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Beloved: Preparation & Power | Pastor Josiah Elias


Pastor Josiah described what FC culture meant to him: praying, lingering in the presence of the LORD, and studying the Word. He announced two staff additions-Pastor Michel Espinoza as the new children’s pastor and Jennifer Segura as the new assistant to Pastor Josiah. Both of these people bring so much to the table spiritually and professionally.

As Pastor began the sermon, he again mentioned Saul who had so much potential, but David was beloved and that was his identity. You are beloved of God, and His depth of love for you is incredible. What God feels about you if you incorporate it in your identity affects those around you. Sometimes we believe what God does not believe about us. For example


You say, “I feel unloved,” but He says,” I love you.”

You say “I feel unimportant,” and He says, “You are the apple of my eye.”

Psalm 17:8

Though your feelings are valid, the Word explains how your Abba Father feels about you. His

view “of you should dominate anything else you think or believe about yourself.” His

Word might be the agent that pulls you out of your dysfunctional moment. We need to choose to

believe what He says about us. When we believe it, we will change. “This is not wishful

thinking; it’s active faith.

Pastor Josiah brought us back to Saul and David. Saul was full of hope until he began to follow

his own ideas and desires. He had a political identity, was his people’s choice, and his name

meant ”desired.” David went God’s way; his name meant “beloved;” and his identity gave him a

platform. In 1 Samuel 16:13, Samuel “took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of

his brothers; and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward.” David

was anointed king, and then Samuel left. What did David do as the future king? He returned to

the fields and herded the sheep. He did not flaunt his new position over his older brothers. “It

takes trust and humility to know something great is coming but not to rush it.” David’s

“willingness to serve at the lowest level with the sheep only further qualified his heart to

be king.” David’s faithfulness in the little tasks and situations trained him to be faithful in the

bigger events. “Your faithfulness over little things is not to test your managerial skills; it’s

to prove your heart.”

Looking at Jesus’ life, He prepared thirty years. Imagine Jesus:

“At twenty five years old, Jesus asked God,’Now?’ God said, ‘Not yet.’

At twenty seven years old, Jesus asked,’Now?’ God said,’Not yet.’

At twenty nine years old, Jesus asked,’Now?’ God said,’Not yet.’”

Just as Jesus had a season of preparation, you may be going though one. “When the path of

preparation is intense, it may be because the destiny is all the more intense.” Embrace

the season of preparation. For what are you being prepared?

After thirty years of preparation, Jesus ministered for three and a half years. During His ministry,

the blind saw, the lame walked, the lepers were healed. He changed lives. Then He took several

tests. When Jesus was in the Garden of Gethsemane, He stood strong. When the religious

leaders grilled Him all through the night, He did not succumb. When Jesus hung on the cross,


He did not call a legion of angels down to save Him. He hung there, died, was buried and

defeated death.

Do not be afraid of the testing. It shows your heart’s condition and of what you are made.

“Beloved identity protects the heart from corruption.” What does this statement mean? If

you realize in your heart that you are truly the LORD’s beloved and you totally rest in that

identity, then that promotion, singing opportunity, or desired position that you missed do not

destroy you or bring anger, faultfinding, revenge or jealousy. These are symptoms of a

corrupted heart and a distorted identity. When you know who you are, the beloved, you are

already content. Yes, your feelings may be hurt, but the major point is that you know how much

the LORD loves you. You are His beloved, and He protects you. “Our time table may not be

His time table.” Letting the LORD’s timetable be your timetable releases you from being in

charge.

Because of Saul’s disobedience and arrogance, the LORD left Saul. “But the Spirit of the

LORD departed from Saul, and a distressing spirit from the LORD troubled him.”

1 Samuel 16:14 (NKJV) “There is no neutrality with God.” This point is reiterated in Luke

11:23 “Anyone who isn’t with me opposes me, and anyone who isn’t working with me is

actually working against me.” (NLT) Our actions illustrate our hearts’ direction. If we do not

stand firmly, we give the enemy room to enter in.

Saul was haunted and so distressed. 1 Samuel 16:18


“Then one of the servants answered and said,’Look, I have

seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, who is skillful in playing,

a mighty man of valor, a man of war, prudent in speech, and a

handsome person; and the LORD is with him.” (NKJV)


The paramount point is “Beloved identity proudly says,’The most significant thing about

me…is Him.’” The Spirit of the LORD was evident on David and can be on each of us who

accepts the beloved identity in our hearts. We can act supernaturally when we know we are

truly beloved. For example, humanly if a person has been critical of me or one of my loved

ones, it is humanly tough to forgive and pray for that offender. However, the LORD asked us to

turn the other cheek. I cannot do that without the Holy Spirit’s help, guidance and intercession

for me. Then supernaturally I can react like Jesus did. 1John 4:19 “We love because He first

loved us.” (NASB) David was marked with love. May we be marked with love too.

When we can release more and more of our egos, desires, and distractions, and invite Jesus

Christ into our thoughts, hearts, minds, and souls, we can believe we are beloved and live as

beloved to be salt and light in this troubled world.


Calendar:

9/10-Volunteer Celebration Luau 6:00 in the Activity Center

9/22-LB potluck, worship and Meet to Swap

9/29-Men’s CORE meeting


Submitted by

Larry and Annette Linthicum

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