New Life Church An Oasis of Love
with Pastor Marti and Jessica McGrail
Know Your Position (3/27/2011) Know Your Position One day David asked, “Is anyone in Saul family still alive-anyone to whom I can show kindness for Jonathan’s sake?'' (2 Samuel 9:1) David and Jonathan had a covenant friendship. Years after Jonathan and his father, King Saul were killed in a battle, David asked his servants if Jonathan had any relatives that were still alive. He wanted to do something good for them. And they told him that Jonathan had a small, crippled son who was still living. Mephibosheth was living in extreme poverty in one of the dirtiest, most run-down cities in that area. He was the grandson of the king, with rights and privileges because of the covenant David had had with his father. But the problem was that he didn't understand what it meant. He didn't think he deserved David's favor. After all, his grandfather, King Saul, had chased David through the wilderness for years. On top of that, this young man was a cripple. He had so much coming against him, he had just settled for mediocrity. He had convinced himself that was all he deserved. But David said to his servant I want you to go get this young man so I can be good to him because of his father. And not only that, l'm going to give him back all the land that belonged to his family. When Mephilbosheth came in and first greeted David, he bowed his head low and said, “Oh, David, why would you take in a dead dog like me?'' There was his problem. He saw himself defeated. He saw himself as a failure. He had already made plans to stay in mediocrity. He came from the right bloodline, but because he didn’t understand what covenant meant, he was living in defeat. I wonder how many of us do the same thing? “Marty, I’ll never be successful. I come from the wrong family.” Or, ''l've got disabilities like that young man. l've got some bad habits, some addictions. l've had them so long, I don't think l'll ever overcome.'' No, you've got to get a new image on the inside. You are the seed of Abraham. Two thousand years ago, God put in you the bloodline of a champion. You have victory flowing all through your veins. You’re a part of the covenant. You have rights and privileges' Don't go around thinking about what you don't deserve and all the mistakes you've made. The fact is none of us really deserve God's favor. lt's not because of what we've done. lt’s because of what Jesus did. lt doesn't please God for us to go around with that old weak ''worm of the dust'' mentality. No, Jesus has made us worthy. The price has already been paid for us to live in victory. Let’s rise up and start believing in the great things God has in store. I heard somebody say, ''lf we really understood our position, then we could change our condition.” ln other words, we have to recognize that we are children of the Most high God. He has crowned us with His glory and honor. He's surrounded us with favor like a shield. We are blessed; we are equipped; we are anointed; we are empowered; we are called; we are chosen. We have a high position. Now our condition may vary. When we examine our condition, it may be very much like Mephibosheth's. So let's learn from him. He could have just settled for mediocrity, defeat, lack, and addictions. But one day this young man said, ''l will arise and go back to my father's house.” Once he finally understood his position, he was able to change his condition. |
