Seven Truths Every Child of God Must Know. 1

1 - What you can tolerate, you cannot change.

There was a man, working 50 to 60 hours a week. He could not pay his bills. He was getting behind. He was missing out a lot of his Family experiences. He gave in one day, and went to Church with his Wife. he heard the message of Salvation. He Prayed. He became a child of God.

He continued to work this Job when an opening came up. A Manager left. Here is a chance for a promotion, raise, and he could not wait to go home and Pray about it. "God, you know I'm working myself to death. I have been with this company for 15 years. You know that it is not meeting my needs. I'm missing my Family. I'm tired all the time. I really need this promotion. I really need this raise. Your Word declares that if I trust in you, my needs will be met. So God, I'm asking you to give me this promotion. You know I've earned it."

So he goes into work the next day excited. He can't wait. He goes in to find a Pink Slip. Not only did he not get the promotion or raise, he got fired. He goes home broken, sad, and furious with God. "This is how you take care of your children? This is how you answer prayers? What kind of God are you?" God, patiently waits for him to stop yelling, and says to him, "Can I ask you a question?" "You just did. I'm not sure I want to answer you. You didn't answer me." God says, "Yes I did." The man says "Yeah? HOW? I didn't get the raise. I didn't get the promotion. Now I do not even have a job. It wasn't paying everything, but it was better than nothing." God said, "You were working yourself to death. You were tired all the time. You were missing your family. The pay was not even enough to pay your bills. How can you get a better Job until you lose the one you got?"

You see, the man was tolerating the job he had. He could not change it, as long as he was tolerating it.

A Wife is in an abusive relationship. Her Husband is an Alcoholic, and psychically abusive. Yet, when he get's into trouble, she bails him out. When the Police show, she never presses charges. She buys his Beer. She works two jobs to make sure that she has money to take care of him. She constantly tells her friends she wants out. Yet she stays.

She is tolerating her circumstance. Therefore, she cannot change it.

For years, the Jews tolerated Egyptian Rule over them. They just accepted it as the way it is. Then born into the world, a man named Moses.

Exodus 2:

1 And there went a man of the house of Levi, and took to wife a daughter of Levi.

2 And the woman conceived, and bare a son: and when she saw him that he was a goodly child, she hid him three months.

3 And when she could not longer hide him, she took for him an ark of bulrushes, and daubed it with slime and with pitch, and put the child therein; and she laid it in the flags by the river's brink.

4 And his sister stood afar off, to wit what would be done to him.

5 And the daughter of Pharaoh came down to wash herself at the river; and her maidens walked along by the river's side; and when she saw the ark among the flags, she sent her maid to fetch it.

6 And when she had opened it, she saw the child: and, behold, the babe wept. And she had compassion on him, and said, This is one of the Hebrews' children.

7 Then said his sister to Pharaoh's daughter, Shall I go and call to thee a nurse of the Hebrew women, that she may nurse the child for thee?

8 And Pharaoh's daughter said to her, Go. And the maid went and called the child's mother.

9 And Pharaoh's daughter said unto her, Take this child away, and nurse it for me, and I will give thee thy wages. And the women took the child, and nursed it.

10 And the child grew, and she brought him unto Pharaoh's daughter, and he became her son. And she called his name Moses: and she said, Because I drew him out of the water.

11 And it came to pass in those days, when Moses was grown, that he went out unto his brethren, and looked on their burdens: and he spied an Egyptian smiting an Hebrew, one of his brethren.

Now Moses is Pharaoh's Daughter's Child. This means that Moses is a Grandson of Pharaoh. Yet, remember, his own ACTUAL Mother is the one who raised him. So he knew the truth of who he was. Notice here how he was not working. He was observing the workers. He witnessed the abuse and decided that he would not tolerate it.

12 And he looked this way and that way, and when he saw that there was no man, he slew the Egyptian, and hid him in the sand.

13 And when he went out the second day, behold, two men of the Hebrews strove together: and he said to him that did the wrong, Wherefore smitest thou thy fellow?

14 And he said, Who made thee a prince and a judge over us? intendest thou to kill me, as thou killedst the Egyptian? And Moses feared, and said, Surely this thing is known.

15 Now when Pharaoh heard this thing, he sought to slay Moses. But Moses fled from the face of Pharaoh, and dwelt in the land of Midian: and he sat down by a well.

So he did what he thought he had to do. Those that he stood up for, went to told Pharaoh what Moses had done. Why? They were so use to tolerating their circumstance, they saw it as the norm. They became fearful. They didn't like their circumstances, but the tolerated them. It cost Moses everything. Uh, in a Worldly sense.

16 Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters: and they came and drew water, and filled the troughs to water their father's flock.

17 And the shepherds came and drove them away: but Moses stood up and helped them, and watered their flock.

18 And when they came to Reuel their father, he said, How is it that ye are come so soon to day?

19 And they said, An Egyptian delivered us out of the hand of the shepherds, and also drew water enough for us, and watered the flock.

20 And he said unto his daughters, And where is he? why is it that ye have left the man? call him, that he may eat bread.

21 And Moses was content to dwell with the man: and he gave Moses Zipporah his daughter.

22 And she bare him a son, and he called his name Gershom: for he said, I have been a stranger in a strange land.

23 And it came to pass in process of time, that the king of Egypt died: and the children of Israel sighed by reason of the bondage, and they cried, and their cry came up unto God by reason of the bondage.

24 And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob.

25 And God looked upon the children of Israel, and God had respect unto them.

You know the story. Because Moses was not tolerate of the circumstance of his people, God knew He could use him. Even if Moses didn't understand or agree he was worth anything, God knew Moses would accomplish what God wanted him to do, and the world changed.

Look at David. The youngest of all his brothers. A small, scrawny, boy. One who his family left behind to Shepard their flocks while they went off to war with the Philistines.

1 Samuel 17:

1 Now the Philistines gathered together their armies to battle, and were gathered together at Shochoh, which belongeth to Judah, and pitched between Shochoh and Azekah, in Ephesdammim.

2 And Saul and the men of Israel were gathered together, and pitched by the valley of Elah, and set the battle in array against the Philistines.

3 And the Philistines stood on a mountain on the one side, and Israel stood on a mountain on the other side: and there was a valley between them.

4 And there went out a champion out of the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span.

Now there is a bit of debate about this. Six Cubits Translates to 9 feet tall. Some manuscripts say he was 8 foot. some say 6 foot 9. Even 6 foot nine would be a Giant to the normal size people of the day. But none of that matters. The truth is he was a giant to those there, and that he was a "Man of War" from birth. No one, even his own, dared to challenge him. He was feared by all.

5 And he had an helmet of brass upon his head, and he was armed with a coat of mail; and the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of brass.

6 And he had greaves of brass upon his legs, and a target of brass between his shoulders.

7 And the staff of his spear was like a weaver's beam; and his spear's head weighed six hundred shekels of iron: and one bearing a shield went before him.

That must of been a sight. Here is this Warrior stand there, alone, challenging anyone from the Jewish Army to come fight him.

8 And he stood and cried unto the armies of Israel, and said unto them, Why are ye come out to set your battle in array? am not I a Philistine, and ye servants to Saul? choose you a man for you, and let him come down to me.

9 If he be able to fight with me, and to kill me, then will we be your servants: but if I prevail against him, and kill him, then shall ye be our servants, and serve us.

10 And the Philistine said, I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we may fight together.

11 When Saul and all Israel heard those words of the Philistine, they were dismayed, and greatly afraid.

Really picture this. Get what Goliath just said. He said that the Armies do not even need to fight. He said send ONE man to fight with him, and whoever wins the fight between Goliath and the ONE man, wins the fight between the two armies. Instead of Saul taking him up on this, he was a afraid and did nothing. This went on for FORTY Days.

12 Now David was the son of that Ephrathite of Bethlehemjudah, whose name was Jesse; and he had eight sons: and the man went among men for an old man in the days of Saul.

13 And the three eldest sons of Jesse went and followed Saul to the battle: and the names of his three sons that went to the battle were Eliab the firstborn, and next unto him Abinadab, and the third Shammah.

14 And David was the youngest: and the three eldest followed Saul.

15 But David went and returned from Saul to feed his father's sheep at Bethlehem.

16 And the Philistine drew near morning and evening, and presented himself forty days.

17 And Jesse said unto David his son, Take now for thy brethren an ephah of this parched corn, and these ten loaves, and run to the camp of thy brethren;

18 And carry these ten cheeses unto the captain of their thousand, and look how thy brethren fare, and take their pledge.

So the next day David takes the food and goes to the camp. While he is there he asks how the battle is going and he is getting information to take back home with him. Here come Goliath. Saying the same thing.

23 And as he talked with them, behold, there came up the champion, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name, out of the armies of the Philistines, and spake according to the same words: and David heard them.

24 And all the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him, and were sore afraid.

25 And the men of Israel said, Have ye seen this man that is come up? surely to defy Israel is he come up: and it shall be, that the man who killeth him, the king will enrich him with great riches, and will give him his daughter, and make his father's house free in Israel.

26 And David spake to the men that stood by him, saying, What shall be done to the man that killeth this Philistine, and taketh away the reproach from Israel? for who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?

27 And the people answered him after this manner, saying, So shall it be done to the man that killeth him.

David heard Goliath. He heard what would happen to the man that went out and faced him. He got angry. He did not get fearful. He got angry. He said if this is all true, where is the man to face this "Uncircumcised Philistine?" He could not understand why no one has gone out to face him. If this is all it took, defeat this "dog" then where is the man to face him? When his oldest Brother heard David question these things, he became angry with DAVID. Not Goliath. But David.

28 And Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spake unto the men; and Eliab's anger was kindled against David, and he said, Why camest thou down hither? and with whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know thy pride, and the naughtiness of thine heart; for thou art come down that thou mightest see the battle.

29 And David said, What have I now done? Is there not a cause?

30 And he turned from him toward another, and spake after the same manner: and the people answered him again after the former manner.

31 And when the words were heard which David spake, they rehearsed them before Saul: and he sent for him.

32 And David said to Saul, Let no man's heart fail because of him; thy servant will go and fight with this Philistine.

So David says to Saul, hey, if none of these men are brave enough to go fight this "dog." I will do it for them. You see, David was not tolerating this as they have for FORTY days. He was not afraid. He knew God was on their side. He knew they could not lose.

33 And Saul said to David, Thou art not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him: for thou art but a youth, and he a man of war from his youth.

So Saul said to David you can't win. Look at you. Your nothing but a kid. A Scrawny one at that. This is a "Man of War" from birth. You don't stand a chance. David looked at Saul and said....

34 And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father's sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock:

35 And I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him.

36 Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God.

37 David said moreover, The Lord that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and the Lord be with thee.

Again, David did not see a Giant. He did not fear Goliath. He saw him as nothing more than a "Dog." If God protected him from a Lion and a Bear, He will do the same for David against Goliath.

38 And Saul armed David with his armour, and he put an helmet of brass upon his head; also he armed him with a coat of mail.

39 And David girded his sword upon his armour, and he assayed to go; for he had not proved it. And David said unto Saul, I cannot go with these; for I have not proved them. And David put them off him.

I love this part. So Saul agrees. He gives David his own armor. But Saul was a big man. And his armor was too big and heavy for David. So David tells him, I can't fight in this. I do not even know how to walk in this. Besides, I'm not relying on this stuff to protect me. I'm relying on God. So he takes it all off.

40 And he took his staff in his hand, and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in a shepherd's bag which he had, even in a scrip; and his sling was in his hand: and he drew near to the Philistine.

41 And the Philistine came on and drew near unto David; and the man that bare the shield went before him.

42 And when the Philistine looked about, and saw David, he disdained him: for he was but a youth, and ruddy, and of a fair countenance.

43 And the Philistine said unto David, Am I a dog, that thou comest to me with staves? And the Philistine cursed David by his gods.

44 And the Philistine said to David, Come to me, and I will give thy flesh unto the fowls of the air, and to the beasts of the field.

Goliath looks at this scrawny kid, with no armor, standing before him with a staff and Shepard's bag and says Really? OK. Come toward me and I will kill you easily. But still David has no fear. He says...

45 Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.

46 This day will the Lord deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.

47 And all this assembly shall know that the Lord saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the Lord's, and he will give you into our hands.

No notice what David said here. Goliath said I. I will. I will. David said, God will. David was relying on God as Goliath was relying on his own strength and wisdom. So Goliath went to David.

48 And it came to pass, when the Philistine arose, and came, and drew nigh to meet David, that David hastened, and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine.

49 And David put his hand in his bag, and took thence a stone, and slang it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead, that the stone sunk into his forehead; and he fell upon his face to the earth.

50 So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and smote the Philistine, and slew him; but there was no sword in the hand of David.

51 Therefore David ran, and stood upon the Philistine, and took his sword, and drew it out of the sheath thereof, and slew him, and cut off his head therewith. And when the Philistines saw their champion was dead, they fled.

52 And the men of Israel and of Judah arose, and shouted, and pursued the Philistines, until thou come to the valley, and to the gates of Ekron. And the wounded of the Philistines fell down by the way to Shaaraim, even unto Gath, and unto Ekron.

53 And the children of Israel returned from chasing after the Philistines, and they spoiled their tents.

54 And David took the head of the Philistine, and brought it to Jerusalem; but he put his armour in his tent.

55 And when Saul saw David go forth against the Philistine, he said unto Abner, the captain of the host, Abner, whose son is this youth? And Abner said, As thy soul liveth, O king, I cannot tell.

56 And the king said, Enquire thou whose son the stripling is.

57 And as David returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, Abner took him, and brought him before Saul with the head of the Philistine in his hand.

58 And Saul said to him, Whose son art thou, thou young man? And David answered, I am the son of thy servant Jesse the Bethlehemite.

Of course you know what happens some time later, David becomes King, and the Seed of David produces The Christ, Jesus, Himself. All because this one man, could not tolerate the circumstances he was in. Through his God given desire to change them, he change the World.

Some say nothing can change the course America is on. Some say nothing can save you from the circumstances you find yourself in. Some are content to live in the ways of the Flesh and not seek out the Truth according to God. Some are happy to Tolerate and allow things to be "That's just the way it is." Some are not. Some decide to change them.

No matter what it is in your life, no matter if it seems like a Goliath, the first step into overcoming it is to stop tolerating it. Especially if you know that it goes against God, His Word, or His Will for your life. If it does, then simply put, you can't lose.

Do you know Jesus as your Savior? Have you been adopted into the Family of God? If not, say this Prayer. Right now. Wherever you may be. Say it in your own words, and do not doubt in your heart. God will hear you. He will send the Spirit of Life to you. Let us Pray..

"Oh heavenly Father, Lord God. I am a sinner. I know this. I know there is nothing I can do to change that. But I know you can. I accept Jesus's sacrifice for me. I repent my sins. Please send the Spirit of Adoption into my life. Help me to get to know the real you. Save me. Please. In the name of Jesus, Amen!"

That's it. It really is that simple. Now go tell someone what you have just done. "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." {Romans 10:9} You need to find a Church that God leads you to, and be Baptized the way Jesus said to be. You are now a Child of God. A new Creature. You "have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him." {Colossians 3:10}

If you want to tell me, or comment, question, give testimonials, or just say "Hi," the Email is opntalk@gmail.com

Until next time, be blessed, be a blessing, and Jesus IS Lord of all!