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1 Samuel 29 Bible Study - Pastor Daniel Batarseh · Bible Study with Pr. Daniel Batarseh | Verse by Verse Series | Maranatha Bible Church - Chicago

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That's around. Man, you may be seated.
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Welcome to Bible study. I never feel failed to feel
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rather a particular Joy, after Sunday, when there is that
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Monday Tuesday, Wednesday, we do meet here, but my soul never
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ceases to Bubble Up with excitement knowing that we're
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coming together on a Friday night to open up God's word.
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That's one of the, for me, at least one of the indications.
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I know that the Lord has changed my life before I got saved.
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You would have to drag me to get to church.
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But I got saved. I was glad when they said unto
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me, let us go to the house of the Lord.
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Amen. Well, it's our time to Worship
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in giving. If it's on your heart to do
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that, you can do that now. And I really don't have much to
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say other than the wonderful announcement that this Sunday in
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the same Sanctuary, we will be baptizing a few disciples in
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that tank behind me and it's going to be unique service.
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Because most of it is going to just be hearing testimonies from
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people who have been changed by the Gospel.
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And so we are excited for that service and we ask that you pray
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for those who are planning to be baptized.
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Just a personal observation throughout my time in Ministry.
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I just learned that Satan really hates baptisms and I don't know
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what that is. I don't know what that buzzing
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noises but if you guys can figure that out please, and so
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please pray for those who are planning to be baptized.
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Pray for them eve even afterwards, even after they make
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that Step of obedience, we just heard I believe a couple weeks
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ago that there is not just Temptation before.
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Baptism there, even temptations that are wait after obedience
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after obedience, not just before planned obedience, but even
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afterwards. So, pray for our brothers and
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sisters who are planning to make that great, great great step of
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obedience where they're going to publicly testify what Christ has
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done for them. No wonder Satan hates it.
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And so that's this Sunday. We're excited, come worship with
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us. And we will give God glory
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together. I'm reading 2nd Chronicles in my
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personal readings and I've stumbled upon something that
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never fails again. To move my heart in a different
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way. Vanessa was one of the Kings of
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Israel and I wanted you to just hear the description of the
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depth of his wickedness. It says here in second
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chronicles 33 verse 34, he rebuilt the high places that his
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father has a kaya had broken down and he erected altars to
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the Bales and made a schroth and worship all the host of heaven
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and serve them. And he built altars in the house
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of the Lord, of which the Lord had said in Jerusalem, Jerusalem
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shall my name before. Room.
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And he built altars for all the host of Heaven, in the two
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courts of the house of the Lord and he listened to this.
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He burned his sons As an offering in the Valley of the
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son of hinnom and used fortune-telling an Omens and
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sorcery and dealt with mediums and with necromancer's, he
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burned his own children. And then you read about how the
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Lord punishes manasa he brings him out of his his Palace by
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Hooks and then he is placed in Chains in Babylon and then in
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verse 12 imagine this and when he was in distress, he entreated
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the favor of the Lord his God and humbled himself greatly
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before. God the god of his father's, he
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prayed to him and God was moved by his entreaty and I heard his
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plea and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom.
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God was moved by this man's entreaty.
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You slaughtered your own children by fire you sought
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demons. You change the whole floor plan
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of the temple. The house of God, that was
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meticulously supposed to be kept in a certain way.
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And yet with all of that wickedness heaped upon his
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resume, he was in distress, he humbled himself before God and
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God was moved by this man. Never forget this, the god of
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the Bible. Is much more merciful than, man.
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And that's why David when he had a choice to know what kind of
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punishment he would receive for his Disobedience said, let me
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fall into the hands of God and not into the hands of man.
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We are much less forgiving. We are much less compassionate
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and merciful in comparison to this God. and the exciting thing
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about this is that tonight if you've come here with great sin,
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maybe even freshly committed. Just be humble before God
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tonight and entreat of the Lord. And based on the sincerity of
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your heart in his presence, he can be moved by that.
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And give you what? You don't deserve.
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This is the guy that we're worshipping tonight and I'm so
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glad that you're here to worship him.
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Let's continue to do that. Lord, we pray.
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That in this place, we would sing with all our strength and
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that we would give you the praise that you deserve.
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Lord. We know that there is a
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necessity for quietness for that is a reflection of reverence
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when we hear your word and when we, when we listen to what you
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have to say to us but Lord, at the same time.
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There is a call to be passionate in our worship.
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And to give you the whole being. Even in singing and solo with
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just a glimpse of who you are through this text that we've
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just heard me you receive adoration from this place and be
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blessed by our worship. As we look to the heavens.
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And give glory to the one who is much more merciful than man.
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We ask these things in Jesus name.
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Amen. Let's stand and Worship the Lord
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together. You guys standing back there,
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there's plenty of room so, come on in.
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What is that? Filled with wonder awestruck
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Wonder Jesus. Your name is power.
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All creation. With all creation.
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I sing praise to you. I Stay.
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It's like we said before you're amazed at your love, but your
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heads. Slowly.
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Does love that. Indescribable.
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We come before you Lord, we thirst, we hunger for you.
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We adore you. We worship you.
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We love you because you have loved us first.
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We adore you. We adore your words are long and
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long to hear from you hear your voice.
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Shine Your Face upon his, love your presence, your presence,
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your world, or in a forest. We pray in faith.
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Jesus Christ. It was if you have your Bibles
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were there in first Samuel 29 are we not?
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so, let's meet together in the scriptures and first Samuel
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chapter 29, And if you just look over to the right of that
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chapter, you see that there's only a couple of left so we're
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almost there. No rush of course, but it's
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amazing, how things. How things happen so quickly.
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Why don't we pray and ask the Lord to help us?
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Lord, we ask that your Holy Spirit would help us with this
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study. Lord, we pray that there would
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be no interference of men's opinions or his thoughts.
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We ask Lord that you would open our minds as you did to the
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disciples to understand your word.
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We ask Lord that you would now reach into our hearts, and I'll
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our hearts to burn. As you teach us the scriptures,
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we pray that it would be the voice of the Shepherd, that
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would be heard tonight at the voice of man.
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We pray that you would be known, you would be loved.
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You would be taught and that you would be understood with greater
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Clarity. So that you would receive what
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is your dual or thank you that the Christian Life does not end
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up being forgiven. That is where it starts and we
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now come to grow in our relationship with you.
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So help us in this text to do just that we pray that you would
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arrest every intrusive thought every emotion that would try to
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challenge these truths Lord just wash us a fresh and give us the
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right posture to receive all that.
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You have to say in Jesus name we pray.
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Amen. Well, two weeks ago, you and I
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together We examined the lowest and arguably the darkest point
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of Saul's life as it is described to us.
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In first Samuel chapter 28, And in that chapter, we not only see
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the lowest point of Saul's life, but we actually are given the
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last detailed account of his life.
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Before his ordained death, that will be described to us at the
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End of This Book. But after reading that chapter
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and looking into his strange encounter with the deceased
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Prophet the prophet Samuel. We also have been left in
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suspense, concerning David situation.
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Where was David at the time? When saw was working with a
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witch and indoor trying to channel and communicate with the
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dead? Do you remember Where was he?
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Was he in the cave? Oh no, nobody knows.
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It's only been a couple weeks. Where was David?
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Ha ha, thank you. He was among the Philistines
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residing comfortably. Presumably flourishing.
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In the territory of his enemies and the enemies of God.
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And what we think David is doing there is believing that he is
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actually safe safe outside of God's Will and whatever
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misconception and false security.
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He might have been experiencing it would all be rudely
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interrupted by a command from the king of the Philistines.
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To have him and his men joined the Philistines to fight against
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the nation of Israel. And what was David's response
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and first. Samuel 28 before we went into
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Saul's final chapter before his death.
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Well, let's look back and first Samuel 28 verse 2 just to
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refresh our memories. David said to a quiche very
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well, you shall know what your servant can do and I he said to
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David very well. I will make you my bodyguard for
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life. Now, David's answer seems to be
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too ambiguous to make a strong conclusion of what he meant by
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this, but hopefully, this chapter chapter, 29 will give us
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some clarity. And I believe that, that Clarity
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will give even greater indication of just how miserable
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and horrible the condition of his spiritual life has come to
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after many months being where he was not supposed to be.
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What will you do? David.
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That should be our answer. That should be our anticipation
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as we approach this chapter and what we will learn is that as
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much as David might have had a plan in his mind.
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It will be met with God's Providence that will challenge
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him for his good. It's a very short chapter, we
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will cover all of it by God's grace.
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And so let's begin in chapter 29, beginning in verse Year One,
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Now, the Philistines had gathered all their forces at a
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fake and the Israelites were in Camp by the spring that is in
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Jezreel, as the Lords of the Philistines, were passing on by
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hundreds and by thousands and David and his men were passing
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on, in the rear with a. He's the commanders of the
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Philistine said, what are these Hebrews doing here?
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And I he said to the commanders of the Philistines, is this not
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David? The servant of Saul king of
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Israel, who has been with me now for days and years.
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And since he deserted to me, I have found no fault in him to
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this day and let's just stop there because there's enough
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there in verse 12 meditate upon verse 1.
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We are told that there is a Face-Off between the Philistines
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And the nation of Israel. And this verse is more than just
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a description of the battle line between these two ancient foes.
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This first verse is actually the description of the means by
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which saw will meet his frightful fate with death, which
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was God's judgment upon him. If that's the case, then verse
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one should disturb us to a certain extent more
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specifically, the posture of the nation of Israel should be a
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little disturbing to us. In light of what we know about
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Saul more specifically, in light of what's all knew about, what
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was about to transpire, did song, know what was going to
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happen to him. Going into war with the
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Philistines. Yes or no.
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Yes, it's all know what was going to happen to the people of
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Israel when they were going to go to war with the Philistines.
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Look back at 28:19. Verse 19 of the previous
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chapter. This is what Samuel says, this
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is what he prophesized oversaw. Moreover, the Lord will give
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Israel also with you into the hand of the Philistines and
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tomorrow you and your son's shall be with me.
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That is not to say that they're going to be in heaven with him.
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That is to say that they're just going to be in the grave with
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him. They're going to meet him in the
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place of death. The Lord will give the army of
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Israel. Also into the hand of the
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Philistines. It's set, it's been determined.
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It's been prophesied. When you go to war with this
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nation, you're going to lose, you're going to die with your
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son's, and not only that, but the people of Israel be under
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subjection to their enemies. Now, with all of that into
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consideration, To me, reading verse one is a little
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heartbreaking. Because my question is, if so
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knew what was going to happen, then where is the leadership of
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this man? Where is the leadership of this
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man who's been made aware of the future faith of his own life and
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the life of his people? In other words, where's the
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Brokenness? You heard it during the break.
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While we were worshiping. Where's The Humbling of
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yourself? Where's the fasting?
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Where's the call to repentance? Where's the desperation of
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seeking God? It's not there.
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It's not there. Even though this man has been
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told Point Blank, you're going to die tomorrow, and your people
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also are going to be slaughtered.
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He just positioned himself as though he didn't know anything.
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And I wonder if it's because Saul is so out of touch with God
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and he's so uninformed about the character of God that he could
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not even come to believe that the Lord would respond with
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Mercy if you had, but just humbled himself before him.
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That's what I think. I think saw does not know who
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God is and therefore he does not respond accordingly.
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Doesn't respond appropriately to the warning that has been given
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to him. Just going to resume and move
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forward. It's quite disturbing.
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And sauce, failure here to desperately cry out to God.
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I believe is an is an image. It's an illustration of the
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wicked today of people who hear about the warnings of their own
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faith. The judgments that will come
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upon them because of their Disobedience and denial of the
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gospel, and their refusal to respond to that warning
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appropriately. They just are able to move on
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with their lives, whether it's because they don't believe that
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it's going to happen whether it's because they don't
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understand that God is merciful, they can't register that
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regardless Saul here is at fault.
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Because he should have known who God was.
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He should have taken this warning.
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Seriously, and he doesn't act. But Saul is a leader.
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So I see another another illustration here from a
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leadership standpoint that saw has been given the revelation of
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the future of his own people, and it's not a good one.
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It's dire, it's deadly, its judgment, and yet still saw as a
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leader refuses to disclose to those people, what is about to
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happen. And keeps it to himself.
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So, it is with many preachers today, who understand what God's
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word has to say, but refused to call upon those who will
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experience this judgement from God, for whatever, fear fear of
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making them fearful fear of losing their love and their
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loyalty. Whatever the case may be saw
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here is a, is an example of a man who's been given insight
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about the fate of man outside of Christ and refuses to tell them
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what they need to know in order. For that to change.
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It's amazing, how you see New Testament pictures and Old
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Testament stories? And so they just line up they
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set up their post and they're going to go to war and that's
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kind of the overview of what's happening and then we zoom in
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for the first time and a few verses to David, we haven't seen
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David since he said very well. You will see what you're
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savoring is able to do. And now all of that happen and
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we come back to David and where is he?
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He's marching with the Philistines.
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Toward the ranks to apparently, get ready to fight with them
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against the Lord's anointed and the Lord's people.
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But what do we see here? In verse two and three, we see
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two verses that give us two comments.
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That give us the condition of David's testimony as a servant
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of the true God. So when the Philistines were
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preparing to go to war, they were reviewing their ranks and
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they made a very good observation.
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What are the Israelites doing here?
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What, what is this band of men who are surrounding around?
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A quiche? Why are they on this tide?
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And this disturb them and rightfully so and so they come
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to the king and they rightly ask, hey, what are these Hebrews
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doing here? And I read that, you know what
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came to my mind. That's the question that David,
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and his men should have asked themselves.
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What are we doing here? Such simple self-examination
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could have saved David and his men much unnecessary heartache.
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If they just ask themselves that question at one point where
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there is no evidence of such a thing they could have, they
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could have actually realized we're not supposed to be here.
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And I think it does christians, much good in their Journey with
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Christ to pause once in a while. If you can't do it every night
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as you lay your head, on your pillow, where am I?
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Where am I, where am I with the Lord?
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Where am I with God's people? Where am I pursuit of him?
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Where am I pursuit of Holiness? Where am I in these different
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areas? Lord search me and know me.
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See that there be any wicked way.
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In any where am I? Am I supposed to be where?
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I'm supposed to be a, my veering off a little bit?
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Am I headed towards the wrong direction?
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And that I move from where I was supposed to be to a place where
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I'm not, Supposed to be in that doesn't necessarily have to be
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physical location. That can just be the posture of
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your heart. Where am I?
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And what we see here is that this question from the
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Philistines implies that as children of God, just like the
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Hebrews. Our spiritual identity calls for
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a separation. It calls for a consecration.
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From certain places properties and people.
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When Jesus Christ, is crowned Lord, over your life and you get
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up from the Throne of your heart, and you give him that
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rightful place, something will come alive in you as him being
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Lord of your life. And there is a distinction that
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is made by the Lord in your life.
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It's not popular, right? What I'm saying here is not
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popular and where we get into trouble is like when David we
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allow our own judgments and our own estimations to blur, the
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boundaries that have been clearly marked by God's word.
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That draw those distinctions for us.
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Right. David David because of his
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emotional condition because of his fear because of Temptation,
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he blurred those lines and he physically crossed the border
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that he shouldn't have crossed and so, will it be with you?
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And I, if we do not uphold the scriptures and say this is what
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will determine where I go. Who I Am with what I do, what I
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own, what I give That's holiness.
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And it's a joyful thing. It's a wonderful thing because
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you and I are ambassadors of Jesus Christ.
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And I'm seeing more and more that this kind of this kind of
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preaching. And this kind of discipleship is
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becoming less and less popular. And now, we have this idea,
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whether we realize it or not, we're the idea of the culture
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where we can determine our own reality and our own experience
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is now seeping into Christendom. And so now you have people who
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we can apply this way, who do not see the clear commands in
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Scripture that we must be accountable to a group of
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Believers. We must meet regularly with the
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Church of Jesus Christ in a local setting and week after
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week, after week, there's somewhere else.
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And so, I would ask, I would ask the question that the
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Philistines asked, and this way, why are you not here, Christian?
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God commands you to be, whether it's here or elsewhere.
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Why are you not here? That's not the same as people
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were looking and praying for someplace but can't find a body
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of Believers. I love the Lord.
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I'm talking about people who are totally convinced that I can be
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a lone wolf because they and their own judgments or because
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of past hurts, whatever the case may be have blurred the lines,
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through their filter and said, well, God will understand, no,
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he doesn't understand, actually, his word is clear, it's so
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clear. Or there are those shoe.
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Find themselves in places and among people who deliberately
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and intentionally entertain and engage with sin.
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And the Philistines questions to a quiche is the question I would
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ask to Believers. What are you doing there?
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My brother. What are you doing with them?
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My sister. The question is totally
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appropriate. It's totally appropriate and
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it's healthy, it's holy. I've always used this as
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phraseology to help people not be afraid of holiness.
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Are you afraid of Health for your body?
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Anybody in here? Doesn't want to be healthy?
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No, I don't think so. People pay money to be healthy
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people. Pay dieticians people pay for
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trainers, so that their bodies can be healthy.
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Holiness is Health to your soul. Why are you afraid of it so
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much? You pay the guy hundreds of
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dollars a month to tell you what to do, he yells at you at the
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gym. And a preacher who truly cares
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about the health of your soul. What tell you how to be holy?
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Because he loves you. God loves you.
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But he doing here Hebrews, why are they among us?
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But the second insight about the state of David Soul is found in
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a, he shows response to this inquiry.
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Look at verse 3, he said to the commanders of the Philistines,
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is this not David? The servant of Saul king of
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Israel, who has been with me now for days and years?
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Was it days in years? Does anybody remember the
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precise time? I heard somebody whisper how
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long has David actually been in the land?
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Look back at chapter 27, verse 7, the answers right there.
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And the number of days, that David lived in the country of
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the Philistines, was what? It's behind me, isn't it?
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No, And the country of the Philistines was a year and four
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months, what does he say? Days and years, people have a
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tendency to exaggerate, don't they?
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That's all I have to say about that.
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David tendency to exaggerate days and years and then he goes
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on to say, and since he deserted to me, I have found no fault in
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him to this day, question. Is this a good thing or a bad
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thing? good thing, bad thing, tell us
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why Very good. Did you hear the answer?
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Well, before I explain it, who would say this is a good thing.
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I have found no fault in him to this day.
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That good. Bat consensus, bad, bad bad, not
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good, not good at all, and the reason why it's not good, it's
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precisely what a brother just explained, are you telling me
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that a ruler who hates the true God, worships false gods hates,
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the people of the true? God has absolutely no criticism
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for a man. Like David who's Apparently
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after God's heart, that's concerning that is concerning.
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We can be equivalent to. This is, is working closely with
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someone else. An employer or a co-worker for
52:50
years and years and years and they've observed your life.
52:53
They would be with you even settings outside of the
52:55
workplace, and they cannot come to the conclusion that you are
53:00
born. Again, follower of Jesus Christ.
53:01
Wouldn't that concern you? That would concern me?
53:05
And in fact, I sometimes, tell people, if somebody was hanging
53:08
out with you day and night for an entire week and they could
53:12
Come to the conclusion that you are a follower of Jesus Christ.
53:16
Serious red flags. Can we say even a whole day?
53:21
I would say even a day. What marks us, what's something
53:27
needs to be different there? And apparently David after a
53:30
year and four months Blended in so, well among the Philistines,
53:37
is this ruining anybody's image of this man after God's heart?
53:41
It's amazing how the scriptures are honest with us.
53:45
The sad commentary to say the least, I remember doing my
53:48
internship at an advertising agency. as my final kind of
53:53
assignment final course, before I graduate, we had to be in the
53:56
advertising agency day in and day out working there for a
53:59
minimum of three months, and I was there for four And I was
54:03
extremely zealous. I was I was still fresh out of
54:06
the oven born again. And I was trying to find ways to
54:10
turn the conversation to talk about the Lord and was not
54:13
working. It was it was it was very
54:15
uncomfortable. For me, even is making things
54:18
difficult, Lordan, find a way. I'm only here for a few months,
54:22
you can find a way. So, find a way, and I believe
54:25
one way was presented on a consistent basis, every single
54:29
Monday. In that workplace, we got
54:31
together in a circle and no more than a minute.
54:34
Each every person told what they did for the weekend, every
54:38
Monday And so Monday after Monday, this person was still
54:43
hungover that person went to this new club.
54:46
That person did that. Some people went out did nice
54:48
things, good things and I just thought to myself, this is my
54:52
chance, every single Monday, And so, as it came to me, 22 year,
54:58
old college kid. Tell us about your weekend.
55:01
Well, Friday night we got together and prayed had Bible
55:06
study, Saturday night, we did evangelism and Sunday morning.
55:09
We had church and Sunday night. We had a young adults meeting
55:11
and the stairs that I got Like the as though they saw an alien
55:17
land into their office space week after week after week.
55:22
And that was it. And that opened up
55:26
conversations. How is a young guy like you?
55:29
Not? Not doing what other young
55:32
people supposed to be doing on the weekends.
55:35
Little snippet here. Little snippet there.
55:38
Little testimony, there. They should see a distinction
55:44
eventually. I'm not one of those who
55:46
unrealistically things that you should go to Every public place
55:49
stand on a table. I'm a Christian that doesn't
55:51
help anybody nor does it help your testimony unless the Lord
55:54
leads you to do that. Very rarely, we have to be
55:58
sensitive. We have to be wise wise as
56:00
serpents innocent as doves. But this, this is a specific
56:04
scenario after apparently days and years.
56:07
He's could not make a distinction with David.
56:10
In fact, he thought he was one of them.
56:13
That's hello. David has come with his walk
56:16
with the Lord. He camouflage in a wrong way.
56:21
the Converse for, But the commanders of the Philistines
56:25
were angry with him being a fish and the commanders of the
56:29
Philistine said to him, send the man back that he may return to
56:33
the place to which you have assigned him.
56:35
He shall not go down with us to battle Less in the battle.
56:40
He become an adversary to us for.
56:42
How could this fellow reconcile himself to his Lord being Saul?
56:46
Would it not be with the heads of the men here is not this
56:50
David of whom they sing to one another in. inches saw has
56:55
struck down his thousands and David his ten thousand The
57:01
interaction between a he's and his commanders is a great
57:04
example for us to consider when determining how discernment
57:09
plays, an important part of the Christian Life discernment is
57:13
very, very important for many reasons, because there are
57:17
wolves out there in sheep's clothing.
57:20
And there are so many warnings throughout the New Testament, of
57:23
the people who would come within the church and even into your
57:27
personal life with evil intentions.
57:31
And how you and I are able to be safe is to acquire something
57:36
called discernment. Where you are able to pick up on
57:42
the warning signs? That would make you pre-emptive
57:46
and protect yourself and protect the church from that, which
57:49
would try to destroy and harm. And what's amazing here is that
57:55
when you compare our, he's with the commanders of the
57:58
Philistines, you see a contrast I see a.
58:01
He said somebody who's very gullible He kind of takes things
58:05
at face value. He doesn't consider the elements
58:08
on beyond the immediate Whereas the commanders are able to
58:14
process the dangers ahead, the past about David and what he has
58:19
done and I bring all those things together to come to come
58:21
to a decision. That would be the most effective
58:25
and protective And it reminds me here, right?
58:29
It reminds me here of what Jude warns us about that.
58:32
There are certain people in verse 4 of Jude who have crept
58:36
in unnoticed, There are people who want to creep in.
58:46
To the church. And that's not a physical kind
58:48
of being unnoticed. The unnoticed there is the
58:51
intentions of the heart. And there are people in our
58:55
lives that want to creep in to do harm and in the context to
59:00
lead them into a perverted idea of Grace.
59:03
That's what Jude was talking about.
59:05
And in this case you can almost say that.
59:07
David David was the one who crept in to the camp.
59:13
You crept into the camp because as much as he should say, I
59:16
found no fault to him about him to this day, David was lying to
59:21
him throughout that time. Was he not?
59:24
Whenever I keep said, where do you get the spoil all?
59:26
Yeah, we dealt with these Israelites here and then he was
59:29
trying to convey that we were actually killing Israelites and
59:33
in reality he was killing allies to riche.
59:40
You and I need the sermon and it seems strange that we are
59:44
learning. That truth that valuable truth
59:47
from the Philistines. But how often is it true that
59:50
the wicked borrow the wisdom of God and don't give him credit
59:52
for it. Right.
59:56
There are many ways that you and I can protect ourselves from the
1:00:00
dangers of others who have evil intentions.
1:00:05
Who come in with a satanic agenda or fleshly agenda, that
1:00:10
include your expense? and that's So important that the
1:00:18
scripture encourages and instructs us to acquire this,
1:00:24
this quality so that we can we can travel through life and
1:00:27
navigate through it in a way that we see safety and victory.
1:00:31
And so, I want to show you just one way.
1:00:33
One way that you and your life in your Christian Journey, Cano
1:00:38
safety. As you acquire discernment, it's
1:00:43
not just praying that's important.
1:00:44
It's not just knowing your Bible, that's very important.
1:00:46
Those are the primary ways but let me show you another way.
1:00:49
You know this verse many of you have probably memorized it in
1:00:52
Proverbs 11:14 where there is no guidance of people Falls But in
1:00:59
an abundance of counselors, there is safety.
1:01:03
But in an abundance of counselors, there is safety.
1:01:06
And you can argue here that in this scenario with a quiche.
1:01:10
His counselors were the commanders of the Philistines
1:01:15
who had an eye, who had an ability to calculate in a way
1:01:20
that was able to help a quiche, evade, something that he could
1:01:23
have walked into to his own demise potentially Do you want
1:01:30
to know how you can be safer in this life?
1:01:34
And I can tell you and many years of pastoral Ministry,
1:01:38
there are evil people out there. There are wicked, men and Wicked
1:01:43
Woman. Satan hates the children of God,
1:01:47
and if you can wound you or lure you away from the will of God,
1:01:51
he will do it, and he's very creative.
1:01:54
So, then we need to have a discernment and one way that you
1:01:57
and I can know, safety and life, get an abundance of counselors.
1:02:03
Now, we caught this, we kind of shoot it off easily.
1:02:05
We kind of just say it and we don't realize the full
1:02:08
implications or the instructions of such a verse so that we can,
1:02:11
we can draw the most out of it. Here's one and Proverbs 11:14
1:02:16
but an abundance of counselors, there is safety nowhere in the
1:02:20
Book of Proverbs. Are we encouraged to only have
1:02:24
one advisor in our lives? I challenge you read The Book of
1:02:29
Proverbs and what is always commanded and encourage is a
1:02:33
multiplicity of counselors many men and women in your life that
1:02:40
can have their eyes upon you. Now, why do you think that is?
1:02:44
Why is not one person enough to speak into my life?
1:02:53
You minimize blind spots when you have more eyes.
1:02:59
And so, when you have different Vantage points, different life
1:03:03
experiences, speaking into the same situation with that balance
1:03:08
acquirement of advice, you come to a safer conclusion, in a
1:03:12
decision that you want to make. Yes, any other reasons.
1:03:21
Sure, we work together as a body.
1:03:23
And so we need to be dependent upon.
1:03:26
A plurality of people I would say so.
1:03:28
Yes. That pretty much really
1:03:33
summarize. The different experiences
1:03:37
different Minds working together for your good for God's glory.
1:03:43
Get an abundance of counselors. Acquire such thing.
1:03:47
Pray and ask God for such a thing in your life, and that's
1:03:51
why I believe in part god in his wisdom, instructed, the church
1:03:55
the local church to not just have a Moses figure.
1:04:01
One man on the top. That makes every single
1:04:04
decision. No, there is a plurality of
1:04:08
Elders that should be there that share that leadership position
1:04:13
for what purpose will each vantage point, is being
1:04:17
contributed. The blind spots are eliminated
1:04:21
at a greater degree when you have more people involved.
1:04:25
And I would say, if there is a safety with abundance of
1:04:28
counselors then, safe is the church with a plurality of
1:04:31
Elders. So that's another important
1:04:35
component about a local church, but not just local church or
1:04:38
talking about you as an individual.
1:04:40
Is it just important to have a multiplicity of Elders or
1:04:43
counselors rather should we go further than that?
1:04:48
It's not just the amount of counselors, It's the quality of
1:04:52
them as well. You can be seeking advice from
1:04:56
four different people whenever you make a serious life
1:04:59
decision, but they can be. So out of touch with God, that
1:05:01
they lead you to your own harm. All of them.
1:05:03
No, yes. Can I give you?
1:05:06
An example. I told you earlier, I was
1:05:08
reading through the book of 2nd Chronicles, another verse stood
1:05:10
out to me and it is this, it's about King ahaziah and look what
1:05:15
we're told here. And second chronicles, 20, 24
1:05:18
look, what's told about him He did, what was evil in the sight
1:05:22
of the Lord as the house of Ahab had done for after the death of
1:05:26
his father, you ready for this? They were his counselors to his
1:05:34
undoing. So as I had counselors advisers,
1:05:41
he had a board. But they consoled him, they
1:05:45
advised them to his own destruction.
1:05:50
So you can't just take Proverbs 11:14 and isolation, you must
1:05:55
consider the totality of scripture.
1:05:57
God, don't just bring people that are willing to speak into
1:05:59
my life. Bring me people who walk with
1:06:01
you, that can speak into my life.
1:06:03
That's all the difference. So let me give another layer to
1:06:06
you, as you pray for. Lee asked the Lord, especially
1:06:08
in the majority of the demographic of this place,
1:06:11
seeking the Lord about your future, do not just seek people
1:06:14
who might even have a title and Ministry.
1:06:17
Look for people who walk with God.
1:06:21
Who really walk with God? Now I go to church on Sunday and
1:06:23
I can't wait to go out know who really, really know God, who
1:06:28
loved his work? Who have a prayer life.
1:06:33
More than that. Who really love you?
1:06:39
Whose motives are not muddied by jealousy or insecurity or Envy
1:06:45
but you've learned over time that that such a person really
1:06:48
loves me. You want to know how one way
1:06:50
somebody really loves you, they will give you an unbiased.
1:06:54
Opinion. Seeking an abundance of
1:06:58
counselors, does it mean to check off the Box because you go
1:07:01
to people that you know what, tell you what you want to hear.
1:07:04
That's to your own undoing. Somebody who Loves Me Like Jesus
1:07:09
Loves Me, Do you know how Jesus loves you for God?
1:07:11
So loved the world that He Sent His only begotten son.
1:07:15
That's not the only way he loves you.
1:07:17
Who am I rebuke? I love Jesus said.
1:07:22
You know, the people I look forward to speaking to my life
1:07:24
that people who love truth more than they love me.
1:07:29
Who Loved righteousness more than how I might feel in a
1:07:32
moment who said, I'll say this because I love you, that's not
1:07:36
the way you should do it. You're doing it wrong.
1:07:40
Be careful of this and that And if you do that, if God
1:07:47
graciously presents those people into your life.
1:07:49
And I know he will, because he does not withhold any good gift
1:07:51
from his children. You will know safety in this
1:07:54
life. I like how the ESV puts it, it
1:07:58
repeats this instruction it repeats this Insight down later
1:08:02
in the Book of Proverbs. And it says those who have an
1:08:05
abundance of counselors, there is Victory not just security,
1:08:08
but victory How true it is. And I he sure as strange as it
1:08:15
sounds. Had that abundance of
1:08:18
counselors. Who spoke into his life and he,
1:08:22
he evaded something potentially, we don't know.
1:08:25
Look at verse 5, it's not this David of whom they sing to one
1:08:29
another. And dances saw has struck down
1:08:31
his thousands and David his ten thousands, A question for you.
1:08:36
We're coming to the End of This Book, very soon.
1:08:39
How many times has this song about David been referred to up
1:08:44
to this point? Think.
1:08:51
The song saw has struck down his thousands and David his tens of
1:08:53
thousands. How many times has been brought
1:08:55
up so far? Less 333.
1:08:59
Yes, yes you got it good guess but it's actually three the
1:09:04
first time in first, Samuel 18 the second time in first Samuel
1:09:07
21, when David initially came into the land of the
1:09:10
Philistines. Remember, then they said, isn't
1:09:12
this the one that they saying about and he falls to the
1:09:15
ground, he pretends to be insane.
1:09:17
And the third time here in 1st Samuel, 29, I find it
1:09:22
interesting. That this hit song apparently
1:09:26
reached the radio stations of the Philistines, right?
1:09:28
But more than that, every single time that this song about David
1:09:32
is is brought up. It is always in connection to
1:09:36
some kind of trouble. What happened.
1:09:41
When the first time it was brought up introduced to the
1:09:43
nation. Saw was filled with raging
1:09:47
jealousy. What about the second time?
1:09:51
It was how David was identified and he felt deeply in securing
1:09:56
fearful. That something was going to
1:09:57
happen to him. When they realize that this guy
1:10:00
is here in our camp and he's all alone.
1:10:03
And lastly, this song is brought up when there is great suspicion
1:10:07
about David. And I find that very interesting
1:10:11
when we consider something about the praise of, man, When
1:10:15
meditating on this point, I couldn't help but think about
1:10:19
this series of problems that introduce themselves when we
1:10:25
experience the praise of others. People shouldn't covet that
1:10:31
thing, man. People shouldn't long and yearn
1:10:36
for public admiration and acknowledgement because you have
1:10:41
no idea what kind of headaches come with it.
1:10:44
The responsibilities that come with it, the Temptations that
1:10:47
come with it. If you want a glimpse, just take
1:10:51
a little peek into Hollywood and see how people handle praise.
1:10:57
And David here every single time this song about him surfaces in
1:11:01
the scriptures, it's always tied to an issue.
1:11:06
That recognition that David had those for a good thing in a
1:11:10
great thing was packaged with problems.
1:11:15
And I want to say this men who covet woman, who long and urine
1:11:22
and desire and even pray for Visible success.
1:11:28
Are unaware of the risks that come with it.
1:11:32
Notice I said visible success because you and I should crave
1:11:38
to be fruitful for the Lord. You should pray, Lord, make me
1:11:42
as effective as I can be. Allow me to touch as many hearts
1:11:45
as possible. What I want to do as much damage
1:11:47
to the kingdom of darkness as possible, but that success is
1:11:51
not the same as longing for the approval of others, for what we
1:11:56
do totally different. Have you ever considered perhaps
1:12:02
that God is hiding you? And is hiding many of his
1:12:07
servants from the eyes of others in order to protect you and
1:12:11
others from the dangers that come with it.
1:12:16
Have you ever considered that? We should believe that those who
1:12:21
Faithfully serve God on a larger platform, and have a wider
1:12:25
public influence. Also have a Grace from God, to
1:12:29
do it. There's a Grace that comes with
1:12:33
it. And I want to show you an
1:12:36
example of that. Because this is a very real
1:12:39
thing in our day. It doesn't just happen for
1:12:43
leaders. Every single person in here, Is
1:12:47
invited into the temptation of being someone.
1:12:53
And guess what? All you need is an email and the
1:12:55
password to do it. People are doing stupid things
1:13:01
to try to get famous. Like stupid, they're running out
1:13:05
of ideas. Clearly because some of the
1:13:07
things I go viral like that's viral.
1:13:09
What is that? But so many people are being
1:13:14
magnetized to this idea of. I just want to be recognized, I
1:13:18
want to be known, I'll find I'll find fulfillment if I'm famous
1:13:22
and that even translates into Ministry.
1:13:24
Don't covet it, you have no idea what you're getting yourself
1:13:27
into. If God does give someone a
1:13:30
platform of God does give somebody a wide reach, he also
1:13:34
gives a Grace to that person to endure it.
1:13:38
That makes sense. Go to Genesis 11 with me in this
1:13:42
Bible study quickly. I want you to see an example of
1:13:44
what I'm saying. Genesis 11 verse 4.
1:13:53
What do we read here? This is about the Tower of
1:13:56
Babel. Now look at, this is an amazing
1:13:59
comparison. In Genesis 11 4, we read then.
1:14:03
They said, come let us build ourselves a city and a tower
1:14:08
with its top in the heavens. And now what are they say?
1:14:11
And let us make a name for ourselves.
1:14:15
That's what people want to do today, right?
1:14:17
The Same Spirit of Babylon is here today.
1:14:19
Let us make a name for ourselves.
1:14:22
Let's become known. Let's let's make something for
1:14:28
ourselves less. We be dispersed over the Face of
1:14:31
the whole Earth. What end up happening to them?
1:14:37
Not good stuff. You go to the next chapter in
1:14:41
Genesis in Genesis 12. And what do you read in verse 1
1:14:44
and 2? Now the Lord said to Abram, go
1:14:47
from your country, and your Kindred and your father's house
1:14:50
to the land that I will show you.
1:14:51
And I will make of you a great nation and I will bless you and
1:14:56
do what make your name great. So that you will be a blessing.
1:15:05
See the difference? T difference between those who
1:15:08
are building a tower. Let us make a name for
1:15:11
ourselves. Totally self-absorbed.
1:15:13
Selfish ambition. Nothing to do with God,
1:15:17
everything to do with them. And here's God commissioning
1:15:19
Abram and he says, I'm going to make your name great.
1:15:23
I'm going to do it and the reason why I'm going to do it is
1:15:27
so that you will be a blessing. Not so that you can feel better
1:15:31
about yourself, not so that you can get more dopamine dumps,
1:15:33
when you go online and you see how many people love you and
1:15:35
praise. You now know that because I want
1:15:38
you to be a blessing. I'll make your name great.
1:15:42
Why is preacher said this and consider for yourself?
1:15:44
If you're a serious servant of God, who is sometimes visited by
1:15:48
this idea that if you're not famous, it means you're not
1:15:50
fruitful, you're not effective. If people don't love you and
1:15:52
praise you and invite you, it means that you're not really
1:15:54
filled with the spirit of God, whatever the conclusion people
1:15:57
come up with realize this, it is your duty to take care of the
1:16:01
depth of your ministry and it is God's job to take care of the
1:16:05
breadth of it. It is your responsibility to
1:16:09
take care of the depth of your ministry and it is God's duty to
1:16:12
make sure that it has the appropriate breath.
1:16:16
Isn't that freeing? No.
1:16:20
I hope it's freeing. It's just just serve the Lord.
1:16:25
Let him be pleased with you and whatever context he's put you
1:16:27
in. Yes seek to reach out.
1:16:30
Don't don't stay quiet. Don't put your lamp under the
1:16:33
bed. But don't covet something that
1:16:37
God hasn't given you a Grace for David had much trouble when it
1:16:42
came to that song. And people want articles written
1:16:46
about him and books, written about him and songs are in the
1:16:48
bottom. Will look at David every time
1:16:49
this song came up, it was associate with some kind of
1:16:51
headache. so we read on as we come back to our main text, In
1:16:57
verse 6 and 7 as we close very soon then a he's called David
1:17:02
and set them as the Lord lives you have been honest.
1:17:06
And to me it seems right that you should March out and in with
1:17:10
me in the campaign, for I have found nothing wrong in you from
1:17:14
the day of your coming to me to this day.
1:17:17
Nevertheless the Lord's do not approve of you, so go back now
1:17:21
and go peaceably that you may not displease the Lords of the
1:17:25
Philistines. So now, Dave, Cheering the
1:17:28
praise from a quiche. A huge was defending him.
1:17:31
And now he is speaking directly to him, and he's tying him,
1:17:35
you're honest. Did you see that the Lord lives?
1:17:38
You have been honest everything. But You have been honest.
1:17:42
Like was there any conviction in this man?
1:17:44
As he was hearing this? I've been lying to you for a
1:17:48
year and four months. And this meant looks at him,
1:17:51
he's just like oozing over him, you've been.
1:17:53
So honest, he goes on to shower him with all this praise and it
1:17:58
seems honorable, but we heard earlier that David did not Merit
1:18:02
that honor. You lived he lived as a liar.
1:18:06
So hypocrite double standard. But as much as, as much as that
1:18:12
is, true of David's case there is, there is a desire in The
1:18:17
Believer. At least there should be to
1:18:20
receive the respect of those who do not believe on the Lord.
1:18:23
Jesus Christ. How many scriptures in the New
1:18:26
Testament are given towards Christians that they should have
1:18:29
good standing with the world. How many, how many instructions
1:18:34
are we given that we should live in such a way that they cannot
1:18:36
blame us for anything. And and if anything at the day
1:18:39
of the visitation of the father, Praise him because of those who
1:18:42
have represented him. And so David unfortunately
1:18:47
doesn't Merit this praise but you and I should see this in a
1:18:51
different lion. It is this that something about
1:18:54
who we are outside of these walls would cause would cause
1:19:00
the man who don't believe in our God to at least be open to him.
1:19:03
Did you notice how he starts when he begins to speak to
1:19:07
David? I'm going to give it a few
1:19:08
seconds. Just look at the first verse and
1:19:10
tell me what stands out. What stands out?
1:19:20
As who lives? Is there are those capital
1:19:24
letters? As Yahweh lives what's Yahweh
1:19:30
doing on the lips of a pagan man.
1:19:36
How is he even invoking the name of the true God?
1:19:40
I don't know. And many people give different
1:19:44
reasons why he's doing this but in our case may be that because
1:19:48
of our Lives lived out before those who observe us, they would
1:19:51
be open to the god that we serve.
1:19:55
As the Lord lives. Does anybody remember the final
1:20:02
qualification for an elder in the local church?
1:20:09
This is important for you. Whether you're in this place or
1:20:12
in a different local church and you're supposed to look out for
1:20:15
for a true and genuine pastor, at one point, or at least
1:20:18
consider who a pastor will be over your life.
1:20:22
What's the last qualification for an elder according to 1st
1:20:25
Timothy 3? Yeah, did you hear that?
1:20:31
Does anybody know this that they should have a good reputation
1:20:34
with Outsiders? You know, that means
1:20:37
unbelievers. I personally have never heard
1:20:41
this. Maybe you have.
1:20:41
I've never heard of this. I've never heard of a church
1:20:45
that when seeking for an elder or a pastor calls the unbeliever
1:20:49
as a reference have you Can you imagine that you imagine
1:20:55
somebody who is who is being considered for an elder role?
1:20:58
The church calls that man's workplace and says, hey we're
1:21:02
Maranatha Bible Church and we're looking for so-and-so to be
1:21:05
potential Elder and we just want to know what's his attitude like
1:21:07
at work. How do you treat people?
1:21:12
How does he work under 10 situations?
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Hey man, that's the qualification.
1:21:17
I'm not coming up with it. That's what God says.
1:21:20
They have a good reputation among Outsiders.
1:21:24
It's quite fascinating. How much this means to the Lord.
1:21:30
it turns your stomach to see that this day gone worshiping
1:21:34
Hisham vokes, the name of Yahweh when speaking to David because,
1:21:41
This man wasn't really living it.
1:21:45
But in our case, maybe, because we really live it.
1:21:50
So what happens verse 8? This is shocking.
1:21:53
This is where it gets a little controversial.
1:21:55
This is where it kind of debate can spark up.
1:21:57
Look how David answers and David said to a fish but what have I
1:22:00
done? What have you found in your
1:22:03
server from the day? I entered your service.
1:22:05
Until now that I may not go and fight against the enemies of my
1:22:08
Lord, the king. Huh?
1:22:13
I'm curious to know and and this is this is difficult because you
1:22:16
have people who have who have two different opinions about
1:22:19
what's taking place. Here you have some who find it
1:22:21
just way too difficult to believe that David is genuinely
1:22:26
disappointed that he has been rejected from participating in
1:22:29
this war against his own people. I understand that then there are
1:22:32
others who say just let the word speak as they as they do.
1:22:36
This is a plain revelation of where this man's heart has gone
1:22:41
being in the This place for so long.
1:22:44
You may be on either side regardless of it, neither.
1:22:48
Good. Neither a good weather.
1:22:51
Whether David is is pretending to be disappointed, so that he
1:22:56
can like seem convincing as he pulls back and he's like, I
1:23:00
didn't want to be in this position in the first place or
1:23:02
whether he's in actually agitated that he can't go
1:23:06
forward. Both are not good, are they?
1:23:10
Not good at all. But what if he was actually
1:23:14
genuine? What are you was?
1:23:17
Actually so Disturbed. Imagine being so disconnected
1:23:21
from God. That you found yourself cast
1:23:24
down because you couldn't sin the way you really wanted to.
1:23:29
Imagine being so upset that your compromise was being interrupted
1:23:32
by God's Providence. That is you wanted to tread on
1:23:38
deeper waters of the flesh. God was trying to get your
1:23:41
attention and one way or another.
1:23:45
I want you to see how the heart can be.
1:23:47
So warped. When a man like David spends so
1:23:52
much time away from God. when you spend time outside of the
1:24:00
unintentional Pursuit Of God godliness being with God's
1:24:06
people, for sanctifying reasons, There is no telling how the
1:24:11
heart can become so black. We would think that David be
1:24:18
able to see how this is, actually God.
1:24:21
Giving him the way of Escape. What do we learn from this?
1:24:25
This is God's Providence is and not think about it.
1:24:30
We've studied this book in-depth enough to see that this is just
1:24:33
another episode of the sequence of times that God's hand came
1:24:38
into the situation, to rescue David out.
1:24:42
Is it not think about how refreshing this could have been?
1:24:46
If David, if David here, after being in told you are going to
1:24:52
war, he not only has to not fight against Saul, he doesn't
1:24:56
have to fight against the Philistines, not to fight
1:24:58
against all the, you know what I mean?
1:24:59
It's like the best case scenario for you.
1:25:03
Not only do I have to fight against my own people, but I
1:25:06
don't have to fight against these people to try to get out
1:25:08
of it. I can just, I can just slip out.
1:25:15
But the difference between God's remember, God's Providence, in
1:25:17
David's life in so many ways, the difference between the past
1:25:22
interventions, and this one, I believe, is that in the past,
1:25:26
God seems to have manifest his Providence.
1:25:29
When David was walking in obedience, Right.
1:25:36
Is David walking in obedience here?
1:25:39
Very difficult to say, yes, And yeah, the same time.
1:25:44
God opens a door. With a light above it, that says
1:25:50
a merciful escaped. How?
1:26:00
Well again it's that principal at you and I heard a few Bible
1:26:03
studies ago the promise in the New Testament that there is no
1:26:06
temptation to Great to Fierce. So severe where there is not a
1:26:11
way of Escape God has ordered in the laws of the universe
1:26:16
concerning humanity that with every single Temptation God will
1:26:21
provide a way to get out of it. So none of us can call God
1:26:24
Alliance. A was too tempting.
1:26:26
It was too confining none, nothing of that sort.
1:26:32
But at the same time here, I can't help but entertain the
1:26:35
possibility. Just just, this isn't dogmatic
1:26:41
here. This isn't like it's not, it's
1:26:43
this or nothing else. But just think with me here at
1:26:46
this Bible study, That maybe God was merciful to David.
1:26:52
Because I'm more than one occasion.
1:26:53
David has been merciful to Saul. David wrote something in one of
1:27:04
his songs and what he wrote at one point.
1:27:06
In Psalm 18, verse 25 turned there, as we close, this Bible
1:27:10
study, Psalm 18 verse 25. As we go there, actually, before
1:27:22
we go to verse 25, let's scroll back to verse 1.
1:27:31
Psalm 18 verse 12, the choirmaster a Psalm of David,
1:27:37
the servant of the Lord, who addressed the words of this song
1:27:40
to the Lord, on the day, when the Lord rescued him from the
1:27:44
hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul.
1:27:48
So, that's the context. David has experience, not just
1:27:52
deliverance from his main enemy saw, but from all his enemies,
1:27:59
You scroll down and you look at verse 25.
1:28:02
And what do you read with the merciful you show yourself what
1:28:08
merciful? With the merciful.
1:28:16
You show yourself merciful. Blessed, are the merciful?
1:28:22
Why? For they shall be one.
1:28:27
Shawn Mercy. What David is writing here is a
1:28:33
principle of divine Administration and it can be
1:28:37
summarized in this, you ready? That God offers a certain level
1:28:42
of Mercy. To those who are in this life,
1:28:46
merciful to others. I want you to never forget this
1:28:50
truth. It's very important.
1:28:53
Mercy means many things, Mercy include showing compassion and
1:28:58
forgiveness, and reserving personal Vengeance or punishment
1:29:03
upon somebody who deserves it. Mercy goes beyond that.
1:29:08
I believe it's much more Broad in its understanding.
1:29:11
Why? Because you see throughout the
1:29:12
gospels men in their physical ailments or in their suffering
1:29:16
and their distress son of David have what mercy on me?
1:29:24
And Jesus acted because he is a merciful god in what way by
1:29:27
alleviating suffering. By lifting people's burdens by
1:29:32
showing care, and compassion, by giving attention to those who
1:29:37
are desperate for certain attention, David has been
1:29:46
merciful many times. Could it be just a thought to
1:29:51
entertain even in conversation afterwards?
1:29:55
Here's God, extending Mercy to a man who has been merciful.
1:30:02
Would you like God to be merciful to you in this life?
1:30:07
Be merciful to others. Be merciful to others.
1:30:13
Be understanding, isn't God understanding with you, how many
1:30:17
times have you failed? And you've come to God and ask
1:30:21
for mercy and he's giving it to you.
1:30:25
Why would you reserve it from somebody else?
1:30:29
With this verse tells me if I just read it simply and not try
1:30:34
to explain it away, I just read it simply by honoring the
1:30:38
context. And the totality of scripture is
1:30:41
that God will look at my life. Yes, of forgiving sinner.
1:30:44
Yes, the cross absorbed all of God's judgment, but as I live
1:30:47
practically as a representative of Christ, if I want to no
1:30:53
mercy, following me all the days of my life.
1:30:57
Then I better be ready to give it to others.
1:31:00
Here's Mercy. I will shower you with Mercy.
1:31:09
Don't be unforgiving, don't like compassion.
1:31:18
Don't give people an idea because you've done this.
1:31:23
I will make you be punished for it.
1:31:26
I will do whatever I can to shame.
1:31:27
You embarrass, you ruin your reputation, make life miserable
1:31:33
for you because of what you've done to me.
1:31:35
God is merciful to those who show Mercy.
1:31:41
Remember that? Let's pray.
1:32:02
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my
1:32:05
life. Louis, thank you for this
1:32:09
precious study. How when David was in deep
1:32:12
trouble, your Providence gave him a way out. thank you, Lord,
1:32:20
that you did not abandon David even though he abandoned a part
1:32:25
of his heart, To his flesh. Lord, we ask that we would be
1:32:36
equally as merciful as you've been to us.
1:32:43
Forgiving, those who have hurt us.
1:32:46
Extending kindness to those who might have extended pain.
1:32:55
You expect Mercy to flow from our hands and our lips.
1:33:03
Would you find it in us and Lord, when we lack the
1:33:05
motivation or when our flesh would argue, otherwise Laura
1:33:09
just dominate our hearts. Dominate.
1:33:13
Our hearts. We thank you for this Bible
1:33:17
study. We thank you that you've spoken
1:33:20
clearly to our hearts and now Lord with what we've learned in
1:33:23
the short chapter may be applied to the chapters of Our Lives.
1:33:29
We bless you and we worship you. We give you all praise and glory
1:33:35
and honor. And what even as we sit in our
1:33:37
pews and reflect on what we heard.
1:33:42
May what we reflect upon give us the clear answers to where we
1:33:45
are today with you. We want to be where you want us
1:33:50
to be. Thank you that your word aligns
1:33:53
us. And puts a light to our path to
1:33:57
help us. See where we're going.
1:34:00
We bless you, Lord for you. Are the Living God.
1:34:04
The god of David is our God and we give you all the glory and
1:34:06
praise in Jesus name we pray. Amen.
1:44:49
What's sweet fellowship with his word tonight?
1:44:52
Well, we thank you that you have guided us through this chapter.
1:44:55
We thank you that we have tasted honey tonight.
1:44:59
We thank you that. Our souls feel like they've been
1:45:01
water that we have. Feasted at a banquet the
1:45:05
beginning of this weekend. Lori, pray that we would
1:45:09
remember that final Point especially that you are merciful
1:45:13
to those who show Mercy. Help us be a merciful people
1:45:17
especially as we Continue in life together and offense, will
1:45:21
surely. Come, we would be like our King
1:45:27
We would be good and gracious. We ask Lord that you would guide
1:45:31
us this weekend at Lord. We would have good testimony
1:45:37
with the world that we interact with.
1:45:39
And Lord, this coming Sunday, you would give an extra measure
1:45:44
of your peace and joy as we celebrate the lives that you've
1:45:48
transformed or protect their minds.
1:45:50
Even now as we pray and we pray for the family Dynamics, the
1:45:54
storms that might be caused. Oh Lord, by this decision to
1:45:58
step out on obedience towards speak peace into those homes, as
1:46:01
you did the Sea of Galilee. And Lord, may we come into a
1:46:06
sanctuary with a people that will offer to you.
1:46:08
A great sacrifice of Thanksgiving and praise speak.
1:46:13
Precisely through these testimonies and may there be
1:46:17
greater fruit out of this obedience from these people who
1:46:20
are stepping out in faith. We give you maximum glory and
1:46:24
praise for all that. You have done all that you are
1:46:27
doing and all that you will do. In the precious name of Jesus.
1:46:32
We pray. Amen.
1:46:34
And amen. And amen.
1:46:36
Fellowship with one. Another, if you can stay for
1:46:38
those who are getting baptized in your here, just know that you
1:46:41
will be getting an email tomorrow.
1:46:43
You're getting an evil tomorrow early in the day to know how you
1:46:46
can prepare with the practicalities of that day.
1:46:48
And so we can't wait to see you Sunday.
1:46:50
God bless you guys have a wonderful night.