Sold Out in
Can you really be a hard-line, sold-out disciple and live in the
Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners-of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life. This new church has no intention of condemning others but to inspire them to live the life Jesus called us to. They know their sins and weaknesses but want to live the standard of “giving up everything”. They have a dream to evangelize the lost of
Delivered From the Lion’s Mouth
At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them. But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion’s mouth. The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Several years ago we took the family to
That night, everyone slept kind of “lightly”. Then in the middle of the night one of the kids started screaming from their tent! I jumped up and realized it was not my kids, but my nieces & nephews. We could do nothing. If we left the tent and there was a lion, we would be killed- so there was lots of yelling until we figured out it was just a bad dream, likely from the malaria pills we had to take. It was hairy- but let me tell you we were even more grateful for the Masai, their experience, their bravery and their swords- because they could deliver us from the lion’s mouth.
1. My Lord is a warrior More than any warrior- God has taken an interest in me and you and he is willing to go out of his way, risk his life and lay down his life so we can be saved. As secure as I felt with the Masai there- I can feel confident and secure in God’s willingness to protect me from the attacks of Satan who- “prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour? 1 Peter 5:8. Have you been under attack lately? With old sins haunting you, your old life calling you, feelings of emptiness and despair, hopelessness- believe me, those are not from God. Remember the Lord who will rescue you- turn to him! Paul’s friends had left, even evangelists deserted him. He forgave them and found confidence in the Lord. God has a purpose for each of us and will protect us in order to have his word preached so more can be saved. Are you finding confidence in God in tough times? Are you proclaiming the message so that others can find the relationship with God you have been given?
2. Incredible strength – Judges 14:5-6
Samson went down to Timnah together with his father and mother. As they approached the vineyards of Timnah, suddenly a young lion came roaring toward him. The Spirit of the LORD came upon him in power so that he tore the lion apart with his bare hands as he might have torn a young goat. But he told neither his father nor his mother what he had done.
Wow! This is incredible- God gave Samson physical strength that was miraculous. I mean, if a lion came roaring at me let’s just say “weak willed woman” would have a whole new meaning! But Samson just rips the lion apart. Wait- the Holy Spirit here says he tore the lion apart as he would have torn a young goat- give me a break. Have you ever torn a young goat apart? I used to work at KFry and we had to prepare the chicken- you don’t just tear bones & flesh apart. Just to separate a bone from a socket is unreal. The campus went a few weeks ago to see wrestling. I have never seen bodies twisted and pulled like that in all my life. I fully expected several times to hear, snap! As one of these guys just broke in half. It didn’t happen.
What is the point here? This is impossible, but the Spirit of God came upon him and he was able to have incredible strength. Many times the last few years I have been so whooped physically yet still needed to give and serve others- I had to pray for physical strength. As disciples, we are called to sacrifice our lives so others can be saved, just as Jesus did. You cannot do that without incredible strength given from God himself.
3. Rescued – 1 Samuel 17:33-37
Saul replied, “You are not able to go out against this Philistine and fight him; you are only a boy, and he has been a fighting man from his youth.” But David said to Saul, “Your servant has been keeping his father’s sheep. When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it. Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God. The LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.”
David’s defense of his ability to fight came from his deliverance from a lion & bear. He killed them, but gave credit to God for the rescue. He convinced Saul by his deeds of faith. As soon as he beat Goliath the Israelites are so encouraged: see verses 51-52 When the Philistines saw that their hero was dead, they turned and ran. Then the men of Israel and Judah surged forward with a shout and pursued the Philistines to the entrance of Gath and to the gates of Ekron.
They surged forward to rescue the rest of the Israelites from the Philistines. When brothers and sisters among us live by faith and have great victories, it builds our faith in God and encourages us to do great things. We have to share good news with each other as to what God is doing in our lives. The whole army SURGED forward. That is what happens in the church. I love hearing the stories of what is already happening in L.A. In just 4 weeks- 8 people restored, 9 placing membership and already 2 people baptized! That inspires me to keep up the faith to rescue those who are lost and searching for God.
4. All about the Lord - 2 Samuel 23:9-10
Next to him was Eleazar son of Dodai the Ahohite. As one of the three mighty men, he was with David when they taunted the Philistines gathered [at Pas Dammim] for battle. Then the men of Israel retreated, but he stood his ground and struck down the Philistines till his hand grew tired and froze to the sword. The LORD brought about a great victory that day. The troops returned to Eleazar, but only to strip the dead.
Look how Eleazar does this- Israel retreated, but he stood his ground! Does that describe you? This is so intense- all his fellow soldiers retreat and he stands. Why? Because it’s all about the Lord! Eleazar was there fighting for his family, his land and His Lord. He refused to back down- no matter the odds. When God is with you and you are there for the honor of God- no battle is too much, you won’t retreat, you will fight. Look closely at what it says- “his hand grew tired and froze to the sword. The Lord brought about a great victory?- if we are going to win this city- we have to swing the sword until our hands freeze to the sword- but the Lord brings the victory. This is all about the Lord. Do you give up easily? Remember Eleazar. Do you long for personal glory? Remember Eleazar. Genesis 18:14 Is anything too hard for the LORD?
5. Consider their exploits - 2 Samuel 23:20-22
Benaiah son of Jehoiada was a valiant fighter from Kabzeel, who performed great exploits. He struck down two of Moab’s best men. He also went down into a pit on a snowy day and killed a lion. And he struck down a huge Egyptian. Although the Egyptian had a spear in his hand, Benaiah went against him with a club. He snatched the spear from the Egyptian’s hand and killed him with his own spear. Such were the exploits of Benaiah son of Jehoiada; he too was as famous as the three mighty men.
This is amazing! Look at the heart. Jumped in the pit- and why? To get some adrenaline flowing, maybe- but to kill a lion that could possibly kill another soldier. He didn’t jump in there to get a tie or thinking he would lose. No, he went in there to win. We don’t just have people join us by signing up. We count the cost with each and every member to make sure they will stay faithful. We are given a responsibility to keep the Lord’s church pure. Half-hearted people were not welcome in Jesus family he called disciples. He welcomed any person who came in to listen. But his family was those who lived like disciples- they lived the life- fruit was seen of their obedience. That was his family- Mark 3:35 Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother. This church is one that will give glory to God (imperfections and all) but a sold-out bunch that has given up everything.
6. Listen to the word – 1 Kings 13:21-26
He cried out to the man of God who had come from Judah, “This is what the LORD says: ‘You have defied the word of the LORD and have not kept the command the LORD your God gave you. You came back and ate bread and drank water in the place where he told you not to eat or drink. Therefore your body will not be buried in the tomb of your fathers.’” When the man of God had finished eating and drinking, the prophet who had brought him back saddled his donkey for him. As he went on his way, a lion met him on the road and killed him, and his body was thrown down on the road, with both the donkey and the lion standing beside it- When the prophet who had brought him back from his journey heard of it, he said, “It is the man of God who defied the word of the LORD. The LORD has given him over to the lion, which has mauled him and killed him, as the word of the LORD had warned him.”
7. Eternal life – Revelation 5:1-5
Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals. And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?” But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it. I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside. Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.”
In his human nature Jesus is the Lion of Judah, from the prophecy of Jacob in Genesis 39. As he is about to die- he blesses each of his sons and tells Judah that he will rule until the nations obey him. He is the Root of David- the king on the throne mediating for each of us. Jesus is the mediator between God and man and the only one worthy to open the scrolls. Look at the respect and honor given him in heaven! He is the king and head of spiritual Israel. That is us. As we give our allegiance to him as Lord of our lives- he is the only one able to give eternal life. Have you lived for him this week, are you walking in submission to him? Eternal life is at stake.
If you take each of these points: My Lord is a warrior, Incredible strength, Rescued, All about the Lord, Consider their exploits, Listen to the word and Eternal life: It spells MIRACLE. God is looking to deliver you from the Lion’s mouth. As we go through the rest of this month- remember the miracles from God and let’s stay faithful to him and help as many as we can to find him. Every one of you is a miracle from God and we can help others be delivered from the lion’s mouth.
He stoops down to make us great,
Matt Sullivan
