping them. This was much like the
Pharisees of Jesus’ day, as well as legalist believers today: religious rules
take precedence over the true principles of God, and those who do not keep them
all are made to feel condemned. Such a feeling causes you to tremble at
the sight of “the priest” (Jesus)—1 John 4:17. According to what Jesus has done
for us, we are supposed to boldly approach, full of confidence, not cowering in
fear of punishment. The way these <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Bethlehem</st1:place></st1:city>
elders reacted to seeing Saul is a perfect picture of what law does to our
relationship with Jesus. He does come in peace. He is the Prince of Peace.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
When Samuel arrives in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Bethlehem</st1:place></st1:city>, he has Jesse and his sons
consecrate themselves – or purify themselves – to be prepared for one of the
sons to be selected as the next king. God had told Samuel that one of Jesse’s
sons was to be anointed king, and that He would show Samuel which one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One by one, all of the sons come before
Samuel, and God rejects all of them. The first is Eliab, who is tall and
handsome. God says that Eliab is not the one because man looks at the outside,
but God looks at the heart. This does not mean the outside is of NO importance.
In fact, when David is first described, he is said to be handsome, and later it
says that he was a good speaker.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
So many people have misunderstood this passage and use it
to claim God only looks for people who the world would reject, or that are just
plain oddballs. Sometimes it becomes an excuse to BE an oddball. It has been
used to place law on people about being concerned with how they look.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are two parts to the statement. Yes,
the heart is what is most important to God. It is of upmost importance. We are
also called to influence man, so that pure heart is also going to need to be at
least somewhat appealing to “man” if we are going to influence and reach people.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
I believe that the statement might well mean something
completely different. All of the first seven brothers who were rejected had
gone through the ceremonial cleansing required by law in order to be qualified
to be in the presence of the priest and to be chosen to be king. None of those
seven (which is the Biblical number of completion or perfection) were perfect.
The law could not make them perfect.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Finally,
after all seven are rejected by God, Samuel is perplexed. He knew God said it
was to be one of Jesse’s sons, and he believed God had rejected all of them. He
then asks Jesse if there are any other sons. He responds that David, the
youngest, is not there. He is out tending the sheep.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
Hold on, he was what? He was tending sheep! How
appropriate. Jesus is our good shepherd. Remember, when Saul was chosen by God
he was trying to herd donkeys. I think that is quite telling. Herding donkeys
is going to require fences and lots of restriction because they are stubborn
and will do whatever they please. God does not want His people to be donkeys.
He wants sheep, and a strict, legalist donkey herder is not the right one to
lead His sheep.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>John 21 illustrates this
as Jesus restores Peter asking Him to tend and feed and care for His sheep.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
David is a sheep herder. He knows that sheep roam free
but know the sound of their shepherd’s voice and respond to it. That is what
living under grace is supposed to be. The law is written on our hearts and not
on stone tablets. We are allowed to “freely eat” in this world, but we know the
voice of our shepherd (which for us comes in the form of the voice of the Holy
Spirit), and we follow His direction. What a great picture.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
They go out and call David in, and the Lord shows Samuel
that this is the one He has chosen. Now, where was David when all the
purification required by the law was taking place? Not there. He was not doing
the law’s works, but was out working. By the law, David was not supposed to be
able to come into the priest without cleansing himself.. David was anointed in the
presence of his brothers (those who were rejected).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God was not ceremonially prepared, but he was
the one that had been prepared in his heart for his calling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The heart that will respond to the call is
far more important to God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When God calls us, He is not requiring us to
get clean before we answer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t ignore
His calling in your life because you don’t think you are qualified to answer.
God Himself qualifies those whom He calls – not the law.</div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
We also noted that Saul had God’s anointing lifted and
became troubled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The only thing that
will soothe him as music.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He hears that
David is a great musician (Saul does not know David has been anointed to be the
next king).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>David comes and gives him
great comfort.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is this transition
time, a picture of Jesus’ time on earth living while law was still ruling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
I ended with 3 keys to David’s success (and to ours):</div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in 1em 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><!--[endif]-->Skill</div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in 1em 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><!--[endif]-->Preparation</div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in 1em 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><!--[endif]-->Competent
Action when the opportunity arises</div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
Success is when preparation and opportunity meet.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
<o:p> </o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
To listen to the entire sermon go to <a href="http://ahwatukeechurch.com/media.php"><span style="color: blue;">http://ahwatukeechurch.com/media.php</span></a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To learn more about Living Word Ahwatukee,
visit <a href="http://ahwatukeechurch.com/"><span style="color: blue;">http://ahwatukeechurch.com/</span></a>.</div>
Pastor Jeff Zubeck Living Word Ahwatukeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08630178381336634751noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4018587775814030121.post-53112189668528947592014-08-13T12:59:00.000-07:002014-08-28T12:59:43.854-07:00two kings two thrones part 5 b
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
Last week, we continued the “Two Kings, Two Thrones”
series examining the differences between Kings Saul and David and how they are
types or pictures of rule by law and rule by grace respectively.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In 1 Samuel 15, Saul finally acts in a way
that results in God deciding that it will be time for a new king. As a picture
of law, it shows how the rulership of law had run its course, and that God was
preparing the way for rulership by grace as King David will illustrate.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
At the beginning of the chapter, Samuel, the priest,
instructs Saul as to what God wanted him to do. His instructions are very clear:
attack the Amlakites, and completely destroy them. Saul was told not to spare
anything or anyone.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
The Amalekites are the people of Amalek, who was the
grandson of Esau. God was exacting justice on them for how they attacked the
Israelites when they had been set free from <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Egypt</st1:place></st1:country-region> and were on their way to the
Promised Land. They were trying to keep them out. God, back then, had sworn
that He’d not let their actions go unanswered. This was the answer.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
Saul does attack as God commanded, and he utterly defeats
them. Afterward, however, he spares the life of their king, Agag, and the best
of their livestock. The best were spared and the weak and despised were
destroyed. Nothing is despised in and of itself. Someone must choose to despise
something. Law chooses who and what will be acceptable and what will not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>An important thing to know about what Saul
did is that it was what the law would have demanded – that the best of the
spoils of battle belonged to God. They would be sarcrificed to worship God for
victory. He was doing what the law would have demanded.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
The only problem is that God had given Him specific
instructions NOT to bring those offerings. They belonged to Him, so He could
choose to do something else with them. Law has a hard time hearing the voice of
God. It becomes so dependent on the stone tablets that it cannot hear God’s
voice. I think that Saul may not have even heard what Samuel told him because
it didn’t fit the law.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
Living by law is actually a lazy version of Christianity.
Sure, it is work to try and do what you are supposed to do and avoid doing what
you’re not supposed to do, but it never requires you to hear from God on a
daily, hourly, or minute-by-minute basis. That is a shame because He is always
speaking to us. We miss out on His best when we make a habit of just relying on
the rules instead of His voice.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
God reveals to Samuel what has happened, and Samuel goes
to confront Saul. When he arrives where Saul should be, he is told that Saul
made a monument to himself and went on to Gilgal. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Law living is focused on self-righteousness.
It essentially builds an altar to self. Self-righteousness is all about what
you did and did not do (and what others are doing and not doing). It fails to
appreciate the blood of Jesus. It puts works above His blood.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Gilgal is also important. It is where Saul
was anointed, where he was told that his kingdom would not be a dynasty, and
where he is about to be told that God is going to replace him with a better
king (David / grace).<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
Gilgal is important because of what it represents. In
Joshua 5, God has all the people of <st1:country-region w:st="on">Israel</st1:country-region>
who had been born since Egyptian captivity circumcised at Gilgal before they
enter <st1:place w:st="on">Canaan</st1:place>. Circumcision is a picture of
partnership with God. It is a reminder that God and man would “produce”
together. Saul was supposed to partner with God to rule the people, but he
becomes more and more about himself and ruling the people himself without
obedience to God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> When you read
carefully you find that, throughout this chapter, Saul refers to God as “your
God” and not “my God.” Again, law makes “self” god and rules apart from God’s
direct input.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
Saul argues before Samuel that he was obedient – to the
law perhaps, but not God’s voice. Samuel makes the well-known statement that
obedience is better than sacrifice. In its context, this verse seems to mean
exactly the opposite of what it is generally used to beat people over the
head with. The obedience Samuel is talking about is the direct voice of God,
and the sacrifice is what the law had required.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This is how I would paraphrase that verse – Listen to my constant voice
instead of lazily relying on a list of rules to try to please me.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
Samuel then tells Saul that one “better than him” will be
chosen king. God is not a respecter of persons. No person is truly better than
another. However, there are things about one person that might be better. David
is going to be better because he lives a life of grace before God. He makes
mistakes and sins (badly), but always runs to God when he sins and he listens
to the daily instruction of God. David will be better than Saul in the same way
that the new covenant is a new and better covenant than the old.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
The chapter finishes with Samuel completing the
work Saul failed in. He slays Agag. The King James version actually says he
chopped him into pieces before the Lord. Wow?!? <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
The last thing it says is that Samuel never visited Saul
again. He grieved for him, but never returned to see him. Remember that Saul is
a type of the law and Samuel is the priest. Jesus is our high priest and the
mediator of this new, better covenant. He does not visit the law any more. He
remembers our sins no more. Praise God!<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
To listen to the entire sermon go to <a href="http://ahwatukeechurch.com/media.php"><span style="color: blue;">http://ahwatukeechurch.com/media.php</span></a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To learn more about Living Word Ahwatukee,
visit <a href="http://ahwatukeechurch.com/"><span style="color: blue;">http://ahwatukeechurch.com/</span></a>.</div>
Pastor Jeff Zubeck Living Word Ahwatukeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08630178381336634751noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4018587775814030121.post-86291654461724267472014-08-03T12:45:00.002-07:002014-08-03T13:26:23.471-07:00Two Kings Two Thrones Part 5
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
This week, we continued on our series by starting in 1
Samuel 14:29.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is the section where
Jonathan had eaten honey and unknowingly violated a fast declared by Saul.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When Jonathan speaks, the words see and
tasted in Hebrew have only one other verse that uses them in the Bible,
Psalm34:8 “Taste and see that the Lord is good, blessed is the man who takes
refuge in Him.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This verse speaks of
using our 5 senses to see God’s goodness and to rely on God instead of
ourselves, exactly what Saul was not doing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The phrase “freely eaten” was the same used in Genesis 2:16 regarding
Adam and Eve and the garden.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Law had
told the Israelites they could not eat the milk and honey God had promised as
part of the Promised Land, so they were unable to obtain God’s full blessing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In verse 39, “must die” or “must surely die”
is the same word used in Genesis about eating of the tree of good and evil.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We continued to 1
Samuel 16:1 and following.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Saul is told
to destroy the Amalekites and destroy everything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The army spared Agog, and all the best flocks
and other good things that were there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They destroyed only the weak things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>When we don’t do what God says, we don’t get His results.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is what the sinful act produces that is
offensive to God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Saul also set up a
monument to himself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Samuel comes to
him, and Saul declares that he has done everything he was supposed to and
declares he was saving them as a sacrifice to the Lord.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When Saul describes what he did, it was for “your
God.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So it wasn’t his God any more in
his mind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Samuel goes on to tell Saul
his kingship is no longer approved by God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He goes on and kills Agog.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Samuel
never saw Saul again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jesus doesn’t
revisit law.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He grieves for those who
live under law, but He doesn’t go there.</div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
<o:p> </o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
To listen to the entire sermon go to <a href="http://ahwatukeechurch.com/media.php"><span style="color: blue;">http://ahwatukeechurch.com/media.php</span></a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To learn more about Living Word Ahwatukee,
visit <a href="http://ahwatukeechurch.com/"><span style="color: blue;">http://ahwatukeechurch.com/</span></a>.</div>
Pastor Jeff Zubeck Living Word Ahwatukeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08630178381336634751noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4018587775814030121.post-47126378659736345842014-08-03T12:45:00.001-07:002014-08-03T12:45:33.642-07:00Two Kings Two Thrones Part 4<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
This week, we continued the “Two Kings, Two Thrones”
series. We have been looking at the contrast in Kings Saul and David and how
King Saul was a picture of the law and King David a picture of grace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In this part, we examined a story from 1
Samuel 14. Beginning in verse 24, Saul declares a fast for his fighting men as
they are about to battle the Philistines. What is striking about this demand is
that he says it is to be until “I avenge MYSELF against MY enemies.” Saul has
made this all about himself. Secondly, we must notice that God is not the one
who demanded the fast or the Priest, Samuel, who recommended it. This was all
Saul.</div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
Legalism will continue to keep adding more rules and more
restrictions to try to get the desired result. If law sees sin, it thinks the
solution is more law. Saul wanted victory, so he demanded something
unreasonable from his men. His men are about to go into battle, and he demands
that they do not eat. He didn’t say it was because he wanted them to be more in
tune with the spirit or to prepare them spiritually. It was just a power play.
Law enjoys ruling over people.</div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
What this demand did was create an unnecessary
disadvantage for his men – who did go on to win anyway, by the grace and mercy
of God. Legalism does that in our lives. It creates and unnecessary
disadvantage in accomplishing the plans and purposes of God. Now, I am not
talking about living by Godly principles or living a moral life. I am NOT
saying God’s instructions are creating an unnecessary disadvantage. It is
legalism that does so. Remember, Saul’s command did not come from God.</div>
I remember when I was in a band and we were doing our first overseas trip, the organizers declared that we should fast before our trip. We were to go to California, attend a church service, and then break the fast. Because we had not heard from God to do it, though we obeyed, we did not have the best attitude about it. When we got there, to top it off, we got to the church service, after which we were to break the fast, and the organizers were eating chicken wings. We did not have time to get food at that point, so we had to wait through a long church service to break our fast. This was a similar situation.<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
There are many examples that I could give that fit this
description that have been thrust upon believers in the name of holiness. First
of all being holy, like righteousness, is not something you achieve, but
something you are. The definition of holiness is “set apart for the plans and
purposes of God.” What does that have to do with our works? Nothing.</div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
Just like truly knowing that the blood of Jesus has made
you righteous will change you at the heart level into one who appears more
righteous, the same is true for holiness (remember grace teaches us to say no
to ungodliness – Titus 2:11-12). When you truly understand that YOU are set
apart for the plans and purposes of God – meaning you are holy – you will begin
to act in accordance with that belief. If you only believe you are holy when
you have acted as such, you will be hard pressed to truly change the outward
actions to ones that many would identify as less than holy.</div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
Legalism has made holiness something you attain by
adhering to a list of rules and guidelines for holy living. Many of those rules
may seem good but have little to no grounding in scripture. Many others appear
to be based on scripture until we learn more about the true context and meaning
of the verses used to establish them.</div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
A great example is 1 Peter 3:1-5 that appears to be
saying that women are not allowed to wear makeup, jewelry or nice clothing. The
first thing to know when you read this passage is that Peter was not giving a
definition of holiness. He says not to rely on outward beauty – like clothing,
jewelry and makeup -- to keep your man, but inner beauty. That is very
true, but what most translations leave out of that statement is one word that
is very important to the message Peter was trying to communicate. I only find
this word when I look at the original Greek or in an Amplified Bible. That word
is “merely.” He said to let not your beauty be based MERELY on those outward
things. He was not banning them! </div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
Additionally, Peter was giving marriage advice. If you
want to have a long marriage, you better be more to him than a pretty face (my
paraphrase <span style="font-family: Wingdings;">J</span>). If that is all the
attraction he has to you, there will always be a younger, newer, prettier face
that will come along. Legalism looked in the Bible and found something it
thought it could use to make a law out of – one that is an unnecessary
disadvantage in life.</div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
A second example that also relates to women is in 1
Corinthians 11. It appears on the surface that Paul (who we thought was all
about grace) is saying that a woman cannot cut her hair if she wants to pray or
prophesy. To understand Paul’s words more clearly we must zoom out a little and
get some context. Just a few verses earlier at the end of chapter 10, Paul
talks about how all things are permissible, but not necessarily beneficial and
that no one should be condemned for eating anything, but, in exercising our
freedom, don’t cause someone else to stumble. I may be free to have a beer in
God’s eyes (though I never would because I think it tastes horrible), but if
someone in my congregation saw me drinking a beer, it could be a stumbling
block for them. They may not be able to receive the Word from me, or maybe they
would see my action as a form of approving such behavior for them. If they have
alcoholic tendencies, that could be catastrophic.</div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
So why this stark about-face now when we’re talking about
a woman’s hair length? It seems a little strange, doesn’t it? More context is
needed. The next few verses after this so-called rule bring some light to
Paul’s heart. He goes on to point out that men and women are not different
before God. He does not have separate rules for righteousness for men and
women. But this all still seems a little contradictory. The key is in that
“don’t cause someone else to stumble” statement. What Paul is saying is that to
the people in these churches, the length of hair means something and it is
important to them. It doesn’t matter that it may not really be important. Don’t
let your opinion be an offense to them. You don’t have to call them out. It
really doesn’t matter in the grand scheme. He says in verse 16 to not be
contentious about it.</div>
There was another statement he made just previous to this
in chapter 10. He says that we should not be ruled by someone else’s
conscience. Remember that we have been cleansed of a guilty conscience. Don’t
allow what someone else’s conscience says is right and wrong rule over you (or
vice-versa). If they want length of hair to be important – so be it. Don’t
argue with them about it, but also, don’t allow them to force that on you.<br />
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
Finally, we headed back to 1 Samuel 14. After Saul’s
demand for a fast, his son Jonathan, unaware of his father’s decree, sees a
honeycomb oozing honey and takes some. The other men see him do this and inform
him of his father’s command and that any who ate would be killed. Jonathan
remarks that his father was foolish sending men to battle without food. He says
that they could have had a resounding victory against the Philistines with
food, not just a slight win.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Saul is
notified that someone ate. At this point he does not know it was his son. He
demands the “sinner” be brought forward and killed, even if it is his son. When
it is discovered that it was indeed his son, he sticks to his guns and demands
Jonathan’s life. The other men say, “no way.” Jonathan had just been a war
hero, and he is the king’s son, and Saul would have him killed for breaking HIS
rule (remember it was not God’s).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
is what legalism does. It will entirely disqualify a minister who is doing
great things to expand the kingdom because he doesn’t line up with one of their
legalist rules. We want to be ruled by God, not rules and legalism. </div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
To listen to the entire sermon go to <a href="http://ahwatukeechurch.com/media.php"><span style="color: blue;">http://ahwatukeechurch.com/media.php</span></a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To learn more about Living Word Ahwatukee,
visit <a href="http://ahwatukeechurch.com/"><span style="color: blue;">http://ahwatukeechurch.com/</span></a>.</div>
Pastor Jeff Zubeck Living Word Ahwatukeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08630178381336634751noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4018587775814030121.post-3153825769231311082014-07-16T14:31:00.000-07:002014-07-16T14:32:13.292-07:002 kings 2 thrones part 3
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
This week, we continued in the series, “Two Kings, Two
Thrones.” In this series we’ve been looking at how the kingdoms of David and
Saul are pictures of rule by grace and law.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In 1 Samuel 13, shortly after Saul was pronounced king, the Philistines
are camping and preparing to attack <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Israel</st1:place></st1:country-region>. The men are in fear and
hide in caves and cisterns. Some even went back over the Jordan River –out of
the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">land</st1:placetype> of <st1:placename w:st="on">Canaan</st1:placename></st1:place>.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
Fear will cause us to run and hide. It will cause us to
give up on the promises of God and go back to the wilderness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Note that the Israelites hid in “easy” areas
to hide and separated themselves, and hid in the “natural” areas they would go
in. Some even went back over the <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Jordan</st1:place></st1:country-region> out of the Promised
Land.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So they forsook the promises of
God to go back to the easier wilderness way of living without the giants to
fight.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
Samuel had told Saul to go to Gilgal and wait seven days
for him to arrive. Then Samuel, the priest, would offer sacrifices. Saul, on
the seventh day (but before it was over) gets impatient and thinks Samuel isn’t
coming. The men are getting restless, and he decides to make the offerings
himself. The offerings he sets out to do are the Burnt Offering an the
Fellowship Offering. Both of these offerings had portions that are performed by
the individual making the offering and a part done by the priest.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
Saul completes the Burnt Offering, and Samuel arrives
furious at Saul. The moment of his arrival is based on the mercy of God because
if Saul had completed the Fellowship Offering, he would have brought curse and
banishment on himself as well as all the men who participated. The Fellowship
Offering as laid out on Leviticus 7 states that anyone who is not ceremonially
purified cannot touch the meat from the offering. If he does, he is to be cut
off from the people – meaning cursed and banished.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Samuel stops Saul from making a grave
mistake. When he questions Saul, we find that Saul was very focused on himself
and his feelings. He says “I saw” the enemy approaching, “you did not come”
(though the seventh days was not yet over), “I thought”, “I had not done”
and “I felt compelled.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He acted on the
fear he and his people had.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
We have probably acted like Saul before. We get impatient
waiting on God because we want the answer NOW. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God will come through when it is needed and
when He promised. What Saul, in his fear and impatience, does is what law does
– makes it about works. Saul believed the work of doing the offerings would
deliver him from the Philistines. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A
major point here is that Saul was doing something that was not his to do. It
was the work of the priest. Jesus is our high priest. He made all the
sacrifices for us. We do not need to do works to obtain God’s favor in our
situations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Samuel rebukes Saul for not
obeying the command of the Lord. He was not saying commands (plural). This was
not about adherence to the Law. It was about not obeying the command to wait
seven days for Samuel to come and complete the offerings. It was because he
went into works instead of trust.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
In the rebuke, Samuel states that because of this Saul
will not rule forever. His kingdom will end, and he will be replaced by one
“after God’s own heart.” We know that to be David. David was actually called a
man after God’s own heart. It was not because he fully obeyed the law either.
David was an adulterer and murderer. He had committed numerous offenses that
were punishable by death under the law. He never suffered those consequences
because, as a picture of grace, he understood what law does not. He knew to
always run TO God when he sinned. Law makes you run away from Him when you sin.
It condemns you and drives you away from God. Grace compels you to run to Him
for forgiveness and overcoming power.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
rebuke emphasizes the fact that God’s eternal kingdom is not built on law and
works.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
In 2 Corinthians 3:5-6, Paul defines this difference in
rule by law and rule by grace. He begins by stating that we are only sufficient
in Christ. Many have said that we cannot be successful in life without reliance
on Christ. The world around us says otherwise. There are MANY who are quite
sufficient in this world – successful and more than able to support themselves
and their families – who never acknowledge God. This is not the sufficiency
that Paul is talking about. When we look at the context of this passage we find
he is talking about sufficiency in righteousness. No one is righteous apart
from Christ.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
He continues by stating that we’ve been made sufficient
ministers of the New Covenant. We could never be sufficient ministers of the Old
Covenant because it required perfection that we cannot attain. In Christ, we
are qualified ministers (or workers in) of this New Covenant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He points out that the law kills and that the
spirit (by grace) brings life. Many have said that when Paul talks about the
passing away of the law, he is only referring to the ceremonial requirements
and the sacrifices. Obviously, we cannot all go to Jerusalem to a temple that
no longer exists and make our offerings required by the law, yet, it is said by
some that we must still keep the 10 commandments if we are to be accepted by
God.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
If we go to the very next verse, he says that the law
that killed was written on stone tablets. The ONLY part of the law that was
written on stone tablets was the 10 commandments! I didn’t say it; Paul did!
Now, no one is saying the 10 commandments are bad and should be ignored, but
defining righteousness by even just those rules is death! You will always fail
and fall short. <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
As that passage in 2 Corinthians 3 goes on, Paul
describes how the law puts a veil on your heart that separates you from God.
Grace takes that veil away. When Moses came down of <st1:place w:st="on">Mount
Sinai</st1:place>, he had a veil over his face to conceal the glow that came
on him from being in God’s presence (not face to face, but his back to him,
mind you). They thought people might be freaked out by his glow. There was also
concern that, as that glow faded, people might think that meant God’s presence
was lifting as well.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
In this New Covenant, since sin cannot separate us from
God, we can always be in His presence. The glow of His glory does not fade but
instead is ever increasing. Our life should reflect the glory of God’s presence
in ever increasing ways, but that will not happen when we allow law to replace
the veil and turn us away from God.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
To listen to the entire sermon go to <a href="http://ahwatukeechurch.com/media.php"><span style="color: blue;">http://ahwatukeechurch.com/media.php</span></a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To learn more about Living Word Ahwatukee,
visit <a href="http://ahwatukeechurch.com/"><span style="color: blue;">http://ahwatukeechurch.com/</span></a>.</div>
Pastor Jeff Zubeck Living Word Ahwatukeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08630178381336634751noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4018587775814030121.post-31056065194788614242014-07-16T14:12:00.001-07:002014-07-16T14:12:41.875-07:002 kings 2 thrones part 2
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
<span style="color: #1f497d;">This week, we continued the
“Two Kings, Two Thrones” series examining the contrasts between Kings Saul and
David in the Old Testament and what the related symbolism means to us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Remember that God did not want <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Israel</st1:place></st1:country-region> to have
a king.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He does pick Saul to be the
first king, but only because the people asked for it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was not His will to have them ruled by
anyone but Him. He had always ruled His people and provided for His people, but
the Israelites seemed to forget how good they had it. They were concerned with
being just like all the other nations around them who had kings. </span></div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
<o:p> </o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
<span style="color: #1f497d;">In this second part, we
looked at the anointing of Saul as <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Israel</st1:place></st1:country-region>’s first king. The person
whom God chooses for this important role is Saul, Son of Kish.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is from the smallest of the Israelite
tribes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We find in 1 Samuel 9:1-2 that
he is from a wealthy and influential family in the tribe of Dan (the Amplified
Bible specifically points out these traits). We are also told that Saul was
tall (the Bible says he was a head taller, but one definition says greater than
others from the shoulders up which could also indicate a certain heart
attitude) and handsome.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is exactly
the type of person man would choose for a king.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Most political scientists agree that people are psychologically drawn to
a candidate that is noticeably taller and more handsome than their opponent
(assuming the candidate is male, of course). </span></div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
<span style="color: #1f497d;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
<span style="color: #1f497d;">There is an interesting thing
we find when we read the next few verses about Saul’s background that I think
illustrate a little bit of God’s sense of humor. Remember that the whole reason
<st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Israel</st1:place></st1:country-region>
has a king is that the people were stubborn and demand a king. When we first
meet Saul, he is chasing after his father’s missing donkeys. God’s people were
being stubborn “donkeys,” so He sends them someone who herds donkeys to lead them!</span></div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
<span style="color: #1f497d;">Now, the main premise of this
series is that Saul is a picture of the law and that David is a picture of
grace. This first appearance of Saul fits the narrative. He is out trying to
save his father’s donkeys but is not successful. God ends up saving them
himself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some of God’s children are
“donkeys.” They are stubborn and will not follow Him as their good shepherd.
The law was sent, but it was not successful in delivering those donkeys. Law
does not change the hardened heart; that requires grace.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
<span style="color: #1f497d;">In the story, God speaks to
the prophet Samuel about the man who will come to see him the following day. He
tells Samuel that this man is the one to be anointed king. When Saul arrives in
search of information from Samuel on finding the donkeys, Saul tells him of
God’s plans for him. In this meeting, Samuel has the cooks prepare a special
piece of meat for Saul. Something that gets lost in this part of the story
unless you look at the original Hebrew is that the piece of meat he has
prepared for Saul is that which is usually reserved for the priest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I believe this is symbolic of a part of the
authority of God being passed to man, by man’s request. </span></div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
<span style="color: #1f497d;">Saul then leaves and follows
some specific instructions from Samuel. He meets up with some prophets. When he
does, he begins to prophesy as they do. People who know him see this happen and
are confounded. We are told that the Spirit came upon Saul.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know, with Saul being a picture of the law,
it may seem like we are beating up on him. We should not forget that God is
choosing him. He is anointed by God for a specific purpose, and stepping into
that anointing brings a change to his life. We are actually told that he became
a different man after the Spirit came upon him.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
<span style="color: #1f497d;">We are actually told what
Saul’s purpose is – that is to deliver the Israelites from the hand of the
Philistines. His call is very specific. He is not going to be the redeemer of
God’s people. That was not the purpose of Saul, and it was not the purpose of
the law. Notice that Saul’s response, like many people when God calls them, is
that he wonders whether God got the right person.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just like Moses and Gideon, he was sure that
he was not the best choice for the position.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
<span style="color: #1f497d;">The Philistines were an enemy
of <st1:country-region w:st="on">Israel</st1:country-region> that was dwelling
in the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">land</st1:placetype> of <st1:placename w:st="on">Canaan</st1:placename></st1:place>, the Promised Land. They were to
be driven out, but instead persisted and persecuted the Israelites. As I teach
frequently, the Promised Land is our heart after we are born again. We are to
take that territory and drive out the enemies in our hearts in order to
experience the peace and rest of God and to enjoy the fruit of the land (a
heart in communion with God). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
<span style="color: #1f497d;">When Saul is to be presented,
he is found to be hiding.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Isn’t that
like us too?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are confident at first
and then we are afraid of our purpose and what it might mean for us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once Saul is officially presented he
immediately has “haters.” Two verses after he is officially made king he has
detractors – those who question his right and ability to lead. Whenever you
step into your purpose you will have haters. Don’t listen to them. Keep
charging forward. Let them be accountable to God for what they’ve done with
their lives, and you focus on making the most of yours!</span></div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
Saul’s first acts are to instill fear into his people in
order to get them to follow him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Law
condemns out of fear of punishment but never brings complete victory over the
internal enemies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="color: #1f497d;">While Saul’s purpose was to overcome these Promised Land
trespassers, he was ultimately unsuccessful. This furthers the symbolism of his
rulership representing the law. The law cannot bring victory in <st1:place w:st="on">Canaan</st1:place>. Law does not succeed in the Promised Land. Moses,
a picture of the law, could not enter into <st1:place w:st="on">Canaan</st1:place>.
Neither can law.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
<span style="color: #1f497d;">What we see in Saul’s
kingship is a back and forth of success and retreat against the Philistines,
the same thing that we will experience if we try to use law to overcome the
issues of the heart. We commit to “never do that again” and think we’ve won a
victory only to have that same sin creep up again and again. So we buckle down
with more law, but is it equally unsuccessful. We end up either becoming more
and more legalistic in our approach to sin, or we end up giving up and allowing
sin to win, allowing the Philistines to rob us of what is truly ours in Christ.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
<span style="color: #1f497d;">The only enemies Saul had
true success against are those who dwelt east of the Jordan river, outside of <st1:place w:st="on">Canaan</st1:place>. The first one is the Ammonites. Law can seem
effective on the outside, but cannot change the heart. Saul could defeat
outward enemies but struggled against inward ones.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
<span style="color: #1f497d;">This helps us understand what
the law is capable of, and where it falls short.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is important for understanding the role
of grace in our lives.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
<o:p> </o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
To listen to the entire sermon go to <a href="http://ahwatukeechurch.com/media.php"><span style="color: blue;">http://ahwatukeechurch.com/media.php</span></a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To learn more about Living Word Ahwatukee,
visit <a href="http://ahwatukeechurch.com/"><span style="color: blue;">http://ahwatukeechurch.com/</span></a>.</div>
Pastor Jeff Zubeck Living Word Ahwatukeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08630178381336634751noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4018587775814030121.post-81916991638325819492014-07-10T16:19:00.002-07:002014-07-10T16:19:55.348-07:00Two Kings Two Thrones part 1
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
I began a new series this week called “Two Kings, Two
Thrones.” In this series, we are examining the contrasts between Kings Saul and
David. One was a picture of rule by the law and the other rule by grace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In this first part, we looked at the
similarities between the Israelites’ request for a king in I Samuel 8 and the
agreement by them to receive the Law in Exodus 19. </div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
In 1 Samuel 8, God’s people decided they wanted to have a
physical king – in essence, to be like the kingdoms and peoples around them. Up
to this point, they had been ruled directly by God. Samuel was the voice God
used to speak to His people, but Samuel was aging and had sons who were corrupt
and did not serve God.</div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
We can make the same mistake of thinking that God’s ways
seems backwards in relation to the world around us. The Israelites had the
dreaded “grass is greener” syndrome. God assures Samuel that it is not him that
the people are rejecting, but God. He tells Samuel to do as the people wish but
first warn them of what the unintended consequences of their decision
would be.</div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
When Samuel describes for the people what a king will do
to them, it is the exact description of what happens any time men rule men. God
never intended for men to rule men. He wants us to be ruled by Him. When men
rule men, corruption will always occur. One of the things he warns against is that
a king will take a tenth of all your stuff. In other words, man will try to take
what belongs to God.</div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
One of the important things to gather when looking at
this story is what God does NOT say. He never says this is His will. He allows
the people to have what they asked for. The same is true for us. We may like to
think that God just does whatever He wants in our lives and we have no choice.
He does have a perfect will for us and He wants us to desire it and live in it,
but we can choose our own ways and suffer the consequences.</div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
We paralleled this story with the account of what happened
right before the Law was given at <st1:place w:st="on">Mount Sinai</st1:place>
in Exodus 19. God instructed Moses to tell the people that they had essentially
made the decision not to trust Him in the same way their forefathers had (Abraham,
Isaac and Jacob) and that He was going to send a law covenant that, if they
fully obeyed, they would be blessed. </div>
This type of covenant would never have been given to
Abraham, Isaac or Jacob. They simply believed God and were seen as righteous.
There were no rules or laws to declare them unrighteous by. Evidently, that
same trust in God was not passed down to the descendants of Jacob. They had
come to a place of no longer having that same belief in God. Their covenant was
now going to be based on works, which is apparently just what they wanted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When Moses relays God’s message to the
Israelites they say “we will do whatever He requires.” The Hebrew word used
here, asah, indicates a self-reliance. They were saying they would make their
own way. If they did all God required, He would be obligated to bless them.<br />
<br />
God was angry with them because they forgot all He had
done for them in delivering them from 400 years of captivity, parting the Red
Sea, and feeding them miraculously every day, to name a few. They thought God
was mistreating them and by doing all He required, he would have to take better
care of them (my paraphrase). Notice too that man had to agree to law before it
was given. They found out quickly how impossible it was to do all it actually
takes to be right before God. They weren’t able to fully obey (just as none of
us can). <br />
<br />
In both these stories, man makes the decision to do
things in his own way, apart from God’s perfect plan, with dire consequences.
In one instance, God’s physical kingship of His people was replaced with a
natural king in order for His people to feel like they fit in with the world.
In the other, His people chose laws written on stone over the direct voice
of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God wants to rule your life. He
wants a personal relationship with you. Will you allow Him or will you choose
your own way? <br />
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
To listen to the entire sermon go to <a href="http://ahwatukeechurch.com/media.php"><span style="color: blue;">http://ahwatukeechurch.com/media.php</span></a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To learn more about Living Word Ahwatukee,
visit <a href="http://ahwatukeechurch.com/"><span style="color: blue;">http://ahwatukeechurch.com/</span></a>.</div>
Pastor Jeff Zubeck Living Word Ahwatukeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08630178381336634751noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4018587775814030121.post-60787811291017145562014-06-30T12:37:00.000-07:002014-06-30T12:37:17.533-07:00grace foundation part 7
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
This week, we finished the “Grace Foundation” series in
examining the significance of Jacob’s wrestling with God in Genesis 32. First,
we looked at what happened that made this such a life-changing experience for
Jacob, and then we looked at why God interacts with him in this way at this
time. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jacob had just sent his family and
all his possessions over the river and found himself all alone. Isn’t that what
we all need sometimes, especially when we are faced with a highly stressful
situation like Jacob was at the time (meeting with his brother, Esau, whom he
hadn’t seen in 20 years who wanted to kill him)? Sometimes, we need to get away
from all we think we are and all we think we own and just get before God.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
We’re told that Jacob wrestles with a man until daybreak.
Later, Jacob indicates this “man” was God or at least God in the form of a man.
As the sun is rising, the man sees that Jacob will not be overcome, but he
strikes Jacob’s hip – injuring him. There is debate about whether the injury
was temporary or permanent, but I believe the location of the injury is what is
important. We’ll get to that in a few minutes.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
I think we have all wrestled with God. Wrestling is not
the same as fighting. We shouldn’t fight with God, but wrestling is more a
picture of trying to get something away from God. Now, we know that we do not
have to wrestle anything away from God. Jesus purchased everything for us, but,
in our human soul, we do still tend to think we must wrestle. Let’s relate to
that wrestling this way – that we are grabbing onto God’s promises and not
letting go until we get what was promised. On this side of the cross, we are
not making God give us anything because He already gave it. We ARE wrestling
with our own unbelief and inability to receive. Jacob actually says he will not
let go until he gets the blessing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jacob
has spent his entire life pursuing and fighting to get the blessing. I believe
it is in the wrestling match that he finally understands that it is the
blessing of God alone that he really needs. <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
The “man” then asks Jacob his name. Is it possible
that God doesn’t know Jacob’s name? Of course not! Remember what the name Jacob
means. It means he who deceives. In essence, God is asking Jacob to admit what
he was – confess his sins, if you will. Then God changes Jacob’s name in much
the same way he did with Jacob’s grandfather, Abraham. He changes Jacob’s name
to <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Israel</st1:country-region></st1:place>.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
I try not to bore you all with my fascination with
Hebrew, but this name change is very significant from a Hebrew standpoint. The
actual Hebrew is more like Y’ishra-el. A little Hebrew lesson…. The first
Hebrew letter in this name is yod. When yod is used as a prefix on a word it
indicates third-person, masculine possessive – which is a fancy way of saying
“his.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ishra means royalty, rulership,
princeship, and el means God. Put together, <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Israel</st1:place></st1:country-region> means His rule with God. God
changes his name from “his way of deception” to “his rulership with God.” It
speaks to the change of heart taking place inside Jacob. In fact, we find
that the deception and the being deceived in Jacob’s life stopped after this
encounter.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
Let’s get back to the “whys” of this story. Why is it
time for God to do this in Jacob’s life? In preparation for the potentially
tense or even disastrous meeting with Esau, Jacob had sent forth an extravagant
gift to his brother. God had not commanded him to do so. He made his own
decision to do so.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I believe that, when
we have a giving heart, we are in alignment with a giving God, and we place
ourselves in a position to receive from God. I am not speaking of merely
financial or tangible gifts. Just making a personal choice (apart from being
commanded to do so) to be a giver will open us up to then be receivers of God’s
blessing.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
I also want to point out that Jacob’s heart was to bless
his brother out of what he had been blessed with. This also reflects the heart
of our God. We have previously made the point that Jacob is in some ways a
picture of grace – or that he lived under the same grace of Abraham and Isaac.
He was blessed not because he had earned it, but simply because God promised
it. We have been blessed because of the promise made to us through the blood of
Jesus apart from our works.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
We have received grace from God apart from our works, and
we need to extend to others out of the abundance of that blessing if we want to
soften hearts. Law and condemnation did not help us be saved, so why do so many
in the Body think that is how we should change the world? In order to have an
abundance of grace to extend to the world, we must have that revelation of
God’s grace ourselves. Maybe that is the problem. If we ourselves are still
struggling to try and live by works, we don’t have grace to extend.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
To listen to the entire sermon go to <a href="http://ahwatukeechurch.com/media.php"><span style="color: blue;">http://ahwatukeechurch.com/media.php</span></a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To learn more about Living Word Ahwatukee,
visit <a href="http://ahwatukeechurch.com/"><span style="color: blue;">http://ahwatukeechurch.com/</span></a>.</div>
Pastor Jeff Zubeck Living Word Ahwatukeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08630178381336634751noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4018587775814030121.post-62794009968776494672014-06-21T07:00:00.000-07:002014-06-21T07:00:02.069-07:00Grace Foundation Part 6
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
This week, we continued the “Grace Foundation” series. We
looked at how Jacob prepared to enter Canaan and be rejoined with Isaac and how
it is a picture of how we, by grace, enter <st1:place w:st="on">Canaan</st1:place>
or the Promised Land.</div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
We looked at Genesis 32. Jacob has set out to return to <st1:place w:st="on">Canaan</st1:place>. Before he does, he chooses to meet with Esau, the
brother from whom he’s been estranged from for 20 years after “robbing him” of
his blessing. I say chooses to meet him because, when you view a map of where
Jacob was traveling from and traveling to, along with where Esau lived, Jacob
could have easily got home without interacting with Esau. He chooses to do so
anyway.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is illustrative of the
choice we must make as well. Remember from previous parts in this series that
Esau represented the lack of self-control and the placing of gratifying flesh
above obedience to God. Esau is in the “grace” branch of Abraham’s family tree,
but he forfeited the blessing that was rightfully his because of his decision
to gratify the flesh.</div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
If we are going to enter <st1:place w:st="on">Canaan</st1:place>,
or the promises of God, we must deal with that part of us. We must defeat the
tendency for the flesh to get what it wants without regard for God’s ways, and
ultimately His blessing. I am not just talking about egregious flesh sins like
lust, sexual immorality, etc… The flesh gets its desires in much more subtle
ways. Anywhere that we shrink back from God’s ways because the flesh is afraid
or unwilling to change is also in this category of sin.</div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
If we do not get the flesh’s desires under control, when
we enter the Promised Land, we will be defeated and destroyed. How often do we
hear stories about lottery winners who, just a short time after their windfall,
are broken destroyed and worse off than before they won? If you are not
prepared to live in the blessing lifestyle, the blessing will destroy you. You
won’t truly experience the blessing. It is still yours, but it becomes a curse
to you rather than goodness.</div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
So, what does Jacob do? Well, after sending word to Esau
that he was coming, Jacob gets word back that Esau is coming to meet him… along
with 400 men! Jacob does what we naturally would do in this situation. He
becomes worried and distressed. We men, with our design by God to be providers
and protectors of our families, can allow fear and worry about our inability to
do those things to drive us to make poor decisions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You see, just before this happens, angels
appeared to Jacob, in a way reminding him that God was with him, but Jacob
still feared. This is not a knock on Jacob, but a reminder that, as humans, we
can all easily do the same; and probably have done so many times.</div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
Now, in the previous chapter, Jacob had an encounter with
Laban (his uncle). In that situation, Jacob knew he was not in the wrong.
Therefore, there was no fear in him. This time, he knows he was wrong. He has a
guilty conscience regarding his past wrongs. 1 John 4:18 tells us that perfect
love (Jesus) casts out fear and that fear comes from the fear of punishment.
Hebrews 9:14 and 10:22 talk to us about how the blood of Jesus not only
cleansed us of sin, but perhaps more importantly, of a guilty conscience. With
a guilty conscience, we will continue to make fear-driven bad decisions instead
of boldly approaching the throne of grace for direction and supply to overcome
any situation.</div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
After this, Jacob prays and reminds himself of the
promises of God and what God had already done for him. This is what we should
do when fear hits – remind ourselves of the goodness and greatness of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jacob <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>then decides to put together a gift to appease
Esau. The word, in Hebrew, used to describe this gift was the same word used
elsewhere to mean atonement or covering. Jacob intended to pay for how he had
wronged Esau. I did a little research and found that the estimated value of the
gift was close to $100,000.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of the
gifts, the camels, was a sign of wealth and source of a great highly wanted
delicacy (the milk these camels produced) in that time.</div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
Jacob needed to make things right for what he had done
before he could enter <st1:place w:st="on">Canaan</st1:place>. There are two
angles on this we need to see. First, when it comes to the things we’ve done
that directly hurt someone, we ought to find ways to try and repay. The second
is a bigger picture. There was a debt to be paid in order to enter <st1:place w:st="on">Canaan</st1:place>. For us, Jesus paid that debt. We do not have to
find a way to satisfy the debt for our wrongs. Jesus did that for us. Receive
the gift of that payment, and confidently enter <st1:place w:st="on">Canaan</st1:place>.</div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
To listen to the entire sermon go to <a href="http://ahwatukeechurch.com/media.php"><span style="color: blue;">http://ahwatukeechurch.com/media.php</span></a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To learn more about Living Word Ahwatukee,
visit <a href="http://ahwatukeechurch.com/"><span style="color: blue;">http://ahwatukeechurch.com/</span></a>.</div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
To listen to the entire sermon go to <a href="http://ahwatukeechurch.com/media.php"><span style="color: blue;">http://ahwatukeechurch.com/media.php</span></a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To learn more about Living Word Ahwatukee,
visit <a href="http://ahwatukeechurch.com/"><span style="color: blue;">http://ahwatukeechurch.com/</span></a>.</div>
Pastor Jeff Zubeck Living Word Ahwatukeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08630178381336634751noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4018587775814030121.post-28974125255954978082014-06-18T12:31:00.000-07:002014-06-18T12:31:01.804-07:00Grace Foundation Part 5
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
Last week, we continued the “Grace Foundation” series. In
this 5<sup>th</sup> part we looked at Jacob’s handling of Laban’s flocks and
how God blessed him despite Laban’s cheating. We also looked at Jacob’s
decision to return home to his family in <st1:place w:st="on">Canaan</st1:place>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
In Genesis 30, Jacob makes a deal with Laban to take, as
his wages, all of the spotted, streaked and black sheep from the flock. Laban
agrees, but then steals away all such sheep and has them hidden three days’
journey away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In this story we can see
some “types” and images. Jacob represents Jesus and grace. Laban represents
law. Jacob had worked, fulfilling all of the requirements of Laban. Jesus did
all of the work required by the law for us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
Jacob’s wages had been cut ten times by Laban. If Laban
represents law, we can make an association: There are TEN commandments. We also
know that the wages of sin (that were defined by the law) is death. Jesus is
the one who does all of the law’s work for us, enduring the wages for us.
<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
What is Jacob interested in? He wants all of the
blemished sheep that were under the authority of Laban. Jesus wants all of the
blemished sheep under the law. The reality is that all are blemished, but the
law thought it produced some clean, pure sheep. Those that believe they are
already clean by their works will not receive grace through Christ. Grace is
not looking for those who think they are pure. It looks for those who know they
are not, who acknowledge the need for the redeemer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Where did Laban hide the blemished sheep?
They were “three days’ journey away.” Jesus had to go on a three day journey to
rescue those trapped by the law. What a great illustration!<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
We read about the methods Jacob used to get Laban’s sheep
to produce more spotted or streaked sheep. He strips bark from certain types of
wood and places them in the watering troughs that the sheep drink from and mate
in front of. Apparently, what the sheep see when mating was supposed to affect
the appearance of their offspring. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In
chapter 31, he says the Lord gave him a vision in a dream, though we do not
know at what point in the story he had that dream and all of the details of the
vision. There is a lot of debate about this story. I came to a few
possible conclusions – but all of them lead us back to the same lesson to
learn:<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
1.<span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span>Jacob had been working in these fields as a shepherd for 20 years and
could have adopted some of the superstitious beliefs of other shepherds in the
area – thinking they were working. However, the dream may have come later where
God reveals it was Him who was causing the sheep to produce as desired. God may
have worked despite Jacob’s actions. This would be a sign of God’s grace and
faithfulness to the promise to bless Jacob, not because of what he did or who
he was but because He made the promise to Abraham.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsolistparagraph" style="margin: 1em 0in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
2.<span style="font-size: 7pt;"> </span>Jacob may
have had that dream at the beginning of the process and might have been using
the sticks as a diversion to anyone observing him.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsolistparagraph" style="margin: 1em 0in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
3.<span style="font-size: 7pt;"> </span>God may
have revealed to Jacob in the dream to use the sticks to get this desired
result. I read a paper written by a geneticist that said the amino acids
present in the types of wood Jacob used, if mixed in their drinking water,
could cause the desired “defects” in the sheep. But wouldn’t it require a lot
more than a few sticks in the water to produce those results? You would think
so, but God is a miracle-working God. He usually works through the obedient
hands of man to produce His results. He may have multiplied the effectiveness
of the sticks because Jacob obeyed His instructions.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
There may be even other theories, but all of them seem to
lead to the same point – that God found a way to bless Jacob simply because He
made a promise and He is faithful to His promises.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That same promise is yours! Paul tells us
that when we become children of God through the blood of Jesus, we are now
children of Abraham and heirs according to the promise. The blessing is ours
simply because we are in the right family – not because of our works.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
Blessing alone does not ensure abundant life. As we have
been finding out through these stories, we must follow God’s ways in order to
experience the blessing we have been given. We must know that, by grace, the
blessing IS OURS. Then we must allow that same grace to lead us to right living
so that we do not forfeit the benefits of the blessing we’ve been given.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even though Jacob was always living in
blessing, his decisions and actions often caused much more pain and trouble
than he should have had to deal with.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
The second part of the story we want to look at in light
of this typology is the stealing of Laban’s household idols. When Jacob packs
up the family to head back to <st1:place w:st="on">Canaan</st1:place> and his
family, Rachel steals her father’s household idols. Jacob is unaware of this,
so when Laban catches up to them and demands the return of his idols, Jacob
swears no one in his camp has them and is willing to punish anyone who could
have taken them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Laban goes through the
entire camp, finally getting to Rachel’s tent. She is concealing them in a bag
that she is sitting on. She explains that she cannot stand up because she is
having her monthly cleansing. Laban leaves empty-handed. Eventually Jacob
learns that Rachel had taken them and has them destroyed.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
This part of the story seemed odd to me. It has none of
the normal “Old Testament” results that come from dealing with idols and false
gods. No one died or was rebuked. First of all, this was before there was law. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A clearer picture was formed when I
researched the meaning of these idols. In the region where Laban lived, the
head of the household had such idols or gods. They were frequently passed on to
the eldest son as a sign of birthright blessing. If a man had no sons, it was
acceptable for him to present them to his eldest son-in-law – passing the
birthright blessing to him.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
Remember that Jacob has a reputation for “stealing
birthright.” Laban might have thought he’d had the birthright that belonged to
his sons stolen by Jacob. Also, remember the typology here. Laban represented
law.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What is the birthright inheritance
of law? It is death. Jacob has the birthright inheritance that comes by grace.
Jesus, like Jacob, took the inheritance associated with the law and destroyed
it!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What great pictures we see in these
Old Testament stories when we can look at them through New Testament, grace
glasses.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
To listen to the entire sermon go to <a href="http://ahwatukeechurch.com/media.php"><span style="color: blue;">http://ahwatukeechurch.com/media.php</span></a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To learn more about Living Word Ahwatukee,
visit <a href="http://ahwatukeechurch.com/"><span style="color: blue;">http://ahwatukeechurch.com/</span></a>.</div>
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Pastor Jeff Zubeck Living Word Ahwatukeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08630178381336634751noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4018587775814030121.post-26226563468237828782014-06-06T22:04:00.001-07:002014-06-06T22:04:34.291-07:00grace foundation part 4
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This week, we continued the “Grace Foundation” series. In
this part, we looked more at the significance of the Jacob and Esau branches of
Abraham’s family tree.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The first branch
in the tree had to do with Isaac and Ishmael. Paul says in Galatians 4 that
Isaac represents grace and Ishmael represents law. Law always persecutes grace.
Ishmael is a child of Abraham. When we receive Christ, we also become children
of Abraham. We are in the family, but we choose which part of the family we are
going to align ourselves with. We can choose to align with the Ishmael branch
and, after receiving salvation by grace, try to live a Christian life governed
by law. This branch of the family also will persecute those who choose to walk
by grace.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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Then, in the line of Isaac, there is another branch. This
one is between Jacob and Esau. We discussed it at length last week. Esau
represents the believer who does not live by law, but not by principle either.
Esau’s branch represents those who do things their own way, satisfying the
desires of the flesh, and never end up experiencing the kind of blessing that
was rightfully theirs. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Esau was willing to give up the birthright he had as the
first born for a cup of stew, just because he was “famished.” He willingly gave
up what was rightfully his in order to satisfy the flesh. We can very easily do
the same. You see, this is what sin, while under grace, can produce. Esau was
in the line of Isaac. He could have been blessed (though God prophesied to
Rebekah that Jacob was going to be the true heir), but He valued the
satisfaction of a physical desire more than the better blessing that was
available to him.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The Esau branch also hates the Jacob branch. They point
at the Jacob (true grace) branch and say, “No fair. He got what is supposed to
be mine.” I find that Ishmael/law believers often will eventually get fed up
with trying to live by all the rules and requirements and give up – moving over
to the Esau branch, but still persecuting grace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are many believers unwilling to walk by
faith and live by God’s principles and precepts. In doing so, they never
experience the blessing, but they never see that as the reason. They just think
the system is unfair and that the grace people are cheaters (though Jacob WAS
cheating at times).<o:p></o:p></div>
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What we have to see about Jacob, on the other hand, is
that he was blessed regardless of his own mistakes. He was blessed because God
promised to bless him – not because of his works. That did not mean that
Jacob’s mistakes did not cause an unnecessary mess. He got where he did through
deception, and he ended up being deceived.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></div>
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We looked at Genesis 27:41 and following.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After the bitter feud with his brother that
ensued after “stealing” Esau’s blessing, his mother tells him to flee to stay
with his uncle Laban. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Esau is holding a
grudge and continues to. Jacob is commanded by his father not to marry a
Canaanite (Hittite) woman.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why this admonishment?
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>See Genesis 26:44, where Esau marries Canaanites,
who became a “source of grief for Isaac and Rebekah.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Also note that Esau was 40 when he did this,
so Esau and Jacob are not teenagers when all of this is happening.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Esau married Hittite women at 40, and the
Israelites spent 40 years in the wilderness before entering the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">land</st1:placetype> of <st1:placename w:st="on">Canaan</st1:placename></st1:place>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></div>
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Why Hittite/Canaanite women?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We looked at Genesis 9:20 and following.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ham was the father of <st1:place w:st="on">Canaan</st1:place>
and saw his father’s nakedness and proceeded to tell his brothers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The other two covered their father.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Noah cursed <st1:place w:st="on">Canaan</st1:place>
as a result.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ham does not follow grace
by revealing his father’s sin, but the other brothers cover him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is what love does—covers sins.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Remember Exodus 20:25, a commandment with a
similar idea couched in it about covering nakedness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What are the inhabitants of <st1:place w:st="on">Canaan</st1:place>
in your life?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is our faults, things
that are not a rightful inhabitant of our heart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If we become intimate with them and accept
them, like being married to someone, then we will not experience all God has
for us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It doesn’t mean to not associate
with certain types of people, but it means a depth of acceptance of things in
our lives that God would drive out and have us choose to say no to.</div>
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We then went to Genesis 29:1 and following.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jacob, not the burly Esau, sees Rachel, and
moves a stone that it usually took all the shepherd to move in order to water
the sheep, and then breaks into tears.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When
he gets to Laban’s house, he finds the woman of his dreams, Rachel. He agrees
to work for his uncle for seven years to have Rachel, but he is tricked into
marrying Rachel’s sister Leah instead. He ends up working another seven years
to get the woman he loved.<o:p></o:p></div>
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At no point did God remove His blessing from Jacob. He
would not go against His promise, but Jacob had a much harder time than was
intended. Being a deceiver cost him 14 years of his life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God still uses Jacob’s mess regardless to
fulfill His promises. In fact, the two most important bloodlines for us as
believers were established through Leah – Levi which was the priestly order,
and Judah, the royal order that produced King David and Jesus (our king and
priest).<o:p></o:p></div>
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Our mistakes do not cost us the blessing of God, because
that blessing is not based on our works. Our obedience to God dictates the
level to which we experience the blessing that is ours. Grace has made you
right before God. It also is supposed to empower you to overcome sin and
experience the fruits of the blessing you’ve been given.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The branch we choose to align with determines
ultimately how much of God’s plan we will fulfill in our lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let’s choose to maximize that by choosing
grace, and then letting grace teach us to say no to ungodliness and unlock our
true potential in Christ. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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To listen to the entire sermon go to <a href="http://ahwatukeechurch.com/media.php"><span style="color: blue;">http://ahwatukeechurch.com/media.php</span></a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To learn more about Living Word Ahwatukee,
visit <a href="http://ahwatukeechurch.com/"><span style="color: blue;">http://ahwatukeechurch.com/</span></a>.</div>
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Pastor Jeff Zubeck Living Word Ahwatukeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08630178381336634751noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4018587775814030121.post-48281239184480281812014-06-02T11:13:00.001-07:002014-06-02T11:13:51.770-07:00Grace Foundation Part 3
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This week, we continued the “Grace Foundation” series. In
this third part we looked at the second branch in family tree of Abraham’s
descendants. If you will remember, previously we looked at the branch between
Isaac and Ishmael. Paul showed us in Galatians 4 that Ishmael represents the
law and Isaac grace and promise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we
become born again we become children of Abraham, but we choose which branch of
the family tree we will connect to. We can opt to look at life and the Word
through “law glasses” and align with Ishmael. Ishmaelites persecute Isaac’s
branch. Law persecutes grace. Law mocks grace for its belief that it is right
before God, not by what it does and does not do, but by faith.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now, if we have chosen to be connected to the
Isaac branch of the family, we will be faced with another decision – will we
connect to the Jacob or Esau branch (Isaac’s two sons)?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jacob is the branch that THE seed of Abraham
is established through. It is through grace, by faith. But what does Esau
represent?<o:p></o:p></div>
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We learn a little by looking at the life of Esau and his
struggles with Jacob. In Genesis 25, we read about the birth of Jacob and Esau.
First, Isaac’s wife Rebekah had been barren. Isaac probably learned from his
daddy Abraham that the thing to do was go to God. He prays for his wife and she
conceives twin boys.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even in the womb,
they fight with one another. When Rebekah asks God why, He gives her a
prophetic message regarding her children – that one would be physically stronger
than the other (Esau) and that the older (Esau) would serve the younger
(Jacob).<o:p></o:p></div>
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Now, they were twins, but the first one out of the womb
would be the “first born” and heir to that blessing (which was a double portion
of the father’s inheritance). Esau is born first. He is described as red and
hairy. The Hebrew words used describe a fair skinned red-head. The same Hebrew
word is used to describe King David (in his case the word used was “ruddy”). <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jacob was right on his heel, literally. Jacob
was born grabbing the heel of Esau. One of the meanings of the Hebrew word
Jacob was “grabber of the heel” and another was “deceiver,” which comes into
play later.<o:p></o:p></div>
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As the two boys grow, Esau is the “man’s man.” He hunts
and brings home wild game. Jacob is more the mamma’s boy. He is much more
domestic. Isaac favors Esau and believes that as the first born, he is the heir
of the blessing. Rebekah favors Jacob – likely because of the Word from God.<o:p></o:p></div>
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One day Esau comes in from hunting famished and finds
Jacob cooking red stew. The word “red” is <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Edom</st1:place></st1:country-region>, which is another name by
which Esau is known. Esau actually sells his birthright to Jacob for the stew.
We begin to see the characteristics of the Esau branch of the family tree.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Remember that Esau IS part of the Isaac
branch – an heir in ways that Ishmael could not be., yet Esau’s major flaw is
that he is willing to forfeit blessing that is rightfully his in order to
gratify his flesh. We as believers ARE in fact heirs of promise, but we forfeit
so much of what is rightfully hours when we are ruled by the flesh.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Fast forward over to chapter 27 where Isaac’s blessing is
being passed on to a son. Isaac is old and has lost much of his sight. I think
this is important. Remember that we are to walk by faith, not by sight. The
blessing operating in our lives does not operate by what we can see, but by
what we believe of God’s Word.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jacob and
Rebekah conspire together to get Esau’s blessing. Isaac sends Esau out to hunt
some wild game for his favorite stew. Then he would give him the blessing. Now,
this blessing is the Abrahamic blessing. It was given to Abraham because he
believed God. There is a major flaw in this situation right from the start.
Esau cannot receive the blessing by his works.<o:p></o:p></div>
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While Esau is out hunting, Jacob and Rebekah launch their
plan. Jacob is reluctant because he is afraid his father will recognize him and
know he is not Esau. Rebekah puts goat fur on Jacob’s hands and neck (where
Isaac would touch him in the passing of blessing). Just how hairy was Esau that
goat fur would be a good substitute? She puts some of Esau’s clothes on Jacob
so he would smell like Esau.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Most importantly, Jacob does no work. It is all done for
him. All Rebekah tells him to do is to bring two goats to her to make a stew
for Isaac (in place of Esau’s). Why two goats? I believe this is foreshadowing.
Later, in the law, two goats are used for the ceremonies on the Day of
Atonement. One was sacrificed – giving its blood for the sins of the people –
and the other had all the sins of the people spoken over it and then it was
released to the wilderness, never to be seen again (the scapegoat). This
represented the guilty conscience. Abraham was declared righteous because he
believed. The blessing gets passed along through a picture of redemption.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Also, Rebekah tells Jacob that all of this is “on her”
(should Isaac discover the deception). What did Rebekah do? She made it so
Jacob could go into his father’s presence without worry and be perceived as his
older brother. This is what Jesus has done for us. Because of what He did, we
are clothed in His robe of righteousness, and we boldly go before the throne of
God as though we are Jesus (our older “brother”) – without fear or worry. Wow,
how cool!<o:p></o:p></div>
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I’ve often wondered how Isaac could be so easily
deceived. Even without good eyesight, how would he not realize to which son he
was speaking. He does notice the voice seems to be Jacob’s but is confident
enough in the end that he is speaking to Esau. I believe the answer is in his
initial request to Esau to make him some of the stew he really likes. Much like
Esau’s error, when one is focused on gratifying the flesh, it is easy to become
deceived. We will not see obvious warning signs when we are distracted with
satisfying what the flesh wants.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Remember,
none of this changes the fact that we ARE blessed butut, when we are not
obedient to the Spirit in us, we will not experience that blessing.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="ecxmsonormal" style="margin: 1em 0in;">
To listen to the entire sermon go to <a href="http://ahwatukeechurch.com/media.php"><span style="color: blue;">http://ahwatukeechurch.com/media.php</span></a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To learn more about Living Word Ahwatukee,
visit <a href="http://ahwatukeechurch.com/"><span style="color: blue;">http://ahwatukeechurch.com/</span></a>.</div>
Pastor Jeff Zubeck Living Word Ahwatukeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08630178381336634751noreply@blogger.com