"A FAVORED SON..."

During one of the most awkward days of my life - recently, when writing a blog or encouraging someone else just seems quite idiotic and foolish, I choose to lift my voice in adoration and praise to "MY KING", whose been faithful too me - beyond words, and by faith in "the integrity of HIS precious promises", I call myself "A Favored Son" - this very hour; when many circumstances in my life seems to be in complete disarray, yet my heart is bent and bowing to the ONLY STRENGTH in and of my life, Jesus Christ...

My questions could be the source of great anxiety and haunting feelings, where the angst and woe potentially "darkens my perception", concerning "The King of Glory" in HIS Beauty - in whom I KNOW that "there is no variableness or shadow of turning"! But, instead, my application of "what I already know", takes precedent over "what I see", and I'm curiously excited by HOW the unfolding of "HIS good plans" will manifest and materialize for me, because NO OTHER HELP I KNOW!

GOD'S WAYS are perfect, and the truth is - The Lord doesn't need to change...WE DO!

It's PRIDE that most often cripples and contaminates our view and perspective, but even when we're permitted to experience very painful and uncomfortable times, "seeing HIM" becomes more about "what HE didn't allow"; NOT, what HE did allow!

If circumstances of any kind, were the determining factor or gauge for "God's love", HE doesn't love me - AT ALL! Lol! I'm saying that "in jest", but there was a season of my life (many years, that is) - where I always equated "my situation" with "HIS care and concern", or what appeared to be - the lack thereof!

The Bible references this kind of deep "soul vacillation" and searching in a beautiful story that demonstrates "God's proving ground for promotion", as David's - Cave of Adullam in 1 Samuel 22. During a time, when David's life was in disarray and seeming defeat, while "on the run" from King Saul, God SENT (400) "in distress, in debt, and in discontent", to seek guidance, preparation and mentorship" - from DAVID!

Here is CONTEXT for "David's process":

"Escaped to the cave of Adullam": This was David's place of refuge. He couldn't go to his house, he couldn't go to the palace, he couldn't go to Samuel, he couldn't go to Jonathan, he couldn't go to the house of the LORD, and he couldn't go to the ungodly. But he could go "to a humble cave, and find refuge!"

The name "Adullam" means refuge, but "the cave" wasn't to be David's refuge. The LORD wanted to be David's refuge in this time of discouragement. 

Most Archaeologists believe that the Cave of Adullam was not too far from the place where David defeated Goliath, in the hills of Judah. David couldn't help but think, "Boy, I've come a long way from the Valley of Elah! From a great victory to running around like a criminal, hiding in a cave."

The title of Psalm 142 reads "A Contemplation of David".  A prayer, when he was in the cave. So, Psalm 142 describes David's "discouraged heart": I cry out to the LORD with my voice; with my voice to the LORD I make my supplication. I pour out my complaint before Him; I declare before Him my trouble. When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then You knew my path. In the way in which I walk they have secretly set a snare for me. Look on my right hand and see, for there is no one who acknowledges me; refuge has failed me; no one cares for my soul. (Psalm 142:1-4)

ANYONE, whose been permitted to "walk in the darkness" that David was permitted to experience, KNOWS that the foreboding thoughts and overwhelming feelings of hopelessness and despair - are NO JOKE! No matter "how much you think you know about God", the "discouraged heart" teaches you to place NO TRUST in "how you feel", "what you think about your circumstances", and "why they've been permitted in the first place"!

The title of Psalm 57 reads "A Michtam of David", when he fled from Saul into the cave. Psalm 57 describes David as the LORD strengthened him in the cave, and prepared him for what was next.  Psalm 57 shows David with a 'humble heart": "Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me"! (Psalm 57:1)

Psalm 57 shows David with a "prayerful heart": "I will cry out to God Most High, to God who performs all things for me". (Psalm 57:2).  Psalm 57 shows David with a "realistic heart": "My soul is among lions … they have prepared a net for my steps". (Psalm 57:4, 6).  Psalm 57 shows a heart of "trusting praise to the LORD": "I will praise You, O LORD, among the peoples; I will sing to You among the nations … Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let Your glory be above all the earth". (Psalm 57:9, 5, 11)

The LORD brought David into this place - while He was still in Adullam cave. Many times we think we have to get out of the cave, UNTIL we can have the heart David had in Psalm 57, or experience "the breakthrough" that we've been waiting for. But we can have it NOW, no matter what our circumstances.  Others come to David at Adullam cave, and when his brothers and all his father's house heard it, they went down there to him. "And everyone who was in distress, everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was discontented gathered to him. So he became captain over them. And there were about four hundred men with him."

First, David's family came to him. "So when his brothers and all his father's house heard it, they went down there to him". This is a precious gift from God, because previously all David had was trouble and persecution from his father and his brothers. Now, they join him at Adullam cave.  In 1 Samuel 16:11, David's father thought so little of him that he was not even invited to the family dinner with the prophet Samuel. This kind of REJECTION, was purposefully permitted and allowed, because David's early exposure would "make him IMMUNE" to it with King Saul, who he deeply respected and admired!  

In 1 Samuel 17:28, David's brother unjustly accused and criticized David. So David's family had seemed to mostly be against them, but now they are for him. What a blessing to David!

"And everyone who was in distress, everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was discontented gathered to him": What a group! God called an unlikely and unique group to David in Adullam cave. These were not the men that David would have chosen for himself, but they were the ones called to him.

- These men were in distress. Their own lives weren't easy or "together". They had problems of their own, yet God called them to David at Adullam cave.

- These men were in debt. They hadn't seen a lot of success in the past, and were in pain about their past failures. They had problems of their own, yet God called them to David at Adullam cave.

- These men were discontented. The Hebrew for "discontented" is bitter of soul. They knew the bitterness of life, and they were not satisfied with their lives or with King Saul. They wanted something different, and something better, and God called them to David at Adullam cave.

- These all came to David when he was down and out, hunted and despised. Once David came to the throne, there were a lot of people who wanted to be around him. But the glory of these 400 is that they came to David in the cave.

"Herein David became "a type of Christ", the Captain of our salvation, who cried, 'Come unto me, all ye that are weary.'"  So he became captain over them: This was not a mob. This was a team that needed a leader, and David became captain over them. God doesn't work through mobs. He works through "called" men and women, but He also calls others to stand with and support those men and women.

These men came to David in distress, in debt, and discontented, but they didn't stay that way. "It is very possible that these several disaffected and exceptionable characters might at first have supposed that David, unjustly persecuted, would be glad to avail himself of their assistance that he might revenge himself upon Saul, and so they in the mean time might profit by plunder, [and so forth]. But if this were their design they were greatly disappointed, for David never made any improper use of them."

David made them into the kind of men described in 1 Chronicles 12:8: Mighty men of valor, men trained for battle, who could handle the shield and spear, whose faces were like the faces of lions, and were as swift as gazelles on the mountains.

"And there were about four hundred men with him": When David was down and discouraged in Adullam Cave, God brought people around him to strengthen him in the work. David was the one anointed by God to be the next king over Israel, and Israel's greatest earthly king; but just as much as God called David, God called these four hundred to come beside David.

Each principle is important. The principle that God leads through "a called" and "anointed man", is important. When an ark had to be built, God didn't call 400 men. When Israel needed deliverance from Egypt, God didn't call a committee. Over and over again in the Scriptures, God's work is led by a "called" and "anointed" man.

At the same time, the principle that God rarely calls that man to work alone, is also very important. David needed these 400 men, even if he never thought he did before. They are "just as called and anointed" as David is, but they are called and anointed to follow and support David, and he is called and anointed to lead them.

Four hundred men, and desperate men at that. This was a solid beginning "to a rebel army", if David wanted it to be that. An "unprincipled leader" might make these 400 men into a gang of rebels or cutthroats, but David would never allow this to become a rebel army, against King Saul.

David had his followers, and so does the Son of David, Jesus Christ.  Do you see the truth of which this Old Testament story is so graphic a picture? Just as in David's day, there is a King in exile who is gathering around Him a company of people who are in distress, in debt, and discontented. He is training and preparing them for the day when He shall come to reign.  These are the kind of men who came to David: distressed, bankrupt, dissatisfied. These are the kind of people who come to Christ, and they are the only people who come to Him, for they have recognized their distress, their debt, and bankruptcy, and are conscious that they are utterly discontented. The sheer pressures of these frustrations drives them to the refuge of the blood of Christ that was shed for them.

We ALL have remembrances of "our process", including our family rearing, life disappointments, and demands upon our willingness to "follow God" - when every contrary circumstance is telling us, "you're a FOOL, for believing"!

And, for the most part, where there's both a "religious connotation" for the way that we communicate and relate to God - or a debilitating fear towards God that has more to do with our dealings or experiences with our "earthly fathers" - than with our "Heavenly Father"; we end up in horrific torment and vacillating indecision, because "favor" generally translates as "good times" and "successful living", but what should we do "when it rains", for a long time?

Here's what the scripture has to say about this...

"But whatever former things I had that might have been gains to me, I have come to consider as [one combined] loss for Christ's sake. Yes, furthermore, I count everything as loss compared to the possession of the priceless privilege (the overwhelming preciousness, the surpassing worth, and supreme advantage) of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord and of progressively becoming more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him [of perceiving and recognizing and understanding Him more fully and clearly]. For His sake I have lost everything and consider it all to be mere rubbish (refuse, dregs), in order that I may win (gain) Christ (the Anointed One), And that I may [actually] be found and known as in Him, not having any [self-achieved] righteousness that can be called my own, based on my obedience to the Law's demands (ritualistic uprightness and supposed right standing with God thus acquired), but possessing that [genuine righteousness] which comes through faith in Christ (the Anointed One), the [truly] right standing with God, which comes from God by [saving] faith. [For my determined purpose is] that I may know Him [that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly], and that I may in that same way come to know the power outflowing from His resurrection [which it exerts over believers], and that I may so share His sufferings as to be continually transformed [in spirit into His likeness even] to His death, [in the hope] That if possible I may attain to the [spiritual and moral] resurrection [that lifts me] out from among the dead [even while in the body]." (Philippians 3:7-11 AMP)

When I read this passage from above, I recognize the "high honor" and the "great privilege" - of being called a CHILD OF GOD, and although the enemy lurks around seeking any opportunity to discourage and accuse YOU and ME - I revel in the goodness of The Lord, to gloriously make us all apart of HIS Family!

SEE WHAT [an incredible] quality of love the Father has given (shown, bestowed on) us, that we should [be permitted to] be named and called and counted the children of God! And so we are! The reason that the world does not know (recognize, acknowledge) us is that it does not know (recognize, acknowledge) Him. Beloved, we are [even here and] now God's children; it is not yet disclosed (made clear) what we shall be [hereafter], but we know that when He comes and is manifested, we shall [as God's children] resemble and be like Him, for we shall see Him just as He [really] is. And everyone who has this hope [resting] on Him cleanses (purifies) himself just as He is pure (chaste, undefiled, guiltless). (1 John 3:1-3 AMP)

I am amazed by the depth of the knowledge of God - that we all have the ability to experience, as we allow the reality "of darkness and light, which are alike to HIM", to become our frame of reference for "counting all things as loss for the surpassing knowledge of Christ"! 

In other words, "NEVER let the devil see you sweat!" (Philippians 1:27-28, AMP), and no matter "how dark", "how forsaken", or "how forgotten" you or I may "feel", "REJOICE in The Lord, ALWAYS"; so that the blows of the hordes of hell are greatly diminished and powerless to get YOU "to change your confession" or to alter your position "in faith" - in Christ!

I am a FAVORED SON, because "God said that I am", NOT because "I feel like I am!"

YOU are a FAVORED son or daughter, because "God has PROVEN that you are", NOT because "you feel like you've earned or performed up to par"!

If David's process is "any indication" of what ours may be like, REST ASSURED in the reality of God's "unfailing love" and goodness, no matter what you've been through - God's going to GET GLORY, from your story!

Just wait and see...WS-3

Walter L. Smith III, Apostolic Founder/Lead Facilitator
Pure In Heart Int'l Ministries, Inc. -
The Center For Kingdom Advancement
6767 Sunset Blvd., Ste. 8-407
Hollywood, CA 90028
(213)293-6249 - Ministry Office
www.PIHIM.org 

http://AskPastorWalter-WS3.blogspot.com

http://ourweekly.com/news/2013/jun/06/church-surviving-recession/#.UdGLwsu9KSM

"An Apostolic and Prophetic Ministry Bridging Faith & Culture"

NOTE: HERE's HOW TO GIVE your TAX DEDUCTIBLE GIFT to: 

{Pure In Heart Int'l Ministries, Inc.}

MOBILE GIVING:

http://m.pihim.org/site/donate.html?imz_st

WEBSITE GIVING:

http://pihim.org/donate.html

If you have any problems donating, PLEASE CALL (213)293-6249.

Blessings!

This electronic message transmission contains information from Pure In Heart Int'l Ministries, Inc. (PIHIM) that we consider to be confidential or privileged. The information is intended solely for the recipient and use by any other party is not authorized. If you are not the intended recipient, be aware that any disclosure, copying, distribution or use of the contents of this information is prohibited. If you have received this electronic transmission in error, please notify us immediately by telephone at (213)293-6249 or by electronic mail (PureInHeart@att.net) Thank you.