FILL UP AND SET OUT

1 Samuel 16:1-13
"Fill your horn with oil and set out... I will send you... for I have provided..."

FATHER ALMIGHTY, Why do we grieve so much over the past? Why is it so difficult for us to shift gears with you and move on to your new thing? The mighty prophet Samuel was even afraid of what others might do or say if he left at your instruction and searched for your next king. "How can I go? If Saul hears of it, he will kill me." How often is this phrase repeated in your church today?

Saul, who was once considered a mighty warrior was now fearful, suspicious and worried about maintaining his own rule and power. Rather than focusing on you LORD, Saul was focused on maintenance of his own status quo. How often is this repeated in your church today? Samuel knew things were a mess - he knew Saul was not the LORD's king over Israel - and yet allowed himself to be intimidated by Saul and his minions. And yet YHWH says, "How long will you grieve... fill your horn with oil and set out... I will send you... for I have provided..."

Lord, help us in your church to be Samuels - willing to listen obediently to your directions and to go where you send us seeking your provision. I pray Lord for all of our leaders, myself included, that we would not dwell in our grief and disappointment over the past, but step heartily and bravely into the new thing you are doing. This is an old, old story, repeated time and again... But your Kingdom is not stagnant, not reliant on one or a few persons, not a formula of rituals and comforting practices, but rather a journey of change and unexpected grace and adventure. Your are not impressed by our budgets, buildings or barbeques, for you don't look at the "outward appearances", but you O Lord "look on the heart".

Help us in your church today to be men and women of courage - to embrace the fullness and wholeness of your gospel mission - going where you send to those you send us to - seeking out your provision - anointing new leaders who are men and women after your own heart - Davids and Samuels. May we be a church on the move - seeking - anointing and moving on in your victory!
"Rise and anoint him; for this is the one. Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers; and the spirit of the LORD came mightily upon David from that day forward. Samuel then set out and went..."

May we recognize our sent nature, Lord Jesus, and move forward, for your glory and in your grace with your Spirit mightily upon us. Amen.

The Ultimate Love Story

St. Valentine's Day was originally an early Christian remembrance of a couple of church leaders, both named Valentine, who were martyred for their faith, that is killed by an oppressive regime because they refused to dis the Jesus who they followed. The consumer takeover of the holy day is not unusual today, but is very misleading. Sometime during the Romantic period in Europe, Chaucer and others helped make the shift towards a celebration of Romantic Love rather than a remembrance of Sacrificial Love. The result is the benefit of the market place today, especially for those who sell greeting cards, flowers, food in restaurants and movie experiences.

All of that aside, if we return to the heart of the holy day, we are reminded that Love is Sacrificial, not just Romantic. The warm fuzzies come and go, but sacrifical love is here to stay, come hell or high water. According to Jesus, this sacrificial love doesn't come easy, but is our true source of joy in this life. "I have told you this so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow! I command you to love each other in the same way that I love you. And here is how to measure it-- the greatest love is shown when people lay down their lives for their friends." (John 15:11-13)

Jesus clearly shows us how to really love, and that love unavoidably involves sacrifice: It is God who saved us and chose us to live a holy life. He did this not because we deserved it, but because that was his plan long before the world began-- to show his love and kindness to us through Christ Jesus. (2 Timothy 1:9)

True romance doesn't happen at 8 pm on Valentine's Day, as a guilty husband or boyfriend runs into Walmart to purchase some discount flowers to bring home to an expectant spouse or girlfriend. True Romance is love that is sacrificial and well-thought out. It is the thought put into these acts of love that makes it special. A dozen roses is here today and gone tomorrow, but true sacrificial love stays the course.

Our God was not at the Roman equivalent of Walmart at the last minute purchasing cheap flowers for humanity to prove His love. No, our God’s love was well thought out, extravagant, sacrificial, and planned before the World began… Jesus is not an afterthought, Jesus is sacrificial love in the flesh. His story, God's story is the ultimate love story...

For God so loved the world... that He created it, and never left.

For God so loved the world.... that He gave His only Son that whoever believes in Him will not perish, but have everlasting life. Jesus came not to condemn, but to save. (John 3:16-17) Jesus comes to us as sacrificial love, personified, in the flesh and spirit, and hopes to transform us into His likeness. "So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples." (John 13:34-35)

The ultimate love story is "the" story, "our" story. We must simply begin to live into it, not in our own strength, but indwelled by the One who is sacrificial love. Our response is submission, acceptance and joy! THE ULTIMATE LOVE STORY is still playing out…

How does the Story END?

We don’t know the exact Time and Place… Only God Does.

But… We do know How it Ends (READ Revelation 21)

See, the End is only the Beginning!