1 Samuel 30:6 "Strengthen Yourself in the Lord."on this week's Word of Grace Devotion with Pastor Joe Marquez.

5/27/2018

The Word of Grace Devotion for the Week of May 21, 2018
Strengthen Yourself In The Lord
1 Samuel 30:6, “And David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because all the people were bitter in soul, each for his sons and daughters. But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God.”
Beloved, 1 Samuel 30:6 is one of my favorite Scriptures of all time. Picture the scene, King David has just been told that he cannot go and fight with the Philistines against the Israelites. This was the tremendous grace of God displayed in King David’s life. David had followed his heart and made a grievous error by coming to King Achish and pretending to be on the Philistine’s side. Truly a bonehead move on King David’s side. But God, rich in mercy, would not allow David to fight against the very people he would one-day lead- so David was told he could not go. Grace upon grace.
As King David returned with his men to base camp – they found it empty. The Amalekites had come and taken everything- women, children and tons and tons of King David’s stuff. David and his men were utterly discouraged and the men blamed King David. It was his fault and they threatened to kill King David, “And David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because all the people were bitter in soul, each for his sons and daughters.”
Beloved, you may find yourself in a similar situation today. You are surrounded by bleak circumstances. The enemy had come in and taken everything away, your finances, your health and even your children. Everyone is turning against you and you are “greatly distressed!” Beloved, you have a decision to make. You can either continue in self-pity or you can run to the Lord.
King David ran to the Lord, “But David strengthened (encouraged) himself in the Lord his God.” Beloved, choose to strengthen yourself in the Lord. How did King David do this? He remembered! He remembered being delivered from the lion and the bear and even from Goliath! He knew that He had been anointed to be King and though that seemed only to be a fantasy in the mind of many- King David was able to encourage himself because of what God had performed in his life and because of what God had promised to do. Beloved, hang your hat on God’s performance and promises and encourage yourself in the Lord!
I pray that you will have a blessed week! I love you and I will be praying for you!

In His Precious Grace-
Pastor Joe

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Senior Pastor
Joe Marquez

Beloved, we are soon to once again celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the human Son of man and the divine Son of God. He is one hundred percent human and one hundred percent God.

While there were many people instrumental in the birth of Christ, this morning we will look at His birth through the eyes of Joseph, His legal father. There is not too much known about the man who would care for Christ as He grew up. We know that Joseph was possibly a carpenter but most importantly we know that he was a righteous man who did the right thing.

When others would have ran away from a responsibility that was not even their own, Joseph stood steadfast and remained faithful to the end. We can learn much from his character and apply his attributes of faithfulness, purity, and perseverance to our own lives.

May you have a Blessed Christmas week and may Christ always be at the center of your lives!

P.S. Come back this evening as we look at the birth of Christ through the Gospel of Luke!