1 00:00:00,840 --> 00:00:03,240 Have you ever had one of those days 2 00:00:03,240 --> 00:00:08,800 when it seemed like your whole life was 3 00:00:08,800 --> 00:00:10,060 just coming to a stop? 4 00:00:10,960 --> 00:00:13,380 God had brought you to such a point 5 00:00:13,380 --> 00:00:16,300 to where you realized you could not go 6 00:00:16,300 --> 00:00:20,160 on any longer in your own strength. 7 00:00:21,080 --> 00:00:24,840 And all you could do was just fall 8 00:00:24,840 --> 00:00:28,520 on your face before him and say, Oh 9 00:00:28,520 --> 00:00:33,240 God, I can't go on. 10 00:00:36,550 --> 00:00:38,130 There was a day in the life of 11 00:00:38,130 --> 00:00:43,410 David, what you might have said was more 12 00:00:43,410 --> 00:00:44,790 than just a bad day. 13 00:00:44,790 --> 00:00:48,670 It was a day in which he had 14 00:00:48,670 --> 00:00:51,390 just been kicked out of his own kingdom, 15 00:00:51,610 --> 00:00:54,450 kicked out of his own castle, kicked out 16 00:00:54,450 --> 00:00:57,290 of the city of Jerusalem, and was leaving 17 00:00:57,290 --> 00:00:58,670 in disgrace. 18 00:01:01,200 --> 00:01:04,040 When I'm sure his heart was at the 19 00:01:04,040 --> 00:01:09,620 bottom, except that he had been disciplined in 20 00:01:09,620 --> 00:01:13,720 life in this one area, and that was 21 00:01:13,720 --> 00:01:16,640 not to give up on God, no matter 22 00:01:16,640 --> 00:01:19,180 how hard life got. 23 00:01:22,180 --> 00:01:23,960 My friend, you and I will go through 24 00:01:23,960 --> 00:01:24,760 many trials. 25 00:01:25,620 --> 00:01:27,060 That's what life is. 26 00:01:29,900 --> 00:01:32,300 And it's not the trials that will determine 27 00:01:32,300 --> 00:01:35,800 the outcome, but your attitude toward them. 28 00:01:36,800 --> 00:01:42,340 Many years ago, I had a pastor on 29 00:01:42,340 --> 00:01:45,720 preaching on this passage in 2 Samuel 16. 30 00:01:49,270 --> 00:01:52,710 When David was leaving the kingdom and Shimei 31 00:01:52,710 --> 00:01:59,590 was cursing and throwing stones, he said, No 32 00:01:59,590 --> 00:02:04,790 Shimei can hurt you, but your attitude towards 33 00:02:04,790 --> 00:02:07,110 him can kill you. 34 00:02:09,190 --> 00:02:12,650 Now let me read you the passage on 35 00:02:12,650 --> 00:02:14,410 David, and then I want to take you, 36 00:02:15,410 --> 00:02:17,630 as the Spirit of God leads us today, 37 00:02:18,610 --> 00:02:19,890 to Calvary. 38 00:02:20,590 --> 00:02:23,870 You see, my friend, life begins at Calvary. 39 00:02:24,590 --> 00:02:26,630 Life proceeds from Calvary. 40 00:02:27,530 --> 00:02:30,130 And when Jesus told His disciples to take 41 00:02:30,130 --> 00:02:32,950 up their cross and to follow Him, what 42 00:02:32,950 --> 00:02:34,730 He meant was that there was a daily 43 00:02:34,730 --> 00:02:35,950 dying to self. 44 00:02:37,010 --> 00:02:39,850 But before the daily dying to self would 45 00:02:39,850 --> 00:02:41,590 come, there would have to come a day 46 00:02:41,590 --> 00:02:43,890 in their life where they died to self, 47 00:02:43,890 --> 00:02:47,150 and they considered themselves as dead, and that 48 00:02:47,150 --> 00:02:48,590 Jesus was their life. 49 00:02:49,850 --> 00:02:53,950 When the Lord Jesus Christ arrested Paul, Saul 50 00:02:53,950 --> 00:02:58,110 of Tarsus, out on the Damascus Road, that 51 00:02:58,110 --> 00:03:02,470 day Paul died, and Jesus revived, Jesus came 52 00:03:02,470 --> 00:03:04,610 into his life, and Jesus became his life. 53 00:03:05,230 --> 00:03:07,310 But it took him a few years, as 54 00:03:07,310 --> 00:03:09,430 God buried him off out into the desert, 55 00:03:10,250 --> 00:03:13,350 and He taught him, by the Holy Spirit 56 00:03:13,350 --> 00:03:16,030 and by the Word of God, He taught 57 00:03:16,030 --> 00:03:17,490 him the cross. 58 00:03:18,250 --> 00:03:21,730 So when Paul came out of the desert, 59 00:03:22,990 --> 00:03:28,270 there was a man walking, and talking, and 60 00:03:28,270 --> 00:03:31,830 looking, but it was no more Paul of 61 00:03:31,830 --> 00:03:36,610 Tarsus, it was now Paul of Jesus. 62 00:03:37,290 --> 00:03:40,130 He had been taken to the cross, and 63 00:03:40,130 --> 00:03:42,370 so when he came out, he was a 64 00:03:42,370 --> 00:03:42,910 new man. 65 00:03:43,530 --> 00:03:45,310 As the Scripture says, therefore, if any man 66 00:03:45,310 --> 00:03:46,630 be in Christ, he is a new creature. 67 00:03:46,770 --> 00:03:47,970 Old things have passed away. 68 00:03:48,770 --> 00:03:51,710 But the question is, when you go into 69 00:03:51,710 --> 00:03:56,230 your trial, will you come out like Jesus? 70 00:03:57,830 --> 00:03:59,490 Or will you come out bitter? 71 00:04:00,470 --> 00:04:02,910 I've been sharing the last few weeks on 72 00:04:02,910 --> 00:04:03,250 bitterness. 73 00:04:04,770 --> 00:04:06,870 And I wanted to go on, I wanted 74 00:04:06,870 --> 00:04:09,170 to take you into a revival series, but 75 00:04:09,170 --> 00:04:11,010 the Spirit of God just would not let 76 00:04:11,010 --> 00:04:12,590 me, He's checked me at every corner. 77 00:04:14,210 --> 00:04:16,390 And even would not clearly give me a 78 00:04:16,390 --> 00:04:19,550 message to prepare ahead of time. 79 00:04:20,089 --> 00:04:21,670 I said, Lord, you want me to depend 80 00:04:21,670 --> 00:04:22,590 on you completely. 81 00:04:24,130 --> 00:04:25,170 And He says, yes. 82 00:04:28,220 --> 00:04:31,420 He's been taking me deeper and deeper. 83 00:04:31,420 --> 00:04:33,860 Remember, sometimes you think, how deep, how far 84 00:04:33,860 --> 00:04:34,860 will He take you? 85 00:04:36,980 --> 00:04:40,880 I don't think there's any bottom, as long 86 00:04:40,880 --> 00:04:41,940 as we're on this earth. 87 00:04:43,380 --> 00:04:45,940 There's no place to where we stop. 88 00:04:47,360 --> 00:04:48,980 No place to where we get up and 89 00:04:48,980 --> 00:04:50,680 we plateau and we say, this is it, 90 00:04:50,720 --> 00:04:51,600 I've arrived. 91 00:04:52,780 --> 00:04:55,320 The Christian life is a continual crucifixion. 92 00:04:55,940 --> 00:04:58,680 And Christ brings into our life the trials 93 00:04:58,680 --> 00:05:01,940 and the tribulations that we need to continually 94 00:05:01,940 --> 00:05:03,420 conform us to Jesus. 95 00:05:04,380 --> 00:05:05,860 Now, I want to take you down a 96 00:05:05,860 --> 00:05:06,880 little road this morning. 97 00:05:07,520 --> 00:05:09,240 And I'm trusting that the Spirit of God 98 00:05:09,240 --> 00:05:10,640 will open up to you what He wants 99 00:05:10,640 --> 00:05:11,180 you to see. 100 00:05:12,680 --> 00:05:14,720 You may have to stop your car. 101 00:05:15,400 --> 00:05:17,200 If you're driving, you may have to shut 102 00:05:17,200 --> 00:05:19,960 off whatever's going on around you. 103 00:05:21,880 --> 00:05:23,560 If you have ears to hear and the 104 00:05:23,560 --> 00:05:25,140 Spirit of God is saying to you, this 105 00:05:25,140 --> 00:05:26,600 is the message I want you to hear, 106 00:05:26,700 --> 00:05:27,480 then you better listen. 107 00:05:27,600 --> 00:05:28,300 Don't miss it. 108 00:05:29,940 --> 00:05:32,700 There are some days that are extraordinary days. 109 00:05:32,860 --> 00:05:35,460 There are some messages that are extraordinary messages. 110 00:05:35,920 --> 00:05:37,800 There are some times in the stillness and 111 00:05:37,800 --> 00:05:42,120 the silence of our storm, God comes and 112 00:05:42,120 --> 00:05:42,760 He speaks. 113 00:05:45,300 --> 00:05:48,300 There was a day when David went through 114 00:05:48,300 --> 00:05:50,820 his valley of humiliation. 115 00:05:51,060 --> 00:05:53,180 And he made a choice that day to 116 00:05:53,180 --> 00:05:55,320 go through the valley of shame. 117 00:05:55,660 --> 00:05:56,860 And he came out victorious. 118 00:05:57,740 --> 00:06:00,400 The Scripture said in 2 Samuel 16, 9, 119 00:06:00,780 --> 00:06:04,080 Then said Abishai, the son of Zerui, of 120 00:06:04,080 --> 00:06:07,040 the king, Why should this dead dog curse 121 00:06:07,040 --> 00:06:08,220 my lord the king? 122 00:06:08,540 --> 00:06:10,260 Let me go over, I pray thee, and 123 00:06:10,260 --> 00:06:11,240 take off his head. 124 00:06:11,240 --> 00:06:13,500 And the king said, What have I to 125 00:06:13,500 --> 00:06:15,340 do with you, ye sons of Uriah? 126 00:06:15,720 --> 00:06:17,840 So let him curse, because the Lord hath 127 00:06:17,840 --> 00:06:19,500 said unto him, Curse David. 128 00:06:19,600 --> 00:06:22,260 Who shall then say, Wherefore hast thou done 129 00:06:22,260 --> 00:06:22,580 so? 130 00:06:23,500 --> 00:06:25,680 And David said to Abishai and to all 131 00:06:25,680 --> 00:06:28,440 his servants, Behold, my son, which came forth 132 00:06:28,440 --> 00:06:30,100 of my bowels, seeketh my life. 133 00:06:30,620 --> 00:06:33,780 How much more now may this Benjamite do 134 00:06:33,780 --> 00:06:33,960 it? 135 00:06:34,500 --> 00:06:37,640 Let him alone, and let him curse, for 136 00:06:37,640 --> 00:06:39,080 the Lord hath bidden him. 137 00:06:39,080 --> 00:06:41,480 It may be that the Lord will look 138 00:06:41,480 --> 00:06:43,480 on mine affliction, and that the Lord will 139 00:06:43,480 --> 00:06:45,900 requite me good for his cursing this day. 140 00:06:47,020 --> 00:06:48,780 And as David and his men went by 141 00:06:48,780 --> 00:06:51,840 the way, Shimei went along on the hillside 142 00:06:51,840 --> 00:06:54,180 over against him and cursed as he went, 143 00:06:55,020 --> 00:06:57,700 and threw stones at him and cast dust. 144 00:06:58,360 --> 00:07:00,400 And the king and all the people that 145 00:07:00,400 --> 00:07:04,040 were with him came weary and refreshed themselves 146 00:07:04,040 --> 00:07:04,960 there. 147 00:07:06,020 --> 00:07:07,840 Now, I want you to listen to this. 148 00:07:09,140 --> 00:07:11,440 You may come weary, but there will be 149 00:07:11,440 --> 00:07:15,120 a point where you will refresh yourself there. 150 00:07:15,900 --> 00:07:20,000 When God meets you there, you will be 151 00:07:20,000 --> 00:07:23,600 refreshed, anointed with fresh oil of the Holy 152 00:07:23,600 --> 00:07:25,840 Spirit, and you will be a new person. 153 00:07:26,040 --> 00:07:28,200 Heavenly Father, I ask that you bless the 154 00:07:28,200 --> 00:07:30,780 teaching and preaching of your word today in 155 00:07:30,780 --> 00:07:31,700 Jesus' name. 156 00:07:32,380 --> 00:07:34,240 There is an old preacher by the name 157 00:07:34,240 --> 00:07:38,450 of Raymond Edmond who shared a message on 158 00:07:38,450 --> 00:07:39,870 the discipline of defamation. 159 00:07:41,590 --> 00:07:43,810 And he said, it's understandable that we should 160 00:07:43,810 --> 00:07:47,710 take patiently and graciously whatever correction we need, 161 00:07:47,890 --> 00:07:50,030 and to take rebuke for our errors. 162 00:07:50,910 --> 00:07:54,430 But, as the Scripture says, if when you 163 00:07:54,430 --> 00:07:56,690 do well and suffer for it, you take 164 00:07:56,690 --> 00:07:59,530 it patiently, this is acceptable with God. 165 00:08:01,570 --> 00:08:06,730 David was going through a school of God's 166 00:08:06,730 --> 00:08:09,490 own special choosing, just like Job. 167 00:08:13,150 --> 00:08:14,710 And so, when you come to the point 168 00:08:14,710 --> 00:08:16,230 when you go through your trial and you 169 00:08:16,230 --> 00:08:17,930 want to enter back, you want to return 170 00:08:17,930 --> 00:08:21,210 the abuse, or you have someone hanging around 171 00:08:21,210 --> 00:08:22,990 you that says, why don't you go take 172 00:08:22,990 --> 00:08:23,630 off his head? 173 00:08:23,690 --> 00:08:25,510 You've got the authority, you're the king. 174 00:08:26,250 --> 00:08:29,050 And God says, no, you go through this 175 00:08:29,050 --> 00:08:29,430 trial. 176 00:08:30,970 --> 00:08:32,530 You see, I think a lot of us 177 00:08:32,530 --> 00:08:33,750 have wanted the shortcuts. 178 00:08:33,890 --> 00:08:35,350 We've wanted the easy way out. 179 00:08:35,730 --> 00:08:37,990 And we've not been willing to sit still 180 00:08:37,990 --> 00:08:39,309 and let God finish it. 181 00:08:39,490 --> 00:08:41,130 And we've jumped in and tried to do 182 00:08:41,130 --> 00:08:43,090 it ourselves and we've messed it up. 183 00:08:43,169 --> 00:08:44,910 Some of us have gone through our whole 184 00:08:44,910 --> 00:08:46,450 life messing up things. 185 00:08:47,430 --> 00:08:49,610 We've not learned to enter into His rest 186 00:08:49,610 --> 00:08:52,110 and be still, and let God be God 187 00:08:52,110 --> 00:08:52,790 in our lives. 188 00:08:52,910 --> 00:08:54,530 We haven't figured it out that He is 189 00:08:54,530 --> 00:08:55,530 a sovereign God. 190 00:08:55,530 --> 00:08:58,330 No devil will touch you unless he wants 191 00:08:58,330 --> 00:08:58,530 Him. 192 00:09:00,010 --> 00:09:02,150 No trial will come into your life unless 193 00:09:02,150 --> 00:09:03,550 God wants it to come in there. 194 00:09:04,010 --> 00:09:05,510 Some of you, maybe less than a day, 195 00:09:05,570 --> 00:09:07,630 you've been running from God for a long 196 00:09:07,630 --> 00:09:08,190 time. 197 00:09:09,390 --> 00:09:11,570 And it's God that's been chasing you down, 198 00:09:11,670 --> 00:09:15,290 trying to get you to Jesus, to trust 199 00:09:15,290 --> 00:09:16,210 Him as your Savior. 200 00:09:16,790 --> 00:09:18,650 And some of you have trusted Jesus as 201 00:09:18,650 --> 00:09:20,730 your Savior, trusted Him to be the one 202 00:09:20,730 --> 00:09:21,890 that covered your sins. 203 00:09:22,450 --> 00:09:24,070 And then you try to go on and 204 00:09:24,070 --> 00:09:25,810 live the Christian life and you can't do 205 00:09:25,810 --> 00:09:25,950 it. 206 00:09:26,050 --> 00:09:28,330 That's the most frustrating thing in the world, 207 00:09:28,610 --> 00:09:30,230 to try to live the Christian life. 208 00:09:30,830 --> 00:09:33,490 The Christian life is not you living a 209 00:09:33,490 --> 00:09:34,010 Christian life. 210 00:09:34,110 --> 00:09:37,170 It's Jesus living His life through you as 211 00:09:37,170 --> 00:09:39,210 you're led day by day by His Spirit. 212 00:09:39,490 --> 00:09:41,450 You check with the Spirit on everything you 213 00:09:41,450 --> 00:09:43,930 do, every place you go, everything you say. 214 00:09:44,150 --> 00:09:45,610 That's the Spirit-filled life. 215 00:09:46,930 --> 00:09:48,770 And that's living in the will of God. 216 00:09:49,710 --> 00:09:51,590 And if you want to get confused, you 217 00:09:51,590 --> 00:09:53,090 just try not living in the Spirit. 218 00:09:54,090 --> 00:09:55,990 When God commanded us to live in the 219 00:09:55,990 --> 00:09:58,470 Spirit, Ephesians 5.18, that's not an option 220 00:09:58,470 --> 00:09:59,610 for our Christian life. 221 00:09:59,930 --> 00:10:01,610 It is an essential, vital. 222 00:10:02,990 --> 00:10:04,850 Walking in the Spirit is just as vital 223 00:10:04,850 --> 00:10:06,010 for you as breathing. 224 00:10:07,390 --> 00:10:10,350 You can't have the Spirit-filled life without 225 00:10:10,350 --> 00:10:13,990 the Holy Spirit correcting and guiding and directing 226 00:10:13,990 --> 00:10:16,870 and choosing for you, and you talking and 227 00:10:16,870 --> 00:10:17,930 fellowshipping with Him. 228 00:10:19,690 --> 00:10:21,210 And so when you come along and you 229 00:10:21,210 --> 00:10:23,370 hit your day, when a Shimei comes along, 230 00:10:23,470 --> 00:10:24,990 the reason you get bent out of shape 231 00:10:24,990 --> 00:10:27,010 and you get bitter and angry is because 232 00:10:27,010 --> 00:10:27,930 you're in control. 233 00:10:29,830 --> 00:10:31,290 And the sad thing about it is you 234 00:10:31,290 --> 00:10:33,230 can go through your whole life that way. 235 00:10:36,000 --> 00:10:42,720 Ehrman said, When we want to answer back, 236 00:10:43,280 --> 00:10:46,280 to return the rebukes that we have received 237 00:10:46,280 --> 00:10:49,460 with interest added, to defend ourselves and our 238 00:10:49,460 --> 00:10:52,780 actions where motives and methods were above reproach, 239 00:10:53,320 --> 00:10:54,400 then we're to remember. 240 00:10:55,680 --> 00:10:57,780 For this is thankworthy, if a man for 241 00:10:57,780 --> 00:11:00,800 conscience toward God endured grief, suffering wrongfully. 242 00:11:01,140 --> 00:11:03,220 For even here unto where you call, because 243 00:11:03,220 --> 00:11:05,180 Christ also suffered for us. 244 00:11:05,180 --> 00:11:08,080 Leaving us an example, that you should follow 245 00:11:08,080 --> 00:11:09,040 His steps. 246 00:11:09,520 --> 00:11:12,020 Who when He was reviled, reviled not again. 247 00:11:12,200 --> 00:11:14,220 When He suffered, He threatened not. 248 00:11:14,900 --> 00:11:15,900 Now listen to this. 249 00:11:16,380 --> 00:11:21,000 But committed Himself to Him that judges righteously. 250 00:11:21,620 --> 00:11:23,000 How often do you do that? 251 00:11:23,280 --> 00:11:24,520 You do that every day. 252 00:11:25,240 --> 00:11:27,060 He said, this is a deep discipline of 253 00:11:27,060 --> 00:11:27,660 the soul. 254 00:11:28,360 --> 00:11:31,000 This evidence of our true sonship with God 255 00:11:31,000 --> 00:11:33,440 as described by our Lord Jesus Christ. 256 00:11:33,440 --> 00:11:36,460 But I say unto you, love your enemies. 257 00:11:37,140 --> 00:11:38,560 Bless them that curse you. 258 00:11:38,840 --> 00:11:40,180 Do good to them that hate you. 259 00:11:40,460 --> 00:11:42,860 And pray for them which despitefully use you 260 00:11:42,860 --> 00:11:44,060 and persecute you. 261 00:11:44,180 --> 00:11:47,080 That ye may be the children of your 262 00:11:47,080 --> 00:11:48,580 Father which is in heaven. 263 00:11:49,120 --> 00:11:50,780 For He maketh His Son to rise on 264 00:11:50,780 --> 00:11:52,440 the evil and on the good. 265 00:11:52,700 --> 00:11:55,600 And sendeth rain on the just and the 266 00:11:55,600 --> 00:11:55,900 unjust. 267 00:11:56,220 --> 00:11:58,040 The thing that will make you stand out 268 00:11:58,040 --> 00:12:01,620 and be different, will be the fact that 269 00:12:01,620 --> 00:12:03,320 God is in your life. 270 00:12:05,320 --> 00:12:07,100 And my friend, you can't love your enemies. 271 00:12:07,400 --> 00:12:09,580 That's not humanly possible. 272 00:12:10,020 --> 00:12:13,620 But it is supernaturally possible under the enabling 273 00:12:13,620 --> 00:12:14,540 of the Holy Spirit. 274 00:12:14,660 --> 00:12:19,300 So David's conduct before Ishmael illustrates really the 275 00:12:19,300 --> 00:12:23,400 excellent discipline that he had learned in his 276 00:12:23,400 --> 00:12:23,820 desert. 277 00:12:24,960 --> 00:12:29,100 He had learned that in those moments when 278 00:12:29,100 --> 00:12:32,540 he was under trial, when he was blasphemed 279 00:12:32,540 --> 00:12:34,960 and cursed and had stones and dust thrown 280 00:12:34,960 --> 00:12:36,720 at him, he had learned to give it 281 00:12:36,720 --> 00:12:37,460 to God. 282 00:12:39,680 --> 00:12:41,600 Vengeance is mine, says the Scripture. 283 00:12:44,120 --> 00:12:46,400 And if you don't think it was just 284 00:12:46,400 --> 00:12:48,460 a little trial, I want you to think 285 00:12:48,460 --> 00:12:49,020 about this. 286 00:12:49,180 --> 00:12:51,680 David was well advanced in years. 287 00:12:53,020 --> 00:12:58,020 His own son, rebellious Absalom, whom he really 288 00:12:58,020 --> 00:13:02,700 loved, dearly loved, deeply loved, had kicked him 289 00:13:02,700 --> 00:13:03,720 out of his own palace. 290 00:13:03,880 --> 00:13:06,460 And now you have this old Benjamite out 291 00:13:06,460 --> 00:13:07,940 there doing all this to him. 292 00:13:08,260 --> 00:13:12,280 With these stinging insults and lies and accusations. 293 00:13:13,460 --> 00:13:15,960 Going along with the heartache of his own 294 00:13:15,960 --> 00:13:17,400 son's rebellion. 295 00:13:18,200 --> 00:13:22,260 My friend, he knew what a broken heart 296 00:13:22,260 --> 00:13:22,920 was. 297 00:13:24,080 --> 00:13:26,120 And if anyone had the power to turn 298 00:13:26,120 --> 00:13:28,540 and take that man's head off, it was 299 00:13:28,540 --> 00:13:28,800 him. 300 00:13:29,580 --> 00:13:31,260 He had the power and the authority to 301 00:13:31,260 --> 00:13:32,780 resist and fight Absalom. 302 00:13:33,160 --> 00:13:33,920 He was the king. 303 00:13:34,680 --> 00:13:36,560 But he loved and knew and walked with 304 00:13:36,560 --> 00:13:39,300 God so close that he knew that God 305 00:13:39,300 --> 00:13:39,980 was in this. 306 00:13:40,780 --> 00:13:42,240 And that's where you and I miss it. 307 00:13:42,340 --> 00:13:45,760 Many times we don't recognize that God is 308 00:13:45,760 --> 00:13:46,060 in it. 309 00:13:46,840 --> 00:13:49,120 Many times we think it's the devil fighting 310 00:13:49,120 --> 00:13:49,760 against us. 311 00:13:49,860 --> 00:13:51,320 We got demons hounding us. 312 00:13:51,860 --> 00:13:53,280 But if you get to the bottom of 313 00:13:53,280 --> 00:13:53,980 it, it's God. 314 00:13:54,480 --> 00:13:56,240 You know the Scripture says that He'll turn 315 00:13:56,240 --> 00:13:58,100 the tormentors against you. 316 00:13:59,480 --> 00:14:02,440 Even Malachi says that you'll have all kinds 317 00:14:02,440 --> 00:14:05,520 of financial disasters if you don't give God 318 00:14:05,520 --> 00:14:07,580 your heart and evidence it by your giving. 319 00:14:08,620 --> 00:14:09,820 You can't beat Him. 320 00:14:10,980 --> 00:14:12,240 Don't be deceived. 321 00:14:12,420 --> 00:14:14,100 God won't be mocked. 322 00:14:16,120 --> 00:14:18,220 So upon the bleeding heart of an old 323 00:14:18,220 --> 00:14:20,520 father was He, the Invictive. 324 00:14:20,800 --> 00:14:23,960 Come out, come out, thou bloody man and 325 00:14:23,960 --> 00:14:25,260 thou man of Belial. 326 00:14:27,830 --> 00:14:29,770 You don't think that He knew what pain 327 00:14:29,770 --> 00:14:30,210 was. 328 00:14:30,710 --> 00:14:31,210 He did. 329 00:14:31,470 --> 00:14:33,370 But He was also a type of Jesus. 330 00:14:35,960 --> 00:14:38,300 As flawed as He was with His life, 331 00:14:39,640 --> 00:14:42,180 we have the suffering of David showing us 332 00:14:42,180 --> 00:14:43,780 our Jesus. 333 00:14:43,780 --> 00:14:47,540 And the cursing of Shimei was just almost 334 00:14:47,540 --> 00:14:49,200 too much for David's friends. 335 00:14:51,460 --> 00:14:52,660 You ever gone through a trial? 336 00:14:53,060 --> 00:14:55,000 Matter of fact, if you don't respond many 337 00:14:55,000 --> 00:14:57,820 times to the way your friends think you 338 00:14:57,820 --> 00:14:59,820 should respond to your trial, they'll write you 339 00:14:59,820 --> 00:15:00,080 off. 340 00:15:02,290 --> 00:15:05,470 I know men that God has called them 341 00:15:05,470 --> 00:15:06,810 into the revival ministry. 342 00:15:06,970 --> 00:15:09,090 And revival ministry is not what you always 343 00:15:09,090 --> 00:15:09,930 think it is. 344 00:15:10,950 --> 00:15:13,270 God may call you into a life of 345 00:15:13,270 --> 00:15:13,750 prayer. 346 00:15:14,530 --> 00:15:17,170 Where you have to seemingly do things that 347 00:15:17,170 --> 00:15:20,070 are unusual and maybe seemingly neglect your family. 348 00:15:20,730 --> 00:15:22,590 To do what God has told you to 349 00:15:22,590 --> 00:15:22,870 do. 350 00:15:23,210 --> 00:15:25,830 And friends will call you different things and 351 00:15:25,830 --> 00:15:26,710 write you off. 352 00:15:27,670 --> 00:15:30,530 Or God has called you to resign your 353 00:15:30,530 --> 00:15:32,650 ministry and to drop everything. 354 00:15:33,450 --> 00:15:34,630 And to do something different. 355 00:15:35,430 --> 00:15:36,630 And you know that He's done it. 356 00:15:37,250 --> 00:15:39,390 But they don't think that you're doing what 357 00:15:39,390 --> 00:15:41,310 God has called you to do. 358 00:15:41,510 --> 00:15:42,790 And they'll write you off. 359 00:15:43,150 --> 00:15:44,230 They'll think you're a fanatic. 360 00:15:44,350 --> 00:15:45,150 You've flipped your lid. 361 00:15:45,230 --> 00:15:46,050 You've gone crazy. 362 00:15:47,090 --> 00:15:48,150 And that may have been the way it 363 00:15:48,150 --> 00:15:48,990 was with David. 364 00:15:49,990 --> 00:15:51,730 And it was almost too much for his 365 00:15:51,730 --> 00:15:53,130 mighty army men. 366 00:15:53,250 --> 00:15:54,970 Man, they could pick off a flea at 367 00:15:54,970 --> 00:15:56,350 50 yards with a spear. 368 00:15:57,350 --> 00:15:58,550 They were warriors. 369 00:16:01,120 --> 00:16:03,300 Excellent craftsmen in the art of warfare. 370 00:16:04,460 --> 00:16:07,060 And this dead dog over there doing that. 371 00:16:08,320 --> 00:16:14,080 David's response, Erdman says, was touching in its 372 00:16:14,080 --> 00:16:17,160 expression of tenderness towards a misguided man. 373 00:16:17,300 --> 00:16:18,100 Think about that. 374 00:16:19,100 --> 00:16:22,080 And of trust toward Almighty God. 375 00:16:23,560 --> 00:16:25,340 You'll never get to the depth and the 376 00:16:25,340 --> 00:16:27,260 heart of the love of God until you 377 00:16:27,260 --> 00:16:28,740 get to the point where you can love 378 00:16:28,740 --> 00:16:29,660 your enemies. 379 00:16:30,520 --> 00:16:33,500 And the evidence that you're in a spirit 380 00:16:33,500 --> 00:16:36,840 of self and selfishness and self-will and 381 00:16:36,840 --> 00:16:38,660 rebellion and you haven't dealt with the root 382 00:16:38,660 --> 00:16:40,260 of sin in your life is that you 383 00:16:40,260 --> 00:16:43,160 have a bitter attitude towards those that come 384 00:16:43,160 --> 00:16:43,600 your way. 385 00:16:43,860 --> 00:16:46,600 And it's God all the time letting that 386 00:16:46,600 --> 00:16:48,700 Shimei come into your life. 387 00:16:49,240 --> 00:16:51,000 And He will take you from one thing 388 00:16:51,000 --> 00:16:51,500 to another. 389 00:16:51,600 --> 00:16:52,720 From one job to another. 390 00:16:52,940 --> 00:16:54,260 You can't get away from Him. 391 00:16:54,320 --> 00:16:55,900 He will keep bringing you to it. 392 00:16:56,460 --> 00:16:59,360 Until you actually just destroy yourself, your life, 393 00:16:59,420 --> 00:17:00,060 your own family. 394 00:17:01,140 --> 00:17:02,440 Until you get to God. 395 00:17:03,520 --> 00:17:07,980 David's response was one of love of God. 396 00:17:09,520 --> 00:17:11,180 He said, it may be that the Lord 397 00:17:11,180 --> 00:17:12,520 will look on mine affliction. 398 00:17:13,800 --> 00:17:17,020 Long before, many times he'd faced similar circumstances. 399 00:17:17,380 --> 00:17:19,020 And he had learned to commit his cause 400 00:17:19,020 --> 00:17:20,700 unto Him that judges righteously. 401 00:17:20,700 --> 00:17:24,420 If you think back into his youth when 402 00:17:24,420 --> 00:17:26,660 he had lost his temper and he almost, 403 00:17:27,500 --> 00:17:31,420 because of some gross ingratitude towards him, he 404 00:17:31,420 --> 00:17:32,880 almost killed Nabal. 405 00:17:33,580 --> 00:17:37,520 God in His graciousness and His providence spared 406 00:17:37,520 --> 00:17:37,800 him. 407 00:17:38,000 --> 00:17:39,520 How many times can you look back to 408 00:17:39,520 --> 00:17:43,100 where God spared you from destroying yourself in 409 00:17:43,100 --> 00:17:43,960 a terrible way? 410 00:17:45,270 --> 00:17:49,710 And so, as the Scripture says, That this 411 00:17:49,710 --> 00:17:52,350 shall be no grief unto thee, nor offense 412 00:17:52,350 --> 00:17:54,750 of heart unto my Lord, either that thou 413 00:17:54,750 --> 00:17:57,010 hast shed blood causeless, or that my Lord 414 00:17:57,010 --> 00:17:58,030 hath avenged Himself. 415 00:17:58,110 --> 00:17:58,730 Think about it. 416 00:17:58,790 --> 00:17:59,710 Nabal's wife. 417 00:18:00,510 --> 00:18:03,110 This woman came out and said these words 418 00:18:03,110 --> 00:18:05,330 to David that struck his heart. 419 00:18:06,190 --> 00:18:09,110 And on that occasion, he turned and he 420 00:18:09,110 --> 00:18:10,810 said, Okay God, You take care of it. 421 00:18:12,630 --> 00:18:15,910 You know, the Psalms reveals the heart of 422 00:18:15,910 --> 00:18:17,510 a man seeking after God. 423 00:18:18,410 --> 00:18:20,990 And this lesson is written in the Psalms. 424 00:18:21,410 --> 00:18:22,170 It's there. 425 00:18:22,470 --> 00:18:25,070 If you go back to Psalms 12, 1, 426 00:18:25,190 --> 00:18:28,790 2, and 5, You'll find David said, For 427 00:18:28,790 --> 00:18:30,590 the oppression of the poor, for the sighing 428 00:18:30,590 --> 00:18:32,770 of the needy, Now will I arise, said 429 00:18:32,770 --> 00:18:33,130 the Lord. 430 00:18:33,190 --> 00:18:34,990 I will set him in safety from him 431 00:18:34,990 --> 00:18:36,050 that puffeth at him. 432 00:18:38,360 --> 00:18:40,720 He cried out, False witnesses did rise up. 433 00:18:40,800 --> 00:18:42,700 They laid to my charge things that I 434 00:18:42,700 --> 00:18:43,140 knew not. 435 00:18:43,140 --> 00:18:47,620 They rewarded me evil for good to the 436 00:18:47,620 --> 00:18:48,720 spoiling of my soul. 437 00:18:48,820 --> 00:18:50,860 But as for me, when they were sick, 438 00:18:51,240 --> 00:18:52,370 my clothing was sackcloth. 439 00:18:52,880 --> 00:18:54,640 I humbled my soul with fasting. 440 00:18:55,040 --> 00:18:56,920 I behaved myself as though He had been 441 00:18:56,920 --> 00:18:58,320 my friend or brother. 442 00:18:58,540 --> 00:19:01,300 But in my adversity, they rejoice. 443 00:19:01,920 --> 00:19:04,200 They deter me and cease not. 444 00:19:05,960 --> 00:19:07,320 You see, if you're going to be like 445 00:19:07,320 --> 00:19:10,200 Jesus, And you want to be like Jesus, 446 00:19:10,520 --> 00:19:12,080 And you say, I'm a Christian. 447 00:19:12,080 --> 00:19:13,580 I love Jesus. 448 00:19:13,940 --> 00:19:16,800 Then don't think it's strange If testings and 449 00:19:16,800 --> 00:19:18,800 trials come your way That's going to draw 450 00:19:18,800 --> 00:19:21,800 out of you a response That you don't 451 00:19:21,800 --> 00:19:24,580 have to give That will draw them to 452 00:19:24,580 --> 00:19:26,640 Jesus Or show others that there's something different. 453 00:19:26,740 --> 00:19:28,640 You don't have it and God is letting 454 00:19:28,640 --> 00:19:30,540 it come So that you'll turn to Him 455 00:19:30,540 --> 00:19:33,660 and say, Oh God, will you produce through 456 00:19:33,660 --> 00:19:35,480 me the love For that one that hates 457 00:19:35,480 --> 00:19:36,840 me, that one that's hurting me? 458 00:19:38,300 --> 00:19:41,440 And God in His supernatural power Will fill 459 00:19:41,440 --> 00:19:43,300 you with the Spirit And out of you 460 00:19:43,300 --> 00:19:47,540 will flow love instead of hate and revenge. 461 00:19:48,460 --> 00:19:49,960 It may be that the Spirit of God 462 00:19:49,960 --> 00:19:53,180 this morning, Today, tonight, whenever you're hearing this 463 00:19:53,180 --> 00:19:55,760 message Is convicting you that your life Has 464 00:19:55,760 --> 00:19:57,900 not been one of response of the Spirit 465 00:19:57,900 --> 00:20:00,140 of God But it's been one of the 466 00:20:00,140 --> 00:20:01,300 response of self. 467 00:20:02,900 --> 00:20:04,660 And you wonder why your friends have turned 468 00:20:04,660 --> 00:20:05,600 away from you. 469 00:20:06,700 --> 00:20:08,180 Much less your enemies. 470 00:20:09,180 --> 00:20:11,020 It's because they haven't seen Jesus. 471 00:20:12,080 --> 00:20:12,980 They've seen you. 472 00:20:15,430 --> 00:20:16,570 They don't need to see you. 473 00:20:16,670 --> 00:20:17,750 They don't need to see me. 474 00:20:18,590 --> 00:20:20,390 You know, I've been thinking lately, Boy, I'd 475 00:20:20,390 --> 00:20:23,610 like to get down there And have a 476 00:20:23,610 --> 00:20:25,390 meeting with you folks And have a gathering, 477 00:20:25,550 --> 00:20:27,330 get together And see you face to face. 478 00:20:27,430 --> 00:20:29,550 And the last time we was coming through 479 00:20:29,550 --> 00:20:31,370 the area We got together as many as 480 00:20:31,370 --> 00:20:33,590 we could On a one-on-one basis 481 00:20:33,590 --> 00:20:35,450 And we got to share a little bit 482 00:20:35,450 --> 00:20:36,090 in a church. 483 00:20:36,350 --> 00:20:37,930 But I'd like to just get together with 484 00:20:37,930 --> 00:20:39,470 you And see you. 485 00:20:40,710 --> 00:20:42,590 And I'm talking to God about it. 486 00:20:43,590 --> 00:20:44,590 I need a place. 487 00:20:44,690 --> 00:20:46,230 And I need permission from Him to do 488 00:20:46,230 --> 00:20:46,410 it. 489 00:20:49,550 --> 00:20:57,710 But face to face communication and contact Is 490 00:20:57,710 --> 00:21:06,760 the closest, the clearest, the strongest That people 491 00:21:06,760 --> 00:21:08,620 can see Jesus in you and me. 492 00:21:09,660 --> 00:21:10,780 You hear my voice. 493 00:21:11,460 --> 00:21:14,340 But there's just something different When you're face 494 00:21:14,340 --> 00:21:14,860 to face. 495 00:21:15,340 --> 00:21:15,840 And you know what? 496 00:21:17,140 --> 00:21:19,240 God loved this world so much That He 497 00:21:19,240 --> 00:21:21,560 gave His only begotten Son That whosoever believeth 498 00:21:21,560 --> 00:21:23,440 in Him Should not perish but have everlasting 499 00:21:23,440 --> 00:21:24,040 life. 500 00:21:24,980 --> 00:21:26,280 And so He came down and He died 501 00:21:26,280 --> 00:21:26,980 on the cross. 502 00:21:27,440 --> 00:21:28,980 He was crucified, He was buried And then 503 00:21:28,980 --> 00:21:30,220 He rose again and then He went to 504 00:21:30,220 --> 00:21:30,420 Heaven. 505 00:21:30,780 --> 00:21:32,340 And then He sent the Holy Spirit back 506 00:21:32,340 --> 00:21:35,240 to indwell us So that people all over 507 00:21:35,240 --> 00:21:37,560 this world Could see Jesus in us. 508 00:21:38,320 --> 00:21:41,940 What a responsibility, what a privilege That God 509 00:21:41,940 --> 00:21:44,560 can speak to my neighbor Can speak to 510 00:21:44,560 --> 00:21:46,700 that person in the grocery store Can speak 511 00:21:46,700 --> 00:21:49,400 to someone in this community Or in another 512 00:21:49,400 --> 00:21:51,080 state or wherever through me. 513 00:21:51,440 --> 00:21:55,100 I can be what they need. 514 00:21:57,560 --> 00:22:00,700 But I can blow it If I fail 515 00:22:00,700 --> 00:22:05,320 to reckon myself dead to sin and self. 516 00:22:05,900 --> 00:22:07,100 A powerful lesson. 517 00:22:09,080 --> 00:22:10,500 A powerful lesson. 518 00:22:12,380 --> 00:22:15,040 Oh David, he determined by God's help He 519 00:22:15,040 --> 00:22:17,180 said, I will take heed to my ways 520 00:22:17,180 --> 00:22:19,120 That I sin not with my tongue. 521 00:22:19,600 --> 00:22:21,940 I will keep my mouth with a bridle 522 00:22:22,440 --> 00:22:24,280 While the wicked is before me. 523 00:22:25,020 --> 00:22:28,160 You know, he had observed He said, I've 524 00:22:28,160 --> 00:22:30,400 seen the wicked in great power And spreading 525 00:22:30,400 --> 00:22:32,140 himself like a green bay tree. 526 00:22:33,100 --> 00:22:34,200 Yet he passed away. 527 00:22:34,540 --> 00:22:35,440 And lo, he was not. 528 00:22:35,560 --> 00:22:36,940 Yea, I sought him, but he could not 529 00:22:36,940 --> 00:22:37,520 be found. 530 00:22:37,840 --> 00:22:39,440 Could it be that the Spirit of God 531 00:22:39,440 --> 00:22:42,180 Could put into your heart Some compassion and 532 00:22:42,180 --> 00:22:43,820 love For those people around you? 533 00:22:45,020 --> 00:22:46,440 You go out to the mall if you 534 00:22:46,440 --> 00:22:49,080 can stand it There in Joplin or any 535 00:22:49,080 --> 00:22:52,660 big city And you just watch people. 536 00:22:53,620 --> 00:22:54,680 They're empty. 537 00:22:56,620 --> 00:22:58,740 The kids drive up and down the streets 538 00:22:58,740 --> 00:23:00,020 In their vehicles. 539 00:23:01,060 --> 00:23:03,240 Souped up cars, pickups or whatever. 540 00:23:03,840 --> 00:23:05,320 But their hearts are empty. 541 00:23:05,460 --> 00:23:06,820 They need Jesus. 542 00:23:08,100 --> 00:23:11,260 Who is willing to put their all on 543 00:23:11,260 --> 00:23:14,540 the altar As Abraham did when God came 544 00:23:14,540 --> 00:23:16,660 down and said Now put now thy son, 545 00:23:16,760 --> 00:23:18,980 thine only son whom thou lovest Put him 546 00:23:18,980 --> 00:23:21,000 on the altar and sacrifice him. 547 00:23:23,000 --> 00:23:24,600 You know, you'll never really get to the 548 00:23:24,600 --> 00:23:26,280 heart of the cross Until you give your 549 00:23:26,280 --> 00:23:29,060 Isaac to Jesus. 550 00:23:30,060 --> 00:23:30,900 He gave his all. 551 00:23:30,980 --> 00:23:32,540 God gave his all to us. 552 00:23:33,000 --> 00:23:35,480 But if you withhold one thing You have 553 00:23:35,480 --> 00:23:37,200 an idol in your life. 554 00:23:40,430 --> 00:23:42,990 And so David, he could testify out of 555 00:23:42,990 --> 00:23:47,890 his deep And his hurtful experiences Oh how 556 00:23:47,890 --> 00:23:51,490 great is thy goodness Which thou hast laid 557 00:23:51,490 --> 00:23:54,070 up for them that fear thee Which thou 558 00:23:54,070 --> 00:23:57,590 hast wrought for them that trust in thee 559 00:23:57,590 --> 00:24:00,950 Before the sons of men That thou shalt 560 00:24:00,950 --> 00:24:03,810 hide them in the secret of thy presence 561 00:24:03,810 --> 00:24:07,950 From the pride of men Thou shalt keep 562 00:24:07,950 --> 00:24:10,690 them secretly in a pavilion From the strife 563 00:24:10,690 --> 00:24:14,570 of tongues Blessed be the Lord for he 564 00:24:14,570 --> 00:24:17,690 has showed me His marvelous kindness in a 565 00:24:17,690 --> 00:24:19,070 strong city. 566 00:24:19,650 --> 00:24:21,750 You see the fruit of the Spirit is 567 00:24:21,750 --> 00:24:22,350 love. 568 00:24:23,530 --> 00:24:25,510 And out of that love comes the joy 569 00:24:25,510 --> 00:24:28,090 And the peace and the long suffering And 570 00:24:28,090 --> 00:24:30,190 the gentleness and the kindness and the goodness. 571 00:24:31,810 --> 00:24:33,830 All of those things come out of the 572 00:24:33,830 --> 00:24:36,190 love Of the Spirit. 573 00:24:37,820 --> 00:24:42,740 The bitterness, the hatred, the reviling The strife, 574 00:24:43,420 --> 00:24:46,800 the tension That comes from the flesh. 575 00:24:49,630 --> 00:24:51,850 What's God speaking to you about today? 576 00:24:55,430 --> 00:24:58,130 We've got so many programs We've got so 577 00:24:58,130 --> 00:25:02,310 many plans And what we need to do 578 00:25:02,310 --> 00:25:05,070 Is have a good old fashioned revival Where 579 00:25:05,070 --> 00:25:08,150 we fall on our face before God Right 580 00:25:08,150 --> 00:25:12,510 where you're at And say, oh God I 581 00:25:12,510 --> 00:25:14,030 have been the problem. 582 00:25:15,690 --> 00:25:19,410 It's not my brother or my sister But 583 00:25:19,410 --> 00:25:23,310 it's me, oh Lord Standing in the need 584 00:25:23,310 --> 00:25:24,350 of prayer. 585 00:25:26,530 --> 00:25:28,170 Where are you at my friend? 586 00:25:28,890 --> 00:25:30,050 Are you living in victory? 587 00:25:31,910 --> 00:25:34,230 You know the proverb says We speak words 588 00:25:34,230 --> 00:25:35,270 of life or death. 589 00:25:37,030 --> 00:25:40,250 God may be hounding and pounding on you 590 00:25:41,210 --> 00:25:43,550 Because out of your mouth has been coming 591 00:25:43,550 --> 00:25:44,630 Words of death. 592 00:25:46,930 --> 00:25:49,530 And you're a detriment to Him And not 593 00:25:49,530 --> 00:25:49,970 an asset. 594 00:25:50,870 --> 00:25:52,610 And He loves you too much to let 595 00:25:52,610 --> 00:25:53,830 you keep on doing that. 596 00:25:54,950 --> 00:25:57,590 And all the misery and the grief That 597 00:25:57,590 --> 00:26:00,570 this old selfish heart can produce And remember 598 00:26:00,570 --> 00:26:02,870 the heart is deceitful above all things And 599 00:26:02,870 --> 00:26:03,790 desperately wicked. 600 00:26:03,790 --> 00:26:07,570 All these things God wants to get rid 601 00:26:07,570 --> 00:26:09,830 of And all He wants there is Jesus. 602 00:26:10,530 --> 00:26:14,410 Just sweet Jesus Filled with the Spirit Living 603 00:26:14,410 --> 00:26:15,490 His life through us. 604 00:26:16,290 --> 00:26:18,130 Well I trust God has been speaking to 605 00:26:18,130 --> 00:26:18,610 you today. 606 00:26:19,150 --> 00:26:20,970 I'm going to continue on this next week 607 00:26:20,970 --> 00:26:23,030 If the Lord wills And finish up this 608 00:26:23,030 --> 00:26:25,590 I have something to share with you About 609 00:26:25,590 --> 00:26:28,490 Jesus In concluding this message. 610 00:26:28,890 --> 00:26:30,730 I have a burn in my heart to 611 00:26:30,730 --> 00:26:33,090 To share with you on revival But I'm 612 00:26:33,090 --> 00:26:34,470 going to have to hold off Till God 613 00:26:34,470 --> 00:26:35,930 will release me from this. 614 00:26:37,530 --> 00:26:41,290 Until next time I trust that God will 615 00:26:41,290 --> 00:26:44,450 richly bless you And remember That Jesus Christ 616 00:26:44,450 --> 00:26:48,710 is all you need But if you got 617 00:26:48,710 --> 00:26:50,830 to the point in your life To where 618 00:26:50,830 --> 00:26:53,350 He's all you want. 619 00:26:54,210 --> 00:26:57,030 Till next time May God richly bless you 620 00:26:57,030 --> 00:26:58,050 My friend.