Destination Church Spokane Podcast

We all desire to see God move in power. A good theology of His power is important - (The gates of hell cannot prevail against what he is building!) - but experiencing it tangibly in our lives is too! In Mark 1:29-39 we see Jesus moving in power in the lives of real people, bringing healing and setting people free from demonic oppression. He is moving today too in each of our lives, in our families, our communities, and the world, setting us free to serve Him; so how is he bringing freedom to your life in this season?

Is the Good News powerful enough to change us, to set us free, and to make us like Jesus?  Can Jesus really do what he says he will do in our lives?  When calls us to turn and to trust him, can he follow through with his promise?  Absolutely.

Jesus has just heard the voice of his Father declaring, "You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased," and the Spirit of God has just descended upon him.  It's time to step into powerful ministry, right?  Wrong!  It's time for a 40-day quarantine, and the Spirit "drives" Jesus into the wilderness.  He will pass every test!  God is teaching us about spiritual testing too, and strengthening us in the test.

Mark's gospel is a fast-paced, action-oriented introduction to Jesus!  Who is Jesus?  Mark tells us right away, and then sets out to demonstrate it through his account.  Jesus' disciple Peter is behind the writing of this shortest of the four gospels, and in our introduction, we see the way Peter would have taught the story of Jesus' baptism, and Heaven's voice declaring over him, "You are my beloved Son...!"

Jesus was alive!  The shock must have been stunningly heart-pounding.  This would change absolutely everything, beginning with their hearts, and then affecting their entire lives.  Jesus' resurrection from the dead is still changing hearts and lives almost 2,000 years later, awakening hearts, changing our heading, and filling us with a radical hope of eternal inclusion with Christ!  (Mark 16:1-8)

As Jesus is nearing Jerusalem he makes an unusual request, intending to ride into the city on a never-before-ridden colt, an inexperienced young animal.  This could be embarrassing if the donkey throws him, maybe even dangerous, but Jesus has a purpose.  He has a purpose in our lives too, and is seeking us out.  He knows right where we are; He considers us necessary for His purpose in the earth, and He will get glory through our lives.

What do a nationwide census, a deadly outbreak, and talk of good versus evil have in common?  Though this sounds like it could be describing current events, it's actually the final chapter of 2 Samuel.  When our "normal" is turned upside down we may not be able to control our environment, but we can respond to God well as we worship Him.

Do you currently have desires in life that seem out of reach?  David could relate.  He just wanted a drink from his favorite well, but it was currently behind enemy lines.  Three of his warriors overhear him expressing his desire, and they take it upon themselves to fulfill it!  His response in 2 Samuel 23 is a great reminder that God may be refocusing our priorities!  In the current climate around the world of self-isolation to limit the effects of Covid-19, this week's podcast is a summary of the Facebook Live episode recorded on the Destination Church Spokane Facebook page.

When Eleazar stood to face the Philistines on the same ground where David had fought Goliath years before, the battle was intense, so intense that his hand basically "froze" to his sword.  The victory was great that day, and the lessons we can learn about holding on to God's word in the battles of life are significant.  How we fight the spiritual battles of our day is truly important!  Josh Yakos from Revive Church in Missoula, Montana brings this message today, reminding us of a truth to fight for, a truth to hold, and a truth so often forgotten...

Have you ever been able to sit and listen to an older person with decades of experience in life?  David is a wise old poet, songwriter, and leader.  He may no longer be the young warrior he once was, but his wisdom is on display in the final song-poem he wrote, recorded for us in 2 Samuel 23:1-7.  We can learn much from him about humbly trusting a sovereign God, making wise decisions in the present, and leaving a legacy that enables the next generation to thrive in God's purpose for them too.

Once Roger Bannister broke the 4-minute mile barrier, now over 1,400 runners have done the same thing.  When David killed Goliath it seemed like a one-off event, but there's something inspiring about a man whose faith in God is coupled with action.  Now in the closing verses of 2 Samuel 21 we see four more descendants of the giants - FOUR! - defeated in four different battles by men who follow David.  What is it about this leader's faith that drew men into their own exploits?  His own words in chapter 22 reveal some keys to faith that multiplies.

What if God is more committed to our long-term reconciliation than to our short-term goals?  What if he is more interested in our long-term healing than our short-term success?  What if God is more interested in our long-term blessing than in our short-term budget?  These things are true, and God has plans to bless a radically reconciled people.  The question is, are we willing to reconcile, not only with God, but also with each other?  David was, and in 2 Samuel 21 we discover the power of reconciliation to bring the rains of God's blessing at just the right time.

One of the most vulnerable times in life is when we feel despised, overlooked, or under-appreciated.  In these seasons our hearts may tend to follow after worthless promises.  The good news is that there is a promise of freedom for all those who will turn to Christ from those worthless ways of living.  It was true for the people of the city of Abel in 2 Samuel 20, and it is still true today.  Together, we can find freedom in even the most difficult circumstances.

No one wants to feel like a victim, especially of someone else's sin or poor choices.  Sin does create victims, but victimhood is a deeper issue of identity.  When he is lied about and his inheritance is stripped from him, the way Mephibosheth responds in 2 Samuel 19 gives us a glimpse of true victory, found only in our King.  The gospel of Jesus Christ lifts our focus from the wrongs we've experienced to the relationship that is ours forever in Christ.

David had fled, and now his rebel son will pursue.  The decisions they make now will determine the future of the kingdom.  We can learn so much from what each of these men do, including much about God working behind the scenes of our lives, and His heart for restoration for sinners.

Would you want to know if there were warning signs that you are living out of insecurity and a wounded heart?  Absalom had a wounded heart, and the pain of his father's failures deeply impacted his life and desires.  Like Absalom, we may try to fill the brokenness of our wounded hearts in unhealthy ways, but God has a much better plan.  David's servant Ittai demonstrates a completely different attitude and approach to life that we can enjoy when our security is in Christ.  God is turning rebel hearts into secure and faithful hearts through the gospel!

The king was longing for his sinful son, but how could he bring him home?  Could God be longing for us in the same way, and can he bring us home too?  2 Samuel 14 reveals the heart of God for reconciliation with us.  Even in our dysfunction, God has a plan.  Where we've failed as parents, as children, and in other relationships.  God has a plan to reconcile broken relationships and to reconcile us to Himself.

As we step into the tragic stories of Amnon, Tamar, and Absalom, scenes of depravity and revenge take the stage.  Rape, murder, betrayal, and assassination are front and center, but can God redeem even this?  What is God's heart for sinners?  Even in the midst of King David's failures as a father, in 2 Samuel 13 we see the light of the gospel shining through the pages of Scripture.  Even at our worst, God's heart longs for His people.

David was a murderer.  Staying home at the wrong time turned into an affair, which led to a cover-up, which led to murder.  Would God reject him now?  Many today may ask the same question: "After what I've done, has God rejected me?"  As we look forward in a new era, the same God who confronted and convicted David in 2 Samuel 11-12 is calling us to find hope in his story.  There is hope, there is forgiveness, and there is a future for us in Christ!

Beginning in the second chapter of Matthew, we learn of the wise men, distant travelers drawn by a star to God's new hope: Jesus. They were foreigners, men of education and science, men of means. Unlike anyone else in the Christmas story, they were not Jewish or of Israel, reminding us that God will reveal himself to people who are like us and to people who are not like us, people who may surprise us!  In fact, the way God's sovereign and supernatural plan unfolds is very often surprising - even startling!