WEBVTT

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 Well, thank you very much Fiona, Christy and Kat for reading that passage to us.

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 It would be helpful if you keep that passage open as we journey through this evening.

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 But before we get started, let me just pray.

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 Let's pray together.

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 Heavenly Father, we pray that the words that we have just sung would be true in our lives,

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 that they would be true this evening as we hear your word.

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 Father, that we would walk by faith and not by sight.

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 As we come to a difficult passage, we pray you would help us

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 and that we would learn from it what you want us to learn.

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 In Jesus' name. Amen.

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 To start us off this evening, I'm going with a little bit of a stranger introduction.

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 And I'd like you, instead of having a nice picture on the PowerPoint,

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 I'd like you to hold up your hand in front of your face for me.

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 So if everyone just has a wee look at their hand.

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 There you go. The majority of you are joining in. That's always good.

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 We use our hands on a daily basis, don't we?

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 But how often do we really think about them?

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 These hands can be tools both for good and for bad.

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 So how many of you...

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 You can put your hands down now if you will.

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 So how many of you have used your hands to wipe away the tear from a child's face?

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 And with that same hand have smacked a table in frustration or anger?

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 How many of you have used your hand to write a love letter?

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 And how many of you have used the same hand to write that angry email to a work colleague?

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 Our hands can be stretched out to welcome friends and family members into the warmness of our home.

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 Or they can be weapons that can turn people away in pain.

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 These hands can both harm and heal.

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 They can hurt and they can comfort.

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 They can build up or they can destroy.

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 And that's just our hands.

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 This evening in 1 Samuel chapter 23, I wonder if you noticed as Kat was reading to us the recurring word hand or hands.

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 It's as if there's a power play going on.

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 Saul thinks that David is in his hands.

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 He's got him in his grasp.

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 That he's nearly one.

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 But God does not deliver David into Saul's hand, the passage says.

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 So in this whole power play, the question that I want us to think about this evening is whose hand will prevail?

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 As we break into this next installment of the fugitive narrative of David's life in 1 Samuel,

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 we've seen David on the run.

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 He's fleeing from place to place for his life.

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 And we've seen Saul, the king of Israel, slaughter priests and a whole town just to get his enemy.

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 Saul has completely lost it.

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 David, as God's anointed king, is facing hostility from God's enemies.

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 And I'm sure that time and time again in this whole period in David's life, he was thinking,

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 whose hand will prevail?

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 Is God really going to win?

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 Will Saul's hand tighten his grip around me or will God deliver me by his mighty hand?

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 Whose hand will prevail?

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 But as we will see this evening, even though Saul seems so close and seems to have David on the ropes,

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 God's hand is working and nothing will prevail against it.

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 God's hand will prevail.

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 And in this passage, we see three things that the hand of God is doing.

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 And the first thing that we see in this passage is the helping hand of God.

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 In 1 Samuel 23, verses 1 to 14, the helping hand of God.

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 So in the beginning of chapter 23, we find David and his motley crew of the distressed,

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 the debtors and the discontent outcasts of Israel hiding in a forest.

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 And in verse 1, David is told that the Philistines are looting the threshing floors of Kyla,

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 a town around five miles away from where he currently is.

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 Now a threshing floor is a place usually outside the town where grain was stored.

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 And during harvest time, everyone would be there, separating the chaff from the grain.

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 And so it is the ideal place to attack because you'd get all the benefits of harvest without all the work.

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 So the Philistines were smart. That is exactly what they were doing.

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 But what would you expect David to do at this moment?

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 Now remember, he has no obligation to the people of this town.

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 He doesn't need to put his neck on the line.

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 He's got the king of Israel on his heels with a massive army, I might add.

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 Everything in this situation is screaming out, David, don't even think about it.

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 Go home, put your feet up.

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 Let Saul deal with his own mess.

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 But notice what he does in verse 2.

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 David hears about the plight of his countrymen.

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 And his reaction is not hot anger.

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 It's not rage. It's not a battle cry.

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 No, his first reaction is to turn to God.

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 Verse 2 says,

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 David's priority since defeating Goliath in 1 Samuel chapter 17

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 has been fighting with the Philistines.

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 And interestingly, that's actually what Saul was commanded to do by God in chapter 9 verse 16.

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 So David is doing the job that the king should be doing.

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 But instead of running into battle, David turns to God.

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 Now how often do we wait and inquire of God and his word before we act?

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 Before we attack others who have wronged us?

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 I know my first gut reaction is to react.

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 But what our transformed lives should lead us to do is to inquire of God and his word.

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 So David is placing himself under the authority and protection of God.

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 He's under God's authority because he is admitting that he is nothing but a tool in God's hand.

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 And he's putting himself under God's protection because he only has 600 of Israel's rejects with him.

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 He does not have a mighty army.

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 If he goes against the Philistines and he wins,

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 then there is no doubt on earth that God has won the victory for him.

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 Humanly speaking, this is a no-brainer.

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 David, go home.

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 Chill out.

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 But he inquires of the Lord and God helps David.

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 In verse 2, God says,

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 Go attack the Philistines and save Kyla.

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 Now we can't jump over this verse without noticing the significance of this event.

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 God has spoken to David.

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 This is the first time that God has spoken to David in the book so far.

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 God is revealing his will to his king for his people.

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 Go and save them, God says.

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 And understandably, David's men are afraid in verse 3.

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 So David asks God again.

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 And in verse 4, God says,

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 Go down to Kyla, for I am going to give the Philistines into your hand.

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 God says, Go, David.

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 The battle is already won.

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 The victory is mine.

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 You and your weak army will win, but not by your strength.

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 Not by your skill, but by my helping hand.

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 So David and his reject army win and defeat the Philistines.

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 God's hand had been in this battle, helping and fighting for David.

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 But just like every good story, after the triumph of an underdog,

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 comes a devastating event.

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 Saul gets wind of David's whereabouts.

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 And so he jumps to the worst conclusion possible.

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 In verse 7, he says,

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 God has delivered him into my hands.

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 For David has imprisoned himself by entering a town with gates and bars.

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 What an absolute fool.

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 The man who should be sitting on the throne and ruling in righteousness and wisdom

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 has become the court jester.

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 He's become the clown.

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 In his hatred for David, he completely bypasses God.

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 He isn't thinking that God has been working in David's life.

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 That God has been helping him and defending him.

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 No, he is completely blind to it all.

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 So do you see the difference between David and Saul?

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 David sees his enemy and he inquires of what God's will is and he acts upon it.

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 Saul has no thought for God's will.

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 But simply presumes that he is blameless and that God is on his side.

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 Somehow Saul thinks that God is pleased with him,

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 even though he has no regard for his people.

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 Saul, as king, should have been the one to protect Kyla,

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 to save the town from the Philistines, but he is not fit to be king.

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 And nor is he the right king.

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 And so the real king steps in and accomplishes God's will.

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 So Saul calls an army to go and get David in verse 8.

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 But this is not a thank you party.

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 This is not a parade with presents and flowers,

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 but this is a force equipped with swords and hatred,

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 with the only goal in mind to attack, capture and kill David.

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 So what does David do?

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 Well, again, in verse 10, he turns to God.

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 He prays, Lord God of Israel, your servant has heard definitely

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 that Saul plans to come to Kyla and destroy the town on account of me.

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 Will the citizens of Kyla surrender me to him?

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 Will Saul come down as your servant has heard?

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 Lord God of Israel, tell your servant.

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 So God does.

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 God tells David that the town will hand him over to Saul.

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 And so David and his 600 men leave in verse 13,

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 and they go from place to place, running for their lives.

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 But two things to notice about this little event in the life of David.

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 The first is the absolute tyranny of Saul.

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 The people of Kyla are so afraid of this king

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 that they're willing to hand David over to him.

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 They're happy to sell out the man who's just put his life on the line for them.

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 But the second thing to notice is how God is helping David.

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 God has helped David by giving him and his 600 men victory.

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 He has protected them and warned them of the town's intentions,

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 giving them time to flee.

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 So the unrighteous king has lost the plot.

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 The righteous king is being obedient and relying on God,

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 and the true and ultimate king of the universe

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 is ruling over this whole situation,

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 helping his servant David.

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 Look at the end of verse 14.

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 God did not give David into his hand.

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 God's helping hand is at work in David's life.

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 Now people can look at this passage and use it as a justification

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 for a desire to hear the voice of God directing them in everything they do.

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 But the truth is that God has already spoken

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 and revealed himself to us in his words.

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 The question is, in our times of need, where do we run?

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 Do we run and hide wishing for the comfort of an easy life?

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 Or when we face opposition, do we run to God?

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 Our first response should be to cry out to God in prayer

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 and earnestly seek his will by reading his word,

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 by speaking to his people,

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 and then actively doing something about it.

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 But how often are we like Saul?

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 How often don't we take God's word into account

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 and we just live our lives according to our own wishes

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 and our own desires?

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 Sometimes God's helping hand is very visible in our life,

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 and sometimes he completely turns situations around

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 and lifts us out of difficult circumstances.

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 But on the most part,

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 God keeps us in our difficult places

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 and he helps us through them.

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 He helps us by giving us endurance, patience,

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 and a greater reliance on him.

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 God is helping you because in the future you'll look back

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 and you will see God's goodness in your suffering.

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 Seeing the helping hand of God in our lives

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 should mean that as Christians we have the attitude of David,

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 attitudes of humility, of service,

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 of complete dependence and obedience to God.

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 Our lives should be marked by a complete surrendering to God's will.

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 God's helping hand is at work in our lives all the time.

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 And seeing him at work in our lives,

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 both in the day to day and through the work of Jesus Christ,

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 we should be able to wholeheartedly say,

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 Lord, take my life and let it be consecrated to thee.

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 It is yours, not mine.

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 So as David is on the run,

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 as he is fleeing for his life,

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 we see the helping hand of God.

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 And the second thing that we see in this passage

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 is the strengthening hand of God.

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 The strengthening hand of God in verses 15 to 18.

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 So David is now in the desert of Ziph

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 and he knows that Saul is searching high and low for him.

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 He's got nowhere to hide.

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 Saul is convinced of David's treachery

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 and determined that killing him is God's will.

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 But put yourself in David's shoes for a second.

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 He's been on the run for a while now.

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 He's been imprisoned and he's escaped.

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 He's hidden in caves with 400 men.

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 He's been as low as can be

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 from the palace courts to a cave in the middle of nowhere.

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 But also remember that he has been anointed king over Israel.

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 And he started off his life of running as one man,

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 as an individual.

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 And now he has 600 men with him.

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 David is growing in popularity.

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 He saved a town from being killed by the Philistines,

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 but he is still on the run.

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 Can you imagine how discouraged he is at this stage?

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 Everything in his life seems to be going wrong.

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 He knows where God has promised he will be.

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 He's been seeking to live out his life obediently and according to God's will,

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 but nothing is going his way.

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 I'm sure he was thinking,

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 God, when are you going to give me a break?

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 And in verse 16, we see a daring but caring move from Jonathan.

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 See, he went to David and it says that Jonathan helped him find strength in God.

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 What a godly friend Jonathan is.

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 He put his own life on the line to go and encourage his friend,

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 but not just with a pat on the back or a nice little motivational speech.

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 Jonathan is pointing David to God,

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 pointing to the source of all strength,

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 pointing him to the only one who can sustain him now in the time of his fear.

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 In verse 17, Jonathan says,

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 Jonathan is strengthening David by reiterating the promises of God to him that he will be king.

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 God is strengthening David through Jonathan.

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 Now here we get a little glimpse into how deep this friendship really is.

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 Jonathan knows exactly where David is and how to find him.

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 And yet he doesn't tell his own dad.

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 And he puts his life on the line to go and encourage David.

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 And he says to David,

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 I will be second to you.

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 So as the prince of Israel,

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 Jonathan is relinquishing his place of authority and power and bowing down to God's will.

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 Jonathan is a true friend.

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 When was the last time that you saw a fellow Christian struggling

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 and you encouraged them by pointing them to God?

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 All too often,

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 I think we casually say,

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 I'm praying for you.

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 Or we pull a verse out of context and we quote it and we think that we've somehow helped that person.

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 And those are good things to do,

00:18:32.839 --> 00:18:36.480
 to pray for people and to tell verses that will encourage them.

00:18:36.539 --> 00:18:40.180
 But do you know what's helped me most in my times of pain and suffering and despair?

00:18:40.180 --> 00:18:44.500
 Having a fellow believer come alongside me,

00:18:45.019 --> 00:18:46.519
 weep and mourn with me,

00:18:47.039 --> 00:18:51.500
 but ultimately pointing me to the glorious truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

00:18:54.860 --> 00:18:57.920
 The world will tell us that we cannot help people,

00:18:58.680 --> 00:18:59.640
 but that is a lie.

00:18:59.640 --> 00:19:02.160
 Because as Christians,

00:19:02.280 --> 00:19:04.759
 we can point people to the only source of peace,

00:19:05.580 --> 00:19:08.480
 to the only source of assurance,

00:19:09.080 --> 00:19:09.400
 God,

00:19:09.600 --> 00:19:11.620
 that is how God can use you

00:19:11.620 --> 00:19:13.300
 and can use me

00:19:13.300 --> 00:19:14.840
 to strengthen people.

00:19:17.340 --> 00:19:21.120
 David isn't only strengthened by having a friend in Jonathan,

00:19:21.200 --> 00:19:22.300
 but much more than that,

00:19:22.400 --> 00:19:25.360
 David is strengthened by Jonathan's certainty

00:19:25.360 --> 00:19:26.600
 that God is faithful

00:19:26.600 --> 00:19:28.920
 and that his promises will be fulfilled.

00:19:29.640 --> 00:19:34.980
 Jonathan is certain that God's plan will prevail,

00:19:35.120 --> 00:19:37.220
 that God's hand will prevail.

00:19:39.080 --> 00:19:41.860
 And he knows that David's life is in God's hand.

00:19:42.840 --> 00:19:46.120
 God uses people to strengthen people.

00:19:48.460 --> 00:19:50.140
 Now it's so easy, isn't it,

00:19:50.160 --> 00:19:52.100
 to walk into church on a Sunday morning

00:19:52.100 --> 00:19:55.259
 or to walk into a small group during the week

00:19:55.259 --> 00:19:56.100
 and to moan,

00:19:56.800 --> 00:19:59.380
 to complain about how busy we are

00:19:59.380 --> 00:20:01.100
 or how hard work is

00:20:01.100 --> 00:20:03.720
 or how difficult the kids are at this moment in time.

00:20:04.880 --> 00:20:07.420
 And those are things that we should be praying for.

00:20:08.060 --> 00:20:08.540
 Absolutely.

00:20:09.820 --> 00:20:12.620
 But so often I think we moan instead of praying.

00:20:12.619 --> 00:20:16.679
 How different would our church life be

00:20:16.679 --> 00:20:18.519
 if instead of coming to moan,

00:20:18.919 --> 00:20:21.599
 we turned up and asked the question,

00:20:21.719 --> 00:20:23.000
 how can we encourage people?

00:20:24.739 --> 00:20:26.699
 How different would our church life be

00:20:26.699 --> 00:20:28.359
 if instead of showing up

00:20:28.359 --> 00:20:30.339
 and consuming everything we can,

00:20:31.219 --> 00:20:34.019
 instead of looking out for our own interests,

00:20:34.139 --> 00:20:34.779
 our own wishes,

00:20:34.919 --> 00:20:35.799
 our own desires,

00:20:36.339 --> 00:20:38.399
 but we actually came with a question in mind,

00:20:38.400 --> 00:20:41.000
 how can I build up my brother and sister in Christ today?

00:20:44.500 --> 00:20:46.060
 I can tell you the difference.

00:20:47.259 --> 00:20:48.560
 Our church would be transformed.

00:20:50.340 --> 00:20:51.660
 People would be happier

00:20:51.660 --> 00:20:54.460
 and more willing to serve and care for others.

00:20:55.320 --> 00:20:57.740
 But the thing that makes this change,

00:20:58.560 --> 00:20:59.400
 this transformation,

00:20:59.740 --> 00:21:01.080
 is not behavior modification.

00:21:01.079 --> 00:21:03.000
 Because if we think that,

00:21:03.079 --> 00:21:04.039
 then we've missed the point.

00:21:05.139 --> 00:21:07.599
 It is not simply putting on your Sunday best

00:21:07.599 --> 00:21:09.379
 and smiling until your cheeks hurt.

00:21:09.619 --> 00:21:09.859
 No.

00:21:10.779 --> 00:21:12.439
 It is walking into a room

00:21:12.439 --> 00:21:14.960
 with fellow broken brothers and sisters of Christ

00:21:14.960 --> 00:21:18.359
 and pointing them to the one place

00:21:18.359 --> 00:21:19.980
 where they can find real strength,

00:21:21.139 --> 00:21:22.799
 lasting certain hope

00:21:22.799 --> 00:21:25.119
 and endurance through struggles

00:21:25.119 --> 00:21:27.599
 and peace that passes all understanding.

00:21:27.599 --> 00:21:32.399
 So the question we should ask

00:21:32.399 --> 00:21:34.419
 when we prepare to go to any meeting,

00:21:35.079 --> 00:21:36.099
 whether that's Sundays,

00:21:36.519 --> 00:21:37.159
 small group,

00:21:37.240 --> 00:21:38.099
 or whether that's coffee

00:21:38.099 --> 00:21:39.480
 with a friend or family member,

00:21:39.899 --> 00:21:41.000
 the question is,

00:21:41.059 --> 00:21:42.719
 how can I best point this person

00:21:42.719 --> 00:21:43.879
 to the promises of God?

00:21:46.139 --> 00:21:47.699
 How might God use me

00:21:47.699 --> 00:21:49.459
 to strengthen this individual?

00:21:49.939 --> 00:21:51.919
 How can I best serve this person

00:21:51.919 --> 00:21:55.279
 so that they are absolutely overwhelmed

00:21:55.279 --> 00:21:56.480
 by God's goodness?

00:21:57.599 --> 00:22:00.219
 How can I best point this person

00:22:00.219 --> 00:22:02.679
 to see the sheer beauty of the gospel?

00:22:04.859 --> 00:22:07.219
 God uses people to strengthen people.

00:22:08.039 --> 00:22:09.619
 That is what Jonathan did.

00:22:10.219 --> 00:22:12.699
 That is how God could be working for you

00:22:12.699 --> 00:22:15.839
 and that is how God could be working through you.

00:22:17.359 --> 00:22:19.379
 What a privilege it is

00:22:19.379 --> 00:22:21.959
 that God would see fit to use us

00:22:21.959 --> 00:22:24.059
 to be instruments in his hand

00:22:24.059 --> 00:22:25.539
 to strengthen people.

00:22:25.539 --> 00:22:30.240
 So here's a little practical challenge for you.

00:22:31.539 --> 00:22:33.039
 After our service this evening,

00:22:33.460 --> 00:22:35.720
 turn to the person next to you.

00:22:36.799 --> 00:22:38.720
 Ask them how you can pray for them.

00:22:39.899 --> 00:22:40.720
 Encourage them

00:22:40.720 --> 00:22:42.920
 and then pray together.

00:22:44.000 --> 00:22:44.980
 Nothing out there,

00:22:45.059 --> 00:22:45.659
 nothing weird,

00:22:45.859 --> 00:22:47.599
 nothing too strange

00:22:47.599 --> 00:22:48.519
 for a Sunday evening.

00:22:48.519 --> 00:22:52.599
 It'll add five minutes

00:22:52.599 --> 00:22:54.740
 to our Sunday evening service,

00:22:55.139 --> 00:22:57.940
 but it will be a huge encouragement

00:22:57.940 --> 00:22:59.220
 to your fellow brother and sister

00:22:59.220 --> 00:23:00.099
 sitting next to you.

00:23:02.599 --> 00:23:04.700
 That is how God can use you

00:23:04.700 --> 00:23:05.720
 to strengthen others

00:23:05.720 --> 00:23:08.019
 and that is how God can strengthen you.

00:23:08.019 --> 00:23:12.119
 The third thing

00:23:12.119 --> 00:23:12.859
 and final thing

00:23:12.859 --> 00:23:14.119
 that we see in this passage

00:23:14.119 --> 00:23:15.859
 is the mighty hand of God.

00:23:16.559 --> 00:23:19.180
 Verses 19 to 29,

00:23:19.460 --> 00:23:21.539
 the mighty hand of God.

00:23:22.639 --> 00:23:23.980
 So imagine for a second

00:23:23.980 --> 00:23:25.019
 how Saul is feeling.

00:23:26.019 --> 00:23:28.019
 He's been chasing David down

00:23:28.019 --> 00:23:29.759
 for absolutely ages.

00:23:29.759 --> 00:23:32.539
 But each time David manages

00:23:32.539 --> 00:23:34.220
 to escape his grip.

00:23:35.480 --> 00:23:36.259
 And so you can imagine

00:23:36.259 --> 00:23:38.180
 his delight as the citizens

00:23:38.180 --> 00:23:39.859
 of, as the Ziphites

00:23:39.859 --> 00:23:41.519
 come to him in verse 19

00:23:41.519 --> 00:23:42.660
 and tell him exactly

00:23:42.660 --> 00:23:43.700
 where David is hiding.

00:23:45.599 --> 00:23:47.539
 He thinks his lucky day has come.

00:23:48.400 --> 00:23:50.019
 In verse 20, they say,

00:23:50.099 --> 00:23:50.960
 now your majesty,

00:23:51.440 --> 00:23:53.220
 come down whenever it pleases you

00:23:53.220 --> 00:23:53.920
 to do so

00:23:53.920 --> 00:23:55.859
 and we will be responsible

00:23:55.859 --> 00:23:58.299
 for giving him into your hands.

00:23:59.299 --> 00:23:59.559
 Now,

00:23:59.759 --> 00:24:01.759
 Saul couldn't have asked

00:24:01.759 --> 00:24:02.740
 for any better subjects,

00:24:02.839 --> 00:24:03.119
 could he?

00:24:04.160 --> 00:24:05.500
 These men are happily

00:24:05.500 --> 00:24:06.599
 bowing low

00:24:06.599 --> 00:24:07.799
 and kissing the ring

00:24:07.799 --> 00:24:09.220
 of a treacherous ruler.

00:24:10.619 --> 00:24:11.839
 Saul thinks that his hand

00:24:11.839 --> 00:24:12.440
 will prevail

00:24:12.440 --> 00:24:13.599
 and that he will finally

00:24:13.599 --> 00:24:14.700
 get his grip

00:24:14.700 --> 00:24:16.259
 around David's throat.

00:24:17.160 --> 00:24:18.859
 The scales, he's thinking,

00:24:19.279 --> 00:24:20.900
 are finally tipped in my favor.

00:24:22.319 --> 00:24:23.599
 And so he responds

00:24:23.599 --> 00:24:25.299
 in verses 21 to 23,

00:24:25.480 --> 00:24:25.740
 saying,

00:24:26.099 --> 00:24:27.019
 the Lord bless you

00:24:27.019 --> 00:24:28.359
 for your concern for me.

00:24:28.359 --> 00:24:30.699
 Go and get more information.

00:24:32.259 --> 00:24:33.619
 Find out where David

00:24:33.619 --> 00:24:34.479
 usually goes

00:24:34.479 --> 00:24:36.219
 and who has seen him there.

00:24:37.199 --> 00:24:38.439
 They tell me

00:24:38.439 --> 00:24:39.939
 he is very crafty.

00:24:40.979 --> 00:24:41.959
 Find out about

00:24:41.959 --> 00:24:43.299
 all the hiding places

00:24:43.299 --> 00:24:43.899
 he uses

00:24:43.899 --> 00:24:44.979
 and come back to me

00:24:44.979 --> 00:24:46.219
 with definite information.

00:24:46.779 --> 00:24:48.159
 Then I will go with you.

00:24:49.139 --> 00:24:50.479
 If he is in the area,

00:24:50.480 --> 00:24:52.279
 I will track him down

00:24:52.279 --> 00:24:53.500
 among all the clans

00:24:53.500 --> 00:24:54.500
 of Judah.

00:24:57.200 --> 00:24:58.480
 Do you notice something

00:24:58.480 --> 00:24:59.559
 about his response?

00:25:01.160 --> 00:25:03.519
 He is absolutely paranoid.

00:25:03.519 --> 00:25:06.720
 He starts off with a blessing

00:25:06.720 --> 00:25:07.440
 on the Ziphites,

00:25:07.519 --> 00:25:08.700
 which is really ironic

00:25:08.700 --> 00:25:09.799
 because he's using

00:25:09.799 --> 00:25:10.960
 God's name

00:25:10.960 --> 00:25:12.099
 to bless a people

00:25:12.099 --> 00:25:13.039
 who are betraying

00:25:13.039 --> 00:25:14.160
 God's anointed king.

00:25:16.160 --> 00:25:17.180
 And then he gives

00:25:17.180 --> 00:25:18.539
 a kind of arrogant statement.

00:25:19.259 --> 00:25:20.279
 Oh, you're doing all this

00:25:20.279 --> 00:25:21.220
 for little old me.

00:25:23.319 --> 00:25:24.259
 And he becomes

00:25:24.259 --> 00:25:25.579
 more and more paranoid

00:25:25.579 --> 00:25:26.579
 and more concerned

00:25:26.579 --> 00:25:28.019
 about the minute details

00:25:28.019 --> 00:25:28.900
 of the plan

00:25:28.900 --> 00:25:29.660
 and the strategy.

00:25:30.620 --> 00:25:31.420
 He's asking

00:25:31.420 --> 00:25:32.500
 for more information.

00:25:32.660 --> 00:25:33.360
 He wants to know

00:25:33.360 --> 00:25:35.600
 exactly where David moves,

00:25:35.840 --> 00:25:36.840
 how many steps

00:25:36.840 --> 00:25:37.880
 he has done that day

00:25:37.880 --> 00:25:38.980
 and how many people

00:25:38.980 --> 00:25:39.580
 he has seen.

00:25:41.720 --> 00:25:42.860
 It's like the scenes

00:25:42.860 --> 00:25:43.880
 in those police movies

00:25:43.880 --> 00:25:45.540
 where they're staking out

00:25:45.540 --> 00:25:46.759
 a suspect.

00:25:47.600 --> 00:25:48.960
 They lie in hiding,

00:25:49.120 --> 00:25:49.820
 waiting to get

00:25:49.820 --> 00:25:50.480
 all the dirt

00:25:50.480 --> 00:25:51.259
 that they need.

00:25:52.240 --> 00:25:53.800
 Patiently taking pictures,

00:25:54.720 --> 00:25:55.759
 usually got a big

00:25:55.759 --> 00:25:57.440
 mind map on the wall.

00:25:58.300 --> 00:25:59.080
 Checking faces

00:25:59.079 --> 00:26:00.740
 to find that one weak link

00:26:00.740 --> 00:26:02.399
 that will crack the case.

00:26:03.220 --> 00:26:04.559
 And that is what Saul wants.

00:26:05.439 --> 00:26:06.740
 But he doesn't just want

00:26:06.740 --> 00:26:07.980
 mug shots or pictures.

00:26:08.839 --> 00:26:10.679
 He wants full-blown

00:26:10.679 --> 00:26:11.559
 thick folders

00:26:11.559 --> 00:26:12.480
 on everyone

00:26:12.480 --> 00:26:13.619
 who is around David.

00:26:15.559 --> 00:26:16.079
 Why?

00:26:17.079 --> 00:26:18.799
 Because the end of verse 22,

00:26:19.000 --> 00:26:19.599
 Saul says,

00:26:19.599 --> 00:26:20.779
 they tell me

00:26:20.779 --> 00:26:22.159
 he is very crafty.

00:26:24.619 --> 00:26:25.619
 Again, Saul,

00:26:25.720 --> 00:26:27.119
 how foolish are you?

00:26:27.119 --> 00:26:30.099
 He is attributing

00:26:30.099 --> 00:26:31.319
 David's success

00:26:31.319 --> 00:26:33.019
 to skill

00:26:33.019 --> 00:26:33.619
 and cunning.

00:26:35.479 --> 00:26:36.699
 The only reason

00:26:36.699 --> 00:26:37.500
 David is still

00:26:37.500 --> 00:26:38.059
 in the wind

00:26:38.059 --> 00:26:39.279
 is because God's hand

00:26:39.279 --> 00:26:40.119
 is protecting

00:26:40.119 --> 00:26:41.159
 and strengthening

00:26:41.159 --> 00:26:42.219
 him.

00:26:43.179 --> 00:26:43.979
 God's hand

00:26:43.979 --> 00:26:44.839
 is so mighty

00:26:44.839 --> 00:26:45.879
 that all the forces

00:26:45.879 --> 00:26:46.399
 of Israel

00:26:46.399 --> 00:26:47.159
 could descend

00:26:47.159 --> 00:26:47.959
 and nothing

00:26:47.959 --> 00:26:48.759
 could touch David.

00:26:50.659 --> 00:26:51.839
 God is working.

00:26:51.839 --> 00:26:54.399
 So Saul

00:26:54.399 --> 00:26:55.119
 is absolutely

00:26:55.119 --> 00:26:55.659
 paranoid

00:26:55.659 --> 00:26:56.220
 and he wants

00:26:56.220 --> 00:26:56.959
 more information

00:26:56.959 --> 00:26:57.579
 but notice

00:26:57.579 --> 00:26:58.599
 how his speech

00:26:58.599 --> 00:26:59.899
 ends in verse 23.

00:27:00.799 --> 00:27:01.500
 I will track

00:27:01.500 --> 00:27:02.579
 him down

00:27:02.579 --> 00:27:03.519
 among all

00:27:03.519 --> 00:27:04.199
 the clans

00:27:04.199 --> 00:27:05.179
 of Judah.

00:27:06.579 --> 00:27:07.799
 So much

00:27:07.799 --> 00:27:08.500
 pride

00:27:08.500 --> 00:27:11.079
 but no mention

00:27:11.079 --> 00:27:11.599
 of prayer.

00:27:12.720 --> 00:27:13.759
 No desire

00:27:13.759 --> 00:27:14.519
 to seek God.

00:27:14.659 --> 00:27:15.339
 No inkling

00:27:15.339 --> 00:27:16.240
 of any desire

00:27:16.240 --> 00:27:17.339
 to do God's will.

00:27:18.899 --> 00:27:19.599
 Saul's priority

00:27:19.599 --> 00:27:20.299
 is himself.

00:27:20.299 --> 00:27:23.680
 King Saul

00:27:23.680 --> 00:27:24.319
 is proud

00:27:24.319 --> 00:27:25.200
 because he sees

00:27:25.200 --> 00:27:25.859
 the forces

00:27:25.859 --> 00:27:26.919
 that are behind him

00:27:26.919 --> 00:27:28.399
 and he thinks

00:27:28.399 --> 00:27:29.559
 that his whole army

00:27:29.559 --> 00:27:30.700
 will bring David

00:27:30.700 --> 00:27:31.700
 to his knees

00:27:31.700 --> 00:27:32.859
 but he forgets

00:27:32.859 --> 00:27:33.460
 who is standing

00:27:33.460 --> 00:27:34.460
 behind David.

00:27:36.539 --> 00:27:37.399
 David has

00:27:37.399 --> 00:27:38.139
 the great God

00:27:38.139 --> 00:27:38.839
 of the universe

00:27:38.839 --> 00:27:40.139
 who is on his side.

00:27:40.240 --> 00:27:41.200
 The God who speaks

00:27:41.200 --> 00:27:42.240
 and it happens.

00:27:43.099 --> 00:27:44.180
 The God who parts

00:27:44.180 --> 00:27:44.659
 the sea

00:27:44.659 --> 00:27:45.379
 for his people

00:27:45.379 --> 00:27:46.019
 to be free.

00:27:46.119 --> 00:27:46.819
 The God who does

00:27:46.819 --> 00:27:47.559
 the impossible

00:27:47.559 --> 00:27:49.500
 and the God

00:27:49.500 --> 00:27:50.159
 who is faithful

00:27:50.159 --> 00:27:51.079
 to every single

00:27:51.079 --> 00:27:52.039
 one of his promises.

00:27:54.440 --> 00:27:55.679
 God's mighty hand

00:27:55.679 --> 00:27:56.500
 is on David

00:27:56.500 --> 00:27:57.440
 and Saul's

00:27:57.440 --> 00:27:58.419
 puny army

00:27:58.419 --> 00:27:59.200
 in comparison

00:27:59.200 --> 00:28:00.440
 can do absolutely

00:28:00.440 --> 00:28:01.639
 nothing about it.

00:28:04.019 --> 00:28:05.119
 And so in verses

00:28:05.119 --> 00:28:06.419
 24 to 26

00:28:06.419 --> 00:28:07.619
 we see the ultimate

00:28:07.619 --> 00:28:08.819
 cat and mouse chase.

00:28:10.099 --> 00:28:11.639
 Saul is on David's heels

00:28:11.639 --> 00:28:12.599
 and these short verses

00:28:12.599 --> 00:28:13.579
 are packed

00:28:13.579 --> 00:28:14.879
 with so much tension.

00:28:14.880 --> 00:28:16.760
 So if this were a movie

00:28:16.760 --> 00:28:17.600
 you could imagine

00:28:17.600 --> 00:28:19.200
 the scary music

00:28:19.200 --> 00:28:20.000
 getting louder

00:28:20.000 --> 00:28:20.620
 and louder

00:28:20.620 --> 00:28:21.440
 as you read.

00:28:22.100 --> 00:28:23.340
 Ramping up the intensity

00:28:23.340 --> 00:28:24.380
 as you see David

00:28:24.380 --> 00:28:25.480
 nearly being caught.

00:28:26.720 --> 00:28:28.020
 And then in verse 26

00:28:28.020 --> 00:28:29.020
 the tension

00:28:29.020 --> 00:28:30.520
 is almost so unbearable

00:28:30.520 --> 00:28:31.360
 that you're on the edge

00:28:31.360 --> 00:28:32.080
 of your seat.

00:28:32.940 --> 00:28:34.020
 Saul is on one side

00:28:34.020 --> 00:28:34.520
 of the mountain

00:28:34.520 --> 00:28:35.560
 David on the other.

00:28:36.420 --> 00:28:37.180
 And it's at this point

00:28:37.180 --> 00:28:38.040
 you grab the pillow

00:28:38.040 --> 00:28:38.880
 that's on the couch

00:28:38.880 --> 00:28:39.520
 next to you

00:28:39.520 --> 00:28:40.960
 because you can't bear

00:28:40.960 --> 00:28:41.720
 seeing David

00:28:41.720 --> 00:28:42.200
 captured,

00:28:42.420 --> 00:28:43.540
 humiliated and killed.

00:28:44.880 --> 00:28:46.700
 But just as the tension

00:28:46.700 --> 00:28:47.580
 is at its highest

00:28:47.580 --> 00:28:48.700
 in verse 27

00:28:48.700 --> 00:28:50.880
 a messenger came

00:28:50.880 --> 00:28:51.380
 to Saul

00:28:51.380 --> 00:28:52.340
 saying come quickly

00:28:52.340 --> 00:28:53.180
 the Philistines

00:28:53.180 --> 00:28:54.800
 are raiding the land.

00:28:55.720 --> 00:28:56.700
 And then Saul

00:28:56.700 --> 00:28:57.740
 broke off his pursuit

00:28:57.740 --> 00:28:58.240
 of David

00:28:58.240 --> 00:28:59.200
 and went to meet

00:28:59.200 --> 00:29:00.060
 the Philistines.

00:29:02.240 --> 00:29:03.320
 Now we can read

00:29:03.320 --> 00:29:04.000
 this blindly

00:29:04.000 --> 00:29:05.140
 and think that this

00:29:05.140 --> 00:29:06.340
 is nothing but a coincidence.

00:29:07.280 --> 00:29:07.840
 Or

00:29:07.840 --> 00:29:09.580
 we can read this

00:29:09.580 --> 00:29:10.500
 with an understanding

00:29:10.500 --> 00:29:11.080
 of who

00:29:11.080 --> 00:29:12.480
 our great God is

00:29:12.480 --> 00:29:13.200
 and how mighty

00:29:13.200 --> 00:29:13.760
 he is

00:29:13.759 --> 00:29:14.619
 and what he does

00:29:14.619 --> 00:29:15.379
 for his people

00:29:15.379 --> 00:29:16.420
 he delivers them

00:29:16.420 --> 00:29:17.500
 from trouble

00:29:17.500 --> 00:29:18.259
 and nothing

00:29:18.259 --> 00:29:19.519
 not even an army

00:29:19.519 --> 00:29:21.779
 can thwart his plans.

00:29:23.680 --> 00:29:24.940
 God's mighty hand

00:29:24.940 --> 00:29:25.579
 is protecting

00:29:25.579 --> 00:29:26.379
 his servant.

00:29:28.000 --> 00:29:28.879
 God's hand

00:29:28.879 --> 00:29:30.579
 will always

00:29:30.579 --> 00:29:31.339
 prevail.

00:29:35.039 --> 00:29:35.940
 Now you might be

00:29:35.940 --> 00:29:36.599
 sitting there thinking

00:29:36.599 --> 00:29:37.819
 well that all sounds nice

00:29:37.819 --> 00:29:39.579
 but I don't feel it.

00:29:39.579 --> 00:29:42.419
 as we walk out

00:29:42.419 --> 00:29:43.000
 of this building

00:29:43.000 --> 00:29:43.500
 this evening

00:29:43.500 --> 00:29:44.939
 we step into a world

00:29:44.939 --> 00:29:45.559
 that is holding

00:29:45.559 --> 00:29:46.899
 its fist against us

00:29:46.899 --> 00:29:47.819
 in hostility.

00:29:48.859 --> 00:29:49.740
 A world that

00:29:49.740 --> 00:29:50.659
 despises us

00:29:50.659 --> 00:29:51.919
 for what we believe

00:29:51.919 --> 00:29:53.119
 and who we serve.

00:29:54.039 --> 00:29:54.980
 How on earth

00:29:54.980 --> 00:29:55.960
 can God be working

00:29:55.960 --> 00:29:56.699
 in all of that?

00:29:58.059 --> 00:29:59.899
 How can God's mighty hand

00:29:59.899 --> 00:30:00.639
 be at work

00:30:00.639 --> 00:30:01.299
 if Christians

00:30:01.299 --> 00:30:02.359
 all over the world

00:30:02.359 --> 00:30:03.059
 are suffering

00:30:03.059 --> 00:30:04.220
 and being persecuted

00:30:04.220 --> 00:30:05.139
 for their faith?

00:30:05.140 --> 00:30:07.540
 how can God

00:30:07.540 --> 00:30:08.180
 be at work

00:30:08.180 --> 00:30:08.740
 in my life

00:30:08.740 --> 00:30:09.620
 if everything

00:30:09.620 --> 00:30:10.200
 around me

00:30:10.200 --> 00:30:10.660
 is screaming

00:30:10.660 --> 00:30:11.580
 the exact opposite?

00:30:14.640 --> 00:30:15.640
 Well God is working

00:30:15.640 --> 00:30:16.420
 because he is

00:30:16.420 --> 00:30:17.580
 building his church.

00:30:18.360 --> 00:30:19.340
 He is calling

00:30:19.340 --> 00:30:20.420
 people to himself

00:30:20.420 --> 00:30:21.060
 and nothing

00:30:21.060 --> 00:30:22.120
 not even the gates

00:30:22.120 --> 00:30:22.780
 of hell

00:30:22.780 --> 00:30:23.780
 will prevail

00:30:23.780 --> 00:30:24.520
 against it.

00:30:26.600 --> 00:30:27.600
 As Christians

00:30:27.600 --> 00:30:28.500
 we've been warned

00:30:28.500 --> 00:30:29.560
 that we will suffer

00:30:29.560 --> 00:30:30.280
 for Jesus

00:30:30.279 --> 00:30:33.500
 but we see

00:30:33.500 --> 00:30:34.299
 that the suffering

00:30:34.299 --> 00:30:35.119
 that we face

00:30:35.119 --> 00:30:35.700
 now

00:30:35.700 --> 00:30:37.039
 for following

00:30:37.039 --> 00:30:38.000
 God's anointed

00:30:38.000 --> 00:30:38.559
 king

00:30:38.559 --> 00:30:39.519
 the king Jesus

00:30:39.519 --> 00:30:41.180
 is preparing us

00:30:41.180 --> 00:30:41.899
 for an eternity

00:30:41.899 --> 00:30:42.599
 with him.

00:30:45.039 --> 00:30:46.339
 The promise

00:30:46.339 --> 00:30:47.819
 far outweighs

00:30:47.819 --> 00:30:48.319
 the pain.

00:30:51.000 --> 00:30:52.519
 This whole chapter

00:30:52.519 --> 00:30:53.859
 and how God

00:30:53.859 --> 00:30:54.539
 has been working

00:30:54.539 --> 00:30:54.879
 in it

00:30:54.879 --> 00:30:55.819
 is so relevant

00:30:55.819 --> 00:30:56.559
 for us today

00:30:56.559 --> 00:30:57.819
 because we see

00:30:57.819 --> 00:30:58.819
 God doing the same

00:30:58.819 --> 00:31:00.259
 things in our lives.

00:31:00.279 --> 00:31:00.440
 lives.

00:31:01.579 --> 00:31:02.519
 So God

00:31:02.519 --> 00:31:03.160
 the creator

00:31:03.160 --> 00:31:03.980
 of this world

00:31:03.980 --> 00:31:05.000
 the father

00:31:05.000 --> 00:31:06.319
 who lovingly

00:31:06.319 --> 00:31:07.339
 gave life

00:31:07.339 --> 00:31:08.500
 to humanity

00:31:08.500 --> 00:31:10.420
 has watched us

00:31:10.420 --> 00:31:10.960
 descend

00:31:10.960 --> 00:31:11.960
 into the depths

00:31:11.960 --> 00:31:12.899
 of despair

00:31:12.899 --> 00:31:14.480
 and sin

00:31:14.480 --> 00:31:15.160
 and rebellion

00:31:15.160 --> 00:31:15.920
 against him

00:31:15.920 --> 00:31:17.940
 but instead

00:31:17.940 --> 00:31:19.019
 of walking away

00:31:19.019 --> 00:31:20.920
 instead of

00:31:20.920 --> 00:31:21.980
 turning his back

00:31:21.980 --> 00:31:23.319
 he looked at us

00:31:23.319 --> 00:31:26.039
 struggling

00:31:26.039 --> 00:31:26.940
 in the depths

00:31:26.940 --> 00:31:27.480
 of despair

00:31:27.480 --> 00:31:28.859
 and he helped

00:31:28.859 --> 00:31:30.419
 but not just

00:31:30.419 --> 00:31:31.399
 by throwing

00:31:31.399 --> 00:31:32.219
 us a lifeline

00:31:32.219 --> 00:31:33.639
 not just

00:31:33.639 --> 00:31:34.319
 by giving us

00:31:34.319 --> 00:31:34.719
 a hand

00:31:34.719 --> 00:31:35.500
 out of the muck

00:31:35.500 --> 00:31:36.799
 no he helped

00:31:36.799 --> 00:31:37.659
 by stepping

00:31:37.659 --> 00:31:38.759
 into our mess

00:31:38.759 --> 00:31:42.539
 God in the flesh

00:31:42.539 --> 00:31:43.439
 stepped into

00:31:43.439 --> 00:31:44.099
 our ruin

00:31:44.099 --> 00:31:44.619
 and mess

00:31:44.619 --> 00:31:45.319
 and he became

00:31:45.319 --> 00:31:46.159
 one of us

00:31:46.159 --> 00:31:46.919
 why?

00:31:47.919 --> 00:31:48.839
 So that we can

00:31:48.839 --> 00:31:49.899
 be reconciled

00:31:49.899 --> 00:31:50.419
 to God

00:31:50.419 --> 00:31:51.419
 brought back

00:31:51.419 --> 00:31:52.219
 into a right

00:31:52.219 --> 00:31:52.879
 relationship

00:31:52.879 --> 00:31:53.459
 with him

00:31:53.459 --> 00:31:54.019
 and taken

00:31:54.019 --> 00:31:54.599
 from being

00:31:54.599 --> 00:31:55.240
 a wretch

00:31:55.240 --> 00:31:56.759
 under God's wrath

00:31:56.759 --> 00:31:57.579
 to being

00:31:57.579 --> 00:31:58.420
 sons and

00:31:58.420 --> 00:31:58.799
 daughters

00:31:58.799 --> 00:31:59.700
 clothed

00:31:59.700 --> 00:32:00.720
 in royalty

00:32:00.720 --> 00:32:04.220
 God makes

00:32:04.220 --> 00:32:05.019
 the impossible

00:32:05.019 --> 00:32:06.099
 possible

00:32:06.099 --> 00:32:08.019
 Jesus took

00:32:08.019 --> 00:32:08.740
 our punishment

00:32:08.740 --> 00:32:09.400
 and brought

00:32:09.400 --> 00:32:10.379
 us to God

00:32:10.379 --> 00:32:12.359
 and he is

00:32:12.359 --> 00:32:13.259
 strengthening us

00:32:13.259 --> 00:32:13.920
 daily because

00:32:13.920 --> 00:32:14.460
 we are not

00:32:14.460 --> 00:32:14.879
 alone

00:32:14.879 --> 00:32:17.420
 Jesus promised

00:32:17.420 --> 00:32:18.119
 his disciples

00:32:18.119 --> 00:32:18.879
 that once he

00:32:18.879 --> 00:32:19.480
 left he would

00:32:19.480 --> 00:32:20.740
 send a comforter

00:32:20.740 --> 00:32:22.559
 and that person

00:32:22.559 --> 00:32:23.539
 is the Holy Spirit

00:32:23.539 --> 00:32:24.480
 who dwells within

00:32:24.480 --> 00:32:25.620
 every Christian

00:32:25.620 --> 00:32:26.980
 and is making

00:32:26.980 --> 00:32:27.819
 us more into

00:32:27.819 --> 00:32:28.360
 the image

00:32:28.360 --> 00:32:29.059
 and likeness

00:32:29.059 --> 00:32:29.539
 of Jesus

00:32:29.539 --> 00:32:32.180
 we are constantly

00:32:32.180 --> 00:32:33.200
 being strengthened

00:32:33.200 --> 00:32:34.339
 because as Christians

00:32:34.339 --> 00:32:35.460
 we are being

00:32:35.460 --> 00:32:36.400
 transformed from

00:32:36.400 --> 00:32:37.120
 the inside

00:32:37.120 --> 00:32:37.660
 out

00:32:37.660 --> 00:32:39.220
 and being pointed

00:32:39.220 --> 00:32:40.740
 to the goodness

00:32:40.740 --> 00:32:42.200
 the glory

00:32:42.200 --> 00:32:43.440
 and the majesty

00:32:43.440 --> 00:32:44.519
 of our great

00:32:44.519 --> 00:32:45.640
 and mighty God

00:32:45.640 --> 00:32:49.099
 now if this is

00:32:49.099 --> 00:32:49.779
 not the act

00:32:49.779 --> 00:32:50.339
 of an

00:32:50.339 --> 00:32:51.500
 all powerful

00:32:51.500 --> 00:32:52.319
 all loving

00:32:52.319 --> 00:32:52.620
 God

00:32:52.620 --> 00:32:53.380
 then I do not

00:32:53.380 --> 00:32:54.059
 know what is

00:32:54.059 --> 00:32:57.039
 Jesus going

00:32:57.039 --> 00:32:57.679
 to the cross

00:32:57.679 --> 00:32:58.579
 carrying all

00:32:58.579 --> 00:32:59.299
 of our sin

00:32:59.299 --> 00:32:59.839
 and shame

00:32:59.839 --> 00:33:00.500
 being in

00:33:00.500 --> 00:33:00.940
 darkness

00:33:00.940 --> 00:33:01.700
 and torment

00:33:01.700 --> 00:33:02.679
 in our place

00:33:02.679 --> 00:33:03.639
 and finishing

00:33:03.639 --> 00:33:04.200
 the payment

00:33:04.200 --> 00:33:04.919
 with the cry

00:33:04.919 --> 00:33:06.039
 it is finished

00:33:06.039 --> 00:33:08.679
 that is the

00:33:08.679 --> 00:33:09.419
 mightiest work

00:33:09.419 --> 00:33:09.960
 that this world

00:33:09.960 --> 00:33:10.799
 will ever see

00:33:10.799 --> 00:33:15.359
 but that is not

00:33:15.359 --> 00:33:15.940
 the end of the

00:33:15.940 --> 00:33:16.339
 story

00:33:16.339 --> 00:33:18.619
 because God

00:33:18.619 --> 00:33:19.319
 raised Jesus

00:33:19.319 --> 00:33:20.099
 from the dead

00:33:20.099 --> 00:33:20.859
 and has promised

00:33:20.859 --> 00:33:21.599
 his return

00:33:21.599 --> 00:33:22.539
 and until that

00:33:22.539 --> 00:33:22.919
 day

00:33:22.920 --> 00:33:24.900
 until the

00:33:24.900 --> 00:33:25.539
 whole church

00:33:25.539 --> 00:33:26.019
 will gather

00:33:26.019 --> 00:33:26.940
 as one body

00:33:26.940 --> 00:33:27.539
 before the

00:33:27.539 --> 00:33:28.300
 throne of God

00:33:28.300 --> 00:33:28.880
 and sing

00:33:28.880 --> 00:33:29.660
 holy

00:33:29.660 --> 00:33:30.140
 holy

00:33:30.140 --> 00:33:30.580
 holy

00:33:30.580 --> 00:33:30.620
 holy

00:33:30.620 --> 00:33:30.960
 as the

00:33:30.960 --> 00:33:31.400
 Lord God

00:33:31.400 --> 00:33:31.800
 almighty

00:33:31.800 --> 00:33:32.860
 we have a

00:33:32.860 --> 00:33:33.140
 mission

00:33:33.140 --> 00:33:34.360
 we have a

00:33:34.360 --> 00:33:34.980
 message to

00:33:34.980 --> 00:33:35.400
 proclaim

00:33:35.400 --> 00:33:36.160
 and the

00:33:36.160 --> 00:33:36.740
 message is

00:33:36.740 --> 00:33:37.200
 that God

00:33:37.200 --> 00:33:37.660
 is still

00:33:37.660 --> 00:33:38.220
 at work

00:33:38.220 --> 00:33:39.860
 and that God's

00:33:39.860 --> 00:33:40.279
 hand

00:33:40.279 --> 00:33:41.460
 will prevail

00:33:41.460 --> 00:33:44.539
 that is the

00:33:44.539 --> 00:33:45.180
 message that we

00:33:45.180 --> 00:33:46.200
 walk out of here

00:33:46.200 --> 00:33:47.360
 with this evening

00:33:47.360 --> 00:33:49.200
 victory belongs

00:33:49.200 --> 00:33:50.100
 to our God

00:33:50.099 --> 00:33:52.039
 God's hand

00:33:52.039 --> 00:33:53.519
 will and

00:33:53.519 --> 00:33:55.000
 has prevailed

00:33:55.000 --> 00:33:57.559
 let's pray

00:33:57.559 --> 00:33:58.059
 together

00:33:58.059 --> 00:34:05.959
 father in our

00:34:05.959 --> 00:34:06.500
 suffering

00:34:06.500 --> 00:34:10.759
 in our pain

00:34:10.759 --> 00:34:11.759
 in our hurt

00:34:11.760 --> 00:34:14.240
 and in our

00:34:14.240 --> 00:34:15.200
 broken lives

00:34:15.200 --> 00:34:16.660
 would you

00:34:16.660 --> 00:34:17.380
 help us

00:34:17.380 --> 00:34:22.060
 in our

00:34:22.060 --> 00:34:22.980
 discouragements

00:34:22.980 --> 00:34:23.460
 in our

00:34:23.460 --> 00:34:23.840
 doubts

00:34:23.840 --> 00:34:24.180
 in our

00:34:24.180 --> 00:34:24.700
 questions

00:34:24.700 --> 00:34:25.280
 would you

00:34:25.280 --> 00:34:26.160
 strengthen us

00:34:26.160 --> 00:34:26.660
 and would you

00:34:26.660 --> 00:34:27.200
 help us

00:34:27.200 --> 00:34:28.220
 strengthen others

00:34:28.220 --> 00:34:32.800
 and in the

00:34:32.800 --> 00:34:33.560
 time where we

00:34:33.560 --> 00:34:34.200
 feel down

00:34:34.200 --> 00:34:34.640
 and out

00:34:34.640 --> 00:34:35.020
 where we

00:34:35.020 --> 00:34:35.720
 feel on the

00:34:35.720 --> 00:34:36.060
 ropes

00:34:36.060 --> 00:34:36.680
 and we

00:34:36.680 --> 00:34:37.400
 feel that the

00:34:37.400 --> 00:34:37.940
 world is

00:34:37.940 --> 00:34:38.260
 winning

00:34:38.260 --> 00:34:39.260
 would your

00:34:39.260 --> 00:34:40.060
 mighty hand

00:34:40.059 --> 00:34:40.820
 be at work

00:34:40.820 --> 00:34:41.340
 in us

00:34:41.340 --> 00:34:42.360
 and would you

00:34:42.360 --> 00:34:42.920
 put people

00:34:42.920 --> 00:34:43.500
 around us

00:34:43.500 --> 00:34:44.059
 who point

00:34:44.059 --> 00:34:45.199
 us to your

00:34:45.199 --> 00:34:45.659
 goodness

00:34:45.659 --> 00:34:46.940
 people who

00:34:46.940 --> 00:34:47.860
 remind us

00:34:47.860 --> 00:34:48.840
 of the good

00:34:48.840 --> 00:34:49.619
 news of the

00:34:49.619 --> 00:34:50.360
 gospel that

00:34:50.360 --> 00:34:51.199
 Jesus Christ

00:34:51.199 --> 00:34:51.840
 has won

00:34:51.840 --> 00:34:53.900
 that nothing

00:34:53.900 --> 00:34:54.699
 on earth

00:34:54.699 --> 00:34:55.820
 will stop

00:34:55.820 --> 00:34:56.539
 your plan

00:34:56.539 --> 00:34:57.880
 and that your

00:34:57.880 --> 00:34:59.039
 church is

00:34:59.039 --> 00:34:59.759
 being built

00:34:59.759 --> 00:35:03.840
 we ask this

00:35:03.840 --> 00:35:04.779
 for your fame

00:35:04.779 --> 00:35:05.860
 and your fame

00:35:05.860 --> 00:35:06.199
 alone

00:35:06.199 --> 00:35:07.519
 in Jesus

00:35:07.519 --> 00:35:08.799
 holy and

00:35:08.799 --> 00:35:09.599
 precious name

00:35:09.599 --> 00:35:10.860
 amen

00:35:10.860 --> 00:35:10.920
 amen