Untitled Sermon

Loyalty

Love without loyalty is like a car without an engine. It is very difficult for a car to function according to its design without an engine. Likewise love becomes arduous an immobile without loyalty.

Most relationships are stuck on the side of the road, or never get going because there is no loyalty.

Somewhere along the line the term friend and follower have been stripped of their need for loyalty.

There was a time when the term friend was not determined by a profile pic. And a follower meant that you’ve been given access to view the highlights of my life on your cell phone.

When people wanted to follow Jesus, he often gave them the test of loyalty.

David is loyal to Jonathan even though Jonathan is dead. Does your loyalty only last when you have money in the bank? Are you only loyal to me when I do exactly what you say and never call you out on your character flaws? Can you be loyal in times of adversity? You cannot consider them loyal until, the relationship has been tested.

So then if loyalty needs the heat of adversity in order to rise, then perhaps that’s why Mephibosheth is the last standing son of Jonathan. Because Mephibosheth has lived with adversity in his feet most of his life. Meph. is crippled in his feet.

Favor Is Focused verse 1

People often say, “favor ain’t fair”. But it is. Favor falls on those who are in covenant.

Favor is particular. Favor is not randomly released nor is it haphazardly hurled. Favor is focused. Favor finds those who are in covenant.

You cannot be a benefactor of the testator’s will unless you are in covenant with the testator.

Being in covenant means you’re in covenant with God not just on Sundays. Not just at church. But you’re in covenant on the job too.

The favor of God is looking for you! God is looking for someone to drop his favor on. Is there anyone left who is still in covenant? Is there anyone left who will not capitulate to the culture.

Everyone wants the favor of God. But God only releases favor to whom he is in covenant with.

David is willing to favor any descendant of Saul, not because his favor has nothing to do. No David’s favor is because of his covenant with Jonathan.

Ziba verse 3

Ziba in your head. Ziba is always juxtaposing your covenant against your condition. Ziba will bring up your failure in an attempt to disqualify your future.

Watch out for Zibas in your life. You know whether or not Ziba is loyal based on what Ziba says when you’re not around.

The Ziba within. Cancel the Ziba in your thoughts. Every time an opportunity presents itself, here comes the voice of Ziba reminding you that you are crippled.

Lo-debar

It is the place of hiding.

The one who was supposed to take care of Mephibosheth dropped him. What do you do when God allows you to be dropped?

Mephibosheth is afraid of exposing his condition because the last time he was vulnerable he found out that those around him weren’t loyal.

Come out of Lo-debar. You’ve gotta come out broken.

God is not concerned about your condition, more than he’s concerned about his covenant.

When David looks at a broken Mephibosheth he doesn’t see his condition he sees the covenant. That’s why God can see your failure but still his love is loyal. His love is loyal to the covenant never to your condition.

You’ve been hiding there in Lo-debar broken, worried and alone. Sometimes you dream of leaving, but your brokeness makes you fearful to roam.

Blaming others for where you are right now has become your excuse of choice. Because when your broken within and without, it’s hard to listen, even to my voice.

But that’s the thing about my loyalty that you’ve been missing all along. I was watching and was there when life dropped you, and if you don’t believe me then you’re wrong.

See my love for you is loyal, but won’t always make you grin. Just remember broken doesn’t mean lost and in the end you will win.

So now that I’ve found you down in Lo-Debar, pack your bags it’s time to go. There’s a seat at the king’s table waiting for you and a loyal love I

The King’s Table verse 13

Mephibosheth was still lame at the king’s table.

Loyal love can’t fix your feet, but love can fix your heart.

Mephibosheth’s is not left crippled in his feet to keep him limited, it’s to keep him loyal. The enemy wants you to be so focused on what you don’t have and who dropped you, that you never realize what you do have. You are now at the king’s table. The more you focus on your feet is the more you will miss the food that has been spread before you.

Yes, you were dropped. But your disability doesn’t disqualify you but if you’re not careful it can distract you.