How Will Others View My Success?
February 7, 2012
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Some people will really love you and admire you when they see your success. Maybe they recognize and acknowledge where that success comes from, but still they will hold you in high esteem. What are you to do when that kind of thing happens? Well, don’t do what David was tempted to do, don’t do, what even ole Joseph was tempted to do, remember? When Joseph’s brother came down to Egypt and didn’t realize who he was.God was with David, God had His hand of blessing on Joseph’s life, both of them, in their prosperity had opportunities to use that success as ‘upper-hand leverage’ to get even with the ones who had done them wrong, King Saul, Joseph’s brothers. But both of them, instead of using their positions of prominence and prosperity to hurt, what did they do? They used them to help! David spared Saul’s life – twice – David had the chance to put the spear point through Saul’s belly, but he didn’t! Instead, he honored God, he overcame evil with good!
An excerpt from David‘s latest sermon, his last in his series on success in the New Year, entitled, “How Will Others View My Success?“
Categories: Christian Living, David's Sermons
Christian Living, David's Blog, David's Sermons, Life
January 26, 2012
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Can you see it, my friends? The meandering path of Joseph’s life, put in a pit in Canaan by brothers who wanted to kill him, drug out of the pit and sold to slave traders who took him down to Egypt, auctioned off to Potiphar, lied about by Mrs. Potiphar, sent to the dungeon, though innocent, forgotten by Pharaoh’s butler. Then raised, just like that, to second in Pharaoh’s administration. This wasn’t just a meandering set of steps – no! This was a part of that sovereignly directed stream of redemption that becomes a mighty, rushing river of salvation at the cross, at the tomb, and at the throne of grace!Success, prosperity, whether as a menial laborer, or as a magistrate, this Book, this man’s Christ-like example, sets forth two abiding principles:- God-with-us, the Emmanuel Principle- Honor-God, make God large and very, very near in all you do and say!Two questions: are you desirous of success and prosperity in 2012? Are you living in accordance with these principles?
Here’s an excerpt from David’s latest sermon in his current series on Success in the New Year.
Categories: Christian Living, David's Sermons
Christian Living, David's Blog, David's Sermons
What Motivates us To Please God?
November 4, 2011
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One of the most joyous things I get to participate in as a minister, with the families of this congregation, is the birth of little ones into your families. What a special occasion that is! But, you know something? Equally as special, but infinitely more painful for those very same families, is when I go with them to the cemetery to bury their children! The paradox between joyful birth and sorrowful death is almost too painful to bear. Except for two overarching realities. Look again at the text. Flesh and blood, we know this fact don’t we? Flesh and blood, apart from, outside of, Jesus Christ’s gift, flesh and blood was born to die! The Delivery Room is the first step toward the Embalming Room! Oh, but listen. In Jesus Christ, the gift, because of our holy, faithful, gracious Father, the Giver, guess what? There is a second overarching reality, and that is this: in Jesus Christ, the dying, the dead, who have been born AGAIN, through the living, abiding, eternal Word of God, shall live again!The reason I am inspired, propelled to bring God pleasure, it’s the Gift. Look at what the Giver has done for me! Redeemed me with His Son’s precious blood. Given new life, eternal life to me, through His living and abiding Word! Why wouldn’t I want to bring Him joy?! But, listen – quickly, because we must close. Why wouldn’t I want to please God? I am motivated, driven to bring joy to His heart, not only because of what he Has done for me, what He has given in Christ, but also, because of what He has made of me.
David’s latest sermon in his series, “Bringing Joy to Our Heavenly Father’s Heart“, entitled What Motivates Us To Please God?
Categories: Christian Living, David's Sermons
Christian Living, David's Blog, David's Sermons, God's Love
What Is It About Our Father…
October 21, 2011
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Verse 17 – How many of you know what it means to have a favorite, what it means to say about someone, ‘He is my favorite’, ‘She is my favorite’? All the parenting experts tell us that parents, when they play favorites with their children, can do some real damage to their children, both to the ones who are favored, and to the ones who are not favored. Some of you, when I mention this subject, could tell us graphic stories of how favoritism on the part of your parents has affected you. But, listen: if that is what is holding you back from seeking to bring joy to your HEAVENLY Father, take a look – verse 17 – what does it tell us about the nature of our God? He is a “Father, who without partiality judges according to each one’s work…” He doesn’t play favorites. He doesn’t judge by outward appearances. Rather, as 1 Samuel 16 indicates, He examines men’s hearts.What a blessing, wouldn’t you say? To be able to call upon a Father who doesn’t use superficial standards to make decisions about people. But, listen, not only is that a blessing, especially if you’ve been one of the many who have not been ‘Daddy’s Girl’ or “Momma’s Boy’; it also is a fearful thing, a sobering thing, to realize that my Father in heaven knows me from the inside out, and, it is based on what He sees inhere that determines His evaluation of me!
“What Is It About Our Father…” David’s latest sermon in his series “Bringing Joy to Our Heavenly Father’s Heart“.
Categories: Christian Living, David's Sermons
Christian Living, David's Blog, David's Sermons
