Life's Most Subtle Temptation, Part 3

Today on Insight for living.

I wish I could promise you that when you do what is right. Your enemy will this way suddenly see his wrong turn and repent and do you correctly, but I can't make that, promise your responsible for telling a person.

The truth be something about it, but it is impossible to make him change his opinion, your conscience will be clear and few things are more difficult to overcome. It's tempting to lash out in revenge today on Insight for living. Chuck Swindoll continues a message introduced earlier this week were in first Samuel chapter 24 we find a dramatic standoff between David and his predecessor Saul was deeply jealous of David's rising reputation.

If you happen to miss any portion of Chuck's message will begin with helpful highlights. Chuck titled this message. Life's most subtle temptation to forget where we been with David. What a great guy. He was promoted to a place as an officer in the Israeli army just before this, but this promotion, he killed the giant remember Goliath. The women in the street saying Saul. This latest thousands, but David is 10,000s. Saul wasn't a big enough man to watch his man, his junior promoted above them in popularity so Saul viewed him with suspicion.

Member will happen.

He try to take his life more than once and finally he demoted from the Army. He stripped him of his rank and he became David became a fugitive in the wilderness of Judah, here is David saying secure and one of the K and Kathy remember David has been injured by a madman named Saul who was hunting for him. So much for the situation. Verse one came about when Saul returned from pursuing the Philistines. He was told. Behold, David is in the wilderness of in getting Saul's mind still getting verse three and he that Saul came to the sheepfold on the way, for there was a cave and Saul went in to relieve himself in verse four, the minute David said to him, saying, David.

This is the day which the Lord said to you. I can't you see them in the cave. This is the day was the Lord said to you. I'm about to give your enemy and your hand and you shall do to him as it seems good to you, David Lawrence put them right here. Here's a sword like you would David do you love this David arose and cut off the edge of Saul's robe secretly and he now notice he began to experience justified guilt. That's the first thing that happened verse five. It came about afterward that David's conscience bothered him because he had cut off the edge of Saul's robe David said that wasn't right. Can't do that bothered her six he said to his men.

Far be it for me because of the Lord, that I should do this thing to my superior, my Lord, the Lord's anointed to stretch out my hand against him since he is the Lord's anointed. David said that I have any business doing that. So the second thing he declared a righteous principal absolutely was split Saul in the wrong absolutely was a David's job to make it right. No, God's job.

So the third thing was absolute confidence in God. The temptation came. Absolutely it will come, and he was here.

He wrestled with guilt, which was justified. He hung his life on a righteous principal.

And then he stood fast in confidence. Absolute confidence in God to make right even in face of the opposition that you will not hear from counselors. You will not hear from friends to do that unless your counselor or your friend is doing it God's way in God's way is vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord is what David did not verse eight the conversations is so good that afterward. David arose, and went out of the cave and called after Saul my Lord the King when Saul looked behind him. David bowed with his face to the ground and prostrated himself. David said to Saul, why do you listen to the words of men saying, behold, David seeks to harm you. Wait a minute David with a garment in his hand is talking to Saul, he was bothered with a garment that he had in his hand but he didn't just say Saul Giraud back.

He said you're listening to false counsel against me, that reveals lies about me you listen to the words of men behold David seeks to harm you. That's a lie. Verse 10.

Let me give you verbal proof Saul this day.

Your eyes have seen that the Lord had given you today in my hand in the cave and some said to kill you, but my I had pity on you and I said I will not stretch out my hand against my Lord, for he is the Lord's anointed. He told the truth and you gotta tell it to the person to whom it matters ductility of friends. You gotta come to terms with the individual with whom there is the battle that's tough. Now so far it's just verbal proof. Saul could say you're not a different look in verse 11.

Now my father see indeed see the edge of your robe in my hand and he holds up a garment for in that I cut off the edge of your robe and did not kill you know and perceive there is no evil. Our rebellion in my hands. I have not sinned against you.

Though you are lying in wait for my life to take. May the Lord judge between you and me. That is important is they were just dangling his righteousness know you know David better than that by now he's not built like that. A man of integrity. He said Saul you're listening to lies.

They are not truth. I could have taken your life.

I didn't and as proof is the garment when you were vulnerable. I didn't fight I didn't strike. May God judge between you and me now Saul's response. I want to read from the living Bible, you follow along. Verse 16 Saul called back. Is it really you, my son, David and Saul began to cry and he said to David you are a better man than I am. For you have repaid me good for evil.

Yes, you have been wonderfully kind to me today for when the Lord delivered me into your hand, you didn't kill me. Who else in all the world would let that would let his enemy get away when he had him in his power. May the Lord reward you will for the kindness you have shown me today when a man's ways please the Lord. He makes even his enemies to be a piece that wait a minute that's come back to reality. This is one case study I wish I could promise you that when you do what is right. Your enemy will begin this way suddenly see his wrong and turn and repent and view you correctly, but I can't make that, promise, which brings up the second part of what I want to say you're responsible for telling a person. The truth could be something about it, but it is impossible to make him change his opinion he may die believing the lie, that's why you can't change depravity, but down inside your heart, you will know the fulfillment of that sense of righteous dealings. Your conscience will be clear. I speak from experience.

He confessed David, you're a better man than I am. I see the whole picture. Now look at verse 20. He recognized David as the next king handwriting was on the wall. Behold, I know that you shall surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in your hand, you're the man, David, not me. And then he asked for a favor you see in those days when an Eastern dynasty was overthrown by the next regime, the new regime would exterminate everyone in the old and he played for his family. He said somewhere to me by the Lord that you will not cut off my descendents after me and that you will not destroy my name from my father's household and David swore to Saul member Ms. Sybil Sheth. That may mean anything to you tonight little crippled fella that was Jonathan's son who ran for his life and fell and became crippled in both his feet and the nurse picked him up and carried him to a place called loaded bar would get into it later in David when he went to the throne. And finally, things were moving along lean back one day and thought have made a promise to Saul. This is the promise that I would do well for his descendents. Is there any man in the house of Saul, that I need to remember and be merciful to. And somebody said, well, there's this method of Oceana. David says go get him and he went and got them and brought this crippled fellow up to him scared to death knees knocking. He knew that was the end and David put them right at his table, 98, the Kings table. The rest of his life. David fulfilled his promise, but David is wise when you notice in closing, Saul went to his home, but David and his men went to the stronghold. That's wise. David didn't go with Saul to his home.

He knew Saul to well before were through with this book you will see Saul turn again on David AC you get snatches of hope and suddenly that kind of person that wants to believe a lie will turn on you again and again you get your hopes up and again will believe a lie. Which brings me to three very helpful helpful principles to live by the mistreatment happens.

Here's the first since man is depraved expect to be mistreated will.

How's that for counsel about a ready for a great week. Let's all expect to be mistreated while say one thing will never be let down. We expect too much from depraved manhood human individuals who are depraved by nature mistreat quit getting your hopes up that tomorrow you're going to meet a depraved person that's going to be great. If a depraved person is great is just a momentary break in the rule before his right back in it again. Now I have a thing on disappointments.

I think we can really live above any other disappointments. If we keep our expectation level down. Disappointment is nothing more than a broken expectation. So having a rotten day and you'll never be disappointed's terrible counsel term. No seriously stop putting so much stock in a depraved person the same nature, the beats in the heart of Saul beats in the heart of every person here, myself included, and when occupied by the went went on when we are involved in the Flemish.

We will respond like Saul. We talk a lot about being offended, you might be the person the night that's doing the offense not come to terms with it. Call it sin. Since man is depraved, expect mistreatment. Second, since mistreatment is inevitable. Anticipate feelings of revenge, a word that right. I'm not saying retaliate on saying anticipate the feelings of revenge. It's the nature of the beast or you can hardly meet anybody that's raunchier than the carnal Christian by the way we we sure could learn a lot about this if our parents unit would do the job in helping us know. It occurred to me that this is a learned trait handling mistreatment doesn't come naturally. It will be interesting to me. Don't hold your hands up, but just think about it how many of you had parents that taught you how to handle mistreatment.

I would think very few. Dr. Albert Siegel said in the Stanford observer is very unique approach when it comes to rearing children. Every society is only 20 years away from barbarism.

20 years is all we have to accomplish the task of civilizing the infants who are born into our midst. Each year these savages know nothing of our language or culture or religion are values or customs are interpersonal relations. These infants are totally ignorant about communism and fascism democracy and civil liberties, respect, decency, honesty, customs, conventions and manners. The barbarian must be tamed if civilization is to survive. I got four of four barbarians were having trouble this is all part of survival techniques that have to be learned who taught you probably know one life and you do as you are done to, which is why Jesus truth is so revolutionary doing to them as you would have been due to you not as they do to you. Rare is the individual who will not retaliate rare rare third you with me since man is depraved expect to be mistreated since mistreatment is inevitable. Anticipate feelings of revenge. Since revenge is predictable refused to fight in the flesh. That's the final picture is the final snapshot. That's why David came out on top is me and said go get him. David he almost did. I'm convinced, but he got there and got cold feet and cut off the road and then later while God did his homework so I can handle it and he made it right. I'm sure there's some. Living just like that, just waiting till your moment comes. I like us to come to terms with that like you to close your eyes and like you to not gonna pray for a few moments were to build an altar must just build an altar right now. I just want you to Bell and I want you to focus right now and that person, maybe there's more than one person that your just waiting for your moment. If you operate in the flesh, you can append them to get back okay. Let's talk to God about that person is called a money you follow along. Okay, here we go.

Dear God, I acknowledged this moment that Jesus Christ took my sins when he didn't deserve them.

And I confess to you that I am resentful of and you fill in the blank by name. Even though Jesus died for me and my sins, I am holding against the person. The treatment he or she is giving to me. Please forgive me. Tonight I ask you to free me from this bondage and to keep me from it for the rest of my life. I claim God's power through Jesus Christ my Lord heavenly father at this time of year when the beauty of the season is upon us. There is healing that needs to take place.

So the beauty can be depreciated. Forgive us for excusing and rationalizing around this deep tap root of bitterness expose it tonight in all its ugliness and put it to death. Thank you for Jesus Christ who went through hell for us and gives us the power that we need to overcome the worst kind of condition in our lives because this is a learned trait help us to grow in the process that we might live above the bondage. Pray through Christ if anyone had a reason to take revenge. It was David, but instead, rather than holding resentment. David chose to let it go.

You're listening to Insight for living out a message from Chuck Swindoll titled life's most subtle temptation to learn more about this ministry. Be sure to visit us online@insideworld.org right now, I'm pleased to remind you that Chuck wrote a biography that coincides with this teaching series on David and it's available right now by giving us a call or visiting our online store. The biography on David includes 24 chapters, including one that features today's presentation. If you're looking for a book to read the summer, one that will refresh your spirit and inspire you to reach for God's best. We highly recommend this one. It's called David a man of passion and destiny to purchase a copy right now. Call us if you're listening in the United States, call 800-772-8888 or go online to Insight.org/offer. Here's Chuck.

Thanks, Bill lets you think your Bible teacher lives in a protective bubble, devoid of any disappointments in unwanted surprises. Let me assure you that nothing could be further from the truth.

My world is no different than your world.

Swindoll's are not immune from the travails and the trials of this life. Even so, my heart is revived because God is proven himself faithful over and over again.

This will be love about David right in our current study were allowed a front row seat in the theater of David's extraordinary life. His humble career started on the dusty hillside worry he was caring for his father's smelling sheep. Remember that later he would bear arms during one season. David slumped into depression and ultimately he occupied the highest office in the land.

What contrasts he endured before you're too impressed. Remember this David's trajectory to the top was punctuated with embarrassing misstep's. He was far from perfect and yet God wanted to David and said this of him there that one right there.

He's a man after my own heart will hear it inside for living ministries. This is our hope filled message to a generation that struggling for survival. This is our greatest filled message to a world it's bogged down in guilt and shame. This is our radical message to a culture that's dissatisfied with the status quo and now as we draw oil another's season to a close. June 30 is the deadline. Would you be among those who make it possible for us to share insight for living far and wide. God is been so good to this nonprofit ministry and yet our financial goal for June remains enormous.

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Following his lead and please keep listening. As we examine David's life in our lifelong pursuit of becoming a man or woman after God's own heart. Thanks, Chuck. As you prepare to join with us in providing these daily programs. We invite you to give generously. So let me tell you how you can respond if you're listening in the United States, call 800-772-8888.

That's 800-772-8880 or you can get online and Insight.org/donate your gifts truly make a difference. Assure comment from a grateful friend who said Pastor Chuck, I started reading your books 25 years ago through a pastor in the Philippines.

It was a great help in my spiritual growth and one day my stubborn and rebellious heart went astray. I hid from God for number of years.

I ignored because I was enjoying and loving my sins and it was exactly a year ago today that I went back to his.

I thank God for your life.

We love receiving encouraging messages like that. Once again our web address is Insight.org/donate and we look forward to hearing from you soon. Who has a short by Bill Meyer join us tomorrow when Chuck Swindoll describes what to feed an angry man on Insight for living. The preceding message. Life's most subtle temptation was copyrighted in 1977, 1988, 1997 and 2009 and the sound recording was copyrighted in 2009 by Charles Morse when dogging all rights are reserved worldwide. Duplication of copyrighted material for commercial use is strictly prohibited