I’m Ready Series #2, The Power Of Community

I’m Ready Series #2, The Power Of Community
By: D. Karl Thomas

Psalm 57 (NKJV) – Prayer for Safety from Enemies – To the Chief Musician. Set to “Do Not Destroy.” A Michtam (a psalm as precious as stamped gold) of David when he fled from Saul into the cave.

Psalm 57:1 “Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me! For my soul trusts in You; And in the shadow of Your wings I will make my refuge, Until these calamities have passed by.”

Psalm 91:1 He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.”

Psalm 57:7 (KJV) “My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing and give praise.”

“fixed” (kûwn) :– to be firm, be stable, be established, to be ready, prepared

Psalm 57:7 (MSG) “I’m ready, God, so ready, ready from head to toe. Ready to sing, ready to raise a tune:”

Acts 20:24 “ … But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.” Your things may be different form my things … but we are not move by things!!!

1 Samuel 22:1-2 “David therefore departed from there and escaped to the cave of Adullam. … And everyone who was in distress, everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was discontented gathered to him. So he became captain over them.”

Adullam:– “justice of the people” — (Place where David killed Goliath)

In a time of trouble David went and made God his refuge and dwelling place here in Adullam, justice of the people.

1 Chonicles 12:22 “For at that time they came to David day by day to help him, until it was a great army, like the army of God.”

During this time of constant conflict David grew strong community. The Community grew strong!!!

DAVIDS MIGHTY MEN!!! 1 Chonicles 11:10 Now these were the heads of the mighty men whom David had, who strengthened themselves with him in his kingdom, with all Israel, to make him king, according to the word of the Lord concerning Israel.

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 “Blessed be … the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.”

The Church Saved Me! Community Saved Me! His Body nurtured His Divine Deposit in me.

I know that it is Jesus who saves … it is by grace through faith … gift of the Father born from above … but if people near me were not manifesting the incarnation I’m not sure I would have made it.

Titus 3:1-8 “Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men. For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another. But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men.”