When I was a student athlete playing football in college, we would prepare extensively for the upcoming opponent physically and mentally. Physical preparation consisted of one-on-one and team drills designed to imitate playing or game day conditions as well as a demonstration of the opponent’s offensive formation by the demonstration team. Preparation for the week’s opponent was also supplemented with cardio in the form of wind sprints and weight training. The mental aspect involved hours of film work, an examination and studying of the opponent’s offensive formations on the whiteboard and a scouting report that consisted of the opponent’s personnel, plays, formations, strengths, weaknesses and tendencies. We also had to know where we were most vulnerable because a very capable and worthy opponent would exploit my team’s weaknesses for their advantage. The time usually invested for preparation was typically 35 to 40 hours a week.
This week is the last installment in the three-part series The Good Hand verses the Back Hand of God. In it, we will again consider who gets the backhand of God and how to experience the good hand of God on your life!
Scripture indicates that wickedness will always be welcomed with the backhand of God! The text from 1 Samuel turns our attention to a town of tumors! God used his backhand to punish the people of Ashdod. Earlier in 1 Samuel 5, the scriptures indicate that these people had shown irreverence to the God of Israel by stealing the ark of God and setting it in the temple of one of their gods, Dagon. Although God toppled the statue of their false deity twice and struck down their statue of Dagon, they did not repent of their irreverent and prideful behavior but instead, just returned it to its previous location next to the ark. As a result, God trounced the people throughout the territory with tumors. The Almighty's answer to their abominable actions drove the men of Ashdod to cry; "The ark of the God of Israel must not remain with us, for His hand is harsh toward us and Dagon our god" (1 Samuel 5:7; emphasis mine). The hand of the Lord was heavy on the people of Ashdod because they would not listen or acknowledge His actions.
Read MoreIn last week’s blog we began a discussion on the difference between God’s hand of blessing (the good hand of God) and God’s hand of judgment (the backhand of God). When we consider the hands of God, we must remember that there are no greater hands than God’s hands. We can trust in these good hands of God because it is these hands that hold the entire world.
Read MoreIn the game of tennis it is beneficial to have a repertoire of three different types of shots: the serve, the forehand and the backhand. The backhand shot is usually considered to be a more difficult shot than forehand as many people have trouble with it. The explanation for this is that the backhand shot is on the left side of the body. Most people typically are uncomfortable with movements that originate on the left side of their bodies. They are challenged with the use of the arm and hand in this manner but also with judging distances and coordinating the arm movement. However, once the backhand shot is perfected, it can prove to be very effective!
Read MoreWhen I was a student athlete playing football in college, we would prepare extensively for the upcoming opponent physically and mentally. Physical preparation consisted of one-on-one and team drills designed to imitate playing or game day conditions as well as a demonstration of the opponent’s offensive formation by the demonstration team. Preparation for the week’s opponent was also supplemented with cardio in the form of wind sprints and weight training. The mental aspect involved hours of film work, an examination and studying of the opponent’s offensive formations on the whiteboard and a scouting report that consisted of the opponent’s personnel, plays, formations, strengths, weaknesses and tendencies. We also had to know where we were most vulnerable because a very capable and worthy opponent would exploit my team’s weaknesses for their advantage. The time usually invested for preparation was typically 35 to 40 hours a week.
Read MoreI open this week’s blog with the lyrics of not only a popular but a powerful piece of Christian music from Lauren Daigle. Daigle is an American contemporary Christian music singer-songwriter from Lafayette, Louisiana. Her song “Trust in You” truly captures a transcending principle that is paramount for a pure, persistent and personal relationship with God.
When you don't move the mountains
I'm needing you to move
When you don't part the waters
I wish I could walk through
When you don't give the answers
As I cry out to you
I will trust, I will trust, I will trust in you
Did you notice that in triune spirit she declares “I will trust”? Yes, Trust is a Must!
For this week’s blog, I like you to consider with me a word or term that you will not find in the dictionary. However, I submit to you that this word is a consistent characteristic of a carnal church. The word Churchianity is a word that I am employing for our edification. It is a word that reflects a church that is rigid in rules and rejects the truth of a real relationship with the Lord made possible by His grace and gift of eternal life through Christ’s death and resurrection.
Read MoreWhen my wife, Gloria, and I were raising our three boys, we established standards for appropriate behavior in our house. The boys knew that in order to enjoy the benefits of our home, their words and actions needed to be acceptable in accordance with our criteria. Gloria and I had the right to establish these standards because it was our home.
Read MoreI remember my very first experience with a rip current. It was in June 1995 at Fort Lauderdale Beach. My wife and her sister accompanied me on some business with the Broward County School System. Before engaging in my business with Broward schools, we elected to entertain a beach excursion. We were not as enlightened as your everyday beach person so both the environment and the experience were new to us.
Read MoreVictimization can take many different forms. We can experience satanic victimization which includes spiritual oppression and possession. We can experience victimization as a result of secular philosophies, principles, pressures and practices. And finally, we can experience victimization at the hands of our self as a result of fleshly strongholds and deceptive hearts. Before one can process the path of personal victory and liberate oneself from satanic, secular and self victimization, it is absolutely essential that you have personally possessed, processed, and practiced the Power of God. What does scripture say about the Power of God?
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