God has really been blessing my heart and soul through re-discovering 1 Samuel... It is so, so easy to get in a rut of reading His Word in a season of "performance" - attempting to "do" for Him...instead of...talking to Him from my whole heart and waiting to hear from Him. I thank God for a broken bone in my arm to have slowed me down. God is SO wise :). He uses our circumstances for our best...
God is a faithful... loving... and gracious Father.
He is also TRUTH and power. Wherever God is = Truth is.
When a thought or word is twisted and distorted...disorder, shame and pain most often follows. In 1 Samuel 5, the Philistines took the Ark from Israel via a victory at war. They placed this sacred Ark in a defiled place - a place that was dedicated to a pagan god named Dagon. Please read the following verses: :)
1 Samuel 5:1-5
1 Now the Philistines took the ark of God and brought it from Ebenezer to Ashdod. 2 Then the Philistines took the ark of God and brought it to the house of Dagon and set it by Dagon. 3 When the Ashdodites arose early the next morning, behold, Dagon had fallen on his face to the ground before the ark of the LORD. So they took Dagon and set him in his place again. 4 But when they arose early the next morning, behold, Dagon had fallen on his face to the ground before the ark of the LORD. And the head of Dagon and both the palms of his hands {were} cut off on the threshold; only the trunk of Dagon was left to him. 5 Therefore neither the priests of Dagon nor all who enter Dagon's house tread on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod to this day.
God is God... The one and only living and true God (1Th 1:9). Dagon couldn't stand in the presence of God!
Pun totally intended here: the Philistines may have said, "Dagon! What is happening?" :) They recognized that the God of Israel was not allowing Himself to be contained or mastered. God promises to be our God...and the author of our faith! He made His dwelling to be in us...His temple is now in us- those who believe that He is the one, True God Who came to Earth in human form to free us from the bondage of sin. (Romans 7 & 8).
The sermon was about freedom yesterday at Common Ground... This chapter of 1 Samuel shares how God's presence/Jesus in us is the truth...the access to truth...the supply of truth that sets us free!
John 8:32 - "...and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free."
Philippians 3:10 "...that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection..."
We are His children...(Colossians 3:12).. God loves us deeply and with a faithful pursuit of hearts...each day. He hears our prayers and doesn't forget them. 2 Corinthians 3:18 says that we are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory...His image.
For that reason, God WILL...LOVINGLY..." unearth areas within us that have been wounded by lies. God/Jesus WILL uncover some dagons...some false gods = areas of untruth = belief patterns = misplaced identity and worship...places winthin where we have gone to find life... God WILL find those and WILL cause them to fall. God can cut off the "head"/perceived authority of that area/pattern as well as remove the hands/power it has.
This is often a process that feels like an internal battle or war... because it is in fact a battle. Where God is - Truth is. Truth sets us free and brings us new insights into the heart of our God. Be encouraged when you feel as though you see ancient ruins in you surface! Be encouraged when the dirt that is being dug-up surfaces for a bit... FOR
Isaiah 61:4-9 "...they will rebuild the ancient ruins, They will raise up the former devastations; And they will repair the ruined cities, The desolations of many generations." God is rebuilding you and me...day by day... From glory to glory.
1John 5:4 "...For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world--our faith."
Let us seek Him out today in all that we do and see...His presence is truth and that truth is sweeter than any food or human accolade that we could receive. God has allowed me to see more and more how I need Him and depend on Him to love well and to receive love well... As well as to receive grace and to give grace to others (and myself). By giving God reignn in those soul-places...truth illuminates dark places and forms new land. He rebuilds...and I SOOO welcome that today....
Hebrews 11:6 "And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him."
Much Love in Him,
Mer
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