1 00:00:00,000 –> 00:00:07,120 You’re listening to a sermon from Pastor Colin Smith of Open the Bible. 2 00:00:07,120 –> 00:00:12,680 To contact us, call us at 1-877-OPEN-365. 3 00:00:12,680 –> 00:00:14,880 Or visit our website, OpenTheBible.org. 4 00:00:14,880 –> 00:00:19,059 Let’s get to the message, here is Pastor Colin. 5 00:00:19,059 –> 00:00:26,500 We’re looking on these four Sunday mornings at the subject of loyalty and what it takes 6 00:00:26,500 –> 00:00:29,420 to keep faith in a broken world. 7 00:00:29,620 –> 00:00:36,279 And particularly, learning how to deal with the difficult person who causes pain in your 8 00:00:36,279 –> 00:00:37,779 life. 9 00:00:37,779 –> 00:00:42,459 And we’re building step-by-step these themes come together in one story in the scripture 10 00:00:42,459 –> 00:00:44,560 and we need to view them together. 11 00:00:44,560 –> 00:00:49,220 We’ve learned so far, that loyalty understands providence. 12 00:00:49,220 –> 00:00:52,380 In other words nothing in your life happens by accident. 13 00:00:52,380 –> 00:00:59,139 If you’re a Christian, your life is held in the loving hand of God and He works in all 14 00:00:59,139 –> 00:01:05,540 things for the ultimate good, which is not that you’ll have a pain free life, but it 15 00:01:05,540 –> 00:01:11,500 is that the character of Jesus will be reproduced in you to the eternal glory of God. 16 00:01:11,500 –> 00:01:16,199 And God works in every circumstance of your life to advance that great purpose. 17 00:01:16,199 –> 00:01:24,459 Some things in your life may be very painful indeed, but even they can be the place where 18 00:01:24,760 –> 00:01:30,139 God’s grace breaks through and shines through in you. 19 00:01:30,139 –> 00:01:32,080 Now, David understood that. 20 00:01:32,080 –> 00:01:38,720 And we have seen that Saul made David’s life absolutely miserable for 15 years, but God 21 00:01:38,720 –> 00:01:45,720 used even this, painful as it was and terrible as it was, to shape David into the man of 22 00:01:45,720 –> 00:01:49,320 God he became and the great king that he was. 23 00:01:49,320 –> 00:01:51,980 Loyalty understands providence. 24 00:01:51,980 –> 00:01:53,279 That was the first thing. 25 00:01:53,279 –> 00:01:59,680 Then last week we took a second step in seeing that loyalty speaks the truth. 26 00:01:59,680 –> 00:02:04,019 Loyalty in other words does not mean being a kind of doormat. 27 00:02:04,019 –> 00:02:07,360 Loyalty cares enough to confront. 28 00:02:07,360 –> 00:02:12,039 And speaking the truth in love is part of loyalty. 29 00:02:12,039 –> 00:02:17,240 We saw from the Scriptures last week how Samuel confronted Saul after Saul had disobeyed a 30 00:02:17,240 –> 00:02:19,020 direct commandment of God. 31 00:02:19,020 –> 00:02:21,479 He named Saul Sin. 32 00:02:21,639 –> 00:02:26,899 He showed the significance and the scale of it and he announced its consequences, and all 33 00:02:26,899 –> 00:02:30,279 that is part of true loyalty. 34 00:02:30,279 –> 00:02:34,520 Now we’re looking at this story for a very practical reason. 35 00:02:34,520 –> 00:02:39,720 Some of us may also have a Saul in our lives. 36 00:02:39,720 –> 00:02:46,259 It may be at home, it may be at work, but there is a person or perhaps even people who 37 00:02:46,259 –> 00:02:48,580 have brought great pain in your life. 38 00:02:49,279 –> 00:02:55,580 And you need to know how to deal with him or with her. 39 00:02:55,580 –> 00:02:59,600 And this morning we’re going to take a third step in discovering how to do that as we see 40 00:02:59,600 –> 00:03:03,199 in the Bible that loyalty shows grace. 41 00:03:03,199 –> 00:03:07,919 Now we’re going to take up the story where we left off last week, which is 1 Samuel in 42 00:03:07,919 –> 00:03:16,279 chapter 15 and verse 23, and cover some of the ground before chapter 24. 43 00:03:16,279 –> 00:03:24,440 We saw last week in 1523 that God had rejected Saul as king over Israel. 44 00:03:24,440 –> 00:03:27,419 And this did not mean, of course, that Saul could not be forgiven. 45 00:03:27,419 –> 00:03:32,880 There is always grace and mercy in God for those who turn to him to receive it. 46 00:03:32,880 –> 00:03:36,059 But it did mean that there were consequences for Saul’s sin. 47 00:03:36,059 –> 00:03:39,039 The Spirit of the Lord departed from him. 48 00:03:39,039 –> 00:03:41,679 The blessing of God was no longer on Saul’s leadership. 49 00:03:41,679 –> 00:03:43,699 That was a terrible thing for him. 50 00:03:44,000 –> 00:03:46,960 And of course it was a terrible thing for the people under him. 51 00:03:46,960 –> 00:03:52,820 Mercifully, in chapter 16, God tells Samuel the prophet to go and anoint another King. 52 00:03:52,820 –> 00:03:57,559 And we read there the story of how David was anointed, probably just a teenager at the 53 00:03:57,559 –> 00:04:02,619 time, anointed to be the next king of Israel. 54 00:04:02,619 –> 00:04:04,660 It happened in private. 55 00:04:04,660 –> 00:04:08,860 Saul knew nothing about what was going on at this point. 56 00:04:08,860 –> 00:04:13,339 Then we come to chapter 17, which most people know well, the marvelous story of David and 57 00:04:13,699 –> 00:04:14,699 Goliath. 58 00:04:14,699 –> 00:04:16,799 Saul was leading the army… 59 00:04:16,799 –> 00:04:22,720 But of course, without the blessing of God on his leadership, even the army was in trouble. 60 00:04:22,720 –> 00:04:29,459 They were stuck in a valley, they were humiliated by the taunts of a supersized warrior called 61 00:04:29,459 –> 00:04:34,220 Goliath, who by the way would have been a marvelous acquisition for the WWF. 62 00:04:34,220 –> 00:04:41,660 Goliath didn’t even need a microphone for his hype. 63 00:04:41,660 –> 00:04:47,540 He simply shouted across the valley, challenging someone to come out and meet him. 64 00:04:47,540 –> 00:04:51,059 Well, not much has changed, you see. 65 00:04:51,059 –> 00:04:56,140 Saul, the once great leader who had been at the beginning, head and shoulders above everyone 66 00:04:56,140 –> 00:05:02,600 else in Israel, now suddenly looked rather small and pathetic and he wasn’t volunteering. 67 00:05:02,600 –> 00:05:07,500 Then David came along, probably only 15 years old at the time. 68 00:05:07,500 –> 00:05:11,179 But the spirit of God was on this teenager. 69 00:05:11,459 –> 00:05:14,839 And he delivered God’s people from their enemy. 70 00:05:14,839 –> 00:05:19,579 And Saul, of course, was so impressed he thought, wow, I’ve got to recruit him onto my staff. 71 00:05:19,579 –> 00:05:21,700 This is a marvelous fellow to have around. 72 00:05:21,700 –> 00:05:28,239 And so David is brought into the palace, and indeed, he makes Saul look so good that he 73 00:05:28,239 –> 00:05:30,940 ends up being promoted fast. 74 00:05:30,940 –> 00:05:38,459 Chapter 18 in verse 5, whatever Saul sent David to do, David did it so successfully 75 00:05:38,619 –> 00:05:41,399 that Saul gave him a high rank in the army. 76 00:05:41,399 –> 00:05:46,339 And this pleased all the people and Saul’s officers as well. 77 00:05:46,339 –> 00:05:50,579 Now, the more success that David had, the more popular he became. 78 00:05:50,579 –> 00:05:57,019 And so in chapter 18 and verse 7, we find the women in the town singing, Saul has slain 79 00:05:57,019 –> 00:06:02,559 in his thousands, David in his tens of thousands. 80 00:06:02,559 –> 00:06:07,000 And at that point, things began to change. 81 00:06:07,019 –> 00:06:15,600 Chapter 18 in verse 8, Saul was very angry, the refrain galled him. 82 00:06:15,600 –> 00:06:19,559 This little ditty that the women were singing that really got him going. 83 00:06:19,559 –> 00:06:23,160 They’ve credited David, he said, with tens of thousands. 84 00:06:23,160 –> 00:06:25,459 They’ve only credited me with thousands. 85 00:06:25,459 –> 00:06:31,820 And then notice what he says, what more can he get but the kingdom? 86 00:06:31,820 –> 00:06:33,940 This is the moment of recognition. 87 00:06:34,260 –> 00:06:37,279 It suddenly dawned. 88 00:06:37,279 –> 00:06:41,040 Saul knows that the spirit of God has left him. 89 00:06:41,040 –> 00:06:44,640 He’s heard the announcement of the word of God from Samuel, that the kingdom will be 90 00:06:44,640 –> 00:06:47,079 taken from him. 91 00:06:47,079 –> 00:06:52,160 And suddenly it dawns on Saul, this man David, the very man I’ve promoted, the very man who 92 00:06:52,160 –> 00:06:55,399 God has already used as the deliverer of his people. 93 00:06:55,399 –> 00:06:59,920 This is the man who’s going to end up getting the kingdom. 94 00:06:59,920 –> 00:07:06,040 Now at that moment, Saul faced a choice. 95 00:07:06,040 –> 00:07:14,720 If he had accepted the word of God, he could have spent his later years mentoring David. 96 00:07:14,720 –> 00:07:19,299 If he had accepted the consequences of his own sin and been truly repentant, these things 97 00:07:19,299 –> 00:07:25,059 go together of course, that’s what he would have done. 98 00:07:25,100 –> 00:07:30,339 The tragedy of Saul’s life is that instead of accepting the word of God and submitting 99 00:07:30,339 –> 00:07:34,799 to it, Saul just became angry. 100 00:07:34,799 –> 00:07:42,700 And you could write that one word over the later years of this man’s life, angry. 101 00:07:42,700 –> 00:07:45,239 He was angry with God. 102 00:07:45,239 –> 00:07:47,940 He was angry with David. 103 00:07:47,940 –> 00:07:52,160 Progressively as we follow the story, we’re going to see, he becomes more and more angry 104 00:07:52,299 –> 00:07:56,760 everybody else around him, making everyone’s life miserable. 105 00:07:56,760 –> 00:08:03,200 Chapter 18 in verse 9, from that time on, Saul kept a jealous eye on David. 106 00:08:03,200 –> 00:08:06,200 Now, here’s the extraordinary thing. 107 00:08:06,200 –> 00:08:09,720 Saul knows that the blessing of God is on David. 108 00:08:09,720 –> 00:08:14,299 And yet, he spends the later years of his life trying to destroy the very person God 109 00:08:14,299 –> 00:08:15,619 has chosen to bless. 110 00:08:15,619 –> 00:08:21,600 And, of course, this was an exercise in utter futility because nobody can destroy the purpose 111 00:08:21,600 –> 00:08:22,600 of God. 112 00:08:22,600 –> 00:08:28,440 And, so, as Saul becomes older, he gets more and more frustrated. 113 00:08:28,440 –> 00:08:32,479 Pursuing David becomes an obsession with him. 114 00:08:32,479 –> 00:08:36,820 And, in the end, he seems to lose touch with reality altogether. 115 00:08:36,820 –> 00:08:43,400 Now, this is one of the saddest stories in all of the Bible. 116 00:08:43,400 –> 00:08:49,619 And it contains a powerful warning for every one of us, especially when we’re disappointed 117 00:08:50,219 –> 00:08:57,500 Be very careful when you find yourself becoming angry. 118 00:08:57,500 –> 00:09:00,299 Be very careful. 119 00:09:00,299 –> 00:09:05,559 Be very careful when someone else has the blessing you wanted. 120 00:09:05,559 –> 00:09:08,520 Be very careful. 121 00:09:08,520 –> 00:09:16,080 The New Testament says to us, see to it that no root of bitterness grows up in you. 122 00:09:17,080 –> 00:09:26,780 A root of bitterness destroyed Saul, and it would destroy you too. 123 00:09:26,780 –> 00:09:29,260 Now, I want us to see two things from the scripture this morning. 124 00:09:29,260 –> 00:09:35,700 The first is the pain that Saul caused as he became increasingly angry and frustrated, 125 00:09:35,700 –> 00:09:38,619 the pain he caused to other people around him. 126 00:09:38,619 –> 00:09:42,640 And then secondly, I want us to see the way in which David responded to this 127 00:09:42,640 –> 00:09:45,119 with grace. 128 00:09:45,140 –> 00:09:47,000 Chapter 18 and verse 11. 129 00:09:47,000 –> 00:09:50,599 David is now on the staff of the palace. 130 00:09:50,599 –> 00:09:59,299 And as well as his exploits in leading the army, he evidently doubled as a solo musician. 131 00:09:59,299 –> 00:10:06,159 And Saul is listening to David’s music as he sits there playing the harp and he thinks to himself 132 00:10:06,159 –> 00:10:09,880 in a moment of fury as he seizes his spear. 133 00:10:09,880 –> 00:10:11,859 I’m going to pin him to the wall right now. 134 00:10:11,880 –> 00:10:13,099 I’m going to finish him off. 135 00:10:13,099 –> 00:10:17,919 This is the anger, the frustration that’s in this man. 136 00:10:17,919 –> 00:10:24,099 And he hurtles the spear at David and David sidesteps the javelin. 137 00:10:24,099 –> 00:10:27,020 By the way, if anyone has an employer who’s done this sort of thing, 138 00:10:27,020 –> 00:10:29,900 it is a good idea to get another job. 139 00:10:29,900 –> 00:10:34,260 And David, of course, quite wisely at this point leaves the palace. 140 00:10:34,260 –> 00:10:37,859 But then Saul pledges that he’ll never do such a thing again. 141 00:10:37,859 –> 00:10:40,900 David comes back and then Saul uses another tactic. 142 00:10:40,900 –> 00:10:43,859 He says, I’ll send him out with the army. 143 00:10:43,859 –> 00:10:46,719 And the Philistines will finish him off for me. 144 00:10:46,719 –> 00:10:49,900 And so, he sends David out on more and more missions. 145 00:10:49,900 –> 00:10:54,039 And of course, God blesses David and so David becomes more and more popular. 146 00:10:54,039 –> 00:10:57,619 And everything Saul does just leads him to more and more frustration 147 00:10:57,619 –> 00:11:02,700 because he can’t overturn the blessing of God on this man. 148 00:11:02,700 –> 00:11:05,539 Then chapter 18, it got worse for Saul. 149 00:11:05,539 –> 00:11:07,599 I mean, would you believe it? 150 00:11:07,599 –> 00:11:12,280 His daughter, of all the men in the world she could have fallen in love with, 151 00:11:12,280 –> 00:11:16,520 his daughter falls in love with David. 152 00:11:16,520 –> 00:11:20,479 And if you look at chapter 18 in verse 20, we’re told Saul’s 153 00:11:20,479 –> 00:11:24,159 daughter Michal was in love with David. 154 00:11:24,159 –> 00:11:25,520 And look at Saul’s reaction. 155 00:11:25,520 –> 00:11:27,320 I find it absolutely fascinating. 156 00:11:27,320 –> 00:11:32,419 When they told Saul about it, he was pleased. 157 00:11:32,419 –> 00:11:37,900 I will give her to him, he thought, so that she may be a 158 00:11:37,900 –> 00:11:40,460 snare for him. 159 00:11:40,460 –> 00:11:42,960 Now, what do you make of this man? 160 00:11:42,960 –> 00:11:49,299 He’s ready to use his own daughter as a spy on his enemy. 161 00:11:49,299 –> 00:11:50,900 Here’s a good fellow for you to marry. 162 00:11:50,900 –> 00:11:54,260 Just give me the information. 163 00:11:54,260 –> 00:11:56,140 Talk about a dysfunctional family. 164 00:11:56,500 –> 00:11:59,820 Put yourself in David’s shoes. 165 00:11:59,820 –> 00:12:02,900 What would you make of a father-in-law who would 166 00:12:02,900 –> 00:12:07,059 attempt to use his own daughter, your wife, to 167 00:12:07,059 –> 00:12:08,299 undermine you? 168 00:12:12,039 –> 00:12:17,219 Now, as we follow this story, we begin to see that actually 169 00:12:17,219 –> 00:12:20,940 it speaks very, very powerfully to us today. 170 00:12:21,059 –> 00:12:23,880 powerfully to us today. 171 00:12:23,880 –> 00:12:30,539 Because this is a story about abuse of all sorts 172 00:12:30,539 –> 00:12:33,979 within a family. 173 00:12:33,979 –> 00:12:38,280 David was Saul’s son-in-law. 174 00:12:38,280 –> 00:12:41,460 And, of course, when David married Michael, Saul promised 175 00:12:41,460 –> 00:12:44,359 again that a line would be drawn under it, let bygones be 176 00:12:44,359 –> 00:12:45,559 bygones, and so forth. 177 00:12:45,559 –> 00:12:48,500 David comes back to the palace, but in chapter 19, 178 00:12:49,359 –> 00:12:52,140 long before Saul has another eruption of this temper that 179 00:12:52,140 –> 00:12:55,400 he evidently can no longer control, and he throws his 180 00:12:55,400 –> 00:12:58,539 spear at David a second time. 181 00:12:58,539 –> 00:13:00,539 He says, You think you’ve got problem with your in-laws? 182 00:13:03,640 –> 00:13:06,820 How was Christmas with the in-laws? 183 00:13:06,820 –> 00:13:08,380 Oh a little tense, as usual. 184 00:13:08,380 –> 00:13:11,159 Bit of an incident with the spear. 185 00:13:14,000 –> 00:13:16,960 My wife had to lure me out of my father-in-law’s house in a 186 00:13:16,960 –> 00:13:20,400 basket out of a window at night. 187 00:13:20,400 –> 00:13:22,659 That’s what happened. 188 00:13:22,659 –> 00:13:27,000 Then look at how Saul’s deteriorating temper affects 189 00:13:27,000 –> 00:13:30,239 even his own son, Jonathan. 190 00:13:30,239 –> 00:13:34,539 Everybody in the family suffers because of a man like Saul. 191 00:13:34,539 –> 00:13:37,479 In chapter 20, we’re told about an evening when the family was 192 00:13:37,479 –> 00:13:41,380 gathered round the dinner table, no doubt an extended 193 00:13:41,380 –> 00:13:44,179 banqueting table with many others there. 194 00:13:44,179 –> 00:13:46,559 We know that Jonathan loved David. 195 00:13:46,719 –> 00:13:49,320 And in the course of conversation, David not being 196 00:13:49,320 –> 00:13:52,719 there on this occasion because he was hiding in the fields, 197 00:13:52,719 –> 00:13:56,700 Jonathan spoke up in defense of David. 198 00:13:56,700 –> 00:14:01,479 And when he did, chapter 20 in verse 30, it tells us Saul’s 199 00:14:01,479 –> 00:14:03,080 anger flared up. 200 00:14:03,080 –> 00:14:04,479 You see this is the kind of man he is. 201 00:14:04,479 –> 00:14:08,020 It flares up again at Jonathan this time. 202 00:14:08,020 –> 00:14:12,320 And he said to him, look at this for a bit of dinnertime 203 00:14:12,320 –> 00:14:14,640 conversation. 204 00:14:14,640 –> 00:14:19,400 You are the son of a perverse and rebellious woman. 205 00:14:19,400 –> 00:14:21,760 Don’t I know that you have sided with the son of Jesse, 206 00:14:21,760 –> 00:14:24,559 that’s David, to your own shame and to the shame of the 207 00:14:24,559 –> 00:14:26,719 mother who bore you? 208 00:14:26,719 –> 00:14:30,919 As long as the son of Jesse lives on this earth, neither 209 00:14:30,919 –> 00:14:32,760 you nor your kingdom will be established. 210 00:14:32,760 –> 00:14:35,880 Now, send and bring him to me, for he must die. 211 00:14:35,880 –> 00:14:38,059 And Jonathan says, why should he be put to death? 212 00:14:38,059 –> 00:14:39,200 What has he done? 213 00:14:39,200 –> 00:14:40,960 And Saul hurled his spear. 214 00:14:40,960 –> 00:14:45,619 He takes the spear, throws it right over the table. 215 00:14:45,619 –> 00:14:48,700 And Jonathan also has to elude him. 216 00:14:48,700 –> 00:14:55,320 Now, this is, by any standards, a family completely 217 00:14:55,320 –> 00:14:58,559 out of control. 218 00:14:58,559 –> 00:15:04,020 Here, Saul, the spirit of God, has departed from him. 219 00:15:04,020 –> 00:15:07,960 Bitterness and anger are raging within him. 220 00:15:07,960 –> 00:15:10,900 No one knows how he’s going to erupt or towards whom he’s 221 00:15:10,919 –> 00:15:14,140 going to erupt next. 222 00:15:14,140 –> 00:15:17,219 The man finds himself in the grip of a power that he 223 00:15:17,219 –> 00:15:18,520 cannot control. 224 00:15:18,520 –> 00:15:23,260 And the whole family suffers because of it. 225 00:15:23,260 –> 00:15:25,340 So you see what is happening in Saul’s life. 226 00:15:25,340 –> 00:15:26,719 He’s angry with God. 227 00:15:26,719 –> 00:15:27,940 He’s angry with David. 228 00:15:27,940 –> 00:15:30,460 He feels power slipping away from him. 229 00:15:30,460 –> 00:15:31,280 He doesn’t like it. 230 00:15:31,280 –> 00:15:32,979 He doesn’t know what to do about it. 231 00:15:32,979 –> 00:15:35,020 Nothing he tries to do seems to work. 232 00:15:35,020 –> 00:15:37,099 He’s increasingly frustrated. 233 00:15:37,099 –> 00:15:39,219 God frustrates the way of the wicked. 234 00:15:39,219 –> 00:15:43,619 And he ends up destroying relationships with the very 235 00:15:43,619 –> 00:15:47,840 people God has placed around him, even his 236 00:15:47,840 –> 00:15:52,260 own son and daughter. 237 00:15:52,260 –> 00:16:03,859 Then one day, David got the chance to get even. 238 00:16:03,859 –> 00:16:07,659 Now I want you to turn to 1 Samuel 24 that was read. 239 00:16:07,679 –> 00:16:11,539 Saul has now 3,000 men who are out looking for David, 240 00:16:11,539 –> 00:16:14,940 who by this point in the story is a fugitive on the run 241 00:16:14,940 –> 00:16:19,059 and he’s hiding deep in a large cave in 242 00:16:19,059 –> 00:16:20,299 the area of Engedi. 243 00:16:20,299 –> 00:16:23,979 That is one of these areas that is just filled with 244 00:16:23,979 –> 00:16:26,820 recesses in the rock. 245 00:16:26,820 –> 00:16:30,539 And Saul is out chasing after David and these 3,000 are 246 00:16:30,539 –> 00:16:34,780 combing over this whole region of Engedi. 247 00:16:34,820 –> 00:16:36,260 And would you believe it? 248 00:16:38,059 –> 00:16:40,700 Saul feels the call of nature. 249 00:16:41,880 –> 00:16:46,219 And there aren’t a lot of restrooms provided in the desert, 250 00:16:46,219 –> 00:16:48,659 no little porta cabins or anything like that, 251 00:16:48,659 –> 00:16:53,059 so Saul decides that he’ll go into a cave 252 00:16:53,059 –> 00:16:54,320 to relieve himself. 253 00:16:55,940 –> 00:16:58,739 And no doubt he takes off his robe and he throws it 254 00:16:58,739 –> 00:17:01,900 in the back of the cave and gets himself organized. 255 00:17:02,099 –> 00:17:07,099 And would you believe he goes into the very cave 256 00:17:07,819 –> 00:17:10,540 where David, with a few of his fighting men, 257 00:17:10,540 –> 00:17:13,380 are hiding right back in the darkness there? 258 00:17:15,699 –> 00:17:16,859 Now here’s my question. 259 00:17:18,619 –> 00:17:19,859 What would you have done? 260 00:17:22,300 –> 00:17:25,199 You see, if there is a Saul in your life, 261 00:17:26,959 –> 00:17:29,739 it is more than likely that at some point 262 00:17:30,699 –> 00:17:35,300 God will give you the opportunity to get even. 263 00:17:35,300 –> 00:17:38,660 And what you do with that opportunity 264 00:17:39,859 –> 00:17:44,859 will be one of the greatest tests of your Christian life. 265 00:17:47,380 –> 00:17:50,500 Now our whole culture screams to us a slogan. 266 00:17:50,500 –> 00:17:52,900 I’ll start it and you can finish it. 267 00:17:52,900 –> 00:17:57,660 It says, Don’t Get Mad, Get Even. 268 00:17:59,819 –> 00:18:04,579 Our whole culture screams that to us. 269 00:18:04,579 –> 00:18:05,839 Have you been hurt? 270 00:18:05,839 –> 00:18:08,479 Don’t get mad get even. 271 00:18:09,540 –> 00:18:14,280 That’s why our courts are packed full. 272 00:18:15,500 –> 00:18:20,500 When we have been hurt our first instinct is to hurt back. 273 00:18:22,939 –> 00:18:25,099 I’ll make him pay for this. 274 00:18:25,859 –> 00:18:30,699 And God gives David that opportunity. 275 00:18:33,300 –> 00:18:35,099 Here he is at the back of the cave, 276 00:18:36,420 –> 00:18:39,500 and Saul who has been such a pain in his life for years now 277 00:18:39,500 –> 00:18:41,959 is in an utterly defenseless position. 278 00:18:44,180 –> 00:18:46,140 And I’m asking you this question. 279 00:18:46,140 –> 00:18:49,819 If God gave you that opportunity with Saul 280 00:18:49,819 –> 00:18:51,800 in your life what would you do with it? 281 00:18:52,359 –> 00:18:54,459 Would you let it go? 282 00:18:55,839 –> 00:18:58,079 Now not only did he have the opportunity 283 00:18:58,079 –> 00:19:00,839 to get his own back, 284 00:19:00,839 –> 00:19:02,859 he had plenty of encouragement to do it too. 285 00:19:02,859 –> 00:19:05,359 Notice from chapter 24 in verse four 286 00:19:05,359 –> 00:19:07,959 that the mighty men who were with David there 287 00:19:07,959 –> 00:19:09,000 at the back of the cave, 288 00:19:09,000 –> 00:19:10,260 they’re whispering to him and they’re saying, 289 00:19:10,260 –> 00:19:12,040 this is the day! 290 00:19:12,040 –> 00:19:13,680 This is God’s day. 291 00:19:13,680 –> 00:19:16,800 This is the opportunity God’s given to you. 292 00:19:16,800 –> 00:19:19,219 Go take the dagger, finish him off. 293 00:19:22,160 –> 00:19:22,939 There’s a historical record in the Bible 294 00:19:22,939 –> 00:19:25,760 that God had ever said what they said God had said. 295 00:19:25,760 –> 00:19:27,439 But evidently, these men were quite sure 296 00:19:27,439 –> 00:19:28,880 that this was what God was saying. 297 00:19:28,880 –> 00:19:31,199 I’m sure God wants you to get him. 298 00:19:34,359 –> 00:19:36,839 Now, I have to say to you that when this opportunity, 299 00:19:36,839 –> 00:19:37,900 this moment comes, 300 00:19:37,900 –> 00:19:40,260 when you are given the opportunity 301 00:19:40,260 –> 00:19:42,400 to get even with someone who has harmed you. 302 00:19:42,400 –> 00:19:44,160 There will not be a shortage of friends 303 00:19:44,160 –> 00:19:45,880 who will come like David’s mighty men. 304 00:19:45,880 –> 00:19:49,140 And they will say to you, go for it, nail him. 305 00:19:49,599 –> 00:19:52,300 Well, but David refused. 306 00:19:56,819 –> 00:19:58,180 And instead he crept forward 307 00:19:58,180 –> 00:20:00,400 and he cut off the corner of Saul’s robe. 308 00:20:01,540 –> 00:20:03,699 Saul knew nothing about it. 309 00:20:03,699 –> 00:20:07,180 Picked up his robe, put it back on, went out the cave. 310 00:20:10,140 –> 00:20:11,459 Then verse eight, 311 00:20:11,459 –> 00:20:13,300 David comes out to the mouth of the cave 312 00:20:13,300 –> 00:20:14,459 and he says my Lord the King, 313 00:20:14,459 –> 00:20:15,959 why do you listen when men say 314 00:20:15,959 –> 00:20:18,020 that David has bent on harming you? 315 00:20:18,020 –> 00:20:18,979 The Lord delivered you 316 00:20:18,979 –> 00:20:20,599 into my hands in the cave. 317 00:20:20,599 –> 00:20:23,140 I said I will not lift my hand against my master 318 00:20:23,140 –> 00:20:27,040 because he has the Lords anointed. 319 00:20:28,979 –> 00:20:30,979 Now, do you see the extraordinary contrast 320 00:20:30,979 –> 00:20:32,020 between these two men? 321 00:20:32,020 –> 00:20:35,099 Saul had no reason to attack David over these years. 322 00:20:35,939 –> 00:20:37,819 But he’s thrown a spear at him twice. 323 00:20:37,819 –> 00:20:41,420 He’s leaned on his own daughter to betray her husband. 324 00:20:41,420 –> 00:20:43,680 He’s raised an army against David. 325 00:20:45,660 –> 00:20:48,180 And David, on the other hand has every reason 326 00:20:48,239 –> 00:20:52,400 to attack Saul, but he exercises restraint. 327 00:20:54,339 –> 00:20:55,420 He shows grace. 328 00:20:58,180 –> 00:20:59,979 Now we live in a very broken world 329 00:20:59,979 –> 00:21:03,760 when many people do terrible things. 330 00:21:05,000 –> 00:21:07,660 Some of us can identify a Saul in our lives, 331 00:21:07,660 –> 00:21:11,099 someone who has hurt us very, very deeply, 332 00:21:12,540 –> 00:21:14,579 made life very, very difficult for us. 333 00:21:14,699 –> 00:21:17,500 Still try to take what was rightfully ours. 334 00:21:21,180 –> 00:21:23,119 And when you have been hurt, 335 00:21:24,219 –> 00:21:26,300 there are two ways that you can go. 336 00:21:27,699 –> 00:21:30,959 The first is that you can try and get even. 337 00:21:32,199 –> 00:21:36,160 Someone has hurt me, I want to hurt them back, 338 00:21:36,160 –> 00:21:37,900 make them pay. 339 00:21:39,959 –> 00:21:41,560 And you say, well, what’s wrong with that? 340 00:21:41,579 –> 00:21:44,479 Shouldn’t Christians be concerned about justice? 341 00:21:44,479 –> 00:21:49,479 Absolutely, but there is more than one way 342 00:21:49,540 –> 00:21:51,280 of getting justice. 343 00:21:53,520 –> 00:21:55,599 Look at what David says in verse 12. 344 00:21:57,060 –> 00:22:00,859 May the Lord judge between you and me, 345 00:22:00,859 –> 00:22:03,459 and may the Lord avenge the wrongs 346 00:22:03,459 –> 00:22:05,599 that you have done to me, 347 00:22:05,599 –> 00:22:08,439 but my hand will not touch you. 348 00:22:09,359 –> 00:22:11,500 You see, David is not disinterested 349 00:22:11,500 –> 00:22:13,739 in the matters of ultimate justice, 350 00:22:14,880 –> 00:22:17,300 but what he’s saying is that he has made a choice 351 00:22:17,300 –> 00:22:20,920 to trust them into the hand of God. 352 00:22:22,260 –> 00:22:23,959 Saul’s one of these guys who’s always saying he’s sorry 353 00:22:23,959 –> 00:22:25,560 and always gonna make a new start. 354 00:22:25,560 –> 00:22:27,079 We’ve seen that and it repeats right the way 355 00:22:27,079 –> 00:22:28,000 throughout the story. 356 00:22:28,000 –> 00:22:29,500 It’s very, very difficult to tell 357 00:22:29,500 –> 00:22:31,060 whether he means it sincerely 358 00:22:31,060 –> 00:22:32,660 or whether this is just another repetition 359 00:22:32,660 –> 00:22:33,880 of the same line. 360 00:22:33,880 –> 00:22:37,560 David’s saying, I’m trusting this into the hand of God. 361 00:22:37,599 –> 00:22:39,000 God knows your heart. 362 00:22:40,079 –> 00:22:41,339 God knows your motives. 363 00:22:42,239 –> 00:22:43,420 God knows everything you’ve done 364 00:22:43,420 –> 00:22:44,760 and everything you will do, 365 00:22:45,979 –> 00:22:47,319 but I’m not going to take the matter 366 00:22:47,319 –> 00:22:49,380 of trying to sort this whole thing out 367 00:22:49,380 –> 00:22:50,640 into my own hands. 368 00:22:50,640 –> 00:22:53,380 I’m going to leave it in the hands of God 369 00:22:53,380 –> 00:22:56,439 and that is what enables David to show grace. 370 00:22:56,439 –> 00:23:00,500 He restrains the impulse that wants to get even. 371 00:23:00,500 –> 00:23:03,599 He releases grace to this man, Saul, 372 00:23:03,599 –> 00:23:05,540 who has been so bitter towards him 373 00:23:05,540 –> 00:23:08,979 and he trusts the whole matter of justice, 374 00:23:08,979 –> 00:23:11,180 not into his own hand, 375 00:23:11,180 –> 00:23:13,859 as if he was in the position to put this whole thing right, 376 00:23:13,859 –> 00:23:18,380 but to leave it in the hand of God Himself. 377 00:23:20,300 –> 00:23:21,140 Now, I have to say, 378 00:23:21,140 –> 00:23:22,459 I don’t know any story in the Bible 379 00:23:22,459 –> 00:23:26,660 that speaks more clearly, helpfully and powerfully 380 00:23:27,939 –> 00:23:29,780 to those who are struggling 381 00:23:30,640 –> 00:23:35,099 to find out how to handle someone who’s hurt you 382 00:23:35,099 –> 00:23:39,900 and you’re not really sure if they’re sorry or not. 383 00:23:41,780 –> 00:23:44,540 Notice, for example, that at the end of chapter 24, 384 00:23:44,540 –> 00:23:48,459 David does not go back with Saul, 385 00:23:48,459 –> 00:23:50,760 and he would have been quite unwise to do so. 386 00:23:52,380 –> 00:23:55,739 David has no way of knowing if Saul’s repentance is real. 387 00:23:55,739 –> 00:23:57,739 Saul acknowledges verse 17, 388 00:23:57,739 –> 00:23:58,780 you are more righteous than I, 389 00:23:58,780 –> 00:24:00,939 you’ve treated me well and I’ve treated you badly 390 00:24:00,939 –> 00:24:01,760 and so forth, 391 00:24:01,760 –> 00:24:03,660 but Saul said this kind of thing before. 392 00:24:04,540 –> 00:24:07,640 And so David is cautious about his words, 393 00:24:07,640 –> 00:24:09,040 and rightly so. 394 00:24:10,260 –> 00:24:15,099 This is a story about showing grace 395 00:24:15,099 –> 00:24:17,780 to a man who never changed, 396 00:24:17,780 –> 00:24:18,939 and Saul never changed, 397 00:24:18,939 –> 00:24:20,199 not until the day he died, 398 00:24:21,979 –> 00:24:26,979 but David refuses to take the opportunity of vengeance. 399 00:24:28,579 –> 00:24:31,400 He puts the whole matter in the hand of God and he says, 400 00:24:31,400 –> 00:24:33,260 I’m gonna release this thing 401 00:24:33,280 –> 00:24:36,939 and let God be the judge off it. 402 00:24:36,939 –> 00:24:38,880 And that’s what puts him in the position 403 00:24:38,880 –> 00:24:43,880 of being able to show this wonderful generosity of grace. 404 00:24:44,420 –> 00:24:47,160 May the Lord judge between you and me, 405 00:24:47,160 –> 00:24:50,380 and may the Lord avenge wrongs you have done for me, 406 00:24:50,380 –> 00:24:54,099 but my hand will not touch you. 407 00:24:55,800 –> 00:24:58,359 Now, I have to say, I find this profoundly helpful. 408 00:24:59,599 –> 00:25:01,300 Some of us really do struggle 409 00:25:01,300 –> 00:25:06,300 with how we are to treat the person who has wronged us 410 00:25:06,459 –> 00:25:10,760 and we’re not sure if there has been any real repentance. 411 00:25:13,060 –> 00:25:14,800 Here’s something you can do. 412 00:25:16,140 –> 00:25:19,339 You can restrain the desire to get even, 413 00:25:20,640 –> 00:25:25,640 and you can place the whole matter into the hands of God. 414 00:25:26,640 –> 00:25:31,420 The day may come when this person who has injured you 415 00:25:31,420 –> 00:25:32,920 does come to repentance, 416 00:25:32,920 –> 00:25:35,760 and it will be wonderful if God causes it to be so. 417 00:25:36,800 –> 00:25:38,219 The day may even come, 418 00:25:38,219 –> 00:25:39,920 though you may find it hard to imagine, 419 00:25:39,920 –> 00:25:42,880 when a wonderful reconciliation may be possible. 420 00:25:44,099 –> 00:25:47,540 But there are situations in which that day is not now, 421 00:25:48,599 –> 00:25:53,560 and until that day comes, here is what you can do. 422 00:25:54,560 –> 00:25:57,719 You can restrain the desire to get even, 423 00:25:58,780 –> 00:26:03,119 and you can place the matter in the hands of God. 424 00:26:04,000 –> 00:26:08,239 And when you do that, you keep faith in a broken world. 425 00:26:08,239 –> 00:26:09,959 This is grace, 426 00:26:09,959 –> 00:26:13,880 and it is the most liberating thing in all the world. 427 00:26:14,859 –> 00:26:19,859 Now, I have to tell you, there isn’t much money in it. 428 00:26:24,280 –> 00:26:26,300 And you have to think about that. 429 00:26:28,760 –> 00:26:33,060 There isn’t much money in it, 430 00:26:35,319 –> 00:26:37,719 but I want to promise you 431 00:26:37,719 –> 00:26:42,439 that those who choose in a circumstance like this, 432 00:26:42,439 –> 00:26:44,000 the path of David, 433 00:26:44,900 –> 00:26:47,599 have something much more valuable. 434 00:26:49,439 –> 00:26:52,859 For when you act in grace, 435 00:26:54,000 –> 00:26:58,160 you reflect the character of God. 436 00:26:59,459 –> 00:27:02,619 For God is gracious. 437 00:27:03,719 –> 00:27:04,540 What’s that mean? 438 00:27:04,540 –> 00:27:08,380 He withholds vengeance 439 00:27:08,380 –> 00:27:12,900 and creates room for reconciliation. 440 00:27:12,900 –> 00:27:14,719 No, there will be ultimate justice, 441 00:27:14,719 –> 00:27:17,219 but right now there is room that God creates 442 00:27:17,219 –> 00:27:20,260 for every one of us to be reconciled to Him. 443 00:27:20,260 –> 00:27:23,420 He does that by restraining vengeance 444 00:27:24,380 –> 00:27:25,300 and offering grace, 445 00:27:25,300 –> 00:27:27,739 which is precisely what David did here. 446 00:27:28,699 –> 00:27:30,079 And of course, that is precisely 447 00:27:30,079 –> 00:27:31,859 what the Lord Jesus Christ did. 448 00:27:31,859 –> 00:27:33,900 Peter tells us in his letter 449 00:27:33,900 –> 00:27:38,500 that when they hurled insults at Jesus, 450 00:27:38,500 –> 00:27:41,260 He did not retaliate. 451 00:27:41,260 –> 00:27:42,459 When He suffered, 452 00:27:42,459 –> 00:27:45,040 and how awful His suffering was, 453 00:27:45,640 –> 00:27:48,819 He made no threats, 454 00:27:50,479 –> 00:27:51,619 no threats. 455 00:27:53,359 –> 00:27:54,979 Instead of making threats, 456 00:27:54,979 –> 00:27:58,939 what He did was He trusted Himself 457 00:27:58,939 –> 00:28:01,219 into the hand of Him, the Father, 458 00:28:01,219 –> 00:28:03,439 who judges justly. 459 00:28:05,119 –> 00:28:08,079 You don’t ever hear Jesus from the cross saying, 460 00:28:08,079 –> 00:28:09,560 you know, one day you guys are gonna 461 00:28:09,560 –> 00:28:11,420 be real sorry at what you did to me. 462 00:28:12,079 –> 00:28:14,979 You never hear Him saying, 463 00:28:14,979 –> 00:28:17,020 let me tell you what I’m gonna do to you. 464 00:28:19,859 –> 00:28:23,300 He trusted the whole matter into the hands of God, 465 00:28:24,219 –> 00:28:26,060 that God would do what was right 466 00:28:26,060 –> 00:28:28,500 with regards to this case, 467 00:28:28,500 –> 00:28:29,939 where there was genuine repentance, 468 00:28:29,939 –> 00:28:31,959 God would bring forgiveness, 469 00:28:31,959 –> 00:28:34,800 where there was not, God Himself will do what is right. 470 00:28:34,800 –> 00:28:37,640 He had compassion on His enemies in the meantime. 471 00:28:38,599 –> 00:28:40,400 And he prayed for them. 472 00:28:43,099 –> 00:28:45,439 And maybe you say, well, that was Jesus. 473 00:28:46,780 –> 00:28:47,819 That’s different. 474 00:28:47,819 –> 00:28:50,599 But Peter very specifically says, 475 00:28:50,599 –> 00:28:54,900 Christ suffered for you, leaving an example, 476 00:28:54,900 –> 00:28:58,819 He says that you may follow in His footsteps. 477 00:29:00,280 –> 00:29:02,579 And he continues in Chapter four, in verse 14, 478 00:29:02,579 –> 00:29:04,920 by saying, if you are insulted, 479 00:29:04,920 –> 00:29:06,939 He’s spoken about Jesus being insulted 480 00:29:07,060 –> 00:29:09,180 and how He did not retaliate. 481 00:29:09,180 –> 00:29:11,979 Now, he says, if you’re insulted, what are you to do? 482 00:29:13,420 –> 00:29:15,920 Well, he says, if you’re insulted, you’re blessed, 483 00:29:16,859 –> 00:29:21,859 because the spirit of glory and of God rests on you. 484 00:29:25,380 –> 00:29:30,380 The spirit of God and of glory rests on you. 485 00:29:31,020 –> 00:29:32,979 The spirit of glory rests on you. 486 00:29:34,819 –> 00:29:39,780 And I wanna say, I think that’s worth more 487 00:29:41,060 –> 00:29:43,300 than some pretty big settlements, don’t you? 488 00:29:46,699 –> 00:29:49,180 And hear me right, I’m not saying that a Christian 489 00:29:49,180 –> 00:29:51,900 should never, under any circumstances, be in court. 490 00:29:53,420 –> 00:29:55,959 Paul appealed for his defense to Caesar. 491 00:29:56,819 –> 00:30:00,479 I am saying there’s more than one way of dealing 492 00:30:00,479 –> 00:30:05,000 with your wounds, and in a world and a culture 493 00:30:05,000 –> 00:30:08,560 whose slogan is, don’t get mad, get even, 494 00:30:10,839 –> 00:30:15,479 this culture desperately needs grace. 495 00:30:17,599 –> 00:30:20,640 And it’s not going to find it anywhere unless 496 00:30:20,640 –> 00:30:25,640 it begins in the Church of Jesus Christ. 497 00:30:26,859 –> 00:30:31,439 Right here, among us. 498 00:30:34,040 –> 00:30:35,839 So, I ask you the simple question. 499 00:30:35,839 –> 00:30:37,800 Where you’ve been wounded, have you considered 500 00:30:37,800 –> 00:30:42,800 the possibility of restraining the urge to get even, 501 00:30:45,079 –> 00:30:49,959 showing grace and putting the matters 502 00:30:49,959 –> 00:30:52,239 of the ultimate justice and the wrongs 503 00:30:52,239 –> 00:30:53,880 that have been committed against you 504 00:30:53,880 –> 00:30:56,400 into the hand of God, 505 00:30:59,160 –> 00:31:02,680 knowing that he judges justly? 506 00:31:05,439 –> 00:31:07,280 And I want to say a word at this point 507 00:31:07,280 –> 00:31:09,979 to all in our congregation today 508 00:31:09,979 –> 00:31:13,760 who have shown grace to us all in your life, 509 00:31:13,760 –> 00:31:14,839 and there are many. 510 00:31:16,280 –> 00:31:19,959 Someone has hurt you and there were things 511 00:31:20,000 –> 00:31:22,739 that you could have done to get even, 512 00:31:24,319 –> 00:31:25,520 but you chose not to. 513 00:31:27,479 –> 00:31:28,979 And I want to say this to you. 514 00:31:30,599 –> 00:31:33,760 As you restrained, and it wasn’t easy for you, 515 00:31:33,760 –> 00:31:35,880 vengeance and you showed grace, 516 00:31:37,280 –> 00:31:40,680 you reflect the character of God. 517 00:31:43,119 –> 00:31:48,119 You have followed the example of Jesus. 518 00:31:50,359 –> 00:31:54,939 And the spirit of glory and of God rests on you. 519 00:32:01,359 –> 00:32:02,660 I know how much that’s worth, 520 00:32:02,660 –> 00:32:05,359 it just seems to me to be worth more than all the world. 521 00:32:09,319 –> 00:32:10,920 It’s that same spirit that filled David, 522 00:32:10,920 –> 00:32:15,339 the spirit of Jesus, it rests on you. 523 00:32:20,640 –> 00:32:22,680 Many of you folks know much better than I do 524 00:32:22,680 –> 00:32:26,119 there are plenty of souls in the world of business today, 525 00:32:26,119 –> 00:32:26,959 aren’t there? 526 00:32:28,959 –> 00:32:32,020 Greedy, self-obsessed people, 527 00:32:32,020 –> 00:32:33,900 angry and frustrated who’ll do anything 528 00:32:33,900 –> 00:32:34,859 to get their own way, 529 00:32:34,859 –> 00:32:37,880 and feel increasingly desperate when they don’t. 530 00:32:37,880 –> 00:32:40,420 And you work amongst some of them. 531 00:32:42,500 –> 00:32:46,540 And the world of business today needs more Davids, 532 00:32:47,540 –> 00:32:49,780 men who will restrain, 533 00:32:49,780 –> 00:32:52,979 women who will restrain the urge to get even 534 00:32:52,979 –> 00:32:55,459 and will show grace instead. 535 00:32:57,420 –> 00:33:01,819 The tragic reality is there are plenty of Souls in families, 536 00:33:03,000 –> 00:33:05,579 men or women who have been running an argument for years 537 00:33:05,579 –> 00:33:07,619 and won’t let it go and once they start talking 538 00:33:07,619 –> 00:33:09,520 they can’t even stop talking about it. 539 00:33:11,160 –> 00:33:13,640 Our families need more Davids, 540 00:33:13,640 –> 00:33:16,880 men and women who will restrain the urge to get even 541 00:33:16,880 –> 00:33:20,959 and will show grace instead. 542 00:33:23,699 –> 00:33:26,339 Let me ask you honestly, when you look in the mirror, 543 00:33:27,260 –> 00:33:29,819 are you looking at David or are you looking at Soul? 544 00:33:30,800 –> 00:33:34,140 If we were to ask your family circle or your friends 545 00:33:34,140 –> 00:33:36,219 or your colleagues at work, 546 00:33:36,219 –> 00:33:37,719 if they were to speak honestly 547 00:33:37,719 –> 00:33:39,979 about how they experienced you, 548 00:33:40,560 –> 00:33:43,579 would the reality be 549 00:33:45,099 –> 00:33:46,819 that you’re bringing a great deal of pain 550 00:33:46,819 –> 00:33:48,260 into the lives of other people 551 00:33:48,260 –> 00:33:51,780 or would it be that you’re bringing a great deal of grace 552 00:33:53,319 –> 00:33:54,420 into the lives of other people? 553 00:33:54,420 –> 00:33:59,219 I have to say that both Soul and David 554 00:33:59,219 –> 00:34:00,900 are here this morning. 555 00:34:04,260 –> 00:34:07,880 Some among us are causing terrible pain 556 00:34:08,860 –> 00:34:10,260 to others around us. 557 00:34:12,979 –> 00:34:14,719 I have to say to you, if that’s you, 558 00:34:14,719 –> 00:34:16,820 don’t take the communion this morning 559 00:34:19,899 –> 00:34:24,000 unless you’re ready for real repentance 560 00:34:25,159 –> 00:34:26,479 and I don’t mean the soul thing 561 00:34:26,479 –> 00:34:28,219 that just says sorry every six months 562 00:34:28,219 –> 00:34:29,820 and carries on exactly the same. 563 00:34:31,739 –> 00:34:34,040 I mean the repentance that comes to God 564 00:34:34,040 –> 00:34:36,479 and says, oh, God, change me. 565 00:34:37,959 –> 00:34:39,479 Jesus. 566 00:34:39,479 –> 00:34:41,340 For that’s why Christ died 567 00:34:43,600 –> 00:34:44,899 and there are Davids here, 568 00:34:46,959 –> 00:34:50,320 some of us who know that the wounds are very deep 569 00:34:52,560 –> 00:34:55,239 and know that the calling of Jesus Christ here 570 00:34:55,239 –> 00:34:57,120 is very high 571 00:34:59,959 –> 00:35:04,280 but we don’t want to be part of an ongoing 572 00:35:04,280 –> 00:35:07,860 kind of mutual hatred society, 573 00:35:08,639 –> 00:35:11,600 and we wonder how it is 574 00:35:11,600 –> 00:35:15,000 that we can find the way to release this grace 575 00:35:15,000 –> 00:35:16,320 and it’s right here. 576 00:35:18,580 –> 00:35:22,219 For when I know truly that I am 577 00:35:22,219 –> 00:35:24,879 the sinner for whom Jesus Christ died 578 00:35:24,879 –> 00:35:27,560 and that I stand in need of his 579 00:35:28,600 –> 00:35:29,919 grace towards me. 580 00:35:29,919 –> 00:35:32,580 Lord, give me grace, not justice. 581 00:35:32,580 –> 00:35:33,399 Grace, 582 00:35:33,739 –> 00:35:34,560 grace. 583 00:35:37,120 –> 00:35:39,199 And when I know that that is what he has given to me 584 00:35:39,199 –> 00:35:40,760 in the cross of Jesus Christ, 585 00:35:40,760 –> 00:35:43,040 I begin to discover the place 586 00:35:44,540 –> 00:35:46,379 where that grace may be released 587 00:35:47,959 –> 00:35:48,860 to others around. 588 00:35:50,939 –> 00:35:53,479 God has restrained vengeance 589 00:35:53,479 –> 00:35:58,419 and shown amazing grace to you in Christ. 590 00:36:00,280 –> 00:36:01,620 What are you going to show? 591 00:36:03,500 –> 00:36:04,800 To those who have hurt you? 592 00:36:06,340 –> 00:36:07,739 Let’s pray together shall we? 593 00:36:09,320 –> 00:36:13,639 Let’s think about the soul in our lives right now. 594 00:36:15,040 –> 00:36:17,020 We’ve not come here to escape from reality, 595 00:36:17,020 –> 00:36:19,439 but to find the strength of God to face it. 596 00:36:23,340 –> 00:36:25,479 And they may have spoken unkind words. 597 00:36:26,860 –> 00:36:29,000 May have sought to undermine your position. 598 00:36:29,939 –> 00:36:32,580 And deep within your heart there is the desire to get even. 599 00:36:35,679 –> 00:36:38,000 But God is inviting you right now 600 00:36:38,000 –> 00:36:40,439 to something infinitely better. 601 00:36:43,939 –> 00:36:45,739 That you’ll restrain vengeance. 602 00:36:48,639 –> 00:36:51,540 That you’ll trust judgment into his hands. 603 00:36:54,800 –> 00:36:57,320 So that room is created for you to release grace. 604 00:36:59,040 –> 00:36:59,820 And they’ll give you grace. 605 00:37:03,919 –> 00:37:06,679 What he promises is that folks who do this 606 00:37:09,020 –> 00:37:12,860 have the spirit of God resting upon them. 607 00:37:17,860 –> 00:37:19,560 This is a moment that could change 608 00:37:22,060 –> 00:37:23,040 some lives, 609 00:37:25,280 –> 00:37:27,479 make things different in some homes. 610 00:37:29,040 –> 00:37:30,760 At any one point in some offices. 611 00:37:34,199 –> 00:37:38,419 The world is filled with souls who cause so much pain. 612 00:37:41,179 –> 00:37:45,239 Make your church a community of David’s 613 00:37:47,139 –> 00:37:51,659 who having received grace, find all kinds of ways 614 00:37:51,659 –> 00:37:52,639 to bring it 615 00:37:53,939 –> 00:37:55,699 into a broken world 616 00:37:56,699 –> 00:37:58,699 so that Christ may be seen 617 00:38:00,139 –> 00:38:01,840 and his name glorified. 618 00:38:04,260 –> 00:38:08,379 For these things we ask in Jesus’ name, 619 00:38:10,419 –> 00:38:11,260 amen. 620 00:38:15,379 –> 00:38:16,580 You’ve been listening to a sermon 621 00:38:16,580 –> 00:38:19,020 with Pastor Colin Smith of Open the Bible. 622 00:38:19,020 –> 00:38:20,020 To contact us, 623 00:38:20,020 –> 00:38:24,260 call us at 1-877-Open-365 624 00:38:24,260 –> 00:38:28,639 or visit our website, openthebible.org.