1 00:00:30,099 --> 00:00:33,028 Coming through the deals tonight. 2 00:00:33,076 --> 00:00:35,524 So I don't know that we probably didn't change a thing. 3 00:00:35,564 --> 00:00:37,264 They just actually started working. 4 00:00:39,164 --> 00:00:40,780 We had this discussion this morning. 5 00:00:40,852 --> 00:00:42,852 They're not working. 6 00:00:42,948 --> 00:00:48,276 Anyway, it's good to have brother Nick Perfecti with us tonight. 7 00:00:48,420 --> 00:00:51,316 Brother Nick is on the staff of the West Coast Baptist College 8 00:00:51,380 --> 00:00:54,988 out in Lancaster, California, and I appreciate him. 9 00:00:55,036 --> 00:01:00,804 He's helped us with some educational opportunities. 10 00:01:01,304 --> 00:01:07,444 And I took two courses and then about three or four years ago 11 00:01:08,384 --> 00:01:10,044 and haven't taken one since. 12 00:01:10,664 --> 00:01:12,924 Come on, brother, and preach for us tonight. 13 00:01:14,424 --> 00:01:15,040 Thanks, Pastor. 14 00:01:15,072 --> 00:01:15,808 Appreciate it. 15 00:01:15,896 --> 00:01:16,408 Thank you. 16 00:01:16,496 --> 00:01:18,256 Take your Bibles and turn to First. 17 00:01:18,320 --> 00:01:20,280 Samuel, chapter number 30, First Samuel. 18 00:01:20,312 --> 00:01:21,328 Thank you, Pastor Crawford. 19 00:01:21,376 --> 00:01:23,732 I appreciate you allowing me to come in. 20 00:01:23,788 --> 00:01:30,064 And even though I was here, of course, to see my new niece and nephew, 21 00:01:30,524 --> 00:01:34,116 I am very excited to be with you tonight to preach the word of 22 00:01:34,140 --> 00:01:34,772 God. 23 00:01:34,948 --> 00:01:39,660 It is always a blessing to me to be able to be in this church where 24 00:01:39,692 --> 00:01:42,868 my brother and sister and of course my brother in law and sister 25 00:01:42,916 --> 00:01:44,668 in law serve here. 26 00:01:44,836 --> 00:01:48,044 And, you know, you've got the better of the two siblings. 27 00:01:48,084 --> 00:01:51,874 Okay, so you guys are very blessed. 28 00:01:52,254 --> 00:01:55,874 Unfortunately, Pastor Chapel got the worst of the three, so. 29 00:01:56,414 --> 00:01:58,590 But I do work at West Coast Baptist College. 30 00:01:58,622 --> 00:02:00,198 I have a table in the back tonight. 31 00:02:00,326 --> 00:02:02,654 We do offer on campus and online. 32 00:02:02,734 --> 00:02:06,246 Opportunities in both our undergrad and our master's program. 33 00:02:06,310 --> 00:02:07,750 If you are interested in taking a. 34 00:02:07,782 --> 00:02:09,942 Class or two and can't make it. 35 00:02:09,958 --> 00:02:11,198 Out to California, that's okay. 36 00:02:11,246 --> 00:02:12,302 I can help you out as I. 37 00:02:12,318 --> 00:02:13,966 Did with Pastor Crawford. 38 00:02:14,150 --> 00:02:17,614 We got him set up for a couple classes and I'm sure he's going. 39 00:02:17,614 --> 00:02:18,654 To take more in the future. 40 00:02:18,734 --> 00:02:21,930 But, you know, if you'd like to take some classes, let me know. 41 00:02:21,962 --> 00:02:23,210 I'd be glad to help you. 42 00:02:23,242 --> 00:02:24,274 If you'd like to know about our. 43 00:02:24,314 --> 00:02:26,154 College, I'd be glad to help you as well. 44 00:02:26,274 --> 00:02:29,330 But for right now, let's take a look at First Samuel, chapter number 45 00:02:29,362 --> 00:02:31,374 31 Samuel, chapter number 30. 46 00:02:31,914 --> 00:02:34,094 The Bible says in verse number one. 47 00:02:34,474 --> 00:02:38,986 And it came to pass when David and his men were come to Ziklag on 48 00:02:39,010 --> 00:02:42,778 the third day that the Amalekites had invaded the south 49 00:02:42,946 --> 00:02:48,968 and Ziklag and smitten Ziklag and burned it with fire. 50 00:02:49,146 --> 00:02:52,740 And had taken the women captives that were therein. 51 00:02:52,852 --> 00:02:56,868 They slew not any either great or small, but carried them away and 52 00:02:56,916 --> 00:02:58,060 went on their way. 53 00:02:58,212 --> 00:03:01,428 So David and his men came to the city and behold, it was burned 54 00:03:01,476 --> 00:03:02,420 with fire. 55 00:03:02,612 --> 00:03:04,412 And their wives and their sons and. 56 00:03:04,428 --> 00:03:06,824 Their daughters were taken captives. 57 00:03:07,364 --> 00:03:11,276 Then David and the people that were with him lifted up their voice 58 00:03:11,340 --> 00:03:16,064 and wept until they had no power to weep. 59 00:03:16,844 --> 00:03:22,900 And David's two wives were taken captives, Anoam and the Jezreelites, 60 00:03:22,932 --> 00:03:26,584 and Abigail, the wife of Nabal the Carmelite. 61 00:03:27,404 --> 00:03:32,060 And David was greatly distressed, for the people spake 62 00:03:32,172 --> 00:03:37,024 of stoning him because the soul of all the people was grieved. 63 00:03:37,484 --> 00:03:41,590 Every man, for his sons and for his daughters. 64 00:03:41,622 --> 00:03:45,230 And if we were to stop there, we'd understand that David would 65 00:03:45,262 --> 00:03:45,526 be in. 66 00:03:45,550 --> 00:03:48,154 A pretty tragic situation. 67 00:03:48,814 --> 00:03:52,142 In fact, we're going to kind of study this passage tonight, looking 68 00:03:52,198 --> 00:03:54,782 back at the first couple chapters. 69 00:03:54,878 --> 00:03:58,718 But when you look at David's life at this point, we realize that 70 00:03:58,766 --> 00:04:00,998 David is in quite a bind. 71 00:04:01,086 --> 00:04:05,318 Not only is his wives taken, but the wives of the men that are 72 00:04:05,366 --> 00:04:08,894 following him and risking their lives for him, they've been 73 00:04:08,934 --> 00:04:09,614 taken as well. 74 00:04:09,654 --> 00:04:14,102 And this place that they found comfort in over the past year and 75 00:04:14,118 --> 00:04:16,414 a half is now burnt to the ground. 76 00:04:16,574 --> 00:04:19,446 And all of their possessions are completely gone. 77 00:04:19,590 --> 00:04:24,994 And you could say, at the very least, that David was in a crisis. 78 00:04:25,534 --> 00:04:29,798 David was caught up in a moment where he looked in and said, 79 00:04:29,846 --> 00:04:33,198 I have no idea what to do, but. 80 00:04:33,246 --> 00:04:35,086 Take a look at the rest of the verse. 81 00:04:35,150 --> 00:04:39,996 But David encouraged himself in the Lord his God. 82 00:04:40,020 --> 00:04:40,868 Let's have a word of prayer. 83 00:04:40,916 --> 00:04:43,284 Lord, thank you so much for the time that we have tonight. 84 00:04:43,324 --> 00:04:45,724 And, Lord, I ask that tonight would. 85 00:04:45,764 --> 00:04:49,724 Be a great blessing to those who have heavy burdens, to those 86 00:04:49,764 --> 00:04:50,196 that are. 87 00:04:50,260 --> 00:04:53,580 Sitting in the middle of a crisis of their own, whether it's 88 00:04:53,612 --> 00:04:58,180 a crisis of faith or whether it's a crisis of situation or the 89 00:04:58,212 --> 00:04:59,740 journey that they're on in this life. 90 00:04:59,812 --> 00:05:01,572 Lord, I hope that this can be. 91 00:05:01,628 --> 00:05:07,386 A revealer of how you've made a way of escape for even one of your 92 00:05:07,450 --> 00:05:09,722 servants in the Old Testament. 93 00:05:09,778 --> 00:05:12,258 Lord, thank you so much for your word. 94 00:05:12,306 --> 00:05:14,226 Thank you for all that you've given to us. 95 00:05:14,290 --> 00:05:15,970 God, you are so good. 96 00:05:16,002 --> 00:05:18,978 And in the moments where we don't think so, or the moments where 97 00:05:19,026 --> 00:05:22,138 we don't realize your goodness, remind us time. 98 00:05:22,226 --> 00:05:25,778 And time and time again just how good you are. 99 00:05:25,826 --> 00:05:28,232 Lord, thank you for all that you've done for us. 100 00:05:28,378 --> 00:05:30,284 In your name, pray, Amen. 101 00:05:30,404 --> 00:05:34,244 How many of you can remember a point in time, maybe a Christmas 102 00:05:34,284 --> 00:05:38,820 in the past, where you asked and asked and asked for something 103 00:05:38,892 --> 00:05:41,700 for Christmas and you actually got what you asked for? 104 00:05:41,732 --> 00:05:44,852 How many of you can remember a time or a Christmas like that in 105 00:05:44,868 --> 00:05:45,508 the past? 106 00:05:45,636 --> 00:05:48,412 I remember when I was a kid, we were living with my grandfather 107 00:05:48,468 --> 00:05:51,460 at the time for the space of about three to four months. 108 00:05:51,572 --> 00:05:55,996 And for whatever reason, I got it in my head that it would be really 109 00:05:56,060 --> 00:05:58,152 neat to have a magic kit. 110 00:05:58,308 --> 00:06:00,704 You guys know those, like, magic kits where you get the hat 111 00:06:00,744 --> 00:06:02,472 and a little like, you know, different. 112 00:06:02,528 --> 00:06:04,792 You get the little magic wand or whatever it is. 113 00:06:04,848 --> 00:06:06,592 And I'm talking about like an illusionist. 114 00:06:06,648 --> 00:06:08,816 You know, not like a wizard or anything like that. 115 00:06:08,840 --> 00:06:11,616 I'm talking about like, you know, a magic kit where you get the 116 00:06:11,640 --> 00:06:14,440 little, you know, flowers that they pull out of the hat and things 117 00:06:14,472 --> 00:06:14,992 like that. 118 00:06:15,088 --> 00:06:17,928 And I remember asking my mom and dad for that for about three 119 00:06:17,976 --> 00:06:21,928 months span and thinking, man, I could be a magician. 120 00:06:21,976 --> 00:06:24,984 I could be one of those guys pulling rabbits out of a hat or something 121 00:06:25,024 --> 00:06:27,514 like that, you know, I thought that could be me. 122 00:06:27,554 --> 00:06:29,458 I could be a performer, you know. 123 00:06:29,586 --> 00:06:31,014 Boy, was I wrong. 124 00:06:31,514 --> 00:06:36,330 When I woke up that Christmas morning and I saw that gift there 125 00:06:36,402 --> 00:06:37,634 sitting under the tree. 126 00:06:37,754 --> 00:06:39,138 It was this big old box. 127 00:06:39,186 --> 00:06:40,530 I knew exactly what it was. 128 00:06:40,562 --> 00:06:42,946 And I can't remember if it was my grandfather that bought it or 129 00:06:42,970 --> 00:06:44,298 my parents that bought it. 130 00:06:44,426 --> 00:06:45,162 I didn't care. 131 00:06:45,218 --> 00:06:46,114 I was grateful. 132 00:06:46,194 --> 00:06:49,090 It was the magic kid that I had asked for for about three months. 133 00:06:49,122 --> 00:06:53,546 It was a great day until I opened the box and realized I had 134 00:06:53,650 --> 00:06:55,880 no idea what I was doing. 135 00:06:56,042 --> 00:06:59,612 This box had hundreds and thousands of little tiny pieces. 136 00:06:59,748 --> 00:07:03,804 And I'm pretty sure I didn't perform a single magic trick with 137 00:07:03,884 --> 00:07:05,148 anything that was in that box. 138 00:07:05,196 --> 00:07:07,524 I think I just threw around the hat or the wand at my brother. 139 00:07:07,564 --> 00:07:08,860 Or sister at the time. 140 00:07:09,052 --> 00:07:13,124 And, you know, it's interesting, as I think about illusionists 141 00:07:13,204 --> 00:07:16,700 or those that perform these types of tricks, they say that there 142 00:07:16,732 --> 00:07:19,540 are three parts to a magic trick. 143 00:07:19,692 --> 00:07:23,674 They say there's the pledge, where you see an ordinary object. 144 00:07:24,134 --> 00:07:27,014 Something that might not be extraordinary, just is. 145 00:07:27,054 --> 00:07:29,246 It might be, you know, just a hat. 146 00:07:29,430 --> 00:07:33,606 And then they've got the turn where the magician says, here's what 147 00:07:33,630 --> 00:07:36,878 I'm going to do with this ordinary object. 148 00:07:37,046 --> 00:07:39,918 And then you've got the prestige where out of nowhere, here 149 00:07:39,966 --> 00:07:42,054 comes the rabbit out of the hat. 150 00:07:42,214 --> 00:07:44,758 It's really interesting to watch these guys do these things. 151 00:07:44,806 --> 00:07:47,094 I think of the great illusionist of the past. 152 00:07:47,134 --> 00:07:48,492 I think of even one. 153 00:07:48,548 --> 00:07:51,104 I'm not sure if he would be considered a magician. 154 00:07:51,404 --> 00:07:56,460 Maybe he was Harry Houdini, who could really lock himself into 155 00:07:56,532 --> 00:08:00,772 any kind of case or chest or whatever it is and free himself until 156 00:08:00,828 --> 00:08:02,064 he actually couldn't. 157 00:08:02,644 --> 00:08:07,492 But I think about him and how great he was at getting out of these 158 00:08:07,548 --> 00:08:08,344 spaces. 159 00:08:09,124 --> 00:08:15,908 When I look at David's life, I look at someone who is here in this 160 00:08:15,956 --> 00:08:17,212 place in a bind. 161 00:08:17,348 --> 00:08:21,676 If we were to go back a couple chapters, we'd find that David made 162 00:08:21,700 --> 00:08:27,492 a decision while running from Saul, who was jealous of the giant 163 00:08:27,548 --> 00:08:29,052 killer, the giant slayer. 164 00:08:29,108 --> 00:08:33,604 He was jealous of this one, who was ultimately to take his place 165 00:08:33,644 --> 00:08:34,620 at King. 166 00:08:34,812 --> 00:08:36,860 And Saul started running after him. 167 00:08:36,932 --> 00:08:40,746 And it's interesting that as he's running after him, David time 168 00:08:40,770 --> 00:08:44,626 and time again had the opportunity to actually kill Saul, 169 00:08:44,690 --> 00:08:47,706 but would not lay his hand on God's anointed. 170 00:08:47,850 --> 00:08:51,578 And in chapter 27 of First Samuel, if you study it out, David 171 00:08:51,626 --> 00:08:54,474 finally comes to a place where there's nowhere left to hide. 172 00:08:54,634 --> 00:08:58,386 And so he makes league with Achish of the Philistines. 173 00:08:58,570 --> 00:09:03,082 And he says, listen, if you'll just give me a spot to take me and 174 00:09:03,098 --> 00:09:07,138 my men and I can just stay here, I will help you and your army 175 00:09:07,186 --> 00:09:07,700 out. 176 00:09:07,842 --> 00:09:12,432 In fact, Achish says, this guy killed one of my giants. 177 00:09:12,528 --> 00:09:14,488 This guy is the giant slayer. 178 00:09:14,536 --> 00:09:15,832 This is the great David. 179 00:09:15,888 --> 00:09:16,344 Why not? 180 00:09:16,384 --> 00:09:18,136 You know, it's like, you know, if you're. 181 00:09:18,200 --> 00:09:21,792 If you're a hockey fan, it's like getting Sidney Crosby to come 182 00:09:21,808 --> 00:09:22,664 and play for your team. 183 00:09:22,704 --> 00:09:25,520 You know, it's like, man, this guy's unbelievable, right? 184 00:09:25,672 --> 00:09:29,512 When I think about David, though, he really kind of fools Achesh 185 00:09:29,568 --> 00:09:31,120 into a false sense of security. 186 00:09:31,192 --> 00:09:35,224 And he tells him that, hey, listen, I'll take my men and my men 187 00:09:35,264 --> 00:09:38,720 will go about and they'll kind of attack the outside edges of Judah. 188 00:09:38,752 --> 00:09:42,580 And really what he does, he makes his own plan, and he attacks 189 00:09:42,612 --> 00:09:46,188 the Jerichites and the Gezirites and even the Amalekites 190 00:09:46,316 --> 00:09:47,628 in chapter number 27. 191 00:09:47,676 --> 00:09:50,988 And he tells Achash, hey, I've been, you know, attacking the outskirts 192 00:09:51,036 --> 00:09:51,548 of Judah. 193 00:09:51,596 --> 00:09:52,852 I'm really with you. 194 00:09:52,988 --> 00:09:56,620 To the point where he kind of lulls this king of the Philistines 195 00:09:56,692 --> 00:10:01,500 into a false sense of security about his own loyalty to now the 196 00:10:01,532 --> 00:10:02,436 Philistines. 197 00:10:02,620 --> 00:10:03,412 It's interesting. 198 00:10:03,468 --> 00:10:07,284 Even in chapter number 28, we see on the opposite side of the spectrum, 199 00:10:07,364 --> 00:10:07,780 Saul. 200 00:10:07,852 --> 00:10:12,684 This king who was chasing after David is now kind of really 201 00:10:12,844 --> 00:10:14,036 in a bad spot. 202 00:10:14,100 --> 00:10:17,572 He knows his days are numbered, and he goes and he seeks 203 00:10:17,628 --> 00:10:21,508 after really, a witch to give him advice and counsel. 204 00:10:21,676 --> 00:10:25,468 And really, at the same time, the Philistines are gathering their 205 00:10:25,516 --> 00:10:31,184 army together to attack the Israelites and to really take over 206 00:10:31,644 --> 00:10:32,940 and kill Saul. 207 00:10:33,092 --> 00:10:38,164 It's interesting, as 29, chapter 29, we get into it, we see 208 00:10:38,324 --> 00:10:42,796 that some of the Philistine men start to tell Achesh, achesh, 209 00:10:42,980 --> 00:10:45,224 I don't really think David is with you. 210 00:10:45,964 --> 00:10:49,980 I Don't really think David is actually who he says he is. 211 00:10:50,132 --> 00:10:53,540 And aches gets kind of a funny feeling about David. 212 00:10:53,732 --> 00:10:57,180 And David, who had kind of set up headquarters with he and his men 213 00:10:57,212 --> 00:11:00,004 and their families at the city of Ziklag. 214 00:11:00,044 --> 00:11:02,068 And they stayed there for about a year and a half. 215 00:11:02,116 --> 00:11:06,396 The Bible says they were secure, they felt security, they 216 00:11:06,420 --> 00:11:09,052 felt kindness even from the Philistines at times. 217 00:11:09,108 --> 00:11:12,260 They felt like, man, we could really kind of hide out here and 218 00:11:12,292 --> 00:11:15,740 be okay and be safe from Saul, because, you know, the enemy of my 219 00:11:15,772 --> 00:11:17,024 enemy is my friend. 220 00:11:17,964 --> 00:11:24,140 But when Achesh hears his men saying, hey, I don't really think 221 00:11:24,172 --> 00:11:25,864 you can trust David here. 222 00:11:26,724 --> 00:11:29,396 I don't really think you can trust David to go to battle with 223 00:11:29,420 --> 00:11:31,744 you and really attack the Israelites. 224 00:11:32,904 --> 00:11:38,804 And finally, in chapter number 29, Achish actually dismisses David 225 00:11:39,304 --> 00:11:43,364 and he sends he and his men on a three day journey back to Ziklag. 226 00:11:43,864 --> 00:11:46,964 But they don't know what's waiting for them when they get back. 227 00:11:47,784 --> 00:11:53,136 They don't realize after this long, really discouraging time all 228 00:11:53,160 --> 00:11:56,816 the way back to Ziklag, they're going to find the wives and 229 00:11:56,840 --> 00:12:01,084 their children and all their possession taken from them. 230 00:12:01,424 --> 00:12:05,224 It'd almost be better at this time to find everything but to find 231 00:12:05,264 --> 00:12:08,880 them dead because you don't even know what's happening with these 232 00:12:09,032 --> 00:12:12,128 Amalekites and what they're going to do with the wives and children. 233 00:12:12,176 --> 00:12:15,416 And I'll leave it right there because I really don't want to say 234 00:12:15,440 --> 00:12:16,760 too much more into that. 235 00:12:16,872 --> 00:12:20,936 But when it comes right down to it, you find these men and they 236 00:12:20,960 --> 00:12:25,680 are distraught and they're to a place where they have no more power 237 00:12:25,792 --> 00:12:26,480 to weep. 238 00:12:26,552 --> 00:12:29,688 That's how much they are distraught over the situation. 239 00:12:29,776 --> 00:12:32,424 I mean, think about your own lives and think about tonight. 240 00:12:32,464 --> 00:12:37,160 If you were to travel home and you realize that your house was burnt 241 00:12:37,192 --> 00:12:40,696 to the ground and man, you had nothing left, at least maybe you 242 00:12:40,720 --> 00:12:43,000 would have the immediate family that you have here. 243 00:12:43,032 --> 00:12:45,284 But these men didn't even have that. 244 00:12:45,984 --> 00:12:50,552 And David, who's now lost, of course, his two wives and now all 245 00:12:50,568 --> 00:12:51,654 of his possessions. 246 00:12:51,784 --> 00:12:55,802 And he's looking at his men feeling responsible for the very 247 00:12:55,858 --> 00:12:59,482 fact that their wives and children are gone and all the possessions 248 00:12:59,618 --> 00:13:00,450 are missing. 249 00:13:00,522 --> 00:13:04,346 Like I said earlier, he's going through quite a situational 250 00:13:04,410 --> 00:13:05,254 crisis. 251 00:13:07,234 --> 00:13:11,050 My friends, you might be sitting here in this moment and I 252 00:13:11,082 --> 00:13:15,362 don't know your life and I don't know your background and I 253 00:13:15,378 --> 00:13:18,170 don't know what's going on right now in your life and you might 254 00:13:18,202 --> 00:13:22,194 be Thinking, man, it's not as bad as David had it. 255 00:13:22,494 --> 00:13:26,774 But man, I'm going through something right now and honestly, 256 00:13:26,934 --> 00:13:30,086 I've come to a place where I don't even know how to cope with 257 00:13:30,110 --> 00:13:31,034 it anymore. 258 00:13:31,614 --> 00:13:33,006 I'm so distressed. 259 00:13:33,030 --> 00:13:37,150 The Bible uses this word, distress, but what that word really 260 00:13:37,222 --> 00:13:40,294 means is bound up, tied up. 261 00:13:40,454 --> 00:13:43,874 And literally the Hebrew word means strangled. 262 00:13:44,744 --> 00:13:49,024 To the point where David is so distressed he can't even almost feeling 263 00:13:49,064 --> 00:13:51,360 like he can't get those grasps of air. 264 00:13:51,432 --> 00:13:54,736 Have you been stressed to that point where it's almost like you've 265 00:13:54,760 --> 00:13:57,720 got to take deep breaths because you can't feel the air coming 266 00:13:57,752 --> 00:13:58,920 into your lungs? 267 00:13:59,072 --> 00:14:01,680 That's where David is in this moment. 268 00:14:01,792 --> 00:14:05,724 And you think to yourself, how can you escape so great a tribulation? 269 00:14:06,024 --> 00:14:09,992 How could you escape so great a pressure to where even his men 270 00:14:10,048 --> 00:14:14,914 who are so loyal to him over these past years and years of David's 271 00:14:14,954 --> 00:14:18,282 existence, they could have gone with Saul and had the pleasures 272 00:14:18,338 --> 00:14:20,074 of being at home in Israel. 273 00:14:20,194 --> 00:14:22,394 And yet they were the followers of David. 274 00:14:22,434 --> 00:14:27,010 And here they are now and they're thinking, let's stone him. 275 00:14:27,202 --> 00:14:28,026 Let's stone him. 276 00:14:28,050 --> 00:14:29,614 Look what he's led us into. 277 00:14:30,034 --> 00:14:31,994 Look what happened to our family. 278 00:14:32,114 --> 00:14:34,842 Look what happened to our wealth, what little we had. 279 00:14:34,938 --> 00:14:36,994 Look what happened to our comfort. 280 00:14:37,114 --> 00:14:38,122 Let's stone him. 281 00:14:38,178 --> 00:14:40,694 And David is in a mess. 282 00:14:41,764 --> 00:14:44,716 My friends, again, I don't know what you've been through, I 283 00:14:44,740 --> 00:14:49,276 don't know what you're going through, but there is a way of escape. 284 00:14:49,340 --> 00:14:54,244 And today, just like a magician who reveals the backgrounds 285 00:14:54,284 --> 00:14:57,916 of his tricks, just like a magician who reveals that, hey, it's 286 00:14:57,940 --> 00:15:01,340 not actually magic, there is a method to the madness. 287 00:15:01,492 --> 00:15:05,108 There is a step by step process to where I get from the pledge 288 00:15:05,156 --> 00:15:06,474 to the prestige. 289 00:15:06,644 --> 00:15:12,206 Today I find a step by step process by which David goes from 290 00:15:12,350 --> 00:15:15,550 distressed to recovering all. 291 00:15:15,742 --> 00:15:19,582 Let's take a look at the step by step process here in the Word 292 00:15:19,598 --> 00:15:20,238 of God tonight. 293 00:15:20,286 --> 00:15:24,262 First of all, I see the object of David's faith. 294 00:15:24,398 --> 00:15:27,638 The object of David's faith, verse number six. 295 00:15:27,686 --> 00:15:32,834 But David encouraged himself in what's next to words? 296 00:15:33,544 --> 00:15:39,324 The Lord, he encouraged himself in the Lord his God. 297 00:15:40,024 --> 00:15:43,488 I want to talk to you a little bit about the Lord his God and what 298 00:15:43,536 --> 00:15:45,408 that meant to David. 299 00:15:45,576 --> 00:15:49,808 In the 23rd Psalm, he says, the Lord is my shepherd, I shall 300 00:15:49,856 --> 00:15:50,352 not want. 301 00:15:50,408 --> 00:15:53,720 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures. 302 00:15:53,872 --> 00:15:56,048 He leadeth me beside the still waters. 303 00:15:56,096 --> 00:15:59,126 We know he had a sweet relationship with his God. 304 00:15:59,200 --> 00:16:04,634 In the 27th Psalm, he says, the Lord is my light and My salvation. 305 00:16:04,794 --> 00:16:09,746 In the 34th Psalm, he says, o taste and see that the Lord he is 306 00:16:09,810 --> 00:16:10,370 good. 307 00:16:10,522 --> 00:16:14,306 Psalm 46, he says, God is our refuge and our strength. 308 00:16:14,370 --> 00:16:15,322 Psalm 51. 309 00:16:15,378 --> 00:16:18,746 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit in 310 00:16:18,770 --> 00:16:18,978 me. 311 00:16:19,026 --> 00:16:23,410 Cast not me, not away from thy presence, and take not the Holy Spirit 312 00:16:23,442 --> 00:16:23,882 from me. 313 00:16:23,938 --> 00:16:28,708 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation. 314 00:16:28,876 --> 00:16:31,668 David had a sweet relationship with God. 315 00:16:31,716 --> 00:16:36,380 And in my counseling training that I've had in my postgrad degree, 316 00:16:36,532 --> 00:16:40,924 one of the things that they like to say is that healthy spiritual 317 00:16:41,004 --> 00:16:45,244 and emotional health comes from great relationships. 318 00:16:45,324 --> 00:16:49,316 And I've got to tell you that David had the greatest relationship 319 00:16:49,380 --> 00:16:52,788 because he had a great relationship in his God. 320 00:16:52,836 --> 00:16:54,252 And I'm going to ask you tonight. 321 00:16:54,348 --> 00:16:57,124 You might be going through the fire tonight. 322 00:16:57,244 --> 00:17:01,548 But my friends, I've got a God who stands in the fire with you. 323 00:17:01,676 --> 00:17:05,732 I've got a God who stands in the fire and goes through it day 324 00:17:05,788 --> 00:17:07,524 by day by day with you. 325 00:17:07,564 --> 00:17:11,604 And he said, I will never leave thee nor forsake thee. 326 00:17:11,724 --> 00:17:15,452 So, my friends, when I look at the relationship that David had, 327 00:17:15,508 --> 00:17:19,998 it was the first step in the great escape of his life, in this 328 00:17:20,046 --> 00:17:23,674 moment of distress, in this moment where he felt like, everything 329 00:17:24,014 --> 00:17:27,014 is done for me and everything's bottled up and I'm about 330 00:17:27,054 --> 00:17:30,502 to get stoned by the men who love me and who were so loyal to 331 00:17:30,518 --> 00:17:30,862 me. 332 00:17:30,958 --> 00:17:36,118 But David said, I can look to my God because my God is my shepherd, 333 00:17:36,206 --> 00:17:39,454 and he'll never leave me and he'll never forsake me, and he'll 334 00:17:39,494 --> 00:17:41,854 walk through the valley and he'll walk through the mountains 335 00:17:41,894 --> 00:17:42,564 with me. 336 00:17:42,694 --> 00:17:45,496 I know he's with me through the fire. 337 00:17:45,640 --> 00:17:51,872 My friend, the first step in this great escape is the object of 338 00:17:51,928 --> 00:17:52,604 faith. 339 00:17:54,064 --> 00:17:55,272 When's the last time? 340 00:17:55,328 --> 00:17:57,684 Instead of looking around you, you looked up. 341 00:17:59,144 --> 00:18:00,416 When's the last time? 342 00:18:00,480 --> 00:18:04,768 Instead of looking at the problem, you looked at the preeminent 343 00:18:04,816 --> 00:18:05,404 one. 344 00:18:06,464 --> 00:18:10,214 When's the last time that you really just bowed down? 345 00:18:10,954 --> 00:18:14,614 Said jesus, I need encouragement. 346 00:18:15,394 --> 00:18:17,894 Jesus, I can't do it on my own. 347 00:18:18,594 --> 00:18:20,494 Jesus, I need you. 348 00:18:21,474 --> 00:18:24,174 Jesus, I can't breathe. 349 00:18:24,674 --> 00:18:26,734 Jesus, I can't handle it. 350 00:18:27,554 --> 00:18:31,338 Jesus, I need you as my good shepherd. 351 00:18:31,426 --> 00:18:32,654 My good shepherd. 352 00:18:33,554 --> 00:18:38,174 The object I want to see, number two. 353 00:18:38,674 --> 00:18:41,814 That David finds counsel from the Father. 354 00:18:42,114 --> 00:18:46,202 We find the object of his faith, but we also see the counsel 355 00:18:46,258 --> 00:18:46,866 of his Father. 356 00:18:46,930 --> 00:18:49,018 Take a look at verse number eight. 357 00:18:49,066 --> 00:18:53,354 The Bible says, and David inquired at the Lord, saying, shall 358 00:18:53,394 --> 00:18:55,654 I pursue after this troop? 359 00:18:55,994 --> 00:18:58,134 Shall I overtake them? 360 00:18:58,594 --> 00:19:05,184 And he answered him, pursue, for thou shalt surely overtake them. 361 00:19:05,564 --> 00:19:08,340 And without fail shall recover all. 362 00:19:08,492 --> 00:19:11,668 You know, there's a funny little background that we find here. 363 00:19:11,836 --> 00:19:15,796 You see, when David went to camp out in Ziglag with the Philistines, 364 00:19:15,940 --> 00:19:19,940 you won't find in preceding verses really any counsel that he 365 00:19:19,972 --> 00:19:21,304 grabbed from the Father. 366 00:19:21,844 --> 00:19:24,188 You won't find him going to God. 367 00:19:24,236 --> 00:19:27,680 The Father saying, God, should I go to the enemy of my enemy? 368 00:19:27,812 --> 00:19:30,064 Really kind of my own enemy too. 369 00:19:30,184 --> 00:19:32,960 Should I go and kind of camp out there and dwell there? 370 00:19:32,992 --> 00:19:34,400 You won't find it. 371 00:19:34,592 --> 00:19:38,248 You won't find any counsel that David got to go and dwell in 372 00:19:38,256 --> 00:19:39,564 the land of the Philistines. 373 00:19:41,704 --> 00:19:47,400 But here, when he's facing his most difficult trial, when his decisions 374 00:19:47,472 --> 00:19:53,368 had led him to this point, David says, I can't go my own way 375 00:19:53,456 --> 00:19:54,164 anymore. 376 00:19:55,524 --> 00:19:59,104 I can't take my own route anymore. 377 00:19:59,644 --> 00:20:03,824 There's a roadblock that I just simply can't get around. 378 00:20:04,884 --> 00:20:06,744 But I know my father can. 379 00:20:07,604 --> 00:20:11,704 But I know my father has a way. 380 00:20:13,124 --> 00:20:17,556 Job would say, and I'm going to paraphrase, he knoweth the way 381 00:20:17,580 --> 00:20:18,704 that I take. 382 00:20:20,654 --> 00:20:22,830 He knows the way that I take. 383 00:20:22,942 --> 00:20:25,486 And he would ultimately say, and again, I'm paraphrasing, that 384 00:20:25,510 --> 00:20:30,034 when he's done with me, I shall come forth as gold. 385 00:20:31,374 --> 00:20:38,474 When's the last time that instead of looking at your own agenda, 386 00:20:39,654 --> 00:20:41,114 you looked at God's? 387 00:20:42,854 --> 00:20:47,900 Instead of mapping out your own way, instead of mapping out the 388 00:20:47,932 --> 00:20:49,844 next step by step process in your life. 389 00:20:49,884 --> 00:20:52,228 And by the way, I like to plan things out. 390 00:20:52,276 --> 00:20:54,036 I want to know what's coming up. 391 00:20:54,180 --> 00:20:57,500 I want to know what I'm doing over the next couple days. 392 00:20:57,652 --> 00:21:00,268 Sometimes, of course, I have to sit around like we did yesterday. 393 00:21:00,316 --> 00:21:02,228 We just enjoyed some time together. 394 00:21:02,396 --> 00:21:05,972 But when I think about even the day by day by day, I can't do 395 00:21:05,988 --> 00:21:06,508 that forever. 396 00:21:06,556 --> 00:21:07,820 I like to map things out. 397 00:21:07,852 --> 00:21:11,644 But sometimes we get so busy mapping things out that we forget 398 00:21:11,684 --> 00:21:14,264 about the map that God has given us in His Word. 399 00:21:14,894 --> 00:21:19,134 Sometimes we get so busy doing our own thing that we forget that 400 00:21:19,174 --> 00:21:22,086 God has a special plan intact for us. 401 00:21:22,190 --> 00:21:25,334 And when I think about this crisis that David was going through, 402 00:21:25,374 --> 00:21:29,238 the only way out of it was going to be going back to the plan 403 00:21:29,286 --> 00:21:31,318 that God had intended for him. 404 00:21:31,446 --> 00:21:33,414 He grabbed counsel from the Father. 405 00:21:33,494 --> 00:21:34,870 You know what's so ironic? 406 00:21:34,982 --> 00:21:40,400 That chronologically, David going to seek counsel from God the 407 00:21:40,432 --> 00:21:44,964 Father is the same day that Saul sought counsel from the witch. 408 00:21:48,424 --> 00:21:50,804 Those two turned out very differently. 409 00:21:52,904 --> 00:21:57,128 We see one life that was blessed and preserved, and we see 410 00:21:57,176 --> 00:22:00,912 one life that literally was set up as a foundation of really 411 00:22:00,968 --> 00:22:05,768 kind of this lineage of Jesus Christ, he was going to have as throne 412 00:22:05,816 --> 00:22:06,888 set up forever. 413 00:22:07,016 --> 00:22:10,008 And another one, his throne was going to be completely taken 414 00:22:10,056 --> 00:22:10,336 away. 415 00:22:10,400 --> 00:22:12,616 His family really wiped out from the. 416 00:22:12,640 --> 00:22:13,924 Face of this planet. 417 00:22:15,144 --> 00:22:20,004 One sought counsel from the Father and one did not. 418 00:22:21,024 --> 00:22:22,616 When's the last time in a moment. 419 00:22:22,640 --> 00:22:29,696 Of crisis, you bowed the knee and said, God, I don't know what 420 00:22:29,720 --> 00:22:32,694 you want here, but you've got a plan. 421 00:22:33,234 --> 00:22:38,082 And I'll run exactly to where your plan is, the very foundations 422 00:22:38,138 --> 00:22:39,134 of your word. 423 00:22:40,434 --> 00:22:43,570 And finally tonight, just trying to be. 424 00:22:43,602 --> 00:22:46,626 Quick, I'm sorry if I've taken long. 425 00:22:46,810 --> 00:22:49,734 I see the object of David's faith. 426 00:22:50,274 --> 00:22:52,814 I see the counsel of the Father. 427 00:22:53,394 --> 00:22:55,162 But there can be no great escape. 428 00:22:55,218 --> 00:22:58,036 Without obedience from the follower. 429 00:22:58,220 --> 00:23:00,344 Obedience from the follower. 430 00:23:01,204 --> 00:23:02,172 Verse number nine. 431 00:23:02,228 --> 00:23:07,172 So David went, he and the 600 men that were with him and came to 432 00:23:07,188 --> 00:23:11,036 the Burk of Bezor, where those that were left behind stayed. 433 00:23:11,140 --> 00:23:13,763 But David pursued, he and the 400 men. 434 00:23:13,824 --> 00:23:15,944 Take a look at verse number 18. 435 00:23:16,284 --> 00:23:21,684 And David recovered all that the Amalekites had carried away. 436 00:23:21,844 --> 00:23:24,060 And David rescued his two wives. 437 00:23:24,172 --> 00:23:31,952 And there was nothing lacking to them, nothing neither small nor 438 00:23:32,008 --> 00:23:37,224 great, neither sons nor daughters, neither spoil nor anything 439 00:23:37,304 --> 00:23:38,976 that they had taken to them. 440 00:23:39,080 --> 00:23:41,152 David recovered all. 441 00:23:41,288 --> 00:23:45,480 And David took all the flocks and the herds which they drave before 442 00:23:45,592 --> 00:23:51,244 those their cattle and said, this is David's spoil. 443 00:23:52,104 --> 00:23:54,044 This is a powerful passage. 444 00:23:54,384 --> 00:24:00,764 Not because of who David is, not because of how great David was, 445 00:24:01,584 --> 00:24:06,840 not because of the triumph of David, but because of the escape 446 00:24:06,912 --> 00:24:12,312 that God allowed in David's life, because of the recovery that 447 00:24:12,368 --> 00:24:15,312 God gave into David's hand. 448 00:24:15,488 --> 00:24:18,552 And frankly, we don't have time tonight to go through the entire 449 00:24:18,648 --> 00:24:19,258 passage. 450 00:24:19,376 --> 00:24:23,366 But it is amazing, really, kind of the process that you find 451 00:24:23,430 --> 00:24:24,990 in chapter number 30. 452 00:24:25,102 --> 00:24:27,758 You'll find that literally an Egyptian on the side of the road 453 00:24:27,806 --> 00:24:30,038 is basically like, yeah, my master was an Amalekite. 454 00:24:30,086 --> 00:24:31,502 And they went that way. 455 00:24:31,558 --> 00:24:32,950 You know, it's crazy. 456 00:24:33,062 --> 00:24:36,966 God just allowed things to happen and to fall into place so 457 00:24:36,990 --> 00:24:41,086 that now, because David was on the same page with the Father, of 458 00:24:41,110 --> 00:24:44,886 course now David is going to be able to recover all that was taken 459 00:24:44,950 --> 00:24:47,990 from him because he and the Father are now in sync. 460 00:24:48,022 --> 00:24:51,398 And I found so many times that in the middle of my crisis or in 461 00:24:51,406 --> 00:24:55,022 the middle of my tribulation, when I start looking at me and what 462 00:24:55,078 --> 00:24:58,710 I can do and what I can accomplish and trying to find all 463 00:24:58,742 --> 00:25:02,326 the answers in this dumb big brain of mine to get out of what 464 00:25:02,350 --> 00:25:05,006 I've got myself into, I find nothing. 465 00:25:05,150 --> 00:25:06,674 I find no answers. 466 00:25:07,374 --> 00:25:09,194 I find no response. 467 00:25:09,494 --> 00:25:11,314 I find a lack of wisdom. 468 00:25:11,834 --> 00:25:13,522 I find challenges. 469 00:25:13,698 --> 00:25:17,466 I find that people come against me, and I have no idea what 470 00:25:17,490 --> 00:25:17,858 to do. 471 00:25:17,906 --> 00:25:20,334 Pastor, frankly, it's trying. 472 00:25:20,714 --> 00:25:22,014 It's maddening. 473 00:25:23,314 --> 00:25:26,346 It's really kind of just one of those moments in your life that 474 00:25:26,370 --> 00:25:28,922 you're just like, I want to dig myself into a hole and just let 475 00:25:28,938 --> 00:25:29,914 me stay there for a while. 476 00:25:29,954 --> 00:25:30,554 Okay. 477 00:25:30,714 --> 00:25:31,762 You ever feel like that? 478 00:25:31,818 --> 00:25:32,614 Sometimes. 479 00:25:34,754 --> 00:25:42,740 But when I rely on what God can do in my life, allowing God to 480 00:25:42,772 --> 00:25:45,748 live through me and allowing God's. 481 00:25:45,836 --> 00:25:48,660 Word and God's plan to set the. 482 00:25:48,692 --> 00:25:53,024 Agenda, and I just simply obey. 483 00:25:55,284 --> 00:25:56,304 Just obey. 484 00:25:58,524 --> 00:26:00,460 We sing that little song in Sunday school. 485 00:26:00,492 --> 00:26:06,174 You know, Obedience is the very best way to show that you. 486 00:26:07,114 --> 00:26:08,114 I was weak. 487 00:26:08,194 --> 00:26:08,802 Congregation. 488 00:26:08,858 --> 00:26:10,134 To show that you what? 489 00:26:10,634 --> 00:26:11,374 Believe. 490 00:26:12,394 --> 00:26:15,034 And my friends, don't you remember that Bible verse is a pretty 491 00:26:15,074 --> 00:26:16,442 important one in the book of Hebrews. 492 00:26:16,498 --> 00:26:21,054 Without faith, it's impossible to please God. 493 00:26:22,314 --> 00:26:25,826 Literally, when we think of substance, we think of material. 494 00:26:25,890 --> 00:26:28,894 But when God thinks of substance, he thinks of faith. 495 00:26:29,404 --> 00:26:33,180 And the best way to demonstrate faith is through obedience. 496 00:26:33,372 --> 00:26:36,268 That's the way that Abraham demonstrated faith. 497 00:26:36,356 --> 00:26:39,092 That's the way that David demonstrated faith. 498 00:26:39,188 --> 00:26:42,860 That's the way even that Jesus, the Son of God, who did the 499 00:26:42,892 --> 00:26:46,588 will of the Father, demonstrated his obedience to the 500 00:26:46,636 --> 00:26:47,116 Father. 501 00:26:47,220 --> 00:26:51,852 It's amazing the example that even Christ set to us in obedience 502 00:26:51,988 --> 00:26:53,104 to the Father. 503 00:26:53,604 --> 00:26:56,812 Obedience is just such a small thing sometimes. 504 00:26:56,868 --> 00:27:01,036 But don't you know, even as adults now, when you think back on 505 00:27:01,060 --> 00:27:04,340 your life, it's the small things that get us in the biggest 506 00:27:04,412 --> 00:27:05,024 trouble. 507 00:27:05,724 --> 00:27:08,836 It's the small things that get us off track. 508 00:27:08,900 --> 00:27:11,052 It's the small things that we forget about. 509 00:27:11,108 --> 00:27:14,140 It's the small things that we lose along the way. 510 00:27:14,252 --> 00:27:19,436 But it's the biggest thing that David did to escape from the 511 00:27:19,580 --> 00:27:22,412 situational crisis that he was in. 512 00:27:22,468 --> 00:27:24,592 He just decided and determined. 513 00:27:24,648 --> 00:27:30,684 God, whatever you say, I'll do, you counsel me, I'll go. 514 00:27:31,824 --> 00:27:36,696 And I wonder tonight if you're in a situation where you just don't 515 00:27:36,720 --> 00:27:37,884 know what to do. 516 00:27:38,584 --> 00:27:43,204 When you don't know what to do, bow the knee and obey. 517 00:27:44,584 --> 00:27:47,376 When I was first starting out in. 518 00:27:47,400 --> 00:27:53,564 Lancaster Baptist, and I had a couple friends there, and sometimes 519 00:27:54,104 --> 00:27:57,328 in a ministry like Lancaster Beth, where you have a. 520 00:27:57,376 --> 00:28:01,024 College, a church, a Christian school, and then a publication ministry, 521 00:28:01,064 --> 00:28:02,364 you see a lot of turnover. 522 00:28:02,864 --> 00:28:05,632 And I asked one of my friends who had been there for a long time, 523 00:28:05,768 --> 00:28:11,392 and his name is Isai, and he is really overseeing the choir on 524 00:28:11,408 --> 00:28:12,464 the Spanish side of the ministry. 525 00:28:12,504 --> 00:28:14,550 I really love Isaiah. 526 00:28:14,612 --> 00:28:17,490 One of the best pieces of advice that he ever gave me. 527 00:28:17,682 --> 00:28:21,706 It was in a situation where we were setting up for something and 528 00:28:21,810 --> 00:28:23,018 we were just having a good time. 529 00:28:23,066 --> 00:28:26,146 We were college students together and a man, he had been there 530 00:28:26,170 --> 00:28:27,770 for about 10 years by this point. 531 00:28:27,802 --> 00:28:30,946 And I said, isaiah, you've been here for a long time and you've 532 00:28:30,970 --> 00:28:32,694 seen a lot of people come and go. 533 00:28:33,554 --> 00:28:37,614 And I want to know what the biggest objective is to staying, 534 00:28:38,234 --> 00:28:39,534 to being faithful. 535 00:28:39,994 --> 00:28:43,354 And maybe not even Esai being faithful here at Lancaster Baptist. 536 00:28:43,394 --> 00:28:46,494 Because I realize that God can take somewhere, someone, wherever 537 00:28:46,534 --> 00:28:47,510 he wants them to go. 538 00:28:47,582 --> 00:28:51,294 I realized that he can have someone start out one place and really 539 00:28:51,334 --> 00:28:54,238 take them to the mission field or take them to church planting or 540 00:28:54,286 --> 00:28:57,150 take them to a different area altogether of ministry. 541 00:28:57,342 --> 00:29:01,982 And I said, issa, what is the biggest objective when it comes to 542 00:29:02,038 --> 00:29:03,154 being faithful? 543 00:29:03,774 --> 00:29:07,294 He said, you know, Nick, I was in the military before I came to. 544 00:29:07,334 --> 00:29:07,994 College. 545 00:29:09,694 --> 00:29:10,932 And you want to know the. 546 00:29:11,038 --> 00:29:13,244 The biggest thing that I learned from the military? 547 00:29:14,144 --> 00:29:16,272 And he kind of had a chuckle at it. 548 00:29:16,448 --> 00:29:19,004 And I was like, do I want to know? 549 00:29:20,264 --> 00:29:21,724 He said, it's one word. 550 00:29:22,344 --> 00:29:23,204 Obey. 551 00:29:24,504 --> 00:29:25,324 Obey. 552 00:29:28,824 --> 00:29:31,720 I found the greatest peace in my life in the military when I just 553 00:29:31,752 --> 00:29:32,844 simply obeyed. 554 00:29:34,784 --> 00:29:36,928 You know what I found here at Lancaster Baptist? 555 00:29:36,976 --> 00:29:40,034 He said, when I just simply. 556 00:29:40,334 --> 00:29:44,766 And I don't always understand, and frankly, I don't always come 557 00:29:44,790 --> 00:29:46,846 to a place where I see eye to eye. 558 00:29:47,030 --> 00:29:51,518 But when I just obey, that's where I find the greatest success 559 00:29:51,566 --> 00:29:52,554 in ministry. 560 00:29:53,934 --> 00:29:56,634 So obey the leaders that God has placed over me. 561 00:29:57,614 --> 00:30:01,114 Obey the word of God that God has placed in my hand. 562 00:30:01,494 --> 00:30:03,582 I want to obey my Jesus when. 563 00:30:03,598 --> 00:30:05,034 He tells me to follow him. 564 00:30:05,854 --> 00:30:10,310 The greatest objective in being faithful in the ministry is 565 00:30:10,342 --> 00:30:11,954 just to obey. 566 00:30:12,934 --> 00:30:15,074 And I thought about that for a long time. 567 00:30:16,854 --> 00:30:20,230 I thought about that moment because frankly. 568 00:30:20,262 --> 00:30:23,554 I thought that he was going to come up with some great explanation, 569 00:30:23,934 --> 00:30:28,674 some dynamic exposition on staying faithful in the ministry. 570 00:30:29,904 --> 00:30:34,684 But when he just simply said obey, it kind of crushed me. 571 00:30:37,624 --> 00:30:38,216 Because we've. 572 00:30:38,240 --> 00:30:44,296 All been put in a place where we have just simply disobeyed, where 573 00:30:44,320 --> 00:30:48,044 we know what God is telling us and we've said no. 574 00:30:50,024 --> 00:30:51,744 My good friend who has been here. 575 00:30:51,824 --> 00:30:54,072 Many, many times, I think Pastor Dr. 576 00:30:54,161 --> 00:30:54,516 R. 577 00:30:54,605 --> 00:30:55,006 Dr. 578 00:30:55,030 --> 00:30:56,862 Rasmussen has been here a couple times. 579 00:30:56,918 --> 00:31:00,030 And, you know, one of the things that he says that impacts 580 00:31:00,062 --> 00:31:02,782 my life on an everyday basis is today is the first day of the 581 00:31:02,798 --> 00:31:03,834 rest of your life. 582 00:31:04,494 --> 00:31:08,394 And when I realize that God's mercies are new every single morning, 583 00:31:08,774 --> 00:31:13,446 and when I realize that God simply just wants me to obey, when 584 00:31:13,470 --> 00:31:17,070 I realize that every day I have an opportunity to say yes to 585 00:31:17,102 --> 00:31:19,594 Jesus and to say no to self. 586 00:31:21,304 --> 00:31:26,120 Those are the days where I don't find myself caught up in a 587 00:31:26,152 --> 00:31:28,284 trap that I can't escape from. 588 00:31:29,824 --> 00:31:35,392 Those are the days where I feel as though God is in the fire 589 00:31:35,448 --> 00:31:36,160 with me. 590 00:31:36,312 --> 00:31:38,504 He's walking alongside of me. 591 00:31:38,624 --> 00:31:39,924 And he's got this. 592 00:31:40,664 --> 00:31:42,984 In fact, he doesn't just have this today. 593 00:31:43,144 --> 00:31:46,924 He's got my tomorrow, he's got my next month. 594 00:31:47,444 --> 00:31:50,516 It doesn't matter who the president is in a month or so, because 595 00:31:50,540 --> 00:31:51,504 he's got it. 596 00:31:52,844 --> 00:31:53,984 It's God's. 597 00:31:55,084 --> 00:31:57,704 It's not mine, It's God's. 598 00:31:58,564 --> 00:32:02,100 Doesn't matter where God takes us as a nation, because I know God 599 00:32:02,132 --> 00:32:02,348 as. 600 00:32:02,396 --> 00:32:08,948 Me, and I've got faith just to obey him regardless of the situation. 601 00:32:09,036 --> 00:32:10,384 So there it is, Church. 602 00:32:11,044 --> 00:32:11,708 There it is. 603 00:32:11,756 --> 00:32:12,864 You see the. 604 00:32:13,214 --> 00:32:14,558 The pledge. 605 00:32:14,606 --> 00:32:17,678 You see David, he's in distress. 606 00:32:17,766 --> 00:32:18,674 The turn. 607 00:32:19,414 --> 00:32:24,414 He feels like nothing is going his way, nothing is going to happen 608 00:32:24,454 --> 00:32:25,174 that's good for him. 609 00:32:25,214 --> 00:32:26,874 He's going to get stoned. 610 00:32:27,454 --> 00:32:29,230 He's never going to recover anything. 611 00:32:29,262 --> 00:32:30,286 And then the prestige. 612 00:32:30,350 --> 00:32:30,958 Bam. 613 00:32:31,126 --> 00:32:32,794 David recovers all. 614 00:32:33,454 --> 00:32:38,514 But now you see behind the curtains, you see the step by step, 615 00:32:39,264 --> 00:32:39,600 you. 616 00:32:39,632 --> 00:32:43,744 See the object of his faith, and you see the counsel from the 617 00:32:43,784 --> 00:32:48,456 Father, and you see the obedience from the follower. 618 00:32:48,640 --> 00:32:50,656 And so now the magic trick. 619 00:32:50,800 --> 00:32:54,296 The magic trick, quote, unquote, that seems so impossible 620 00:32:54,360 --> 00:32:58,648 for someone to be so in the middle of their crisis and now recovering 621 00:32:58,696 --> 00:32:59,688 all that they had. 622 00:32:59,776 --> 00:33:03,004 It doesn't seem so far away. 623 00:33:03,544 --> 00:33:05,684 It doesn't seem so out of touch. 624 00:33:06,014 --> 00:33:10,894 It seems right at our fingertips just to simply love and 625 00:33:10,934 --> 00:33:14,510 have a relationship with our Father and to get counsel from the 626 00:33:14,542 --> 00:33:18,134 Father and obey what the Father tells us to do. 627 00:33:18,294 --> 00:33:22,982 My friends, that is the way of escape from the greatest challenges 628 00:33:23,038 --> 00:33:24,518 of our life today. 629 00:33:24,686 --> 00:33:25,758 Let's have a word of prayer. 630 00:33:25,806 --> 00:33:29,142 Lord God, just thank you so much for what you've given to us. 631 00:33:29,198 --> 00:33:33,140 Thank you for the opportunity to come and hear from your word this 632 00:33:33,172 --> 00:33:33,824 evening. 633 00:33:34,124 --> 00:33:39,348 Lord, I want to thank you for these dear people here at Heritage 634 00:33:39,396 --> 00:33:40,020 Baptist Church. 635 00:33:40,052 --> 00:33:43,348 Thank you for their pastor, thank you for their faithfulness 636 00:33:43,396 --> 00:33:44,380 to come on a Sunday night. 637 00:33:44,412 --> 00:33:47,172 And, Lord, I don't take for granted the lives that are here and 638 00:33:47,188 --> 00:33:50,780 the situations that are going on, Lord, some of them greater in 639 00:33:50,852 --> 00:33:53,744 capacity than I could ever fathom or understand. 640 00:33:54,164 --> 00:34:01,190 But, God, you know, case by case, individual by individual, heart 641 00:34:01,262 --> 00:34:06,550 by heart, every single person in this room, you know what they're 642 00:34:06,582 --> 00:34:07,526 going through. 643 00:34:07,710 --> 00:34:09,174 You know what they'll go through tomorrow. 644 00:34:09,214 --> 00:34:13,006 And the next day and 10 years from today, if you tarry. 645 00:34:13,070 --> 00:34:16,526 Lord, you know exactly what's going on in their life. 646 00:34:16,590 --> 00:34:20,710 Lord, I ask that today instead of looking around them, they would 647 00:34:20,742 --> 00:34:21,534 look up. 648 00:34:21,694 --> 00:34:23,710 They would see you as their father. 649 00:34:23,902 --> 00:34:26,990 They'd find that loving and tender relationship with you and 650 00:34:27,022 --> 00:34:28,824 know that you are ever present. 651 00:34:28,984 --> 00:34:31,764 And, Lord, that they'd find counsel in your word. 652 00:34:32,104 --> 00:34:36,364 And, Lord, that they be guided to obey you completely. 653 00:34:37,624 --> 00:34:41,488 Lord, I ask that tonight, and this invitation will be a turning 654 00:34:41,536 --> 00:34:43,048 point in someone's life. 655 00:34:43,216 --> 00:34:47,080 A turning point back to you with all heads bowed and all eyes 656 00:34:47,152 --> 00:34:47,384 closed.