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Bible Studies Online Blog
Sermon Helps & Illustrations
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Mathew Bartlett: Posted on Monday, March 12, 2012 8:20 AM
 We all have troubles: "Man is born to trouble, as the sparks fly upward."
David's experiences are recorded for us, that we might find God as our help just as David did.
David's Trouble v1 David’s own son Absalom had risen up in rebellion against him (2 Sam. 15:1-6). So many men had joined Absalom that David says "Lord, how are they increased that trouble me!" Was David's trouble of his own making? Partly, for David had never corrected Absalom as he grew up, neglecting his God given responsibility to bring up his children.
Paul Brown, (Evangelical Times March 2001) wrote, "Parents have God-given authority to discipline their children; the authority to command, advise, rebuke and chastise." Not only did David fail to correct Absolom, he failed to set a good example (2 Sam 12.9-12). More than anything else, children follow our example, so a good example is worth more than hours of teaching. As Brown observes, “Is it fair to punish your child for an outburst of temper, when you cannot control yourself when irritated or annoyed?"Yet whilst David must take his share of blame for the situation, it was not entirely his own fault. Absalom was now a grown man and responsible for himself. Children who have good Christian parents may nevertheless, when they come of age, turn their back upon God and Christ. A parent can never finally be responsible for their adult child when he/she reaches an age of understanding and becomes responsible before God for his/her own actions. ”A father will not die for his son's sin nor a son for his fathers' sin."
v2 As David fled to escape from Absolom, he went was pelted with dirt by a man named Shimei who cursed him and told him that God was punishing him for shedding the blood of Saul's family. "God will not help you! God is punishing you for your sin!" The accuser of the brethren says the same thing at times to you and me. It's your own fault! You deserve all this! God will not help you! But this is not for any man to say. Even if David was being punished for his sin, he was in God's hands - not theirs. So David committed himself into God's hands, submitting himself under the mighty hand of God. 2 Sam 15.26
David's Trust v3 David's reaction was one of confidence in God. From years of experience David knew that in times of trouble, God was his help and shield. God had given him too many victories and would not forsake him now. The word used for shield here is a covering in front and behind and above and all around. David says, "You, O Lord are a shield all around me." Psalm 139.1-5.David calls God his glory. God is his boast. He will not boast in anyone or anything else - not in himself, but in God who did all things for him. What do we boast about? Our physical strength? Our education? Our position in life? The Corinthian church were boasters. They boasted in their leaders. They boasted in what they considered to be their superior spirituality. They thought they were a cut above the rest, and boasted in the gifts that God had given to them, but Paul says to them 1 Cor 4.7; Gal 6.14.Not only was God David's shield and his boast, he was also the lifter up of his head. We hang our heads when we are beaten or ashamed. Since God is our strength, we cannot be finally beaten for Rom. 8.31.It is God who covers all our sin, so that we need not hang our heads in shame.
v4 David's turned his trouble over to God in prayer. David’s Prayer His prayer was audible - "I cried." His prayer was earnest - "I cried." His prayer was answered.
David knew that God had answered his prayer, even before the answer was seen. He had assurance of this, though when the answer came, it was not the one he had expected or hoped for. Absalom was killed by Joab, and the rebellion was finished. God, from his exalted position in charge of the universe, heard and acted.
v5 In the assurance that God had given him David could rest, knowing that he was being kept and upheld by the power of God.This is the peace which often seems contrary to circumstances, the peace of God which passes all understanding. Phil 4.6,7.
v6 David's trust was in God, and God's perfect love casts out all fear. David was not exaggerating - there were thousands pursuing him but he knew that "one with God is in the majority."God's Answer - Salvation and BlessingGod makes a difference between the ungodly and the godly.
v7 Even though he had received peace, David continued to pray for God to deliver him. God would treat David's enemies as his own, for those who rose up against the Lord's anointed had risen up against the One who anointed him. Since it was with their mouths that these ungodly men sought to do harm to the man of God and spoke proudly and blasphemously, it is on the cheek bone that God strikes them. God allowed the lions to speak but he did not allow them to bite, for He smashes out their teeth. Rom12.19 God has reason to regard His enemies with contempt, for ultimately good will triumph over evil.
v8 From the beginning of this experience to its end, David knew that only God could deliver him, the only Savior of men. We too can be sure that He who has begun a good work in us will carry it on to completion in the day of Christ Jesus. He has already blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ (Eph. 1:3) and we will one day enter into the fullness of His blessing. In the midst of all our troubles, God will be our help, as he was David's. |
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Mathew Bartlett: Posted on Thursday, November 17, 2011 11:08 AM
One of the classic's of Christian literature is Thomas A Kempis' "Imitation of Christ". Here is a brief extract: He that followeth Me walketh not in darkness, saith the Lord. These are the words of Christ, by which we are admonished to imitate His life and manners if we would be truly enlightened and delivered from all blindness of heart. Let it therefore be our chief study to meditate upon the life of Jesus Christ.
The desire of every child of God, which has been placed in his heart by the Holy Spirit, is to be like Jesus.
God works and moves in our lives, in both bad and good, according to His great sovereign plan, that we might "be conformed to the image of His son" (Rom. 8:29)
This is why "All things work together for good for those who love God." (Rom. 8:28)
His intention is that Jesus might be the "first born among many brethren". (Rom. 8:29)
We are not yet perfect but we are going on to our eternal perfection. Let this be our constant longing and prayer. O to be like Thee, blessed Redeemer,
This is my constant longing and prayer;
Gladly I'll forfeit all of earth's treasures,
Jesus, Thy perfect likeness to wear. O to be like Thee,
O to be like Thee,
Blessed Redeemer, pure as Thou art!
Come in thy sweettness, come in thy fulness
Stamp Thine own image deep on my heart! T. O. Chisholm |
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William F.P. Burton: Posted on Saturday, October 01, 2011 9:48 PM
 What is the Value of your life? It all depends who does the valuing. Go to that mother with her chubby baby in her arms. Offer her a thousand pounds for it, or a million. She would laugh at the very thought. That sweet wee mortal is part of her very self. It is precious to her beyond all computing. That drunken, sordid jail bird, looked down on by respectable folk, may be dubbed by the crowd "A good for nothing waster, better dead than alive." And yet it is possible that he has a mother who longs for him, prays for him, trusts that he may yet make good. To that mother he is still her precious boy. She would give all she has to save him. In case of accident and compensation a judge might value your life and a thousand pounds or twenty thousand, but there is one who regards you as of infinitely more worth than that. Indeed God commends His love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us (Rom. 5:8). "You were not redeemed with corruptible things such as silver and gold...but with the precious blood of Christ" (1 Pet. 1:18). That crimson stream that flowed from the gaping wounds of Jesus, as he hung on the Roman gibbet, shows what infinite value God sets upon you and me. How he loves us! The mighty Titanic was setting out on her maiden voyage across the Atlantic Ocean. She was declared unsinkable. Fitted with sliding doors to water-tight bulk heads, and every modern contrivance known to modern ship building skill, she was man's last word in safety, luxury and speed. Mr. X. paced the deck, congratulating himself on the success of his enterprise. He was rich and held a number of shares in the company. So safe indeed, was she considered that they had not provided sufficient life-boats for the number of passengers and crew. Suddenly on a calm evening, with the sea like a mill pond, there was a grinding crash and the mighty vessel came to a standstill. All the safety gear was put into operation but still she continued to fill and settle. She had struck an unseen iceberg and was foundering fast. "Out with the boats. Women and children first." The boats were speedily filled and pulled away from the stricken giant, that they might not be sucked down by her. When Mr. X. realised that he was left behind, he called to the coxswain of the last lifeboat. "Ten thousand pounds for a place in your boat! A hundred thousand! All my fortune if you will but pull back and take me in." But the coxswain shouted back "We dare not, sir. The boat is filled to its limit. Another passenger would endanger the lives of all on board." And so that financier went down when the Titanic took her final plunge, three miles deep, to the bottom of the Atlantic. All his wealth could not save him. It is the same story when it comes to the salvation of the soul. The Bible says: "What is a man profited if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?" (Matt. 16:26).
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William F.P. Burton: Posted on Wednesday, September 14, 2011 7:05 PM
The Kazaz Christians were having a hard time. The Budye secret society had its lodge, (kinyengele) near the village and a prominent leader was old Umpaki, the medicine man.
Umpaki was famous. He made charms to protect people from snakes, wild animals, spirits, witches and every other calamity. He claimed to be able to give them healing in sickness, success in hunting or trading, fruitful gardening, freedom from pain in child birth, skill in crafts and a lot more.
People came from far and near to purchase Umpaki's charms. He grew covetous as he grew rich. The only people who did not come to buy his charms were the Christians. They did not believe in his pretensions, so he hated them and incited the Budye secret society to persecute them, so that very few dared to come to the little meeting house and the leading Christians were ostracised and insulted. They retaliated by praying for him.
One afternoon Umpaki and a companion had a fruitless hunt in the forest and now the sun was dipping toward the western horizon.
The companion said "I must be getting back to the village while there is light to see the way."
Umpaki, who had sold so many charms to give success in hunting, was ashamed to return home empty-handed, so he said "I'm not afraid of wild animals, for my charms will protect me. Leave me here and he prepared to pass the night at the foot of a great tree.
Before long, however, he was aroused from his slumbers by the roar of a lion in one direction, answered by his mate from the opposite direction. There was no doubt. They had got his scent and were closing in on him.
Panic seized Umpaki. What could he do? By the dim light he could see a great tangle of creepers by which to scramble up into the safety of the branches above. Yay! The creepers were plentifully armed with cruel thorns. He had no choice, however, for as he mounted scratched and bleeding, he could already hear the lions below tearing at the skin quiver which held his arrows.
What a night he spent up in that tree, while the lions kept vigil below! And with what agony of mind he contemplated descending in the morning by the same thorny path that he had mounted.
With dawn the lions left and quivering with agony poor Umpaki climbed down from his lofty perch.
Later he presented himself at the little church, his whole body scratched and bleeding, his clothes in ribbons, a most dejected man. Calling the Christians together he said "Help me to become a Christian. I’m tired of this witch-doctor business. IT DOES NOT WORK. It is a pack of lies."
Today, Umpaki and the greater part of the Budye secret society have renounced their old heathen superstitions and have trusted in the Lord Jesus.
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Mathew Bartlett: Posted on Tuesday, August 30, 2011 5:37 PM
 The preacher had tried for some time to win poor old Ann to Christ. "You know, Ann, that God's Word says 'Whoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved?'" (Rom. 10:13) Why don't you ask God to save you?'"
"I do sir, many times each day."
"Then why do you not believe that you have received salvation?"
"Oh I would not be so preumptuous as to say that I was saved."
He lifted his heart to God for the right word to give her. He saw a hat shop near, and noticed that Ann's hat was green with age. "Come inside, Ann."
Before she could recover from her surprise, she was fitted out in a new bonnet, paid for by the preacher.
A few days later, he met her again. "Well, Ann, why don't you ask me for your bonnet?" he questioned.
She replied warmly, "Why should I ask for something when you have already given it to me? I've got it: I don't need to ask. Surely you are fooling an old body, Sir!"
"No, Ann! I am not fooling. Christ says 'He that hears my word and believes on Him who sent me HAS everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation, but is passed from death to life' (John 5:24). What does 'HAS' mean, Ann?
"HAS means got it, like you got this bonnet." "Well why do you go on asking for salvation when God says HAS?"
"Why, I see it now. God gives me salvation as sure as my bonnet is on my 'ead. I'll never ask Him for it any more."
"What will you do then, Ann?"
"I'll just go on thanking Him," and old Ann went on her way chuckling to herself "HAS means GOT IT!"
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