Purpose

What do you do with a SNAKE BITE?

2011-12-12T09:02:00.000-08:00

What a great weekend! I woke up bright eyed on Sunday morning around 6:30 ready for the day. I knew it was going to be a great day. My wife and I began the business of getting things ready for service in Tuttle, OK! Our Sunday mornings are crazy to say the least. Nevertheless, we got in gear, got the girls ready, loaded the car with all the items needed to have church in our borrowed building, and headed to Tuttle.

We got on location, opened the doors and began setting up for our Christmas Service. I was so excited. The good Tuttle people began to gather and service got underway. The service was complete with wonderful music, great testimonies, and topped off with great food at the conclusion. So far this day was turning out to be simply wonderful.

The family and I finally made it back home around 2:00. (In a borrowed building it takes time to break down and clean up.) Normally we try to take a quick nap, but that was not going to be the case today. I had an obligation to the church in Mustang, OK and that obligation began at 3:30 with preparation for the evening service.

I got caught up on the chores that needed to be done at the house, got dressed, and headed to Life Tabernacle in Mustang to meet with our music team to prepare for the evenings service. I had a good feeling about this service. I was confident that God was going to meet us there in a powerful way.

Being the worship leader on Sunday evening is a burden that gets difficult to carry. The service must go perfectly. Every song must be on cue. Every singer must be prepared and ready to give their all. At Life Tabernacle we believe in doing our very best.

The musicians arrived and we began practicing when my phone rang!! THAT IS WHEN IT ALL CHANGED!!

The phone call was not a good one. The conversation changed my mood quickly. REAL QUICKLY!! I had to deal with stuff in that moment that I really did not want to deal with. In reality, it was like being snake bit.

You have read the stories of the ole cowboy that dismounts after a long day in the saddle. He is cutting a path across the desert trying to get to his destination. He is exhausted from the journey. His mouth is parched and his legs are aching. He ties his weary horse to a small tree and sets up camp for the night. The evening chill is hitting the air so he begins the task of gathering some wood to build a fire for warmth. As he bends down to pick up some sticks that are laying there in a bundle... BAM! All of the sudden he feels the burning in his veins. He has been snake bit!!

That phone call was such a shock. Just out of nowhere. The poison that came from the other end started burning my veins. My attitude took a turn. I did my best to pull it together and get practice moving again in the right direction.

6:00 PM came way too soon. However, I pulled it together, took the pulpit, and began to lead that great church in worship. I'll admit, I wanted to cancel practice and just slide out the back door, but I couldn't do that. Worship is what I do. A worshipper is who I am. I could not LET A SNAKE BITE suffocate my worship.

I gave it all I could give in that worship service and exited the stage. Pastor Sholund took the pulpit and opened his bible to the text that God had given him to minster from. Then he gave his title, "What do you do with a SNAKE BITE?"

WOW!! I listened. I needed to hear from God. And believe me God spoke.

The lesson learned was clear however difficult to act upon.

My praise must not be hindered though the snake has bitten.
My worship must not be silenced though my veins burn with the poison.
God has not stepped off His throne even though the ability to breathe is become more and more difficult due to this snake bite.

So what am I to do with this SNAKE BITE?! Exactly what the Apostle Paul did only moments after a shipwreck when he was surrounded by the cold and rain. The Apostle Paul attempted to help build a fire. While picking up a bundle of sticks, a viper came out of the heat and latched to him. However, Paul never missed a beat. He walked to the fire and shook the beast off of his hand and felt no harm.

THAT IS WHAT YOU DO WITH A SNAKE BITE!! SHAKE IT OFF IN THE FIRE!

I must conclude that snake bites are painful. I must also admit that the poison moves quickly through my veins. I must also CONCLUDE THAT IF I CAN FIND THE FIRE, I CAN SHAKE THAT SERPENT OFF and I WILL FEEL NO PAIN!!

Thank you Pastor Sholund!

Worship... ALL BY MYSELF!

2011-10-01T08:52:00.000-07:00

If you were to have been there that glorious day, hidden in the distance observing, no doubt this is what you would have observed.

It appears to be a sacred event. Not many are invited. The Priest and Levites are there and several musicians. On the shoulders of the selected men, the Ark of the Covenant rest. They are transporting this sacred article back to its rightful place.

As you observe, you notice, there in the front, dressed in Kingly robes, a man acting crazy. He is walking 6 paces, pausing, building an altar, and offering sacrifices. When the music begins, this Kingly man dances wildly, as if he is the only one there. Then the group of people move 6 more paces and the excitement starts all over again.

You are certain you know this "kingly" man. This must be King David.

As you approach the city you notice that King David continues this 6 pace process. However, he is growing tired but refuses to stop his worship. So he dances yet the more removing his Kingly outer garment.

This is what shocks you. This KING, chose to remove what identified him as the King in order to worship the King of Kings all by himself.

What made him act this way? What made him careless about what others thought?

If you study the character of David you will discover very quickly the heart of this man.

You see.. David was just a Shepherd boy. He was tending the flocks of his father as a young man. He never dreamed he would be King material. However, God saw something in David that no one else could see.

When no one was around to applaud David or compliment his dedication to tending sheep, David fought and killed a lion that was trying to destroy his fathers flock, and then, all by himself, he rejoiced and wrote a song of thanks to his God. Not only a lion but also a bear, and he worshipped, when no one was around to applaud him.

You know why David was dancing so wildly when he was bringing the ark of the covenant back to its rightful place? Because he had learned to celebrate every victory.. all by himself. He did not care what others thought or how they viewed him. He was lost in worship and praise to his God.

So as you observe him, coming into the city, his Kingly garment removed, look up into the castle window. There you will see his wife. She is laughing and mocking him. But does David care? NO! Long before he was anointed to be King he was a WORSHIPER!

Stop hiding in the back ground. You have wanted to join David this whole time. With great abandon.... become a WORSHIPER.. ALL BY YOURSELF!!

OK - Time to get focused!

2011-09-02T16:38:00.000-07:00

I feel so blessed to be apart of the kingdom of God. It has been an exciting adventure. But what has made it the most exciting has not been the good fellowship at the local restaurant following a great service. Nor has it been the comfortable nights spent in different motels, some with great views. Plane rides are always an adventure that I look forward to, but even those moments at 30,000 feet have not been the most exciting.

Allow me to explain....

I will never forget walking to the pulpit of a great church in Florida pastured by my very dear friend. I had been invited to preach his anniversary service, and was honored to have been given the opportunity. I opened my bible and began to share, what I felt, the Lord had given me to say. I preached with everything in me.

When the service was over I walked to the back to exit when I was called out to by a young man standing by the door. He looked to be about 16 years old. I did not recognize him at all, but he seemed to know me very well.

"Bro. Davis," he said. "Yes Sir!" I responded.

That young man shook my hand with great emotion. He asked me if I remembered him at all. I regretted that I could not place him. The next words he said hit me like a ton of bricks.

"Bro. Davis, you preached at my church when I was 8 years old. In that service God filled me with the Holy Ghost. I just wanted to thank you!"

WOW!! I did not know what to say. I was so excited. Joy just overwhelmed me. I was speechless as my eyes filled with tears. Are you kidding me?! At that moment, the beautiful beaches of Naples Florida really meant very little. The afternoon that was planned on Marco Island was a distant thought. I cared not about the plane ride back home or the beautiful accommodations that I had enjoyed. The sermon that I had just preached meant so little. At that moment I felt fulfilled and totally satisfied.

While writing this even now, I am moved again thinking about that moment, and wishing for a million more moments just like that one. However, I find that often times, in order to experience THAT moment, the one where someones life has been forever changed by the power of God, I have got to wade through a mile of religious red tape. I have got to check and recheck that noones feelings are being hurt, and be sure that everyone around is OK with someone being delivered from drugs and set free from sin.

I sometimes feel like our PURPOSE has been lost in our attempt to grow "our" church. Sometimes I wonder where we get the idea that THIS church belongs to us anyway!

Come on people. There is a dying world out there. Come on!! People are hurting and abused. Right now at this moment, someone has ended their life because they have nothing else to live for. Right now, a mother has aborted her child and is feeling worthless and invaluable. Right now, drugs are being injected into the veins of some addict in your neighborhood and mine. Right now some young man holds a gun to the head of another for $20 so he can keep feeding his addiction.

Hey CHURCH - Let's awake from our sleep and focus on the mission. We have a world to reach for God. Let's tear down the invisible fences that we use to identify "our area of outreach." Let's just all get into the harvest.

Stop worrying about titles or positions! Let's abandon the "what's in it for me" mentality. GET IN THE FIELD. Jesus said... they are white already to harvest.

It is not my church nor is it yours. This is God's church. It is God's blood that redeems mankind. It is His spirit that sets men free.

Let me simplify. Jesus said it like this... "As you go, preach this message: 'The kingdom of heaven is near. Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give."

I still find that the greatest excitement to me, is when one lost soul... IS FOUND!!

What Do I Do With This?

2011-02-15T14:40:00.000-08:00

I am sitting in my office thinking about this young lady I saw some time ago. I can't remember the place or the face, but I do remember the oddly placed band-aid. The band-aid was not serving its intended purpose. The band-aid was covering a new tattoo, almost totally. The band-aid was not what caught my attention, it was the colorful ink that was sneaking out from under the bandaid. No matter how you look at it, that band-aid was not doing the job. It was trying to hid something she possibly regretted, but it was not working. The bandaid was way to small and the tattoo was way to big.

Humans are very emotional people. When we are in pain, our face will always give it away. When we are depressed, our body shows our hurt. When we are fearful, it is very difficult to hide.

I have known some who have tried to cover their reality. The reality of a dark and painful divorce, or the loss of a loved one. I have seen them walk into church and mingle with everyone as best as they could. They try to blend in as if all was well, when inside they were wounded and struggling to survive.

Reality had beaten them and left them for dead. Reality had mishandled their emotions and discarded what was left. Reality was staring them in the face and they had no clue what to do with it. So with a "band-aid" they try to cover the obvious issue they are facing that just refuses to be covered.

I am reminded of the story in Luke. Jesus walkes into the synagogue on the sabbath day. When He arrives He notices a man with a withered hand, hidden beneath his coat.

It is obvious that this man did not want the withered hand. He did not ask for the withered hand, however reality had provided for him a withered hand. He is in church, worshiping God, and hiding a withered hand. Facing reality alone and hiding reality from everyone else.

When Jesus notices this man, He requires two things of him. Jesus said to the man, "Stand Up". Now this man had a choice. He could either stay seated and continue to live with a painful reality, or he could take a chance on this healer Jesus.

As he stands, every eye is upon him. "What will Jesus ask of me next," he think to himself.

The voice of Jesus responds. "STRETCH FORTH THY HAND!"

Jesus was asking this man to expose his reality. Remove the oddly placed band-aid that is only concealing some of the issue. What Jesus was saying to that man with his withered hand was, STOP HIDING BEHIND YOUR REALITY!! WOW! WHAT A CONCEPT!

You know the rest of the story. When that man stretched out his hand, he was restored, whole.

You know what I have discovered. Reality is no joke. Reality is painful. Reality is life altering. Reality will test your faith. Reality will pull from you everything that you have. Reality is REAL!

However, I have discovered something else. Hidden reality, never gets healed. If I am going to be restored, I MUST ALLOW JESUS CHRIST TO EXPOSE AND HEAL MY REALITY!!

At some point you have got to remove the band-aid and allow God to heal the wound. Hidden wounds never heal.

The first step to complete recovery is exposing the issue to the light of God's grace and mercy. He is a forgiving God. He is a merciful God.

Second, and quite difficult, try forgiving the one who assisted in the reality, it may only be yourself you have to forgive, but forgive.

That is two very big tasks, but you can do it. Let healing and restoration be your new reality.

2011-02-04T09:44:00.000-08:00

She sat down on the couch in the dimly lit room after opening the door and allowing me to come in. I was told to avoid their house, but just couldn't. The rumors around town were plenty but I just could not stay away. Something was drawing me.

I sat on the floor in front of the couch where she and her husband were sitting. The room was very dark and sad. The moment that I walked into that living room, heaviness settled on me. This couple needed something, anything.

I told them a little about myself and then began to ask about them. It did not take long until tears began to flow down their faces. As if it were yesterday, they began to re-live a most tragic event in their lives.

Their son was a young man full of life. Always a smile on his face and quite ambitious. He was always surrounded by friends. There was never a dull moment when he was around. As a matter of fact, on that tragic day, he was the life of the party.

He and his friends had gathered at the river on that hot summer day to cool off. The day was exciting. Laughs and endless chatter filled the air. Occasionally the heat would be too much and they would dive into the water to cool off. As he dove in one more time, he never resurfaced. His body was never found.

You can imagine how I felt, as they lived again the story as if it were yesterday. The sadness and depression that gripped them both was beyond belief. They had lived years in this bondage of depression.

As I sat there, trying to make sense of what I had just heard. I searched for words.

In that moment, what I had hoped for, was the right words that would begin to heal the broken heart. I was wishing for the right prayer that would set them at liberty from the bruises. Now I understand why those words never came.

Jesus never said that binding up the broken in heart was my job. NO! I can't bind up any ones heart. Jesus never asked me to set at liberty them that are bruised. NO! I can't do that either. My job is to present JESUS and allow JESUS to do what He does.

My mission in life cannot be focused on the success of the ministry to which I am called. I cannot be driven to achieve some goal that others can observe and consider me qualified as a minister. I cannot do anything on my own. My abilities are frail and limited. My hopes and dreams have been shattered at times as well. However, I must have the utmost confidence in the God that I am serving.

I cannot heal a broken heart; but the God that I can introduce to you CAN!
I cannot deliver from depression or anxiety; but the God that I know, he CAN!

At some point I have got to realize that God does not need me to make excuses for Him. He is a deliverer. He is a healer. He does bind up broken hearts. I cannot force His hand. I cannot move him with the pitch of my voice or any demand that I make. He is God and He is God alone. He delivers people so His name will be exalted, not my ministry. He fills people with the Holy Ghost to give them incredible power to overcome, not for a number on my web-site to promote me.

In that dark room several years ago, talking with a broken and wounded family, and now even more, I realize something. I have got to move out of the way and let GOD be GOD!!

I watched that couple walk into service on Sunday. I watched them lift their hands. I watched God fill them with the Holy Ghost. I watched God get the glory.