Are You Plugged In To the Power? by Brother Duke Hansen

         Good morning everyone. This morning, I would like you to turn to the book of Psalms. Psalms 40 to be exact. A benefit in reading the book of Psalms and studying the life of David is revealing. There are those who you work with or maybe even family members who have an arrogance about them. That arrogance they carry has them speak the loudest, talk over any group they're in, overflowing in pride, and too often arrogance is mistaken for confidence. If you have confidence you aren't anything like what I said about arrogance. You are strong in being quiet and assured. You should live your life and build your walk in confidence on the rock which is Jesus. We will start this morning at verse 1.

        I waited patiently for the Lord; and he inclined unto me; and heard my cry.

        As David begins, he waited patiently for the Lord. You need to have patience in the Lord today when you go before him in prayer. There are things you pray for he will answer quickly on, while other things he moves at a slower pace. Remember that it is all in his time and not ours. You need to be patient in the process he desires for you and I to understand and follow.

        If you picture the story of David before his time as king, it reads pretty great. God brings David out of the sheep field attending his fathers flock, is anointed by the prophet Samuel. After he was anointed he went right back to work tending his fathers flock. David slayed Goliath, played music for King Saul, married one of the king's daughters, became a celebrated hero of battle, and winds up on the run from King Saul where he ends up asking his enemy the Philistines to employ him and his men as mercenaries. Throughout all of this though, David never misplaced his confidence. 

        2 He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.

        God gave David's life purpose. Jesse, David's father, had been a magistrate of Israel, so having the prophet come to the house would not have been surprising to people.

        One of the many things we don't really think about is what exactly is precious in life. It is humorous when people tend to believe that they're precious and highly special. Those people high on themselves continue to live in a haughty and arrogant stance. It is also saddening to see others not realize their actual worth.

        This morning we are going to return to how I ended last Sunday's message. We are going to speak a little on being plugged into the power source. Every extension cord has three prongs to plug into the source. You as the cord, if you only have one or two prongs working, your connection to the power source will be off. It's going to be difficult for you to tap into the power. 

        In looking at verse 2, when David talks about the miry clay, that is considered a metaphor for the deteriorating flesh. The rock referenced in this verse is Jesus, whose way we should be established in. The rock will show you how to go out and come in. The rock will tell you things which will build your confidence.

        3 And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord.

        Music is a great constant in our lives. It is everywhere and triggers a myriad of emotions and responses. Some of us here this morning have been lifted up from the pit we spent a good portion of our life digging for ourself. When God replaces the music in your mind, changes your song from reflecting the world to proclaiming him, things around you will change.

        The need to be plugged in to the power is great. What do you do to get plugged into the power source?

        1) Pray

        2) Read the Bible and study 

        3) Come to church

        Biblical principles aren't foreign to the world. They aren't dismissed as silly by the world's opinion. Some principles are practiced by the world for the benefit of the flesh. If you don't believe me, just look at intermittent fasting. As a believer, you should be able to give an account. When God is moving your life, there will be setbacks. Don't allow those setbacks to shorten your relationship with God or detour your walk. Boundaries were made and established in carnal and spiritual relationships for your benefit.

        Parents, train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old he will not depart from it. Even if you don't try and teach your children daily, you actually are with your words and actions. There are those adults who say do as I say and not as I do. Setting an example before others may not make sense, and feel fruitless to the flesh, but it is what we are called to do.

        You don't have the right to speak righteousness when you are covered in filth. There is a new fear which develops when your relationship with God deepens.

        We have talked about the need for prayer and for reading your bible and studying it. Let's look at the difference between going to church and being the church.

        4 Blessed is that man that makes the Lord his trust, and respects not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.

        The time you are at church is so important. From learning, growth, fellowship. A missed service is a setback. When you pick up things you shouldn't be doing, you will feel a distancing from God.

        The church builds up, holds account, corrects, reproves, intercedes for you. You may go and witness to others, but, your shadow that's cast may show you are in a worse way than they are. If you are ignorant to problems you have, you are living in deceit. Many who get in touch the feeling of pure you feel in a church service, develop a hunger for it over time and that purity id associated with the church.

        If you are the church, you are going to be setting boundaries. You are overcoming things, your eyes may open for the first time. You are learning about things like the armor of God. That armor is for spiritual battle. Before that knowledge, you are being attacked maybe verbally and spiritually, but you have that flesh tendency to fight back. When you have the knowledge of the armor, and you start to wear parts of it, you try to find a peaceable solution to conflict, or you separate yourself from the conflict. When you are the church, church is everyday for you. The world doesn't like the truth. It is content to be lulled with imaginations, deceit, and lies.

        Everywhere you go, you establish your goings. The church goes with you. You shouldn't try and make clones of yourself, but to disciple others and lead them to the truth. The more capable you get, the more you should use your confidence. In that confidence and assurance from Jesus causes you to use that apostolic power in your house. Have discipline in your life. Use fasting correctly. True fasting is killing the flesh and empowering God. It has always been there for you to use. Be prepared for what comes, because it isn't revelations of someone you know, or a family member. Fasting reveals your dark parts, your trash, sometimes deep seeded issues for you to purge and release.

        When you become the church, you will need to lay your burdens down. Lay those burdens of truth about yourself and of the world. When you are the church, the services are for you to be recharged, refreshed, and fed in the spirit. The service gets you centered on the path. It matters if you have the truth or a version of the truth.

        Separate yourself through the word. As the Lord told Joshua many times, Be strong and of good courage.

        5 Many, O Lord my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.

        6 Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required.

        Under the old covenant, the mosaic law, the Israelites were to sacrifice for sin. David had verse 6 revealed to him by God.

        7 Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me,

        8 I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.

        The things written in the Old Testament, we are to do when following God through his spirit. There are things you will face which are bigger than you, but, we also have the almighty God to aid us in those moments.