1 00:00:11,100 --> 00:00:13,900 This is not our final study. In 1st Samuel, we're almost 2 00:00:13,900 --> 00:00:17,500 there but this is the second last study and we will be 3 00:00:17,508 --> 00:00:23,400 exploring together. First Samuel chapter 30, And oh, 4 00:00:23,400 --> 00:00:29,300 what an encouraging chapter. This is Bless my soul. 5 00:00:29,300 --> 00:00:38,200 Deeply studying it. Notice, it's a lengthy chapter 6 00:00:38,900 --> 00:00:40,400 and so we're not going to cover all of it. 7 00:00:41,700 --> 00:00:43,900 But there is sufficient for us in the verses that we will. 8 00:00:44,300 --> 00:00:48,700 We will cover today. Don't you love the word of God? 9 00:00:50,400 --> 00:00:54,700 It's the Living Word. And Lord we thank you as we pray 10 00:00:54,700 --> 00:00:57,600 coming to the scriptures with great anticipation and 11 00:00:57,600 --> 00:01:01,400 excitement because we believe that you speak, we believe that 12 00:01:01,400 --> 00:01:05,099 you speak primarily through your word and it is sufficient for us 13 00:01:05,900 --> 00:01:08,600 and we thank you for this house. We thank you for people who have 14 00:01:08,600 --> 00:01:12,100 come because of a love for your word. 15 00:01:12,900 --> 00:01:15,500 And Lord made that love. Not be a love for me or 16 00:01:15,500 --> 00:01:18,300 knowledge. May be a love for the person 17 00:01:18,300 --> 00:01:20,900 that we are discovering and maybe a love. 18 00:01:20,900 --> 00:01:23,800 That's so impressive us that it causes us to love in like 19 00:01:23,800 --> 00:01:26,800 manner. We ask Lord that you would give 20 00:01:26,800 --> 00:01:32,400 us wisdom that you would cancel all confusion that Lord, as his 21 00:01:32,400 --> 00:01:35,000 word is delivered, it would not be delivered with stammering 22 00:01:35,000 --> 00:01:37,900 lips. There be Clarity of thought, 23 00:01:38,300 --> 00:01:41,200 there'd be even discussion. More importantly, though. 24 00:01:41,200 --> 00:01:42,600 We pray that this would cause us to worship. 25 00:01:42,700 --> 00:01:46,100 If you even as we sit here today and silence, we pray that the 26 00:01:46,100 --> 00:01:49,100 word washed over us would cause us to worship you. 27 00:01:49,600 --> 00:01:54,300 And to adore you too, love you. We thank you for this chapter 28 00:01:55,200 --> 00:01:56,400 and we trust that you will speak to us. 29 00:01:56,400 --> 00:01:59,400 Now, in Jesus name we pray, amen. 30 00:02:01,300 --> 00:02:07,000 Last week, you and I examined how God's providential kindness 31 00:02:07,000 --> 00:02:11,400 interrupted. David's pursuit of further 32 00:02:11,400 --> 00:02:15,500 disobedience, And it was a reminder for us how the lord 33 00:02:15,500 --> 00:02:20,700 always provides a way of Escape in every Temptation. 34 00:02:20,800 --> 00:02:23,800 Remember that. And every Temptation whether 35 00:02:23,800 --> 00:02:30,100 that is Temptation to be severely angry and to explode, 36 00:02:30,100 --> 00:02:34,100 whether that's temptation to lust with us, temptation to lie 37 00:02:34,100 --> 00:02:37,600 with us, temptation to steal. No matter the category of sin. 38 00:02:37,600 --> 00:02:39,500 There is one thing they all share in common. 39 00:02:39,600 --> 00:02:41,900 There is an exit door ordained by God. 40 00:02:42,600 --> 00:02:46,200 Every time. But more than that, we also 41 00:02:46,200 --> 00:02:50,400 learn that God in that moment. As David is trying to make his 42 00:02:50,400 --> 00:02:54,000 way to fight against his own people and against the one that 43 00:02:54,000 --> 00:02:55,900 he said he would never touch with his hand. 44 00:02:57,200 --> 00:03:02,900 The Lord overflowed Mercy on David. and is because we learned 45 00:03:02,900 --> 00:03:07,000 in part because David showed Mercy in so many ways, 46 00:03:07,000 --> 00:03:11,500 especially in his struggle against all, God shows Mercy to 47 00:03:11,500 --> 00:03:16,400 those who are merciful And so remember that for the rest of 48 00:03:16,400 --> 00:03:21,200 your life, be merciful Jesus himself, said it that those who 49 00:03:21,200 --> 00:03:24,300 are, merciful are blessed for, they will obtain mercy. 50 00:03:25,300 --> 00:03:28,400 And so continue to be a person who displays compassion and 51 00:03:28,400 --> 00:03:31,500 understanding, no matter, no matter who says, what or who 52 00:03:31,500 --> 00:03:35,100 does want, and we would imagine that after such an obvious 53 00:03:35,100 --> 00:03:39,900 intervention from Heaven, that David would be awakened from his 54 00:03:39,900 --> 00:03:43,200 spiritual Slumber. And would realize, would realize 55 00:03:43,200 --> 00:03:47,900 that God is The indeed of my entire devotion and would make 56 00:03:47,900 --> 00:03:51,100 way back to where he belongs to. That was the promised land. 57 00:03:51,500 --> 00:03:55,200 You would think that as you see this before you, that there 58 00:03:55,200 --> 00:03:57,000 would be an alarm in your conscience. 59 00:03:57,200 --> 00:04:02,100 This is God, this is God. Putting an obstacle even even as 60 00:04:02,100 --> 00:04:03,900 you're attempting to disobey him. 61 00:04:05,000 --> 00:04:07,000 But we don't see any indication of that. 62 00:04:07,000 --> 00:04:09,500 The only thing that we see really is the end of the chapter 63 00:04:09,500 --> 00:04:11,200 in. 29 verse 11. What do we read? 64 00:04:11,500 --> 00:04:14,600 So, David set out with his men, early in the morning to return 65 00:04:14,600 --> 00:04:17,399 to the land of the Philistines. But the Philistines went up to 66 00:04:17,399 --> 00:04:19,700 Jezreel. That's it. 67 00:04:20,899 --> 00:04:23,500 We don't know why he's going back there. 68 00:04:23,500 --> 00:04:25,800 I mean his home is there. That's all we know but we don't 69 00:04:25,800 --> 00:04:28,400 know what he's planning to do. Is you plan to pack his bags and 70 00:04:28,400 --> 00:04:30,700 go home? Is he plan to stay there longer 71 00:04:30,700 --> 00:04:33,200 and wait for the war to just finish so that they can come 72 00:04:33,200 --> 00:04:37,400 back and he can continue. Hopefully thinking that's all 73 00:04:37,400 --> 00:04:39,900 will die in that war we have no idea what's going through his 74 00:04:39,900 --> 00:04:41,600 mind. But what we will know is that as 75 00:04:41,600 --> 00:04:46,500 we come to this chapter, we will discover that this Interruption 76 00:04:46,500 --> 00:04:49,700 by God, the rejection of the commanders of the Philistines. 77 00:04:50,800 --> 00:04:53,600 Played a part in a much grander scheme. 78 00:04:54,700 --> 00:04:59,600 Of God's attempt and trying to Rouse up his servant back into 79 00:04:59,600 --> 00:05:03,800 total Devotion to him again. And so, let's read here in verse 80 00:05:03,800 --> 00:05:07,300 1 of chapter Thirty. Now when David and his men came 81 00:05:07,300 --> 00:05:12,200 to ziklag on the third day, the amalekites had made a raid 82 00:05:12,200 --> 00:05:17,300 against the - and against ziklag, they had overcome ziklag 83 00:05:17,300 --> 00:05:21,600 and burned it with fire and taken captive, the woman and all 84 00:05:21,600 --> 00:05:26,200 who were in it both small and great, they Killed no one but 85 00:05:26,200 --> 00:05:28,900 carry them off and went their way. 86 00:05:30,600 --> 00:05:34,300 It was a three-day journey to head back to ziklag. 87 00:05:34,800 --> 00:05:38,600 Remember ziklag was the town that he's the king of the 88 00:05:38,608 --> 00:05:42,900 Philistines had given to David and his men and so for quite 89 00:05:42,900 --> 00:05:47,800 some time ziklag was home. It was their headquarters and 90 00:05:47,800 --> 00:05:52,600 these people, as they came back, the Israelites with David They 91 00:05:52,600 --> 00:05:56,500 saw it, a distance smoke rising from the Horizon and you can 92 00:05:56,500 --> 00:05:59,800 imagine the Panic that ensued in their hearts as they realize. 93 00:06:01,100 --> 00:06:04,300 That their town has been rated that their homes have been 94 00:06:04,300 --> 00:06:07,700 invaded. And what we can see here is that 95 00:06:07,700 --> 00:06:12,100 the amalekites must have had some Intel that David and his 96 00:06:12,100 --> 00:06:14,300 men had left to join the Philistines to fight against 97 00:06:14,300 --> 00:06:15,600 Israel. And so they thought this is the 98 00:06:15,600 --> 00:06:20,000 perfect opportunity to invade a defenseless home base. 99 00:06:20,800 --> 00:06:23,800 And one reason why we think that David comes against or rather, 100 00:06:23,800 --> 00:06:26,800 the amount has come against dick, like and particular is 101 00:06:26,800 --> 00:06:29,500 because remember, while David was in zick, like he was making 102 00:06:29,500 --> 00:06:32,800 raids on who the enemies of Israel, including the 103 00:06:32,800 --> 00:06:35,200 amalekites. We learned that in chapter 27. 104 00:06:36,100 --> 00:06:39,700 So this was Revenge. This was this was to get back at 105 00:06:39,700 --> 00:06:43,000 David and his men. And it is here that we learned 106 00:06:43,000 --> 00:06:45,200 something. So important concerning God's 107 00:06:45,200 --> 00:06:49,400 providential dealings with you and I, yes, you and I even 108 00:06:49,400 --> 00:06:51,500 today. What is that? 109 00:06:51,900 --> 00:06:56,300 Remember chapter 29 when God was obviously making it clear that 110 00:06:56,300 --> 00:06:59,200 David had to turn back and he was almost even forcing him to 111 00:06:59,200 --> 00:07:02,100 do. So, there was more than one end 112 00:07:02,100 --> 00:07:07,600 in mind in the mind of God. Hey, the primary reason was 113 00:07:07,600 --> 00:07:11,300 obviously to rescue David from committing a sin that he would 114 00:07:11,300 --> 00:07:14,800 regret for the rest of his life, which is a glorious thing. 115 00:07:15,800 --> 00:07:18,600 But we also see, secondary reason, and it is what. 116 00:07:19,200 --> 00:07:21,400 Well, while David is, a three-day Journey away from 117 00:07:21,400 --> 00:07:24,000 home. The amalekites have come in and 118 00:07:24,000 --> 00:07:27,500 have kidnapped his wives and his children with the other six 119 00:07:27,500 --> 00:07:33,400 hundred men and God was trying to get David back to ziklag in 120 00:07:33,400 --> 00:07:37,600 order to deal with the issue. Think about that. 121 00:07:38,700 --> 00:07:43,500 What if what if God had delayed What if David had lingered? 122 00:07:44,700 --> 00:07:48,000 What if, what if David had his way and move forward into the 123 00:07:48,000 --> 00:07:50,600 ranks and start fighting with the Israelites? 124 00:07:50,600 --> 00:07:52,100 Obviously, that's the worst outcome. 125 00:07:52,700 --> 00:07:57,100 But there were also been a worse outcome in his own personal life 126 00:07:57,100 --> 00:08:00,600 with his wives, and his children, who were taken as 127 00:08:00,600 --> 00:08:05,900 slaves time was of the essence. And so, even the timing even 128 00:08:05,900 --> 00:08:09,500 when he's was like, you got to leave by the morning from a 129 00:08:09,500 --> 00:08:13,000 human standpoint, that doesn't seem to have any kind of 130 00:08:13,000 --> 00:08:18,300 inclusion of a great Our problem at hand, but in God's mind, he's 131 00:08:18,300 --> 00:08:21,100 orchestrating this. And he's bringing back David, 132 00:08:21,100 --> 00:08:24,100 where he needs to be. Yes, he's redirecting him from 133 00:08:24,100 --> 00:08:27,700 not doing what he's supposed to do, but he's also reserving him 134 00:08:27,800 --> 00:08:29,700 to fight for what really matters. 135 00:08:30,800 --> 00:08:33,000 And I think that's one of the most encouraging things 136 00:08:33,000 --> 00:08:34,400 concerning God's leading in our lives. 137 00:08:34,400 --> 00:08:39,400 As we just sang about Because the hostility that David 138 00:08:39,400 --> 00:08:41,900 experienced though, it may have offended him. 139 00:08:42,799 --> 00:08:45,700 The rejection might have might have heard him, but it was the 140 00:08:45,700 --> 00:08:49,000 necessary means to bring him where he was supposed to be. 141 00:08:50,200 --> 00:08:52,900 God didn't speak in chapter 29 from heaven with a booming 142 00:08:52,900 --> 00:08:56,800 voice. David ziklag has been invaded. 143 00:08:56,900 --> 00:08:59,300 You must hurry back and rescue your family. 144 00:08:59,400 --> 00:09:02,200 That's what we always want. We want the booming voice, we 145 00:09:02,200 --> 00:09:04,800 want, the audible leading You know what? 146 00:09:04,800 --> 00:09:08,400 God used to get David where he was supposed to be the rejection 147 00:09:08,400 --> 00:09:14,400 of people. Ready for this closed doors. 148 00:09:18,000 --> 00:09:21,400 A change of plans overnight, you spent three days? 149 00:09:21,400 --> 00:09:23,800 Walking all the way here? Well, you got a three-day walk, 150 00:09:23,800 --> 00:09:29,300 all the way back. Normal events that you and I 151 00:09:29,308 --> 00:09:31,200 have experienced throughout our lives. 152 00:09:31,200 --> 00:09:36,400 But all of them necessary pieces to the providential puzzle of 153 00:09:36,400 --> 00:09:41,200 God's purpose in your life. Do you believe that you must 154 00:09:41,200 --> 00:09:43,900 believe that you must believe that? 155 00:09:44,400 --> 00:09:47,300 Because that is, that is that is our inheritance as children of 156 00:09:47,300 --> 00:09:52,900 God that is God's promise for each of us here that he moves 157 00:09:52,900 --> 00:09:58,500 things around to bring us to certain Post in life and that is 158 00:09:58,500 --> 00:10:00,800 the sweet sweet experience of what you. 159 00:10:00,800 --> 00:10:03,400 And I have heard so many times throughout this book and that is 160 00:10:03,400 --> 00:10:09,000 Providence Providence often pushes us To a certain 161 00:10:09,000 --> 00:10:13,100 assignment or certain need that God has in mind and you and I 162 00:10:13,100 --> 00:10:16,800 have to trust the transitions that get us there even if 163 00:10:16,800 --> 00:10:19,500 they're painful, even if they're disappointing. 164 00:10:20,200 --> 00:10:24,900 Even if they might hurt regardless you and I as we walk, 165 00:10:24,900 --> 00:10:28,500 this walk with the Lord God like he does with the man after his 166 00:10:28,500 --> 00:10:31,700 own heart uses. Things that seem normal on the 167 00:10:31,700 --> 00:10:34,700 surface but have a supernatural purpose in the background. 168 00:10:35,800 --> 00:10:39,600 I can't think of any other way to no peace in this life. 169 00:10:40,000 --> 00:10:44,100 That's a really believe that that is opportunities Slam in my 170 00:10:44,100 --> 00:10:47,700 face, that as things forcefully moved me to a different 171 00:10:47,700 --> 00:10:50,400 location. Whatever the case may be, I know 172 00:10:50,400 --> 00:10:53,900 one thing there is a God in the background who has a story 173 00:10:53,900 --> 00:10:58,900 writing, And it's for his glory ultimately, and that's what 174 00:10:58,900 --> 00:11:03,100 David is seeing here. We don't see any song written 175 00:11:03,100 --> 00:11:05,500 about God's Providence. Bringing him back here at the 176 00:11:05,500 --> 00:11:08,400 certain time but we can praise God over it because we have the 177 00:11:08,400 --> 00:11:11,000 commentary as we read it right here. 178 00:11:12,100 --> 00:11:15,900 So we read now in verse 3 and when David and his men came to 179 00:11:15,900 --> 00:11:19,900 the city, they found it burned with fire and their wives and 180 00:11:19,900 --> 00:11:23,700 Sons and Daughters taken captive, then David and the 181 00:11:23,700 --> 00:11:27,400 people who were with him, raise their voices and wept until they 182 00:11:27,400 --> 00:11:31,000 had no more strength to weep. Have you ever cried like that? 183 00:11:34,200 --> 00:11:36,300 Weeping until they were exhausted. 184 00:11:36,300 --> 00:11:39,400 I mean, there are already bone tired from walking three days. 185 00:11:39,700 --> 00:11:43,700 And now, instead of coming home to a warm welcome and a warm 186 00:11:43,700 --> 00:11:46,400 meal, the only thing warm is their houses. 187 00:11:46,400 --> 00:11:52,900 Burnt ash And they are so distraught that these grown men, 188 00:11:52,900 --> 00:11:56,600 these Warriors fall to their knees and they heaving. 189 00:11:56,600 --> 00:12:00,300 The weep to the point where it makes them even more exhausted 190 00:12:00,300 --> 00:12:06,700 than when they arrived. It would be wrong to assess the 191 00:12:06,700 --> 00:12:11,300 Brokenness that David is experiencing or the pain as an 192 00:12:11,300 --> 00:12:14,100 example of how the righteous suffer greatly from time. 193 00:12:14,100 --> 00:12:17,900 To time, it wouldn't be right to interpret it this way, nor would 194 00:12:17,900 --> 00:12:21,900 it be right to primarily make this about how you and I should 195 00:12:21,900 --> 00:12:24,900 depend on the Lord and trust him in all things? 196 00:12:25,700 --> 00:12:31,100 Why is that I argue because the reason why David is even 197 00:12:31,100 --> 00:12:35,600 experiencing this heartache, is a result of God's discipline. 198 00:12:38,100 --> 00:12:42,100 God's loving chastisement in David's life. 199 00:12:45,400 --> 00:12:50,100 It is impossible. For a genuine child of God to 200 00:12:50,100 --> 00:12:54,800 remain and persistent sin without God, stepping in as a 201 00:12:54,800 --> 00:12:58,100 loving dad to do something about it. 202 00:12:59,700 --> 00:13:04,300 And David has been outside of the will of God for a year and 203 00:13:04,300 --> 00:13:08,700 four months and all he seems to have been experiencing was good. 204 00:13:10,000 --> 00:13:13,300 He was flourishing, he was safe from Saul. 205 00:13:14,700 --> 00:13:18,200 He was gaining much spoil. He was getting favor from the 206 00:13:18,200 --> 00:13:22,300 Philistines and the script changed. 207 00:13:22,600 --> 00:13:27,200 Because when you and I are born again, we'd only get heaven, we 208 00:13:27,200 --> 00:13:33,900 get a Heavenly Father, And this heavenly father is the perfect. 209 00:13:33,900 --> 00:13:37,400 Father. Perfect and wisdom perfect in 210 00:13:37,400 --> 00:13:42,400 his provision. Perfect in his chastisement. 211 00:13:44,000 --> 00:13:46,700 And I want you to see at least two things about God's 212 00:13:46,700 --> 00:13:48,400 discipline. What I mean, discipline, I mean, 213 00:13:48,700 --> 00:13:53,900 and active, and an intentional Affliction upon you and me in 214 00:13:53,900 --> 00:13:58,900 order to bring us somewhere. Here's the first thing. 215 00:13:59,700 --> 00:14:02,000 God's discipline in a Christians life. 216 00:14:03,100 --> 00:14:05,700 Is not implemented without patience. 217 00:14:06,800 --> 00:14:10,700 God is extremely patient. Very patient. 218 00:14:13,000 --> 00:14:15,700 When we hear about God's discipline, sometimes people get 219 00:14:15,700 --> 00:14:18,400 nervous because they interpret it in the lens of the 220 00:14:18,400 --> 00:14:20,000 discipline. They might have experienced from 221 00:14:20,000 --> 00:14:22,700 their own parents and that can be very, very muddy. 222 00:14:23,700 --> 00:14:27,200 Because even the best of dads can get it wrong, even the best 223 00:14:27,200 --> 00:14:31,300 of moms can can allow their anger to infiltrate their 224 00:14:31,300 --> 00:14:33,400 discipline? They do it out of frustration, 225 00:14:33,400 --> 00:14:36,400 more than out of love, they can be excessive. 226 00:14:38,800 --> 00:14:40,800 They can even be wrong, all together. 227 00:14:42,600 --> 00:14:48,700 But God does not treat our sin evenly, he does not overreact, 228 00:14:48,700 --> 00:14:51,300 he'd never loses control. He is not Reckless. 229 00:14:52,000 --> 00:14:56,000 When God disciplines he knows exactly what to prescribe at the 230 00:14:56,000 --> 00:14:59,700 right time and David here has been again outside of the will 231 00:14:59,700 --> 00:15:01,500 of God for almost a year and a half. 232 00:15:02,300 --> 00:15:08,100 No sign of God's heavy hand, no, no, God, even waiting as he 233 00:15:08,100 --> 00:15:12,600 often does with you and I waiting and allowing your Since 234 00:15:12,600 --> 00:15:15,800 to do the work with all this sermons, that you have heard and 235 00:15:15,800 --> 00:15:19,600 all the podcasts that I have listened to, to allow the truth 236 00:15:19,600 --> 00:15:21,300 that has been residing within to. 237 00:15:21,300 --> 00:15:25,100 Hopefully do its work or maybe even as we often, have 238 00:15:25,100 --> 00:15:30,400 experienced God's mercy being dispensed, even in the midst of 239 00:15:30,400 --> 00:15:35,000 our disobedience. Allowing his provision, and his 240 00:15:35,000 --> 00:15:39,200 goodness to kiss us instead of experiencing The Sting of his 241 00:15:39,200 --> 00:15:43,900 Divine Rod immediately. And so, there are times in which 242 00:15:43,900 --> 00:15:48,400 God just Waits And he sends a kind warning. 243 00:15:49,500 --> 00:15:53,500 And and and he just allows even sometimes the natural 244 00:15:53,500 --> 00:15:56,000 consequences of sin to wake us up. 245 00:15:57,400 --> 00:16:00,100 But eventually, when nothing seems to get our attention. 246 00:16:01,000 --> 00:16:05,700 He knows exactly what to do. And that is the second point of 247 00:16:05,700 --> 00:16:10,700 God's discipline. It is what God's discipline is 248 00:16:10,700 --> 00:16:15,900 painful. God's discipline in Akron. 249 00:16:15,900 --> 00:16:16,900 I'm not talking about non-believer. 250 00:16:16,900 --> 00:16:18,300 Like you don't want it, wasn't what God does. 251 00:16:18,300 --> 00:16:20,700 When a non-believer? Yes, you can convicted them but 252 00:16:20,700 --> 00:16:22,900 when they persistence in he doesn't discipline and he lets 253 00:16:22,900 --> 00:16:26,900 him keep going in their sin. He doesn't do that with a 254 00:16:26,908 --> 00:16:29,100 Christian. He doesn't do that with a child 255 00:16:29,100 --> 00:16:33,800 of God. God's discipline is painful. 256 00:16:34,300 --> 00:16:36,800 Notice here in verse 4 again, what do we read then? 257 00:16:36,800 --> 00:16:39,500 David and the people who were with them raised their voices 258 00:16:39,500 --> 00:16:43,200 and wept until they had no more strength to weep that hurts. 259 00:16:45,300 --> 00:16:51,100 That hurts. And the reason why it is painful 260 00:16:51,400 --> 00:16:54,700 is because in pain, there is corrective power. 261 00:16:56,400 --> 00:16:59,700 Could have God getting David's attention some other way. 262 00:16:59,700 --> 00:17:02,600 Could he have prohibited the amalekites from invading? 263 00:17:02,700 --> 00:17:05,700 Could he have kept his family from being kidnapped? 264 00:17:06,000 --> 00:17:09,900 Absolutely. But what is God trying to do 265 00:17:09,900 --> 00:17:14,400 with someone who's clearly been in such a season where he is not 266 00:17:14,400 --> 00:17:17,900 responding to even the mercies of God? 267 00:17:19,700 --> 00:17:24,000 He allows sorrow. And he wants the sorrow to be in 268 00:17:24,000 --> 00:17:28,000 connection to the sin for what reason for the same reason why a 269 00:17:28,000 --> 00:17:32,000 good father would discipline his son or his daughter so that you 270 00:17:32,000 --> 00:17:35,900 would never make that mistake again, that you would never 271 00:17:35,900 --> 00:17:41,700 entertain that sin again. That you would be trained by 272 00:17:41,700 --> 00:17:45,100 that discipline in order to cause you to walk in the 273 00:17:45,100 --> 00:17:50,100 direction that your heavenly father desires for you. and 274 00:17:50,100 --> 00:17:54,800 God's methods of discipline very They do. 275 00:17:56,700 --> 00:18:00,400 Sometimes they include loss like David. 276 00:18:00,900 --> 00:18:07,800 He lost a lot and God can allow permit even actively cause a 277 00:18:07,800 --> 00:18:13,500 loss in our lives, a loss of finances, relational loss. 278 00:18:13,800 --> 00:18:17,500 Even something to do with our own bodies can be affected when 279 00:18:17,500 --> 00:18:19,000 God disciplines. If you don't believe me, read 280 00:18:19,000 --> 00:18:22,100 1st Corinthians 11 but a bunch of Christians from Corinth. 281 00:18:22,100 --> 00:18:25,800 We didn't respect and Revere the table of the Lord, some of you 282 00:18:25,800 --> 00:18:27,800 are weak. Some of you are tired. 283 00:18:27,900 --> 00:18:31,700 Some of you even died. Where is that coming from Satan? 284 00:18:32,100 --> 00:18:36,300 No, it's coming from God. But here's, here's what's so 285 00:18:36,300 --> 00:18:38,200 important. No matter how severe God's 286 00:18:38,200 --> 00:18:42,600 discipline is in our lives. It never occurred never exceeds 287 00:18:42,600 --> 00:18:46,000 or goes beyond the purpose of sanctifying us. 288 00:18:48,100 --> 00:18:52,600 It is always for a good. It never is never meant to 289 00:18:52,600 --> 00:18:56,900 destroy us, to embarrass us to demean us. 290 00:18:58,200 --> 00:19:01,400 When God looks Upon a Child who's walking Wayward and he 291 00:19:01,400 --> 00:19:06,000 does something intentional, he causes some kind of Affliction 292 00:19:06,000 --> 00:19:09,100 in our lives. It is meant to do what? 293 00:19:09,100 --> 00:19:12,200 Hebrews 12 tells us, remember that passage, maybe you haven't 294 00:19:12,200 --> 00:19:14,000 read it. So read it with me and Hebrews. 295 00:19:14,000 --> 00:19:16,500 12 verse 10. It is one of the most clear 296 00:19:16,500 --> 00:19:18,300 passages about how God disciplines us. 297 00:19:18,300 --> 00:19:23,200 It is not mentioned much. It much Christian conversation. 298 00:19:29,000 --> 00:19:31,400 Have you ever heard somebody ever say to you as a Believer? 299 00:19:32,000 --> 00:19:33,300 He had. God discipline me. 300 00:19:34,600 --> 00:19:40,600 Anybody. It's very foreign. it's very 301 00:19:40,600 --> 00:19:46,400 foreign, but look at what Hebrews 12 10 says, Speaking 302 00:19:46,400 --> 00:19:49,800 about Earthly fathers for they disciplined us for a short time 303 00:19:50,100 --> 00:19:54,100 as it seemed best to them, but he being God disciplines us for 304 00:19:54,100 --> 00:19:57,800 our good that we may share his holiness. 305 00:20:00,000 --> 00:20:05,600 For the moment, all discipline seems painful rather than 306 00:20:05,600 --> 00:20:09,000 Pleasant. So here's an understanding in 307 00:20:09,000 --> 00:20:12,600 your walk with the lord. It's not always going to be 308 00:20:12,600 --> 00:20:17,000 pleasant to the to the flesh. There is going to be pain 309 00:20:17,000 --> 00:20:22,300 involved if we are true children of God and not because Satan got 310 00:20:22,300 --> 00:20:26,100 ahold of us that he's slipped through God's Sovereign hand and 311 00:20:26,100 --> 00:20:27,900 poked at you and now you're in pain. 312 00:20:28,100 --> 00:20:31,600 No, sometimes there. There is a pain that is directly 313 00:20:31,600 --> 00:20:37,400 coming from God himself. but later a yields, the peaceful 314 00:20:37,400 --> 00:20:43,300 fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it, And 315 00:20:43,300 --> 00:20:46,900 so yes, we're being told you're plainly that there is certain 316 00:20:46,900 --> 00:20:50,500 pain in our lives. That is a result of God's 317 00:20:50,500 --> 00:20:55,500 response to our sin. Now have a question because we 318 00:20:55,500 --> 00:20:58,300 have to ask questions to text in order to receive Revelation. 319 00:20:58,300 --> 00:21:00,100 That's the best way. When you read your Bible, you 320 00:21:00,100 --> 00:21:02,400 ask that have a conversation with the Bible. 321 00:21:02,700 --> 00:21:04,600 You know what my question is? Whenever I think about the 322 00:21:04,600 --> 00:21:08,600 discipline of God, How do I know when he's disciplining me? 323 00:21:11,800 --> 00:21:14,500 Right. How do I how do I decipher 324 00:21:14,500 --> 00:21:16,800 between this is God disciplines me. 325 00:21:16,800 --> 00:21:20,600 That's why I'm experiencing this Affliction or this is God 326 00:21:20,900 --> 00:21:24,300 testing your this is a trial or this is spiritual warfare. 327 00:21:25,400 --> 00:21:29,200 How do I make that distinction? Because I don't want to say that 328 00:21:29,200 --> 00:21:32,900 God is disciplining me when he really isn't and I don't want to 329 00:21:32,900 --> 00:21:35,700 fail to see God's discipline me when he actually is. 330 00:21:35,900 --> 00:21:39,700 Is that a valid question Anybody have an answer. 331 00:21:41,000 --> 00:21:49,000 Or at least a possible answer. That's a good point. 332 00:21:50,500 --> 00:21:52,600 What does the Affliction lead us to? 333 00:21:52,600 --> 00:21:55,400 What is the result of that affliction? 334 00:21:57,300 --> 00:22:00,200 Hebrews tells us that it will yield peaceful and righteous 335 00:22:00,200 --> 00:22:04,700 fruit, righteous fruit. Yeah, that is one way I believe. 336 00:22:07,500 --> 00:22:10,800 but I might push back and say well just because God 337 00:22:10,800 --> 00:22:13,000 disciplines us does that automatically mean that there 338 00:22:13,000 --> 00:22:16,300 will be peaceful and righteous fruit, have you ever discipline 339 00:22:16,300 --> 00:22:20,100 a child and not see the result that you hope for some parents 340 00:22:20,100 --> 00:22:23,700 can say, yes But that is a good observation. 341 00:22:23,700 --> 00:22:25,900 I will say so yes, anything else. 342 00:22:28,900 --> 00:22:30,600 Sure. So same idea it will make us 343 00:22:30,600 --> 00:22:33,100 more holy. So the end result, the end 344 00:22:33,100 --> 00:22:35,000 result will prove about how do I know. 345 00:22:35,200 --> 00:22:39,400 Or at least have a greater idea that even as I am undergoing the 346 00:22:39,400 --> 00:22:41,800 pain that this is God's discipline. 347 00:22:53,000 --> 00:22:56,700 If you want to come one step closer to understanding whether 348 00:22:56,700 --> 00:23:00,700 or not a certain pain or Affliction or trouble in your 349 00:23:00,700 --> 00:23:06,200 life, is an act of work of God. Here's what I believe is the 350 00:23:06,200 --> 00:23:10,200 main way to bring Clarity examine yourself. 351 00:23:11,800 --> 00:23:19,700 Is there a sin in my life that I am refusing to repent of and 352 00:23:19,700 --> 00:23:23,600 choosing to hold onto? And if there is something 353 00:23:23,600 --> 00:23:27,500 obvious, if there's something in your life, that is so clear. 354 00:23:27,500 --> 00:23:31,500 So, so obviously against God's word you've been fighting, even 355 00:23:31,500 --> 00:23:36,300 your conscience about it and for some coincidental reason, there 356 00:23:36,300 --> 00:23:39,300 is also this turbulence in your life. 357 00:23:40,900 --> 00:23:46,100 You can make a safer connection. It would be wrong to make a one 358 00:23:46,100 --> 00:23:48,800 size fits all about about suffering and say that it is 359 00:23:48,800 --> 00:23:51,100 always God's discipline because that is not the case. 360 00:23:51,300 --> 00:23:54,800 But we are One Step Closer by asking the simple question by 361 00:23:54,800 --> 00:23:59,100 meditating, by reflecting in our hearts, is their sin. 362 00:23:59,800 --> 00:24:03,600 And if God is good father and you come before the Lord with 363 00:24:03,600 --> 00:24:05,900 that question, those should be obvious already. 364 00:24:06,200 --> 00:24:08,400 Do you think that he would not give you the answer? 365 00:24:09,500 --> 00:24:11,900 You'd be amazed to know how he will awaken your conscience or 366 00:24:11,900 --> 00:24:15,000 how he will speak or highlight something in your life most of 367 00:24:15,000 --> 00:24:17,500 the time. It is obvious anyway and so that 368 00:24:17,500 --> 00:24:21,800 is true that is so important to understand but as we look here 369 00:24:23,900 --> 00:24:27,500 While we are enduring that certain chastisement, we are 370 00:24:27,500 --> 00:24:30,800 also in the same verses and courage to have hope within it. 371 00:24:31,500 --> 00:24:37,500 And how comforting is that how assuring it is to know that as I 372 00:24:37,500 --> 00:24:45,100 am experiencing some kind of divine Rod, it is meant to lead 373 00:24:45,100 --> 00:24:48,000 me back to where God wants me to be. 374 00:24:48,800 --> 00:24:51,800 And if I respond to it appropriately, then I can 375 00:24:51,800 --> 00:24:57,600 actually know a Righteousness. By rejecting the very sin that 376 00:24:57,600 --> 00:24:59,600 put me in this position to begin with. 377 00:25:01,800 --> 00:25:05,600 And so God is getting his, his servants attention back in first 378 00:25:05,600 --> 00:25:10,200 Samuel, 30 by causing a great great trial to be so obvious, 379 00:25:10,600 --> 00:25:13,900 because he doesn't let his children keep going in sin 380 00:25:14,400 --> 00:25:16,000 without doing something about it. 381 00:25:16,800 --> 00:25:21,700 So, we come back to First, salmon 30, And what do we see 382 00:25:21,700 --> 00:25:26,400 verse 6 and David was greatly distressed for the people spoke 383 00:25:26,400 --> 00:25:30,500 of stoning him because all the people were bitter and soul each 384 00:25:30,500 --> 00:25:34,600 for his sons and daughters. But David, strengthened himself 385 00:25:34,600 --> 00:25:38,400 in the Lord, his God. Okay, David's in a lot of 386 00:25:38,400 --> 00:25:42,500 trouble here. One, your family's gone. 387 00:25:42,600 --> 00:25:45,700 They've been kidnapped and most likely, they haven't been killed 388 00:25:45,700 --> 00:25:50,000 because they're going to be used as slaves now. and what that 389 00:25:50,000 --> 00:25:54,800 tells me is, David's family had to pay for David's in because 390 00:25:54,800 --> 00:25:57,000 David is they'll the head of the house. 391 00:25:57,500 --> 00:26:01,000 He's the leader of the home because of his failure to lead 392 00:26:01,000 --> 00:26:02,900 right. His wives. 393 00:26:03,200 --> 00:26:08,400 So weird to say wives when the Old Testament though his family. 394 00:26:09,500 --> 00:26:14,000 Pay the price. Secondly, on top of that, the 395 00:26:14,000 --> 00:26:17,700 men who were supporting you, now want to Stone you How comforting 396 00:26:17,700 --> 00:26:22,700 is that? And the reason why is because of 397 00:26:22,700 --> 00:26:27,300 David's in again, David LED them to this place. 398 00:26:27,700 --> 00:26:30,300 And now these men are embittered, because of the 399 00:26:30,300 --> 00:26:32,700 failure of the one that they put their trust in. 400 00:26:33,700 --> 00:26:36,000 And that is, that is a disappointing thing. 401 00:26:36,900 --> 00:26:40,000 Because what we realize here is that, as you can imagine the 402 00:26:40,000 --> 00:26:46,900 smell of Ash and burned, wood is filling the air mixed with the 403 00:26:47,500 --> 00:26:52,300 sound of the voices of trusted men, wanting to murder you and 404 00:26:52,300 --> 00:26:54,400 trying to manage the gut-wrenching. 405 00:26:54,400 --> 00:26:57,800 Anxiety, that you're feeling because you have no idea what 406 00:26:57,800 --> 00:27:01,800 happened to your babies. What are you going to do? 407 00:27:03,400 --> 00:27:06,500 We read it. David strengthened himself. 408 00:27:07,500 --> 00:27:11,300 In the Lord, his God. That discipline did some good 409 00:27:11,300 --> 00:27:15,600 work? Very, very quick work to David 410 00:27:15,600 --> 00:27:21,300 Soul. It's been a year and four months 411 00:27:22,000 --> 00:27:25,300 and there was no indication during that time that David did 412 00:27:25,300 --> 00:27:32,800 anything with the Lord. Affliction has a very strange 413 00:27:32,800 --> 00:27:35,900 way of winning back, our affections to God. 414 00:27:38,400 --> 00:27:42,400 Psalm 119. Verse 67. 415 00:27:43,300 --> 00:27:45,500 I would encourage you if you want homework. 416 00:27:45,500 --> 00:27:48,200 Here is an assignment one of these days. 417 00:27:48,800 --> 00:27:52,000 I've done it in a blessed. Me so much read Psalm 119 and 418 00:27:52,000 --> 00:27:57,200 one sitting just read it in one sitting and you feel like you 419 00:27:57,200 --> 00:28:02,200 drank out of a fire hydrant. It's so overwhelmingly good. 420 00:28:03,200 --> 00:28:06,400 This is one of my favorite verses in that giant of a 421 00:28:06,408 --> 00:28:11,300 chapter all to do about the glories of the word of God and 422 00:28:11,300 --> 00:28:16,100 Psalm 119 verse 67. What is the psalmist say before 423 00:28:16,100 --> 00:28:21,500 I was afflicted I went astray. But now I keep your word. 424 00:28:23,500 --> 00:28:27,300 Before I was afflicted, I went astray. 425 00:28:27,300 --> 00:28:32,000 But now I keep your word implying, your Affliction, drew 426 00:28:32,000 --> 00:28:36,700 me back to an abiding of the word of God and the word of God. 427 00:28:37,600 --> 00:28:41,300 The Affliction also implying was caused because I've strayed away 428 00:28:41,300 --> 00:28:46,000 from the word of God, but there is some intentional Act of God 429 00:28:46,000 --> 00:28:48,700 that cause severe pain in my life. 430 00:28:48,900 --> 00:28:53,800 That brought this strength st. Back to the feet of the Master. 431 00:28:55,200 --> 00:29:01,000 Affliction, does that. There's a wisdom in it misery 432 00:29:01,300 --> 00:29:03,700 can bring a momentum to us again. 433 00:29:05,600 --> 00:29:09,100 Because how true is it that we are often in the worst spiritual 434 00:29:09,100 --> 00:29:10,900 condition when everything is going well. 435 00:29:13,300 --> 00:29:16,900 But oh, isn't it amazing how we hit our knees, man? 436 00:29:19,300 --> 00:29:24,500 When we get the news. When the slip comes in and you 437 00:29:24,500 --> 00:29:27,900 no longer have a job. When a loved one is stricken 438 00:29:27,900 --> 00:29:32,900 with some kind of sickness. There is an Affliction from God 439 00:29:32,900 --> 00:29:38,800 that brings us back to him with hearts that are swelled with 440 00:29:38,800 --> 00:29:44,100 love and dependency again. And when you come back to David 441 00:29:44,100 --> 00:29:47,200 situation, that's exactly what he is experiencing. 442 00:29:47,200 --> 00:29:51,900 But I want to say this, Affliction doesn't have to be 443 00:29:51,900 --> 00:29:55,900 the reason for your affections to be awakened for God doesn't 444 00:29:55,900 --> 00:29:59,000 have to be it's one way, but David could have avoided this 445 00:29:59,000 --> 00:30:01,200 all together, but we agree on that. 446 00:30:01,600 --> 00:30:02,900 Could have David avoided. All of this. 447 00:30:04,200 --> 00:30:07,400 What critical point should have David encouraged himself, 448 00:30:07,400 --> 00:30:09,100 strengthened himself in the Lord. 449 00:30:10,500 --> 00:30:14,400 First Samuel, 27 verse 1, when he was saying in his own heart 450 00:30:14,400 --> 00:30:16,000 sauce, still going to come after me. 451 00:30:17,500 --> 00:30:20,500 I gotta get out of here. I gotta move locations. 452 00:30:21,500 --> 00:30:23,900 I argue David. That's when you should have 453 00:30:23,900 --> 00:30:25,500 strengthened yourself in the Lord. 454 00:30:27,300 --> 00:30:29,900 You could have you could have avoided so much. 455 00:30:29,900 --> 00:30:31,900 I here's my question, studying it. 456 00:30:32,200 --> 00:30:35,800 What would have that year and almost six months would have 457 00:30:35,800 --> 00:30:40,500 looked like if at first Samuel 27:1 you you consoled and you 458 00:30:40,500 --> 00:30:43,600 got before God even though everyone was around. 459 00:30:43,600 --> 00:30:47,100 You ready to kill you? What could have that look like 460 00:30:47,100 --> 00:30:48,100 for you? David. 461 00:30:49,100 --> 00:30:52,200 So don't just pray in crisis, don't just read the word in 462 00:30:52,200 --> 00:30:55,000 crisis. Don't just attend and serve in 463 00:30:55,000 --> 00:30:59,200 crisis. Avoid the crisis, avoid the 464 00:30:59,200 --> 00:31:05,900 crisis and let your strength being the Lord day by day. when 465 00:31:05,900 --> 00:31:09,200 you feel like you shouldn't pray is when you should actually pay 466 00:31:09,200 --> 00:31:14,700 the most When you feel like everything is so wonderful and 467 00:31:14,700 --> 00:31:17,400 you could ignore this word and God speaking into your life, 468 00:31:17,900 --> 00:31:21,300 that should be the time in which you open that Bible, crack it 469 00:31:21,300 --> 00:31:28,600 open, and put your face in it. But regardless David was aware 470 00:31:28,600 --> 00:31:31,200 of the goodness of God. He was aware of the kindness of 471 00:31:31,200 --> 00:31:35,200 God and he knew that even though it's been a year and four 472 00:31:35,200 --> 00:31:38,300 months, in that moment he can cry out to God. 473 00:31:39,000 --> 00:31:42,700 Is not what we see verse 7 and David said to Abby and are the 474 00:31:42,700 --> 00:31:45,500 priest, the son of a hi Malik, bring me the ephod. 475 00:31:45,600 --> 00:31:48,900 So I Bea Arthur brought the ephod to David and David 476 00:31:48,900 --> 00:31:52,900 inquired of the Lord. Shall I pursue after this band? 477 00:31:52,900 --> 00:31:56,500 Shall I overtake them? He answered him, he answered. 478 00:31:56,700 --> 00:31:59,800 Him. He answered him on the first 479 00:31:59,800 --> 00:32:05,800 phone call. You try ignoring your best 480 00:32:05,800 --> 00:32:08,100 friend for a year and four months don't answer their text 481 00:32:08,100 --> 00:32:10,300 messages. Don't answer their emails, don't 482 00:32:10,300 --> 00:32:14,700 answer the knock door. And see how that turns out. 483 00:32:15,400 --> 00:32:18,700 He answered him pursue for you shall surely overtake and shall 484 00:32:18,700 --> 00:32:22,800 surely rescue. Let that touch your heart. 485 00:32:23,900 --> 00:32:26,200 It's been almost a year and six months. 486 00:32:27,000 --> 00:32:28,400 No prayer. Life know. 487 00:32:28,400 --> 00:32:33,500 Psalm written nothing. And when you're in trouble, you 488 00:32:33,500 --> 00:32:36,500 can look up to heaven, call upon God, and God is willing to 489 00:32:36,500 --> 00:32:39,700 answer you. Now, this will not move our 490 00:32:39,700 --> 00:32:42,800 hearts. If we view God as some divine, 491 00:32:43,000 --> 00:32:46,800 Vending machine. Where if we just push the right, 492 00:32:46,800 --> 00:32:48,800 buttons will get the right product. 493 00:32:49,800 --> 00:32:54,200 But it will minister to us if we view God, as he is as a person 494 00:32:54,900 --> 00:33:01,900 with a mind with a will with emotions, this is a mega display 495 00:33:01,900 --> 00:33:09,000 of practical love from our God. I praise God. 496 00:33:09,300 --> 00:33:12,000 That he does not show Mercy as men would show. 497 00:33:12,000 --> 00:33:14,900 Mercy. I praise God, that he's not like 498 00:33:15,300 --> 00:33:20,600 the common man, even the best of men, God's Mercy is greater than 499 00:33:20,600 --> 00:33:30,800 10 million men combined. What if God was counting tabs 500 00:33:30,800 --> 00:33:36,200 here? And reserves his benevolence 501 00:33:37,100 --> 00:33:39,300 because of the way, David treated him for a year and four 502 00:33:39,300 --> 00:33:41,500 months. Oh, you think you can just pray 503 00:33:41,500 --> 00:33:46,700 whenever you want, where you been No, such thing. 504 00:33:48,300 --> 00:33:51,600 Great is his love. Great is his Mercy, greatest, 505 00:33:51,600 --> 00:33:54,500 his friendship, it's unlike any other friendship. 506 00:33:54,500 --> 00:33:57,900 You will ever know. As David just Falls in his 507 00:33:57,900 --> 00:34:01,000 Brokenness and humbly just speaks to the Lord. 508 00:34:02,400 --> 00:34:04,800 God sees him in that moment and he answers immediately. 509 00:34:07,400 --> 00:34:10,600 When is Satan's greatest lies to you and I've seen it throughout 510 00:34:10,600 --> 00:34:13,400 Ministry, is when people fail greatly. 511 00:34:15,100 --> 00:34:17,400 And they feel as though they cannot crawl the way back to 512 00:34:17,400 --> 00:34:23,100 God. If you do that, you are no 513 00:34:23,100 --> 00:34:26,800 different than Peter who refused at one point for Jesus to wash 514 00:34:26,800 --> 00:34:30,100 his feet. What did you just say? 515 00:34:31,199 --> 00:34:32,900 You don't have a part of me. If you don't allow me to do 516 00:34:32,900 --> 00:34:36,900 this. They were already washed. 517 00:34:37,800 --> 00:34:40,500 They're already washed signifying how God that his 518 00:34:40,500 --> 00:34:43,100 saving work and then but as they walk throughout this world and 519 00:34:43,100 --> 00:34:47,500 picked up, dirt Christ also wanted to wash their feet. 520 00:34:49,800 --> 00:34:52,400 Would it be mind-boggling to you to believe that Christ is just 521 00:34:52,400 --> 00:34:58,200 as eager to sanctify, you as he did, when he justified you Or do 522 00:34:58,200 --> 00:35:00,800 we think his love was reserved on the cross? 523 00:35:00,800 --> 00:35:04,500 And now he has to deal with a bunch of inconsistent Christians 524 00:35:04,500 --> 00:35:14,100 with Sigh every time. What a display of love. 525 00:35:14,500 --> 00:35:19,300 Now, it is here that I want us to consider the evidence of a 526 00:35:19,300 --> 00:35:21,300 changed heart. This is a turning point in 527 00:35:21,300 --> 00:35:24,400 David's life. And in this time, we see, I 528 00:35:24,400 --> 00:35:28,700 think, at least three marks of a man who is truly experience the 529 00:35:28,700 --> 00:35:31,800 mercy of God in such a way, that it had its effect or even beyond 530 00:35:31,800 --> 00:35:35,700 that who's truly been trained by the discipline of God. 531 00:35:35,900 --> 00:35:40,300 It was very quick and it should be And here's how you know, 532 00:35:40,900 --> 00:35:44,500 somebody is in the right place with the Lord. 533 00:35:45,100 --> 00:35:49,300 Here's how you know that a heart is healthy and holy even though 534 00:35:49,300 --> 00:35:54,200 like David, it has been calloused and crusty because of 535 00:35:54,200 --> 00:35:57,500 a season of Walking with your back towards the Lord. 536 00:35:58,400 --> 00:36:02,200 And the first thing I would say, it's not just in the fact that 537 00:36:02,200 --> 00:36:08,400 David did pray, but how he prayed, Look at, he says here in 538 00:36:08,400 --> 00:36:12,200 verse, verse 8, and David, inquired of the Lord shall I 539 00:36:12,200 --> 00:36:15,100 pursue after this band, shall I overtake them? 540 00:36:17,400 --> 00:36:21,000 Yes. That's kind of obvious. 541 00:36:22,300 --> 00:36:28,700 Your family has been kidnapped. Why are you asking, why would 542 00:36:28,700 --> 00:36:30,500 you even, why would you even consider that? 543 00:36:30,500 --> 00:36:36,000 As as a, as a thought? You know what? 544 00:36:36,000 --> 00:36:40,200 I see here, though. I see a man who hasn't inquired 545 00:36:40,200 --> 00:36:42,500 of the Lord who hasn't sought the Lord for a year and four 546 00:36:42,500 --> 00:36:45,100 months. And once he was just showered by 547 00:36:45,100 --> 00:36:49,200 the mercy of God mixed with the obvious discipline of God. 548 00:36:50,500 --> 00:36:54,300 This man is, is displaying a childlike earnestness and a 549 00:36:54,300 --> 00:36:59,300 dependency on the Lord again. There are things in the Bible 550 00:36:59,300 --> 00:37:01,500 that are so clear. You and I don't have to pray 551 00:37:01,500 --> 00:37:02,900 about whether we should do it or not. 552 00:37:03,500 --> 00:37:07,000 Lord, should I forgive my enemy? That's not. 553 00:37:07,000 --> 00:37:09,400 Why are you even doing that? Don't do that. 554 00:37:09,400 --> 00:37:13,400 It's there. But there is something beautiful 555 00:37:13,400 --> 00:37:18,100 here. About someone who longs to have 556 00:37:18,100 --> 00:37:22,000 God's blessing and Direction. And all things, there is this 557 00:37:22,000 --> 00:37:25,100 sense of invitation in all matters. 558 00:37:25,100 --> 00:37:28,200 There's a sense of committing, all that you do all your 559 00:37:28,200 --> 00:37:31,900 projects, all your decisions, all your desires to the Lord. 560 00:37:34,600 --> 00:37:37,100 Just like you would want to invite that person that you so 561 00:37:37,100 --> 00:37:45,200 enjoy and trust and love. And our right heart in the right 562 00:37:45,200 --> 00:37:50,000 place. Joyfully imitates such a posture 563 00:37:50,300 --> 00:37:53,000 in their own walk with the Lord. Do you do that? 564 00:37:54,500 --> 00:37:56,000 Is that true of your own life that you can? 565 00:37:56,000 --> 00:38:00,000 You actually look at your past thoughts and your past prayers? 566 00:38:01,100 --> 00:38:07,200 And is there an active communing and consistent longing for God's 567 00:38:07,200 --> 00:38:10,600 wisdom and for his his Fellowship to be known and all 568 00:38:10,600 --> 00:38:15,600 that you do. Even sometimes in the obvious. 569 00:38:17,300 --> 00:38:22,500 Or is he just the emergency guy? Do you invite God into your 570 00:38:22,508 --> 00:38:25,400 decisions? Do you see God for what he would 571 00:38:25,400 --> 00:38:28,100 reveal for the best outcome in a Crossroads? 572 00:38:29,300 --> 00:38:34,700 Those things that that kind of, that kind of knowledge of, of 573 00:38:34,700 --> 00:38:39,200 your heart, really reveals? That it is in a good place. 574 00:38:41,200 --> 00:38:43,400 But we read on and we see something else in verse 9. 575 00:38:43,400 --> 00:38:48,700 So David set out And the 600 men who were with them, and they 576 00:38:48,700 --> 00:38:52,800 came to the brook of the brook before, where those who are left 577 00:38:52,800 --> 00:38:57,800 behind stayed, but David pursued, he and 400 men 200 578 00:38:57,800 --> 00:39:01,200 stayed behind who are too exhausted to cross the brook. 579 00:39:03,300 --> 00:39:06,500 Now, what we see here is that this is a side note. 580 00:39:07,600 --> 00:39:10,200 It's interesting to notice that the same men who wanted to Stone 581 00:39:10,200 --> 00:39:12,300 David now, want to support him all over again. 582 00:39:12,300 --> 00:39:13,900 Just just like that, isn't it amazing? 583 00:39:17,100 --> 00:39:19,800 And as a leader, David's walk with God, I believe what this is 584 00:39:19,800 --> 00:39:22,600 showing influence, his men for the better. 585 00:39:24,400 --> 00:39:26,800 It's amazing. What a man in a certain 586 00:39:26,800 --> 00:39:30,300 position. Can do to others with their 587 00:39:30,300 --> 00:39:36,100 personal decisions and David here as a leader has won his men 588 00:39:36,100 --> 00:39:39,900 over to obedience to God again. Remember God says, yeah, I 589 00:39:39,900 --> 00:39:42,900 pursue them and you will succeed and his men now are joining in 590 00:39:42,900 --> 00:39:47,300 on that. But David influence has been 591 00:39:47,300 --> 00:39:49,900 another way. Remember when he was pursuing 592 00:39:49,900 --> 00:39:52,100 the Philistines or with the Philistines the Israelites. 593 00:39:52,200 --> 00:39:55,600 Now here's what's amazing. The extent of his Disobedience 594 00:39:56,000 --> 00:39:59,600 went even Beyond his his 600. Men can I prove that to you? 595 00:39:59,600 --> 00:40:01,500 This is why we need to know the entire scripture as much as 596 00:40:01,508 --> 00:40:03,300 possible. The scroll over the first 597 00:40:03,300 --> 00:40:05,900 Chronicles chapter 12 and look what we were told. 598 00:40:05,900 --> 00:40:09,400 There were told something about this scene that we have not been 599 00:40:09,400 --> 00:40:13,500 told in this chapter or the prior chapter In first 600 00:40:13,500 --> 00:40:17,100 Chronicles, 12 verse 19 and now wait till you turn your Bibles 601 00:40:17,100 --> 00:40:20,800 there, I love stuff like this because it shows I can't skip on 602 00:40:20,800 --> 00:40:23,700 a book that Chronicles are going to miss something that I read in 603 00:40:23,700 --> 00:40:28,400 1st Samuel. And 1st Chronicles 12:19 and the 604 00:40:28,408 --> 00:40:30,600 retelling of this scene, we read. 605 00:40:31,700 --> 00:40:35,100 Some of the men of Manasseh deserted to David when he came 606 00:40:35,100 --> 00:40:39,200 with the Philistines for the battle against Saul did, he did 607 00:40:39,200 --> 00:40:42,000 not help them for the rulers of the Philistines took counsel and 608 00:40:42,000 --> 00:40:45,200 sent them away saying at Peril to our heads, he will desert to 609 00:40:45,200 --> 00:40:49,300 his master Saul. What do you get out of that? 610 00:40:53,000 --> 00:40:58,000 the as David was ready to fight against Saul and Israel, some of 611 00:40:58,000 --> 00:41:01,600 the men of Manasseh heard about it and they joined to help him 612 00:41:04,700 --> 00:41:07,600 This guy was ready to start a civil war. 613 00:41:10,300 --> 00:41:14,200 It just one decision with a group of a few men that is just 614 00:41:14,200 --> 00:41:16,400 a small fraction of an entire nation. 615 00:41:16,600 --> 00:41:19,900 And there's some people from Vanessa, the tribe her, David's 616 00:41:19,900 --> 00:41:22,900 going to fight against all, wear it in on this and they wring 617 00:41:22,900 --> 00:41:24,500 their hands and they move forward. 618 00:41:27,200 --> 00:41:30,800 And so never ever ever negate the possibility of how our 619 00:41:30,800 --> 00:41:34,000 personal decisions can touch somebody else and either 620 00:41:34,000 --> 00:41:37,700 direction. And the more position we have, 621 00:41:38,200 --> 00:41:40,800 that can be anything from a father mother older brother 622 00:41:40,800 --> 00:41:45,100 pastor. The greater the consequences and 623 00:41:45,100 --> 00:41:47,800 that can be greater and good, or greater in evil. 624 00:41:49,500 --> 00:41:52,500 But praise God, he turns around we read in verse 20 as you went 625 00:41:52,500 --> 00:41:56,700 to ziklag these men of Manasseh deserted to him adna Joshua bed 626 00:41:56,700 --> 00:41:58,500 and it lists the names and verse 21. 627 00:41:58,500 --> 00:42:01,000 They helped David against the band of Raiders for. 628 00:42:01,000 --> 00:42:04,000 They were all Mighty Men of Valor and were commanders in the 629 00:42:04,000 --> 00:42:09,600 army. Things switch real easily, and 630 00:42:09,600 --> 00:42:13,600 men's emotions as well. Remember, when Paul, or when 631 00:42:13,600 --> 00:42:17,500 Paul was preaching with Barnabas and Acts chapter 14, and in one 632 00:42:17,500 --> 00:42:19,300 verse, it says, they praise them. 633 00:42:19,300 --> 00:42:22,200 Like they were God's. Remember they start bringing out 634 00:42:22,200 --> 00:42:24,500 sacrifice and they're ready to worship them as though, they 635 00:42:24,500 --> 00:42:28,400 were Gods incarnate and Palmer? No, no, this is not why we're 636 00:42:28,400 --> 00:42:30,100 here. We're here to turn you away from 637 00:42:30,100 --> 00:42:32,500 this vain worship. Then the juice come in, they 638 00:42:32,500 --> 00:42:35,600 whisper, in their ears and in the very next X versus the same 639 00:42:35,600 --> 00:42:39,100 ones that were ready to worship Paul wanted to Stone him. 640 00:42:41,700 --> 00:42:45,800 So, especially if you're a leader, be careful on, allowing 641 00:42:45,800 --> 00:42:49,600 your Devotion, to the Lord. Be determined on how men feel 642 00:42:49,600 --> 00:42:52,300 about you. God help you. 643 00:42:52,300 --> 00:42:55,600 If you do. So fickle. 644 00:42:57,700 --> 00:43:00,700 And so now these men are following David, they're all now 645 00:43:00,700 --> 00:43:02,800 supporting him, they put their Stones aside and said man we 646 00:43:02,800 --> 00:43:04,900 will use these Stones against the amalekites, okay? 647 00:43:06,500 --> 00:43:08,700 But that's not the point. Besides the point, we remember 648 00:43:08,700 --> 00:43:11,900 we're talking about evidence of a change heart, notice this? 649 00:43:12,200 --> 00:43:13,800 How many end up going with David? 650 00:43:15,800 --> 00:43:20,300 600. No 400. 651 00:43:20,400 --> 00:43:25,000 Why 200 were exhausted? And rightfully. 652 00:43:25,000 --> 00:43:29,100 So you can imagine you just been walking walking three days and 653 00:43:29,100 --> 00:43:33,100 then you are Weeping your eyes out and you can't even imagine 654 00:43:33,100 --> 00:43:35,900 another Day's Journey or mile or whatever the case was. 655 00:43:36,400 --> 00:43:40,400 And so two hundred men. Stop walking. 656 00:43:40,500 --> 00:43:44,400 David looks back. And they look and they say boss, 657 00:43:45,100 --> 00:43:48,500 we're tired. Can we stay back? 658 00:43:48,500 --> 00:43:50,400 Can you imagine saying that when your wife and your children have 659 00:43:50,400 --> 00:43:54,800 been kidnapped? Can you imagine doing that when 660 00:43:54,800 --> 00:43:57,000 you're about to engage in combat? 661 00:43:57,000 --> 00:44:02,400 And the more, the merrier, So one-third of your men, want to 662 00:44:02,408 --> 00:44:06,100 take a break and stay back, that's not encouraging when 663 00:44:06,100 --> 00:44:11,200 you're about to fight a war. And this could have given David 664 00:44:11,200 --> 00:44:19,100 much reason to be angry. Discouraged, disappointed 665 00:44:19,100 --> 00:44:23,000 frustrated kicking the dirt. What do we read here, in verse 666 00:44:23,000 --> 00:44:28,300 10, but David pursued, but, David pursued, he and the four 667 00:44:28,300 --> 00:44:30,200 hundred other men that were willing to go. 668 00:44:31,100 --> 00:44:34,300 And here's the point that we gather from this here lies, 669 00:44:34,300 --> 00:44:37,500 another Mark of a changed heart, a heart that is in, right 670 00:44:37,500 --> 00:44:40,200 standing with got a heart that has been softened by the 671 00:44:40,200 --> 00:44:44,100 discipline of God. By the mercy of God, there is a 672 00:44:44,100 --> 00:44:49,200 firm unshakable trust in God's word even when your faith is 673 00:44:49,200 --> 00:44:53,600 challenged. By unfavorable outcomes while 674 00:44:53,600 --> 00:45:02,000 you walk, the path of obedience. your faith is firm even when it 675 00:45:02,000 --> 00:45:06,600 is challenged by the circumstances that might 676 00:45:06,600 --> 00:45:09,400 discourage you from moving forward, with the Zeal and the 677 00:45:09,400 --> 00:45:14,500 consistency that God is calling for I read that and I thought to 678 00:45:14,500 --> 00:45:16,200 myself, well let me apply to my life. 679 00:45:16,200 --> 00:45:18,100 Let me apply it to this Church's life. 680 00:45:19,100 --> 00:45:22,600 Because we're not here going to war with other people groups, 681 00:45:22,600 --> 00:45:24,600 but we are going to war with a spiritual enemy. 682 00:45:24,900 --> 00:45:28,800 So what will we do? My brother and my sister, if one 683 00:45:28,800 --> 00:45:30,700 third of the people who regularly attend the prayer 684 00:45:30,700 --> 00:45:32,800 meeting, don't come anymore. Do we still pray? 685 00:45:33,900 --> 00:45:35,500 What are we doing? Friday's what are we doing 686 00:45:35,500 --> 00:45:37,900 Sunday's of people? You know, this Bible studies too 687 00:45:37,900 --> 00:45:44,400 much Bible. too much word of God, preached on Sunday and have 688 00:45:44,400 --> 00:45:50,700 to church goes, do we preach Do we continue do we give ourselves 689 00:45:50,700 --> 00:45:53,300 to the Lord? We move forward by the grace of 690 00:45:53,300 --> 00:45:59,100 God. We do, we do. we do because 691 00:45:59,100 --> 00:46:05,300 David does And he shows that here 200 out of this 600 move 692 00:46:05,300 --> 00:46:08,300 his side and it says, David pursues. 693 00:46:08,300 --> 00:46:11,900 Anyway, he moves for it because he's not doing it. 694 00:46:12,000 --> 00:46:15,100 He's not doing it for the praise of these people. 695 00:46:15,200 --> 00:46:19,400 He got a promise from God. He got a word from God. 696 00:46:19,900 --> 00:46:23,800 He's doing it for God, he's doing it for the ones who need 697 00:46:23,800 --> 00:46:27,500 his service, his family, his wives, his children, the others, 698 00:46:27,700 --> 00:46:31,500 he's doing it for them. You have to believe that you 699 00:46:31,508 --> 00:46:36,600 have to live like that, you have to serve like that. as this man 700 00:46:36,600 --> 00:46:40,400 obviously does So that's the second sign. 701 00:46:40,900 --> 00:46:44,000 This is the driving force of your devotion. 702 00:46:44,900 --> 00:46:50,500 Truth must be on the driver's seat of your devotion truth. 703 00:46:50,500 --> 00:46:56,600 Now how you feel truth, Truth. That's a healthy heart. 704 00:46:56,600 --> 00:47:00,000 That's a healthy heart. I've learned over time that 705 00:47:00,000 --> 00:47:03,600 emotion isn't the best indication of devotion. 706 00:47:04,500 --> 00:47:09,400 I have learned that I've learned that people Jesus, we love You 707 00:47:09,400 --> 00:47:11,500 give me the one. Why do they cry or not ours? 708 00:47:11,500 --> 00:47:14,600 Consistent with the Lord then I'll show you a heart that 709 00:47:14,600 --> 00:47:19,700 really loves him. Let's look at the third, Mark. 710 00:47:19,700 --> 00:47:25,000 Shall we verse 11? They found an Egyptian. 711 00:47:26,500 --> 00:47:30,900 In the open country and brought him to David, and they gave him 712 00:47:30,900 --> 00:47:34,500 bread and he ate, they gave him water to drink. 713 00:47:34,500 --> 00:47:37,700 And they gave him a piece of a cake of figs and two clusters of 714 00:47:37,700 --> 00:47:40,200 raisins. And when he had eaten his 715 00:47:40,200 --> 00:47:43,200 Spirit, revived for he had not eaten bread or drunk water, for 716 00:47:43,200 --> 00:47:47,900 three days, and three nights. The third and final, Mark not 717 00:47:47,900 --> 00:47:51,900 limited to this obviously. But in this case of a heart of a 718 00:47:51,900 --> 00:47:54,200 heart that is in good standing, that is healthy. 719 00:47:54,200 --> 00:47:57,600 That is Holy that has been softened by God's discipline and 720 00:47:57,600 --> 00:48:00,400 mercy that has come to a realization that the Lord is 721 00:48:00,400 --> 00:48:03,900 worthy of my total devotion is seen in this warm act of 722 00:48:03,900 --> 00:48:08,000 kindness that he demonstrates with a man who was suffering in 723 00:48:08,000 --> 00:48:12,000 the wilderness and was discovered We were all given a 724 00:48:12,000 --> 00:48:14,000 detailed account of the treatment of this man, right? 725 00:48:14,000 --> 00:48:17,400 I mean, look how detailed it is here, Brad and he ate and there 726 00:48:17,400 --> 00:48:20,300 was water to drink, and he gave me a piece of a cake of figs and 727 00:48:20,300 --> 00:48:23,000 two clusters of raises. I mean, why the details it's the 728 00:48:23,000 --> 00:48:27,400 show is to show the account of the tenderness that was given to 729 00:48:27,400 --> 00:48:30,800 this man. And there is not one indication 730 00:48:30,900 --> 00:48:35,500 that David was offering such compassion with the intention of 731 00:48:35,500 --> 00:48:39,200 receiving something in return. There is no clue. 732 00:48:39,200 --> 00:48:41,800 Even hear that Dave. I knew that this man was 733 00:48:41,900 --> 00:48:44,500 somewhat connected to the amalekites and so he wanted to 734 00:48:44,500 --> 00:48:47,300 get some information from, none of that, it was a one-way 735 00:48:47,300 --> 00:48:51,300 transaction of Mercy. Do you want to know if your 736 00:48:51,500 --> 00:48:55,500 heart is in right standing with the Lord selfless, giving 737 00:48:55,500 --> 00:48:59,900 selfless sacrifice selfless serving and excitement to do 738 00:49:00,200 --> 00:49:02,800 that, which can bless others with nothing in return. 739 00:49:03,600 --> 00:49:05,900 That's how, you know, your heart is there that God has done a 740 00:49:05,900 --> 00:49:09,200 work in there. The way you view others, the way 741 00:49:09,200 --> 00:49:12,200 you prioritize others, the way you treat others, the way you 742 00:49:12,200 --> 00:49:15,700 honor others. I mean, this is the king to be. 743 00:49:15,900 --> 00:49:18,100 This is a man on a mission. There are. 744 00:49:18,300 --> 00:49:23,300 There are children and women. Who are, who knows, what with 745 00:49:23,500 --> 00:49:26,000 vicious men and that is priority. 746 00:49:26,000 --> 00:49:29,900 But even in the pursuit of this man's plan, he still has time to 747 00:49:29,900 --> 00:49:35,300 stop on the side of the road and to give some mercy, somebody who 748 00:49:35,300 --> 00:49:37,000 is in clear and obvious need of it. 749 00:49:38,800 --> 00:49:40,900 Makes you wonder doesn't it doesn't it? 750 00:49:40,900 --> 00:49:44,300 Make you wonder that if David was so quick to show this 751 00:49:44,300 --> 00:49:49,100 kindness because he just drank a fresh dosage of God's mercy for 752 00:49:49,100 --> 00:49:55,200 himself. Just like in his prayer that 753 00:49:55,200 --> 00:49:59,300 earnestness I see here in earnestness to take, any 754 00:49:59,300 --> 00:50:03,600 opportunity that is given to be able to be practical in your 755 00:50:03,600 --> 00:50:07,500 righteousness. And the more the Holy Spirit 756 00:50:07,500 --> 00:50:11,700 influences us. The more selfishness is drained 757 00:50:11,700 --> 00:50:16,500 from us. And David shows that here. 758 00:50:17,800 --> 00:50:25,300 He brings this man, his spirit is revived, he rescues him, And 759 00:50:25,300 --> 00:50:29,100 we read in verse 13. And David said to him to whom do 760 00:50:29,100 --> 00:50:31,700 you belong? And where are you from? 761 00:50:32,500 --> 00:50:35,800 He said, I am a young men of Egypt servant to an amalekite. 762 00:50:36,600 --> 00:50:40,100 A my master left me behind because I felt sick three days 763 00:50:40,100 --> 00:50:44,200 ago. Very similar to how Satan treats 764 00:50:44,200 --> 00:50:47,600 his servants. He uses them and he gets rid of 765 00:50:47,600 --> 00:50:53,500 them when they do the job. Verse 14, we had made a raid 766 00:50:53,500 --> 00:50:57,900 against an egg up, then he goes on to say in verse 15 and David 767 00:50:57,900 --> 00:51:00,900 said to him, will you take me down to this band? 768 00:51:01,100 --> 00:51:04,300 And he said, swear to me by God, that you will not kill me or 769 00:51:04,300 --> 00:51:07,600 deliver me into the hands of my master and I will take you down 770 00:51:07,600 --> 00:51:12,700 to this band. You know what, I see here, 771 00:51:12,700 --> 00:51:15,600 something that you've heard pounded, I'm sure throughout the 772 00:51:15,600 --> 00:51:19,700 study and first Samuel. Sweet. 773 00:51:19,700 --> 00:51:26,600 Sweet Providence. Isn't it wonderful to see that 774 00:51:26,600 --> 00:51:31,800 in this? Act of Grace without interest or 775 00:51:31,800 --> 00:51:38,900 return on investment in mind. Was the the very Insight he 776 00:51:38,900 --> 00:51:40,800 needed to get to where he needed to be. 777 00:51:44,700 --> 00:51:47,800 And what I see here is a principle that we all should 778 00:51:47,800 --> 00:51:49,400 live by that. You've heard so many times, we 779 00:51:49,400 --> 00:51:50,600 even heard it in the Book of Ruth. 780 00:51:50,600 --> 00:51:58,200 I'm reminded of Ruth when I read this, That Providence is in our 781 00:51:58,200 --> 00:52:05,400 favor on the path of obedience. If you want God to orchestrate 782 00:52:05,400 --> 00:52:12,800 your life, with the Symphony of his sovereignty, Just walk 783 00:52:13,300 --> 00:52:15,600 according to his word, that's it. 784 00:52:17,200 --> 00:52:20,800 And watch as you bear fruit and watch as you obey and watch as 785 00:52:20,800 --> 00:52:25,200 you serve and act act, humbly and treat others. 786 00:52:25,200 --> 00:52:27,400 In a certain Manner and free all these things. 787 00:52:27,500 --> 00:52:34,100 Watch how These things have a disguise of blessing. 788 00:52:36,800 --> 00:52:39,200 Not that. That's why we do it from time to 789 00:52:39,200 --> 00:52:42,700 time. God will surprise us through his 790 00:52:42,700 --> 00:52:47,700 Providence and move us from one step to the next on the path of 791 00:52:47,700 --> 00:52:54,400 faithfulness and trust in him. I want that for my life. 792 00:52:55,100 --> 00:52:58,900 I hope you want that for your life and the way to see God 793 00:52:58,900 --> 00:53:02,000 unfold and to reveal his goodness. 794 00:53:03,800 --> 00:53:07,200 It's the simply. Trust and obey. 795 00:53:09,900 --> 00:53:13,700 And that's what David does. I don't want to think too far 796 00:53:13,700 --> 00:53:14,900 into this, but it makes me wonder. 797 00:53:14,900 --> 00:53:16,600 What would have happened to David? 798 00:53:16,600 --> 00:53:21,100 If he had just ignored the man. What if he had just shoot away 799 00:53:21,100 --> 00:53:24,400 the, the obvious opportunity to be like what Jesus said and that 800 00:53:24,408 --> 00:53:28,500 was the Good Samaritan. I'm sure God would have had 801 00:53:28,500 --> 00:53:31,000 mercy on him still, but makes you think, what would his 802 00:53:31,000 --> 00:53:32,500 journey been a little bit more difficult? 803 00:53:32,500 --> 00:53:34,300 More complex, more delayed. I don't know. 804 00:53:34,300 --> 00:53:36,700 I don't want to, I don't want to speak into the text. 805 00:53:37,600 --> 00:53:39,900 But I do see something. That's something you and I can 806 00:53:39,900 --> 00:53:45,000 apply to our own lives. Just just walk as he walks abide 807 00:53:45,000 --> 00:53:47,400 in his word. Remain there. 808 00:53:47,400 --> 00:53:49,800 No matter how difficult it is, no matter how challenging it is, 809 00:53:50,100 --> 00:53:53,500 no matter how inconvenient, obedience maybe like, it was at 810 00:53:53,500 --> 00:53:58,000 this time and believe that God will lead and his Providence 811 00:53:58,000 --> 00:54:00,400 will be in our favor for his glory. 812 00:54:00,800 --> 00:54:03,000 Can you say Amen to that? Amen. 813 00:54:03,100 --> 00:54:31,200 Let's pray. Lord with what a thrill to get 814 00:54:31,200 --> 00:54:36,200 an insight into your mind. And to see how you have given us 815 00:54:36,200 --> 00:54:39,300 this story. Not merely To be moved 816 00:54:39,300 --> 00:54:45,100 emotionally. Or to have our intellect 817 00:54:45,100 --> 00:54:48,500 stimulated. Father, we thank you that you 818 00:54:48,500 --> 00:54:53,000 are the same God. The same God who governs our 819 00:54:53,000 --> 00:54:59,200 lives today. And what we think about how your 820 00:54:59,200 --> 00:55:04,700 mercy is so available. Your kindness, is there ready to 821 00:55:04,700 --> 00:55:07,000 be engaged with as we simply stop. 822 00:55:08,500 --> 00:55:12,000 And give up. On our Silly Ways. 823 00:55:14,300 --> 00:55:17,500 We thank you that we can cry out to you and sincerity, and you 824 00:55:17,500 --> 00:55:19,400 will consider that prayer immediately. 825 00:55:21,100 --> 00:55:23,500 We thank you o God that you discipline us. 826 00:55:25,000 --> 00:55:28,200 And you do not treat us as the wicked are treated. 827 00:55:29,300 --> 00:55:33,300 By giving us up to our own ways so easily. 828 00:55:35,400 --> 00:55:38,600 Lord tonight in this Bible study, we are overwhelmed by 829 00:55:38,600 --> 00:55:43,400 your love. And Lord a study like this. 830 00:55:44,000 --> 00:55:47,600 We ask that it would excite us unto obedience afresh. 831 00:55:51,800 --> 00:55:55,000 Lord, perhaps there are some in this place tonight. 832 00:55:58,200 --> 00:56:02,200 World trying to obey you but I find it very difficult to do. 833 00:56:02,200 --> 00:56:07,800 So May they be reminded of your purpose and your promises in 834 00:56:07,800 --> 00:56:12,100 their lives. Or perhaps, there are some here. 835 00:56:14,900 --> 00:56:19,500 Who have not yet been awakened by discipline. but you are using 836 00:56:19,500 --> 00:56:24,000 this study to get their attention before you have to O 837 00:56:24,000 --> 00:56:27,300 Lord, may they respond appropriately? 838 00:56:30,200 --> 00:56:33,100 May not have to take a severe blow. 839 00:56:34,900 --> 00:56:42,600 For them to be soft and again. And Lord help us trust your 840 00:56:42,600 --> 00:56:46,100 leading in our lives. as we heard in the beginning of this 841 00:56:46,100 --> 00:56:52,400 study, That the rejection and the closed doors and the 842 00:56:53,200 --> 00:56:55,900 inconvenience, all had a purpose. 843 00:56:57,200 --> 00:56:59,800 Help us believe that in all seasons. 844 00:57:01,400 --> 00:57:04,300 But we worship you. We sincerely give, thanks to 845 00:57:04,300 --> 00:57:06,300 you. We love you with everything 846 00:57:06,300 --> 00:57:09,500 within us. We Adore You, O Lord, that 847 00:57:09,500 --> 00:57:12,000 you've not left us to ourselves in this life. 848 00:57:12,900 --> 00:57:15,100 Lord, this life is difficult as it is. 849 00:57:15,600 --> 00:57:19,900 We cannot imagine it without you and so we praise you for 850 00:57:19,900 --> 00:57:24,600 rescuing us. and for giving us the assurance that you are with 851 00:57:24,600 --> 00:57:32,600 us, Be blessed by our worship now as it comes from a heart of 852 00:57:32,600 --> 00:57:36,400 genuine Thanksgiving. In your name, amen. 853 00:57:35,000 --> 00:57:36,400 In your name, amen.