The Integrity of a Courageous Confrontation, Part 2

When someone in authority is covering up a secret soon which the biblical protocol for calling him out.

What should we say and how far should we go in exposing their sin. These are questions that are answered in the model given to us in the Old Testament today on Insight for living Chuck Swindoll guides us through the story is recorded in second Samuel 12 it was Nathan the prophet pointed the finger at King David risking his life to unveil the ugly truth. Chuck titled today's message the integrity of a courageous confrontation and finger-pointing and accusing finger at the king who lived centuries ago, maybe look within our father, may we see ourselves often often guilty of doing wrong and going right on rather than making a right first review amendment goes, we've offended. Who knows how many this very day find their heart beating heavily in their chest when they read of this confrontation. Search our hearts today. Oh Lord, see if there be any wicked way in us. Lead us to acknowledging that turning from that claiming the forgiveness that only you can provide and then walking away free of guilt to live for you. This is a soul-searching message at awakening sermon so awaken us Lord list. We simply gone through it because and take it in, take it personally when we come to terms with whatever you bring to our attention this day is your profit Nathan speaks from the page of this ancient book to us this day know all of you. Please pray with me.

Our father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil, thy name is the kingdom the power and glory forever and ever. Everyone's living to search the Scriptures with Chuck Swindoll. Be sure to download his searching the Scriptures.

Studies by going to Insight world.org/studies Chuck titled his message the integrity of a courageous confrontation. David stacked one sin against another, because he failed to confess the first one is adultery with Bathsheba brought in Uriah deceitfully attempted to connect Uriah back with his wife Bessie Uriah was far more faithful and David he would even go to rezone house. David got them drunk in hopes of getting them there so that it would look as though her pregnancy was caused by her husband Uriah never went because he wouldn't. David turned on one of the warriors of Israel heading killed in battle, put them at the front of the battle so that he may be killed. Not only was Uriah killed, but other warriors as well. So there's murder and record and then months and months of hypocrisy the royal palace must've had whispers, but none of that move. David he was miserable to be sure, and by the way.

During this time. Not one song flows from David's. It's impossible to sing the Lord's song in a foreign land. David's heart wasn't right and David in his miserable condition just stayed silent as the baby grew in Bathsheba's will. Until God spoke to a prophet named Nathan. It begins rather innocuously in this chapter.

This 12 chapter the Lord said, Nathan, and you will notice he sent Nathan to tell David the story.

What an interesting statement. This 12 chapter begins with because there is something in every story or someone in every story and we can identify with, which makes every story interesting and this is no exception.

Story is beautiful way to disarm another David is a classic example is flight of the sins and the callous followers is months of hypocrisy. David listens to the story as Nathan sits beside him. There were two men in the city. One was rich and one was poor.

One had plenty in the other only had his little family and one you lamb when the rich man had a guest come along and was time for dinner. That rich man, rather than taking one of his own flock from the flock. He took the poor man's one lamb is only little lamb he slaughtered it insert that is the feast for dinner that evening. I am convinced that they could visit through telling the whole story before David is furious.

He is furious there there be a man like that in my kingdom find him, he deserves to die.

But before we take his life. He needs to give that man for lambs from his flock, paying him back for to one. How dare he take a man's single lamb at that moment it was time for Nathan to speak you the man. This literally. The Hebrew says you're the man you're the one who took the lamb in fact he goes on to describe what will happen as a result, Nathan begins with this word picture, it becomes a mirror and finally window but the mission is unfinished. It is accomplished yet.

Nathan doesn't just stand up and walk out.

He has more to say to David, but the very first thing addresses is forgiveness soon as David says I have sinned against the Lord.

Nathan says you are forgiven.

Lord, this is the this is the beauty. This is the difference between false guilt and true guilt.

False guilt comes from someone else has an opinion about what were doing and they're judging us because were not living up to what they expected.

We worry too much about that true guilt occurs when the Lord speaks in our hearts go deep within. We've done wrong alternate or brilliant Swiss psychiatrist and author is written the book guilt and grace. And then it tells the difference between false and true guilt quote false guilt is brought on by the judgments and suggestions of men and women.

True guilt comes from willfully and knowingly disobeying God. David's anguish is from true guilt is ignored. As a matter of fact, did you notice that in the story David is so concerned about this rich man that has all the sheep that he never realizes man so resist system. Nathan find that back, and he doesn't even doesn't even realize it's a miserable all these months and you doubt that, listen to Psalm 32 when I kept it all inside my bones turned to powder my words became daylong wrong. The pressure never let up all the juices of my life dried up. Then I let it all out.

I said make a clean break and I'll bring my failure before my God is amazing is that David didn't realize that he was a man, Alexander Whyte, who for so many years ministered in the fridge's pre-church St. George's in inadvertence wrote this line Nathan sword was within an inch of David's conscience before David knew that Nathan had a sword love that state. You are the man brought David to his knees.

Now this story has not been preserved. So all of us can clock our tongs and shame David for his wrongdoing.

It was role and it doesn't take a lot of discernment to acknowledge several of the wrongs that took place. You know that it was severe for the punishment to follow your baby will die, your family will suffer. David went through a hell on earth with one child after another all the notes even Absalom. David abdicated the throne as Absalom took over, and there is rape there is murder in the family. It's dreadful. David is forgiven.

There were these consequences.

Nevertheless, Nathan warning faithfully as a prophet. Now to find the words that I want to bring to all of us want to close as I sit down beside you in in the front seat of your life. I do not know any of you well enough to know the red light has come on you know if it has.

If you haven't thought of it recently. You certainly realize it now, and there's something about the heartbeat that begins to grow heavily in the chest and he gets up to the neck. We feel it throbbing in her throat is called true guilt not manipulated by me. You've heard the story in now you realize this.

This is for me. Whatever was written in early times was written for our learning is the light on in her life is the heat gauge showing that is dangerously hot that there's trouble under the hood, you must pull over, stop and deal with it. If we were in that car together.

I would say to you, don't wait that lights on for the purpose pull over stuff. Stop Saucedo to you today and I don't hesitate is my responsibility as a minister of the gospel to preach the word and then apply it to all of us. Whatever may be your life and be an unwillingness to forgive someone in your holding it over them, maybe an act. Something like what is mentioned in the chapter, maybe an ongoing habit that slowly but surely eating away at your joy and your relationships stop open the hood get help if needed with said there were two applications and here's the second, which may be even harder than the first but said you switched to the rider side someone you love very much is behind the wheel and the light was on. God says to you, don't just ignore it.

It's your move on and on and on, leading you to move from the safety in the comfort of just being a nice friend and going along with everything to becoming Nathan in that person's life.

I will tell you from my own experience that has been my responsibility never voluntarily, usually with great reluctance often with tears and also told her it was never easy, never easy. Sometime it was resisted other occasions. It was even presented.

I was shown the door and I leave this there's no force involved. There's no sense of personal pleasure knowing you got someone on your phone is not about that. This is a judgment.

This is to restore one in the spirit of meekness is caring enough to confront is a blind spot. Quite likely, why would a person just overlook a red light on the – I will tell you this.

I've never regretted going. Looking back, I'm always been grateful that I will be God's leading. I look back realizing I could have handled it a little differently sometime but it was never ever done out of pride or with a gotcha kind of a spirit always in private. Always as a matter of fact, I've even had some connect with me later and thanked me profusely for confronting them with what needed to be addressed. I could keep you here another 30 minutes with stories, but those are all private.

I wouldn't even get into any of them listed look like I'm exploiting that it is of no business to anyone else, but I will tell you if the Lord speaks to you today saying it's your move move if you're the be that to be the Nathan Nathan. We all have our Nathan because of his courageous integrity going before the man who was the king and telling them what no one else would tell you may think of a very creative way of doing it fine the Lord may give you an insight and the timing will be just right and when it's right go go go away. This is one of the beautiful things about the Christian life.

We care enough about one another.

We love one another enough help a person who's hurting himself and others by continuing on the enrollment duly just make certain this is in some pet peeve of yours that you don't like to see in someone else is not about Rome is been done according to scriptural direction. The Lord taps you on the shoulder sometime. The sensitive moment Megan a time of prayer and says to you is time to stop the prating time to make your move. Make it go.

As for the right words.

Ask for the right spirit. Ask for the right response and then leave it all with the Lord as you care enough to confront them with me. Would you please. Thank you for your kind close attention. This is serious stuff. This is rarely addressed from the pulpit. I realize that but if it's because one of you really did need to hear it. It's been worth it. However, I think there are a number of you, whoever you are needed to hear what was said today you might take this seriously. Perhaps you've never come to Christ as your Savior.

Maybe that distance with God is an explanation of your ongoing life of transgression, start there at the cross start right there. You really don't need anyone else. This is between you and the Lord, and you come to the Lord. Openhearted, openhanded you bring your life before him and you say father I would never been on speaking terms. But I do need you and I trust in your signed for the first time in my life. I take it is my Savior.

Thank you for coming into my life. Now father you have a wonderful way of following messages like this is you speak to us through the afternoon and evening and on Mondays and Tuesdays through the week. I believe that you have plans for some of heard these words to follow through. May they do so in the strength of the spirit be led by you. Otherwise, may they not do it.

The action carried out for your glory and in your power given humility in gentleness, discernment and courage to do what is right and for those who find it. Personally convicting. I pray that you would bring them like David to acknowledge wrongdoing the beginning of a turning point in reliance. Thank you in advance for good that will come from the serious words we had together in the name of Christ our Lord. Everyone's man this is insight for living and with Chuck Swindoll's prayer, we conclude a message called the integrity of a courageous confrontation.

It's the sixth message in a 12 part teaching series from Chuck. The series is brand-new and called walking with integrity in times of adversity and if you'd like to learn more about this ministry please visit insight world.org and then as we continue our studies. I like to give you a preview of what's ahead, beginning with the next program. Chuck will turn his attention to an obscure Old Testament character named Jabez be talking about the integrity of a bold vision. Jabez taught us that it's okay to feel restless and ambitious because God can often use those emotions to accomplish great things for him and then he'll address a struggle that's familiar to all of us. Chuck will be speaking about the integrity of waiting, not worrying.

Well, in light of these topics, Chuck suggested a biography.

It's about Joseph Amanda modeled so many of the virtues we are addressing in our new series. The book is called Joseph a man of integrity and forgiveness at the beginning of a new year. All of us said goals and look for new ways to advance our lives. So if you're looking for an inspirational book to guide your journey. We highly recommend Joseph, a man of integrity and forgiveness to purchase a copy. Collins listening in the United States dial 1-800-772-8888 or go to insight.or/offer these daily visits with Chuck coming possible your voluntary donations to give a contribution today go to insight.or/donate or call us listening in the United States dial 1-800-772-8880 numbering more than ever insight for living ministries is determined to serve as a lavish guard for people all around the world longer smell the aroma of God's asleep place where imperfect, sinful people were forgiven taught the truth and redeem there's a simple and effective way to leverage your supportive Chuck Swindoll's ministry become a monthly companion in this emotionally charged you wrote were shouting matches were commonplace for people feel voiceless and overlooked in tradition, would you be among those who give generously so that we can spread the God's grace to those this second chance become a monthly companion today. If you're listening in the United States. Call 1-800-772-8888 or go to insight.org/monthly together.

Let's introduce the God says migrate all power. This, again, if you're listening in the United States.

Call 1-800-772-8888 or go to insight.org/monthly companion. I'm Dave Speicher inviting you to join us. When Chuck Swindoll talks about the integrity of a bold vision Tuesday on insight for living. The preceding message the integrity of a courageous confrontation was copyrighted in 2021 and 2022 and the sound recording was copyrighted in 2022 by Charles R. Swindoll. All rights are reserved worldwide.

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