Joy in The Journey

5 Lessons From King David

Mon, 22 May 2023 20:39:11 GMT

Five Lessons From King David / Pastor Chris

In Team of Rivals, Doris Kearns Goodwin wrote that Abraham Lincoln "has unequalled power to captivate the imagination and to inspire emotion." For me, King David is the Bible's Abraham Lincoln equivalent in his power to capture imaginations and inspire emotions. His family tragedies and national triumphs, his unparalleled fear of God combined with moral failure, the obvious ways that God works in his life combined with his manly courage, all make King David one of the great studies in a biblical figure. This past Sunday we looked at five lessons from his life to wrap up our series in 1-2 Samuel. Our text was 2 Samuel 23:1-7 , "the last words of David."

Now these are the last words of David: The oracle of David, the son of Jesse, the oracle of the man who was raised on high the anointed of the God of Jacob, the sweet psalmist of Israel: 2 “The Spirit of the Lord speaks by me; his word is on my tongue. 3 The God of Israel has spoken; the Rock of Israel has said to me: When one rules justly over men, ruling in the fear of God, 4 he dawns on them like the morning light, like the sun shining forth on a cloudless morning, like rain that makes grass to sprout from the earth. 5 “For does not my house stand so with God? For he has made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things and secure. For will he not cause to prosper all my help and my desire? 6 But worthless men are all like thorns that are thrown away, for they cannot be taken with the hand; 7 but the man who touches them arms himself with iron and the shaft of a spear, and they are utterly consumed with fire.”

Lesson 1: A Heart for God Prepares Us to Be Used by God

David is chosen to be king because he has what Saul does not: a heart for God. 1 Samuel 13:14 says the Lord “sought out a man after his own heart" to be king, and Saul simply was not this man. When Samuel goes to anoint the new king of Israel, he assumes David’s strong and noble oldest brother must be the chosen one. However, God tells Samuel not to focus on physical prowess: "Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have, I rejected him. For the LORD sees not as man sees man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart" (16:7). David’s heart for God prepares him to be used by God. Our impressive resumes aren’t what make us useful in God’s kingdom. The first lesson we learn from David’s life is the importance of cultivating a heart for God above all else.

Lesson 2: The Spirit of God Equips Us to Do the Will of God

The lives of David and Saul make it crystal clear that if we want to do God’s will, we must be filled with the Spirit. Although Saul is filled with the Spirit and actually prophesies early in his public life, his disobedience causes the Spirit to depart from him and instead “rush upon David” ( 1 Sam. 16:13-14 ). Without the Spirit, we are powerless to fulfill the role to which God has called us as Christians. The Spirit enables us to obey God. The Bible assures us that if we "walk by the Spirit", we won’t "gratify the desires of the flesh" ( Gal. 5:16 ). And the Spirit’s presence in us results in fruit which makes us effective in ministry: "love, joy, peace, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control" ( Gal. 5:22-23 ). That is why we must pray to be filled with the Spirit ( Eph. 5:18 ).

Lesson 3: It's Better to Fear God than to Be Nine Feet Tall

David’s defeat of Goliath is one of the most vivid examples of what fear of God can accomplish. David feared God more than he feared Goliath, so he was not intimidated by this nine-foot giant before him. David believed the promises of God more than he feared Goliath. The Lord had promised the Israelites that they would conquer the Philistines, and David trusted him. God wants this same kind of fear to be a part of our lives. If we fear God more than anyone or anything else, we will be able to obey and please him in powerful ways.

Of course, David is really a picture of the Greater Champion Jesus Christ. David defeated the enemy and delivered a nation—in one battle for a short time. Jesus Christ defeated the enemy—the devil, sin, and death—and delivered his people for all time. That leads us to the next lesson we learn from David.

Lesson 4: The Glory of David is not David at All—It's Jesus Christ

David's life is one example of the many pointers and prophecies that speak of Jesus Christ throughout the Old Testament. In David's "last words" in 2 Samuel 23:1-7 , he alludes to Jesus several times. He first calls himself "the anointed of the God of Jacob" (v. 1). David was the "anointed" because Samuel anointed him with oil and because God anointed him with the Holy Spirit ( 1 Sam. 16:13 ). But "anointed" in Hebrew is Messiah, and in Greek it is Christ. David is pointing to the Greater Christ. This is the significance of Peter's answer to Jesus in Matthew 16:15-16 : "He said to them, 'But who do you say that I am?' Simon Peter replied, 'You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.'"

Jesus is also the fulfillment of what David calls "the everlasting covenant" ( 2 Sam. 23:5 ):

When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 2 Sam. 7:12-13

This is no human figure. Solomon, Hezekiah, Josiah - the greatest kings of Israel lived at best 70 or 80 years. None of them had an eternal kingdom. This is Jesus Christ, the Son of David, who is the King above all kings who will live and reign forever.

Lesson 5: Sin Can Bring Horrible Consequences, but Sin Can Be Forgiven

1-2 Samuel show that sin can result in horrible consequences: Eli the priest fails to fear God and his two sons are killed because of it. Saul fails to obey and honor God, and the kingdom is given to another man. But David's sin against Bathsheba shows this most vividly of all. When David takes Bathsheba and kills her husband Uriah, he sings in so many ways, and the Lord is not silent or indifferent to them. In fact, he promises to bring "the sword" upon David's house, and that sword takes four of his sons. Such sobering consequences for sin are meant to cause us to fear falling into sin.

But there is forgiveness in the life of David as well. After Nathan the prophet confronts David for his sin, David confesses. Nathan then speaks the forgiveness of God: "The LORD has put away your sin; you shall not die" ( 2 Sam. 12:13 ). David's true repentance is matched by the Lord's forgiveness. And in the end, God’s forgiveness far surpasses any consequences we might experience. Consequences can only last for a lifetime, but forgiveness lasts forever. When we stand before God in the new heavens and new earth, our sins and their aftermath will be behind us and only life and joy in the presence of a merciful savior will be ahead. Such forgiveness is ours when we believe in Jesus Christ, the one who forever and completely takes our sins away ( Heb. 10:1-18 ). David’s life teaches us not to take the glorious reality of God’s mercy for granted.

The End of It All: He Thou My Vision

We probably could have picked 105 lessons from David’s life, but we chose these five to close our sermon series. Let these inspire our hearts to keep God first above all things. Let him be our highest priority, our greatest passion, our first allegiance, our center and source and foundation and goal. Psalm 139:1-6

O Lord, you have searched me and known me! 2 You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. 3 You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. 4 Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether. 5 You ^t hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me. 6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it.

Thirst for God

Mon, 22 May 2023 19:51:39 GMT

Thirst for God / Pastor Chris

Psalm 63

Thirsty for God We don’t know the precise historical setting for this psalm. We only know from the subtitle that David wrote this when he was in the wilderness (desert) of Judah, possibly during the time of Absalom’s rebellion. One of the early church fathers, Chrysostom, shared an early church saying “that no day should pass without the public singing of this psalm.” Many commentators have called this one of the greatest psalms. It is similar to Psalm 42. David has a desire for deeper fellowship with God. David expresses his intense love for the Lord. What a person really desires in life is what he will probably get. Someone said, “Whatever gets your attention will get you.” John Piper commented: “The deepest longing of the human heart is to know and enjoy the glory of God. We were made for this.”

Seeking God (vs. 1-2) David began by declaring, “You are my God.” Knowing God personally is the high privilege of God’s people. John 17:3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

A. When he seeks God – “early will I seek thee” – He seeks God early in the day and earnestly. Psalms 5:3 My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.

B. How he seeks God – “my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee” – He seeks God intensely with his whole person, soul and body. Jeremiah 29:13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.

C. Where he seeks God – “in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is” – David longs for God like a thirsty traveler in a desert. If you are stranded in a wilderness and without water, only one thing will occupy your mind. You must have water and nothing else matters. David could no more live without God than his body could live without water (Ps. 42:1-2; 84:2; 143:6; Mt. 5:6; Jn. 7:37). C. S. Lewis said: “This world has many amusements, but it has few pleasures.” Things don’t satisfy.

D. Why he seeks God – “to see thy power and thy glory” – David focused on a mental picture of God’s power and glory. He wants to experience God’s power and glory as he did when he worshiped in the sanctuary in Jerusalem. The word “seen” may refer to a vision of God like Isaiah saw (Isa. 6:1-8). Don’t forget in the wilderness what you have experienced in the sanctuary. The words to a song say, “The God of the mountain is the God of the valley.”

2. Praising God (vs. 3-4)

A. He praises God personally – “because thy loving-kindness is better than life” – David knew that God’s steadfast, unconditional love is better than life itself. Philippians 1:21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

B. He praises God verbally – He praises God in word and song. Praising God is the natural overflow of a heart that meditates on God. Someone said, “In prayer we act like men, in praise like angels.” God’s covenant love for David caused him to love God in return.

C. He praises God constantly – As long as there is life in his body, he will praise God. Praise is faith turned inside out. Praise is the evidence that God is at work, meeting His people’s needs. David offered spiritual sacrifices to God (Heb. 13:15).

D. He praises God reverently – He was ready to receive God’s blessings by faith. Lifting hands up to the Lord was a way to express prayer and praise ascending up to God and also a symbol of total dependence on God. In Old Testament times believers lifted their hands toward God in reverence. This practice carried over into the New Testament church (1 Tim. 2:8).

3. Remembering God (vs. 5-7) As David remembers God and meditates on the character of God through the night…

A. He is satisfied – His soul is satisfied, just as his body would be satisfied with a lavish feast (vs. 5, NIV “My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods”).

B. He is singing – His soul overflows with joyful praise. When we are spiritually full, we just have to praise God. Do we come to church with an empty or a full heart? Do we come to be filled or to overflow?

C. He is secure – He remembers how God has protected him, and feels secure in the shadow of God’s wings. This image of safety is used often in Psalms (Ps. 17:8; 36:7; 57:1; 61:4; 91:4).

4. Clinging to God (vs. 8) In this verse we have a perfect description of the divine-human relationship.

A. He stays close to God – “my soul followeth hard after thee” – This describes submissive trust and active pursuit. God invited and encouraged His people to stay close to Him. Deuteronomy 4:4 But ye that did cleave unto the LORD your God are alive every one of you this day. See also Deuteronomy 10:20; 13:4.

B. God stays close to him – “thy right hand upholdeth me” – David was clinging to God, and God was upholding him. We hold on to God, but most importantly He holds on to us (Ps. 37:24).

5. Trusting God (vs. 9-11)

A. God will destroy his enemies – David’s enemies will fall in battle. They will go down into the place of the dead and their bodies will be eaten by scavengers (jackals).

B. God will deliver him – David and other believers will glory in God’s victory. “Every one that sweareth by him” is a way of describing God’s people (Deut. 6:13; 10:20). Believers always boast (glory) in the Lord for the things He has done.

TIMELESS TRUTHS : Difficult circumstances can drive us closer to God. 2 Corinthians 12:10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong. We are as close to God as we want to be. James 4:8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Sleepless nights can be satisfying times in the Lord. Job 35:10 But none saith, Where is God my maker, who giveth songs in the night. Joy is always possible when our joy is in the Lord. Philippians 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice. If you can’t rejoice in your situation, you can still rejoice in your Savior.

William Tyndale's Final Words

Fri, 12 May 2023 04:56:43 GMT

Joy in the Journey / Chris Platt

William Tyndale’s final words before the chain around his neck strangled him to death were, “Lord, open the king of England’s eyes.” That dying prayer was answered two years after Tyndale’s death, when King Henry VIII ordered that the Bible of Miles Coverdale was to be used in every parish in the land. The Coverdale Bible was largely based on Tyndale’s work. Then, in 1539, Tyndale’s own edition of the Bible became officially approved for printing.

Tyndale’s translation inspired the great translations that followed, including the Great Bible (1539, also compiled by Coverdale), the Geneva Bible (1560), the Bishops’ Bible (1568), the Douay-Rheims Bible (1582-1609), and the Authorized or King James Version (1611). A complete analysis of the King James shows that Tyndale’s words account for eighty-four percent of the New Testament and more than seventy-five percent of the Old Testament. Many of the great modern English versions stand in the King James tradition and thus also draw inspiration from Tyndale, including the Revised Standard Version, the New American Standard Bible, and the English Standard Version.

The enormous debt owed by the English-speaking world to William Tyndale is incalculable. His crafting of the English language introduced new words into our vocabulary that are spoken every day in countries around the world. Ultimately, his work in translating the Bible from its original languages into the tongue of his homeland helped launch the English Reformation. The calling of God upon Tyndale’s heart became a burning passion to see commoners read God’s unadulterated Word. Unfortunately, most people have never heard of this man and his vast contribution has been greatly undervalued through the centuries.

We want again Tyndales to tenaciously face the insurmountable obstacles before them and overcome them with zealous resolve for the glory of God. We need Tyndales who translate the Bible into the languages of forgotten people groups around the world. We need Tyndales to proclaim the gospel through the written page in the face of imminent danger. We need Tyndales who passionately love the Word of God to fill every pulpit, every seminary, every Sunday School class, every lectern.

Let us learn to say with David—and no doubt with Tyndale—“How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!” ( Ps. 119:103 ESV).

10 Ways to Share Your Faith

Fri, 12 May 2023 04:23:47 GMT

Joy in the Journey / Chris Platt

Evangelistic Prayer

1. Seek the Father’s Heart

2. Offering yourself for God’s use in sharing your faith.

3. Regular Prayer for those who don’t know Christ.

Position Yourself

4. Find a way to be a blessing to others

5. Live Authentically in public and in private.

6. Build genuine relationships

Proclamation:

Effective Conversations Among Friends

7. Choose a gospel script.

8. Practice the gospel script until you are comfortable with it.

9. Share your story

10. Learn how to use questions in a conversation