Come Alive (Audio)

If you stick a fork in an electrical outlet, you can expect bad results. Many of our hardships and trials do come as a direct result of our poor choices, but that is not always the case. Whether they are self-wrought or completely outside of our control, the storms of life can be seen as a curse or an opportunity. As Pastor Mark challenges us in today’s message, instead of over-analyzing every situation we’re confronted with, we have a loving Father who is waiting for us to bring it to His feet. As we trust ourselves to His care and guidance, we will find that He can bring redemption out of the worst circumstances.

Saul made some big mistakes as a parent and it came back to haunt him. He had a son who chose to go behind his back, and a daughter who wasn’t afraid to lie to him. Ultimately, God used his poor parenting to protect David through his children’s disobedience and disrespect. As Pastor Mark explains in today’s message, while God will work things out for His purposes no matter the mistakes we make, we need to be careful to parent our children in a Godly way. If we don’t teach them the importance of respect and discipline, we can expect them to learn it the painful way in a lost and dying world.

Sin unchecked will wreak havoc and ultimately destroy a person’s life. We often believe the lie that a momentary pleasure will not have any serious consequences, but that is a device of Satan. Another way he deceives us is by convincing us that the sins of our fellow believers are “none of our business.” As Pastor Mark studies the story of David and his conflict with Saul, we see the ultimate toll that sin took in Saul’s life. A small amount of jealousy grew into a full blown desire to murder. In His divine wisdom, God placed Jonathon into the story to check the sin of his father and prevent David’s untimely death.

We have it pretty easy in our country. People around the world are dying of hunger, going days, even weeks without a good meal, yet we complain when we miss one on a rare occasion. At the same time, some of our international brothers and sisters in Christ are being imprisoned and even murdered for their beliefs. Meanwhile we’re getting upset over biased media coverage or petty insults thrown our way. As Pastor Mark reminds us in today’s message, we need to widen our perspective. We can be grateful for the easy life we have here, but we need to be wary of the complacency it can nurture in our hearts.

It’s a mistake to assume that because God loves us that He will shelter and protect us from all hardship. As we look back at the history of Christianity, at the thousands who have given their lives for the sake of the Gospel, it becomes apparent that the life of a believer is often the complete opposite of sheltered. We will be tested as we live out our faith. Satan will target us and God will allow it because He knows it can make us stronger. As Pastor Mark encourages us in today’s message, instead of moping around wondering why the world is out to get us, we need to demonstrate the joy and hope of fully relying on Christ.

It’s a mistake to assume that because God loves us that He will shelter and protect us from all hardship. As we look back at the history of Christianity, at the thousands who have given their lives for the sake of the Gospel, it becomes apparent that the life of a believer is often the complete opposite of sheltered. We will be tested as we live out our faith. Satan will target us and God will allow it because He knows it can make us stronger. As Pastor Mark encourages us in today’s message, instead of moping around wondering why the world is out to get us, we need to demonstrate the joy and hope of fully relying on Christ.

When David went out to confront Goliath he didn’t go out in his own strength. If he had, he would have faltered and lost. He wasn’t just hoping God would help him and make his aim true. No, as Pastor Mark explains in today’s message, David trusted that God would deliver Israel, and He was going to be victorious over this giant. If we seek God’s will in our own lives and trust in Him to accomplish it, even when it seems impossible by human standards, we can have the same confidence. Nothing is impossible for God, and He will bring us through to victory no matter how formidable our enemy seems.

When David went out to confront Goliath he didn’t go out in his own strength. If he had, he would have faltered and lost. He wasn’t just hoping God would help him and make his aim true. No, as Pastor Mark explains in today’s message, David trusted that God would deliver Israel, and He was going to be victorious over this giant. If we seek God’s will in our own lives and trust in Him to accomplish it, even when it seems impossible by human standards, we can have the same confidence. Nothing is impossible for God, and He will bring us through to victory no matter how formidable our enemy seems.

David didn’t know exactly how his face-off with Goliath was going to go down. He was human – he couldn’t see the future, and he didn’t possess any supernatural powers or abilities. What he did possess was faith. He had been told of his God’s faithfulness and provision. He knew the ways that God had delivered His people in the past, and that He had promised to protect and provide for them. As Pastor Mark reminds us in today’s message, God’s promises are just as good for us. We don’t know what may happen or how God will come through, but we can have absolute confidence that He will.

David didn’t know exactly how his face-off with Goliath was going to go down. He was human – he couldn’t see the future, and he didn’t possess any supernatural powers or abilities. What he did possess was faith. He had been told of his God’s faithfulness and provision. He knew the ways that God had delivered His people in the past, and that He had promised to protect and provide for them. As Pastor Mark reminds us in today’s message, God’s promises are just as good for us. We don’t know what may happen or how God will come through, but we can have absolute confidence that He will.