Psalm 3

Read Psalm 3.

In verses one and two David expresses what's happening around him.  He sees and hears the overwhelming hordes.  Now He has a choice to make.  Will he meditate upon their bad news, become intimidated, and attempt things in his own strength?  Will he turn to God? 

David chooses the second.  In the rest of the psalm he challenges a dark statement that got back to him:  "There is no help for him in God."

So David begins talking to God about the situation, about Who God is, and about what God does. Then David takes a nap.  When he wakes, he is reinvigorated.

David reminded himself or was reminded by God that certain things hadn't changed.  God was still the . . .

• Shield, Glory, Lifter (v. 3).
• One who hears and answers prayer (v. 4).
• Sustainer (v. 5).
• Security, Confidence, Remover of fear (v. 6).
• Savior, Deliverer (v. 7).
• Source of blessing (v. 8).

It is okay to tell God what He already knows about you, your situation and those causing it.  Be real.  Cry unto God.  Away with sterile prayers that only sound good!  Give your prayers some umph!  Then rest. Wait for God to change things.  Review what is true and good about God more than you review the misery of your situation.

Faithful Then And Again (1 Sam. 17:36-37) (Part 5)

Conclusion:

• There is nothing wrong with talking to God about your obstacle. 
• However, that's not the invitation for today.
• There is nothing wrong with talking to your obstacle about the greatness of your God. 
• However, that is not the call for today.
• Today's opportunity is for you to talk to one another about the greatness of God.
• It is an invitation to remember and report His faithfulness.
• There might be a “Saul” here, someone who desperately needs to hear your testimony as much as you delight to give it.
• Be one who declares boldly, “He is faithful! I can prove it!”
• When you carefully steward God's faithfulness, you will be able to praise when others are panicking.
• Since God came through for you many times before, you should look for Him to come through for you again.
• God cannot not be faithful.

We ended the service with antiphonal testifying.  Someone from the left side of the congregation testified to the right side about a specific experience with God's faithfulness.  Then someone from the right side testified back to the left side. How quickly 15 minutes went by!

Faithful Then And Again (1 Sam. 17:36-37) (Part 4)

Transition: Since the best way to deal with adversity is to focus upon God's faithfulness, you must carefully steward it.

YOU MUST CAREFULLY STEWARD GOD'S FAITHFULNESS.

• EXPLANATION
• How do you carefully steward God's faithfulness? You must be “apt”.
• Awareness > To steward God's faithfulness, you must recognize it. Are you in the habit of looking for God's faithfulness?
• Preservation > To steward God's faithfulness, you must record it. If you rely only upon your memory, you will forget many occasions when God showed Himself faithful. For this reason, I suggest keeping a journal.
• Testimony > To steward God's faithfulness, you must repeat it. This will strengthen your own faith and another person's.
• ILLUSTRATION
• Beware of any narrowing, dismissing, limiting, downsizing or belittling comments about God's faithfulness.
• “It happens to everyone.”
• “I just happened to be in the right place at the right time.”
• “It was pure luck.”
• “It's no big deal.”
• APPLICATION
•  If you're guilty of using any of those sentiments, or others similar to them, right now is a good time to repent.
• Every act of God's faithfulness is a unique expression of His unchanging nature!
• Okay, so maybe you haven't received supernatural courage to grab a lion by its mane and club it to death, but what has God done for you?
• Why isn't that a big deal to you?
• Why isn't it still a big deal to you?
• Is it any less impressive or worthy of praise only because time has elapsed?

In tomorrow's post, we will conclude.

Faithful Then And Again (1 Sam. 17:36-37) (Part 3)

THE BEST WAY TO DEAL WITH ADVERSITY IS TO FOCUS ON GOD'S FAITHFULNESS.

• EXPLANATION
• How does David not deal with adversity?
• He does not get proud.
• He does not cower in fear.
• He does not panic.
• He does not implement the power of positive thinking and deny the size of the obstacle.
• He does not form a committee and thus talk himself out of contention.
• He does not wait it all out, hoping the situation will resolve itself.
• How does David deal with adversity?
• He focuses upon God's faithfulness.
• Can you hear him?
• “If God did it before, he will do it again. The only thing that has changed is the kind of predator.”
• ILLUSTRATION

“What the Lord has done for me,
I cannot tell it all.
He saved me and washed me in His blood.
Now I can sing, 'Hallelujah',
I can shout, 'Hallelujah',
I can shout and praise the Lord.”

• APPLICATION
• No, you can't tell it all, but what can you say?
• What has the Lord done for you?
• Has He saved you?
• Has He healed you?
• Has He comforted you?
• Has He strengthened you?
• Has He provided for you?
• Has He loved you?
• Has He convicted you?
• Has He forgiven you?
• Has He set you free?
• Has He directed you?
• Has He revealed Himself to you?
• Has He given joy and peace to you?
• Has He restored you?
• Has He baptized you in the Holy Spirit?
• Has He given to you a new name written down in glory?
• Has He proven His exceedingly great and precious promises to you?
• Has He guided you into the paths of righteousness for His name's sake?

In tomorrow's post:  What is your responsibility, considering God has been faithful and will continue to be faithful?

Faithful Then And Again (1 Sam. 17:36-37) (Part 2)

Background:  There are five things you need to know so that today's message will make sense.

• David is the youngest of eight sons and he is set apart to become the next king of Israel.
• Saul, the current king of Israel, is with his troops at the war zone.
• The Philistines, Israel's enemy, are people who live in the territory of Philistia.
• Goliath is the over-sized champion fighter of the Philistines.
• No fighter in Israel will accept Goliath's challenge to fight one-on-one to the death.

Introduction:

• In today's story, David shows up at camp when the soldiers and king are wondering, 'What are we going to do with Goliath?”
• The giant you face might have a different name – finances, health, career, relationships, grief, etc. – but the question remains the same.
• What is the best way to deal with the obstacle, challenge or opportunity before you?
• The answer to that question is the focus of this week's sermon.
• Context: Read 1 Sam. 17:31-37.
• Do you remember the question I mentioned earlier?
• What is the best way to deal with the adversity before you?

In tomorrow's post, I will answer that question.

Faithfulness Then And Again (1 Sam. 17:36-37) (Part 1)

This post is for pastors and preachers.  Actual sermon content will begin tomorrow.

Title: Faithful Then And Again

Text: 1 Samuel 17:36-37

Theme: Remembering & repeating God's faithfulness Expository

Exegetical Subject: (1 Sam. 17:31-37) > How did David persuade Saul to permit him to fight Goliath?

Exegetical Complement: (1 Sam. 17:31-37) > David persuaded Saul to permit him to fight Goliath by reporting God's faithfulness.

Homiletical Subject: What is the best way to deal with the obstacle, challenge or opportunity before you?

Homiletical Complement: The best way to deal with the obstacle, challenge or opportunity before you is to remember and report God's faithfulness.

Homiletical Proposition: Since the best way to deal with adversity is to focus on God's faithfulness, you must carefully steward it.

Why You Might Be Defeated (Part 2) (1 Sam. 17:8-11, 20-24, 26-29, 31-33)

Whom were Israel's soldiers listening to?

• They were listening to Goliath's voice – the voice of intimidation.
• They were listening to each other's voices – the voice of consensus.
• They were listening to Saul's voice – the voice of reason.
•  They were listening to Eliab's voice – the voice of ridicule and contempt.

Whom are God's people listening to?

• They are listening to the politicians – the voice of futility.
• They are listening to the majority – the voice of compliance and tolerance.
• They are listening to to the entertainers – the voice of compromise.
• They are listening to social media – the voice of frivolity.
• They are listening to the news – the voice of negativity and cynicism.
• They are listening to the ads – the voice of discontentment.
• They are listening to their phones – the voice of distraction.
• They are listening to the polls and pundits – the voice of spin.
• They are listening to the times – the voice of doom.
• They are listening to the world – the voice of despair.
• They are listening to the skeptics – the voice of doubt.
• They are listening to the historians – the voice of the past.
• They are listening to their labels – the voice of excuse, fear and bondage.
• They are listening to the experts – the voice of contempt.
• With all of these voices screaming nonstop at you, no wonder you're confused or discouraged at times! No wonder you feel defeated!

Whom should God's people be listening to?

• God's people should be listening to Jesus – the Voice of Victory (Jn. 10:27).

Conclusion:  In order to stop being defeated and start walking in victory, you will need discernment to keep on listening to Jesus.

“I come to the garden alone,

While the dew is still on the roses;

And the voice I hear, falling on my ear

The Son of God discloses.”

1 Thess. 5:21-22

Unfinished Business (1 Kin. 2:5-8)

This passage occurs near the end of David's life. This is a list of his unfinished business. Live in such a way that you die without unfinished business.

1. Watch out for unrestrained zeal. That was Joab's problem. He was a pragmatist whose zeal wasn't tempered by wisdom. Wild passion makes you a loser, even if it appears temporarily you've won. Being zealous isn't the problem.  The problem is misplaced, misdirected zeal.

2. Watch out for unrestrained speech. That was Shimei's problem. Even if God had sent him to curse David, it is evident Shimei went above and beyond God's limits. He added to God's purpose and intent.  May God grant us words of grace (Eph. 4:29; Col. 4:6), especially when we're called upon to confront or rebuke.  Pour water, not gasoline.

3. Watch out for insufficient kindness. Barzillai never complained David wasn't kind enough. It bothered David that he hadn't done enough. We get to where we are in life because of God's kindness and man's. You can never be thankful enough. Thankfulness is a discipline that should be constantly expressed.  Be kind (Col. 3:12; Eph. 4:32).

Are there any loose ends you need to tie up?

"Small and Tall" (New Sermon Series) to Begin May 1

   May 1 > "The Fight for Socoh"
   May 8 > "It Started with Cheese"
   May 15 > "Two Heads at the End"
   May 22 > "Piercing the Bronze Helmet"
   May 29 > "Getting Your Shout Back"