Tough and Tender

Stand with me as I call us to worship Psalm 90 psalmist says Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations before the mountains were brought forth, forever you have formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God is the God we worship with go to him in prayer. Father, we exalt you. We bless your name, we confess that we desperately need you in our lives. We need your presence. We need your comfort. We need your love and faithfulness that you are a holy God cannot look upon sin and yet you call us your children.

We know that transaction can only happen because of what Christ has done for us on the cross Holy Spirit would you fill your church now would you take the word of God and illuminate our minds that we might have our souls nourished from father-son and Holy Spirit.

We welcome your presence. Now is your church worships you in the name of Jesus we pray. Amen. Today is Reformation Sunday will over 500 years ago Martin Luther Catholic priest nailed his 95 theses to the door castle in Wittenberg and kicked off the Protestant Reformation Reformation, the Lord willing is continuing to this day as the churches can more and more to the image of Christ. Luther and all of the reformers needed a robust confidence in the strength and the sovereignty of God in order to fight the good fight that they were up against.

We need that same confidence to fight the good fight today and so I'm sure those attributes of God were in Luther's mind as he penned a paraphrased Psalm 46 that we know as a mighty Fortress is our God is express our confidence in God as we sing this wonderful old hymn of the faith and in all and all will will will will and will and will and testament reading this morning's first Thessalonians chapter 2 verses one through eight, we see in this passage how the gospel of Jesus Christ spread the early church by the witness and labor of the apostles. Those men God had chosen to build his church. First Thessalonians chapter 2 verses one through eight, Paul says, for you yourselves know brothers that are coming to you was not in vain that we had already suffered and been shamefully treated at Philippi, as you know we have boldness in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in the midst of much conflict for our appeal does not spring from error or impurity, or any attempt to deceive, but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel.

So we speak, not to please man to please God who tests our hearts.

We never came with words of flattery, as you know more with a pretext for greed. God is witness nor did we seek glory from people, whether from you or from others that we could have made demands as apostles of Christ. But we were gentle among you, I can nursing mother taking care of her own children so being affectionately desirous of you we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves because you have become very dear the word of the Lord. Let's take a moment this morning to confess our faith together really use the Heidelberg catechism. Several questions from this old catechism, and I want you to notice as we go through this that all of the solos of the of the Protestant Reformation are contained in these and these questions and answers. If you're unfamiliar with what the solos are. Go home and look it up and be well worth your time.

Let's confess our faith together church. How are you righteous before God only by true faith in Jesus Christ. That is, although my conscience accuse me that I have grievously sinned against all the commandments of God and is never kept any of them and am still prone always to all evil. Yet God without any merit of mine of mere grace grants and imputes to me the perfect satisfaction, righteousness and holiness of Christ as if I had never committed nor had any sin, and had myself accomplished all the obedience which Christ has fulfilled for me. If only I accept such benefits with a believing heart. Why do you say that you are righteous by faith only, not that I am acceptable to God, on account of the worthiness of my faith, but because only the satisfaction righteousness and holiness of Christ is my righteousness before God and I can receive the same and make it my own in no other way than by faith only, but why cannot our good works be the whole or part of our righteousness before God, because the righteousness which can stand before the judgment seat of God must be perfect throughout and holy conformable to the divine law, but even our best works in this life are all imperfect and to file sin, you are good works, merit, nothing even though it is God's will to reward them in this life and in that which is to come. The reward comes not of merit but of grace does not this doctrine make men careless and profane, no, for it is impossible that those who are implanted into Christ by true faith should not bring forth fruits of thankfulness. Since then, we are made partakers of Christ and all his benefits, by faith only from where comes this faith the Holy Spirit works faith in our hearts by the preaching of the holy gospel and confirms it by the use of the holy sacrament, but stand together and saying about our confidence in God's strength and power will will will I will will will will will will will your Bibles with you today truth. If you would first save chapter 26. Start with verses 135, then the fights came to Saul to give you saying is not David having himself on the heel of Paco law, which is on the east suggestion mine Saul arose and went down to the wilderness as if with 3000 chosen men of Israel to see David in the wilderness and see if Charlie camped on the heel of Paco law, which is beside the road on the east suggestion mine but David remained in the wilderness when he saw that Saul came after him into the wilderness.

David sent out spies and learned that Saul had come.

Then David Rosen came to the place were solid encamped. David saw the place were Salle with Abner, the son of nerve, the commander of his army.

Saul was lying within the encampment.

While the Army was encamped around that with me as we got our Lord in prayer. Father, we are learning some tough choices. We study the life of David. We are learning to expect persecution and to refuse to fear. It we read about the horrors that Saul put David through and we are reminded of the words of Jesus. Fear not that one can harm the body, but fear that one who can destroy both body and soul and hail Utah David that is inspired courage in the face of danger has been used in our last, to strengthen and encourage us. Father we pray for our nation this morning this upcoming election may be the most important election that we never had. Give us wisdom and Lord fill our national leaders with a hunger to know and please you. We pray for our doctors or nurses that you would protect them as I selflessly serve others.

We pray for our policeman and law enforcement help them to realize the vast majority of Americans are deeply grateful for their work and sacrifice help me this morning to preacher word is a dying man to dying people keep my lips from error annoy me with your spirit. 40 is a precious and holy name of Jesus that we pray. Amen. You may be seated on May 11, 1685, 18-year-old Margaret Wilson was sentenced to die because she would not declare that King James VII of of Scotland was not only the King of Scotland, but he was also the sovereign head of the church, she said no he is not the sovereign head of the church.

Jesus Christ is a sovereign head of the church and I will bow only to him for this so-called crime Margaret Wilson was taken out to the Solway River. She was put roped up to a big post and in the water.

With that in rushing tied would drown her several hundred feet from layer was another lady that was being drown also tied to a post name is Margaret lack listen. She was a dear Christian friend of Margaret Wilson and their hope was that Margaret Wilson would see your friend being drown and then she would recant and she would acknowledge that that James VII was indeed the sovereign head of the church whale their little scheme did not work instead of acknowledging that he was the king. What did she do if she was out of that water. Margaret Wilson began to quote Romans chapter 8 in the last verses say this, for I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels, nor powers, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. As the water began to to come up and she began to choke.

They went out, the persecutors did and untied her brother back to the beach and threw her down on the sand. She was choking and gasping for air and then they said are okay Margaret we you nail, confess and proclaim that James is is the head of the.

The church and will you pray to him. She said no I will not pray to him. She stood upright forming that the Lord would saving but I am not going to pray to a mere man, one of the persecutors took her head pushed it down into the water and drowned her to death. Margaret Wilson was a woman who understood the words of Jesus. The words of Jesus. He said fear not that one can kill the body but not the sole but fear that one can destroy both body and soul, inhale someone 18 David said in verses eight and nine. It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes where that kind of Christian courage and in the church of Jesus Christ in America today is a church respond to persecution, we cower. We cringe we shake we compromise even when the authorities tell us that our tax deductions might be affected. One of the world are we going to do if our lives are threatened, folks, we say well where an American Americas free nation.

We know anything to worry about persecutions not to put another possibility.

Let me encourage you let me cancel you to open your eyes into brace yourself.

There is a wicked anti-God movement that is creeping into this nation right now that is stealing away the hearts of our young people and how are they doing it to the promise of free stuff through the indoctrination of revisionist history, and through deification of pseudoscience, but we have the old people in our nation right now. They're very, very concerned about what could happen to their and their Social Security and their deeply concerned about that one is going to happen if we have an economic collapse and the the violence it we see this Taking Pl. in America today continues to get worse and worse and worse.

I have a feeling that Christians will be a blame for this and if Christians are blame for that. Then persecution will deepen if persecution deepens, will God be with us when we tell you this if persecution deepens and we are trusting God through it God will be more intimate to us and we probably ever experienced before.

I remember back in 1987 I went to communist Czechoslovakia on a mission trip. We went back behind the Iron Curtain, and on that Sunday morning. We were taken out to a an underground church. It was way out in the boondocks and the old barn and it was way out away from everybody else. All these people started coming. These Christians and I saw an excitement and energy and a joy like I just never seen before made me made me just ashamed of myself as I worship these people. The worship began and I had snuggled into a little smuggled in little Bible little New Testament getting New Testament and I pulled it out and started reading it is a girl that was sitting beside me, probably 18-year-old teenage girl.

She looked at that Bible eyes got as big as saucers.

She said can I touch it and I handed it to her to check it out and she opened it up, she started caressing the pages caressing the pages like they were pure gold found. She gave it back to me after the service was over. I handed it to her. So here you take it. I want you to keep it. Tears started rolling down her cheeks. She hugged my neck and she ran off and showed it to a friend she came back she hugged my neck again. Then she ran off sugar to another friend.

She came back, hugged my neck again.

Let me tell you, persecution had not squelched the faith of this young Christian and her and her brothers and sisters in Christ were just on fire for the Lord. It was exciting being around them. The communist government.

Czechoslovakia had not dampened their faith. In fact, it drew closer to Christ. I see that same thing with David. Saul is still after David.

Saul is still trying to kill him. He's trying to take his life and the persecution is teaching David some important truths. He's learning how to move from fear of Saul to trust in Jehovah. Remember that three weeks ago we were studying first a single chapter 24 Solly chased David and David was up in the area been getting and there were a bunch of caves they are that mountainous region and David and several of his men were in 1 Particular Cave Way back in the back of the cave and it just so happened by the providence of God that Saul came into that particular cave to relieve himself while he was in. They decide to take a nap he laid down he took a nap and fell sound asleep, and during that time David went over to him, took his sword and cut off the him a Saul's garment that the symbol of his authority. Saul walked out of there little bit later woke up and walked several hundred feet away. David came out of the cave and he screamed it.

Solly held up at him of the garment. He said look what I have Saul I have the him of your garment so that you are in the cave saying cave where I was. You went to sleep I could've killed you, but I just took the him of your garment. I did that to show you that I'm your faithful servant that you don't have to fear me that I would never touch the hand of God's anointed.

Saul fell into deep conviction and thought Saul was broken and he promised David that he would not try to kill him again. What's going on here is to chapters later in first Samuel chapter 26 we see something that happens is almost identical to what happened in first Samuel chapter 24 David is now in the wilderness and see if he's in a place where there's a lot of case, a lot of hiding places.

They are that's a very wise place for David to go because Israel didn't have a lot of hiding places soaking.

Saul finally finds out where David is and he aced still mustered up 20,000 men, and he marches them to CF for the purpose of killing David and taking David's life only share with you what Richard Phillips had to say about this. Listen. Listen carefully to this one explains this about-face, the answers that man in sin is ever ready to commit evil.

This reality is all the more true of men and women who exercise great power, and is graceless hearts carry the weight of privilege and authority.

Consider the never ceasing use of political leaders today who one after another fall prey to sexual sins, dishonesty, fraud and coverups. Despite the proven likelihood of there being caught while they leap in opportunities to sin, because having inflamed them sales with a hot passions of power and pride. There deprive natures draw them into self destroying sin.

Had Saul not figured out by now that God was not going to permit him to take David's life as he had. He himself admitted after that last meeting. Yet how irrational sin is in the mighty hacking communist desperate in China today fail to notice of their persecution of house churches, only causes them to grow. The problem is the corruption of man's depraved nature is ever ready to commit sin and forget God's punishment for those who do evil is a problem not confined to the high and mighty you having sees the sovereign reins of your own life and choices not realize the peril of sinful desires is sin not faith that is blind and ever ready to follow one disaster with a renewed zeal for another author to appoint someone to share with you this morning. Number one is David's growth in grace.

Look at verses four through 16. David sent out spies and learned that Saul had indeed come then David Rose came to the place were solidly camped and David saw the place were Salle with Abner, the son of nerve, the commander of his army. Saul was lying within the encampment. While the Army was in camp surrounding then David said to Ahimelech, the Hittite into Joab's brother a bit. She, the sun is a rule who will go down with the end of the camp to Saul Bish. I said I will go down with you today. The novitiate I went to the Army by night in their Lysol sleeping with the encampment with his fear stuck in the ground that his head and Abner and the Army light rail to banning dinner Bish.

I said to David, God is given your enemy into your hand. This day.please let me pin him to the earth with one stroke of the spear. I will not striking twice. David said to Bish do not destroy him for who can put out his hand against the Lord's anointed. Be guiltless and David said, as the Lord lives, the Lord will strike him or his day will come to die. We will go down into the battle and perish.

Lord forbid that I should put out my hand against the Lord's anointed. But take now the spear that is at his head in the jar of water and let us go. So David took the spear in the jar of water from Saul's head and they went away.

No man solider knew it, nor did any awake. They were all asleep because a deep sleep from the Lord had fallen upon them. Then David went over to the side and stood far off on the top of the heel with a great space between them and David call to the Army and Abner is a son of nurse and will you not answer Abner and Abner answered. Who are you the cost of the king. David said after are you not a man who's like you and Israel widely and have you not kept watch over your Lord the King. One of the people came into destroy the king, your Lord, the thing that you have done is not good as the Lord lives. You deserve to die because you have not kept watch over your Lord, the Lord's anointed and Nestlé were the king's theory is the jar of water that is at his head didn't take Saul long to renege on his promise not to kill David. Saul did not have real repentance is not experiencing that he was experiencing remorse may be regret but it was not genuine repentance. David, on the other hand, remember two things.

God had protected him against Saul many times over and over again got a protecting God-given. David, a promise that he would be the next king of Israel and God does not break his promises, but he also did something else number two David had just experienced near campus catastrophe himself free and just about killed night ball.

He was up in the area of Carmel and he had done the the something happened to his heart because Nabel made them mad so mad that he was really to take his life and to kill a man that he should not even been worried about.

He just about did that but he didn't do it. Why not because Abigail nabobs very beautiful and godly wife came out and set out a whole huge banquet for David and his men she got David's attention and then she shared with David the word of God told David not to ruin his testimony and not to do such a wicked horrible thing and David was convicted and David repented and David said I will not do that. Davidson why in the world, should I ruin my testimony and ruin my name when I'm going to be the next king of Israel, and now he's in a situation where a very similar opportunity comes up. He can take Saul's life they can stop all of this, but he doesn't do it, why not because he's convicted by the word of God and he says I'm not going to ruin my testimony. I will not lift my hand against God's anointed joy finds out that Saul is okay as is 3000 soldiers. He's taken them up to the mountains and CF and late at night.

David says I'm gonna sneak into his camp and I'm in a find out what the situation is firsthand, since it is there anybody wants to go with me and Bish. He says I'll go with you, David, and they go into the camp.

This is an interesting thing for me there 3000 million layer where the guards went where is anybody this garden watching in case somebody might try to get into camp, nobody is even awake at this time. And when David goes in there all sound asleep. How in the world does that happen. I tell you this is either insane bravery on David's part or it's the epitome of godly faith and I believe it's the epitome of godly faith David to Bish. I walk in the camp they won't right over to where Saul is. Saul is laying on the ground sawing logs asleep, snoring, and his spear is right there beside his head and then right beside his speeder is his his jug of water. A Bish chassis that spear, and he gets excited and I can imagine them whispering in David's ear. He said David that might be the spear that Saul through it. You went when you were playing the harp for him trying to relieve his depression.

He was trying to kill you if he wanted to pin you to the wall. David said David let me take that spear, and let me pin him to the ground just like he tried to pin you to the wall.

He said David killing just like that and there will be no more persecution. They said no, no, don't do that they see you taking spear, which is the symbol of his authority and you take his jug of water which is a symbol of his comfort and steel. Nobody is awake. How in the world is that happen with verse 12 tells us.

Verse 12 tells us that the Lord put a deep sleep on all that were there 3000 people folks we need to learn to quit downing God's unlimited power to take care of his children, we need to understand that God knows exactly how to take care of us.

Reminds me that The 12 member Peter was in prison, King Herod Agrippa having thrown in prison sentenced him to die on the next day for preaching the gospel to Peter's line there in prison. The sleep and all of a sudden an angel the Lord walks in the Scripture tells us that God put a deep sleep on all the guards is one guard that is actually in the prison sale with Peter and he's handcuffed to Peter and all of a sudden the shackles follow Peter's hands and office feet and Angel tells them to get up and then the door of the prison opens up the go out that door and then the gate of the prison opens up and they go out that gate and Peter's a free man absolutely free man memory goes to the home of a John Mark and their family prayer meeting, praying for them. They are in the good that Homan and that's where he is, but they don't even arrest him. The next day they can even finding and Peter goes on for 30 more years after that to faithfully preach the gospel of Jesus Christ. But since we have a promise from God. We need to learn how to stand on that promise. And David in a Bish. He walked right into Saul's camp. They walked right past 3000 sleeping soldiers.

They take his fear. They take his jug of water and nobody lifts a finger against him.

Listen what David said some 34 728 David said the angel, the Lord encamps around those who, fearing, and delivers them of taste and see that the Lord is good. Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him only point out to produce a David spiritual growth here. Number one, he realized that it would be sinful to take personal vengeance when he learned that from a learn that from Abigail, who is now his wife who taught him well not to take vengeance into his own hands. Second thing he learned was this David learn this truth.

God's people don't have to force God's providence in verse 10.

Listen to what David says to Bish. He so when only to kill David God's got it gospel handle it. God knows exactly what to do with it. Verse 10 David said to Bish. He is the Lord lives, the Lord will strike him or his day will come to die, where he will go down into battle and perish.

Roger Ellsworth said the us the truth of God's efficiency is wonderful and glorious but as is the case with all other truths, it can be distorted and misused. Some are inclined to use the doctrine of God's efficiency or God's sovereignty to completely obliterate and remove man's responsibility. In other words, they argue, if God is sufficient. There's nothing for us to do except sit back and let God do everything so efficiency does not preclude difficulty the count of David's visit to Saul's camp provides us with a much-needed balance on this matter.

First, we can see that David did not take the sufficiency of God. Many should have no difficulties. David was in the crucible of many harsh difficulties. Saul wanted the people of Israel to fear him a couple of things on what you see here. David took first of all, the, the spear, he took it up in his hand a Bish. I pulled it up gave to David what was that spear about it was a symbol of his kingly reign. It was a symbol of force, and that's how Saul wanted to rule the people of Israel. He wanted to rule them by force. He wanted to say you bow to me or I'll kill you.

You bow to me you better be afraid of me. I will take your life sounds a lot like King James VII of Scotland done it by pulling out the spear and by removing it from Saul's presence.

I think David was making a statement of his own. I think David was saying the us. I want my people to respect me not fear me.

I want my people to feel safe, not scared.

I want my people to feel protected, not picked on. I will my people in Israel to love God and I want my people in Israel to love me as a shepherd. King and David became that, King noticed something else. David rebuked Saul's army, especially after the general hey said looking look at what you've done after your carelessness in your negligence could have gotten here. King healed somebody came sinking into your camp and stood right before King Saul. They could've taken his life and what were you doing you and all your men were sound asleep you were careless.

You deserve to die. Abner David is fake and with great spiritual authority here in Abner is me and probably do not like it rebuked like that, but they knew that what David said was absolutely truth, but spiritual leaders do have authority, don't you know that authority is built on the foundation of faithful service. David's godliness and refusing to kill Saul was an attention getter for the army of Israel and what you know is also attention getter for Israel as a nation when David became king of Israel, though the people remembered back to what David did. They remember that David would not lift his hand against Saul that many times David could've taken Saul out. He couldn't stop the persecution they could've ended it and become king, but he absolutely refused to do it and so is people followed him because they knew David was faithful to God that meant something. May that be a wake-up call to the leadership here at Grace Church books godliness is what God has called us to. And it is not a preference. It is not an option is an absolute imperative learning to speak a moment to those of you who are in leadership here to the teaching elders ruling elders the Sunday school teachers to the deacons here folks, it is important that people look at us and they respect our leadership, but that that respect has to be earned.

How was it earned is earned as they watch us in service to them and is earned as they watch us love and be faithful to Christ. Folks that's so important. Don't forget that don't don't get that.

Don't let it get by you because it's extremely important. We must realize that every day is a battle I think of David yeah David for his first 20 years of his reign did so many things right. Then you get spiritually lazy and we got spiritually lazy.

He committed a heinous sin they committed adultery with Bathsheba. He had her husband Uriah the Hittite keeled knew what happened.

The people of Israel lost respect for David and David never did get all that respect back.

We need to watch what we do what we need to be careful of what we say because when a Christian sends it doesn't just hurt him.

It hurts Christ and hurts the church Christian protect your testimony. Watch over your testimony and realize that Satan wants to destroy it .2 David's last words were solver 17 to 25.

Saul recognized David's voice and said is this your voice. My son David and David say that it is my voice, my Lord and King, and he said what is my Lord pursue after servant, what have I done what evil is on my hands now therefore let my lord the king hear the words of his servant. If it is the Lord has stirred you up against Meme he accept an offering that if it is men, may they be cursed before the Lord. They have driven me out this day that I should have no share in the heritage of the Lord saying go and serve other gods now therefore let not my blood fault of the earth away from the presence of the Lord the King of Israel is come out to seek a single flea like one who hunts a partridge in the mountains and Saul said I'd send turn my son David Fry will no more do you harm, because my life was precious in your eyes this day, the whole of acting foolishly I made a great mistake and David answered and said here's a Spiro King let one of the young men come over and take it the Lord rewards every man for his righteousness and his faithfulness. The Lord gave you in my hand today and I would not put out my hand against the Lord's anointed beholders. Your life was precious this day in my sight, so my my likely precious in the sight of the Lord and they deliver me out of all tribulation and Saul said to David blessed BU my son David you will do many things and will succeed in them.

So David went his way and Saul returned to his place and David's last conversation with Saul. He calls Saul to repentance. He said to Saul you pursue your servant, what have I done to you. King Saul, what have I done to you what evil do you see in my hands. He said something I think is very interesting. He said you drove me out of the presence of the tabernacle.

In other words, David is not been able to go to the tabernacle and he's not been able to have for him offered atoning sacrifices. In other words, Saul is stifling is worship. Saul is hindering David's fellowship with God in the New Testament times, we don't have to go to a tabernacle or tent, or a temple to worship.

We don't have to do that we will have to worry about where to worship.

We don't have to worry about a theology of geography your member when Jesus was at the woman at the Whalen Samarian woman at the well was there. She begin to talk to Jesus and she said oh we we here in Samaria we worship on this mountain but you intruded into and you juice you worship in Jerusalem. Listen to what Jesus said to her, but I was coming and now is here when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth, for the father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth. So Jesus came to die on the cross in order that he might stop the theology of geography, Jesus came and died for what purpose. One of the purposes was so that the Holy Spirit of God and indwell us so that the spirit of God will would indwell not a building on a temple not a tabernacle not a tent but dwell hearts of every true child of God, which we don't need a building. We we don't then this building does not contain the Holy Spirit.

We don't need tabernacle. We don't need a temple we can worship in a barn where we can worship in an open field that can be a God anointed glorious type of worship.

Some of the sweetest worship I've ever experienced was in a barn and Czechoslovakia communist Czechoslovakia, no heat, cold, dark didn't matter, spirit of God was indwelling the hearts of God's people, but in David's day was necessary to go to the tabernacle it was necessary. But David could not go because all these soldiers were surrounding the tabernacle.

David couldn't get there if he tried to get there, they would've killed them. I would put put put them down. They would've taken his life and so what is David say thanks and Saul what you what were you trying to get me to do. Are you trying to get me to go out and find other gods to worship.

He said I will not do that. I would rather die than worship another God.

There is no God but Jehovah liquidated said in verse 19. If it is the Lord who is stirred you up against me that he accept an offering.

But if it's men, may they be cursed before the Lord. I think what David is implying is this.

I think he saying I'll go with you Saul.

I'll go with you to the tabernacle we can both confess we can both repent we we can both go in and have I us have sacrifice offerings of atonement made for us. All we can do that together will kind of affect that have on Saul a very powerful effect, for it broke him and what he say in verse 21. Saul said I have acted foolishly, and I've made a mistake so that's a good step, but David knew he steel could not trust Saul. What can he trust the city. Sorry.

He said he made a foolish mistake. He he said that he had sinned McKay what he didn't say he didn't say have sinned against God.

He didn't say I need God's forgiveness. He didn't say I'm I'm repenting up turning from this jug in my life and I'm asking forgiveness from God Almighty, but somewhat you know that regret and remorse is not repentance and remorse that is not filled up with brokenness can never be trusted, can never be trusted. Today they didn't run to Saul for a hug.

He still long way away from it, but he holds a spear up and he says here's your sphere Saul. He said you don't come get it that you send the young boy over here to pick it up and you know if a repentant install was repentant, I think would assault Saul would've said to David, forget it. David, you keep it you keep it.

In fact, you can take it and break it in half. David for that sphere is a symbol of my force that sphere is a picture of my corruption to just break it, David.

I'll never want to see it again.

I repent and say that in fact he took his sword he took his spear back. This was the last time that David would ever speak to Saul the last time that he would ever see Saul and he knew this all at this point in time was not broken.

He was not repentant and he would've killed David if he could. In closing, let me let me share this very quickly on May 11, 1695 Margaret Wilson was martyred for faith on that very same day. It was a young teenage boy, 17 years old. His name was Andrew Heslop.

He also was martyred for his faith in Scotland for the same crime that Margaret Wilson had committed.

He had stated that that King James was not the sovereign head of the church for that they brought in before the Royal firing squad, and when I brought them there and they pointed the gun setting. They said to Andrew Heslop take your hands and cover of your eyes, and Andrew Heslop said absolutely not and he took his Bible and held it up in his hands me share with you what he said I can launching I can look you in the face. He answered I've done nothing of which I need to be ashamed. But how would you look in that day when you shall be judged by what is written in this book the muskets fired and the bullets tossed Andrew's body to the ground, his hand still holding forth the word of God to his murderers. I submit to you today that we here at Grace Church need to prepare.

We need to get ready to stand like David like Margaret Wilson, like Andrew Heslop why because I believe persecution is coming, and it may come sooner than later. Budget persecution is coming. We need to be ready to glorify God through the persecution.

Are you ready for that. Are you ready spray heavenly father. Most of us some time in our life left to deal with a person like King Saul pretzel balls, teacher that your spouse may be the parent they for some reason don't care for us. It may be jealousy. It may be pride, it may be arrogantly but whatever it is they seek to do us harm. Perhaps I put our job in jeopardy. Perhaps a desire to her relationship that we have with another person, but whatever it is it's hurtful. He causes pain. Too often we don't handle it a very Christlike manner. May we learn from David the calling that you have on us to be both tough and tender.

Help us to focus our affection on you and not our attentive anger on them. Help us to fight for reconciliation, but to do it without compromise. Father we pray for our nation. We asked forgiveness for our ungodliness, and our weakness in proclaiming truth put love in our heart and stealing our backbone. 40 is in the precious and holy name of Jesus that we pray. Amen.

But stay together and prayerfully saying Holy Spirit living breath and all will be on all eyes all I will will and I can come and worship in with us today and let me encourage you be that with us tonight. We have scheduled Steve McCullough to preach tonight if they have that baby might not but would somebody we'll me or Eugene or somebody bearded priests and ISA 6 o'clock. You come home in closing me encourage you with these words. Remember this and stand firm. Recall it to mind. You transgressors remember the former things evolve from God and there is no other. I am God and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times, things not yet done say in my counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose: a bird of prey from the East.

The man of my counsel from a far country.

I have spoken, and I will bring it to pass. I purposed and I will do it in all God's children said