3-12-23
Sunday morning
Pastor Michael
Turn to God for everything. It’s not about how you feel. Our faith pleases God. The God of revelation wants to show you things about your life. We can learn things about our own lives through studying the lives revealed in the Bible.
What can we learn from David’s life?
David was born to the tribe of Judah, the youngest pg 8 sons. He was annointed by Samuel to be King was he was young. He killed Goliath before he was 20 (20 was the age he would have been drafted into the military with his brothers) Saul was the reigning King at that time. Saul had issues with David and wanted to kill him. David hid in the cave of Abdullam where God sent him 340,000 men. At about age 38 David became King over Israel.
Lessons from David: 1 Chronicles 21:1-4
God gives wisdom. God told David how to win battles. David did what God said.
David had a big reputation and made a great impact all because of God. There were more than 1.5 million men ready to follow every command from Davi. David was tempted to take the census (instead of relying on God, he looked to numbers) 1 Chronicles 21: & evil in the sight of God.
David has to pay a price for not looking to God but looking at resources. “I have sinned greatly.” God gave him three options for his punishment. 1) Three years famine, 2) 3 months enemies 3) 3 days the sword of the Lord. David chose #3 because the “mercy of the Lord is great.” In 3 days 70,000 men were killed.
Lesson #1-Put your full faith in God. Give God glory for everything in our lives or run the risk of not having God do what He wants in our lives now.
Proverbs 16:18 Pride goes before a fall. A haughty spirit looks down on other people-thinking you are better than others. Pride- deep pleasure in your own accomplishments-everything points back to self.
John 15: 1-6 Pruning process. You cannot bear fruit unless you are connected to the source-God. Apart from Me, you can do nothing. God wants selflessness from us-give without recognition.
Am I looking to God or to myself?
2 Sam 11:1 When it was time for the kings to be out to battle, David stayed home.
Lesson #2- Be in the right place at the right time.
Don’t go certain places. God keeps us out of conflict when we are where we are supposed to be. Remember, you are in a battle.
Spend time with God, pray. Put yourself in the right place. When you get relaxed, you can be tempted to let up on what you should do. You always have a choice.
The Spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.
Sin leads to a mess. Ex. David and Bathsheba. He takes another man’s wife, she becomes pregnant. Does David come clean with God? NO! David’s heart became hardened as he covered his sin. When we do things in our own strength it doesn’t work.
David tries to cover up the mess. Next, David plans Uriah’s death. David could have stopped at any point. Once sin gets started, it is a cycle.
2 Sam 11:26 Other people are affected by our sin. There is a price to pay for wrong choices. Punishment: The sword will always be in your (David’s) house and the child (David and Bathsheba’s child) will die.
After it all, God forgives David (David had a long list of sins because of his heart being calloused)
How long is our list of sins? God can turn it all into something beautiful. If God can use David, God can use us. God wants to use you.
The stronghold of pride keeps people from God and from living the life God wants from them. Bring pride to God. He wants to give you a beautiful result in your life. He can take your life and make it a testimony. God is at work in you.
Is 40:28-31 Put pride aside. I don’t want to do it on my own.
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