irrigation sprinkler system

FROM THIS:

All That You Have (Chord Charts) by Todd Berger

CHORUS:

V.1
Am                          C
So i walk in step  walk in trust
G                    D
I don’t much of all that you’ve planned
Am                          C
so i walk in step   walk in trust
G                                        D
Find my hand in yours, I won’t run ahead

BR.
Am                                    C                         G                      D
I don’t know much                                   of what is in eternity
Am                                    C                         G                      D
I can’t even pretend to comprehend   what you have in store

V.2
Am                                    C
So i Walk in truth and submit to You
G                                                   D
Every moment every day I’ll let you guide my way
Am                                    C
By your word thats sure
G                                              D
By the path paved in your way of grace

Take Your Rightful Place
by Todd Berger

CH    F F C C Am G4
Take your right– Take your right–
Take your rightful place
On the throne of my heart

V1   C F/C Am G C F/C Am G
You satisfy me with good things
You renew my youth like eagles
You lead me beside still waters
in the presence of evil all around

V2    C F/C Am G C F/C Am G
You challenge me with your grace
You remind me of the promises you’ve made
You draw close to me to hear You say
I can never perform for your love
I can never perform–

20 But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. 22 For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. 23 But each in turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him. 24 Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. 25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death. 27 For he “has put everything under his feet.”[c] Now when it says that “everything” has been put under him, it is clear that this does not include God himself, who put everything under Christ. 28 When he has done this, then the Son himself will be made subject to him who put everything under him, so that God may be all in all.

I was driving my children to school this morning. I went to play a scripture in my car as I do every morning. This morning out of the blue my daughter recommended that we listen to a chapter in 1 Corinthians because there was a “a verse in there that I like”. I always think the Holy Spirit is wanting to share the heart of the Father with me. This morning He did. In going through my study on the first king appointed in Israel [see the post (King)dom pt.1] we fast forward to 1 Corinthians where Jesus has already come in the flesh. Paul chooses to quantify what Jesus came to do to dismantle the kingdoms of men and reascribe that authority rightfully to Father God.

24 Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power.

So Jesus lays down the glory of heaven, injects Himself into the mass of humanity as one of us, unites with us in solidarity (selah). And comes to establish God’s kingdom. The verse above states his dismantling of human kingship and kingdoms. In His death, He destroyed all dominion— Control or the exercise of control; sovereignty. Remember what God told Samuel about dominion, the earthly king would have control over their sons and daughters and the firstfruits of their wealth to spend on whatever… Christ came to destroy that! Hallelujah. Next it says Christ destroyed all authority. When someone has authority, they have power over another. Others are forced to be subject to them. They need to bow out of required humility. Christ destroyed all earthly authority. Finally, He destroyed all power. Imagine you are the president of the United States of America. You have the world greatest military force at your disposal. Or far as resources, you have the ability to distribute or delegate as you see fit. Or if someone is found guilty of a crime, you have the ability to pardon them and set them free. This is power. In corrupt hands, much wrong can be done because legitimate provision and force or at their fingertips. Scary huh? Ya, well… He destroyed power too. Destroyed all of those things that make an earthly king powerful for thousands of years and even still today. Then in the end, Jesus, King of Kings and Lord of Lords, will hand over the kingdom to it’s rightful place, in the hands of love. In the hands of God the Father whom Israel rejected [1 Samuel 8].

26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death. 27 For he “has put everything under his feet.”

So the last power over all mankind is death. That is all that is left and no person can bypass the mandatory ending of life. Think about this, all that one has achieved in a lifetime, relinquished and forfeited in a life that was mysteriously given to each of us, is required back of us, and we cannot refute that. God has put everything under the authority of Christ, and Christ putting an end to sin in His own body on the cross, has now destroyed the power and fear that death has held over our heads. Even death has been swallowed up in Christ’s victory on the cross for us. I ended my first post with the question, what are some of the benefits of living in the kingdom of God instead of men. Well, for one, death no longer should be feared. Death no longer has power over those who have made Christ their King and Savior, because He has provided eternal life with Him, rather then eternal death– separation from God. What else? more to follow…

“7 And the Lord told him: “Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king. 8 As they have done from the day I brought them up out of Egypt until this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are doing to you. 9 Now listen to them; but warn them solemnly and let them know what the king who will reign over them will claim as his rights.”

Samuel, who walked closely with God, found that his values and opinions were incongruous with those of the nation. I want to add that Samuel lived a life dedicated to communicating with Father God. He lived a life set apart and paid the price daily for his relationship with God. In turn, He heard accurately from God. The people relied on Samuel to hear from God and based big national decisions on his “advice”.
Here’s where things get crazy. After Samuel appoints his sons as successors, God takes him aside and tells him that the people he has faithfully served have turned their hearts away from God. The very relationship they willfully walked away from was Samuel’s most important and identity defining relationship. So there is Samuel after a life of faithfulness to God, being told by God to give them what they are asking for… a life of slavery to a king. The king would put their own sons in harms way (before his own chariot), take the best of their food, take 10% of all their income, and use their girls as his servants. Crazy huh?

I started thinking about, what was the tradeoff with having a king instead living submitted to God. What were the benefits? (to be continued…)

This is an improvisation on piano worship to the Father. Follow the link and get a free download to help you along in your personal worship time.

Please leave me your thoughts…