The "Dove-Like" Nature

                                                               

Scripture:  John 1:32 (King James Version)
"And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him."

The dove is the most beautiful and significant symbol of the Holy Spirit.  Nations and countries have their emblems that express a national ideal.  North America has the Eagle.  England has as their emblem, the Lion.  It seems that physical strength and materials force the worlds ideal of a government.

Jesus Christ set us His Kingdom and adopted His emblem, the dove.  The dove; the ideal of love.  The dove is a type of the Holy Spirit.  It is symbolic of the Spirit-filled life.
                                                            

When you are filled with the Holy Spirit you will possess (not profess) the dove-like nature.  Many people profess to be Spirit-filled but "possess" the nature of something else.   For example: Some folks have a Fox nature - they put on a big front, they are sly and they are deceitful.  You've heard the saying, "it's the little foxes that spoil the vine."  Some people have a Elephant nature - they have long noses.  They are into everyone else's business.  Some people have the Dog nature - they growl (complain) all day long.  It's no wonder they are "dog-tired" come evening!  Some folks have a Giraffe nature - they have a haughty and proud spirit.  They arrogantly put their heads high in the air with an attitude of being "holier than thou."  The Hawk nature - they love to fight and argue; cause hate and discontent.  They rob and steal (not giving to the the work of the Kingdom or spreading the good news of the Gospel).  There are even folks who have the Spider nature.  They spend a lot of time making a web and then trying to get others trapped.  Lastly, we have the Opossum nature.  When these  unique creatures are in danger of being shaken out of their hiding place, they will actually "act" dead in order to keep from dying.

How sad it is that sometimes the sweet little "doves" in the believer's circle, when their fur is rubbed the wrong way, seem to display a wildcat nature.  The popular evangelist, Billy Sunday once said, "Some folks say I rub their fur the wrong way.  But, the trouble is that some of you cats are going the wrong way and you need to turn around."
This world we are living in expects the believer, the Spirit-filled person to be different.  
                          They are watching us; how we live, how we act.  
                                                 They are looking for the "dove-like" manifestations.

Is your nature like the dove….
                                           the Fruits of the Spirit….
                                                          Love
                                       Joy
                                       Peace
                                       Longsuffering

                                       Gentleness
                                       Goodness
                                       Faith
                                       Meekness 
                                       Temperance

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A Shelter From The Storms

Scripture: Psalm 57 (King James Version)
"Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me; for my soul trusteth in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overcast.  I will cry unto God most high, unto God that performeth all things for me.  He shall send from heaven, and save me from the reproach of him that would swallow me up.  Selah.  God shall send forth his mercy and his truth.  My soul is among lions: and I lie even among them that are set on fire, even the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword.  Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens; let thy glory be above all the earth.  They have prepared a net for my steps; my soul is bowed down: they have digger a pit before me, into the midst whereof they are fallen themselves.  Selah.  My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing and give praise.  Awake up, my glory; awake, psaltery and harp:  I myself will awake early.  I will praise thee, O Lord, among the people:  I will sing unto thee among the nations.  For thy mercy is great unto the heavens, and thy truth unto the clouds.  Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens: let thy glory be above all the earth….."  (for my text - verses 1 and 2)

This sermons is preached with the thought…..A Shelter From The Storms.  I am reminded of the Lord's disciples being in the midst of the sea…..tossed with the waves and contrary winds.  The elements were greatly disturbed.  A storm was raging.  Calamities were all about the sea.  (St. John 6)

There are many kinds of storms that rage on this sea of life.  Economic Storms…Political Storms…Social Storms…Spiritual Storms…
The storms of Temptation…Sorrow…Sickness…Troubles…Trials…Physical Storms…
(the list is long)
The winds of perilous times are here!  The waves and currents of perplexing times are ever threatening!  BUT, as Jesus came on the scene in the fourth watch of the night and performed a miracle for the disciples and Peter, He is still manifesting Himself in this hour to those who trust in Him.

Psalm 57 is one of the psalms of David.  David was a warrior from his youth up.  He was a man of war.  He knew what storms and calamities were.  He lived through one storm after the other.  He went from trial to trial.  But most important, David knew how to trust his God!  He knew where to look in the times of storm and trial.

In verse 1- our text, "Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in thee; yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overcast."- a careful study reveals that…
#1 - David was trusting God and God alone.  On one occasion David cried out, "In thee ONLY do I trust."  God is never pleased nor is it His will for His children to trust in secondary causes.
#2 - God alone deserves our complete trust.
#3 - God has mastery over the elements; mastery over me; mastery over means.  God is the MASTER of every situation!
#4 - God is sovereign.  He is in complete control.  We can trust in Him alone without fear.  David wasn't trusting the hills when he said, "I will look unto the hills from which cometh my help"…..for he immediately said, "For my help cometh from the Lord."

Verse 7 - "My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing and give praise." 
David had a heart fixed on God.  David's complete trust in the Lord was the ground for his plea when he said, "Be merciful unto me, O God."  Why did he have such a plea?  Because - he was trusting completely in the Lord.  David was abandoning all else and trusting ALL his care upon the Lord and His mercy.  David's heart was fixed.  Right now God is asking us to 
                   "Cast ALL of your cares upon Him for He cares for us". (1 Peter 5:7)  
How many people do you know who would say, cast all your cares on me?  (probably none) 
David felt his great need of God's help.  He tells us over and over again in the psalms of the many storms that come his way.  He warns us of the calamities that will come our way from time to time.  BUT, the comforting thing is…that over and over David lets us know that after awhile these storms will be over for the child of God.
                                                                           

In Psalms 23 David says, "Yea THOUGH I walk THROUGH the valley…."
David realized the valleys would come- but, he also knew that God would bring him through.
He said, "Thou art with me."  Goodness and Mercy were on his heels.  Someone once said, "It's good to know that those two fellows are following you around". (ha!)  Again, David said, "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want".  Surely with such a shepherd, "goodness and mercy shall follow me….and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever".  Notice again the words of the text…."UNTIL these calamities be overpast".  David was saying here - child of God - the storms of life will come.  They are common to everyone.  BUT, Praise God one day they will pass over.  Amen?  
Then, David goes on to say (this is the message of this psalm) - the storms will come and they will pass over - BUT - I want to tell you what to do in the meantime.  I want to tell you how to react in the midst of the storms.  Don't mope around looking lost; don't throw your hands up and say why has this or that happened to me.  David says in the midst of the storms of life I have found a person and place of trust.  "My soul trusteth in thee, yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge".

David pictures the Lord as one who comes between us and the trials and storms of life; between us and the fires of trials and trouble.  It reminds me of the time a farmer's barn had burned to the ground.  As he examined the ruins he came across the charred body of a Mother hen.  He moved her remains aside with his foot - and to his surprise, out scampered some baby chicks.  They had found refuge underneath the Mother hens wings.  She came between them and the flames of trouble.  
The promise of our test is…There is a person…There is a place…that we can trust in and know that we will be kept through the storm.  
To trust means "to have confidence in".
                                       It means to "entrust" or "commit ourselves" to God's trust. 
                                                                                           It means "to abide in" and "rely upon". 
                  In the midst of the storms of life we can have FULL confidence in God.  
                                                        Commit everything to Him. 
                                                                                                  Abide in Him and rely upon Him.  
                   Know that He will see us through. 
                                                             Praise and Trust in God!

What's In A Name?

                                                                         

Scripture:  Acts 3:1-10  (King James Version)
"Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer; being the ninth hour.  And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple; who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked an alms.  And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said; Look on us.  And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them. Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee:  In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth his feet and ankle bones received strength.  And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.  And they knew that it was he which sat for alms at the Beautiful gate of the temple: and they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened unto him."
Scripture: Acts 4:5-12 (King James Version)
"And it came to pass on the morrow, that their rulers, and elders, and scribes, and Annas the high priest, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the kindred of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem.  And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, by what power, or by what name, have ye done this?  Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people and elders of Israel, if we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means is he made whole; be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.  This is the stone which was set at naught of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.  Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved."

"Names are important.  People ask, "What is your name?"  You tell them.  So - from then on, whatever they see in you, that is what your name means to them.  The name represents you.  What does your name mean to others?  The name of Jesus was not some magic formula that Peter used to produce miracles.  When you sign your name on a check, that signature means you have the resources and authority that backs it up.  Peter was saying this is the name and this is the power on whom I am depending…the power and authority and the resources that this name represents.  What's in a name?           ………………...Everything - when that name is Jesus!
                                                                     

When you think of the great preachers of old, Spurgeon, Moody, Finney….great authors, Shakespeare, Longfellow, Tennyson….the great military leaders, Caesar, Napoleon, Washing….sports heroes, Babe Ruth, Dempsey, Rockne…(we could go on and on.)  But - when it comes to salvation - Jesus is the only name!  You could call upon any other name in the world, but there would be no response.  There would be no help for your soul.

BUT, when you sincerely call upon the name of Jesus….something happens!
As the popular song goes, "Jesus, Jesus, Jesus……there's something about that name.
Master, Savior, Jesus……...like the fragrance after the rain.
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus……..…..let all heaven and earth proclaim.
Kings and kingdoms may all pass away, but there's something about that name."
                                             Oh, the precious name of Jesus.

Another song says this,  "In the name of Jesus we have the victory…
                                         In the name of Jesus demons will have to flee…
                                         In the name of Jesus we have the victory…."

                                                  There is power in the name of Jesus.
Power to save;
                        Power to keep;
                                                Power to heal;
                                                                       Power to live a victorious Christian life;
                                                Power to meet ever need you may have.
                                Speak that wonderful name of Jesus!

Something happened in the beggar's life that day; something in that name; the name of Jesus.  Day after day he sat, lame from his mothers womb.  But, one day, he received something money cannot buy, something that caused him to shout and praise God.  A miraculous change came over him, in the name of Jesus, the power and authority, resources of almighty God was behind that name.  The beggar's feet and ankle bones received strength.  He went walking, leaping and praising God…into the house of God, the temple.

We as individual spirit filled believers need to boldly declare and release the power of God, making available to men and women what only God Himself can do in the mighty name of Jesus Christ.  I declare unto you upon the authority of God's word…there is help for you…in the name of Jesus.  Giants fall, mountains crumble, and the seas divide at the name of Jesus.
                         What are your giants?       What are your mountains? 
                    Whatever the need, whatever problems you may be experiencing;
                                                                     they can be conquered in the name of Jesus!                                      
                                                 Won't you call upon His name?"