WEBVTT 00:00:00.080 --> 00:00:00.239 Amen. 00:00:00.479 --> 00:00:01.040 You may be seated. 00:00:01.120 --> 00:00:03.919 Well, Grace, amazing job with Mefibashef. 00:00:04.480 --> 00:00:06.160 That's everybody's nightmare. 00:00:06.320 --> 00:00:10.880 The pastor asking you to read scripture in church and you get Mefibashef. 00:00:11.839 --> 00:00:12.400 Well, welcome. 00:00:12.480 --> 00:00:13.599 We're glad you're here with us. 00:00:13.759 --> 00:00:15.919 My name is Russ Masterson, the pastor here. 00:00:16.239 --> 00:00:17.039 11 a.m. 00:00:17.199 --> 00:00:21.359 service only, beginning today, all the way through the end of July. 00:00:21.440 --> 00:00:23.440 So congrats, 915ers. 00:00:23.760 --> 00:00:25.199 Meet the 11 o'clockers. 00:00:25.280 --> 00:00:32.320 We are a medium-sized church, so we don't all know each other, so we always want to make sure you all have permission to meet people, talk to people you don't know. 00:00:32.479 --> 00:00:33.840 Everybody does not know each other. 00:00:34.000 --> 00:00:41.600 What we'd love to say every single week is we're more broken than we originally thought, but we're more loved by God and Jesus than we could ever dare to dream. 00:00:41.679 --> 00:00:43.200 That's the good news that our church is all about. 00:00:43.280 --> 00:00:45.439 It's what we rest and sing about, we learn about. 00:00:45.920 --> 00:00:49.920 One other announcement this morning is that it is graduation season. 00:00:50.000 --> 00:00:55.119 Um, and our church staff, we have three graduations on our church staff of six. 00:00:55.359 --> 00:00:57.840 Myself, I earned my doctorate degree. 00:00:58.000 --> 00:00:59.759 Thank you, that happened four years. 00:00:59.920 --> 00:01:04.239 And then Sam Rapp and Keel Compton both finished their Masters of Divinity. 00:01:04.319 --> 00:01:05.840 And we all finished at the same time. 00:01:05.920 --> 00:01:07.439 We were kind of on the same timeline. 00:01:07.519 --> 00:01:12.480 And so June 7th, Sunday, June 7th, we're going to celebrate as a church and stay and have pizza lunch. 00:01:12.560 --> 00:01:20.560 So please, please plan to stay, have lunch with us, celebrate, talk to us about all the many theological, deep things we learn. 00:01:21.519 --> 00:01:23.920 We'd love to talk about it, believe it or not. 00:01:24.079 --> 00:01:26.560 So we'd love to uh celebrate with y'all. 00:01:26.719 --> 00:01:32.640 Uh lastly, before we get in the sermon, is we have a group going to Guatemala tomorrow to serve our partners down there. 00:01:32.719 --> 00:01:34.799 So if you're going to Guatemala tomorrow, please come on up. 00:01:34.879 --> 00:01:36.159 We want to pray for y'all this morning. 00:01:36.239 --> 00:01:39.920 This is a group of students and leaders and some parents. 00:01:40.000 --> 00:01:42.239 And so if you're here and go to Guatemala, please come on up. 00:01:42.319 --> 00:01:43.519 We want to pray for you. 00:01:43.599 --> 00:01:45.599 Uh this is the ministry that we go to. 00:01:45.840 --> 00:01:47.840 We went in January with a group of adults. 00:01:47.920 --> 00:01:49.280 Our students are going now. 00:01:49.359 --> 00:01:58.239 Um, if you know any of these people, you're a church leader or you know them, you love them, you're a parent, please feel free to come up now and lay hands on them. 00:01:58.319 --> 00:02:01.120 And we're going to kind of like push, if y'all could kind of like circle up. 00:02:01.200 --> 00:02:10.479 And then if you're a loved one, you're a student, a leader of one of these people, you're a parent, we'd love for you to come and lay hands on them so we can pray for this group that's going to serve in Guatemala. 00:02:22.960 --> 00:02:31.680 Heavenly Father, we're so thankful for this group that's getting to go and serve people we love, people that we've come to love. 00:02:32.000 --> 00:02:40.560 We are so thankful for the ministry in Guatemala that is there whether we're there or not, but we get to be a part of it, that we get to support them financially. 00:02:40.960 --> 00:02:46.479 Uh, we get to go and uh support them with our presence, our love, our service. 00:02:46.800 --> 00:02:53.199 God, we pray for this group as they head out tomorrow on a plane and then van and windy roads. 00:02:53.280 --> 00:02:54.800 And Lord, I pray for their safety. 00:02:54.960 --> 00:02:59.520 I pray that you keep them safe, um, help them get there and help them get back. 00:02:59.599 --> 00:03:12.639 Um, Lord, we pray that you would be doing something in their hearts even now, and each day they're there, that you would use this trip of service in the formation of their own hearts. 00:03:12.800 --> 00:03:14.080 Do something great in them. 00:03:14.240 --> 00:03:38.800 And we pray that you would do something great through them as they love on children who are in need, as they love on elderly that have very limited interaction with others and are in need, Lord, as they love on pastors who are at the end of themselves, um, give them words of encouragement, give them uh moments to serve people, help them love these people, serve these people. 00:03:38.960 --> 00:03:45.599 Would our partners there in uh Lake Adelon, would they feel so encouraged by our presence? 00:03:46.000 --> 00:03:51.199 Um Lord, we thank you that uh you are much bigger than Marietta, Georgia. 00:03:51.439 --> 00:04:00.879 Thank thank you for reminding us even this morning that we have brothers and sisters that are look all different ways than us and dress different than us. 00:04:01.039 --> 00:04:02.960 But King Jesus is always King. 00:04:03.039 --> 00:04:04.240 And we pray for this trip. 00:04:04.319 --> 00:04:05.439 Would you do great things? 00:04:05.520 --> 00:04:07.199 We are excited to hear back. 00:04:07.360 --> 00:04:08.479 Pray this in Jesus' name. 00:04:08.639 --> 00:04:09.120 Amen. 00:04:09.599 --> 00:04:09.840 All right. 00:04:09.919 --> 00:04:10.479 Thank you, team. 00:04:10.560 --> 00:04:11.840 Thank you for willing to go. 00:04:12.000 --> 00:04:13.439 Safe travels to you. 00:04:16.079 --> 00:04:19.439 Well, we are studying our way through the book of 2 Samuel. 00:04:19.519 --> 00:04:22.480 Today we're in chapters 8 through 10. 00:04:22.639 --> 00:04:26.079 We've made our way through 1 Samuel, we're into 2 Samuel. 00:04:26.319 --> 00:04:28.000 David is now king. 00:04:28.160 --> 00:04:31.839 Uh, David is establishing his kingdom. 00:04:32.000 --> 00:04:34.000 He has defeated a bunch of enemies. 00:04:34.160 --> 00:04:41.360 And in chapter 8, we read that David has had military victories, win after when after when. 00:04:41.600 --> 00:04:45.360 And twice we read a very particular phrase. 00:04:45.680 --> 00:04:51.120 Verses 6 and verse 14 of 2 Samuel chapter 8. 00:04:52.480 --> 00:04:57.759 And the Lord gave victory to David wherever he went. 00:04:58.319 --> 00:05:02.720 So, point number one is this God is the true king behind the king. 00:05:02.959 --> 00:05:04.959 The Lord was giving David victory. 00:05:05.120 --> 00:05:07.120 God is the true king behind the king. 00:05:07.279 --> 00:05:11.680 David is king, but but really, really, God is king. 00:05:11.839 --> 00:05:13.360 There's a king behind the king. 00:05:13.519 --> 00:05:22.160 Just like we are kings of our own little kingdoms that we build and we manage, but really Jesus is king. 00:05:22.480 --> 00:05:25.040 You remember Aslan in the Chronicles of Narnia? 00:05:26.000 --> 00:05:39.839 Throughout the stories, no matter who is king, Peter, Edmund, Caspian, they all rule visibly, but everyone knows the true authority in Narnia is Aslan. 00:05:40.399 --> 00:05:41.279 The true king. 00:05:41.360 --> 00:05:43.519 There is a king behind the kings. 00:05:43.920 --> 00:05:52.079 See, the kings of Narnia only rule rightly when they submit to the great lion behind their throne. 00:05:53.120 --> 00:05:56.240 Their authority is real, Peter and Edmunds. 00:05:56.639 --> 00:05:59.519 Their authority is real, but it's derivative authority. 00:05:59.759 --> 00:06:02.560 Same with David, there's a king behind the king. 00:06:02.720 --> 00:06:04.319 Same with you, same with me. 00:06:04.480 --> 00:06:06.240 We may have derivative authority. 00:06:06.399 --> 00:06:10.160 We may build a little kingdom, but there's a king behind the king. 00:06:10.480 --> 00:06:12.480 Do you remember Jesus' words about kings? 00:06:12.639 --> 00:06:14.000 John 18, 37. 00:06:14.160 --> 00:06:16.800 Then Pilate said to him, So you are a king? 00:06:17.040 --> 00:06:19.839 And Jesus answered, You say that I am a king. 00:06:20.000 --> 00:06:24.800 For this purpose I was born, and for this purpose I have come into the world to bear witness to the truth. 00:06:24.959 --> 00:06:28.160 Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice. 00:06:28.480 --> 00:06:31.920 So essentially Jesus says, I'm a king. 00:06:32.240 --> 00:06:36.800 But not just for Jews, not just for one people group, but for all people. 00:06:36.959 --> 00:06:40.959 I came to serve all people, I'm everyone's king. 00:06:41.439 --> 00:06:43.120 So let's get a basic definition. 00:06:43.279 --> 00:06:43.759 Who's a king? 00:06:43.920 --> 00:06:48.959 Well, the king is the one who holds power and honor and glory. 00:06:49.439 --> 00:06:52.879 The king revolves around no one. 00:06:53.519 --> 00:06:56.160 Everyone else revolves around the king. 00:06:56.319 --> 00:06:59.680 Now I keep trying to get everybody in my life to revolve around me. 00:06:59.759 --> 00:07:01.439 I try really hard at that. 00:07:02.000 --> 00:07:05.199 It's exhausting because it doesn't work. 00:07:05.920 --> 00:07:08.800 It's exhausting for you because it doesn't work. 00:07:09.120 --> 00:07:13.680 We were never meant to have everybody revolve around us. 00:07:14.480 --> 00:07:21.920 See, Christ as king means I don't have to be king of my own heart and I don't have to be king of the world. 00:07:22.240 --> 00:07:24.480 I don't have to be king of my world. 00:07:24.720 --> 00:07:26.959 I don't have to be the king of my own righteousness. 00:07:27.120 --> 00:07:29.600 I don't have to be the king of my righteousness report. 00:07:29.839 --> 00:07:31.839 I don't have to be the king of my own forgiveness. 00:07:31.920 --> 00:07:35.360 I don't have to be the king of trying to get everything under control. 00:07:37.360 --> 00:07:43.600 See, it's in our weakness and our lack of kingship that we find freedom. 00:07:43.920 --> 00:07:51.839 This is the upside down kingdom that we receive when we finally surrender that we don't have to be a king. 00:07:52.079 --> 00:07:55.040 Tim Keller says this about upside down kingdoms. 00:07:55.199 --> 00:08:02.959 The pattern of the upside down kingdom, speaking about Christian faith, is a reversal of values with regard to the world. 00:08:03.120 --> 00:08:09.199 In other words, Christians are no longer controlled by the things that the world thinks are so critical. 00:08:09.439 --> 00:08:13.360 We're not controlled by power, success, comfort, or recognition. 00:08:13.600 --> 00:08:20.879 Even you can't stand the world's values, even if you can't stand the world's values, you run away from them. 00:08:21.120 --> 00:08:23.600 And you have no idea what to do with recognition. 00:08:23.680 --> 00:08:25.519 You are still controlled by them. 00:08:25.759 --> 00:08:26.720 You're scared of them. 00:08:26.800 --> 00:08:31.519 It probably means that deep down you're intimidated by them or you still really want them. 00:08:31.680 --> 00:08:37.519 But a person who is a Christian, who is living in the upside-down kingdom, isn't controlled by these things. 00:08:37.679 --> 00:08:40.320 You don't need them, which means you don't want them. 00:08:40.480 --> 00:08:44.080 They don't drive you, they don't control you. 00:08:44.320 --> 00:08:47.039 You can take them or leave them. 00:08:47.279 --> 00:08:51.039 That is the first mark of somebody who is living in the upside-down kingdom. 00:08:51.120 --> 00:08:53.200 It's the pattern of your life. 00:08:53.519 --> 00:08:57.919 So there's two gospel applications as Christ is king. 00:08:58.720 --> 00:09:01.759 This is the implication of God's grace in our lives. 00:09:02.000 --> 00:09:07.120 The first is this that Jesus calls us to embrace downward greatness. 00:09:08.399 --> 00:09:12.799 So we don't have to constantly ask, how can I be noticed? 00:09:13.519 --> 00:09:16.559 We can ask, how can I lovingly serve? 00:09:17.039 --> 00:09:20.799 The second is this Jesus reorders what we value the most. 00:09:21.360 --> 00:09:28.399 Success is no longer measured by worldly achievement, but by faithfulness and by loving others. 00:09:29.279 --> 00:09:31.919 Jump back into Samuel, 2 Samuel 8:15. 00:09:32.000 --> 00:09:39.679 So David reigned over all Israel, and David administered justice and equity to all his people. 00:09:40.080 --> 00:09:45.200 Point number two is this a rightly ordered kingdom reflects God's character. 00:09:45.519 --> 00:09:54.639 As we discover God's heart for justice and equity and mercy, grace and truth and love, we begin to want that to come out of our lives. 00:09:54.799 --> 00:10:01.039 We want that to be in our families and in our workplaces to have justice and equity and mercy and grace and truth and love. 00:10:01.840 --> 00:10:04.159 Now in chapter 9, David does something interesting. 00:10:04.320 --> 00:10:07.440 He remembers his good friend, his BFF Jonathan. 00:10:07.759 --> 00:10:09.120 He remembers him. 00:10:09.519 --> 00:10:13.360 And he thinks, I want to show some kindness to Jonathan's family. 00:10:13.600 --> 00:10:19.039 And that's where we get 2 Samuel 9, verse 3, 6 and 7 and 13. 00:10:19.279 --> 00:10:24.799 And the king said, Is there not still someone of the house of Saul that I may show kindness of God to him? 00:10:25.120 --> 00:10:28.000 Ziba said to the king, There is still a son of Jonathan. 00:10:28.159 --> 00:10:29.519 He is crippled in his feet. 00:10:29.759 --> 00:10:36.639 Verse 6, and Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan, son of Saul, came to David and fell on his face and paid homage. 00:10:36.720 --> 00:10:38.559 And David said, Mephibosheth. 00:10:38.720 --> 00:10:40.720 And he answered, Behold, I am your servant. 00:10:40.799 --> 00:10:45.679 And David said to him, Do not fear, for I will show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan. 00:10:45.840 --> 00:10:52.559 And I will restore to you all the land of Saul, your father, and you shall eat at my table always. 00:10:52.799 --> 00:10:59.600 So David gives back to this guy and this guy's family all the land that Saul had. 00:11:00.240 --> 00:11:01.759 A huge restoration. 00:11:01.919 --> 00:11:02.559 Verse 13. 00:11:02.639 --> 00:11:07.039 So Mephiboshith lived in Jerusalem, for he ate always at the king's table. 00:11:07.200 --> 00:11:10.399 Now he was lame in both his feet. 00:11:10.720 --> 00:11:12.799 Interesting the story keeps mentioning he was lame. 00:11:12.879 --> 00:11:14.879 He was like, hey, you gotta go keep going out of the way. 00:11:14.960 --> 00:11:18.320 If I'm that guy, I'm like, yeah, focus on the land I just got. 00:11:18.879 --> 00:11:20.799 But the point is clear. 00:11:21.120 --> 00:11:26.159 God's grace is lavished on the undeserving and the powerless. 00:11:27.360 --> 00:11:29.519 That's the point of the passage. 00:11:29.759 --> 00:11:36.080 God's grace is coming toward the person who doesn't deserve it and is powerless, even crippled. 00:11:36.720 --> 00:11:42.799 Verse 3, the word kindness is the Hebrew word Hasid, or we'd say chasid in Hebrew. 00:11:43.039 --> 00:11:48.639 Hasid is perfectly loyal love that meets you where you are. 00:11:50.559 --> 00:11:51.759 I love that word Hasid. 00:11:52.080 --> 00:11:54.240 It shows up throughout the Old Testament. 00:11:54.639 --> 00:11:58.720 This is the quote I always reflect back on when I think about this word. 00:11:59.120 --> 00:12:01.279 Theologian John Oswalt says this. 00:12:01.440 --> 00:12:10.000 Hasid speaks of a completely undeserved kindness and generosity done by a person who is in a position of power, right? 00:12:10.159 --> 00:12:14.000 So David, when he showed kindness to this family member. 00:12:14.480 --> 00:12:16.799 This was the Israelites' experience of God. 00:12:17.039 --> 00:12:27.679 He revealed himself to them when they were not looking for him, and he kept his covenant with them long after their persistent breaking of it had destroyed any reason for his continued keeping of it. 00:12:27.840 --> 00:12:34.080 Unlike humans, this deity was not fickle, undependable, self-serving and grasping. 00:12:34.240 --> 00:12:39.440 Instead, he was faithful, true, upright, and generous always. 00:12:39.759 --> 00:12:48.240 David's desire to show kindness to John and his family is a picture of God's desire to show Hasid to you. 00:12:48.879 --> 00:13:00.799 Psalm 23, 6, surely goodness, that's the word Hasid, surely Hasid and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever. 00:13:00.960 --> 00:13:05.039 So Hasid, loyal, perfect love to you, it follows you. 00:13:05.200 --> 00:13:09.039 It is following you around, stalking you. 00:13:11.840 --> 00:13:15.519 And God seeks to bless you with a faithful, steadfast love to you. 00:13:15.919 --> 00:13:28.159 So the application here is to get God's attention, endearment, love, acceptance has nothing to do with your merit or your performance. 00:13:28.720 --> 00:13:36.000 It has to do with you being powerless and your need and your willingness to receive. 00:13:36.960 --> 00:13:41.519 In 2 Samuel chapter 10, David sends men to comfort this guy, Hanun. 00:13:41.600 --> 00:13:43.840 Hanun is the new Ammonite king. 00:13:44.000 --> 00:13:50.080 His dad dies, he becomes king, and David sends some guys to go comfort Hanun because his dad just died. 00:13:50.320 --> 00:13:55.919 But Hanan's advisors suspect, hey, perhaps these servants of David are really spies. 00:13:56.080 --> 00:13:57.840 And so they humiliate them. 00:13:58.000 --> 00:14:01.759 They shave their beards, they cut their garments, they send the men back. 00:14:01.840 --> 00:14:07.600 And then the Ammonites go and they hire a Syrian army to begin a battle to fight Israel. 00:14:07.759 --> 00:14:14.399 So Joab, David's guy, he leads Israel into battle, a tough battle, with these people. 00:14:14.559 --> 00:14:25.200 And before that, 2 Samuel 10, 12, he says this be of good courage, and let us be courageous for our people and for the cities of our God. 00:14:25.360 --> 00:14:29.200 And may the Lord do what seems good to him. 00:14:29.919 --> 00:14:32.240 What a courageous statement. 00:14:32.799 --> 00:14:37.039 You're going into battle, you may die, you don't know what's going to happen, you may win, you may lose. 00:14:37.120 --> 00:14:41.200 Let's just be of good courage, and whatever happens, may the Lord do it. 00:14:41.440 --> 00:14:48.879 Point number four is this our courage rests in God's goodness, more than certainty of outcomes. 00:14:49.840 --> 00:14:51.759 Last fall I had a heart procedure. 00:14:51.840 --> 00:14:53.759 I found that I had a hole in my heart. 00:14:53.840 --> 00:14:55.200 Now we all knew that. 00:14:55.519 --> 00:14:56.879 Apparently, we all knew it. 00:14:57.039 --> 00:14:58.559 You know, it's like, man, there's something wrong with that guy. 00:14:58.639 --> 00:14:59.440 He has a hole in his heart. 00:14:59.600 --> 00:15:07.759 And it worked out well around the house because if I was impatient or I was a jerk, I would just say, Well, I do have a hole in my heart. 00:15:07.840 --> 00:15:10.720 You know, it's like, sorry, like you can talk to the surgeon. 00:15:10.960 --> 00:15:12.639 I have the MRI, I can show you pictures. 00:15:12.720 --> 00:15:13.519 I have a hole in my heart. 00:15:13.679 --> 00:15:15.279 This explains so much. 00:15:16.399 --> 00:15:19.759 Well, the surgeon decided that he was going to patch the hole. 00:15:20.639 --> 00:15:23.759 So I went in and I met with the Emery heart surgeon. 00:15:23.840 --> 00:15:26.320 More of a procedure, not a surgery. 00:15:26.639 --> 00:15:29.279 So I'm going to meet with the surgeon. 00:15:29.679 --> 00:15:31.519 Very well educated, smart guy. 00:15:31.679 --> 00:15:34.799 He's done tens of thousands of this procedure. 00:15:35.120 --> 00:15:36.879 What am I looking for? 00:15:37.200 --> 00:15:39.840 What am I looking for out of this guy? 00:15:41.120 --> 00:15:42.320 Can I trust him? 00:15:42.639 --> 00:15:43.360 That's it. 00:15:43.600 --> 00:15:44.720 Can I trust him? 00:15:44.960 --> 00:15:46.480 I don't need him to be my friend. 00:15:46.559 --> 00:15:47.679 I don't need him to be funny. 00:15:47.840 --> 00:15:49.679 I don't need, you know, I don't need a whole lot. 00:15:49.759 --> 00:15:53.679 What I need is, can I trust him to get that done? 00:15:53.840 --> 00:15:58.960 Because the day of the surgery, they laid me on a table, about 15 people were all gathered around. 00:15:59.200 --> 00:16:05.759 I'm all wired up, I'm exposed, people have been touching me in places I don't want them to touch me. 00:16:06.000 --> 00:16:07.120 Didn't know that was going to happen. 00:16:07.279 --> 00:16:09.120 They don't tell you that beforehand. 00:16:09.360 --> 00:16:14.799 And the doctor had told me they're going to go up through a vein in my leg all the way up and they're going to patch this hole. 00:16:14.960 --> 00:16:18.799 So the doctor walks in, the surgeon walks in, he just nods at me. 00:16:18.879 --> 00:16:19.519 He said, You ready? 00:16:19.600 --> 00:16:20.320 And I said, Yes, sir. 00:16:20.399 --> 00:16:23.039 And I go off to Fairyland and he does his thing. 00:16:23.919 --> 00:16:27.200 And he had explained the procedure to me. 00:16:28.240 --> 00:16:30.320 I didn't really understand it. 00:16:30.559 --> 00:16:33.840 I mean, I understand like you're going through a thing to get up tomorrow. 00:16:33.919 --> 00:16:38.559 I got that part, but once he was up in there, do his, I was like, I don't, but I trust you. 00:16:38.799 --> 00:16:40.080 I trust you. 00:16:41.440 --> 00:16:44.399 I did understand that he was good at what he does. 00:16:44.720 --> 00:16:46.240 That's what I needed. 00:16:47.120 --> 00:16:50.639 David and Joab did not know the outcome of the battles. 00:16:50.799 --> 00:16:53.759 You don't know the outcome of your battles. 00:16:54.960 --> 00:17:00.879 But they trusted God's Hasid that is promised to be following you. 00:17:01.840 --> 00:17:11.279 And because of that, that's why they can say verse 12, be of good courage, and let us be courageous for our people and for the cities of our God. 00:17:11.359 --> 00:17:13.759 I mean, where do you get that kind of courage? 00:17:14.319 --> 00:17:17.519 Well, you get it because you trust that God is with you. 00:17:17.759 --> 00:17:18.000 Right? 00:17:18.160 --> 00:17:22.000 And they say the last phrase, and may the Lord do what seems good to him. 00:17:22.799 --> 00:17:40.960 Pastor and author John Piper, he defines and describes Christian courage as this Christian courage is the willingness to say and do the right thing regardless of the earthly cost, because God promises to help you and save you on account of Christ. 00:17:41.359 --> 00:17:44.559 So our courage is rooted not in our merit and performance or strength. 00:17:44.640 --> 00:17:47.039 Our courage is rooted in Jesus. 00:17:48.880 --> 00:17:54.480 Now, of course, we know we should be courageous, but how do we do that? 00:17:54.880 --> 00:17:56.160 How can we be courageous? 00:17:56.799 --> 00:17:57.279 Where do we go? 00:17:57.440 --> 00:17:58.799 Where do we get the fuel? 00:17:59.200 --> 00:18:04.240 Well, John Piper in his article, Christian Courage, he goes on to give us eight sources of courage. 00:18:04.319 --> 00:18:10.400 I want to give you these eight sources or read a verse, and then I added in a little trust application for us as a church. 00:18:10.640 --> 00:18:14.720 The first source of courage from being forgiven and being righteous. 00:18:14.960 --> 00:18:21.200 Proverbs 28:1, the wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are bold as a lion. 00:18:21.440 --> 00:18:22.720 Matthew 9, 2. 00:18:22.880 --> 00:18:28.400 Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralytic, Take courage, son, your sins are forgiven. 00:18:28.559 --> 00:18:39.519 So the trust application is this because Jesus has forgiven you and clothed you in his righteousness, you no longer need to prove yourself, but can walk freely, loved and secure in your calling. 00:18:39.920 --> 00:18:43.279 Source number two, from trusting God and hoping in him. 00:18:43.599 --> 00:18:45.359 It's a source of courage for us. 00:18:45.599 --> 00:18:51.920 2 Corinthians 3.12, be strong and let your heart take courage, all you who hope in the Lord. 00:18:52.079 --> 00:18:54.319 That's Psalm 31, 24. 00:18:54.960 --> 00:19:04.640 And the trust application is this true courage rests not in controlling outcomes, but in the Father's faithful goodness. 00:19:05.359 --> 00:19:10.559 Source of courage, number three, from being filled with the Spirit, Acts 4, 31. 00:19:10.720 --> 00:19:16.400 They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God with boldness. 00:19:16.640 --> 00:19:21.519 And the trust application is this we don't manufacture courage. 00:19:22.160 --> 00:19:29.119 We live dependent on the Holy Spirit, who strengthens our weakness and makes Christ's power known to us. 00:19:29.839 --> 00:19:31.519 Source number four. 00:19:32.000 --> 00:19:35.599 Source of courage from God's promise to be with you. 00:19:36.079 --> 00:19:37.200 Joshua 1.9. 00:19:37.440 --> 00:19:39.279 Have I not commanded you? 00:19:39.440 --> 00:19:46.559 Be strong and courageous, do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. 00:19:47.119 --> 00:19:58.960 So the trust application is our fears are quieted as we rest in the truth that God is not merely near, but covenantally he is with us every step. 00:19:59.279 --> 00:20:00.640 He's promised it. 00:20:01.359 --> 00:20:02.400 Source number five. 00:20:02.559 --> 00:20:06.880 From knowing that the one with you is greater than the adversary. 00:20:08.319 --> 00:20:10.640 2 Chronicles 32, 7 and 8. 00:20:10.799 --> 00:20:15.359 Be strong and courageous, for the one with us is greater than the one with him. 00:20:15.839 --> 00:20:21.920 With him is only an arm of flesh, but with us is the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battles. 00:20:22.160 --> 00:20:33.680 So the trust application is this because Christ has defeated every power of darkness, we stand in his victory, facing every threat with confidence that he is greater. 00:20:34.880 --> 00:20:39.519 Source number six, from being sure that God is sovereign over the battles. 00:20:42.240 --> 00:20:49.119 Be strong and let us show ourselves courageous for the sake of our people and for the cities of God, and may the Lord do what is good in his sight. 00:20:49.359 --> 00:20:50.559 That was our passage. 00:20:50.880 --> 00:20:57.839 And the application is this courage grows as we trust King Jesus ruling over every detail. 00:20:58.160 --> 00:21:01.839 That he knows our cares and anxieties, and he's with us. 00:21:02.079 --> 00:21:02.640 He's in them. 00:21:02.720 --> 00:21:07.279 He's working all things to what is good and glorious. 00:21:07.759 --> 00:21:11.839 Source number seven, through prayer, Ephesians 6. 00:21:12.480 --> 00:21:14.240 19 and 20 is one reference. 00:21:14.319 --> 00:21:16.400 We'll read Psalm 138, 3. 00:21:16.640 --> 00:21:19.440 On the day I called, you answered me. 00:21:19.759 --> 00:21:24.319 You made me bold with strength in my soul. 00:21:25.119 --> 00:21:29.200 And the trust application is that prayer is the breath of the believer. 00:21:29.279 --> 00:21:34.000 It's our breath, bringing every fear to the Father and receiving grace for our lives. 00:21:34.400 --> 00:21:41.200 And that courage, it comes into our very soul, not just our behaviors, but it's from the inside out. 00:21:41.359 --> 00:21:44.480 Last one, source number eight, from the example of others. 00:21:44.720 --> 00:21:46.319 Philippians 1, 14. 00:21:46.559 --> 00:21:56.160 Most of the brethren, most of the brethren trusting in the Lord because of my imprisonment, have far more courage to speak the word of God without fear. 00:21:56.480 --> 00:22:03.440 So one group of peer one group of people were increasing in courage because of watching somebody else's courage. 00:22:03.759 --> 00:22:05.039 Trust application is this. 00:22:05.200 --> 00:22:11.039 God strengthens courage in us as we see others endure suffering through God's grace. 00:22:11.279 --> 00:22:12.799 That's why fellowship is important. 00:22:12.880 --> 00:22:14.319 That's why church is important. 00:22:14.720 --> 00:22:19.599 We refine each other and we actually can increase courage in each other. 00:22:19.839 --> 00:22:21.920 Now, those are amazing sources of courage. 00:22:22.079 --> 00:22:23.440 I hope you tap into them. 00:22:23.759 --> 00:22:27.440 They'd be great for us as we go through different seasons that are difficult. 00:22:28.000 --> 00:22:33.279 There are no problems with any of those sources of courage. 00:22:33.519 --> 00:22:38.160 But there is one major problem, and it's me. 00:22:38.319 --> 00:22:40.960 I'm the problem, and you're the problem. 00:22:41.359 --> 00:22:44.559 Because you are not always courageous. 00:22:46.079 --> 00:22:47.519 You're not always kind. 00:22:48.000 --> 00:22:49.119 We will fall short. 00:22:49.279 --> 00:22:50.480 But remember the good news. 00:22:50.640 --> 00:22:54.640 The gospel good news here is that there is a king behind the king. 00:22:55.200 --> 00:22:59.200 Jesus is our king of forgiveness, Jesus is our king of righteousness. 00:22:59.359 --> 00:23:03.680 Jesus is all the kindness that we need that we fall short of. 00:23:03.920 --> 00:23:07.519 Jesus is all the courage that we need that we fall short of. 00:23:07.759 --> 00:23:12.880 And on the cross, all of our lacking or failure, our mess-ups, or sin is put upon Jesus. 00:23:13.119 --> 00:23:16.640 And King Jesus' righteousness is put upon us. 00:23:16.799 --> 00:23:26.400 So you and I are beloved sons and daughters, not because of our record of courage or our record of kindness, but because we have a king. 00:23:27.119 --> 00:23:29.200 So we turn our eyes to King Jesus. 00:23:29.440 --> 00:23:33.519 If you have any questions about this sermon or would need prayer for anything, I'll be down front afterward. 00:23:33.759 --> 00:23:35.200 Love to pray with you. 00:23:35.440 --> 00:23:36.480 Let's pray together. 00:23:37.200 --> 00:23:44.000 Heavenly Father, we're so grateful that we are not left on our own to reign and rule over our kingdoms. 00:23:44.400 --> 00:23:46.400 Forgive us for thinking that we do. 00:23:46.799 --> 00:24:07.119 Help us to tap into all these sources of courage that we may be emboldened in our souls to walk with you, to do what's right, and for all the ways we fall short, we continue to rest in the full sufficiency of Jesus for all the righteousness we need and all the forgiveness we need. 00:24:07.680 --> 00:24:08.559 That He is enough. 00:24:08.720 --> 00:24:09.920 King Jesus is enough. 00:24:10.160 --> 00:24:10.640 Thank you. 00:24:10.880 --> 00:24:12.640 That there is a King behind the King. 00:24:13.039 --> 00:24:14.160 Thank you, King Jesus. 00:24:14.400 --> 00:24:15.359 In His name we pray. 00:24:15.519 --> 00:24:16.079 Amen.