DETERMINATION - July 29 Today's Perspective

PERSPECTIVES FROM DAVID'S 7 SECRETS
Chapter 5  "All"  pp. 74-75

STAY WITH IT

Today I am with Colin Hearn; opera singer, actor (Laurel and Hardy opening soon in London), director of 22 Continental tours, including British and Latin Continentals, and directed 3 years of Jeremiah People, and currently part of a professional acting group in the U.S.

Colin is someone who has stayed with it. No matter what doors were slammed or walls built, he has said, "Yes, I'll go and do whatever you want" when God called him.  And guess what? The Lord wanted to use his talents and special gifts. 

Some people feel that if they surrender "all" to The Lord, He will ask them to do something they are not suited for or have to go somewhere they will be unhappy and their lives would be miserable.  (Reminds me of a Scott Wesley Brown song, "Please don't send me to Africa!)


God is full of wisdom and He wants you to be both fruitful and happy.  Jesus said this in John 15:16 "You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit...."

David ended up being a lot of things. Who knows what his dreams were while watching those sheep, learning to sling and practicing his harp.  Probably not of killing a giant, leading an army and putting his life in constant danger or becoming the greatest king in Israel's history.  Oh, and he wrote great praise songs right up until he died at 70.

You are chosen.  The Lord is interested in using your gifts just as much as He is the greatest preachers or evangelists or any hero from the past.  The apostle Paul said it like this in Ephesians 4: 11 and 16, "It was He who gave some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers... From Him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work."

Decide to be all that The Lord wants you to be.  Know that your path will be strewn with potholes and detours, but determine to use what you have been given and...

STAY WITH IT,

GOD WILL BLESS IT

BE LED - July 27 Today's Perspective

PERSPECTIVES FROM DAVID’S 7 SECRETS

Chapter 5  “All” p. 72

BE LED

The question was, “How did the Continentals start?”  Then, “Where did you get the idea?”  An hour later, after divulging my life story to the Mexican Continentals, the bottom line was the same as it’s always been, “I focused on making myself available to whatever God wanted from my life.   I wanted to make a difference.  I spent time every day during my college years telling the Lord these things.  I meant it.  I wanted Him to use me.” 

I went to every Deeper Life meeting and event I could find and, as a result, I listened to many of the great men God had used to do amazing things.  Stephen Olford, (Olford of London) left me with “totalitarian surrender”. That was 60 years ago and the phrase still reverberates in my heart and motivates me.  The Lord gives us ideas and lays out His plans to achieve them.

God wants to use you, too, and if you ask Him to, He will.  It’s a prayer he always answers.  It may not end up a global ministry, but it will be powerful and effective if you follow God’s leading. He uses people like you and me.

I have just been with the Mexican Continentals.  Here is a picture with Ross (Rosalba), their Director.

She has her own business as a graphic designer and is taking time off to reach people for Christ through a music ministry.  Here is a brief video of her preaching during their concert followed by a picture of people making their decision to follow Jesus Christ.  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=at93uHmwR_I

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w79BXP0n-3Y

God is using Ross - she is being led. Pray for this Continental tour as they sing and make a difference throughout the Mexico City area right now.

David said in Psalm 143:10, “Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good spirit lead me on level ground.”  And in Psalm 27:11, “Teach me your way, O Lord; lead me in a straight path.”  David knew about bumps in the road and he encountered them almost every day that God was leading him.  It kept his eyes on the Lord and it didn’t stop him from going forward either.

   

ASK THE LORD TO KEEP YOUR PATH 

STRAIGHT AND LEVEL!

TESTIFY #2 - July 26 Today's Perspective (from Mexico)

PERSPECTIVES FROM DAVID’S SEVEN SECRETS

Chapter 8, “You Can Do This”  P.104

MORE TESTIMONIES

Yesterday I reminded all of us about David’s desire to testify about God’s greatness “to the whole assembly” which of course was everyone.  He organized and appointed hundreds of worship leaders during his time as King and ordered the use of singers and instruments.  “All these men were under the supervision of their fathers for the music of the temple of the Lord, with cymbals, lyres and harps, for the ministry at the house of God…All of them trained and skilled in music for the Lord--they numbered 288.” 

I Chronicles 25:5-7.

Here are some more pictures and video of the Mexican Continentals, just on tour today starting in Mexico City - a small team also trained and skilled in music testifying and sharing about their upcoming tour in Mexico.

I am standing with the Mexican Continentals in front of the great pyramid of Teotihuacan built by the descendants of the Aztecs 8,000 years ago who were sun worshippers. These Continentals are worshippers and testify to the greatness of the Son of God who created the sun!

At the top of the pyramid

Our wonderful Mexican Continental team "Cantantes Continentales de Mexico" 

with Lum their director.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOr0N6bGj80

They are going out presenting the good news of Jesus Christ in a wonderful musical program. These verses from 2 Timothy 1:7 & 8 capture the spirit of this group and all those who carry the message of Christ “For God did not give us a spirit of timidity but a spirit of love and self-discipline so do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord…”

PRAY FOR GOD’S SPECIAL BLESSING ON “ROSALBA” THEIR TOUR LEADER AND MUSICAL DIRECTOR AND THE WHOLE TEAM.

TESTIFY - July 25 Today's Perspective

PERSPECTIVES FROM DAVID’S 7 SECRETS

Chapter Eight “You Can Do This” p. 104A

TESTIMONY

David gave us this example from Psalm 40:8-10, “I desire to do Your will, O my God; Your law is within my heart.  I proclaim righteousness in the great assembly; I do not seal my lips, as You know, O Lord.  I do not hide Your righteousness in my heart; I speak of Your faithfulness and salvation.”

The Apostle Paul told us in 2 Corinthians 5:17 and 20, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come.  We are, therefore, Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us.”

Today I am with the Mexican Continentals in Mexico City!  I heard them sing yesterday morning in an anniversary celebration for the church where they were performing.  They are having a powerful ministry down here through their music and their testimonies.

Here are some pictures and videos from yesterday and today.  Enjoy!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQ80GyAOcgg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vviNijgCZVk

This is our calling…. You performers remember what this was like!

NOW IT’S YOUR TURN,

WITH OR WITHOUT THE MUSIC!

ENDURANCE - July 20 Today's Perspective

PERSPECTIVES FROM DAVID’S 7 SECRETS

Chapter Eight, “You Can Do This” p. 101

HANGIN’ IN

Endurance is different from determination or perseverance because it implies going through some kind of pain, hurt, anguish, or some difficulty that looms just ahead, or is already coming against you. It means you have made the decision to face it head on, whatever it is, or however hard it might be.

If you are a high altitude mountain climber, you have decided to endure cold, lack of sleep, to risk your life, and go for the summit.  Athletes also make decisions to be willing to endure the hours of extreme training, beyond hurt, to be successful.

David endured lots of hardships following the call God put on his life. Not the least of which was finding himself in physical danger most days of his life.  The worst had to be going through the rebellion of his son, Absalom, who had determined to kill his father and take over the kingdom.  David endured because he knew God would never abandon him as he wrote in Psalm 138:8, “The Lord will fulfill His purpose for me; Your love, O Lord, endures forever- - do not abandon the works of Your hands.”

The apostle Paul was teaching young Timothy when he told him, “Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Jesus Christ.” 2 Tim 2:3 and again in 4:5, “But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.”  The implication is that ministry is hard, and we must endure, because we know the Lord will not abandon us.

There is another kind of endurance that simply means “something that will last forever”.  Only God is part of that one. Jesus said, “Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you” John 6:27.

The apostle Peter has the final word on this, speaking of Jesus Christ he said, “For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and ENDURING Word of God” I Peter 1:23.

        

DECIDE TO ENDURE,

FOREVER IS ON YOUR SIDE

POWER - July 13 Today's Perspective

PERSPECTIVES FROM DAVID’S 7 SECRETS

Chapter One, “Bring on the Giants.” P.4

THE POWER IS THE HOLY SPIRIT

As a young man full of desire to be all that God wanted me to be, I truly believed I could do anything.  Give me a challenge and I would get it done.  If someone said, “You can’t,” I would say, “Watch me.”  It was bold, youthful folly in some ways, and absolutely full of belief in others.  I really meant it, and whatever the task, I gave it my all.

About that same time, Thurlow Spurr (who was mentoring me) said, “you can work 90% and inspire 10% or you can inspire 90% and work 10%.”  Learning that saved me some time in getting things done!  That, along with the more mature discovery that if you wanted to make a difference for Christ in this world, you had to learn to depend and surrender your will to the Holy Spirit.  He is the true inspirer and that’s where the power is.  Once I realized this truth, the Lord was able to use my energy for His plan.

David’s power throughout his whole life came at his anointing as a youth.  Once Samuel had gathered all of Jesse’s sons and the Lord confirmed that the youngest, David, was to be the next king, 1 Sam.16:13 says, “So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the Lord came upon David in power.”

You have untapped power available to you today as well.  In Acts 1:8 Jesus said to his followers, “…you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be My witness…”.  Jesus made it clear that to have the Holy Spirit in your life, you need to ask for Him to come in.  “If you then know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”  Luke 11:13

That’s the prayer we need to pray every day.  In 1987, the Continentals toured the musical, ELIJAH.  The big song was called “Power”.  Here are the lyrics of the chorus:  

“There is power when you pray, 

power when you stay 

on your knees thru the night; 

when you wait for the answer to come 

even after the morning light.  

There is power when you pray 

the impossible away, 

believe and receive.  

There is power when God’s people pray.”  

Now that you know where the power comes from,

ASK GOD TO FILL YOU 

WITH HIS HOLY SPIRIT

SERVANT ATTITUDE - July 12 Today's Perspective

PERSPECTIVES FROM DAVID’S 7 SECRETS

Chapter One, “Bring on the Giants,” pp. 1-2

THE SERVANT 

ATTITUDE    

                 

The truth is, we like the idea, but throughout the day we really do not think of ourselves as servants.  We want to be the leaders, the proprietors!

The thing is, if the top business owners or managers, the top salesman, the most famous singers, or most recognized actors or athletes had a servant attitude, people would be astounded and work harder or admire even more.  It’s a strange truth.

When you consider the greatest person who ever lived, the servant attitude does come to mind.  Jesus talked about it and even acted it out for his disciples to emulate.  He said in Matthew 20:26-28, “…whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant…just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.”  Then a couple chapters later in 23:11 he repeats, “The greatest among you will be your servant.”

Later at the last supper He washed His disciple’s feet as an example for them to do likewise.   I have seen and heard of many Continental directors who did the same, and washed the feet of their tour members to help them realize none were any better than the other.  The spotlight operator was as important as the finest soloist.

David’s title for Psalm 18 and 36 were as follows, “For the director of music. Of David, the servant of the Lord.”  Wow, how cool is that!  Then, in Psalm 143: 11-12 he writes. “For Your Name’s sake, O Lord, preserve my life…for I am Your servant.” And in Psalm 144:9-10 he says, “I will sing a new song to You, O God; on the ten-stringed lyre I will make music to You, to the One who gives victory to kings, who delivers His servant David from the deadly sword.”

In 1978, we recorded a song by Larry Norman that really dug deep into the hearts of all The Continentals that toured that year, developing the servant attitude in each one.  The last verse says… 

“I am a servant getting ready for my part. 

There’s been a change, 

a rearrangement in my heart.  

At last, I’m learning, 

there’s no returning once I start.  

To live’s a privilege, 

to love is such an art.  

But I need Your help to start, 

O, please purify my heart.  

I am Your servant.”

HAVE A SERVANT HEART