The Danger of Self-Sufficiency

I recently taught on Self-Sufficiency at LakeView Church. Very challenging topic and passage (2 Samuel 24).

David acknowledged his self-sufficient sin - repented.
He shifted gears in his attitude towards God - (re)reliance.
He then owns the consequences in his restoration - responsibility.

This is an individual heart issue that if ignored becomes a communal or corporate failure of Christians to actually be the Church. Spirit-dependency must replace self-sufficiency.

'May the Lord your God accept you.' He has. He will.

The Little Warrior Within...

Larry Osborne, at the Sticky Church 2.0 conference, spent some time challenging the notion that a person or a church or an organization needs replicate or reproduce a program, style, culture or quality that a more fruitful person/organization is doing.

He brought up David. Not King David but the young, confident, sheep herding David.

'Let no one lose heart on account of this Philistine...', sound familiar? Dude was awesome, 'your servant will go and fight him.' Young and ready to do what he had been training to do - leading sheep, wrestling bears and lions, training. In speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity...set and example even in your youth. Those words from Paul to Timothy totally connect to David and his ability to move in the Lord at such a young age.

We know the Spirit was on David, that God had a plan for him to move into a role of leadership in Israel. We also know that the same Spirit that was in sheep-herding-King David is in us.

At this point David wasn't seeking out what other mighty warriors he could mimic in order to take on Goliath. He knew his strengths and weakness' so when Saul called for him he was ready to respond in a healthy way. When opportunity came he was comfortable with his capacity.

Ultimately Saul puts his own armor on David to send him in to battle. Seriously? Compared to Saul, David's a curly headed pygmy with a sling and some sheep. He was restricted, confined, unable to move about the way he had trained and knew he was capable of. He was being set up for success according to someone elses plan and purpose.

I absolutely admire what he did next. So simple and yet so bold. David stripped off the armor and left to fight using the skill set, vision and confidence that came from the Lord, not the mighty warrior and king Saul.

As a follower of Christ, empowered and designed by Him, who are you trying to be like that totally doesn't fit who you actually are. Yes, to grow we need to learn from all camps, from many sources beyond our own understanding and worldview...but our character doesn't change, our foundational qualities that are divinely handed down don't need to be thrown out right? Maybe revamped and reformatted but ignoring who you are or what your organization is designed to do in order to copy another 'more successful' can only lead to heart-ache and possibly sin either now or later.

Are you fighting in your strengths or someone elses? What Philistines are you trying to overcome with unnatural tools and style? Every warriors has his own skill set, what's yours?

Taken from 1 Samuel 17 and 1 Timothy 4:12

Thrones and Dirt...

Acknowledging the sovereignty of God is vital to discovering true humility. The Apostle Paul challenged the Philippians to live out genuine humility in view of the life of Christ. (Philippians 2:1-11)

He goes on to describe what Christ did for them and in doing so challenged me to ponder the Throne of God. John describes in the Book of Revelation the very throne that Jesus stepped down from in order to become man:

'there before me was a throne in heaven...the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian. A rainbow, resembling an emerald, encircled the throne...From the throne came flashes of lightening, rumblings and peals of thunder.' There were 24 thrones around the Lords throne and 24 Elders with crowns sitting on them. 4 creatures were in the center and 7 spirits before Him.

The creatures sang continuously, 'Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come.'

The Elders bowed down with their crowns on the ground and sang, 'You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things and by your will they were created and have their being.' (Revelation 4)

Jesus left His perfect home - heaven to put on flesh with you and I. He left His throne to walk in dirt. He walked away from those worshipping Him 24/7 to be despised and mocked and put to death.

Like Jesus, the time will come for the faithful to experience perfection eternally. Jesus fulfilled His work on earth and the Father brought Him home. In our humility, you and I will experience what Christ did while incarnate - we'll become like Him as we live humble lives here and now.

'To the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.' (Jude :25)

Once you acknowledge that He is omniscient (all-knowing) - omnipotent (all-powerful) - omnipresent (always-everywhere)... then you'll begin to understand a true state of humility.

This majestic and glorious God was a servant...are you?

Motivated to Humility

...now or later?

I'm being convicted regularly by the Spirit that unless I truly begin to live humbly, not only physically or financially, but most importantly in my attitude - then as I speak into others lives more and more I will become less and less humble.

It's so counter-intuitive or at least counter-desirous. It seems as though it's easier to be humble when I'm doing what I love and especially when others are looking and yet, if that is part of the motivation for humility, then it's founded in pride! So if my heart, my mind and thus my attitude find proper alignment in light of God...then regardless of when and where I live out humility I will always be acting with the right motivation and bending my knee to the Creator. In fact it will be the Spirit acting out humility in me despite myself!

Jesus was humble at all times, night and day, in public and private, in a crowd, one on one or with His disciples, teaching and in prayer...always. He had reason to elevate Himself and yet He always gave glory to the Father in Heaven. I desire that attitude...here and now.