SERVING SIX ONE

Your life is like a garden; whatever you plant in it is exactly what it will produce. This is so true. Whatever you sow, you will reap. It is the Law of Reciprocity in action. God’s law, set in motion from the very beginning. Look at where it got Adam and Eve– booted out of paradise. Bad choices have consequences to go along with them. And the sooner we realize that and start making good choices, the better off we will be.

I am reminded of this law of reaping and sowing every time I go out and have to pull weeds out of my flower beds. I really hate weeding. I don’t like having to get down on my hands and knees and pluck, pull and sometimes wrestle with those little aggravating, persistent things that grow where everything else won’t. But it has to be done. In order to enjoy the beauty of my flowers, I have to take the time and tend my garden.

So, while I am out there doing the dreaded chore, I think and pray. I think of all the weeds I have sown in my own life and in the lives of those I love. I think about all the times I said something I shouldn’t have said. I think about all the things I did that I shouldn’t have done. I think about the ugly weeds that have poked their unsightly heads up in my life, or my loved one’s lives, that I had a hand in planting.

As you can see, weeding is an especially daunting task for me. But it is also a necessary one. It makes me realize how foolish and how serious our actions can be. One little negative, harsh, condemning, or condescending word we say can cause major problems later on. With that unique  little gardening tool called the tongue, we can plant so very many seeds, many of which can be devastating to the garden that they are sown in.

With just our words we are able to sow discouragement, doubt, insecurity, fear, hate, jealousy, anger, distrust,lies…and the list goes on. And all of those seeds grow in the garden in which they are planted, sometimes being very destructive and at times even devastating.

I recently read about an 11 year boy who killed himself because of the teasing and cruel words of some of his peers. He simply couldn’t take the pain, the hurt, the discouragement, and the insecurity that had sprung up inside of him due to what was carelessly sown by others. Seeds sown. Weeds grown. Life gone. Just like that.

The seeds we sow have more of an affect that what we realize. And, we will be held accountable for every word said, every deed done, every seed sown. We will reap the harvest for every seed we sow. It may not happen right  away, but believe me, every seed counts. Just like  the old cliche’ says, “What goes around, comes around”, what you do and say will come back to you.

You see, God holds us responsible for our words and actions. He expects us to say and do what is right. To treat others as we wish to be treated. To love one another. Be kind to one another. The law of reaping and sowing is a law He established and it cannot be avoided. The Bible tells us in Galatians 6:7-10:

“Don’t be misled— you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith.”

We need to be mindful of what we sow, because we will get back a harvest. Weeds, or flowers. Good fruit or bad fruit. The choice is ours. We control the garden of our life. We have to live on the crop of what we have sown. We have to pay the price for the sins we commit.

So, be careful where you sow, what you plant, and how well you tend your garden. Your life depends on the harvest it will bring forth!

In 1 Kings 18-19 you can read the story of Elijah when he challenged and defeated 450 prophets of Baal. The story is absolutely incredible. Here is a quick summary of what happened. Israel was under the leadership of a wicked king named Ahab who was married to a very evil woman named Jezebel. Ahab and Jezebel had caused Israel to turn from God and begin worshipping the idol of Baal. Because of their wickedness, God gave word through the prophet Elijah that there would be a severe drought on the land and that there would be neither rain nor dew until God gave His word for it.

It was during the third year of the drought, that God told Elijah to go and present himself to King Ahab. Elijah told Ahab to summon all of Israel along with the 450 prophets of Baal and to join him on Mt. Carmel.Ahab did just as Elijah requested. Elijah stood before all of Israel and the prophets of Baal and made this proclamation — “How much longer will you waver, hobbling between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him! But if Baal is God, then follow Him!”

Elijah then turned his attention to the prophets of Baal and challenged them to a contest.They were to erect an altar to thier god. Two bulls were brought and the prophets of Baal chose which on they wanted and cut it into pieces and laid on the altar as a sacrifice to Baal. They were instructed to cry out to their god and ask him to send down fire to burn up the sacrifice. Elijah would do the same. Whichever God answered by fire would indeed be the true God.

The prophets of Baal went first. They cried out, and called on their god from morning until noon. Yet, there was no response. So, they cried louder and harder, even cutting themselves with knives and swords, trying desperately to get the attention of their so-called god.

Finally, Elijah had endured enough of their pointless ramblings and told Israel to pay attention. Elijah took twelve stones, erected himself an altar, laid the sacrifice on it, and then had them bring four huge containers of water and pour it all over the wood, the sacrifice and the altar. There was so much water that it even filled up the trench dug around the altar.

Then, as all Israel watched, and in the presence of all his enemies, Elijah prayed, asking God to show Himself as Lord. Immediately, fire fell from heaven burning up not only the sacrifice, but the wood, the altar itsef and even licked up all the water in the trough.

God had showed up, just as Elijah had asked. At this point, Israel was pumped up and on the instructions of Elijah, killed all the prophets of Baal. Elijah had listened to the voice of the Lord. Elijah had obeyed that voice. Elijah had declared God’s word unashamedly and without reservations. He trusted God to do what God had said He would do.And God honored His word. He showed up with majesty and power.

When we choose to take the time to listen to God, He will speak. Oftentimes, we are to wrapped up in ourselves to hear Him. But in those times that we do take the time to listen, we need to obey what He says to do. There are so many times we know what we are supposed to do. We know that God has spoken to us and given us specific instructions, yet we do not heed them. We choose to go our own way, do our own thing and then end up in a bad place, miserable and discontent. Down and defeated.

Well, it is time that we make some decisions. How long are we going to live defeated? How long are we not going to obey and serve the God of Elijah. If the Lord is God, then Follow Him! As long as we are not listening, and not obeying, we will not be victorious. It is time, as  children of God, to seek Him, to hear Him and to heed Him.

We must stand up and declare Him Lord in whatever situations we are facing. Stand up in the presence of our families, our friends and even our enemies and procalim God as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. When we give our problems, our doubts, our sins, our shortcomings, our insecurities, our worries, and our fears to God — He will send down His fire from heaven and burn them away. He will lift us up even in the presence of our enemies and strengthen us and bless us.

It is time we know that God is bigger than anything we might be facing. He is Lord of all. There is nothing He cannot do and won’t do if we will only surrender to His will. So, let’s do it. Let’s call out to the God of Elijah. Lift up His Holy name, declare Him God, and let His fire reign down in our lives. The Lord is God, so Follow Him!!!

The other day I was reading the story of David and Goliath.  Now if you are like me, then you have heard that story countless times. But in my reading the other day, the Lord revealed some truths, and gave me some insight that I had never gotten from the story before.

The Israelite army had been fighting against their enemies, the Philistines, and were camped opposite them with a valley in between. All of a sudden, out of the clear blue, this giant dude shows up. He was over nine feet tall, majorly buff and had an attitude that matched. He at once began to bully Israel, challenging them and defying their God.

Goliath challenged one of Israel’s soldiers to come and fight him. If they won, then the Philistines would be Israel’s slaves, but if they lost, and  if this giant troublemaker won, then Israel would be enslaved to the enemy.

For forty days, morning and night, the giant came out and challenged God’s people. And for forty days, no progress was made. Gloom and despair loomed overhead. Depression and fear engulfed the camp. No one dared to take the giant up on his challenge. That is, until one day a young shepherd boy showed up.

David had just arrived at the camp when the Israelites lined up as usual to face the Philistines. And, as usual, out came Goliath. Once again, he mocked and jeered, bullied and sneered, and once again, the Israelite soldiers cowered and feared and ran away. David, was appalled. He could not understand why or how Israel could allow one man to stand in the way of their victory over the enemy.

David’s brothers quickly informed the young, innocent, and what they considered to be ignorant boy to mind his business. Didn’t he note the size of the guy? Didn’t he see his huge sword? Didn’t he see the massive armor and hear the daunting message from the booming voice of this massive enemy? Just what part of the whole situation was David not getting?

But, in reality, David did get it. He looked beyond the giant and saw God. He knew Who he believed in and no matter how big, how scary, how mean, how massive, the enemy was, God was bigger. David focused on what we oftentimes,  fail to see. He focused on the solution to the problem, rather than on the problem itself. He trusted God. Pure and simple. He didn’t doubt. He didn’t second guess. He just flat out trusted and believed God’s word over the word of the enemy.

So, David without any hesitation announced loud and long that he would face the enemy and would defeat him. Upon hearing David’s proclamation, King Saul, tried to dissuade the eager and what he thought to be overzealous young man. But once he realized that David was determined, Saul then tried to help him out. He urged David to take his armor, his weaponry. He tried to get David to do things his way.

But, David wasn’t comfortable with King Saul’s methods. He listened to the advice and then rather than trusting the words and ways of man, surrendered to the higher ways of God. He knew God’s way for His life. He knew God wouldn’t leave Him. He trusted the One Who had never let him down against obstacles and giants in the past and that is exactly what he chose to do in facing this giant.

So, David went out. He faced Goliath head own. No reservations. No turning back. No doubts. No worries. He had God. He declared to the enemy that he was not afraid. He lifted up the name of God above the giant blocking his victory. And though the giant roared. Though he showed his ugliness. Though he puffed himself up bigger and bigger. David didn’t waver. He took what God had given him, his talents, and his abilities, and stepped out in faith. Then with the twirling of a leather strap, and the hurling of a little stone, the giant went tumbling down. And when that bully went down, the rest of the enemies scattered.

You see, it was God’s will that Israel defeated the Philistines. David knew that, and Goliath was standing in the way of God’s will. Goliath represents anything that is standing in the way of God’s will for your life. What kind of Goliaths are you facing right now? Are you fearful? Are you depressed? Is there a giant problem standing right smack in the way and keeping you from what you know God wants for your life?

Then you need to know a few things. First of all, God is bigger than anything you face. Quit worrying and listening to the voice of the enemy. “You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He  who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” (John 4:4 NKJV). So realize that! Take hold of it and let the Spirit of the living God come alive inside of you. Let God arise in you and your enemies will scatter.(Psalm 68:1)

Secondly, you need to realize something else. You need to realize that God has given you everything you need to face any challenge, any obstacle, any giant that comes against you. He has equipped you with certain talents and abilities that He fully intends and expects you to use. Perhaps you are struggling right now with some areas in your life, because you are using methods and ways other than the ones God has purposed for you to use. You need to use what God gave you, no matter what others may tell you. David could not use the things that were unfamiliar to him. He had to trust God with what God had given him. The same applies to you.

The last thing I want to point out is that you need to put your trust in the God of David. He is the giant slayer. He is the One who will go before you and bring down every opposing force that stands between you and His purpose for your life, that is, IF you declare Him Lord over your life. When David saw the enemy. When he heard his bullying remarks, when he heard Goliath mock his God and challenge his faith, he reacted. He stood his ground. He let the Spirit of the God that he had loved and trusted, the One who had carried him through his darkest nights, the One who had never once failed Him, rise up inside him. Then he proclaimed to those around him and to the enemy facing him that God was bigger. David declared the victory before he ever stepped foot on the battlefield. He had made up his mind that God was bigger and that the giant was going down. He didn’t doubt. He wasn’t ashamed. He didn’t care if his friends and family thought he was insane. He put his faith above all else and because of that, Goliath fell.

It’s time you do the same. It’s time to step out in faith. Trust in the God who loves you, who knows what is best for you, and declare His victory over the giants you are facing. And know this, once you declare Him Lord over that situation, that problem, that circumstance, then God will bring your giants down!