Archive for September, 2009

Journey of the Elder Brother Day Seven

Posted: September 21, 2009 in Confidence in God, David, Elder Brother, Prodigal God
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David Acting Like an Elder BrotherElder Brothers usually think they have things figured out. Even if things get tough they tend to hunker down and press on. Elder Brothers tend to see obstacles as big stepping stones. It might be big and obtrusive, but they’ll figure out a way to go around or even climb it if they have to. While David was a younger brother, when it came to Goliath, he acted like an Elder Brother. Goliath was just a big giant of an obstacle that could be brought down with a well-placed stone.

david anointed (2)Though the people sang his praises and Samuel anointed him with oil, David was not ready to lead his people. God required a man who was truly after His Heart. Saul had failed to obey. David showed the heart of a King, a man after God’s heart. But all Elder Brothers must learn something that David still needed to learn. God took David to a place that was so dark, it was impossible to see a way out or over or around. God took David to the deepest darkest cave, and in that cave David learned what every Elder Brother must learn.

Isaiah 50:10 says ” He that walks in darkness, and hath no light, let him trust in the name of the Lord, and stay (lean) upon His God.” Most Elder Brothers in such a dire situation start to light their own fires as verse 11 indicates. And Elder Brothers who walk in the light of their own fires will lie down in torment as God’s Word says. David could have kindled his own fire, and Saul and his army would have discovered him and killed him.

caveDavid did a very unusual thing for an Elder Brother. David did what EVERY Elder Brother must do regardless of the obstacle facing us. If we fail to do this, we will fail to know the Father’s heart. David wrote in Psalms 57 what he did in this dire situation deep in the blackness of the cave:

My soul is among lions: and I lie even among them that are set on fire, even the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword. Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens; let thy glory be above all the earth. Psalms 57:4-5

David did two things: 1. He asked God to come between Him and the obstacle. 2. He asked God to be glorified in the situation. (REGARDLESS OF THE OUTCOME!)

David did not ask God to rescue him, nor did he ask God to get rid of the obstacle. He simply said “God, I don’t want to see the obstacle except as you see it. I want you to be before my eyes”. David took his focus off the problem and placed it on God his Father. Then He simply said, “Be exalted O God, above the heavens”. I don’t care how this situation works out as long as YOU O GOD are exalted through it!

David-Surrounded-in-the-CavThis is an Elder Brother after the heart of His Father!

When your way gets dark, when obstacles are all around you; don’t be an Elder Brother who starts lighting your own fires to see what you can figure out. Be like David, and ask the Father to be exalted and take charge of the situation. Trust in your Father, and lean upon Him! He will reveal His heart to you!

Father: Be exalted in every situation I am facing. May I not react as a typical Elder Brother, but may I be a man after your Heart!


Journey of the Elder Brother Day Six

Posted: September 20, 2009 in Abraham, Elder Brother, Prodigal God, Righteousness, Uncategorized
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Abram Had his doubtsAbram behaved as a True Elder Brother when he went after and rescued his nephew Lot. The Elder Brother is to be the responsible one, and protect the family. He spared no expense in rescuing his nephew. Yet after wards, he did a very ‘un-elderly brother’ thing when he refused the loot offered by the King of Sodom. This is what made Abram a Godly Elder Brother – his focus was on his relationship with the Father, not on “stuff”.

But he must have had his doubts. It is hard for Elder Brothers to not think ‘practically’. That is why God appeared to him in Genesis 15:1,

“Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.”

God never wastes words. He would not have told Abram not to fear if fear was not in his heart. Perhaps he was afraid his following this invisible Jehovah was a waste. After all, Jehovah had still not provided him with an heir. What kind of God is that? So he complained to Jehovah:

“O Lord God, what will you give me, for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” And Abram said, “Behold, you have given me no offspring, and a member of my household will be my heir.”

Abram the Elder Brother was responsible, obedient and childless. His labors would all be in vain if he had no heir. So fear was in his heart. Do I keep following Jehovah, or return to the gods of my forefathers? After all, Abram began life as an idolater in a foreign land.

milky-wayGod could see the fear and hesitation in his heart, just as He sees the fear and hesitation in every Elder Brothers heart. So Jehovah took Abram outside and showed him the Milky Way. “Your descendants will be as many as the stars!” In that moment, Abram believed Jehovah, and it was counted unto him as righteousness.

A simple display and Word from Jehovah was all it took to dispel the fear in Abrams heart. When fear gripped his heart and he started to lean on his own understanding, he looked to the stars and believed the Word of God!

Abram Believed God

Elder Brothers, if you have doubts and fears about your labors and what good they are, open the Word of God and look for His promises to you. Ask Him for a special Word that will dispel the fear from your heart. Elder Brothers mask their insecurities with hard work, tasks and accomplishments. Yet inwardly we are beset by fear and doubt. Is this all worth while? Will anyone appreciate what I have done when I am gone? Will my children realize all I have sacrificed for them?

Look to the heavens, and hear the Word of Jehovah! His love for you is overwhelming. He is building His Kingdom on the backs of His faithful and hardworking Elder Brothers. We are the ones who must rescue our captured kinsmen.

Father: Open my heart to hearing your assuring voice, open my eyes to see your wondrous power!

Journey of the Elder Brother Day Five

Posted: September 19, 2009 in Elder Brother, god, Power of God, Prodigal God, Samuel, Saul, Uncategorized
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Elder Brothers Adulterous Woman

Woman Taken in Adultery

saul-reproached-by-samuel

Saul was an Elder Brother

As an Elder Brother, I believe we think that sometimes we can get away with disobeying the rules. We tend to think we are above the law because we are naturally so responsible and driven. We don’t want some stupid rules getting in the way of what WE THINK is important. I know the Pharisees expected everyone to obey the laws they set forth, but secretly had laws that applied only to them. Who can say whether the arrogance of the Elder Brother was masking his own secret disobedience (remember the Elder Brothers bringing the adulterous woman to Jesus)?

Saul was definitely an Elder Brother. God was testing him as he does all Elder Brothers on two points: Faith and Obedience. Faith is needed to see and know the Father’s heart. Obedience is required because the Father is the source of ALL BLESSINGS.

But Elder Brothers hate to wait. Just ask them. Always in a hurry, always moving on to the next task. Saul was kept waiting for the Prophet Samuel in 1 Sam 13. He was told to tarry “till I come”. He failed the test of faith and obedience. Elder Brothers must learn to wait upon God, and not rely upon their own resources.

Saul disobeys God

Saul Failed Tests of Faith and Obedience

Then again in 1 Samuel 15, Saul was told to destroy Amalek utterly. Everything must be destroyed. But the bleating of the sheep gave him away. Saul was acting like the Elder Brother, focusing on the THINGS and not focusing on OBEYING the FATHER! He even believed he had obeyed, because most Elder Brothers believe they follow a different set of rules.

Saul learned too late that the Father values Faith and Obedience. The younger son realized when he reached the end of himself, and came home. The Elder Brother was home, but in his own self-reliance obeyed his own set of rules, and failed by FAITH to see the Father’s heart.

Are you an Elder Brother like me? Then the two greatest tests you will face are the tests of Faith and Obedience. There is no Word from God too small to be obeyed. We must learn to empty ourselves of any self-reliance, and cling totally upon the Lord. Then we must learn to wait. Waiting is the hardest thing for Elder Brothers to do. Always give the Father ONE MORE DAY to show His Power!

Journey of the Elder Brother Day Four

Posted: September 18, 2009 in Elder Brother, god, Love, Prodigal God
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peter the elder brotherElder brothers are never lost for an opinion. Too often they shoot first and tend to the wounded second. The elder brother’s words must have hurt the father deeply. They were spoken in anger and with attitude.

Peter was an elder brother. He was quick to spout his opinion, right or wrong. His mouth often got him into trouble. How did Peter learn to be slow to speak his mind? He was interrupted by God! On the Mount of Transfiguration, God interrupted Peter and said, “This is my beloved Son, HEAR HIM!“   In Capernaum, Peter spoke quickly and committed Jesus to paying the temple tax. When he was about to tell Jesus, Jesus interrupted him and “spake first to him” to correct his false ideas on the matter. Then in Caesarea, while Peter was still preaching, the Holy Spirit shut Peter’s mouth by an amazing miracle, so that Peter’s six companions were “amazed”. Father, Son and Holy Spirit each interrupted Peter’s speech.

transfiguration-of-JesusThis elder brother, who was so quick to speak his mind, learned valuable lessons at the interruption of the Divine Trinity. This is why he could write of the value of good speech:

To sum up, you should all be of one mind living like brothers with true love and sympathy for each other, generous and courteous at all times. Never pay back a bad turn with a bad turn or an insult with another insult, but on the contrary pay back with good. For this is your calling – to do good and one day to inherit all the goodness of God. For: ‘He who would love life and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips from speaking guile: let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayers; but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil’. 1 Peter 3:8-12

peter speechPeter knew all too well that the eyes of the Lord were upon him. He had seen Him intervene when he was rushing foolishly headlong. Are you an Elder Brother like me? Learn to listen to the Lord before you speak. Be slow to speak and quick to love.

Father: Teach me that you are always listening to my speech, and to let your love guide my words.

Journey of the Elder Brother Day Three

Posted: September 17, 2009 in Elder Brother, Father's Heart, Power of God, Prodigal God, Relationship with God
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Journey of an Elder Brother Day Three

Joseph cast into pitJoseph was a younger brother, but had the characteristics of an elder brother. He was responsible, industrious, kept out of trouble. What was the driving force of Joseph that enabled him to escape the normal pitfalls of being either a lost younger or a lost elder brother? I think the driving force of Joseph was his confidence in God’s plan for his life. Joseph saw his life, no matter the place or dungeon he was in, as in the PURPOSE of GOD!

In Genesis 50:20 Joseph addresses his elder brothers: “You meant evil against me; but God meant it for good!” Earlier in chapter 45 he revealed his awareness that “God sent me before you to preserve life.” This awareness of God’s divine purpose for our life is what elder and younger brothers need to have. Jospeh God meant it for good

If we focus on ourselves, on our things as the two lost sons did, we fall away from the Father’s heart.

But when we draw near to him, whether in the pigstye or the crop field, we will see that He is accomplishing something Divine, Holy, even Loving. God has a purpose for each path He has us on. Some may resent their parents, some thier spouse, some their job, some their circumstances. God has a purpose through it all. When we focus on His heart and His purpose, we will come to our senses (our God Sense) and willingly accept His grace, His will, His plan.Prodigal God Kisses his neck

What has God planned for your life? Seek to know His heart, and He will run to you and shower you with kisses. Joseph knew this, even in the deepest, darkest dungeon. That is why he could proclaim, “God meant it for good!”

From Pathway of Blessing

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