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Our secret history in God only has validity (reality) in the context of time and space!
Let's start with a word definition. The Greek word translated faith is (πίστις pistis). It is often translated faithfulness as well.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering,
gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such
there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23 (KJV)
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,
goodness, FAITHFULNESS, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such
things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23 (ESV)
Definition of pistis: fidelity, faithfulness, the character of one who can be relied on; trustworthiness, reliability
My working definition of faithfulness: we have a “yes” in our spirit – but it doesn't stop there – we have to actually “do” it.
There is much talk within many Christian circles these days
concerning King David. David had the reputation, and rightly so, of
being a man after God's own heart. I am not questioning the validity of
that statement.
But I am going to raise the following questions:
- What made David a man after God's own heart?
- What does that mean to me today, in the 21st century?
- And how do I become like David?
DAVID: THE MAN AFTER GOD’S OWN HEART: THE THREE-FOLD EXPRESSION
"…The Lord has sought out a man after his own heart…" 1 Samuel 13:14
I have studied the life of David for many years now. And I have come to see three areas relevant to being a man after God's own heart (this is not relegated to men only...it could have just as easily been stated as a "person" after God's own heart. I am using the phrase "man" only because that is the terminology used in the text itself. But please understand, it has application to both men AND women. Men are part of the Bride of Christ and women are sons of God - it's not about gender, it is all about proximity of our hearts to God's).
The first dynamic I see required to be a man after God's own heart is a desire to obey the commands of God's heart (David had a sincere intention to fully obey God).
The second dynamic of a man after God's own heart is a desire to live a life in the context of an on-going study of the emotions of God's heart (this works itself out as intimacy that is a result of encountering God’s beauty and heart).
The third dynamic of being a man after God's own heart is one who has a commitment to contend for the purpose of God’s heart (fullness of God's power/fulfillment of the promises of God in our destiny - both personal and corporate).
LESSONS FROM DAVID: NEW PARADIGMS OF LIFE THROUGH INTIMACY
What did David see and understand about God's heart? I believe that David was a theologian who throughout his life studied God’s beauty and affection (His emotions). As a result of what he discovered, it affected how David perceived that God saw him: David saw his beauty in God’s eyes. And as a result of seeing his own beauty in God's sight, he could then translate that into how he, David, saw others through God's eyes. This completely changed how David saw his circumstances in life, it affected how he handled pressure and prosperity.
DAVID”S CORE REALITY: IDENTITY BASED IN INTIMACY AND MEEKNESS
David’s core reality (his spiritual identity) was based in his intimacy with God. The primary ways that David saw himself and thus the way that he measured his success in life was by three core issues: intimacy with God, meekness before people and the spirit of revelation.
His identity, or sense of value and success, was found in his intimacy with God. First, David defined himself as being one who was loved by God and as one who was ever a lover of God., then Second, David, as a lover of God, walked in meekness with the people around him. And third, as a lover of God, who walked in meekness, he received much revelation of God’s Word (heart). David "felt" successful before God (in the ultimate sense) in context to how much he grew in the anointing of love, meekness and revelation.
David’s primary identity (his personal sense of value and success) was established in who he was spiritually - or who he was in relation to his intimacy with God. In other words, who he was before God as “one that God loved” and then as “one who loved God” in return (overflowed to others).
Beloved, God’s eyes search the earth for those whose heart is fully His.
9 For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward him… 2 Chronicles 16:9
David had a deep resolve to live in 100-fold obedience to God.
...for the sake of David my servant whom I chose, who kept my commandments… 1 Kings 11:34
15 "If you love me, you will keep my commandments… 21 Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me… 23… If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. John 14:15, 21-23
David, even in his human weakness, received God’s mercy as the means to return to radical obedience. He had a persistent "yes" in his spirit to obey God (Ps. 40:8; 1 Kings 11:34; 2 Chr. 7:12-18).
DAVID’S CONFIDENCE IN GOD’S LOVE
One of the foundational realities of David’s life was this dynamic revelation that he was totally forgiven, totally delighted in and t-totally dear to God, even in his weakness! Many look at David's failures and see someone who was in rebellion. David was never rebellious towards God.
Rebellion and immaturity often outwardly look the same, but the heart is very different. David understood that his spiritual immaturity was NOT perceived by God as rebellion. God sees the heart of His people.
7 But the Lord said, "… For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, (performance) but the Lord looks on the heart." 1 Samuel 16:7
David had an uncanny ability to fully receive the free mercy and goodness of God because he had confidence in God’s mercy (Ps. 13:5; 18:19) even in times of failure (Ps. 32; 38; 51; 69).
5 But I have trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation. Psalms 13:5
As an example: after 16 months of compromise at Ziklag, David proclaims his revelation of divine delight.
1… I love you, O Lord, my strength… 19 He brought me out into a broad place; he rescued me, because he delighted in me… your gentleness made me great. Psalms 18:1, 19, 35
3 If you, O Lord, should mark (count and punish) iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? 4 But with you there is forgiveness, that you may be feared. Psalms 130:3-4
I have found that a believer confident in love before God is more committed and more persistent than one who is constantly living under the threats and fears of failure and punishment. The most effective way to motivate people to full 100-fold obedience is not to hold them over hell on a broken stick, but rather to establish them in confidence in love before God.
You have kept count of my tossings; put my tears in your bottle. Are they not in your book? 9 Then my enemies will turn back in the day when I call. This I KNOW, that God is for me. Psalms 56:8-9
The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous and his ears toward their cry. Psalms 34:15
2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, 3 who forgives all your iniquity…8 The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love… 10 He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. 11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him… 13 As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him. 14 For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust… 17 But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him… Psalms 103:2-3, 8-17
132 Turn to me and be gracious (merciful - NKJ) to me, as is your way with those who love your name. 159 Consider how I love your precepts! Give me life (revive me – NKJ) according to your steadfast love. Psalms 119:132, 159
18 Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression for the remnant of his inheritance? He does not retain his anger forever, because he delights in steadfast love (mercy – NKJ). 19 He will again have compassion on us; he will tread (subdue – NKJ) our iniquities under foot. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea. Micah 7:18-19
Beloved, having confidence in love before God is absolutely necessary to enjoy sustained intimacy with God. This requires our living in the reality of our “belovedness” before God along with the confidence that God sees us as genuine (authentic) lovers of God - even while we are struggling with sin.
All of the redeemed are Beloved of God.
That your beloved ones may be delivered… Psalms 60:5
Keep me as the apple of your eye… Psalms 17:8
To all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints… Romans 1:7
…"Those who were not my people I will call 'my people,' and her who was not beloved I will call 'beloved.' " Romans 9:25
The Bride in the Song of Solomon understood her beauty before God even while she was still in her weakness.
I am very dark (in my heart), but lovely (to You, God)… Song of Songs 1:5
… let me see your face, let me hear your voice, for your voice is sweet, and your face is lovely. Song of Songs 2:14
Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance (a new way of thinking)? Romans 2:4
IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT WE UNDERSTAND THE TWO-FOLD CORE IDENTITY OF GOD’S PEOPLE
… "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased." Matthew 3:17
… "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him." Matthew 17:5
God three times in the gospel accounts spoke from Heaven with an audible voice. Two of those times were for the sake of Jesus, in His humanity. They were also for our sake, in our humanity.
God said that Jesus was His beloved Son (that He was God’s favorite). Jesus said that the Father loves us with the same love that He has for Jesus - so we are God's favorite as well (John 17:26; Romans 8:16-17)!
God said that He was pleased with Jesus – He recognized Jesus as being an authentic lover of God. But it doesn't stop there. If we have been born again, God also sees us as authentic lovers of God(not hypocrites just because our love is weak). Weak love is not false love!
This revelation is the place where disillusionment is conquered and the place where holy zeal is awakened. Beloved, we go to the Father to find out who we are instead of going to people. Here we understand our identity. Here we receive the revelation of who we are in God's sight. This revelation changes the definition of who we are. And when that definition changes, so do we. And the result? God’s justice is released in our lives.
The primary battleground in the spirit is located between your ears. All of satan’s accusations are aimed against the following two truths. First, the enemy accuses us, telling us that we are not God’s beloved, but rather, we are rejected by God. He tells us that we have gone too far and that it is too late to come back. Second, Satan accuses sincere believers telling them that they are not pleasing to God, calling our love false because it is weak.
THE BELOVED OF GOD: BEING ONE OF GOD’S FAVORITES
David’s revelation of being God’s beloved was foundational to his trusting and praising God and it was the basis of his gratitude. Gratitude is the most “powerful” dynamic in the redeemed human heart.
The foundation of David’s free spirit was his having the assurance that what he wanted most could not be stopped by another human being. If what we want most is focused on our internal life in God, then we can rest auured that no man can effectively block this goal. With this assurance settled in our hearts, we cannot be bought or sold by men’s favor or their threats. However, if what we want most is focused on circumstances, then we will ever struggle to have the assurance that man cannot block our goals.
Jesus loves us as the Father’s loves Him, that makes each of God’s people one of His favorites.
AS the Father has loved me, SO have I loved you... John 15:9
… that the world may know that you… loved them EVEN AS you loved me. John 17:23
And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. Luke 15:20
John wrote of himself as one whom Jesus loved (or as God’s favorite) (Jn. 13:23; 19:26; 20:2; 21:7, 20)
… Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby… John 19:26
So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said…John 20:2
That disciple whom Jesus loved therefore said to Peter, "It is the Lord!"… John 21:7
Peter… saw the disciple (John) whom Jesus loved… John 21:20
One of his disciples, whom Jesus loved… John 13:23
We must “get into” this vast ocean of endless experience of Divine love. The inexhaustible sea of Divine love is declared in the aforementioned passages.
that you may have strength to comprehend… what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge… Ephesians 3:18-19
God’s love is a boundless and eternal ocean of love.
the Lord appeared to him from far away. I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you. Jeremiah 31:3
As born-again believers, God sees us as “alive” from the dead. Thus, WE must present ourselves as alive (accepted, delighted in by God) not as dead (condemned, rejected by God). We cannot define ourselves by our most recent struggle but instead by God’s eternal view of us in Christ. Yes, we must acknowledge our struggles. However, we define ourselves before God as a genuine lover of God.
One of the most important questions that you need to ask yourself is: Are you a "lover of God" who sometimes struggles with sin or are you a "slave of sin" who struggles to love God?
… present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. Romans 6:13
IN SUMMARY:THE PRACTICAL STEPS TO VITAL TRANSFORMATION
David was a success before God. He is one of the key examples in Scripture that we are to emulate and learn from. What practical steps can be ascertained from what we have studied in this lesson?
Here is the understanding that I have learned as to the process that leads to real, sustainable spiritual transformation. We must change our perception of:
- How we view God
- How God views Us
- How we view ourselves
- How we feel about ourselves
- How we live
To facilitate that real and lasting spiritual transformation we have to change the way we live in time and space.To change the way we live in time and space, we have to change the way we feel about ourselves.
To change the way we feel about ourselves we must change how we view ourselves.To change the way we view ourselves we must change the way we understand how God views us.
To change the way we understand how God views us we must change the way that we view God
AND The ONLY way to change how we view God is to become students of the emotions of God’s heart, to understand how he feels, what motivates Him, moves Him, pleases Him, displeases Him, etc. And then, with that knowledge in handm position ourselves before Him asking Him to transform us and our understanding. As He does that, progressively, our view of Him will change. As our view of Him changes, we will perceive how He views us much differently. As we change the way that we perceive He views and deals with us, we will change the way we feel about ourselves. And as we change the way that we feel about ourselves, based on these realities, we will, as a result, live in accordance with those understandings.
But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord. 2 Corinthians 3:18 (NKJV)
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