Williams Special Meeting Notes – 2005

* Proverbs 24:30, “I went by the field and saw…” – What do others see or gather from our lives?  What about Jesus as He passed by our “field?”  Is there anything that would gladden His heart?  Is there neglect – broken down walls, nettles, etc.?  Neglect:  the silent message is, “I don’t care enough for you.”  We wouldn’t say that out loud, but that is what we are saying when we neglect God.  On our knees, we have an advantage – we’re better able to lever out the weeds.
* The wall around the field is the boundary of ownership.  This land (our hearts and lives) belongs to God.  Judas kissed Jesus and called Him “Master,” but the land (his heart) did not belong to God.
* Matthew 5:1.  Mountain experiences – to get to Jesus, the disciples had to go up the mountain.  We need to focus on Jesus, not focus on the mountain.
* When Saul was throwing the javelin at David, he didn’t just sit there and say, “Poor me.”  He did something about it.  He avoided out of Saul’s presence.  Saul was fearful because God was with David and not with him.  David had a faithful, loyal friend in Jonathan.  Above all that, they had God.
* Hannah took it to God, but she also knew she had the love and support of her husband.  The devil doesn’t want to see happy husbands and wives, families, etc. 
* Nothing in the way of the message will be helpful if it doesn’t get passed on with deep assurance (as Paul said in his letter to Timothy).
*  An old saying:  “Fitting it on” (meaning, “putting it on”).  Aim to be the real thing.  Have unfeigned faith.  If it is put on, we will come to a stumbling block one day.  It’ll get the better of us and will show what is really in us.
*All Jesus saw from the mountain, that the devil showed to Him.  He got Him to look down, and all he saw was all He’d one day have to leave behind.  When Jesus took John up the mountain, He got him to look up.  He saw all there is to live for.
* God doesn’t intend the first inspiration/invitation (from Him) will carry us through, but those who partake freely (daily) of the water of life. 
* The length of our journey rests with God, but the depth we drink from rests with us.
* We should love the things God loves, and hate the things God hates.
* We need a “fine-tuned understanding” of the Way of God.  The woman who anointed Jesus had that, even the disciples didn’t have (at this stage).  Jesus would have felt, “I want to go all the way – this woman is trusting in me.”
* Hannah had a fine-tuned understanding – even more than her husband.  That mother saw things wrong in the ministry that she knew wasn’t right (Eli’s sons doing the wrong thing), that moved her to do what she did.  She had a clear, discerning, single eye.  We pray for mothers and fathers like Hannah.  She had a wonderful song – not a song of mourning or mention of sacrifice.  She knew that the Lord would keep him, even though Eli’s sons’ influence would be wretched.
*David (as a youth, the battle with Goliath), came to a defeated army.  Jesse was moved to send David, “Look how thy brethren fare.”  Maybe Jesse had heard some rumours.  Maybe he saw something in his youngest son that the older ones in all their bravery didn’t have?  Goliath – 9 ft tall, had every confidence in himself – worshipping the creature and that was what he was trusting in.  David’s response was one of “fine-tuned understanding.”  David was seeing the Creator and trusting in Him – and loving and serving Him.  We can trust Him implicitly in every battle.
* When we want to stand out, when different is right, (we’ll be treated like David’s brother treated him, at this time).  His brother’s own cause was his own hide.  He ran from Goliath.  All he did was show what was in his heart (towards David, by saying what he said to him).  David’s answer, “Is there not a cause?”  Not a purpose, in my coming?  He was able to give testimony of the Lord, not of himself.  That’s what we need, to face up to the enemy.  David was the most powerful man on earth that day, because he had God with him.  God had his hand on his shoulder, (as it were), as David ran to meet Goliath, directing the stone.
* David’s brothers saw the enemy and ran.  David saw an opportunity to prove God’s power.