Frank's Bible Blog

Psalm 33-- An Unusual Sight on the Capitol Steps

It was an amazing sight. Standing on the steps of the U.S. Capitol our nation's representatives were singing God Bless America.There were Democrats, Republicans, Independents standing together and singing in unison. It happened right after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. For a period of time--although brief--we weren't identified by party or philosophical affiliation. No, we were identified as Americans. It was a good feeling, but tempered by the sadness of 3,000 of our fellow citizens losing their lives. Unfortunately it didn't take long for the unity of being American to depart and the divisiveness of labels to reemerge. When those representatives joined together in song they did so because they had something in common--they were first and foremost Americans. That fact caused them to break into song. As believers, we have many things in common regardless of the different cultures, socio-economic backgrounds, politics or other factors that might otherwise divide us. Psalm 33 tells us that we have cause for singing--not because of a tragedy but because of the power and majesty of the God that we worship and serve. Because the word of the Lord is true (v4), because He is faithful (v4), because He is loving (v5, 22), because He is all-knowing (vv 10, 13, 14, 15), because He is the Creator (vv6,7,9), because He lives and stands forever (v11), and because He defends and delivers us (vv18-21), we can join together in song. We must remember that we are first and foremost Christians and in unison praise the Lord with our lips and with our lives. We must remember the call for us to live righteously and lead our nations to do the same because "Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord" (v12).

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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com.

Psalm 20-- Leaders with Praying Followers

We often talk about praying for our leaders, whether they are political officials, church leaders, or our boss at work. We need to pray for those who lead us, but what if we are in some kind of leadership role? Do we have people praying for us? If so, what are they praying? The kind of leader you are influences the types of prayers that followers can pray for you. A great example of this is Psalm 20, written by David while he was king of Israel. Although David penned this psalm and set it to music, it really was the prayer of the people he led concerning him. This psalm is how David's followers prayed for him. Notice a couple specific things in this prayer that reflect on David's leadership. They prayed that God would remember the offerings and sacrifices that David had brought to the Lord (v3). They had seen David's example when it came to sacrificing for the Lord. They knew he was someone who brought his best to the Lord. They prayed that God would give David his heart's desire and fulfill all of his plans (v4). They knew their leader's heart sought after God's heart and that he pursued God's plans above his own. They also knew David was a man of prayer (v5) and that he prayed the kinds of prayers that they would want answered. Thanks to David's example, the people had learned to put their trust in the Lord, not in their armies, military weapons, or anything else (v7). They had all of those things--but they knew ultimately that only God could deliver. They also knew that David was a leader responsive to their needs and concerns (v9). This chapter, then, begs the question, "What kind of leaders are we?" Are we the kind of leaders that exemplify godly sacrifices? Are our hearts set on things above and not on the earth? Do we seek God's direction first rather than planning first and asking Him to bless our plans later? Are we mature in our praying? Do we encourage others to grow in their faith? Are we cognizant of the needs and concerns of those we are leading? Maybe there is even a more basic question--do we desire and seek the prayers of others that we might be great leaders? These are some great questions for every leader to ponder.

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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com.

Psalm 63-- Nothing Like a Good Buffet

I like a good buffet.

I know they probably aren't the best for you because it is easy to over-eat, but I still like them. I like variety. I like picking out exactly what I want. I like eating as much as I want for the same price. I like not having to eat something if I don't like it and the ability to easily substitute it for something else.

Now, I don't like just any buffet.

I don't like buffets where the food has been sitting under heat lamps for hours. I don't like buffets that don't have much variety. I don't like buffets where they sacrifice quality for quantity. But I do like good buffets! I like buffets that leave me satisfied knowing I got a good value while enjoying something delicious.

Did you know God is like a good buffet? At least, that's how I view David's words in Psalm 63:5 when he said to the Lord, "My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods."

David had reached an incredibly soul-satisfying place in his relationship with God. David had discovered that God's love was better than life itself (v3). When David began to taste and see the full magnitude of God's goodness it moved him to action. Notice what he said to God:

• I seek you (v1)
• I see you (v2)
• I behold your glory (v2)
• I glorify you (v3)
• I praise you (v4)
• I lift up my hands in your name (v4)
• I'm satisfied with you (v5
• I sing to you (v5)
• I remember you (v6)
• I wake up thinking about you (v6)
• I sing in your shadow (v7)
• I cling to you (v8)
• I rejoice in you (v11)

Wow! When your soul gets to the place where it experiences the full satisfaction of living in God's presence you cannot help but take action. You cannot keep silent. Your thoughts are filled with thoughts of the Lord and you burst out with praise. You are consumed with Him.

How did David reach that level? "Earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water" (v1). When you and I desire God as much as we desire water in the middle of a desert heat wave, then we too will have that kind of soul-satisfying relationship.

And that's better than the best buffet you can find anywhere in this world.

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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com.

Psalm 33-- An Unusual Sight on the Capitol Steps

It was an amazing sight. Standing on the steps of the U.S. Capitol our nation's representatives were singing God Bless America.There were Democrats, Republicans, Independents standing together and singing in unison. It happened right after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. For a period of time--although brief--we weren't identified by party or philosophical affiliation. No, we were identified as Americans. It was a good feeling, but tempered by the sadness of 3,000 of our fellow citizens losing their lives. Unfortunately it didn't take long for the unity of being American to depart and the divisiveness of labels to reemerge. When those representatives joined together in song they did so because they had something in common--they were first and foremost Americans. That fact caused them to break into song. As believers, we have many things in common regardless of the different cultures, socio-economic backgrounds, politics or other factors that might otherwise divide us. Psalm 33 tells us that we have cause for singing--not because of a tragedy but because of the power and majesty of the God that we worship and serve. Because the word of the Lord is true (v4), because He is faithful (v4), because He is loving (v5, 22), because He is all-knowing (vv 10, 13, 14, 15), because He is the Creator (vv6,7,9), because He lives and stands forever (v11), and because He defends and delivers us (vv18-21), we can join together in song. We must remember that we are first and foremost Christians and in unison praise the Lord with our lips and with our lives. We must remember the call for us to live righteously and lead our nations to do the same because "Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord" (v12).

_________________________

Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com.

Psalm 20-- Leaders with Praying Followers

We often talk about praying for our leaders, whether they are political officials, church leaders, or our boss at work. We need to pray for those who lead us, but what if we are in some kind of leadership role? Do we have people praying for us? If so, what are they praying? The kind of leader you are influences the types of prayers that followers can pray for you. A great example of this is Psalm 20, written by David while he was king of Israel. Although David penned this psalm and set it to music, it really was the prayer of the people he led concerning him. This psalm is how David's followers prayed for him. Notice a couple specific things in this prayer that reflect on David's leadership. They prayed that God would remember the offerings and sacrifices that David had brought to the Lord (v3). They had seen David's example when it came to sacrificing for the Lord. They knew he was someone who brought his best to the Lord. They prayed that God would give David his heart's desire and fulfill all of his plans (v4). They knew their leader's heart sought after God's heart and that he pursued God's plans above his own. They also knew David was a man of prayer (v5) and that he prayed the kinds of prayers that they would want answered. Thanks to David's example, the people had learned to put their trust in the Lord, not in their armies, military weapons, or anything else (v7). They had all of those things--but they knew ultimately that only God could deliver. They also knew that David was a leader responsive to their needs and concerns (v9). This chapter, then, begs the question, "What kind of leaders are we?" Are we the kind of leaders that exemplify godly sacrifices? Are our hearts set on things above and not on the earth? Do we seek God's direction first rather than planning first and asking Him to bless our plans later? Are we mature in our praying? Do we encourage others to grow in their faith? Are we cognizant of the needs and concerns of those we are leading? Maybe there is even a more basic question--do we desire and seek the prayers of others that we might be great leaders? These are some great questions for every leader to ponder.

_____________
Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at http://www.maxpoint.org/maxpoint/message_board.

Philippians 3-- Focusing the Binoculars

I have a hard time getting binoculars to focus right for me. It seems that by the time I get both eyes into focus, whatever I hoped to see is long gone. But if I can somehow manage to get it into focus quickly, then I am able to see so much better and farther than with my naked eyes. I was in Alaska and spotted bald eagles way up in the sky wanted to watch them fly to their nest. That time, however, I was able to get things focused and followed the majestic birds to their nest. This is a lot like life. We know there is more than what we see at the moment, but often have a hard time bringing it into focus. Philippians 3 is very much about the power of focus and how it can revolutionize our lives. Here are seven things we can do to bring focus and enable our lives to have greater perspective. First, rejoice in the Lord (v1). Be happy! Sing of His goodness! Be optimistic not pessimistic. Second, beware of those who would steal your focus and place it onto false doctrines or selfish ambitions (vv2-4). Third, get your eyes off your resume'--don't focus on your personal accomplishments but on Christ (vv4-9). Next, don't let a day go by that you don't reflect on what Christ did for you on the cross (vv10-11). Fifth, leave the past in the past (v13). Sixth, know the goal (vv12-14)--glorifying Christ by fulfiling our unique mission on this earth. Finally, don't forget where your citizenship lies. As followers of Christ, we are citizens of heaven (v20) and should act accordingly. These are seven things better than binoculars that can bring clear focus to our lives!

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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at www.maxpoint.org/message_board.

Revelation 15-- Breaking into a Song

I'll admit it--I can't sing. Well, I can sing, just not in a way that anyone else would want to hear! Don't get me wrong, I like to sing. I'm just not very good at it. Whether you have the kind of voice that people would pay money to hear, or you have the kind that would cause others to cringe, we all can have a song in our heart because of what Christ has done for us. In Revelation 15 we see those saved during the Tribulation break into a song just as God is ready to pour out His final judgment on the earth. They sang an "old song" identified as the "song of Moses" (v3), a reference to Moses' song in either Exodus 15 or Deuteronomy 32, and a "new song", the "song of the Lamb." Part of their song looked back on how God had preserved Israel, and the other part looked ahead to Christ's ultimate glorification among the nations. This is the kind of song that should fill our hearts today. We look back in thanksgiving and praise for all God has done in our lives, and we look forward with adoration for all that God is going to accomplish both in our lives and in the world. In both instances, we remember that God is, above everything else, holy (v4). So, regardless of how well you can sing, you can have a song in your heart today as you meditate on the Lord God Almighty.
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Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential. Please forward this blog to your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com. If you would like to share a comment about today's blog, you may do so at www.maxpoint.org/message_board.