2 Samuel Chapter 14

I agree think Jesus is asked if the new girl only ministered of reconciliation wattage only. A lot of you think will you know we got go tell people about Jesus. Got yellow finger in your face and the ugly phone call saying you want your ministers of reconciliation. I wonder if we use the scriptural language to people how many people would be interested in what we have welcomed to cross the bridge with David McGee, the senior pastor of the bridge in Kernersville Carolina bridge Stephen McGee has assisting pastors in one of those is Neil welcomed the program today and Bob great to be here again with you today and we really got to start off this chapter by talking about being led by the spirit power to forgive and the power to be forgiven. All that has to do with reconciliation and restoration people to God and we can talk about that now that the central theme of the Bible, God put everything together for him and gave him paradise jacketed by disobedience.

That is the story of the whole Bible and that is the story of the record here today. Yesterday was sharing the second same in chapter 14 to listen and continue spotless turn with me to second Samuel chapter 14 looking at life of David, the life of all and what happened before, is one of David signs had raped his half-sister and suffered no punishment from David or the government. Absalom took it upon himself to conspire to kill Amnon and then Absalom flees the scene. So that's kind of where we catch up. Now this is a it's an interesting chapter, not that you want from a Bible study Bible teacher standpoint and some of this were dealing with motivation whenever you get into the area of motivations of trying to figure out why somebody did something we have to be very careful because you might think that you're always sure of somebody's motivation but there's no way that you can be sure somebody's motivation. When we look at this chapter tonight, you start to ask yourself why did he do that or did he do it like this and and some of his answers are disturbing and some of them quite frankly, I don't know, but as a Bible teacher. I'm in the position like I have to get into a little bit of speculation so the interestingness can become a minefield. Loan product should address it with grace. Men second Samuel chapter 14 verse one must look at it together so Joab the son of Zechariah perceive that the king's heart was concerned about Absalom and job sent to Toccoa and brought from their wise woman and said to her, please pretend to be a mourner and put on morning apparel do not anoint yourself with a little bit like a woman who's been morning a long time for the dead go to the king and speak them in this manner, so Joab put the words in her mouth and when the woman of Toccoa spoke to the king, she felt her face to the ground, and prostate are so graded help. Okay then the king said to her, what troubles you, and she entered.

Indeed, I am a widow. My husband is dead now. Your maidservant had two sons to fall with each other in the field and there was no one to park them but the one struck the other kill them in our whole family is risen up against your maidservant and they said deliver him and struck his brother, that we may execute them for the life of his brother Mikael and we will destroy their so they would ask English my amber that is left and leave the my husband. Neither name nor remnant on the earth. Verse eight then the king said to the woman, go to your house and I will give orders concerning the woman of Toccoa, said the King by Laurel King let the iniquity be on me and on my father's house in the king and his throne be guiltless or she saying you don't go and make your decision and pick up the slack, or take up the heat didn't verse 10 the king said whoever says anything you bring in the mean he shall not touch you anymore.

Then she said please let the king remember the Lord your God and do not permit the avenger of blood to destroy anymore lest they destroy my son David's responses were interesting and he said, as the Lord lives, not one air of your son shall fall to the ground. Therefore, the woman said please let your maidservant speak another word to my lord the king, and he said sale was 13, so the woman said wind and heavy schemes such a thing against the people of God for the king speaks this thing is one who is guilty, and that the king does not bring his banishment. One home again. Verse 14 is packed with stuff for we will surely die and become like water spilled on the ground which cannot be gathered up again. Yet God does not take away a life, but he devises means so that is banished ones are not expelled for men verse one of verse.

I think probably one the most awesome things that were given is the power to forgive. That's power. That's incredible and it's a power that no other organization. No other religion. No other people group can offer you except Jesus life lesson, your God gives us the power to forgive God gives us the power to forgive. Now I know what some of you think well you don't know what so-and-so did. You don't know what such and such happened you don't know how badly I've been treated or spoken against what Frank that is true that God and I'm not asking you to forgive some I'm not telling you that you have to do that. That's what God is doing.

Keep your finger and second Samuel, let's go to Matthew chapter 18 where to pick it up.

Verse 21 and and I'm not an expositional teaching on this passage. This parable, read through Matthew chapter 18 verse 21 and you maybe thing was this guy doing will try to tied up in a nice little boat for the services.

Verse 21 then Peter came to him and said, Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, not forgiven up to seven times we stop for just a second and do what I told you not wasn't going to do, but Peter Peter years he stepped out in a big way because at that time the rabbinical teaching was you forgave somebody the third time. That was it. After the third time you cut them off is over so Peter in this old pederast move is how many times you forgives and by and say three didn't say Ford and C5 and C6 is 77 was is Jesus said to him, I say to you 7�70�7.

Double this before. That doesn't mean people list when somebody gets a 491 you're done with means don't keep a list. Then he tells a story. Verse 23 therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king want to settle accounts with his servants. And when he had begun to settle accounts. One was brought to modem 10,000?

But is he was not able to pay his master commanded in commanded that he be sold with his wife and children already had that payment be made.

The servant therefore fell down the forms and master have patience with me and I will pay you all in the master of that servant was moved with compassion released him and forgave him the debt. But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants, who owed him 100, and there which is is far less than the 10,000 talents and he laid hands on them and took him by the throat, saying, pay me what you owe to us both servant fell down the street and begging St. have patience with me and I'll pay you and he would not been went through a minute prison, till he should pay the debt.

Verse 31 so when his fellow servants saw what had been done. They were very grieved and came and told him after all that been done in his master after he called them, you wicked servant, I forgave you all that debt because you begged me should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant just as I had pity on you and his master was angry and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him. Verse 35. My heavenly father also will do to you if each of you from his heart does not forgive his brother's trespasses go back to verse 34 and his master was angry and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him. So my heavenly father also did you if each of you from his heart does not forgive his brother's trespasses. Does this mean that the salvation is not really of the grace that it all depends on you forgiven other people. That's not wanted me what it means is when you truly understand the grace that God has given you. I mean really understanding you're going to be willing to give it other people. And if you're not willing to give it other people, you probably don't really understand the grace that is been given the notice analogy that Jesus uses this guy would a bunch of money in the king forgave the debt and then somebody else owed him a little money any grabbed him by the throat with Jesus and it's pretty apparent. I think God's forgiven you so much.

If you come to him and ask him to forgive you. He's forgiven you of everything that you've ever done and friend doesn't matter what somebody else is done to you the things that you've done to God far outweigh anything anybody has done both in their way and have you figure you've been a center since you were born you probably stacked up quite a debt of sin. And so when somebody else comes another one to 310 things to you and you try to carry that around not forgetting Jesus is you don't get really don't understand grace.

You don't understand what I forgiven you go with me back to second Samuel, as we go back there's kind interesting in another passage in Luke when Jesus says that Luke chapter 17 verse four. Jesus says the same thing and a sense against you seven times in a day and seven times in the day returns. You say I repent, you shall forgiven and then the apostle said to the Lord, increase our faith. God help us if we do this with you knowing that I mean even as I said that you got like 490. God help me, he will give you the power to forgive is working into our story because it strikes me as ironic that David took Bathsheba for his wife and had Uriah killed in a very treacherous way using conspiracy now won't turn around and forgive us who actually did for less, and it sets in motion a chain of events. This can be harmful to be horrible for David to be horrible for Absalom to be horrible for the whole nation and the reality is I think it could've been stopped, but it does. How can we have the power to forgive anybody go ahead and income to dismantle an argument that some use. While I don't feel like forgiven them and if I don't feel like forgiven him.

I don't want to be a hypocrite and say I forgiven when I don't feel like forgiven. Nowhere in the Bible does it say that you need feel like forgiven Zumba fact, if you contemplate the shame and the pain that Jesus endured on the cross. I don't think you could label him as feeling like he wanted to forgive anybody it was active as well and there will be times and events in your life you don't feel like forgiven somebody affect everything you feel will go against forgiven and then you probably talk to some wrong people.

So in any field.

They don't have to forget you do. Jesus is Jesus said don't carry that around and if you don't forgive them what Jesus said is he's not forgive you and sometimes it's only sheer determination were the words can come out of your mouth God forgive that person will happen over time your heart will change as you pray for that person to get to a place where you actually do feel like you have forgiven, but it doesn't start office feeling. So why should we engage in this power to forgive people because we have been forgive next lifeless time together.

God gives us the power to be forgiven.

To understand the Bible is the only book Christianity is the only religion by which you can absolutely no achievement. Forgive stands alone can know that is Islamic. You can't know that is a Buddhist and I can run down the list.

Nobody else has that assurance from any of their holy writings. It's only the Bible. It's only Christianity, you have the power to be forgiven. We just gloss over that so quickly. You have the power to be forgiven about holy God never done. He's never done anything wrong. He's holy hee hee so holy that when citizen is present it comes soon. That's not a decision he makes it. It's like if you throw a leaf into a fire. The fires going to consume it by the nature with the fire is nature what the lease he's that holy and yet here we are tonight worshiping God. The walls are collapsing and lightning bolts are in an amazing thing. Why is that, forgive God didn't take long, say Willis just disregard that whole Hebrew Scriptures, Old Testament, and say that he did lower the standard what God did was sent Jesus and sentenced himself for your punishment so you can be forgiven amazing thing and it if anybody's ever use this on what I don't understand how a loving God would ever send anybody to me is anybody and you're not heard that. I think we've all heard God as a send anybody they sin themselves in the rejection of Jesus Christ and why did God even make that place to send people that reject were told Matthew 2541 why he made this places is then he will also say to those on the left and apart from me you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels.

God didn't create help for people he created it for Satan and the demons not for people, but people by the rejection of Jesus Christ and and held a very real place as a burial place of eternal punishment.

And that's part of what and where forgiven what we lose, you lose hell. I heard it hurt and awesome message years ago preacher song sung the sermon.

You never heard that nine minutes is just a beautiful, but that the title of the sermon, which was out on the front side of the church with what the hell do you want to stop make you think will be what is it about the place.

It feels the sum of some of you are paying attention to never coming back here. There's nothing about the place that appeals to me to think of all the gain in this forgiveness. John chapter 360 and we we do a lot of for God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life. Look in verse 17 we we forget were 70. We don't often quote that you don't usually see 17 written on the side of the the football game. For God did not send his son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through him might be saved by Jesus came that we could be saved as a young Christian I read verse 70 God and sent his son into the world to condemn the world hallelujah found my ministry condemn the world if they didn't know it.

I went through a season man well it's my job, my job, I'll do it.

Holy Spirit seems to be shy about all condemn everybody see some which was to do.

How serious is God about forgiving people and save me to something that occurs to me there is somebody I believe that there live on the planet Earth that that they're the last ones through the last one is going to get saved the moments that person walks down the to the altar. It's done. It's over were out of here when you go see a play, you can know that when the plays over when the person that wrote the play walks out on the stage.

That's what happened sometimes on Thursday night or Sunday mornings and see people coming for, I think. I wonder goats said all the stuff going on in the world, all the bad stuff all the stuff why does God keep Wayne.

We don't have to wonder about that.

He tells us second Peter chapter 3 verse says the Lord. Is it really been slow about his promise to return some people think that he's been patient for your sake he does not want any one to Paris to he's given more time for everyone to repent. What a gracious God coming times of even watching the television and seeing something and thought man about was in charge of the book we can all be grateful that God is much more gracious and we he's waiting is he waiting on what might be waiting on it. By the way nonfamily member by the way don't want to your friends. He's waiting. So this is the power that the as Christians were given the power to be forgiven to Linda Jesus is a Jesus, please forgive me of the sent Jesus will forgive us of our sins, and then we can turn around Samantha and you know I forgive related mask will will get them just a minute and understand as long as you're here and around unforgiveness. Your carrying around unforgiveness. That's not then let you carry that around heavy. That is how destructive that you know what that's going to do to David in the next few chapters, when again I wonder, yet God prophesied things were going to go poorly. God knew how David was going to react with apps and it's true, we don't see anywhere in here where Absalom came to Dave and said David, I need you to forgive me. I messed up. We don't see that but neither do we see David being very gracious with this young man kind of ironic and that he was forgiven of so much. You don't have to carry that baggage around any if you carried it in here tonight. You don't have to carry it back out.

Some of you have to be tired of hearing that verse 15 now therefore outcomes speak of this thing to my lord the king because the people of mainly afraid and your maidservant said I will now speak to the king, it may be that the king will perform the request of his maidservant for the king will hear and deliver his maidservant from the hand of the man who would destroy me and my son together from the inheritance of God in your maidservant said the word of my lord the king will now be comforting for is the angel of God, so is my lord the king and discerning good and evil and may the Lord your God be with you and the king answered and said to the woman, please do not hide from me anything that I ask you Norman said please let my lord the king speak. Verse 19 the wise King David. So the king said, is the hand of Joab with you and all the woman answered and said, as you live, my lord the king.

No one can turn to the right hand or to the left from anything that my lord the king is spoken for your servant Joab commanded Manny put all these words in the mouth of your maidservant to bring about this change of affairs your servant job is done this thing is wise according to the wisdom of the angel of God to know everything that is in the earth.

The king said the Joab are granted this thing go therefore and bring back the young man Absalom as you read this chapter and you really start to dig into various things are little bit disturbing and I were pointed out one Absalom never said hey I'm sorry� Not recorded. Absalom never said I really want to come back to the king's power.

Apparently was Absalom ready to come back. I don't think it was to this is where the minefield is having their so much balance needs to be applied because Marty said that you need to forgive people even if they don't ask you need to let go of that restoration really should depend on them asking for forgiveness, not contradicting myself whether that person wants restoration are not you should forgive and let it go. Don't carry around. But in order to have restoration, they should ask your forgiveness because if they don't, you're just going to keep going back to that poison well and drinking it over and over and over and over again. Absalom never did this unit we work with people who are addicted to drugs and alcohol different times.

My college urgency is really struggle with drug and alcohol we give him a call. Usually what we say is please have them call us and here's why.

Is it they won't take the simple small step of calling they're probably not ready for change. I may sound like tough love and I guess economy but if they won't make that phone once they make that phone call mammal walking through and I don't care may stumble and they fall half a dozen times the first day done, but they got a desire that change they got to desire that restoration, Absalom should have appealed to the king and asked for forgiveness. He didn't do so the whole thing is just going haywire in and it all looks good on the outside but it's not in order to have restoration with somebody when something goes haywire. Something goes wrong. Apologies need to be made. People need to be responsible because they need to realize or you need to realize that you did wrong and asked the people that were affected for forgiveness.

That's part of the restoration and I think we see that this thing it did not happen in God's way on God's timetable and we will see that really till the next job would get a little hit here in a moment. Verse 22 then John fell to the ground on his face about himself and think the king and Joab said today, your servant knows that I found favor in your sight Memorial King in that the king is fulfilled the request of the servant once Joab doing any immediate healing from a couple chapters ago I was very gracious. He killed a guy. David said you know what the future doesn't hold good things for you. Joe I think part of what Joab is doing. Here's a trying to try to make himself look good. Absalom I think is part of what he is doing because he thinks Absalom will be the next game. I think this part of his mixed motivation and begin to be careful. Certainly in the Bible when you say why. No way did that will be careful, be careful about saying that life. Verse 23, Joab arose and went to get sure brought Absalom to Jerusalem and the king said, let him return to his own house but did not let them see my face so Absalom returned to his own house but did not see the king's face. See what I mean when I said they were ready to do this. Absalom hadn't asked for forgiveness. Damon wasn't forgiving Absalom's place was in the king's court. The king's house that was his place as David's son and as a member of the king's court. You're not coming back to the king. See you when you live in your house away from about that restoration today. David wasn't interested in restoring Absalom to the king's court and so the story with Joab, leapfrog the process and it all goes haywire know what personal application could we possibly gain what I think sometimes we do the exact same thing, we meet all the restoration process when the relationship is not ready to be restored. The person who committed the injury is not ready to go back to the person and say you know now when they do Bible again vertically friend you know for sure that your sins been forgiven. You can know right now only Legion a short simple prayer simply telling God you're sorry and asking him to help you to live for him.

Please pray this prayer with me out loud right now.

Dear Jesus, I believe you died for me that I could be forgiven and I believe you were raised from the dead that I could have a new life not done wrong things I have sent and I'm sorry. Please forgive me of all those things. Please give me the power to live for you.

All of my days in Jesus name, amen friend of you prayed that prayer according to the Bible. You've been forgiven you've been born again, so congratulations for you just made the greatest decision that you will ever make. God bless you, if you prayed that prayer was David for the first time we'd love to hear from you. You can visit crossed the bridge.com to receive our first steps package with helpful resources to help you begin your walk with Christ. You can also write to cross the bridge at PO Box 12 515 Winston-Salem, NC 27117 and share how God is working in your life. Now before we go in the world it seems chaotic at every turn.

Jesus wants you to experience peace this year want you to experience his shalom, which is wholeness, joy and hope.

No matter what the circumstances are that you face every day. Neild we have a resource that can help or assistance with this yet about Pastor David wrote a simple book that can show you how to experience this shalom that you were just talking about it's easy to read and full of great analogies to share powerful biblical truths across the bridge to life. Discover your venture will be a blessing to any of our listeners, Bob, and that's a great gift to think any of our listeners that financially support us to help more people crossed the bridge from death to life. Go to cross the bridge.com to request your copy today also stay wake up with encouragement from Pastor David through the word of God with this email. Devotional life lessons that consider daily reading plan and even biblical thoughts to meditate on throughout your day. From the heart of Pastor Dave yes Neil and it's free and easy to sign up today across the bridge.com. Thanks again for missing folks and we hope you join us next time.

As we continue studying first flavors second set