Kol Demama Daka

15 10 2009

I heard a sermon this week entitled Kol Demama Daka by George DeJong, a distant mentor.  The truth has been valuable to me this week and I pray it will be to you as well.

Have you ever struggled to hear the voice of God?  Say this with me. “Kol Demama Daka.”

Take a minute to read 1 Kings 19. Just after Elijah, whose name means “God is God,” defeats the prophets of Baal proving that God is God, he retreats for refuge, rest, and time with the Lord. 1 Kings 19:9-13 details an interesting experience. Elijah, feeling very lost and alone needs to hear from God. The Lord sends Elijah to the mountain to stand in His presence. A frightening experience I suppose.

The Text says that the Lord passed by:

  • A great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind.
  • An earthquake came but the Lord was not in the earthquake.
  • A fire ripped across the land but the Lord was not in the fire.
  • After the fire the sound of a low whisper (kol demama daka).

That day the presence of the Lord came in the form of a low whisper. The hebrew phrase is “kol demama daka.” The phrase can easily be translated as “the sound of thin silence.” It is the kind of voice you can only here if you are adamantly listening for it.

Often we have trouble hearing God and experiencing His presence. We look for Him in the utterly miraculous. Is He in the unexplainable wind, the treacherous earthquake or the blazing fire? Sometimes the Lord is not there.

Instead He is in the kol demama daka… the sound of a low whisper. You can only hear it if you are intently listening. Today, if you are struggling to hear the Lord or you are waiting for a sign, quiet yourself and listen to the thin silence. Pray and open your Bible. Ask the Lord to speak in the kol demama daka.  Chances are you will find Him eager to whisper in your ear.


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Categories : Bible Studies

Dealing with Envy and Hate

28 07 2009

Envy is such a common sin in our day.  How do we deal with it in our own lives.  Here are the sermon notes from Sunday, July 26 at Kingsland.

To Hear the sermon online click here:

Genesis 37:1-11  Dealing with Hate and Envy

Introduction to Joseph!

1)                  Favoritism breeds envy (1-3)

(33:7)  Joseph named when no one else is named.

A clue to a Sovereign calling

Possibly realized by his father

Joseph tells on his half brothers

His actions are viewed as faithful

Rewarded with a robe of many colors (Royalty)

Observable favoritism.  Blatant!

PARENT WARNING (FAVORTISM WILL CAUSE ENVY)

The sin of Envy is the root of all sibling rivalry in the Torah

Cain killed Abel

Jacob fled from Esau

Joseph persecuted by brothers

Proverbs 14:30 “Envy makes the bones rot”

2)                  Envy eventually leads to hate (4-11)

Dream sequence and lack of discretion

2 Dreams = prophetic (Genesis 42:6)

So they hated him even more for his dreams and words

Jealousy reared it s ugly head.

Hate and Jealousy lead to a murderous plan to eliminate the “favored one”

(Galatians 5:17-21) Flesh and Spirit at war with each other

5:17-21 = flesh

5: 22-26 = Spirit

Leviticus 19:17-18 Love people (Jesus adds this verse to SHMA)

1 John 2:9-11

1 John 4:20-21

FREEDOM NOW:  PRAYER TO LAY DOWN ENVY AND HATE

3)                  The Character and Nature of God is Love (The Opposite of Hate)

God is love 1 John 4:16

Dt. 7:9 Know therefore

Romans 5:8

You know a Christ-follower by their love (John 13:34-35)

GEN. 50:20 What you meant for God meant it for good!


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Categories : Bible Studies

How to Strive with God

21 07 2009

Here are the sermon notes for “How to Strive with God” from Genesis 35:1-15.  Some of you expressed interest in the notes so here ya go… To hear the sermon online click here

Genesis 35:1-15

How to Strive with God

Walking with God is not a one-time event.  Instead it is a journey.  A string of minutes strung together by the sovereignty of God.   Confessing Christ as Lord is only the beginning.  It is work to strive with God.

Background: Jacob (deceiver) becoming Israel (strives with God)

Follow Him (1)

This is the daily action of a Christ-follower (Mt. 4:19)

“God said to Jacob…”(We think God talks to Jacob differently)

You and I hear God too. If we listen.

“Arise and go to Bethel (House of God) and dwell there…”

Why Bethel? (Genesis 28:19-22)

He experienced the Lord’s presence here

He had to fulfill a vow (Trust lesson)

Get rid of the things that get between you and God (2-4)

The source of idols: Colliding cultures (Genesis 34:28-29)

Cannanite idolatry is horrendous (Baal, Asherah, Sacrifice Babies)

What are the idols from our culture that creep in?

What do we need to get rid of…?

Casting off idols and purifying self is comparable to repentence.

Who can enter the house of God? Psalm 24:3-4

Required to resist sin and draw near to God James 4:7-8 (Sanctification)

Jesus purifies us Titus 2:11-14 (Justification and Glorification)

Trust Him in the Journey (5-8)

God provides protection for the journey (But you still walk past the enemy)

El-bethel (God is in the house of God) Presence

God uses points of reference to develop our trust (Remember) (milestones important!)

Genesis 28:15

Real sadness takes place even when you are striving with God… “Allon-bacuth = Oak of weeping”

Know Who You are and Who He Is (9-11)

God blesses Jacob again

Reiterates name change:

Genesis 32:28  You have striven with God (God Strives, Strives with                                                                         God, God Prevails)

Genesis 32:29 What is your name? (Trying to know God)-no answer

Names the place Peniel “Face of God”

Genesis 35:11 I am God Almighty “El Shaddai”  (Progression of knowing Him)

Hold onto the promises of God (11b-15)

The Blessing is the promise

35:11 “A nation and a company of nations”

company of nations = “kehal goyim”

“kehal” = assembly or congregation

“kehal” to greek for NT is ekklesia

“ekklesia to English is Church”

“goyim” = gentilies

The Lord hints at what will come from the work of the Messiah

a nation (jewish) and a company of nations (gentile believers) will come from you. (spiritually)

Jacob’s response is worship (drink offering and oil offering)

Stand up and Read Ephesians 1:13-14


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Categories : Bible Studies

How to find Peace in a Broken Relationship

13 07 2009

Several people asked if they could get a copy of my notes from Sunday’s Sermon titled, “How to Find Peace in a Broken Relationship” from Genesis 33.  Here is the outline .  Hope you can interpret my linear chicken scratch.

To hear the sermon online click this link

Genesis 33

How to Find Peace in a Broken Relationship

Adversarial relationship from the womb

Jacob steals Esau’s birthright and becomes the Patriarch:

Jacob fears Esau because of deception and deep wound: (32:6-7, 11)

Esau Angry! (Genesis 27:41)

A lot happens in 20 years.

Jacob is reconciled to God in the wrestling match of chapter 32.  Immediately Esau shows up…Reconciling with God leads us to Reconcile with people.

Reconcile: To bring into agreement or harmony: restore

Parents, Siblings, Spouse, Friends, Neighbors, Professional Relationships

1)                  Reconciliation takes courage (33:3)

(Compare and Contrast Jacob’s position in 32 and 33)

Before he reconciles with God:  The servants go first.

After he reconciles with God: He positions himself to face danger first.

2)                  Reconciliation means humbling yourself (33:3-8)

“How low can you go?” (Bow’s Before Esau 7 times)

Humility before an offended person often yields grace.

Servant/lord language

Everything I have comes from God

Philippians 2:3-8

3)                  Reconciliation costs you personally (33:10-11)

Your dignity or pride

Paying back what has been taken, broken, etc.

Repentance

4)                  We reconcile because God reconciled with us (33:10-11)

Gen. 32:30 “For I have seen God face to face”

Gen. 33:10 “For I have seen your face…”

Ephesians 2: 11-22

Colossians 1:19-22

Romans 5:6-11

2 Corinthians 5:18-21

Genesis 33:12-20 Boundaries…Even in Reconciliation (Sometimes the best recipe for peace is a safe distance)

1)                  Narrative Dialogue between Esau and Jacob

Esau goes to Seir (Edom)

Jacob goes to Succoth and then Shechem

2)                  Did Jacob deceive again undoing the peace treaty?

The text which has spoken blatantly about Jacob’s deception is silent.

Jacob stops at Succoth indicating a real concern for his young

Many think the exchange is merely social convention.

Genesis 36:6-8 suggest mutual decision to part ways

Rabbi’s say Jacob did not lie but fulfills it in the Messianic age                   (Obadiah 1:21)

3)                  Jacob Builds an altar at Shechem  “El-Elohe-Israel”

Both the God of Jacob and the future nation of Israel.


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Categories : Bible Studies

Even the King Went Home

17 04 2009

1 Chronicles 16:43 “Then all the people departed each to his house, and David went home to bless his household.”

I have been studying 1 Chronicles for the past month.  I love it.  In short the entire book is a history of God’s covenant with David and its impact on the nation called Israel.  The book begins with seemingly endless genealogies describing the family lines of the 12 tribes of Israel.  If you read it, don’t breeze past the genealogies.  You will learn a ton.  The Genealogies culminate in a detail of Saul’s Family and ultimately the household of David…the boy who killed a giant and became king.

In epic fashion, Saul and his son’s are killed in chapter 10 and the Lord transitions the leadership of Israel to a young David.  David immediately begins to battle for the city of Jerusalem occupied by the Jebusites.  David took the stronghold of Zion and established the City of David.  David built his army and then worked to return the Ark of the Covenant back to Israel.  As he worked to restore the very “presence of the Lord” to Jerusalem he also tore down the despicable high places of the foreign gods. He fought the Philistines and struck them down from Gibeon to Gezer and David’s fame spread throughout the lands.

He brought the ark back to Jerusalem and pitched a tent for the Lord.  He organized the Levites (priests)to minister to the Lord according to the instructions described in Torah.  He demanded that the priests consecrate themselves and then gave them jobs specific to their areas of expertise.  He through an incredible party and danced before the Lord.  Then, he went home.

I give you background because I want you to see that David was an important, busy man.  Read chapters 11-16 of 1 Chronicles to discover just how busy and how important.

There are not any words placed in the Bible by accident.  You have to look at each word and phrase and ask yourself, “What does it mean and why is it in there.” Consider  the second half of 1 Chronicles 16:43. “…and David went home to bless his household.”

What does it mean and why is it in the text?

David was busy with really important work:  Re-establishing the Kingdom of Israel, pointing the people back to God, tearing down the high places, being King, constantly fighting battles, and obtaining and pitching a tent for the ark, the presence of God, in Israel.  Why does it tell us at the end of this work, he went home to bless his household?

Maybe it is because, no matter how important your work, you should always go home and bless your household.

How did David bless his household:

With his physical presence:

Being home for his family meant that he wasn’t just the king, he was also a husband and dad.  His presence offered peace and security for the household. Face time with his family communicated love and affection.  His presence was ultimately a blessing to the family at least in this instance.  A couple of questions you might ought to ask.

1) Is my presence a covering of peace and security for my family?

2) Do I give my family enough of my physical presence?

With Biblical Intentionality:

If you look at 1 Chronicles 16:43 closely it says he went home “to bless his household.” David went home with a purpose.  He would offer blessing and be a blessing.  In his culture certainly this meant the recitation of scriptural blessing over the household.  It also meant spiritual, physical, and emotional blessing to the entire household because David was home.  More questions:

1) Do I go home with the purpose of intentionally blessing my household?

2) Would the members of my family say that time with me is a blessing?

Take some practical steps:

1) Plan to go home and bless your household.  Look at your annual calendar.  Schedule your days off and all of your vacation to go home and bless your household.

2) Find out what it means to bless your family by reading scriptural blessing over them.  A great resource is “A Father’s Guide to Blessing His Children” available in the legacy resource center on campus at Kingsland or at www.desiringgod.org.

3) Work hard to be a blessing at home.  When your home, be home.  Listen to your spouse and your kids.  Give them all of you.  Turn the blackberry off and listen to the people who matter.

Go home and be a blessing to your household.  Even the King went home!


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Categories : Bible Studies, For Church Leaders, For Men Only, Parenting