The best of us are the worst of us.

A Fresh Wind

Samuel • Sermon • Submitted 5 years ago

2 Samuel

Temptation

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The Best of us are the worst of us.

Intro: Welcome back to our Study of Samuel

A. Before we dive in

· I want to thank everyone who helped in our vacation bible school

· Even those who came from Michigan and while visiting with her mother came and worked all week so we could share the hope of Jesus to your children. Thank you Loree…

· Loree is part of A Fresh Wind through our live stream. All of you who are tuned in are invited when you are in town to come and worship with us and lend a hand. We thank you for your prayer, your giving, and your support as we all serve King Jesus together.

B. Samuel

· Two weeks ago we covered the most important part of Samuel. The covenant between God and David.

· David wants to build God a house and God said thanks for that thought but no. I am going to build you a house. A dynasty.

· That someday a future king from David’s line will come to rule God’s eternal kingdom.

· So through David’s line the promise to Abraham back in , to bring blessings to all nations, will happen through this king this messiah.

· This promise is then picked up in the books of psalms and prophets, Isaiah, Ezekiel, Zechariah, ect.. as we move forward in timeline.

· Samuel is a complete work not like 1&2 Timothy… The reason that there is a 1st and 2nd Samuel is because of the length of the scroll. Sam with 1st and 2nd Kings.

· When we look at the overall view we see this pattern that not only do the pagan nations rise and fall because of the sin of man. The same thing is happening with God’s chosen people. This theme follows us all the way to Johns Revelation of Jesus the last book of the bible.

· No matter how great we start, because of sin we fall. Samuel as a work is about mankinds problem with Sin. Saul started with great promise but he had some character flaws. Dishonest, lacks integrity, has a inferiority complex, and is incapable of acknowledging when he has done wrong. Samuel told the people they needed a humble and faithful king. Then we see the rise of David the humble king. He’s faithful. He’s humble and today we see him fall flat on His face. In this sermon I call “the best of us are the worst of us.”

· Samuel has all of these characters and it is written so you can see yourself in these character. Hannah, Samuel, the priest Eli and his evil sons. Saul and Johnathon. Abigail and Michal. David his brothers. I think the arching theme is this…

· No matter how qualified and perfect for the roll God has for you. You can fall. We need a savior from the sinful nature of man so we can have the future God has promised and that Savior is Jesus.

>>> The best of us are sinners just like the worst of us. Christians leaders rise and fall. Some deny the faith. Some repent but are never the same. The best of us become the worst of us. It is the curse of sin that haunts mankind. One day… The Christ shall return and lead us into a new kingdom. He we restore all things. Even us. In the twinkling of an eye we will be changed. Then humanities history will really start.

Me: I haven’t had a lot of Christian hero’s. Billy Graham maybe. We watched Rex Humbard. Cathedral of tomorrow. I have always been more influenced by the everyday Christian who faced life at work not in the pastors study. I think that came from my Dads influence.

We: All of us have seen the mighty laid low. It all comes from the battle against our sinful nature. We almost want the famous to fall. Oral Roberts 9 million.

2 Samuel 12:1–10 NLT

So the Lord sent Nathan the prophet to tell David this story: “There were two men in a certain town. One was rich, and one was poor. The rich man owned a great many sheep and cattle. The poor man owned nothing but one little lamb he had bought. He raised that little lamb, and it grew up with his children. It ate from the man’s own plate and drank from his cup. He cuddled it in his arms like a baby daughter. One day a guest arrived at the home of the rich man. But instead of killing an animal from his own flock or herd, he took the poor man’s lamb and killed it and prepared it for his guest.” David was furious. “As surely as the Lord lives,” he vowed, “any man who would do such a thing deserves to die! He must repay four lambs to the poor man for the one he stole and for having no pity.” Then Nathan said to David, “You are that man! The Lord, the God of Israel, says: I anointed you king of Israel and saved you from the power of Saul. I gave you your master’s house and his wives and the kingdoms of Israel and Judah. And if that had not been enough, I would have given you much, much more. Why, then, have you despised the word of the Lord and done this horrible deed? For you have murdered Uriah the Hittite with the sword of the Ammonites and stolen his wife. From this time on, your family will live by the sword because you have despised me by taking Uriah’s wife to be your own.

So the Lord sent Nathan the prophet to tell David this story: “There were two men in a certain town. One was rich, and one was poor. 2 The rich man owned a great many sheep and cattle. 3 The poor man owned nothing but one little lamb he had bought. He raised that little lamb, and it grew up with his children. It ate from the man’s own plate and drank from his cup. He cuddled it in his arms like a baby daughter. 4 One day a guest arrived at the home of the rich man. But instead of killing an animal from his own flock or herd, he took the poor man’s lamb and killed it and prepared it for his guest.” 5 David was furious. “As surely as the Lord lives,” he vowed, “any man who would do such a thing deserves to die! 6 He must repay four lambs to the poor man for the one he stole and for having no pity.” 7 Then Nathan said to David, “You are that man! The Lord, the God of Israel, says: I anointed you king of Israel and saved you from the power of Saul. 8 I gave you your master’s house and his wives and the kingdoms of Israel and Judah. And if that had not been enough, I would have given you much, much more. 9 Why, then, have you despised the word of the Lord and done this horrible deed? For you have murdered Uriah the Hittite with the sword of the Ammonites and stolen his wife. 10 From this time on, your family will live by the sword because you have despised me by taking Uriah’s wife to be your own.

I. David’s fight. Temptation.

A. After hearing all about Saul’s failures we are ready to hear some victories.

· Although David’s life as king started out grand it didn’t last.

· David sent his army out to fight the Ammonites… Tell the story. She mourned Uriah’s death.

2 Samuel 11:27 NLT

When the period of mourning was over, David sent for her and brought her to the palace, and she became one of his wives. Then she gave birth to a son. But the Lord was displeased with what David had done.

B. God sees

Proverbs 9:10 NLT

Fear of the Lord is the foundation of wisdom. Knowledge of the Holy One results in good judgment.

· Fear of the Lord is knowing that he is watching what you do. Weighing your thoughts. Seeing your motivations.

· We can put one over on our families. We can justify and bully those who love us.

· We can throw ourselves on their mercy and it works for a time.

· But God knows… It is truly a lack of faith that causes us to get into the messes we get into.

· We don’t really believe… It has been true in my life and yours.

C. David could fight the philistines and the Ammonites

· But he couldn’t fight the temptation.

· He had power, might and wealth. I will take what I want.

· This is a man described as a man after God’s own heart.

· He was humble and faithful and then he was a murderer. The best of us and the worst of us.

II. Our fight. Temptation

A. It is so easy to be tempted in the world we live in.

· You don’t have to leave your house

· Jealousy, on face book

· Anger on the news feed

· Greed on cnbc

· Not to mention the sexual immorality that is laced through most of the programming offered to us.

B. We need to learn to fight temptation Right!

· No no no… that is crazy.

James 1:14–15 NLT

Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death.

· We are tempted with our own desires. Anyone tempted to eat a handful of worms? How about carrot cake?

James 1:14 NLT

Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away.

Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. 15 These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death.

· We are tempted with our own desires. Anyone tempted to eat a handful of worms? How about carrot cake?

· Temptation comes from us. God doesn’t test you with temptation.

James 1:12–13 NLT

God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. And remember, when you are being tempted, do not say, “God is tempting me.” God is never tempted to do wrong, and he never tempts anyone else.

James 1:

· God test us but doesn’t tempt us.

James 1:12 NLT

God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. 13 And remember, when you are being tempted, do not say, “God is tempting me.” God is never tempted to do wrong, and he never tempts anyone else.

2 Samuel 11:2–3 NLT

Late one afternoon, after his midday rest, David got out of bed and was walking on the roof of the palace. As he looked out over the city, he noticed a woman of unusual beauty taking a bath. He sent someone to find out who she was, and he was told, “She is Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite.”

· God test us but doesn’t tempt us.

· David should have been leading his army.

“Our greatest battles don't usually come when we're working hard; they come when we have some leisure, when we've got time on our hands, when we're bored” Charles Swindoll

· David’s lust was in him already. It wasn’t Bathsheba’s fault. Don’t blame the woman or man you can’t take you eyes off of or what they are wearing. James says our own desires entice us and drag us away.

· David’s desire gave birth to sinful actions.

1. He saw, he could have left that there and went inside to his wives.

2. We wanted to know

3. His wanting to know showed him opportunity

· This is what happens to us. That want to know more is our own desires taking over.

· Fantasy is practice for reality…

>>> We don’t fight temptation we have to escape it. We must run. Turn it off. Go hang with your wife. Play with your kids. Go where it is not. And If we fall we need to immediately repent.

III. Repentance

A. Repent from the heart

· God is a just God. He doesn’t let things slide.

Galatians 6:7 NLT

Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant.

Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant

· Though David’s sin seemed to be hidden until Nathan’s visit, it still had ramifications. Specifically, we see no psalms penned by him from the time of his sin until his repentance psalm about a year later.

· Not just his gift getting sidelined. That baby they made didn’t make it. I don’t believe God did that. But he wouldn’t have lost a son if he hadn’t sinned.

· God brought down his house from the inside…

· The forge. Joel and torn hearts not just torn garments

· David repents from the heart.

B. Against you only

· In response to his sin’s revelation, David pens

Psalm 51:1–10 NLT

Have mercy on me, O God, because of your unfailing love. Because of your great compassion, blot out the stain of my sins. Wash me clean from my guilt. Purify me from my sin. For I recognize my rebellion; it haunts me day and night. Against you, and you alone, have I sinned; I have done what is evil in your sight. You will be proved right in what you say, and your judgment against me is just. For I was born a sinner— yes, from the moment my mother conceived me. But you desire honesty from the womb, teaching me wisdom even there. Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Oh, give me back my joy again; you have broken me— now let me rejoice. Don’t keep looking at my sins. Remove the stain of my guilt. Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me.

Have mercy on me, O God, because of your unfailing love. Because of your great compassion, blot out the stain of my sins. 2 Wash me clean from my guilt. Purify me from my sin. 3 For I recognize my rebellion; it haunts me day and night. 4 Against you, and you alone, have I sinned; I have done what is evil in your sight. You will be proved right in what you say, and your judgment against me is just. 5 For I was born a sinner, yes, from the moment my mother conceived me. 6 But you desire honesty from the womb, teaching me wisdom even there. 7 Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. 8 Oh, give me back my joy again; you have broken me—now let me rejoice. 9 Don’t keep looking at my sins. Remove the stain of my guilt. 10 Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me.

· Mercy again takes center stage in the king’s life. “This is the utterance of a full heart; a heart crushed and broken by the consciousness of sin.

· The psalmist had been made to see his great guilt; and his first act is to cry out for mercy.

· There is no attempt to excuse his sin, or to apologize for it; there is no effort to vindicate his conduct; there is no complaint of the righteousness of that holy law which condemned him.

· It was ‘guilt’ that was before his mind; guilt only; deep and dreadful guilt.

· Against you only. Is that a cop out? He murdered a man. No! we have to see the justice of God in its true light. You should fear God more than mans judgement.

>>> I wonder if this is why our repentance is so nonchalant. We don’t feel guilt anymore. Be careful if you don’t carry a Godly sorrow over your sin. The rope is running out.

C. Repenting quickly

· Repenting quickly when convicted is a sign of a heart that seeks after God.

· God will use the fire of circumstances mixed with the fire of His word to reveal your hidden faults to you.

· As you gaze upon His perfection and beauty, you will suddenly see yourself in a whole new light.

· This is why worship is important. It reveals not just God but who we are. Remember am a man of unclean lips….

· Repentance becomes the opportunity to turn from things that have been hindering love, and as such, repentance becomes the catalyst for a greater and more profound intimacy than we’ve known to this point with God.

· When it comes to repentance, we must not limit our view to the “big” sins; instead, we should be sensitive to conviction in any situation where we “miss the mark.” “

IV. Warning

1 Corinthians 10:12–13 NLT

If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall. The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.

1 Corinthians 10:12 NLT

If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall.

If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall. 13 The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.

A. This verse gets taken out of context.

· People point to this and say God will never give you anything you can’t handle. This is not what this verse is about. This is about being tempted with your own desire.

· You need to escape because…

· You can’t handle your alcohol

· You can’t handle your pornography.

· You can’t handle your jealousy and anger

· You need to escape!

B. Don’t let the desires in you control you.

Galatians 5:19–25 NLT

When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God. But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.

When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, 20 idolatry, sorcery,(Pharmakeia) hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, 21 envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God. 22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. 25 Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.

· Run from your temptations and follow the spirit.

· Nail those desire to the cross.

ILLUS: Dear God, in Jesus name, I nail this desire back on the cross. I am a new creation. That is not me anymore.

Summary: The best of us are the worst of us. Take heed if you think you stand… Temptation is not something to play with it is something to escape from. If you fall repent quickly. What a church believes will shape how it lives. If you believe you will have a fear of God. A church who is serious about the fear of God will flee temptation and if they fall will quickly repent.

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