Family Conflict Part 2

Marie Flores looking to Jesus phone number you run life's race.

Remember that God decides who is me being hereunder, and his choices are based on character nonappearance from the Moody Church in Chicago this is running to win with Dr. Sarah was clear teaching helps us make it across the finish line vasculature.

God knew that David would have many periods of failure later in life. Yet he picked him anyway literally asked the question why David we can remember the fact that he is a man after God's own heart.

Of course all of us read the Psalms. Many times as David is pouring out his heart to the Lord so that despite his flaws, God chose to bless him, but also have to say that when we begin to ask the larger question as to why David we have to recognize the sovereignty of God. After all it is he who chooses people he puts them in positions of responsibility and of course David was a great king. He was a great poet and he ended up blessing millions and millions of people throughout the years and continues to bless us.

I want you to know that this series of messages on the life of David titled growing true conflict would you get on the phone and call some of your friends and encourage them to listen because I think it will be a tremendous blessing and would you consider becoming an endurance partner, someone who stands with us regularly with their prayers and their gifts. Of course you need more info. Here is what you do go to RTW offer.com or call us at 1-888-218-9337.

Of course I'm going to be giving you that contact info again at the end of this message so you listen carefully first Samuel chapter 16 Samuel says, are these older children verse 11 and he said well, there remains, yet the youngest.

This is the first hint that we have the David is not among the blessed children is not among the blessed David struggled. Because of this, you'll notice it says he is the youngest behold is tending the sheep. Samuel said to Jesse, send them and bring them for we will not sit down until he comes here so he sent and brought a man and he was ready with a beautiful eyes and handsome appearance, but apparently not very kingly and the Lord said, arise anoint him and Samuel took the oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers and the spirit of God came mightily upon David from that day forward, and Samuel arose and went to rain and that's the story well. How does his family treat him now that he is blessed. Did you notice what the text says in verse 13 Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers in the midst of his brothers.

How did they accept the exaltation of their youngest brother. Well, can you imagine first of all what that ceremony must've been like. Here is the run to the family. Here is the one who is, as we shall see, really not well accepted by his brothers nor his father and that he's the one who is brought and he's the one who receives the honor we can understand how he was treated several ways. First of all, he was sent back to hurting the sheep. Later on, he becomes Saul's armor bearer and he does some music for Saul because Saul was struggling with with this demon and a few others to because of some issues in his heart that he's not willing to take care of, but David always runs from taking care of the sheep to Saul's court and back again because if there is going to be any kingly pronouncements. If there is going to be any kingly honor.

He certainly is not going to experience it from his own family. You want to know what his brothers thought of them.

Let's fast-forward it to four years later and look at chapter 17 verse 28 this is you know the story of Goliath, as we shall be saying in the next message but David is running back and forth, and he's taking care of the sheep and the says in verse 26 he says to the men were standing by him. What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel for who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should taunt the armies of the living God and the people answered him in accord with his word, saying, thus it will be done for the man who kills him.

Now notice outlier biz oldest brother heard when he spoke to the man, and Alliance anger turned against David and he says why have you come down and with whomever you let those few sheep in the wilderness. I know your insolence and the wickedness of your heart, you have come down in order to see the battle only if you are somewhere later in the birth order and your family. You know the power of an angry older brother and you know the hurt of these words and their pain and David respond simply in verse 29 it says what I done now was in a just a question you can see here Alliance response to him. I want to venture to say that a lie who now passes off the scene and we never hear from him again in all of Scripture at the end is the end of a life I venture to believe that a lie faced a tremendously important decision that day that David was anointed by Samuel. He did one of two things. Either he decided to repent and submit to God and say, God, you rejected me from being king, but that's fine. I'm willing to serve you in whatever capacity you want all that I ask is that in my remaining days I be able to belong to you and that in itself is a great privilege here I am due, as seems good in your sight either did that or he died bitter, angry, frustrated, unfulfilled, resentful man.

He did one of those two.

And it looks in chapters 17 as if it was the latter was the latter is very difficult sometimes very difficult for those of not been broken by God to accept success in the lives of others, particularly among their own family but the family is sometimes the last to recognize that there is greatness in their midst. The family is the last to recognize that someone is been on her door, or that someone is worthy of honor because the family oftentimes with its own securities its own dysfunctional relationships.

EA finds itself unable to support those whom God is greatly blessing because of resentment and anger, and the totem pole and in all of the other things and what these brothers wanted to do. I believe this to see David's crown taken and crushed into the dirt once for all. But isn't it refreshing to look at verse seven. In this by the way is our key text for this message. Chapter 16 verse seven. Do not look at his appearance or the height of his stature, because I rejected him for God. This sees not as man.

God sees not as man sees for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks upon the heart. And here's David the on blessed child the unblessed child.

If you read Gary Smalley's book the blessing you know that there are those within the family who sense that they are not blessed because they never known the real warmth of unconditional acceptance Marilyn Monroe since Gary Smalley was in unblessed child shunted from one foster home to another. Only once did she ever accept and receive warmth and feel a part of the family and that is when she walked into the room when the woman that she was with was was using something on her cheeks, puff of powder and then playfully put some on Marilyn's cheeks when the little girl was about nine years old I was the only time she felt warmth and acceptance, and you understand what happened to her life because she didn't have the blessing of her parents here in the midst of this, God is saying a man looks on the outward appearance. Parents judge their children. One way or another. But God looks upon the heart.

What I'd like to do now and the time but is still allotted me is to very briefly answer this question why David why David we can't give a full answer to it because God's selection process is sovereign. I believe that God worked in David's heart long before he was chosen even though he was anointed at the age of 50 been God was already at work in David's heart preparing him to be king, but there was something about David that God love. He says that David is a man after mine own heart.

Despite all of his faults, and as we shall see in this series of messages they were many romantic or something about David. First of all because he was a shepherd. He was a shepherd. You can keep your finger in first Samuel chapter 16, but please turn to the Psalms. Psalm 78 where the Lord says this about David Psalm 78 verse 70 it says he also chose David his servant and took him from the sheepfold from the care of the use with suckling the lambs. He brought him to shepherd Jacob his people, and Israel. His inheritance so he shepherded them according to the integrity of his heart and guided than the with his skillful hands as a whole. Message wrapped up just in those verses. But notice what they teach God's is David Aiken and trust sheep to you and if I can entrust sheep to you. I can entrust my people to you later on when David was talking to Saul, he said, you know, Saul. One day I was out in the fields in a lion and a bear came in they were going to get the sheep and I took care of the lion and the bear and I protected the sheep. I read that passage and I think will you know David sheep can't write out your resume. They don't tell stories you could have run and given a good excuse and nobody would have blamed you for that.

You can elect the sheep. Nobody risked his life for the sheep. And God says look in light of the fact that he is a shepherd's heart and a heart of integrity because all of that. I gave him responsibility to shepherd my people Israel. Let's fast-forward the videocamera one more time thousand years later another shepherd is born in Bethlehem and Beverly in the city of David Jesus Christ is there, and Jesus is born and he is going to now become the chief Shepherd and that shepherd is going to lay down his life for the sheep. God is partial towards shepherds and God was saying David the lessons that you learned there out in the fields taking care of the sheep are the lessons that are going to help you to become a shepherd to become a king to all of my people so that soon the responsibility of shepherding is going to be expanded and then David would later write the Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. God chose them. First of all, because a shepherd's heart. Secondly, he had a serving heart. It is serving heart you know he read the text of Scripture, you discover that Saul of course use them as I mentioned as a as an armor bearer soul used him to come in to play in the palace and yet he was always back with the sheep. He sometimes took care of them and then would run back to the palace back and forth and later on when Saul was experiencing those demonic seizures. He came of course and played on the harp and what we will see as we look at David's life is this.

It's going to be about 50 teen years or so until he becomes king and during those 15 years, God is going to use Saul to grind him down to wear him down. God is going to teach David what to do when somebody throws peers that you and if you had somebody throws spirit you.

I hope that you will hang in in this series of messages because were going to be discussing that what happens when somebody so hates you because of antagonism and jealousy that they would like to kill you and try to do it. David, as many lessons as a result of why did God put David through this crucible of experience for 15 years it's because when David arose to become king. God did not want another soul on the throne you member what the Lord says there in the first Samuel 16 verse seven. Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature.

That was the problem when they chose Saul, Saul, it says was taller than all of the other men again appearance judging him outwardly and you know of course that isn't it true that most of the presidents of the United States when the candidates run together, usually the taller man wins there is something that we have towards towards tall people who give a commanding presence and God says that was true of soul but I don't want it to be true of day that I want to take the last born. The last four and so we had a serving heart wills remember David though because he had a forgiven heart. I think that's the thing we remember most about them all will have plenty of time to analyze what happened his relationship with Bathsheba. David struggled a great deal with guilt. Not only did he give us Psalm 51 but he also gave us Psalm 32. Blessed is he was transgression is forgiven, then do sin is covered. Blessed is the manner to whom the Lord impute if not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit. When I kept silent, my bones wax old through their roaring all day long. My moisture is turned into the fever heat of summer but I acknowledged my iniquity to you my sin. I did not hide and Alfred gavest me the iniquity of my sin had to live with the consequences. But at the end of the day. David love passionately.

God many ways a troubled man. Years later, in the Psalms, David is still saying, oh Lord. Remember not the sins of my youth. What in the world. Was this old man doing worrying about the sins of his youth, David was a man in process. He was a man in the struggle and it was this hole in his soul. This sense of un-fulfillment that Driving them to God that kept pressing him toward the divine. You find somebody was pursuing God at 100 miles an hour and I will show you a person who is oftentimes in emotional flux and turmoil because their only hope is God. That's David. David, the Lord looks at the heart the Lord looks at the heart so my question to you today is what does God see when he looks at your heart does he see deceit does he see all kinds of of the whole lifestyle that is unknown to anyone a secret lifestyle of sinning is that what he sees. The other day someone was asking me about someone else as to whether or not I think that she is a Christian and because we don't know. It reminded me of the fact that they would love to just be able to to pull everything away and to see the heart.

Wouldn't that be wonderful if we wouldn't know where these people stand before God we don't we don't all things are naked and open under the eyes of him with whom we have to do, namely, God himself who sees the part that we protect the part that we protect we take so much care of the outward appearance that people say, but oftentimes the inner heart is neglected. David had a forgiven heart forgiven heart and later on he would pray and say, oh God search me and know my heart try me and know my thoughts and see if there be any wicked way in me and lead me in the way everlasting. He knew what it was like to have God search his heart.

Isn't it wonderful to see the contrast there in verse seven.

If I may, pointed out one more time. You notice the difference between human evaluations and the evaluation that a human being might put on you in the evaluation that God might put on you. David had to learn that if you come from an abusive family and you have been abused like a friend of mine is says that my mother called me all kinds of names and predicted that I would fail and when I succeed. She wanted to tear me down to make sure that I would fail you think of his mother's evaluation of him and then you think of God's evaluation of him. God does not see as man sees God looks upon the heart and it is entirely different and that's why David gave us Psalm 27 verse 10 raises my father and my mother forsake me ask how he felt in relationship to his family, but the Lord will take me up. The Lord will take me up, I say to you today. If you come from a broken home from a family that disowned you and misused you take a leaf from David we don't know that he experience that but he did know what it was like to be rejected by mother and father and brothers and in that rejection to find his soul driven, driven toward God.

Man looks on the outward appearance we do it all the time were constantly judging people constantly processing people whom we meet in making our own judgments.

But God sees the heart and in the book of Proverbs it says as a man think if in his heart so is he. Jesus said it is from within the heart of man that precedes evil thoughts, adultery, fornication, thefts, covetousness, all of that comes from the heart. Little wonder David prayed create in me a clean heart. Oh God, because that's the part that matters most to the Almighty, and so the Lord says David, I choose you because you have a shepherd's heart. You have a serving heart and later on after you sin greatly.

You will be forgiven greatly and you will also have a worshiping heart because God has an entirely different evaluation of us than we do of ourselves and that others have of us. So I conclude what is the state of your heart state of your heart.

You willing to allow Christ to come into every closet, make him Lord of this closet and and that closet and give up the key to this closet and make Christ Lord of the heart. Let's pray together. Our father, we want to thank you today for your faithfulness and we ask that in these moments. You will help us to examine our hearts, even as David prayed to search me oh God, and know my heart.

We know that you know it, but in these moments. Father revealed to us what you see revealed to us what you see, just spend a moment in quiet prayer asking God to show you. Father, we do ask that your Holy Spirit takes the word of God might use it in our hearts to bring us, Lord, to the point of saying father, show me what you see in helping to deal with it.

We ask in Christ name on this is Pastor Luther, May I have a personal word with you.

What's the state of your heart today would you invite the blessed Holy Spirit of God to search your heart and then show you what he sees. We all need to come to that point and the reason that God bless David is that he was willing to have the spirit of God show him his need and then depend upon God for forgiveness for restoration, and the ability to move forward. I have in my hand a letter from someone who listens to the ministry of running to win in South Africa want to emphasize that this ministry does indeed go around the world. This person writes I used to think that God is going to answer everything that I've prayed for, but as time went by. Not everything was fulfilled. Your program has taught me a lot and deepened my understanding of God. I love that phrase deepened my understanding of God, would you consider helping us becoming an endurance partner in doing that you are contributing to many people.

Thousands upon thousands to deepen their understanding of God. Here's how you can find out information, go to RTW offer.com that's RTW offer.com and when you're there, click on the endurance partner button now.

Perhaps you've not had an opportunity to get a pencil or a pan, so I'm going to be giving you this info again. You can of course also call us at 1-888-218-9337. As you consider helping us remember you are making an investment in the lives of people. It's all about people. It's all about the transformation of their lives. And is this dear brother put it from Africa deepening their understanding of God.

Consider helping us. Here's what you do go to RTW offer.com. Of course, RTW offers all one word when you're there, click on the endurance partner button. Check out the info or if you prefer you can call us at 1-888-218-9337 even as I am here in Chicago speaking I have in my mind a vast audience of people are going to be continuing to help us in the ministry of running to win, to use the phrase one more time to help people deepen their understanding of God. You can write to us at running to win 1635 LaSalle Boulevard Chicago, IL 60614 you've just heard Dr. Erwin looks her concluding family conflict.

The first message in a series on growing through conflict. Journey through the life of King David. Next time, David faces a red guy named Goliath. Join us for conflict with the giant, this is Dave McAllister. Next time, small stones, a big giant and how one boys trust in God routed a Philistine army running to win is sponsored by the Moody church