God-Conscious or Problem-Conscious

TURN TO 1 SAM. 27

Intro: “God-Consciousness”

(Q) HOW MANY of YOU HERE TODAY BECAUSE of the HUSTLE and BUSTLE of LIFE can EASILY FORGET THINGS?

LIFE’S BURDENS CAUSE THINGS to SLIP THROUGH CRACKS…

**YOU LOSE FOCUS on WHAT MATTERS MOST?

IF YOU AREN’T HERE NOW, YOU PROBABLY HAVE BEEN or SOMEDAY WILL BE...

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THANKFUL GOD’S GIVEN US SEPARATE PARTS of BRAIN to KEEP TRACK of BREATHING & H.R.....OTHERWISE WE’D FORGET!

WE CAN NEGLECT/FORGET THINGS of PARAMOUNT IMPORTANCE BECAUSE of URGENCY of SO MANY THINGS...

...LIKE GOD HIMSELF.

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GOD = OUR LIFE SOURCE…MOST IMPORTANT RELATIONSHIP WE MAINTAIN...

IF WE AREN’T CAREFUL, WE’LL GO THROUGH OUR DAYS:

WITHOUT THINKING ABOUT GOD

WITHOUT HAVING OUR FAITH AFFECT OUR LIVES

WITHOUT CONSIDERING OUR MAIN PURPOSE in LIFE = GLORIFY GOD & SERVE OTHERS...

**IRONY— GOD THINKS ABOUT US MORE THAN WE THINK ABOUT HIM...

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WE GO THROUGH LIFE & BUSY TIMES & FORGET to FACTOR GOD INTO EQUATION

CAN BE OVERWHELMED W/ PROBLEMS & STRESSORS,, & NOT CONSIDER the DIFFERENCE that GOD MAKES…

GREAT TIME to ASK: “WHERE is GOD in THIS??” — WHAT DIFFERENCE DOES HE MAKE to THIS SITUATION...

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INSTEAD of BEING GOD-CONSCIOUS...

WE BECOME PROBLEM-CONSCIOUS

LIFE-CONSCIOUS

WORK-CONSCIOUS

***OUR CONSCIOUSNESS of OTHER THINGS SHOULD NEVER CAUSE US to FORGET/NEGLECT the GOD WHOM WE SERVE...

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IF WE LIVE LIFE CONSCIOUS of OTHER THINGS...

WE’LL END UP DISCOURAGED

WE CAN FALL to TEMPTATION & COMPROMISE

KEEPING GOD on OUR MINDS as BELIEVERS IS ESSENTIAL to OUR SPIRITUAL WELL-BEING...

(T) KEEP THESE THINGS in MIND as WE DIVE INTO our TEXT TODAY...

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Recap: “God’s Will in God’s time”

LAST WEEK:

GREAT TRIUMPH in DAVID’S LIFE: OVERCOMING SIN

**DAVID HAD PERFECT OPPORTUNITY to KILL SAUL & SPARES HIM.

SAUL GOT ARMY of 3,000 GUYS to FIND DAVID...

THEY ALL GO to SLEEP

DAVID & ABISHAI GO to ENCAMPMENT

SAUL’S SPEAR @ HIS HEAD, BEGGING to BE USED...

ABISHAI ASKS to KILL SAUL & HE’LL DO IT SWIFTLY W/ ONE STRIKE

**DAVID ONCE AGAIN RESTRAINS HIMSELF & OTHERS...

DAVID = CONTENT to LET GOD BE GOD…

WAIT on GOD’S TIMING FOR KINGSHIP & FOR SAUL’S DEATH

STEAL WATER JUG & SPEAR,, GO AWAY,, WAKE EVERYONE UP W/ SHOUT, & PROVE DAVID’S INNOCENCE...

TEXT CLOSED: SAUL & DAVID DEPART in PEACE.

WE LEARNED: IMPORTANCE of PATIENTLY WAITING for GOD’S PERFECT TIMING

(T) TEXT CLOSED: GOOD NOTE...

PEACE BETWEEN SAUL & DAVID

GO SEPARATE WAYS

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT in DAVID’S LIFE?

LOOK W/ ME @ CH. 27 VS. 1—GOING THROUGH CH. 28:2 THIS A.M.

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Text: 1 Samuel 27:1-28:2

Setting/Inciting Incident: David’s Fear (v1)

1 Samuel 27:1–12 (ESV)

1 Then David said in his heart, “Now I shall perish one day by the hand of Saul. There is nothing better for me than that I should escape to the land of the Philistines. Then Saul will despair of seeking me any longer within the borders of Israel, and I shall escape out of his hand.”

APPARENTLY: THINGS TURNED AROUND AGAIN

PEACEFUL EXIT LAST WEEK HAS ENDED...

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SAUL CHASING DAVID && DAVID CONCLUDES HE’LL PERISH @ SAUL’S HAND

MEDITATING on WORDS of DOUBT

***LAST WK....DAVID = CONVINCED,, SAUL WILL PERISH @ GOD’S HAND…NOW HE’S CONVINCED HE’LL PERISH @ SAUL’S HAND!!

SO, DAVID FLEES to LAND of PHILISTINES

DAVID’S CONCLUSION:

THERE’S NOTHING BETTER…NOTHING GOOD… “GOT 1 OPTION!”..... RUN to PHILISTINES...

THEN SAUL WILL GET TIRED of SEEKING HIM & GIVE UP && DAVID WILL BE SAFE.

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CONSIDER: FOOLISH & RIDICULOUS CONCLUSION BY DAVID...

**DISCLAIMER: THIS WAS REAL LIFE for DAVID…REAL THREAT…REAL HARD TIMES...

DALE DAVIS DESCRIBES DAVID’S LIFE: “It’s the stuff that makes great movies but takes its toll on real people.”[1]

(Q) ISN’T IT EASIER FOR ALL of US TO GIVE OTHERS WISE COUNSEL BUT HARD FOR US to FOLLOW OUR OWN??

WE LOVE to READ STORIES of DAVID’S NARROW ESCAPES

BUT FOR DAVID,, THIS SURELY GOT OLD.

EXCITEMENT = DIFFERENT WHEN IT’S YOUR LIFE on THE LINE.

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YET WE STILL LOOK @ THIS STORY & WONDER… “WHAT HAS HAPPENED???”

THINK BACK to GOD’S FAITHFULNESS to DAVID:

SPARED HIM FROM LIONS & BEARS as SHEPHERD-BOY

SPARED FROM GOLIATH

SPARED FROM PHILISTINE ARMY COUNTLESS TIMES

SPARED FROM SAUL’S SPEAR MANY TIMES

GOD USED MICHAL, JONATHAN, & OTHERS to SPARE DAVID

GOD OVERWHELMED SAUL’S FREE AGENCY && HAD HIM STRIPPED NAKED & PROPHESYING FOR an ENTIRE NIGHT

FURTHERMORE:

GOD’S PROTECTION of SAUL = CLEARLY LIFTED

2X DAVID HAD OPPORTUNITY to KILL SAUL

&& SAMUEL HAD ANOINTED DAVID… JONATHAN,, SAUL,, & ABIGAIL ALL REITERATED DAVID WAS to LEAD ISRAEL...

LAST WK:

DAVID CONCLUDES: BOTH HIS DESTINY & SAUL’S = IN GOD’S HANDS...

GOD WILL STRIKE SAUL as NABAL...

SAUL WILL DIE EVENTUALLY as EVERYONE DOES...

SAUL WILL DIE in BATTLE

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BUT NOW.....

SUDDENLY DAVID’S LIFE = ENDANGERED TOO MUCH

GOD SEEMINGLY INCAPABLE???

DAVID CONCLUDES: NOTHING BETTER THAN to RUN AWAY...

**REALLY, NOTHING BETTER?

GOD MIRACULOUSLY SPARING DAVID = BETTER

GOD DESTROYING SAUL = BETTER

GOD ON the RUN, TRUSTING GOD = BETTER

RUNNING to GOD’S ENEMIES = BAD IDEA.

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(Q) ISN’T IT AMAZING HOW QUICKLY WE CAN FORGET OUR HISTORY W/ GOD???

WE SEE DAVID’S FOLLY, BUT WE AREN’T INNOCENT ALL the TIME EITHER...

**WE CAN LOOK @ TODAY’S GIANTS && FORGET YESTERDAY’S GOD...

WE CAN FORGET the FAITHFULNESS of GOD

FORGET the TIMES GOD’S ANSWERED OUR PRAYERS

***WE DON’T ACTUALLY FORGET, WE KNOW. BUT WE DON’T CALL to REMEMBRANCE...

SINFUL NATURE & UNBELIEF SAYS, “MAYBE GOD WON’T BE FAITHFUL to YOU THIS TIME...”

CAN SEE GOD’S PERFECT TRACK RECORD & STILL WRESTLE W/ DOUBT

**I CAN’T PROMISE GOD WILL DO it AS YOU’VE PLANNED… GOD’S WAYS = HIGHER & BETTER THAN OURS…

BUT KNOW THAT HE’S FAITHFUL && HE’S AWARE && INVOLVED...

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DAVID’S PROBLEM: HE’S MEDITATING on THE PROBLEM & POSSIBLE NEGATIVE OUTCOMES…INSTEAD of MEDITATING on GOD & GOD’S WORD.

DALE DAVIS CALLS THESE WORDS of DOUBT,, “PROPAGANDIZING OUR SOULS”

WE DWELL on PROBLEMS…NOT GOD

REPEATED THINKING CREATES PATHS/RUTS in OUR MINDS..

STORY—4X4 BEACH,, STUCK in RUT & ONCOMING TRAFFIC

WE CAN BE “PROBLEM-CONSCIOUS” INSTEAD of “GOD-CONSCIOUS”

**AGAIN, FOR DAVID, THIS WAS REAL LIFE.

***DAVID DIDN’T EVEN KNOW ABOUT 2 SAMUEL,, NONE of IT… WE HAVE 3RD PERSON PERSPECTIVE DAVID NEVER ENJOYED...

DAVID HAD a REAL PROBLEM...BUT DAVID ALSO HAD REAL HISTORY W/ REAL GOD...

DAVID DWELT UPON the SURETY of HIS DEATH,, RATHER THAN the SURETY of GOD’S PROMISES!

(T) And so, we see DAVID’S CONCLUSIONS = RIDICULOUS, is he GOING to FOLLOW THROUGH W/ WILD PLAN? LOOK W/ ME @ VS. 2… IT SAYS

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Rising Action: David’s Flight (v2-4)

2 So David arose and went over, he and the six hundred men who were with him, to Achish the son of Maoch, king of Gath. 3 And David lived with Achish at Gath, he and his men, every man with his household, and David with his two wives, Ahinoam of Jezreel, and Abigail of Carmel, Nabal’s widow.

4 And when it was told Saul that David had fled to Gath, he no longer sought him.

DAVID GOES THROUGH W/ FOOLISH PLAN & COMES to ACHISH,, KING of CITY of GATH...

DAVID’S FIRST FAILURE TODAY: CAVING to UNBELIEF && RUNNING AWAY,, TAKING MATTERS INTO OWN HANDS.

**DAVID NOT ONLY LETS HIMSELF DOWN,, BUT PEOPLE HE’S LEADING…TAKING THEM ALL to PHILISTINE TERRITORY...

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GOD HAD SHOWN DAVID in PAST—HE WAS DAVID’S STRONGHOLD & FORTRESS

WHEN DAVID WAS in MOAB,, HE WAS TOLD to RETURN to LAND of ISRAEL

DON’T TRUST in SWORDS…SPEARS…NATURAL STRONGHOLDS...

TRUST in GOD && GOD’S FAITHFULNESS TOWARDS YOU.

BUT NOW,, DAVID = FINDING SOLACE in LAND of PHILISTINES W/ KING of GATH,,, INSTEAD of W/ KING of GLORY!

(T) And WE SEE HERE THAT NATURALLY DAVID’S PLANS SUCCEEDED…FOR SAUL STOPPED SEEKING HIM..WHAT HAPPENS NEXT??

LOOK W/ ME @ VS. 5,, IT SAYS....

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More Tension: “David’s Request” (v5-7)

5 Then David said to Achish, “If I have found favor in your eyes, let a place be given me in one of the country towns, that I may dwell there. For why should your servant dwell in the royal city with you?” 6 So that day Achish gave him Ziklag. Therefore Ziklag has belonged to the kings of Judah to this day.

7 And the number of the days that David lived in the country of the Philistines was a year and four months.

NOT ONLY DOES DAVID FLEE...

BUT HE BASICALLY SETS UP CITIZENSHIP THERE! DAVID’S SET UP SHOP!

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DAVID EVEN REFERS to HIMSELF as a SERVANT of ACHISH’S!!

**NOT a SERVANT of YAHWEH…OR ISRAEL.... BUT of PHILISTINE KING!!

DAVID ASKS FOR CITY && IS GIVEN ZIKLAG

**DAVID REMAINS in PHILISTINE TERRITORY FOR 1 YR. 4 MONTHS....

NOT a PASSING THING

NOT a SMALL SHORTCOMING/SUBTLE SIN...

BUT A PERIOD of UNBELIEF…DAVID LIVING APART FROM GOD in FEAR FOR 16 MONTHS...

(T) So, we see DAVID’S TRACK RECORD in TEXT TODAY ISN’T LOOKING TOO GOOD..…now that HE’S MADE HIMSELF a HOME in THE LAND of the PHILISTINES... WHAT WILL HE DO NEXT? VS. 8 SAYS...

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Climax: David’s Killing & Lie (v8-11)

8 Now David and his men went up and made raids against the Geshurites, the Girzites, and the Amalekites, for these were the inhabitants of the land from of old, as far as Shur, to the land of Egypt. 9 And David would strike the land and would leave neither man nor woman alive, but would take away the sheep, the oxen, the donkeys, the camels, and the garments, and come back to Achish.

10 When Achish asked, “Where have you made a raid today?” David would say, “Against the Negeb of Judah,” or, “Against the Negeb of the Jerahmeelites,” or, “Against the Negeb of the Kenites.” 11 And David would leave neither man nor woman alive to bring news to Gath, thinking, “lest they should tell about us and say, ‘So David has done.’ ” Such was his custom all the while he lived in the country of the Philistines.

DURING THIS TIME…DAVID = ATTACKING OTHERS ALONG SOUTHERN BORDER of LAND of JUDAH....

INSTEAD of STAYING in ISRAEL & BELIEVING GOD...

DAVID LIVES LIKE an OUTLAW… && IS GOING OUT & KILLING W.O. MERCY.

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THESE ARE PEOPLE GROUPS ISRAEL WAS SUPPOSED to DISPLACE...

BUT THERE’S NO MANDATE HERE FROM GOD FOR DAVID...

&& BY ALL AVAILABLE EVIDENCE DAVID IS LIVING in REBELLION AGAINST GOD…EVEN IF to SOME EXTENT HE’S DOING GOD’S WORK

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ACHISH KNEW DAVID WAS GOING OUT on RAIDS…DAVID WOULD BRING BACK SPOILS, ETC...

&&& DAVID WOULD LIE,, TELLING ACHISH HE WAS FIGHTING HIS OWN PEOPLE, ISRAEL & JUDAH

COMPOUNDING MATTERS FURTHER: DAVID ADDS to HIS RESUME of SIN BY CONSISTENTLY LYING....

TO KEEP the SECRET, HE’S KILLING EVERYONE SO THERE’S NO WAY to BRING NEWS...

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(Q) ANYONE ELSE EVER FIND THAT LYING COMPOUNDS THINGS??

YOU LIE

THEN YOU LIE MORE, to COVER UP the LIE...

THEN COUNTLESS OTHER THINGS HAPPEN to ENSURE the LIE STAYS SECRET...

END UP W/ MOUNTAIN of SIN & DECEPTION… REAL UGLY...

THIS IS DAVID’S LIFE...

SHOCKING to SEE,, GOD’S CHOSEN KING…MAN W/ HEART AFTER GOD,, the ONE BETTER THAN SAUL…ACTING LIKE THIS.

(T) So, WHAT DOES ACHISH THINK of ALL of DAVID’S ACTIVITY?

LOOK W/ ME @ VS. 12…IT SAYS...

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Resolution: Achish’s Trust (v12)

12 And Achish trusted David, thinking, “He has made himself an utter stench to his people Israel; therefore he shall always be my servant.”

ACHISH TRUSTS DAVID.... BELIEVES ALL HIS LIES...

FULLY CONVINCED DAVID = HATED in LAND of ISRAEL...

ACHISH CONCLUDES: “DAVID WILL ALWAYS BE MY SERVANT”

(T) And now our text is going to close today in the first two verses of chapter 28, it says,

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Conclusion: Preparing for War (28:1-2)

1 Samuel 28:1–2 (ESV)

1 In those days the Philistines gathered their forces for war, to fight against Israel. And Achish said to David, “Understand that you and your men are to go out with me in the army.” 2 David said to Achish, “Very well, you shall know what your servant can do.” And Achish said to David, “Very well, I will make you my bodyguard for life.”

ONCE AGAIN,, WAR BETWEEN ISRAEL & PHILISTINES...

**ACHISH ASKS FOR DAVID’S HELP

(LOGICAL CONCLUSION,, DAVID HAD BEEN LYING, SAYING HE WAS FIGHTING ISRAEL!)

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COMPOUNDING SINS HAVE CONSEQUENCES: DAVID = BETWEEN ROCK & HARD PLACE...

ACHISH CONCLUDES:

DAVID GOING to WAR W/ HIM

DAVID WILL BE HIS SERVANT FOR LIFE!

DAVID = PHILISTINE

BUT DAVID HAD BEEN LYING…HE’D NEVER ATTACKED ISRAEL...

SO, NOW HE’S STUCK in TOUGH PLACE...

TEXT CLOSES in DIFFICULT PLACE W/ CLIFFHANGER…DAVID’S in TROUBLE & HARD PLACE...

(T) And so, WE CAN LEARN FROM THIS PASSAGE TODAY, the IDEA THAT,,

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Homiletical Idea:

· When we are problem-conscious rather than God-conscious in life, faith falters, and the sin of unbelief can easily grow into a string of compromise.

ONE CHARACTER TODAY = M.I.A..

EVERY WEEK WE’VE SEEN:

DAVID PRESENT

SAUL PRESENT

WE’VE ALSO SEEN ABIGAIL & ACHISH...

***BUT TODAY GOD = MISSING FROM LITERARY ACCOUNT…NO ONE BROUGHT GOD INTO EQUATION...

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REMEMBER WHEN DAVID WENT to FIGHT GOLIATH??

MANY PEOPLE WERE FEARFUL & DOING NOTHING...

DAVID SHOWED UP && BROUGHT GOD INTO EQUATION.

1ST TIME DAVID SPEAKS in SCRIPTURE…HE BRINGS GOD INTO a (SEEMINGLY) GODLESS SITUATION

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NOW, AFTER YEARS of STRUGGLE…YEARS of THREAT…YEARS of BURDEN…DAVID = BURNOUT

CONSIDER: DAVID HAS MORE HISTORY W/ GOD @ THIS POINT THAN HE DID WHEN FIGHTING GOLIATH!!

DAVID’S HISTORY W/ GOD WASN’T LACKING

HIS KNOWLEDGE of GOD WASN’T LACKING

BUT DAVID HAD FORGOTTEN (PRACTICALLY) && HADN’T BROUGHT GOD INTO the EQUATION TODAY...

DAVID DWELT on HIS PROBLEM & FORGOT HIS GOD...

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Gospel:

TEXT TODAY SHOWS US IMPERFECTIONS of GOD’S SERVANTS...

DAVID = CHOSEN KING…ANOINTED ONE

MAN W/ HEART AFTER GOD

MAN WHO WAS BETTER THAN SAUL

THE SHEPHERD-BOY FROM BETHLEHEM TURNED MILITARY CHAMPION & GIANT-SLAYER...

HE FALLS & LIVES in a PERIOD of SIN & UNBELIEF...

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WE ALL LOVE DAVID...

DAVID = OFTEN EXEMPLARY

BUT DAVID = HUMAN…HE’S IMPERFECT JUST LIKE US...

DALE DAVIS: “The text is saying that this chosen, anointed servant is made of the same stuff as all the Lord’s people.”[1]

DALE DAVIS POINTS OUT: THIS TEXT DEALS W/ HERO WORSHIP

PEOPLE TEND to PUT OTHERS, ESP. LEADERS & BIBLE FIGURES ON a PEDESTAL...

DAVID DISAPPOINTS

EVERYONE WILL DISAPPOINT @ SOME POINT

I’LL PROBABLY ASK YOUR FORGIVENESS @ SOME POINT, BECAUSE I’M IMPERFECT TOO...

ALL of US STRUGGLE W/ SIN...

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& SEE, WE LOVE DAVID & WE SHOULD

DAVID = INSPIRING...

****BUT WE SEE TODAY,, GOD’S PEOPLE NEED a KING BETTER THAN DAVID....

WHAT GOD’S PEOPLE NEEDED WAS the LORD JESUS CHRIST

THE KING WHO WASN’T JUST a MAN,, BUT ALSO GOD...

HE’S the ONLY ONE WHO WON’T LET YOU DOWN...

HE’LL NEVER LEAVE YOU,, NEVER FAIL YOU,, NEVER FALL & DISAPPOINT YOU...

HE’S the ONLY ONE WHO SHOULD BE ON YOUR PEDESTAL.

HE’S the ONLY ONE WORTHY of YOUR WORSHIP...

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SEE HE’S the ONLY ONE WHO NEVER SINNED...

HE NEVER HAS NOR WILL EVER FALL SHORT...

GOD’S PEOPLE NEEDED a KING WHO WAS BOTH GOD & MAN…ONE WHO COULD REPRESENT US,, BUT ONE WHO WAS ALSO PERFECT...

&& I WANT to ENCOURAGE YOU TODAY:

WHILE ALL of US FALL SHORT of GOD’S STANDARD…AND WHILE ALL of US WILL DISAPPOINT OTHERS @ SOME POINT in TIME...

YOU CAN BE FOUND RIGHTEOUS in GOD’S SIGHT TODAY,, THROUGH FAITH in CHRIST...

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JESUS CHRIST NOT ONLY PERFECTLY LIVED..BUT HE PERFECTLY LIVED & OBEYED in OUR PLACE!

&& HIS PERFECT LIFE CULMINATED W/ HIS DEATH FOR SINNERS...

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SCRIPTURE TEACHES US THAT IF WE PLACE OUR FAITH in HIM && RECEIVE HIM as SAVIOR & LORD,, WE CAN BE SAVED…

FOR WE RECEIVE HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS BY FAITH.

2 Corinthians 5:21 (ESV)

21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

GOD DESIRED FOR US ALL to PERFECTLY OBEY…BUT WE ALL FELL SHORT...

BUT THE ONE WHO PERFECTLY OBEYED DID SO THAT WE COULD BE SAVED...

HAVE YOU TURNED FROM SIN & REBELLION to THE SAVIOR?

ARE YOU RIGHTEOUS BY FAITH IN CHRIST?

ARE YOU HOLDING to HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS ALONE FOR YOUR RIGHT-STANDING W/ GOD??

IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS, PLEASE TALK W/ US AFTER SERVICE TODAY...

(T) And now in closing, I’d like to SHARE a FEW TAKEAWAYS with you all today,

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Takeaways:

LEARN ABOUT GOD??

NOTE the EXCEEDING FAITHFULNESS of GOD...

WHILE GOD = ABSENT FROM LITERARY ACCOUNT TODAY…GOD WASN’T ABSENT

GOD FAITHFULLY PRESERVES DAVID,, AGAIN,, DESPITE HIS SIN...

GOD CONTINUES to PROVIDE FOR DAVID...

NOTHING CAN SEPARATE US FROM the LOVE of GOD in CHRIST JESUS OUR LORD....

(T) LEARN ABOUT US??

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App.

1ST…IF YOU’VE FALLEN,, YOU HAVEN’T FALLEN TOO FAR...

***GOD’S GRACE ISN’T a LICENSE FOR SIN…BUT IT’S ALSO NOT INSUFFICIENT FOR SIN...

GOD’S in THE BUSINESS of SAVING SINNERS…LIKE YOU…LIKE ME…LIKE DAVID...

1 John 1:9 ESV

9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

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IN CLOSING: CHALLENGE, BE GOD-CONSCIOUS,,, OVER PROBLEM-CONSCIOUS....

GOD-CONSCIOUSNESS = BEST DETERRENT FOR SIN...

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TODAY’S TEXT: DAVID DWELLING on HIS OWN DEATH @ SAUL’S HANDS… PROPAGANDIZING HIS SOUL....

**GOD WAS the ONLY ONE NOT BROUGHT INTO the STORY TODAY...

\\\ DON’T LET THIS BE YOUR LIFE’S STORY ///

AGAIN, DAVID WAS JUSTIFIABLY STRUGGLING…WE DON’T WANT to BELITTLE HIS STRUGGLES…

BUT WE ALSO DON’T WANT to BELITTLE HIS GOD...

GOD HAD BEEN CLEAR to DAVID:

SAVING HIM TIME & TIME AGAIN…

REITERATING HIS CALL TO LEAD…

SHOWING HIS SOVEREIGNTY & PROVIDENCE TIME & TIME AGAIN...

MESSAGE WAS SO CLEAR to DAVID,, YET HE STILL NEGLECTED to STIR UP FAITH & THOUGHTS of GOD’S ABILITY to BRING HIM THROUGH...

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CHALLENGE: FIND TANGIBLE WAYS to REMAIN GOD-CONSCIOUS in LIFE...

EVEN as a PASTOR, I HAVE to DO THIS…OR YOU CAN GO THROUGH EVALUATING EVERYTHING in LIFE WITHOUT BRINGING GOD INTO THE EQUATION…IN BUSYNESS of LIFE,, YOU CAN FORGET WHAT MATTERS MOST...

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TODAY’S SCRIPTURE READING: DURING the TIME of MOSES,, PEOPLE WERE COMMANDED to PUT TASSELS on THEIR GARMENTS,, TO REMIND THEM of GOD & THEIR DUTY to OBEY HIS LAW...

****IF PEOPLE HAVE BEEN FORGETTING THINGS SINCE the DAYS of MOSES,, THOUSANDS of YEARS AGO…I THINK GOD UNDERSTANDS THAT IT’S a PROBLEM...

&& SURELY WE’RE MORE MENTALLY OVERWHELMED THAN PEOPLE WERE THEN WITH ADVANCES in TECHNOLOGY...

FIND a “TASSEL” FOR YOUR OWN LIFE...

THINGS YOU CAN SET UP @ YOUR DESK or WORK STATION

IN the TRUCK YOU DRIVE...

CROSS NECKLACE

OR FIND TIMES THAT YOU CAN SET ASIDE

MORNING DEVOTIONS

REMINDER on BIBLE APP—READ VS. of THE DAY @ LUNCH

WHEN SHIFTING INTO PARK AFTER COMING HOME,, TAKE 30 SECONDS to PRAY...

PERSONALLY: TAKE TIME to PRAY & REORIENT BEFORE COMING HOME FROM OFFICE DAILY...

FIND THINGS/ESTABLISH HABITS THAT PUSHES YOU TOWARDS GOD-CONSCIOUSNESS

&& WHEN PROBLEMS COME YOUR WAY,, DON’T FORGET to FACTOR GOD INTO the EQUATION!!

\\\ ALL of US CAN & SHOULD DO SOMETHING. ///

NONE of US WILL GET it PERFECT 100%

BUT NONE of US SHOULD MISS it FOR 16 MONTHS.

WE’LL FORGET & FALTER @ TIMES…BUT NONE of US SHOULD GO FROM SUNDAY AFTERNOON to NEXT SUNDAY MORNING W.O. BRINGING GOD INTO the EQUATION of OUR LIVES....

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USE PRACTICAL THINGS/HABITS to BRING ABOUT a GOD-CONSCIOUSNESS in YOUR LIFE...

USE as DETERRENT FOR SIN

USE it TO ESTABLISH GREATER JOY in SERVING HIM...

DON’T FORGET to FACTOR GOD INTO the EQUATION WHEN FACING PROBLEMS in THIS LIFE...

Close in Prayer