SERMON SEEDS I18 - 7-25-05
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Posted by: jpeters <jpeters@...>
SERMON SEEDS FOR JULY 25, 2005
We have returned from vacation. Lord willing, the series on the life of Christ will continue next week. Meanwhile, here are some outlines that I pray will help you.
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1 Samuel 30
FROM TRAGEDY TO TRIUMPH,
There will always be tragedies in our lives.
Job 5:7 - Yet man is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward.
There will always be a right way and a wrong way to handle tragedy. The right way of handling tragedy keeps one in touch with God. The wrong way of handling tragedy is without God. Handling tragedy without God leads to bitterness, failure, and perhaps, more tragedy.
This morning we want to consider an event in the life of David and find David experiencing one of the bitterest tragedies of his life. We can learn much from David, as he shows us how to move from tragedy to triumph.
BACKGROUND
1 Samuel 27:1-4 - David had been pursued by King Saul for a long time and had grown weary of it. He went over to the enemy's side.
David would make raids, kill everyone, and lie about where he had gone. This gave Achish the impression that David was attacking his own people and causing a separation between he and Israel.
1 Samuel 27:12
David requested of Achish a place to live, and Achish gave him the down of Ziklag.
The time came for a showdown between Israel and the Philistines. When the Philistines gathered together, David was with Achish. The other Philistine Lords balked and David and his men were sent home.
I see God's hand in this. David did not have to fight his own people, so David would not be blamed for the death of Saul.
Also, David got home just in time to end up rescuing those who were taken into captivity.
PROBLEM - DAVID FORLORN - Vss. 1-6a
Vss. 1-2 - The Amalekites had invaded Ziklag. With all the men off to war, Ziklag was defenseless. Everything of value was taken, including the women and children, who could be sold as slaves. The city was burned.
Vs. 3 - Imagine the shock when David and his men came over a hill, anticipating family coming out to meet them. Instead they saw smoldering ash and found nobody left.
We never know when tragedy will come home to us. Some recent examples include the terrible fires out west, recent hurricanes, terrorist attacks in Iraq, and the bombings in London.
We are not exempt from tragedy.
Vss. 4-5 - David and his men, mature and brave soldiers, just cried until they cried no more! David knew how his men felt. His wives were taken captive.
It is appropriate to cry and also appropriate to remember that God can get us past the tears of any tragedy. Psalm 30:5
Vs. 6 - If the current tragedy weren't bad enough, David became the scapegoat for his men's anger.
And the Scripture tells us why they were ready to stone David.
They were all grieved. When we grieve greatly we don't think clearly. When we don't think clearly we will say things that we are sorry for.
You can understand why David was greatly distressed.
His city was destroyed.
His men's families had all been taken captive.
His wives were among the captives.
And now his men want to stone him! I'd be greatly distressed to.
PROBLEM - DAVID FORLORN - Vss. 1-6a
PERSON - DAVID FINDING (HELP FROM GOD) - Vs. 6b-8
1 Samuel 30:6 - but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God.
David did not always do what was right. Some of the things that he did in life were questionable at best. But when push came to shove, David knew where to turn. David encouraged himself in the Lord his God! This is what we should do as well. Isaiah 40:31, 41:10, Psalm 55:22, 118:6, Hebrews 13:8, Psalm 3:1-6
David got help in the person of God - who He is!
We get help in the person of Christ - who He is!
Vss. 7-8 - David asked for the ephod that was part of the priest's clothing. It was used to help determine God's will.
In other words, David inquired of God. He got His wisdom from God.
David asked if they should pursue the Amalakites. The answer was yes, and all would be recovered.
I am reminded of two things. First of all, when all seems lost, all is not necessarily lost.
Secondly when all seems lost, and I don't know where to turn, I need to inquire of him. James 1:5-8
PURSUIT - DAVID FOLLOWING - Vss. 9-15
When we pray for guidance and God gives it, we need to follow God's will. Not only was David following after the enemy, but David was also following God's directions.
As a pastor I've done some counseling in my time.
I've discovered something. Godly counsel doesn't work if it isn't followed. With God's help many problems could have been solved if people had just obeyed God.
Vss. 9-15 - Why was this slave sick? God needed him to help David. When he was too sick to travel the owner ditched him. Food and drink revived him!
God will put all sorts of people in your life just at the right time to meet your needs.
And God will put you in the right place at the right time to help provide for the needs of others.
PROVIDENCE - DAVID FULFILLED - Vss. 16-20
Vss. 16-20 - Think for a moment. David was outnumbered. David and his men were exhausted, yet God in his providence provided the victory!
I love the phrase at the end of verse 19, "David recovered all."
Not all victories are as obvious as this one. Sometimes we see victory take place even though circumstances stay the same or get worse.
What is the secret of Victory in the Life? It is dependence upon the work of God through His Spirit in our lives!
Ephesians 3:16 - That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;
I am becoming more and more convinced that unless God does it, I can't do it!
PRIZES - DAVID'S FAIRNESS - Vss. 21-25
Vss. 21-25 - Some were too weak to go with David.
Some wanted to disqualify the weak from
getting any of the spoils.
David proclaimed that the ones who stayed with the stuff, would get their reward.
That encourages me.
God gives rewards not just to missionaries and pastors, but to all those who "stay with the stuff".
1 Corinthians 4:2 - Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.
We can pray.
We can give.
We can encourage.
We can witness.
We can do projects to help within our ability.
We can teach.
We can stay by the stuff!
We will be rewarded.
PROBLEM - DAVID FORLORN - Vss. 1-6a
PERSON - DAVID FINDING (HELP FROM GOD) - Vs. 6b-8
PURSUIT - DAVID FOLLOWING - Vss. 9-15
PROVIDENCE - DAVID FULFILLED - Vss. 16-20
PRIZES - DAVID'S FAIRNESS - Vss. 21-25
This is an expanded version of a previously shared outline.
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Psalm 146:2-6
GOD IS!
GOD IS:
THE GREAT BUILDER – Vs. 2 – The Lord doth build up Jerusalem: he gathereth together the outcasts of Israel.
THE GREAT HEALER – Vs. 3 – He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.
THE GREAT CREATOR – Vs. 4 – He telleth the number of the stars; he calleth them all by their names.
THE GREAT POWER – Vs. 5 – Great is our Lord, and of great power:
THE GREAT MIND – Vs. 5 - his understanding is infinite.
THE GREAT JUDGE – Vs. 6 - The Lord lifteth up the meek: he casteth the wicked down to the ground.
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Jeremiah 1:4-9
WHEN GOD CALLS
(I think this is a good outline for a commissioning service for missionaries, licensing of lay ministers, or ordination of pastors.)
WHEN GOD CALLS:
YOU ARE SPECIAL – Vs. 5 – Known before birth
YOU ARE SANCTIFIED – Vs. 5
YOU ARE SENT – Vs. 7
YOU ARE STRENGTHENED – Vs. 8
YOU ARE SUPPLIED – Vs. 9
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Matthew 6:11
GIVE US THIS DAY
#5 of 8 in a series on The Lord's Prayer
Who needs to hear about God's miraculous provision for His Saints? We do! We have lived in relative wealth and prosperity for so long, we take it for granted.
But that could be coming to an end!
The stock market continues to tumble.
Businesses continue to cut jobs.
The "mad cow" and "hoof and mouth" diseases are threatening meat supplies in Britain.
Gas and oil prices remain high.
There seems to be much concern about recession.
And although I'm no fan of recession or economic hard times, perhaps these financial challenges are good for us. When times are real good people kind of forget about God.
When times are bad we are reminded that we are absolutely dependent on God.
We have been studying the model prayer, the Lord's Prayer. We said that the Lord's Prayer is a skeleton for prayer, and that we need to put meat on that skeleton by elaborating on these requests as we pray.
The first part of the Lord's Prayer centers on God and His glory ("Hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done.") The next part of the Lord's Prayer centers on the things that concern us.
"Give us this day our daily bread."
Bread is basic food. I think every culture has a form of bread. When we are praying to God for our daily bread, we are asking Him to provide for our basic needs. Does this mean that man does nothing in order to provide for himself? No! Proverbs 13:4, 2 Thessalonians 3:10, Ephesians 4:28
Why does God tell us to ask for our daily bread, even if we seem to be able to provide for ourselves? We are dependent on God to send the sunshine and the rain, and the proper weather conditions. We are dependent on God to give us good enough health so that we can work.
We are dependent upon God to provide us the wisdom and ability to work.
We are dependent on God to make jobs available so that we can work.
In order for us to pray properly concerning our daily bread, I think that we need to consider three things, all three of which are covered here in Matthew 6.
PRIORITIES
Everybody has a list of priorities, those things which are most important to us. And everybody's list of priorities is different. The priorities of the young ladies who sang this morning are different than the priorities of their parents. The priorities of our young adults are different from the priorities of senior citizens. The priorities of our grammar school children are different from those who are middle-aged.
One of the things that we must realize is that all two often my priorities are different from God's priorities. As Christians, our priorities should be God's priorities. If we expect God to answer any of our prayers, including the prayer for our daily bread, we must make sure that our priorities are in line with Him.
In Matthew 6 I find that God has much to say about priorities. I've summed them up with four words beginning with the letter "F".
* First
Matthew 6:33
When you wake up in the morning, what do you think of first?
I mean other than having to make a trip to the bathroom.
Your first thoughts are probably a good indication of where your priorities are.
Jesus says to seek first the Kingdom of God.
Now let me tell you, you can't productively seek God's Kingdom unless you are a member of God's Kingdom. Jesus told Nicodemus in John 3:3 - Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. See Romans 3:10-12, Ezekiel 18:4, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Ephesians 2:8-9
Once you are a member of God's Kingdom, it means that God the Son, is your king. After all, we can't have a kingdom without a king, can we?
Jesus said in John 13:13, Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am.
As Christians, how do we go about making sure that Jesus is king in our lives? By following Him as disciples. Luke 9:23
* Faith
As members of God's Kingdom, our faith should squarely rest on God. But all too often we get worried or anxious about our needs. In Matthew 6 Jesus assures us that our loving Heavenly Father has everything under control.
Read Matthew 6:25-32.
God is simply telling us that we are not to worry, but we are to trust!
Let us realize that God loves and is concerned about us. In fact, God considers us very important. Luke 12:6-7
* FACT
Jesus shares a very important fact concerning priorities in Matthew 6:24.
It's amazing what people will do for money.
They will become traitors to their countries, as this recent spy scandal has shown us.
They will become immoral.
They will lie.
They will steal.
They will sacrifice the well being of their families.
They will work themselves to death.
Jesus is saying in this verse, "You can't serve God and money."
For so many, money and the things that money can buy become a God. Wanting money and the things that money can buy is idolatry! Colossians 3:5
Very often we are anxious not about the basic needs that we have, but we are anxious or worried because we want things that we don't need or put ahead of God on our priority list.
In the context of this passage Jesus says you can't serve God and Money at the same time.
But the truth is not only can you not serve God and money simultaneously, but that you can't serve God and anything else simultaneously. The fact is we will only have one master. The question is who will that Master be?
We wonder sometimes why God doesn't seem to be providing for us as well as we think we could. Could it be it's because we have the wrong Master? Deuteronomy 6:4-5
* FORMULA
READ MATTHEW 6:19-21 - Jesus is giving us a formula here for true riches.
If you are putting God's Kingdom first
If you have faith that God will provide for your needs
And if you believe the fact that you must serve God instead of money,
The logical conclusion is to invest what money you do have into the Kingdom of God.
Jesus is not suggesting that we must live in poverty.
Jesus is not suggesting that you shouldn't save for retirement.
Jesus is suggesting that we are not to hoard or stockpile our wealth.
When we invest our treasures in the things of God, there is eternal reward.
I think especially of investing in missions.
PROMISES
Matthew 6:33
Here is God's great promise.
As you put the Kingdom of God first, Jesus says all your needs will be met.
You will have the food, clothes and shelter that you need.
It is as if God is saying, you take care of my business, I'll take care or yours.
Also see Philippians 4:19 2 and Corinthians 9:6-8
As we give cheerfully, with the right attitudes and for the right reasons, God is able to make it so that we have what we need can share in every good work.
So let's believe these promises!
PETITIONS
Give us this day our daily bread
You probably thought we'd never get to this verse!
But I feel that it's only as our priorities are right and as we claim the promises of God, that we will experience the full impact of our prayers.
Thinking of bread as our basic needs, we bring them to our loving Heavenly Father. We ask Him for them, because we realize that He is the true source of all blessing.
And notice we are to come daily to ask!
It's daily bread.
It's daily needs.
Matthew 7:7-11
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Luke 6:1-11
LESSONS FROM TWO SABBATHS
THERE WILL ALWAYS BE CRITICS – Vss. 1-2, 6-7
JESUS IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE NEEDS OF PEOPLE – Vss. 3-4, 8-10
JESUS IS LORD OF THE SABBATH – Vs. 5
HARDENED CRITICS ARE SELDOM CONVINCED – Vs. 11
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Philippians 2:1-4
UNITED WE STAND
THE ATTRIBUTES THAT UNITE
Vs. 1 - If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,
THE ATTITUDES THAT UNITE
Vss. 2-3 - Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. [3] Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
THE ACTION THAT UNITES
Vs. 4 - Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
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Colossians 1:1-8
BREAKING THE ICE
Paul was writing to a church he did not know personally. Notice how he "breaks the ice" to make these people feel comfortable in reading his letter.
FRIENDLY GREETING – Vss. 1-2
Paul wishes them God's best, which includes grace and peace.
FRUITFUL MINISTRY – Vss. 3-6
They were thankful to God for the fruitful ministry that had been produced among the Colossians.
FAITHFUL SERVANT- Vss. 7-8
Paul had heard from Epaphras, evidently a pastor of that church, concerning the ministry in Colosae.
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