God's Treasure Hunt

 King Saul of Israel had failed miserably. God commissioned Samuel, the prophet and high priest, to find a new king. God sent Samuel on a treasure hunt. He was to find the young man chosen by God and anoint him as the next king.

Where was Samuel sent? Not to Jerusalem and not to a noble family. God sent Samuel to a farm. The farmer had strong and handsome sons.

Jesse had seven of his sons pass before Samuel, but Samuel said to him, “The LORD has not chosen these.” 1 Samuel 16:10 NIV84

The farmer had another son, but he was only a boy.

Then Samuel asked, “Are these all the sons you have?” “There is still the youngest,” Jesse replied. “But he’s out in the fields watching the sheep and goats.” 

“Send for him at once,” Samuel said. “We will not sit down to eat until he arrives.”

So Jesse sent for him. He was dark and handsome, with beautiful eyes. And the LORD said, “This is the one; anoint him.” 1 Samuel 16:11–12 NLT

Samuel was directly led by the Holy Spirit.

Today many of us are so wise in our own eyes. We are taught that we have the whole Bible and theological training. We think we no longer need the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Or else we do what we think is right and assume we are led by the Spirit.

Some Christians are too easily led by emotional impressions, but it is dangerous to rely on our own human understanding of the Bible without the help of the One who inspired it.

And what are the results of this educated Christianity? In many formerly Christian countries, Christians are merely tolerated. The power and glory of God are not found in most churches.

Many churches have excluded the Holy Spirit, just like King Saul, but God is looking for outsiders and children like David who will continue His work with the love and power of the Holy Spirit.

 Agostino d' Antonio, a sculptor of Florence, Italy, wrought diligently but unsuccessfully on a large piece of marble. "I can do nothing with it," he finally said. Other sculptors, too, worked with the piece of marble, but they, too, gave up the task. The stone was discarded. It lay on a rubbish heap for forty years.

Out strolling one day, Michelangelo saw the stone and the latent possibilities in it. It was brought to his studio. He began to work on it. Ultimately, his vision and work were crowned with success. From that seemingly worthless stone was carved one of the world's masterpieces of sculpture—"David!" (cf: 1 Samuel 16:13)

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF 15,000 ILLUSTRATIONS SIGNS OF THE TIMES By Dr. Paul Lee Tan  

 You may be rejected by the world and even other Christians as a worthless stone. God still has good plans for your life.

God will not Fail You

 Those who are faithful can always expect God's help. God never abandons his faithful children. How can you be more faithful than God?

David was God's faithful servant, but he was persecuted by King Saul. His life was in danger and he had to find refuge in a cave. In his distress, he prayed fervently.

Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy! I look to you for protection. I will hide beneath the shadow of your wings until the danger passes by.
I cry out to God Most High, to God who will fulfil his purpose for me. Ps 57:1–2 NLT

When we are in deep trouble, whether we are to blame or innocent like David, we must seek the Lord with all our heart.

He will never let you down.

If you fail but still choose to stand by Jesus, you can expect God's grace and mercy.
God saved David again and again.
God trained David through many hard trials so that he became the greatest of all kings.

Do you want to fulfil your calling from God? Then you can expect hard trials.
God always has a plan to lead you out of every trouble.

Often you don't know how to pray.
Jesus has given you his Holy Spirit to help you in your weakness.

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.

And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God. Rom 8:26–27 NIV

Paul was also often in impossible situations, but God saved him again and again and healed him of terrible wounds, otherwise he would not have been able to continue.

Five times I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes.
Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent in the deep. 2 Cor 11:24–25 NASB95

Paul had to suffer so much. Nevertheless, he wrote:

What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? Rom 8:31 NIV

God's almighty weapons in your hands.
Proclaim God's word.
Intercession. The marvellous gift of grace to pray in languages we have never learned.

God Uses Children

 Mary was a teenager when she became the mother of Jesus.

David was a teenager when he killed Goliath.

Daniel and his three famous friends were abducted as teenagers and were still very young when they began to play an important role in Babylon.

Samuel was a young boy when he became a prophet.

Josiah was eight years old when he became king and reigned in Jerusalem for thirty-one years.

He did what was right in the sight of the Lord, walking in the ways of his ancestor David, not turning aside from them to the right or to the left.

Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem thirty-one years.
He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD and followed the ways of his father David, not turning aside to the right or to the left. 2 Chron 34:1–2 NIV

Josiah became king at the age of 8, and when he was only 20 years old he began to cleanse the Jewish nation of all kinds of sin.

In Europe and North America, many Christian leaders are distracted by human traditions and ways of thinking. Instead of being led by the Holy Spirit, they get caught up in all kinds of theological and political movements.

When this happened in the Bible, God raised up children and young people who were led by the Holy Spirit. Through Samuel, David, Daniel, Mary and Timothy, God stirred up the nations.

God will do the same in our day. Look out. The teenagers and students are coming, and the children too.

In 1904 revival broke out in Wales. The Holy Spirit moved the nation and revival movements spread throughout the British Isles.

Who released the Holy Spirit? The preacher, Evan Roberts, was only 26 years old. He had a team of intercessors, four girls.

Experiencing God Personally

There are Christians who hold on to biblical truths, but they are not enthusiastic about spiritual experiences or strong emotions.

It is true that our feelings cannot be a reliable basis for our faith, but God is love. Without strong feelings, love is just an abstract theological idea.

The foundation of our faith is the Bible. The Holy Scriptures are from God himself. We must understand the clear theological statements in the Bible as authoritative, but it is a big mistake to focus only on theological statements.

In the Bible we also find the experiences of faithful Jews and Christians who loved God. These experiences are just as important as theological statements. They belong together, like flesh and blood, like truth and love, like light and life.

As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God.
My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God? Ps 42:1–2 NIV

When we try to separate feelings and experience from truth, we go completely wrong.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
gentleness and self-control… Gal 5:22–23 NIV

This is a theological statement. Kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control are not feelings, but virtues.

Love is also a virtue, but not just a virtue. Love without feelings is not love.
Peace without feelings is not peace. Joy without feelings is not joy.

In Psalm 42, the psalmist speaks of his longing for God's presence in the services in the tabernacle or in the temple. Where God reveals his holy presence, we experience something.

There is a big difference between a map and a beautiful fertile landscape. Theological statements are our indispensable map, but God's direct presence is our promised land.

I have experienced wonderful blessings in church services. Hopefully you have too, but we no longer live in the Old Covenant. In the Old Covenant, God's tangible presence was mostly found in the temple, but 50 days after his death on the cross, Jesus sent us his Holy Spirit from heaven.

Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.”
By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified. Jn 7:38–39 NIV

It's wonderful when you experience a fresh refreshing of the Holy Spirit in a blessed worship service, but sometimes it's even better when you can feel and enjoy God's glory in your daily life at home or on a walk in the park.

Listen! I am standing at the door, knocking; if you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to you and eat with you, and you with me. Rev 3:20 NRSV

This is not just an invitation for the unconverted, but an invitation for Christians to enjoy a tangible communion with God in our everyday life.

God Cares for You

 Maybe you feel wounded and torn. Sometimes you don't know exactly why you feel down, but there is someone who sees and knows, and he is for you, not against you.

One of the best-loved passages in the Bible is the Shepherd Psalm of David.

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters.

He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake. Ps 23:1–3 NKJV

How often your feelings are torn and confused and you don't understand exactly why. But God understands, and he wants to heal the wounds in your heart.

He wants to lead you on the path that is best for you, but when you feel confused and wander in a fog of discouragement, you can't see clearly which way to go.

When you're in a fog, you can't see the light. How can you know which way to go if you can't see clearly?

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. Ps 23:4 NASB95

Shepherds in the Middle East had a stick or club to ward off wild animals and a staff to pick up sheep that were stuck and could not get up on their own.

If you can't see the way, trust in the Good Shepherd of your soul.

God sent his eternal Son to be the good shepherd for your soul.

Before he became a king and a prophet, David himself was a shepherd. He was a humble farm labourer, but he knew God as his shepherd.

‘The LORD is my shepherd.’

When Jesus preached to the Jews, he boldly said that he was the good shepherd, the Lord and God of David.

“I am the good shepherd, and I know My own and My own know Me,
even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. Jn 10:14–15 NASB95

If you are wounded and upset and cannot see clearly, ask Jesus to pour his healing Holy Spirit into your wounds.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You have anointed my head with oil; My cup overflows. Ps 23:5 NASB95

When the sheep had cuts and scratches, the shepherd rubbed the wounds with soothing oil.

You can find rest in the presence of God. Ask him to anoint your head with the healing and soothing presence of his loving Spirit. You can invite him to pour his oil into your cuts and wounds.

When you entrust your life to Jesus, you can be sure that his loving care and mercy will never be taken away from you.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the LORD Forever. Ps 23:6 NKJV

God Raises Up Children

2020 was not just the beginning of a new decade. The pandemic has caused the conventional world order to fall apart at the seams. Many want to return to the supposedly normal world order, but the world of yesterday is never coming back.

Many of us try to explain the crisis with conventional ways of thinking, but conventional mindsets often lead us astray.

In times when yesterday's ideas are no longer enough, we see in the Bible that God often speaks through children or teenagers.
 
Mary was a teenager when she became the mother of Jesus.

David was also a teenager when he killed Goliath.

Samuel was a young boy when he became a prophet.

A seemingly successful pastor of a large American church attended a charismatic event. A very young girl came up to him, put her hand on his head and spoke with amazing boldness.

‘Lord, take the junk out of him!’

When the prominent pastor returned to his congregation, he was a completely different man. Until then, he had built up an active and well-organised church with his own abilities and spiritual gifts. He himself was the cornerstone of the congregation.

He recognised the pride and self-centredness of his Christian ministry. He began to focus on Jesus and give the Holy Spirit space.

Many members left the church, but in a short time the church was much larger than before.

When we try to solve new problems with traditional approaches, we become like ships without a rudder, sailing helplessly in circles.

The preacher who sparked the Welsh revival in 1904 was a man of only 26, Evan Roberts. He was supported by a team of intercessors, four teenagers, all girls.

Children and young people are often much more open to new ideas and revelations from God. We need this openness.

Very many Christians only want to believe and obey God when they understand God's leading. Children often have an open heart. They can believe and obey even if they don't understand.

Whoever becomes humble like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Mt 18:4 NRSV

but Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs.” Mt 19:14 NRSV

When the children hear directly from God, and explain things differently than our old way of thinking, we must take the children seriously. We must not stand in the way of the Holy Spirit.

One of the countless people who was raised up by God in the Welsh revival was a street preacher who was 15 years old. She preached with such heavenly power that thousands of listeners took her seriously and were blessed. Among them were prominent businessmen and despised prostitutes.

You won't find testimonies like this in many books. History is often manipulated to promote our religious traditions.

Where did I hear that? A few years ago we had a Welsh guest preacher at our church. She told wonderful stories of dramatic Welsh revival.

The dramatic works of the Holy Spirit are often glossed over, but those who seek will find. 

God Lifts up Downtrodden People

 God promotes the lowly. He lifts up the humble.

He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly;
he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty. Lk 1:52–53 NRSV

Over the last 250 years, we have seen how kings and ruling classes have fallen. Democracy has become normal in many nations.

Since the Reformation, we have also seen dramatic changes in the leadership of Christians and churches.

God has brought down princes from their thrones and exalted the lowly.
Leaders and rulers can become arrogant and tyrannise their subjects.

Jesus had a lot to say about this.

But Jesus called them to him and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones are tyrants over them.
It will not be so among you; but whoever wishes to be great among you must be your servant, Mt 20:25–26 NRSV

In the Bible, we see how God chose shepherds and fishermen. Moses and King David were shepherds when God chose them to rule God's people. Peter, Andrew, James and John were fishermen before they became apostles.

The first king of Israel was Saul. He was the son of a farmer, not a sophisticated man. But when he was king, he became arrogant and stubborn. Then God took the throne from his family and chose the shepherd David as the next king.

Are you seemingly a nobody? In God's eyes, you are infinitely valued. God loves each of his children like a bride loves her diamonds.

Are you strictly controlled by your family, your boss or your church leaders, cruelly dominated, always put down? This does not come from God.

Do you keep thinking negative words that have been said to you for years like witches' curses? Are you perhaps convinced that you are a helpless failure, as others have said of you?

God is your Creator and your heavenly Father. He has planned your life for fulfilment. It's not too late for you.

Jesus still loves you. God wants to speak to you today as he spoke to his suffering Jewish people in ancient times.

‘Call to Me and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and mighty things, which you do not know.’ Jer 33:3 NASB95

Jesus is waiting for your cry for help. He sacrificed His life for you on the cross and He still loves you as He did at the beginning.

Spiritual Warfare

 We see in the New Testament that the war has already been won. The devil was defeated by Jesus on the cross. But if Jesus has already won the war, why do we still have to fight? Do we still have to fight? Of course we do.

Put on the full armour of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. Eph 6:11 NIV

But some say we don't have to fight because the battle is not ours; the battle belongs to the Lord.

But this passive view leads to disaster. Turkey was once a region where the gospel spread marvellously. But the Christians gradually became religious and no longer devoted disciples.

Then Islam came and Christianity was almost one hundred per cent abolished. The devil can win battles if we don't hold on to Jesus and fight for our faith with God's power.

…  for the battle is the LORD’s, … 1 Sam 17:47 NIV

This Bible text is often quoted and misinterpreted. It is said that we do not have to fight against the devil because the battle does not belong to us, but to the Lord.

All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.” 1 Sam 17:47 NIV

But we must understand Bible texts in context. David said these words and then he fought against the soldier of Satan and struck Goliath dead with the supernatural help of the Lord.

There are situations where we must fight the devil with God's help and we may defeat the devil, not with our own strength, but by God intervening supernaturally because the battle belongs to the Lord.

I prayed for a long time for some women who were mentally ill. These were not passive prayers, but a battle in the spirit with the help of God's Spirit. I persevered in prayer for a long time, and not just for a few years. I then saw amazing improvements.

Anyone who does not believe in spiritual warfare and does not believe that miracles are necessary understands very little about Christian love and prayer.

You don't need a miracle until you need a miracle.

Spiritual Warfare

We see in the New Testament that the war has already been won. The devil was defeated by Jesus on the cross. But if Jesus has already won the war, why do we still have to fight? Do we still have to fight? Of course we do.

Put on the full armour of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. Eph 6:11 NIV

But some say we don't have to fight because the battle is not ours; the battle belongs to the Lord.

But this passive view leads to disaster. Turkey was once a region where the gospel spread marvellously. But the Christians gradually became religious and no longer devoted disciples.

Then Islam came and Christianity was almost one hundred per cent abolished. The devil can win battles if we don't hold on to Jesus and fight for our faith with God's power.

…  for the battle is the LORD’s, … 1 Sam 17:47 NIV

This Bible text is often quoted and misinterpreted. It is said that we do not have to fight against the devil because the battle does not belong to us, but to the Lord.

All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.” 1 Sam 17:47 NIV

But we must understand Bible texts in context. David said these words and then he fought against the soldier of Satan and struck Goliath dead with the supernatural help of the Lord.

There are situations where we must fight the devil with God's help and we may defeat the devil, not with our own strength, but by God intervening supernaturally because the battle belongs to the Lord.

I prayed for a long time for some women who were mentally ill. These were not passive prayers, but a battle in the spirit with the help of God's Spirit. I persevered in prayer for a long time, and not just for a few years. I then saw amazing improvements.

Anyone who does not believe in spiritual warfare and does not believe that miracles are necessary understands very little about Christian love and prayer.

You don't need a miracle until you need a miracle.

Wonderful Experiences with God

 The Hebrews were afraid of God's direct presence.

And they said to Moses, “You speak to us, and we will listen. But don’t let God speak directly to us, or we will die!” Ex 20:19 NLT

Should we look down on the Hebrews of that time? Not at all.

Many Christians today want to have a dry faith, clinging to the written Word of God but wanting nothing to do with dramatic supernatural experiences.

We read the Psalms of David, and we see a very different attitude.

O God, you are my God, I seek you, my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water. Ps 63:1 NRSV

How precious is your favour, O God, that the children of men find refuge under the shadow of your wings!

They feast on the abundance of your house, and you give them drink from the river of your delights. Ps 36:8 NRSV

It is good and important for your thoughts to be in line with God's Word, but did God save you so that you would be right in everything, or to experience his holy and tender love?

Many Christians theoretically believe in the bliss and joy of God's presence, but they only expect it after their death. David did not think so, nor did Paul.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, Gal 5:22 NASB95

So many Christians suffer anxiety and stress. The overwhelming experience of the Holy Spirit is a wonderful blessing that God wants to give you.

Only Jesus is Perfect

 In the Bible, I see that even great men of God were not flawless. Moses needed the advice of his father-in-law.

The great King David sinned and was exposed by the prophet Nathan.

Some Christians want to put Peter on a throne, but when Peter went wrong, he was rebuked by Paul.

After his conversion, the apostle Paul gave the impression of being faultless. But how did Paul himself evaluate his Christian life?

For in my inner being I delight in God’s law;

but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me.

What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death?

Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in my sinful nature a slave to the law of sin. Rom 7:22–25 NIV

Others want to worship St Mary as the Queen of Heaven. Jesus loved his mother. but Jesus had a different view.

While Jesus was still talking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to him.

Someone told him, “Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you.”
He replied to him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?”

Pointing to his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers.
For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.” Mt 12:46–50 NIV

If a preacher claims to always be right, don't trust him. That is prideful. If you think of your pastor or a prominent evangelist as always infallible, you're misguided.

The true disciples of the Lord learn to recognise the voice of God for themselves. They learn to think for themselves with wisdom.

My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.
I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. Jn 10:27–28 NIV

What is your Purpose in Life?

 Abraham was a strong old man, but still an old man, that is, no longer a virile bridegroom. His wife was also way past her used by date.

Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah’s womb was also dead. Ro 4:19 NIV

But despite everything, Abraham had a promise from God.

Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” Ro 4:18 NIV

If you receive a promise from God and don’t see its fulfilment so quickly, you must cultivate the virtue of hope.

Human hope can be little better than wishing. If you harbour wishes, you can merely dream without really expecting any fulfilment. But with God, hope is an attitude and a way of thinking in which we truly expect God's blessing.

Genuine hope is a gift of God, but we must put hope to work in our thinking and in our lives.

Faith and love are the key to life with God, but you need to have hope to keep your faith alive, so God can use you for his purpose.

And what is God's purpose for you?

God's purpose for Noah was to preach, to warn his contemporaries, to build an enormous ship, to save many animals and his family from the Flood.  

Is shipbuilding your calling? Probably not.

God's destiny for Moses was to free two million slaves and lead them through the desert. You are probably not called to do that.

David was a shepherd, poet, musician, and then a soldier, general, king and prophet.

Esther was an orphan and then a queen.

So we can see that everyone has a very individual destiny and calling.

After Ehud came Shamgar son of Anath, who struck down six hundred Philistines with an oxgoad. He too saved Israel. Jdg 3:31 NIV

Shamgar was obviously a cowherd or farmer. He was also effective as a soldier, but not with conventional weapons.

David was a soldier, but in the beginning he fought with a slingshot.

Maria Luise Prean-Bruni has written a brilliant book on this subject.

‘Come into your destiny. God created you as an original. Don't die a copy.’

God created Billy Graham but only once. Everyone is different.

What is your calling?

He Cares for You

 You may feel wounded and torn. Sometimes you don't know clearly why you feel down, but there is someone who sees and knows, and he is for you, not against you.

One of the best loved passages in the Bible is the Shepherd Psalm of David.

The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.

He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters,
he restores my soul.

He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Ps 23:1–3 NIV84

How often are your feelings torn and confused, and you don’t clearly understand why. But God understands, and he wants to heal the wounds in your heart.

He wants to guide you in the way that is best for you, but if you feel confused, and you are wandering in a fog of discouragement, you can’t see clearly which way to go.

When you go through dark places, you can’t see the light. How can you know which way to go when you can’t see clearly?

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. Psalm 23:4 NIV84

The Middle Eastern shepherds had a rod, or a club, to ward off wild animals, and a staff to lift up sheep which were stuck and couldn’t get up by themselves.

When you can’t see the way forward, trust the Good Shepherd of your soul.

God sent His eternal Son to be the Good Shepherd for your soul.

Before he became a king and a prophet, David was a shepherd himself. He was a humble farmworker, but he knew God as his Shepherd.

“The LORD is my Shepherd.”

When Jesus preached to the Jews, He said boldly, that He was the Good Shepherd, the Lord and God of David.

“I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me—
just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. John 10:14–15 NIV84

When you are wounded and upset, and you can’t see clearly, ask Jesus to pour out His healing Holy Spirit in your wounds.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Psalm 23:5 NIV84

When the sheep had cuts and scratches, the shepherd would rub soothing oil into the wounds. 

Rest in the presence of God and ask Him to anoint your head with the healing and calming presence of His loving Spirit. Invite Him to pour His oil into your cuts and wounds.

If you trust Jesus with your life, you can be sure His loving care and mercy will never be taken away.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the LORD Forever. Psalm 23:6 NKJV

DON'T LIMIT GOD. HIS BEST IS FOR YOU

Psalm 103:2-4 (NIV) A Psalm of DAVID

• Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits-
• who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, 
• who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, 

Here David is encouraging himself my meditating on the promises of God for himself. We all need to do this when we are down or in need. 

• If you tell me you are never down or you don’t have any unmet needs I don’t believe you.

Clearly David believes God’s promises are comprehensive. 

• He is saved from the pit of despair and damnation. 

• God forgives all his sins and also heals all his diseases. 

ALL is a bold word. 

• If you believe for ALL these things, you have a very bold faith, and rather controversial because many people want to believe for forgiven sins but not too much more.

You might say David was a specially chosen prophet and king, a special favourite of God. Maybe he is just talking about his own special privileges with God.

• So is David just talking about himself and a few specially chosen ones?

The LORD works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed. Psalm 103:6 (NIV) 

Here is this word ALL again but this time it is not only ALL sins forgiven and ALL diseases healed but God’s miraculous power and favour available to ALL who need help.

Who is included in God’s favour?

He made known his ways to Moses, his deeds to the people of Israel: Psalm 103:7 (NIV) 

In the Old Testament, God worked mighty miracles for Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses and many other heroes of faith but God also forgave, healed, protected and saved ALL the people of Israel when they escaped from Egypt and crossed the Red Sea.

He also brought them out with silver and gold, And there was none feeble among His tribes. Psalm 105:37 (NKJV) 

But is God’s mercy and power only for the sons and daughters of Jacob, the people of Israel. David gives the rest of us words of hope.

For as the heavens are high above the earth, So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him; Psalm 103:11 (NKJV)

A Syrian general was suffering from incurable leprosy. He had a captured Hebrew slave girl who told her about the prophet Elisha in Israel. When General Naaman found Elisha, the prophet sent him a message.

Elisha sent a messenger to say to him, "Go, wash yourself seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will be restored and you will be cleansed." 2 Kings 5:10 (NIV) 

The general was angry but he reconsidered and did what he was told. When he came up out of the dirty river for the seventh time, he was healed. 

God wants to forgive all your sins and heal all your diseases but are you willing to honour God with your simple trust and humble obedience?

If you respect and trust God, if you revere and love Jesus, God’s promises are also for you.

But there are always some people who want to believe in a theology that limits God. God healed the Jews and some other people in the Old Testament but what about today?

Matthew 8:16-17 (ESV) 

• That evening they brought to him many who were oppressed by demons, and he cast out the spirits with a word and healed all who were sick. 
• This was to fulfil what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah: “He took our illnesses and bore our diseases.” 

When did Jesus take our illnesses and bear our diseases? On the cross. 

This is a quote from Isaiah 53, which is a prophecy of Jesus suffering on the cross for our salvation.

Surely our sicknesses he hath borne, And our pains--he hath carried them, And we--we have esteemed him plagued, Smitten of God, and afflicted. Isaiah 53:4 (YLT)

Here Young’s Literal Translation accurately translates Isaiah and agrees with the Greek translation in Matthew 8:17.

Jesus died to pay the price for your complete salvation, to take away your sin, guilt and condemnation and also to deliver you from the consequences of sin, which include sickness.

DARE TO BE YOURSELF FOR GOD

David was a shepherd boy when Saul was the King of Israel. 

David loved God with all his heart but Saul was insecure about himself and about his faith in God.

• The Israelites wanted to have a king like the other nations. When they demanded a king, God was not happy but God gave them what they wanted. 

• The Israelites demanded a king because they were unsure of their faith in God and insecure about their God given identity.

• We often put preachers on a pedestal for the same reason.

• When God gave them Saul to be their king, Saul was anointed and his leadership was blessed in the beginning but in the end he too was insecure about his identity and so he became a tyrant.

• The same thing can happen when you put a preacher on a pedestal instead of putting your full trust in God and daring to become who God designed you to be.

Be careful what you desire and believe for. 

God might answer your urgent prayers but the thing you pray for might not be a blessing in the end. 

• Consider your motives. It can be dangerous to want to be like other people and to have what other people have.

God wants to give you His best but He does not want you to be like other people.

• He wants you to be YOU because He designed you to be you, just as He made David to be David.

When David decided to do battle with Goliath, King Saul offered to give David his own armour but it did not fit. David went to fight Goliath without armour, armed only with a sling and a few stones.

If God has called you to preach the gospel, don’t start competing with other people for the pulpit of your church. 

If God has called you, God will give you a pulpit. Jesus often preached in private homes, on hillsides or in fishing boats. 

Be like Jesus. Don’t play politics with church leaders to become one of them. 

• Go where God leads you and say what God gives you to say.
• When we read the Gospels, we see a lot of the teaching of Jesus was in the context of personal interaction with people along the way. 
• If we anxiously strive for promotion in church, we may miss a lot of these opportunities.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Proverbs 3:5 (NLT) 

• The world is tired of preachers who copy other preachers. 

• The world is tired of Christians who play church to get promotion to a pulpit.

Be different. Be yourself. You are unique.

(Jesus) said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Mark 16:15 (NIV)

How can you go into all the world for Jesus if you are busy in church trying to be promoted in ministry? 

What if you are not gifted to be a preacher?

You might be a good musician. 

God might want to use you to play at the front on Sundays, or He might want you to play somewhere else instead. 

There are so many elderly people in institutions who need to hear the Good News of Jesus Christ. 

They might not want to listen to Billy Graham but they will listen to beautiful Christian songs. 

There are so many older people just waiting to die without any hope. A few songs and a few words from you can restore the faith to many who have lost hope.

What if you are a gardener or a handyman. (I am not.) 

Deeds often speak louder than words. Simple kindness and practical help bring many to faith.

Has God given you a nice house or apartment? Do you like entertaining guests? 

You could invite a few Christian friends and not yet Christians to meet each other. Pray that God will reveal Jesus through your hospitality and your Christian friends.

Do you like cooking? 

My wife met a lonely older woman on a bus. The woman lived alone and was troubled by poor health. My wife made a pot of soup and took it to this lady’s home.