Psalm 20 - 3.16.23
Scripture
Psalms 20:7-8 NLT
“Some nations boast of their chariots and horses, but we boast in the name of the Lord our God. Those nations will fall down and collapse, but we will rise up and stand firm.”
Observation
This is a psalm of David. It is a psalm of encouragement to those who are in times of trouble. It is an encouragement to call out to God for help during those times. It is also a prayer that God will answer those who cry out to Him for help. It is a prayer that God will keep them safe, give them strength, give them favor, look favorably upon them, and help them succeed. It is a psalm that looks at those troublesome times through a lens of faith, knowing God will be victorious.
“May we shout for joy when we hear of your victory and raise a victory banner in the name of our God.”-Psalms 20:5a
David writes this psalm with confidence, knowing God’s faithfulness from personal experience.
“Now I know that the Lord rescues his anointed king.”-Psalms 20:6a
So just know that however BIG your problems may seem, our God is BIGGER!
“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” -Isaiah 41:10
Application
Boasting in my God the way David did.
Can I boast in God the way David did? Yes I can! Do I, like David, have that personal experience of God’s faithfulness to me? Yes I do! Do I have that confidence, seeing the world through that lens of faith that David did, knowing that God will deliver me and get the victory? I hate to admit, but sometimes I fail at this one.
Prayer
Father God, I know from experience of Your faithfulness. You have delivered me time and time again from various difficult situations. You always provide everything I ever need to make it through. Please forgive me for my times of doubt and fear. Your Word tells me that You are always with me and will never leave me. Help me to walk in faith knowing that. Give me that faith like David, a faith knowing I can face any “giant” that stands in my way, because You are with me. In Jesus name I pray, Amen. 🙏🏽
-Moses Gaddi
1 Corinthians 12 - 3.15.23
Scripture
1 Corinthians 12:21-26
21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” 22 On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, 24 while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, 25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.
Observation
Paul talks about spiritual gifts, the diversity in the parts of the Body and how UNITY in the Body of Christ is achieved.
Application
Who can I honor from our church body today?
In order to maintain unity in the Body, we must honor others above ourselves, instead of seeking our own recognition.
Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. (Romans 12:10)
Prayer
Dear Lord, please forgive me for the times that I have not been a healthy, functioning member of our church family, due to seeking my own recognition and special treatment. I pray over myself and our church Body, that we would each be healthy, functioning members. You’ve distributed gifts to each of us to serve You for Your glory. Please help us to not to be jealous of any other person’s gift or try to compete for recognition, but rather serve and honor our brothers and sisters above ourselves because of love. May we work together for Your glory alone. Amen.
-Michelle Gaddi
3.13.23 - 1 Corninthians 11
Scripture
I Corinthians 11:17-18
In the following directives I have no praise for you, for your meetings do more harm than good. In the first place, I hear that when you come together as a church, there are divisions among you, and to some extent I believe it.
Observation
In this chapter, Paul is correcting the Corinthians for treating their members differently based on social class, causing division in the church. “Paul takes for granted that the church is a heterogeneous entity. His solution is not one church for the rich, another for the poor; one for Jews, another for Gentiles.” Asbury Bible Commentary
Application
The New Testament is filled with calls for unity within the church.
Colossians 3:13-14 - Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
Philippians 2:2 - then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind.
I Cor. 1:10 - I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought.
It is important that we don’t let preferential treatment, hurt feelings, or differences of opinion separate or distract us. Because when we walk in unity - in our calling, there is no limit to how God will use us!
Matthew 18:19-20 - “Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”
Prayer
Lord, I pray that the people of DSC will remember their calling – to be streams of refreshing to Santa Clarita – to share the Good News with those who don’t know You – to show Your love to the world around us. Unite us in our purpose and use us for Your glory.
- Debbie Dunn