What is Your "Yes But..."? Part 2

They were promised a land flowing with milk and honey.  All they had to do was go take it.  They viewed their opposition as too large, and the God who promised the land as too small, to guide them in possessing it. The result in not believing in the God of all creation was wandering for forty years in the wilderness, dying in that wilderness and causing their children to wander with them. The "but" of Numbers 13:31-33 defeated them and the congregation of God's people before they even tried.  Be careful of the "but", you interject into someone's thinking.

Ignoring negative "buts" from someone who has never tried, will move you toward fulfillment of your God given gifts. Listen to God and not man. Learn His will by studying His word and asking Him in faith to give you wisdom from above with the strength and courage to carry it out.  You may be the one to keep others from wandering in a wilderness of despair and hopelessness.  Let me give you an example of what I am talking about below.

God will not use the strongest, the fastest, the most experienced, the oldest, the most intelligent, nor the wealthiest, etc. to lead His people,  but He will use the ones who love Him, trust Him, and obey Him from the heart.  Please read Acts 13:22 and 1 Samuel 13:14.  God sought a man after His own heart who would do all His will.  This man was the young shepherd boy, David.  I go into detail how David became a man after God's own heart in my book, The Heart Behind the Stone: Develop a Giant Slaying Heart.

David did not let the negative "buts" stop him from trusting and serving the God of his people.  His father, Jesse the Bethlehemite, sent young David to carry provisions to his brothers and to the captain of their thousand, who were fighting against the Philistine army.  This is found in 1 Samuel 17.  David left early in the morning for the camp of the Israelite army.  He had no idea what the day would bring him.  Just like he had no idea why Samuel called him in  and anointed him as the next king of Israel.  The one thing he knew for certain was, there was a God in Israel and he loved Him, trusted in Him, and believed in Him.  God had already proven to young David that He was with him, when He delivered him from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear.( verse 37) At a young age, David was giant ready to take on anything for the God of Israel.

As David came and greeted his brothers, the Philistine champion, Goliath the giant, again issued a challenge to the armies of Israel. He challenged them to send their champion to fight with him. If their champion killed him, the Philistines would serve them, or if Goliath killed their champion the children of Israel would serve the Philistines.  For forty days, morning and evening, he made this challenge and every time all the men of Israel would flee from him and were dreadfully afraid.

David heard the challenge and asked," What shall be done to the man who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that should defy the armies of the living God?"  David then decides to be the man. He tells Saul, "Let no man's heart fail because of him; your servant will go and fight with this Philistine.

Now let us get to the discouraging negative "buts" coming from the army of Israel, including family, soldiers, the king, and Goliath himself.

Negative buts...

• And all the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him and were dreadfully afraid.
• Who did you leave with those few sheep? I know your pride and insolence.
• You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him; you are but a youth.
• He is a man of war from his youth.
• Saul then clothed David with his armor and weapon.
• The Philistine said, "Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and the beast of the field.

Positive buts...

• The Lord has delivered me out of the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear.
• He will deliver me from this Philistine.
• He put aside the traditional armor of warfare and picked up his tested sling and staff.
• He chose five smooth stones and put them in his bag.
• This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you and take your head from you and give the carcasses of the camp of the Philistines to the birds of the air and wild beast of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.

Goliath was positive and had confidence, but his confidence was from his experience and man.  David's confidence was from God. He knew what God could do, and he loved God and wanted to serve and honor Him.

If David had followed the negative "buts", this story would not be worth repeating.  It would just be as depressing as the evening news.  "But", David followed God. Look at the regained courage he gave the army of Israel. Instead of hiding, they were chasing the enemy.  Through God's wisdom this true story has been protected all the ages for our encouragement as well as for God's people back then.

Remember, David had his faults.  He was flesh like you and I.  When he sinned and was made aware of it, he prayed for a clean heart and steadfast spirit.(Psalm 51)  Though he had many trials in his life, he continued his love, faith, and trust in God.

 How does this help you and me today?  If we build our faith as David, we can over come the negative "buts" of the world and live a purposeful life in God's service helping and encouraging others to do the same.

Some negative "buts" of today...

• But Christians are becoming a minority.
• But they are hateful to us and calling us right wing radicals.
• But they have taken prayer out of schools.
• But I am poor and I can't do anything about our society.
• But I am chronically ill and can't help anyone.
• But I...... . You fill in the blanks.

What are these accomplishing?  What words of encouragement do these "buts" bring? Any solutions found in these negative "buts"?

Now what about a few of these positive "buts"...

• I will fear no evil; for You are with me.
• But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.
• "But on this one I will look: On him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, and who trembles at My word."
• If God is for us, who can be against us?
• Nothing will be able to separate us from the love of God.
• Do not worry, but seek ye first the kingdom of heaven and all these things shall be added to you.
• You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.
• The effective prayer of a righteous man avails much.
• For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you or forsake you".

Whatever your dream is, if it will bless people, and honor God, go after it with all your might.  Have the giant ready faith of David the shepherd boy.  Yes, we do live in troublesome times. Don't say you are not able to do anything to help. Even if you are on your sick bed, you can pray fervently for the brethren. Remember our Father in Heaven is the Sovereign God over all heaven and earth.  We do not handle the world's problems by vengeance and might. We live like Christ and abstain from every appearance of evil.  The battle we have is unseen. We each need to study and apply Ephesians 6:10-18 to fight against the wiles of the devil.

Encourage people to do right by living right.  How will our lives change if we ask God to help us overcome the negative "buts" in our lives?

Thanks for reading.

Please send your comments to rhepler52@gmail.com  or share on Facebook.

Thanks,

Rick