David sang out in the fields watching the sheep of his father, Jesse. He wrote Psalms out there.
Psalm 23 and the nature
Psalms 104, 145 and others were inspired from those pastoral treks and work. Out there David developed a love for music to worship the LORD with. These were songs between him and his God. Little did he know that 3,000 years later, around the world those words would be read by the people of God, sung by the people and cherished in the pure in heart. The words of these Psalms written by man who loved his LORD are being used today by God's people to express their love for Him. There is nothing like this anywhere on the earth or in the history of the world.
The Dedication of the Wall was quite a time of celebration to say the least.
It symbolized the restoration of security and safety and the glory returning to Jerusalem.
It was a time to remember God's mercies and provisions.
Church in Haiti... What a celebration is coming up!
It was a tangible proof that God had not abandoned His people but was working to restore the nation. He was at work.
Thing you hear about a leader...
Dynamic
Motivator
What a preacher!
Just once I would love to hear... That man loves His LORD!
Romans 15:5-6 May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
It is the God the Father and the LORD Jesus Christ that we are to be glorifying.
1 Corinthians 1:26-31 For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence. But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption— that, as it is written, “He who glories, let him glory in the Lord.”
David began out in the fields of Bethlehem... Then in the palace... Let your ministry flow out of your walk with the LORD.
So many try to train for the ministry. Men need to be anointed for the ministry. Ministry is not something you learn from without. It is something that flows from within the heart to the hearts of others. It is the work God is doing in your heart going out to those in need.
1. A True Man of God will be the same person shepherding a flock or leading a nation.
That is why Joseph, Moses, and David were such wonderful leaders. They were anointed and they began their careers as shepherds.
When a leader has a heart for God he will relate to God's people he is leading as a shepherd. In fact he will notice little difference between the two tasks.
When a leader has a heart for God he is following the Shepherd of Israel.
Psalm 80:1-3 Hear us, Shepherd of Israel, You who lead Joseph like a flock.You who sit enthroned between the cherubim, shine forth before Ephraim, Benjamin and Manasseh. Awaken Your might; come and save us. Restore us, O God; make Your face shine on us, that we may be saved.
God had the men He wanted to lead Israel and the Church shepherd a literal flock. There is little difference between the two. "Pastor" is the latin word for Shepherd. Those who lead he church are referred to as Shepherds. Jesus, the LORD, is my Shepherd. He is the Good Shepherd. He is the Great Shepherd of the Sheep.
When a leader has a heart for God, he will have a heart for people.
When a man is man after God's own heart he is going to lay down his life for the flock.
The shepherd is to reflect Christ. Following him as we he follows Christ.
2. A True Leader Will Have a Relationship With the LORD That is Special.
Too many cookie cut Christians today. There should be some similarities but there also should be great diversity. God so deires to shine through our uniqueness!
Our walk with the LORD is with other Christians. We need the fellowship! Hebrews 10.25 is not meant to beat up people but to build them up. The ones not in fellowship are struggling with things they do not need to struggle with. Helen's words to me this week: I do not know how I would have gotten through this without my church family.
We also need a walk with the LORD for each moment of each day. That is our personal walk with Him. I love the LORD. We have such great times together. Sometimes in the warmer weather I will grab my Bible and guitar and go out early in the backyard and the birds and I will make a joyful noise to Him together.
In Haiti I have so enjoyed listening to the roosters crowing and watching the sun rise with my Bible in my hand, reading the Psalms.
Those who lead Israel or the church had wonder filled walks with God.
David did.
Joseph did.
Paul did.
John did.
Hang around with Jesus and you will see things others will miss. Serve Him out of a pure heart and He will let you see things that amaze you and bless you deeply.
Let Him work through your unique personality. Do not try and be someone else.
3. A True Leader Will Leave A Legacy.
What are you sowing these days?
The Proverbs speak of this:
Proverbs 13:22 A good person leaves an inheritance for their children’s children, but a sinner’s wealth is stored up for the righteous.
Inheritance= Property, acquire testimonies, heritage
Bob Pawson left us a legacy. Those who remember Brother Hazard... he left us a legacy.
David's legacy was his music that originally was just between him and the LORD... well Gene Edwards said it best:
On those pastoral jaunts, this youngest son always carried two things: a sling and a small, guitar-like instrument. Spare time for a sheepherder is abundant on rich mountain plateaus where sheep graze for days in one sequestered meadow. But as time passed and days became weeks, the young man became very lonely. The feeling of friendlessness that always roamed around inside him was magnified. He often cried. He also played his harp a great deal. He had a good voice, so he often sang. When these activities failed to solace him, he gathered up a pile of stones and, one by one, swung them at a distant tree with something akin to fury.
When one rockpile was dissipated, he would walk to the blistered tree, reassemble his rocks and designate yet another leafy enemy at yet a farther distance.
He engaged in many such solitary battles.
This slingsman-singer-shepherd also loved his Lord. At night, when all the sheep lay sleeping, and he sat staring at the dying fire, he would strum upon his harp and break into a concert of one. He sang the ancient hymns of his forefathers’ faith. While he sang, he wept, and while weeping he often broke forth in abandoned praise until mountains in distant places picked up his praise and tears and passed them on to higher mountains still, from whence they eventually were cast up to the ears of God.
When he did not praise and when he did not cry, he tended to each and every lamb and sheep. When not occupied with his flock, he swung his companionable sling and swung it again and again until he could tell every rock precisely where to go.
Once, while singing his lungs out to God, angels, sheep and passing clouds, he spied a living enemy: a huge bear! He lunged forward. Both found themselves moving furiously toward the same small object, a lamb feeding at a table of rich, green grass. Youth and bear stopped half way and whirled to face one another. Even as he instinctively searched into his pocket for a stone, the young man realized, “Why, I am not afraid.”
Meanwhile, brown lightning on mighty, furry legs charged at him with foaming madness. Impelled by the strength of youth, he married rock to leather and soon a brook-smooth pebble whined through the air to meet that charge.
A few moments later, the man, not quite so young as a moment before, picked up the little ewe and said, “I am your shepherd and God mine.”
And so, long into the night, he wove the day’s saga into a song. He hurled that hymn to the skies again and again until he had taught the melody and words to every angel that had ears. They, in turn, became custodians of this wondrous song and passed it on as healing balm to brokenhearted men in every age to come.
Nearly 3,000 years had passed since David reigned in Jerusalem. His music and the use of musical instruments in worship was remembered. Godly men's influence last so much longer than their lives.
If our founders could see where we are as a church it would be amazing to them.
We are leaving a legacy by the lives we live.The legacy is our lives. Our lives are speaking so loudly we cannot believe it. Leave a godly good legacy by living a life of love for Jesus!
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