In my studies of David, 2 Samuel 4-5, Saul is now dead and David is King of Judah. Crafty Abner fights David and anoints Saul's son, Ish-Bosheth king of Israel. Abner leaves Ish-Bosheth and goes to David, when he is killed by Joab. Ish-Bosheth is killed and Israel confused. David waits. Then the 11 tribes come to David, wanting him to be their king. David's heart is so pure that he waits for God before he becomes king of Judah, then waits for the people before he becomes King of Israel.
So why are we so impatient for promotion? Why do we seek higher and higher positions in the church? Grow where you are planted and allow God to promote you in His time. Our final promotion will be when we are promoted to heaven!

I have been preaching in 2 Samuel. King Saul was just killed and the throne was vacant. David and his 600 men were still living in a cave. This was 13 years since David was anointed by Samuel as the next king of Israel. The Bible has been very certain about time, later saying that David was King of Judah for 7 years 6 months.
In 2 Samuel 2: 1 it says, in the course of time. David did not immediately rush to take the throne, which was his right, but waited for some time. We want what we want and we want it NOW! David waited until it was time.
David inquired of God should I go up to Judah, God said yes. Which city? God said Hebron. Notice how immediate God responded to David. I have heard people say that they don't think their prayers even reach the ceiling and don't believe that God is responding.
The problem is that we are too far away from God to hear Him! We need to stay close to God, reading the Bible, praying, worshiping Him. When we do, then we will hear Him.

I have heard many people pray that God would send someone into their life so they could share the Gospel with them.. If you think about it, this is silly. Rather, EVERYONE you see today, bring them just a little closer to God. Not one but all.

I recently had a man call and ask why he had to endure struggles during his childhood. He wanted to understand the why. How many of you have longed for the same thing?
I reminded him that this is what Adam and Eve wanted from the serpent, to know like God knows. How can you understand lunacy? How can you understand the mind of an evil person? Better yet, why would you? How did it work out for Adam and Eve?
God closed your eyes so you could not see everything you were exposed to. God closed your ears so you would not hear all. God brought you through because He has work for you to do. Your work is to use your testimony to those going through it now. If God could bring you through then He can bring them through also.
Most of all is quit revisiting the evil. That is like standing in a hole, digging deeper and deeper, not understanding why you cannot get out. You don't need to know any of that but the understanding that God brought you through and you are still standing.
Thank you Jesus!

I recently counseled a man who was trying to understand why he was raised in such a turbulent home. I knew that he had grown up without those same cruelty patterns. I reminded him about the three men who stood up to King Nebacanazer and was thrown into the fiery furnace. When they came out of that fire, they did not even smell of smoke.
I told this man that he escaped from his fire without the smell of smoke also
Then I reminded him of what the serpent told Adam and Eve, that when they ate they would know all things. Eating only brought on sin, which condemned the whole world. I do not want to know all things. What will happen to this world would scare me to death, so, no thank you.

Rather, he should share his testimony of how God brought him through and that God can also bring you through. Seeing the hand of God in my life should testify what God can do in your situation.

Rather than understand the past, be comforted that God has protected you from things you never saw and never heard because God closed your eyes and ears and spared you.

I have been preaching in 1 Samuel and now am toward the last. What I have found is interesting. In order to be free from King Saul constantly chasing him, trying to kill him, David flees to the enemy!
Think about that. There are times when our supposed friends are worse than those we count as an enemy. We are safer with our enemy than remain close to our friends.
Are there some friends you have that are actually worse for you than your enemy?

What is your style of preaching?
In seminary I was taught using 3 points (all using the same letter) and one or two illustrations.
That is just not me. I tell stories, or parables. I sometimes include illustrations but most of them are personal stories of our family or people we have known through the years (names changed).

The Lord has blessed me these past 4 years by preaching to 2 nursing home residents and workers, and once a month speaking to the homeless in our community. I have been privileged to lead 5 to Christ in the nursing homes and two weeks ago, 4 of our homeless.
I cannot wait to see how He will bless me in the future.
Remember to use your words. While a picture is worth a thousand words, it is more beneficial if we speak about God rather than just show a good life.
God Bless you.

In the story of Samson battling 1,000 Philistines, we can learn a great lesson. If he had fought them out in a field he would have surely lost. Rather, he fought them in a mountain pass so they had to come through one or two at a time.
Imagine fighting men with swords while you only have the jawbone of a donkey!
Fight your battles one by one, as if you try to fight all at once will be overwhelmed. God has given you exactly what you need for each battle. Trust in Him!

I recently recorded my second sermon on 1 Samuel and now I realize that while it captured the video, there was no sound!

I was hoping to post my sermon on David and Goliath but you would not get much out of it.

Anyone else have similar problems starting recordings?

At the beginning of David, Was his birth due to adultery?
Psalms 51: 5 Behold in inequity I was brought forth and in sin my mother conceived me.

I ask because when Samuel asked Jesse for his sons, he brought only 7, not David. 1 Samuel 17" 28 Eliab, David's oldest brother burned in anger at him. This was for more than just a moment's anger but a lifetime.

David was anointed in the house, in front of his whole family.

Just a thought.

In the story of David and Goliath, Don’t fight with someone else’s testimony, fight with your own. He told Saul his testimony about what God had done for him.

We need to be prepared for our next battle, and we can do that by writing our testimony. Where has God brought you through this life? What battles have you faced that God won for you. Then when the battle faces us, we can focus on how Great God is!

I have a question.
I am working with a young minister in the Philippines who wants to host a revival as a method of starting a new church. What advice could you give him and how would you do it?