100:00:00,000 –> 00:00:10,300God has more grace still to come in your life there are more things that he still200:00:10,300 –> 00:00:16,219has to do when he does them they will surprise you with joy.300:00:16,219 –> 00:00:19,940Welcome to Open the Bible i’m David Pick glad you could be with us today.400:00:20,440 –> 00:00:24,280We’re in a message called a Man After God’s Own Heart. We were talking about500:00:24,280 –> 00:00:29,240David, and Colin one of the things we can take away from this story is that here600:00:29,240 –> 00:00:34,919is a man who made a great mess of his life he sinned profoundly but the good700:00:34,919 –> 00:00:37,360news is God was not finished with him.800:00:37,360 –> 00:00:41,040Yeah that’s the marvelous truth of grace isn’t it that always brings hope into900:00:41,040 –> 00:00:42,020our lives1000:00:42,020 –> 00:00:46,160and we’re looking in the story of David what does it mean to be a man after God’s1100:00:46,160 –> 00:00:47,020own heart1200:00:47,020 –> 00:00:50,980and we’ve been talking about love and about loyalty and about spiritual1300:00:50,980 –> 00:00:54,599leadership and you know you’ll begin to list these things are a lot of guys are1400:00:54,599 –> 00:00:56,459saying wow I blew it1500:00:56,820 –> 00:01:01,360I messed up I’m not there and today’s message is a story of hope1600:01:01,360 –> 00:01:07,379for every one of us because it’s about how God comes into the lives of those1700:01:07,379 –> 00:01:10,660who have not lived as we would want to live1800:01:10,660 –> 00:01:16,300have not been what we want to be and grace makes it possible for new1900:01:16,300 –> 00:01:20,379beginnings and for advance and for encouragement to take place2000:01:20,379 –> 00:01:23,980marvelous the story of David and how that encourages us.2100:01:23,980 –> 00:01:24,699So we find out2200:01:24,699 –> 00:01:28,400in John 2 Samuel chapter 7 as we continue the message,2300:01:28,400 –> 00:01:31,320A Man After God’s Own Heart. Here is Colin.2400:01:31,339 –> 00:01:35,860How can you be a man after God’s own heart?2500:01:35,860 –> 00:01:40,839Number one, be filled with God’s love.2600:01:40,839 –> 00:01:44,320Now I think this is the first thing to grasp about David,2700:01:44,320 –> 00:01:45,680this extraordinary man,2800:01:45,680 –> 00:01:49,860that he knew and experienced the love of God in his own life2900:01:49,860 –> 00:01:53,000in a profound way.3000:01:53,019 –> 00:01:57,800And when you experience God’s love in your own life,3100:01:57,800 –> 00:02:01,239it enables you then to love him,3200:02:01,239 –> 00:02:06,239and it expands your capacity to love other people.3300:02:07,220 –> 00:02:09,360A man after God’s own heart,3400:02:09,360 –> 00:02:13,419number one, be filled with God’s love.3500:02:13,419 –> 00:02:15,960Number two, to be a man after God’s own heart,3600:02:15,960 –> 00:02:19,740be loyal to your wife.3700:02:19,740 –> 00:02:21,179Now here’s an interesting thing.3800:02:21,320 –> 00:02:23,339When it comes to loyalty,3900:02:23,339 –> 00:02:26,460David did better with his friends4000:02:26,460 –> 00:02:28,520than he did with his family.4100:02:28,520 –> 00:02:32,100He had a deep loyalty to Jonathan.4200:02:32,100 –> 00:02:36,979He had an extraordinary loyalty to Saul.4300:02:36,979 –> 00:02:41,179He had an intense loyalty to his own group4400:02:41,179 –> 00:02:43,500of 400 fighting men,4500:02:43,500 –> 00:02:46,240who also returned that great loyalty to him.4600:02:47,339 –> 00:02:49,020So intense loyalty to his friends,4700:02:49,020 –> 00:02:50,979and even, in Saul’s case, his enemy.4800:02:52,679 –> 00:02:55,179But he didn’t do so well when it came to his wife.4900:02:56,580 –> 00:02:59,500It was common, of course, for kings in those days,5000:02:59,500 –> 00:03:03,259throughout the ancient world, to have many wives.5100:03:03,259 –> 00:03:04,279But did you know, by the way,5200:03:04,279 –> 00:03:08,740that God had specifically commanded, in the Old Testament,5300:03:08,740 –> 00:03:12,539that Israel’s king was to be different in this regard?5400:03:12,539 –> 00:03:16,220If you turn to Deuteronomy chapter 17 and verse 17,5500:03:16,220 –> 00:03:18,259you’ll see it very clearly there.5600:03:18,300 –> 00:03:23,300Deuteronomy chapter 17 and verse 17,5700:03:23,339 –> 00:03:26,539God says about the king in Israel,5800:03:26,539 –> 00:03:31,539”He must not take many wives5900:03:32,539 –> 00:03:37,539”or his heart will be led astray.’6000:03:38,080 –> 00:03:40,059So it was common practice for kings6100:03:40,059 –> 00:03:43,100to be polygamous in the ancient world.6200:03:43,100 –> 00:03:45,059But God said, in the book of Deuteronomy,6300:03:45,059 –> 00:03:47,059for Israel’s king, it must be different.6400:03:47,059 –> 00:03:50,300He must not take many wives, as is the common practice.6500:03:50,300 –> 00:03:54,940Simply, David did not keep that commandment.6600:03:56,419 –> 00:04:00,660He married Mikal, the daughter of Saul.6700:04:00,660 –> 00:04:02,139He married Abigail6800:04:02,139 –> 00:04:06,300after the death of her first husband Nabal,6900:04:06,300 –> 00:04:08,619and he married of course Bathsheba7000:04:08,619 –> 00:04:11,539after the death of her husband Uriah.7100:04:12,539 –> 00:04:14,320Then if you look in Second Samuel,7200:04:14,320 –> 00:04:16,260in chapter 5 and verse 13,7300:04:16,299 –> 00:04:18,459you’ll see that that wasn’t the end of it.7400:04:18,459 –> 00:04:21,640Second Samuel, chapter 5 and verse 13,7500:04:21,640 –> 00:04:23,299after David left Hebron,7600:04:23,299 –> 00:04:27,779he took more concubines and wives in Jerusalem7700:04:27,779 –> 00:04:32,100and more sons and daughters were born to him.7800:04:33,179 –> 00:04:36,500So we have to say that David was not loyal to his wife.7900:04:37,859 –> 00:04:39,679This was an area of his life8000:04:39,679 –> 00:04:41,760that frankly was out of control,8100:04:42,940 –> 00:04:44,980and you cannot read the story of David8200:04:44,980 –> 00:04:47,320without seeing that it hurt him,8300:04:48,420 –> 00:04:50,179that it hurt his family8400:04:51,079 –> 00:04:53,940and that it hurt the very kingdom of God.8500:04:53,940 –> 00:04:55,859It was one of the massive failures8600:04:55,859 –> 00:04:58,279by any standards in David’s life.8700:04:59,179 –> 00:05:02,019So set this as a priority.8800:05:03,260 –> 00:05:06,480Be loyal to your wife8900:05:07,500 –> 00:05:09,100in your deeds9000:05:09,100 –> 00:05:11,839and in your thoughts.9100:05:12,320 –> 00:05:16,779Set that as a priority because it matters.9200:05:16,779 –> 00:05:17,700It matters to you.9300:05:17,700 –> 00:05:19,239It matters to your children9400:05:19,239 –> 00:05:22,200and it matters to the kingdom,9500:05:22,200 –> 00:05:25,519and all of that we learn from the life of David.9600:05:27,260 –> 00:05:28,839Be filled with the love of God,9700:05:28,839 –> 00:05:30,679be loyal to your wife.9800:05:30,679 –> 00:05:33,600Number three, a man after God’s own heart9900:05:33,600 –> 00:05:36,559will lead in a way that refreshes others,10000:05:36,559 –> 00:05:41,399lead in a way that refreshes others.10100:05:41,920 –> 00:05:45,320Now by any standards, David was an extraordinary leader,10200:05:45,320 –> 00:05:48,160and in his last words that I’d like us to turn to10300:05:48,160 –> 00:05:51,220in 2 Samuel chapter 23,10400:05:51,220 –> 00:05:54,859he talks about the marks of effective leadership.10500:05:54,859 –> 00:05:58,4802 Samuel chapter 23, please turn to this,10600:05:59,359 –> 00:06:02,500and David is speaking prophetically here10700:06:02,500 –> 00:06:05,920and he’s speaking about leadership.10800:06:05,920 –> 00:06:08,2002 Samuel 23 and verse three,10900:06:08,920 –> 00:06:13,739when one rules over men in righteousness,11000:06:13,739 –> 00:06:18,440when he rules in the fear of God.11100:06:18,440 –> 00:06:19,779So he’s talking about leadership,11200:06:19,779 –> 00:06:23,179he’s talking about the way in which authority is exercised,11300:06:23,179 –> 00:06:25,760the way in which leadership is given in a nation11400:06:25,760 –> 00:06:29,540or indeed in a family or in any other sphere.11500:06:29,540 –> 00:06:32,459When one rules over other men in righteousness,11600:06:32,459 –> 00:06:34,899when he rules in the fear of the Lord,11700:06:34,899 –> 00:06:36,059what is it like?11800:06:36,059 –> 00:06:37,380Two descriptions,11900:06:38,440 –> 00:06:43,200he is like the light of morning at sunrise12000:06:43,200 –> 00:06:44,420on a cloudless morning12100:06:45,920 –> 00:06:49,059and like the brightness after rain12200:06:49,059 –> 00:06:51,339that brings the grass from the earth.12300:06:51,339 –> 00:06:54,700Now, these are two beautiful pictures12400:06:54,700 –> 00:06:56,279of effective leadership.12500:06:57,220 –> 00:06:58,100What’s it like?12600:06:58,100 –> 00:07:02,660It’s like the light of morning at sunrise.12700:07:02,660 –> 00:07:04,820That’s a picture of hope, obviously.12800:07:04,820 –> 00:07:08,239Here’s been this long dark night,12900:07:08,239 –> 00:07:10,239but the spirits of everyone are lifted13000:07:10,239 –> 00:07:12,799when the sun comes up.13100:07:12,799 –> 00:07:14,859The sun rises on a cloudless day,13200:07:14,859 –> 00:07:19,000and David says that’s what effective leadership looks like.13300:07:19,000 –> 00:07:22,540It brings hope to people who have been in great darkness.13400:07:23,920 –> 00:07:26,799That’s your role within the family too,13500:07:26,799 –> 00:07:29,119where the family’s in great difficulties13600:07:29,119 –> 00:07:32,600that the role of the leader is to be able to shine light13700:07:32,619 –> 00:07:37,019so that there is hope for those God has given to you.13800:07:38,260 –> 00:07:40,799And of course that is what David did for Israel.13900:07:40,799 –> 00:07:44,980He inherited a loose coalition of tribes14000:07:44,980 –> 00:07:47,540with little loyalty to each other,14100:07:47,540 –> 00:07:50,000barely able to defend themselves,14200:07:50,000 –> 00:07:51,679and what he did was he led them14300:07:51,679 –> 00:07:54,279to become a great and strong nation.14400:07:54,279 –> 00:07:57,820It wasn’t easy, but his leadership in Israel14500:07:57,820 –> 00:08:02,820was like the light of sunrise on a cloudless morning,14600:08:03,100 –> 00:08:06,540it brought hope, it brought strength14700:08:06,540 –> 00:08:07,959for the people he led.14800:08:09,140 –> 00:08:10,299And then this other picture,14900:08:10,299 –> 00:08:12,299effective leadership is like the rain15000:08:12,299 –> 00:08:14,859that brings grass from the earth.15100:08:14,859 –> 00:08:16,899It’s a beautiful picture.15200:08:16,899 –> 00:08:18,600It’s a picture of refreshing.15300:08:19,700 –> 00:08:21,980In other words, good leadership in the family15400:08:21,980 –> 00:08:26,799causes your wife and your children to flourish,15500:08:28,579 –> 00:08:32,099to grow, it’s like the grass15600:08:32,099 –> 00:08:35,739that comes up after the rain.15700:08:37,780 –> 00:08:39,820But again it’s interesting that David gave15800:08:39,820 –> 00:08:44,760better leadership in his work than he did in his family.15900:08:44,760 –> 00:08:49,059It’s fascinating how often you find this pattern with David.16000:08:49,059 –> 00:08:51,280And I think that is a real challenge for us16100:08:51,280 –> 00:08:54,880to embrace and to respond to today.16200:08:54,919 –> 00:08:57,739If you look at 1st Samuel and chapter 22,16300:08:57,739 –> 00:09:00,200that’s 1st Samuel and chapter 22.16400:09:00,200 –> 00:09:02,960You’ll see there what he did well.16500:09:02,960 –> 00:09:05,080Extraordinary piece of leadership.16600:09:05,080 –> 00:09:08,520When David was in the cave of Adallum.16700:09:08,520 –> 00:09:11,320We’re told that a group of people came to him,16800:09:11,320 –> 00:09:15,739they were all those who were in distress,16900:09:15,739 –> 00:09:19,539in debt, and discontented.17000:09:19,539 –> 00:09:21,679And they gathered around him and he became their leader.17100:09:21,679 –> 00:09:24,380They were about 400 with him.17200:09:24,419 –> 00:09:27,580That’s a pretty desperate team to work with, isn’t it?17300:09:27,580 –> 00:09:29,000You’re the leader, you’re in a cave.17400:09:29,000 –> 00:09:30,500What do you get?17500:09:30,500 –> 00:09:32,619All those who are distressed,17600:09:32,619 –> 00:09:35,500a bunch of guys who are in debt.17700:09:35,500 –> 00:09:37,780And all of them with the common factor17800:09:37,780 –> 00:09:40,099of being discontented.17900:09:40,099 –> 00:09:43,679And what can you do with a motley crew like that?18000:09:43,679 –> 00:09:45,859What the genius of David’s leadership18100:09:45,859 –> 00:09:47,340is that he takes this motley crew18200:09:47,340 –> 00:09:49,520that comes to him in the cave of Adallum18300:09:49,520 –> 00:09:52,140and forges them into an army of fighting men18400:09:52,140 –> 00:09:54,940who were fiercely loyal to him.18500:09:54,940 –> 00:09:56,700That’s leadership.18600:09:56,700 –> 00:09:59,059And in this, David is a wonderful picture18700:09:59,059 –> 00:10:00,780of our Lord Jesus Christ18800:10:01,960 –> 00:10:05,719who will take you in your distress18900:10:05,719 –> 00:10:07,859and in all your indebtedness19000:10:08,940 –> 00:10:11,599and in all of the discontent of your life19100:10:11,599 –> 00:10:16,419and he will make you one of God’s mighty men19200:10:16,419 –> 00:10:19,619if you will commit yourself to his leadership in your life.19300:10:19,619 –> 00:10:20,760That’s the key.19400:10:22,400 –> 00:10:26,340These folks had a bag of problems when they came to David19500:10:26,340 –> 00:10:30,580as you may have a bag of problems when you come to Jesus.19600:10:30,580 –> 00:10:32,780But the key is that they committed themselves19700:10:32,780 –> 00:10:35,580to his leadership, they followed him19800:10:35,580 –> 00:10:37,020and he made something out of them.19900:10:37,020 –> 00:10:38,619When Jesus comes into the world, he says,20000:10:38,619 –> 00:10:41,080now you follow me, I will make you something.20100:10:41,080 –> 00:10:42,619I will make you fishers of men.20200:10:44,380 –> 00:10:46,580Extraordinary leadership in which David points20300:10:46,580 –> 00:10:47,739us to Jesus Christ.20400:10:47,739 –> 00:10:49,539But you know, if only David had applied20500:10:50,299 –> 00:10:55,299the same skill in his family as he did in his work.20600:10:56,799 –> 00:11:01,059Because when it came to his family, David didn’t do so well.20700:11:02,080 –> 00:11:05,619Let me give you one or two examples that show a pattern.20800:11:05,619 –> 00:11:07,119I want you to see the pattern.20900:11:09,280 –> 00:11:11,000David had a son called Amnon.21000:11:12,940 –> 00:11:16,820This guy Amnon was attracted to his half-sister21100:11:16,820 –> 00:11:17,940whose name was Timar.21200:11:19,659 –> 00:11:22,039He raped her, it was a terrible thing.21300:11:23,059 –> 00:11:25,419Abuse in the royal household.21400:11:26,780 –> 00:11:28,820And you know what David did?21500:11:28,820 –> 00:11:30,039Absolutely nothing.21600:11:31,340 –> 00:11:34,140Now, think about that, this family21700:11:34,140 –> 00:11:37,440needed crisis intervention from the father.21800:11:39,039 –> 00:11:42,280The boy Amnon needed to be confronted.21900:11:44,179 –> 00:11:47,299And if David had done that, he would’ve been like light22000:11:47,299 –> 00:11:49,539at sunrise for his family.22100:11:51,059 –> 00:11:54,179But he stood back and did nothing.22200:11:55,739 –> 00:11:58,979David had another son called Absalom.22300:11:58,979 –> 00:12:03,260And Absalom was Tamar’s full brother22400:12:03,260 –> 00:12:06,659and he was furious and had determined revenge22500:12:06,659 –> 00:12:08,739because of what had been done to his sister.22600:12:08,739 –> 00:12:12,380And Absalom did not speak to Amnon for two years.22700:12:12,380 –> 00:12:14,700The Bible says not a single word.22800:12:14,780 –> 00:12:17,280Two years, you have two brothers in the same house22900:12:17,280 –> 00:12:19,460and they’re not speaking to each other for two years,23000:12:19,460 –> 00:12:20,460you got a problem.23100:12:20,460 –> 00:12:23,700There’s a slow burning fuse right there.23200:12:23,700 –> 00:12:25,500And you know what David did about it?23300:12:26,580 –> 00:12:27,739Absolutely nothing.23400:12:29,840 –> 00:12:32,299If David had helped Absalom to deal with his anger,23500:12:32,299 –> 00:12:34,059he would have been like the rain23600:12:34,059 –> 00:12:38,619that brings grass from the Earth, but he didn’t.23700:12:40,419 –> 00:12:42,700Then one day the two brothers went out,23800:12:42,700 –> 00:12:46,380Absalom and Amnon and Absalom took Amnon’s life23900:12:46,380 –> 00:12:47,500and then he fled.24000:12:47,500 –> 00:12:49,500So now you have an alienated son24100:12:49,500 –> 00:12:53,140who eventually raised a revolt against David himself24200:12:53,140 –> 00:12:55,440and ousted him for a time from Jerusalem24300:12:55,440 –> 00:12:59,179and the revolt ended with Absalom’s own tragic death.24400:13:00,340 –> 00:13:01,380And when Absalom’s gone,24500:13:01,380 –> 00:13:02,320you know what David did?24600:13:02,320 –> 00:13:04,559Absolutely nothing.24700:13:06,539 –> 00:13:08,659So, there’s a pattern here.24800:13:08,659 –> 00:13:13,539Here is a man who has marvelous leadership skills24900:13:13,539 –> 00:13:17,179but has become passive in relation to his family.25000:13:18,940 –> 00:13:21,400And if only he had taken the skills25100:13:21,400 –> 00:13:25,059that he invested so effectively in his work25200:13:25,059 –> 00:13:29,099and applied them effectively in his family,25300:13:29,099 –> 00:13:30,780the course of history may indeed25400:13:30,780 –> 00:13:33,340have been very different in the grace of God25500:13:34,419 –> 00:13:36,599because he would’ve been to his family25600:13:36,760 –> 00:13:40,119as only then light as its sunrise25700:13:42,599 –> 00:13:45,200and like the rain that brings grass from the earth.25800:13:46,500 –> 00:13:48,239Now here we’re obviously learning from David25900:13:48,239 –> 00:13:50,340by way of contrast and here’s my challenge26000:13:50,340 –> 00:13:52,159to the dads in the church today.26100:13:53,739 –> 00:13:58,020Will you commit before God today on this family Sunday26200:13:59,359 –> 00:14:01,599that by God’s grace and with his help26300:14:01,599 –> 00:14:05,679you will give effective leadership in your home.26400:14:07,099 –> 00:14:08,919And we have been given two pictures26500:14:08,919 –> 00:14:10,359of what that actually looks like.26600:14:10,359 –> 00:14:13,940The kind of leadership that is like light26700:14:13,940 –> 00:14:16,640at the sunrise of morning26800:14:16,640 –> 00:14:21,400and like the rain that brings grass from the earth.26900:14:21,400 –> 00:14:23,159Will you commit by God’s grace27000:14:23,159 –> 00:14:25,919to give that kind of leadership27100:14:25,919 –> 00:14:29,039that has that kind of effect for your wife27200:14:29,919 –> 00:14:33,840and for your children and indeed for your grandchildren?27300:14:34,719 –> 00:14:38,280And you know, your family may be very difficult27400:14:38,280 –> 00:14:39,840and even dysfunctional right now27500:14:39,840 –> 00:14:43,140is clearly David’s was in an extreme way.27600:14:44,840 –> 00:14:48,159But your calling is that your wife27700:14:48,159 –> 00:14:50,320and your children will have hope27800:14:50,320 –> 00:14:53,640because you are there.27900:14:55,260 –> 00:14:56,840That they will flourish28000:14:56,840 –> 00:14:58,219and that they will grow28100:14:58,219 –> 00:15:03,219because you have your hand on the tiller28200:15:03,539 –> 00:15:04,739of family life.28300:15:06,479 –> 00:15:07,340Don’t be passive.28400:15:09,299 –> 00:15:12,580Learn what is happening in your kids’ lives28500:15:12,580 –> 00:15:15,219and then exercise the leadership28600:15:15,219 –> 00:15:17,380that God has trusted to you.28700:15:18,539 –> 00:15:22,619That may mean that there needs to be some intervention.28800:15:22,619 –> 00:15:26,700It may mean setting some new standards this week.28900:15:26,700 –> 00:15:29,359It may mean sitting down with a son or a daughter29000:15:29,359 –> 00:15:31,500and saying, you know, I have to tell you29100:15:31,580 –> 00:15:33,940that I have failed God and you29200:15:33,940 –> 00:15:37,559by not giving the leadership you need in this family29300:15:37,559 –> 00:15:41,099and I’m sorry, but now we have to get on a new29400:15:41,099 –> 00:15:42,460and on a different track29500:15:42,460 –> 00:15:45,159and when we do, it will be for your lasting good.29600:15:46,400 –> 00:15:47,760You’re listening to Open the Bible29700:15:47,760 –> 00:15:49,179with Pastor Colin Smith29800:15:49,179 –> 00:15:52,599and a message called a man after God’s own heart29900:15:52,599 –> 00:15:55,119part of our series Godly Character30000:15:55,119 –> 00:15:56,919and if you’ve tuned in late30100:15:56,919 –> 00:15:58,260or if you have to leave early30200:15:58,260 –> 00:16:00,500or you just want to go back and listen again30300:16:00,500 –> 00:16:03,880it’s easy to do that by coming online to our website30400:16:03,880 –> 00:16:06,599openthhebible.org.uk30500:16:06,599 –> 00:16:08,099and there you’ll find all the messages30600:16:08,099 –> 00:16:10,159which have already gone out on air.30700:16:10,159 –> 00:16:11,960You’ll also find them as a podcast30800:16:11,960 –> 00:16:13,539if that’s a better way for you to keep up30900:16:13,539 –> 00:16:15,200with Pastor Collin’s teaching31000:16:15,200 –> 00:16:17,400and those are on all the main podcast sites.31100:16:17,400 –> 00:16:20,859You can find them by searching for Open The Bible UK31200:16:20,859 –> 00:16:23,960or by following the link from our website.31300:16:23,960 –> 00:16:27,159At Open The Bible, we welcome contact with our listeners.31400:16:27,159 –> 00:16:31,820You can email us by using the Contact Form on our website31500:16:31,820 –> 00:16:33,820openthebible.org.uk31600:16:33,820 –> 00:16:35,940forward slash contact.31700:16:35,940 –> 00:16:38,900You can write to us at Open The Bible31800:16:38,900 –> 00:16:43,900PO Box 1420 Cheltenham, GL 50, 9PG31900:16:45,659 –> 00:16:50,260or you can phone us on 0330 3358089.32000:16:53,619 –> 00:16:55,820If we’re not available when you call32100:16:55,859 –> 00:16:58,880leave a message for us and we’ll return your call.32200:16:58,880 –> 00:17:02,140All of these contact details are available on our website32300:17:02,140 –> 00:17:05,400openthebible.org.uk32400:17:05,400 –> 00:17:08,760Back to the message now, we’re in 2 Samuel chapter seven.32500:17:08,760 –> 00:17:10,640Here again is Collin.32600:17:10,640 –> 00:17:13,199What does it mean to be a man after God’s own heart?32700:17:15,119 –> 00:17:17,739Well it will mean being filled with God’s love.32800:17:19,160 –> 00:17:20,739Being loyal to others32900:17:21,900 –> 00:17:25,800and leading in a way that refreshes.33000:17:26,579 –> 00:17:27,680Here’s the last thing.33100:17:28,780 –> 00:17:32,339It will mean that you lean on God’s promise.33200:17:32,339 –> 00:17:33,699Now you can’t understand David33300:17:33,699 –> 00:17:36,859without coming to 2 Samuel chapter seven33400:17:36,859 –> 00:17:38,819and the great promise that God gave to him.33500:17:38,819 –> 00:17:40,060So let’s turn quickly to that33600:17:40,060 –> 00:17:42,760as our last scripture this morning.33700:17:43,939 –> 00:17:46,300This promise of God given to David33800:17:46,300 –> 00:17:48,699in 2 Samuel seven was without doubt33900:17:48,699 –> 00:17:51,880the most important event in all of David’s life.34000:17:53,099 –> 00:17:54,540And it’s interesting that God34100:17:54,540 –> 00:17:57,579gave this marvelous promise of the coming redeemer34200:17:57,579 –> 00:18:00,579who would be born into the house of David34300:18:00,579 –> 00:18:03,979at a time of great disappointment in David’s life.34400:18:05,119 –> 00:18:06,260Nathan had just announced34500:18:06,260 –> 00:18:08,560that David would not the one to build the temple34600:18:08,560 –> 00:18:10,520and that must have been heartbreaking for David34700:18:10,520 –> 00:18:12,439because of course it was his dream.34800:18:13,500 –> 00:18:15,339And so let me in these very last moments34900:18:15,339 –> 00:18:19,140address these remarks to men who are disappointed35000:18:19,140 –> 00:18:22,780and discouraged in life this morning.35100:18:23,060 –> 00:18:24,520You’re not living your dream,35200:18:25,780 –> 00:18:29,420things have not worked out in your family as you had hoped,35300:18:30,459 –> 00:18:32,140and right now, you are not the person35400:18:32,140 –> 00:18:34,079that you wanted to be either.35500:18:35,699 –> 00:18:37,560I want us to look at God’s promise to David35600:18:37,560 –> 00:18:40,979in 2 Samuel chapter 7, verse 11,35700:18:40,979 –> 00:18:41,900where God says,35800:18:41,920 –> 00:18:46,920the Lord himself will establish a house for you.35900:18:50,180 –> 00:18:54,060When your days are over and you rest with your fathers,36000:18:54,060 –> 00:18:55,719that’s even after your own death,36100:18:55,719 –> 00:18:58,699I will raise up your offspring to succeed you36200:18:58,699 –> 00:19:01,020who will come from your own body,36300:19:01,020 –> 00:19:03,979and I will establish his kingdom.36400:19:03,979 –> 00:19:08,020He is the one who will build a house for my name.36500:19:08,020 –> 00:19:09,939And I will establish the throne36600:19:10,040 –> 00:19:13,400of his kingdom forever.36700:19:13,400 –> 00:19:18,400I will be his father and he will be my son.36800:19:19,719 –> 00:19:21,040The promise here, of course,36900:19:21,040 –> 00:19:25,000is that David’s line, his line of descendants,37000:19:25,000 –> 00:19:27,079will be established,37100:19:27,079 –> 00:19:30,160and especially that God’s kingdom will be established37200:19:30,160 –> 00:19:32,939by one who comes into that line,37300:19:32,939 –> 00:19:37,939the Redeemer, Jesus Christ, our savior and our Lord.37400:19:38,739 –> 00:19:41,280Now think about what this means to David37500:19:41,280 –> 00:19:43,579as he’s facing discouragement.37600:19:43,579 –> 00:19:45,780He’s thinking that he won’t be able to achieve37700:19:45,780 –> 00:19:47,800everything he would have liked to in his life,37800:19:47,800 –> 00:19:49,439that things haven’t come together37900:19:49,439 –> 00:19:50,500in the way that he’d hoped,38000:19:50,500 –> 00:19:53,319that opportunities that he would have loved38100:19:53,319 –> 00:19:56,719to have embraced are not now going to be opened up to him.38200:19:56,719 –> 00:19:59,579And he’s struggling with all of that.38300:19:59,579 –> 00:20:00,800And what does God do?38400:20:00,800 –> 00:20:03,920He brings in the promise of the Redeemer.38500:20:04,920 –> 00:20:06,959And He says David,38600:20:08,260 –> 00:20:12,780there is more grace still to come.38700:20:14,380 –> 00:20:17,900See when you look at your life,38800:20:17,900 –> 00:20:20,760your family, your work,38900:20:20,760 –> 00:20:22,560the church, the world,39000:20:23,640 –> 00:20:27,680you are looking at a work in process.39100:20:28,920 –> 00:20:31,219It’s kinda like going through39200:20:31,219 –> 00:20:33,479a house in the middle of remodeling.39300:20:33,479 –> 00:20:36,859We seem to be on that theme at the moment.39400:20:36,859 –> 00:20:39,060But you see the contractor is doing the work39500:20:39,060 –> 00:20:41,719and it’s a complete mess in the middle.39600:20:43,380 –> 00:20:44,959And if the contractor were39700:20:44,959 –> 00:20:47,420to abandon the work halfway through,39800:20:47,420 –> 00:20:49,699it would be an utter disaster.39900:20:51,359 –> 00:20:53,579But you know that what you see now40000:20:53,579 –> 00:20:55,859is not the final outcome40100:20:55,859 –> 00:20:58,660and that knowledge keeps you going.40200:20:59,780 –> 00:21:02,540And the way that you live with the mess40300:21:03,540 –> 00:21:05,979is by leaning on the promise40400:21:05,979 –> 00:21:10,300that the contractor will finish the job.40500:21:12,339 –> 00:21:14,819And when God began a work in your life,40600:21:14,819 –> 00:21:17,780His cast iron commitment was40700:21:17,780 –> 00:21:19,640that it would be brought to completion.40800:21:19,640 –> 00:21:24,260He commits Himself to finishing what he starts.40900:21:25,300 –> 00:21:26,800What that means is this.41000:21:28,640 –> 00:21:32,160That every man in this church41100:21:32,199 –> 00:21:34,599who belongs to Jesus Christ41200:21:34,599 –> 00:21:39,119will one day reflect His glory fully.41300:21:39,119 –> 00:21:40,760It’s awesome to think about it.41400:21:42,180 –> 00:21:43,800But it is the promise of the Gospel41500:21:43,800 –> 00:21:47,599that every man in this church41600:21:47,599 –> 00:21:49,839who belongs to Jesus Christ41700:21:49,839 –> 00:21:54,839will one day fully reflect His glory.41800:21:57,000 –> 00:21:58,900Lean into that.41900:21:58,900 –> 00:21:59,739Repeat it.42000:22:00,780 –> 00:22:05,199God has more grace still to come in your life.42100:22:06,619 –> 00:22:09,380There are more things that He still has to do.42200:22:11,660 –> 00:22:13,099And when He does them,42300:22:14,680 –> 00:22:16,459they will surprise you with joy.42400:22:17,680 –> 00:22:20,020What does it mean to be42500:22:21,140 –> 00:22:23,359a man after God’s own heart?42600:22:24,660 –> 00:22:27,699You’ve gotta be filled with the love of God.42700:22:28,040 –> 00:22:31,020You just can’t live this life without42800:22:31,020 –> 00:22:33,199the love that God has for you42900:22:34,500 –> 00:22:36,199being born within you.43000:22:37,900 –> 00:22:39,660You’ve gotta be loyal to your wife.43100:22:41,939 –> 00:22:46,839You’ve gotta give leadership that refreshes.43200:22:48,819 –> 00:22:52,000And you’ve gotta lean into the promise of God43300:22:52,000 –> 00:22:55,979that there is more grace yet to come.43400:22:56,979 –> 00:22:58,819You’ve been listening to Open The Bible43500:22:58,819 –> 00:23:01,400with Pastor Colin Smith in a message called43600:23:01,400 –> 00:23:03,800A Man After God’s Own Heart.43700:23:03,800 –> 00:23:06,000It’s part of our series Godly Character.43800:23:06,000 –> 00:23:08,099And if you’ve missed any of the series43900:23:08,099 –> 00:23:09,199you can easily catch up44000:23:09,199 –> 00:23:10,459or go back and listen again44100:23:10,459 –> 00:23:12,699by coming online to our website44200:23:12,699 –> 00:23:15,459openthebible.org.uk44300:23:15,459 –> 00:23:17,560or by finding us as a podcast44400:23:17,560 –> 00:23:19,140on all the main podcast sites.44500:23:19,140 –> 00:23:21,660Those are easily found by searching for44600:23:21,660 –> 00:23:24,579Open The Bible UK on the podcast site44700:23:24,640 –> 00:23:27,760or by following a link from our website.44800:23:27,760 –> 00:23:29,839Colin, the truth that God’s promise44900:23:29,839 –> 00:23:33,760is greater than our sin is life changing, isn’t it?45000:23:33,760 –> 00:23:35,119It really is, yeah.45100:23:35,119 –> 00:23:37,640God’s grace is greater than my sin.45200:23:37,640 –> 00:23:39,400That is fantastic good news.45300:23:39,400 –> 00:23:42,439The Bible says that, sin reigned,45400:23:42,439 –> 00:23:46,359that’s past tense, as far as a believer is concerned45500:23:46,359 –> 00:23:49,560because in Christ grace reigns.45600:23:49,560 –> 00:23:50,939And what that means is that45700:23:50,939 –> 00:23:52,920the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ45800:23:52,939 –> 00:23:56,079not only is able to forgive us for our sins45900:23:56,079 –> 00:23:58,680but has the power to set us free from the reign46000:23:58,680 –> 00:24:01,959and the grip that sin has in our lives.46100:24:01,959 –> 00:24:05,119What that means is that sin is still a Christian’s enemy46200:24:05,119 –> 00:24:08,479but the Bible says it will no longer be your master.46300:24:08,479 –> 00:24:10,160You’re in a position to fight.46400:24:10,160 –> 00:24:12,040You’re in a position to live a new life46500:24:12,040 –> 00:24:13,859and that’s the hope of the gospel.46600:24:13,859 –> 00:24:14,699It is.46700:24:14,699 –> 00:24:16,359And as we begin to understand46800:24:16,359 –> 00:24:18,699the power of the gospel to transform us46900:24:18,699 –> 00:24:20,640in the here and now,47000:24:20,660 –> 00:24:23,760that changes the way in which we fight against sin.47100:24:23,760 –> 00:24:24,719That’s right.47200:24:24,719 –> 00:24:26,359To be telling yourself47300:24:26,359 –> 00:24:29,280that you’re in a position of inevitable defeat47400:24:29,280 –> 00:24:32,119is to predict inevitable defeat47500:24:32,119 –> 00:24:35,060but when the truth is that you are in Christ47600:24:35,060 –> 00:24:37,660and the Holy Spirit is for you and with you,47700:24:37,660 –> 00:24:39,420that means that however many times47800:24:39,420 –> 00:24:41,479you’ve failed in a battle with temptation,47900:24:41,479 –> 00:24:43,280you can go out and fight48000:24:43,280 –> 00:24:45,699and you can go out and by the grace of God,48100:24:45,699 –> 00:24:47,319you can prevail today.48200:24:47,319 –> 00:24:48,719So be encouraged.48300:24:49,420 –> 00:24:50,920Be ready to engage in the fight48400:24:50,920 –> 00:24:54,420and know that sin never has the last word48500:24:54,420 –> 00:24:57,000as far as a child of God is concerned.48600:24:57,000 –> 00:24:58,939That is good news.48700:24:58,939 –> 00:25:00,579You’ve been listening to Open the Bible48800:25:00,579 –> 00:25:01,939with Pastor Colin Smith.48900:25:01,939 –> 00:25:03,140I’m David Pick.49000:25:03,140 –> 00:25:04,739I’m glad you could be with us today49100:25:04,739 –> 00:25:06,300and I hope you’d join us again49200:25:06,300 –> 00:25:08,280next time on Open the Bible.49300:25:09,079 –> 00:25:12,540What does it mean to be a godly woman?49400:25:12,540 –> 00:25:15,040Find out next time on Open the Bible.