Are You Hiding Among the Stuff?

I Samuel 10:22

In this passage of Scripture, we find a young man by the name of Saul. He had been anointed by Samuel to be the first king of Israel. The Spirit of the Lord came upon Saul, and he began to prophesy with a group of prophets. The Bible says that God gave Saul another heart. Saul witnessed the miracles of God. Saul had a lot going for him. I guess you could say Saul had it made.

But something happened. When the time came for Samuel to present King Saul to the people, Saul was nowhere to be found. The people prayed and asked the Lord about Saul’s whereabouts. In I Samuel 10:22, the Bible says, “And the Lord answered, Behold, he hath hid himself among the stuff.” This was the biggest day of Saul’s life, but he was not on the throne. Instead, he was hiding among the stuff.

Be careful that you don’t allow Satan to use some of the “stuff” among which young people hide to keep you from serving God.

1) Family

Whether you have a good family or a bad family, don’t use your family as an excuse. Your family will not answer to God for your life; you will.

Gideon thought that God could not use him because of his family’s place in society and because of his place in his family. God shot down both of those excuses. God said, “Surely I will be with thee” (Judges 6:16).

Do you remember the story of David? David didn’t just think that he was the low man on the totem pole in his family – he was the low man on the totem pole. God sent Samuel to the house of Jesse to anoint the next king of Israel. Jesse called the seven oldest sons for Samuel to see, but he didn’t even bother calling the youngest. Finally, after seeing seven of Jesse’s sons, Samuel had to ask Jesse if he had any more children. Reluctantly, Jesse responded by saying that the youngest son was out watching the sheep. It appears that even David’s father could not imagine that God would use David! But David did not use that as an excuse. He was king for over forty years and greatly blessed by God.

2) Friends

Some young people try to get lost in the crowd. They don’t want to stick out; they don’t want to be different. God is looking for the one that will “come out from among them and be ye separate” (II Corinthians 6:17).

Of course, you don’t want to hang around the wrong crowd; but you also don’t want to hide among the right crowd. Perhaps this is the reason God couldn’t find a man to stand in the gap in Ezekiel’s day. Perhaps the people were determined that they wanted to fit in with everyone else rather than fit in the place where God needed them.

3) Fun

Some young people become enamored with the pleasures of sin. Obviously, you want to avoid this stuff. We are commanded to “lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us” (Hebrews 12:1).

There is nothing wrong with having good, clean fun. God wants us to enjoy life. However, we must be careful to keep our priorities right. Don’t allow sports, youth events, video games, and other activities to keep you from God’s perfect will for your life. Don’t hide on the basketball team. Don’t hide at the youth activities. Sports are great, and youth activities are wonderful; but neither of these should keep you out of God’s will. These should be tools that help you to find God’s will and do it!

4) Fear

I do not know why Saul was hiding among the stuff. It could have been due to any number of reasons. It is very likely that Saul was afraid of being king. Maybe he feared the responsibility. Maybe he feared the people. The Bible tells us that God has not given us the spirit of fear (II Timothy 1:7). God says over and over again in Scripture, “Fear not.” God wants us to have faith, not fear.

Why won’t you surrender to the will of God for your life? Is it because of fear? Saul hid among the stuff, and eventually the stuff destroyed him. He lost the touch of God on his life. Over time, Saul found himself so far away from God. How did this happen? I don’t know all of the reasons that Saul wandered from God, but I believe that it probably started with his hiding among the stuff.

5) Failures

The longer you live, the more failures you will experience. It’s not if you fail, because everyone fails at some point. It’s how you respond when you fail that is really important. After an awful failure, David penned the words of Psalm 51. David did not stay down; he got back up!Paul determined that he would forget about the failures of his past (Philippians 3:13). Have you allowed your past to keep you from serving God in the present? Many young people today find themselves in a similar situation.

God has big plans for you. God wants to use you beyond your greatest expectations. This is no time to run from God’s will. There is no reason to hide from the great things God wants to do in your life. Come out from among the “stuff” and see how God will use you!

Deliverance from the Devil's Fiery Darts

We must discern, detect, deflect, and experience deliverance from the devil’s fiery darts (Ephesians 6:16; Genesis 3:1-13)

We must guard against...

-Listening to his deceptions: Genesis 3:1disbelieving God: Genesis 3:1-4

-Seeking to be as the gods (satanic entities): Genesis 3:5

- Having what God does not want us to have (self-fulfillment physically, intellectually, emotionally, or spiritually) at the time or at anytime: Genesis 3:6

- Being what God does not want us to be (self-serving expectations or experience) at the time or at anytime: Genesis 3:6

- Doing what God does not want us to do (self-ambition) at the time or at any time: Genesis 3:6

- Acting independent of God: Genesis 3:6-7

- Losing innocence regarding good and evil: Genesis 3:7

- Defiling our conscience: Genesis 3:7-10

- Hiding from God: Genesis 3:10

- Blame shifting: Genesis 3:11-13

- Being given to carnality, contention, and confusion; exercising earthly, sensual, devilish wisdom: Genesis 3:10-13

We must put on the whole armor of God (Eph. 6:11); submit to having the Spirit's fruit (Gal. 5:22, 23); practice the disciplines of the beatitudes (Matthew 5:1-16); and Abide in Christ (John 15).

The Effects of Sin

How does a worm get inside an apple? Perhaps you think the worm burrows in from the outside. No, scientists have discovered that the worm comes from inside. But how does he get in there? Simple! An insect lays an egg in the apple blossom. Sometime later, the worm hatches in the heart of the apple, then eats his way out. Sin, like the worm, begins in the heart and works out through a person’s thoughts, words, and actions.

The Blessings and Pitfalls of Social Networking

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As social networking gains popularity and usage, the need for Christians to apply biblical principles to online communication has exponentially increased. I trust this will encourage us all to re-examine our online activity in the light of God’s Word.
Keeping a Good Testimony with Your Friends and Followers
As a pastor, it is my joy to help people in their daily walks with God. Every day more and more people are becoming connected through technology. While I am not an expert on these subjects, I obviously have a blog, a few of them actually, and I am even trying to understand the value of Twitter and other technologies.
With that in mind, allow me to share some thoughts with you.

I. Potential Blessings of Social Networking

A. Witnessing Mark 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

B. Teaching Biblical Principles 2 Timothy 2:2 And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.

C. Communicating with Friends and Co-laborers

D. Encouraging Others Ephesians 4:29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.

E. Receiving Prayer Updates This is one of the most valuable aspects that I have seen with Twitter so far.

F. Sharing Events with Relatives across the Country and around the World

G. Learning How God Is Blessing in Other Places It is a blessing to see how God is working in so many different ministries. I want to rejoice with other Christians when they see a spiritual victory.

II. Potential Burdens and Pitfalls of Social Networking

A. The Scheduling Burden—Finding Time to Get It All Done. This is especially true for a pastor who prepares three or four new messages each week and for Christians who are staying busy in personal work and ministry.

B. Focus on Self People who are heavily involved in social networking are often preoccupied with what they are going to say about themselves online.
“There is a danger that narcissistic tendencies are elevated in the life of a person who feels compelled to tell others about themselves continually.”
Mark 8:34 And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.“

Another friend tells me he has 500 Facebook friends: ‘I know maybe 20 of them.’ Facebook is a place that turns adults into teenage girls. ‘Instead of making things,’ he says, ‘We’re telling people how great Gossip Girl is. Would your grandfather go on Facebook? Probably not. I think we’ve become a country thirsting for attention. Facebook is basically Googling yourself for people who don’t have enough hits to warrant it.’ It’s all pointless.“—The Weekly Standard, March 2009

C. Concern about Your “Larger Audience” as Opposed to the “Audience of One” Scripture tells us that in all things we are to please Christ, but there is a growing tendency to be concerned about “followers” more than there is concern about following Him.

D. Time Wasting Ephesians 5:16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

E. Communication Interruptions I have seen parents—who have been extremely upset with their children for texting—act just as obsessive with Twitter and Facebook.

F. Bragging Bloggers and twitterers need to be careful about feeling pressure to act as though their families and personal lives are perfect.
1 Peter 5:5…be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.

G. Materialism Many bloggers and twitterers focus on name brands and personal experiences to elevate materialism over stewardship.

H. Lack of Christ-centered Discussion Colossians 1:18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

I. The Permanency of Remarks on the Internet

J. Gossip 3 John 11 Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God.
THINK before Communicating Is it True? Is it Helpful? Is it Inspiring? Is it Necessary? Is it Kind?
1 Thessalonians 5:15 See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.

K. Potential for Improper Male/Female Relationships “They then have access to each other’s web pages, and consequently to each other’s lives, quirks, photos, jottings, oversharings, and mental disorders, as well as to those ever-expanding universe of their friend’s circles, thus increasing the likelihood that you will either embarrass yourself or be embarrassed by someone whose life would never otherwise intersect with yours.”—The Weekly Standard, March 2009

L. Following the Wrong Crowd I wonder if some twitterers would want to be listed as a “follower” of the people they are currently following. Biblical principles concerning those who influence us are still relevant to the Internet.
Psalm 1:1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
Amos 3:3 Can two walk together, except they be agreed?

M. Virtual Philosophy Becomes Virtual Reality Young men play computer games such as Grand Theft Auto, and the results are the increase of violence in our society. Adults who follow wrong influences on the Internet will find Internet associations to be just as influential in their lives.
Proverbs 23:7 For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee.

III. Spiritual Admonitions Regarding Social Networking

A. Blog and Twitter Humbly

B. Deflect Praise to God 1 Corinthians 10:31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

C. Don’t Let Your Virtual Ministry Replace Your People Ministry

-At Church
-At Home

D. Don’t Let Your Virtual Ministry Replace Your Local Church Ministry Hebrews 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

E. Beware of the “Marketing of Self” Proverbs 27:2 Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips.

F. Avoid Every Appearance of Evil 1 Thessalonians 5:22Abstain from all appearance of evil.

G. Beware Lest the Web become a Stronghold in Your Life I am sure more could be said on this subject and, no doubt, more will need to be said as the Internet continues to become a greater part of our lives.

May we endeavor to walk in the Spirit and apply biblical principles as we use technology to glorify Him.

Basic Rules of Etiquette

It is always a good idea to review things we have learned in the past. Bible doctrine and practical Christian living principles are important to review so that they can be retained in the memory and brought up for ready access to be applied and used.

The list of "Basic Rules of Etiquette" has been on the FRMBC website for several months. I just recently read over them and it was a great blessing to me. Take some time and review these principles. They will help you remember some important things you can use in your daily living.

Here is the link: http://www.frmbc.com/designetiq.pdf

Final Eight Principles in Developing Biblical Standards

21. The Principle of Preparedness: I must always be ready for Jesus to return.
22. The Principle of Generosity: It is godly to give.
23. The Principle of Enslavement: As a Christian, I should be controlled by God.
24. The Principle of MYOB: I must mind my own business.
25. The Principle of Worry: God wants me to pray instead of worry.
26. The Principle of Defilement: A little defiles a lot.
27. The Principle of Yieldedness: I must yield my will to God.
28. The Principle of Discipleship: I am to make disciples.

More Principles in Developing Biblical Standards

Here are ten more principles in developing Biblical standards:

11. The Principle of Doubtful Things: When in doubt – don’t!

(If it is doubtful, it is dirty.)
12. The Principle of Temptation: I must avoid temptation, not just sin.
13. The Principle of Purity: It is God’s will for me to be pure.
14. The Principle of Authority: I should follow God-ordained authority.
15. The Principle of Feelings: I must live by the Bible, not by feelings.
16. The Principle of Imitation: I am to imitate Jesus.
17. The Principle of Weights: I must lay aside weights as well as sin.
18. The Principle of Excellence: God wants me to do my best.
19. The Principle of Readiness: I should be ready and able to explain my beliefs.
20. The Principle of Concentration: Do not look back. Do not look around. Do not look down.