If you don't know me, my name is Alan. I'm one of the staff here at Watermark.
It's an incredible joy, an incredible privilege to bring God's Word to us this morning.
Before Annabelle and Catherine comes and reads the Scripture to us,
I thought of just recapping a little bit.
We've been going through, for about four weeks now, we've been going through 2 Samuel.
And one thing we've been looking at is this David, right?
David, the glorious king in his glorious kingdom, which because of sin,
just feels like there's a lot of stuff happening because of the consequences of sin.
Even though David repents, we see the consequences at working itself throughout the story.
Now, we see him being very passive. We see him being very quiet, not bringing justice.
And finally, if you remember last week, we start seeing some changes in David.
More of he was going back to who he was.
Now, David, we start seeing him praying a little bit, him surrendering to God last week.
But what we find in the story last week was that his son, Absalom, was chasing him
because there's almost like a coup, a rebellion to get rid of David
so Absalom, his son, can steal David's throne.
What we're going to see today is God is going to finally rescue David.
God is finally going to, in many ways, bring salvation to David.
And what I mean by salvation is he's going to save David.
Now, it's not going to be a great story. It is a great story.
But what you're going to find is that salvation, that David's deliverance,
is going to come at a very deep cost.
So in many ways, it is a great story. It is a very sweet story.
But it ends on a very, what we call a very bitter and sweet ending.
So, hey, let's listen to God's word.
This is God's word. This is what's going to change our life.
God's word is God in spell, speaking to us, revealing who he is to us.
So let us sit under God's word.
Let us receive as Catherine and Ann go.
We'll read that in one.
So, guys.
The scripture for today comes from 2 Samuel, chapter 18, verses 1 to 5, 9 to 15, 24 to 33,
and chapter 19, verses 1 to 8a.
So do follow along on the screen in your bulletin or your own Bibles.
Then David mustered the men who were with him and set over them commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds.
And David sent out the army, one-third under the command of Joab,
one-third under the command of Abishai, the son of Zeruiah, Joab's brother,
and one-third under the command of Ittite, the Gittite.
And the king said to the men,
I myself will also go out with you.
But the men said,
You shall not go out, for if we flee, they will not care about us.
If half of us die, they will not care about us.
But you are worth ten thousand of us.
Therefore, it is better that you send us help from the city.
The king said to them,
Whatever seems best to you, I will do.
So the king stood at the side of the gate,
while all the army marched out by hundreds and by thousands.
And the king ordered Joab and Abishai and Ittite,
Deal gently for my sake with the young man Absalom.
And all the people heard when the king gave orders to all the commanders about Absalom.
And Absalom happened to meet the servants of David.
Absalom was riding on his mule,
and the mule went under the thick branches of a great oak.
And his head caught fast in the oak,
and he was suspended between heaven and earth,
while the mule that was under him went on.
And a certain man saw it and told Joab,
Behold, I saw Absalom hanging in an oak.
Joab said to the man who told him,
What? You saw him?
Why then did you not strike him there to the ground?
I would have been glad to give you ten pieces of silver and a belt.
But the man said to Joab,
Even if I felt in my hand the weight of a thousand pieces of silver,
I would not reach out my hand against the king's son.
For in our hearing, the king commanded you and Abishai and Ittite,
For my sake protect the young man Absalom.
And on the other hand,
If I had dealt treacherously against his life,
and there is nothing hidden from the king,
then you yourself would have stood aloof.
Joab said,
I will not waste time like this with you.
And he took three javelins in his hand
and thrust them into the heart of Absalom
while he was still alive in the oak.
And the ten young men,
Joab's armor bearers,
surrounded Absalom and struck him and killed him.
At verse 24 we read,
Now David was sitting between the two gates,
and the watchman went up to the roof of the gate by the wall.
And when he lifted up his eyes and looked,
he saw a man running alone.
The watchman called out and told the king,
and the king said,
If he's alone,
there is news in his mouth.
And he drew nearer and nearer.
The watchman saw another man running,
and the watchman called to the gate and said,
See, another man running alone.
The king said,
He also brings news.
The watchman said,
I think the running of the first one
is like the running of Ahimeaz,
the son of Zadok.
And the king said,
He's a good man and comes with good news.
Then Ahimeaz cried out to the king,
All is well.
And he bowed before the king with his face to the earth and said,
Blessed be the Lord your God,
who has delivered up the man who raised their hand against my lord, the king.
And the king said,
Is it well with the young man Absalom?
Ahimeaz answered,
When Joab sent the king's servant,
your servant,
I saw a great commotion,
but I do not know what it was.
And the king said,
Turn aside and stand here.
So he turned aside and stood still.
And behold,
the Cushite came,
and the Cushite said,
Good news for my lord, the king,
for the lord has delivered you to this day
from the hand of all who rose up against you.
The king said to the Cushite,
Is it well with the young man Absalom?
And the Cushite answered,
May the enemies of my lord, the king,
and all who rise up against you for evil
be like that young man.
And the king was steeply moved
and went up to the chamber over the gate
and wept.
And as he went,
he said,
Oh, my son Absalom,
my son,
my son Absalom,
would I have died instead of you,
O Absalom,
my son,
my son.
And in chapter 19,
it was told that Job,
Behold,
the king is weeping
and mourning for Absalom.
So the victory that day
was turned into mourning
for all the people.
And for the people heard that day,
the king is grieving for his son.
And the people
stole into the city
that day
as people steal in
who are ashamed
when they flee in battle.
The king covered his face
and the king cried
with a loud voice,
Oh,
my son Absalom,
Oh,
Absalom,
my son,
my son.
Then Job came into the house
to the king
and said,
You have today covered with shame
the faces of all your servants
and have this day saved your life
and the lives of your sons
and your daughters
and the lives of your wives
and your concubines.
Because you love those who hate you
and hate those who love you.
For you have made it clear today
that commanders and servants
are nothing to you.
For today I know that
if Absalom were alive
and all of us were dead today,
then you would be pleased.
Now,
therefore arise,
go out,
and speak kindly to your servants.
For I swear by the Lord,
if you do not go,
not a man will stay with you
this night.
And this will be worse for you
than all the evil
that has come upon you
from your mouth,
from your youth until now.
Then the king arose
and took his seat in the gate.
And the people were all told,
Behold,
the king is sitting in the gate.
And all the people
came before the king.
This is the word of God.
Thank you guys.
Hey church,
why don't we pray
before we start.
Father God,
we come before you
this morning.
You're a God
who's gracious and kind,
who's good
in all of your ways.
Lord,
as we sit under your word,
Father,
we pray,
may your spirit
work in our hearts
to receive
what you say this morning.
Would you
help us
not just understand,
but
also would you
change our hearts
to live a life
that's
pleasing to you,
that brings you glory,
that brings you honor
in all ways.
Father,
we pray,
come do your incredible work
through your word
in our lives
and in our church.
In Jesus' name we pray.
Amen.
So,
as you saw,
that was quite a
reading,
wasn't it?
Okay,
this mic,
I'm just going to move away
from this mic.
I wonder if how many of us
have been in that kind of situation
where you know
what is the right thing to do,
but you find it so difficult
to do it
because it comes
with a very heavy price
or a heavy cost.
You know,
maybe if you're a youth there,
it's standing up for
something that you believe
is right,
something that is right,
but the cost is
you're looked at
as if you're very arrogant
or ignorant
or very weird.
Or maybe
if you're working in office,
maybe if you,
your boss is being
very unjust
to a colleague
and the right thing to do
is to stand up
against your boss,
but the cost is
you might have a target
on your back now.
Or maybe
a promotion
comes your way
and you know
the right thing to do
is reject it
because that takes
time away from your family,
which is already tight,
but the heavy cost is
you're going to miss out
on a higher salary,
which might be,
could have been helpful
for your family.
You see a situation
where you know
what is the right thing to do,
you know what has to be done,
but it's very difficult
because of the heavy cost
that comes with it.
In today's story,
that's what we find
in David's life.
David finds himself
in a very similar situation
and if I may,
actually a much more
difficult situation.
So why don't we dive
straight into God's word.
Let's dive into God's word
and the first thing
you're going to see
is this tension
that David has.
David's tension.
So if you have
your Bible with you
or if you have
the bulletin,
just follow along
the scripture.
So verse 1 and 2
in chapter 18,
right?
What you're going to find
is this battle
between Absalom
and David's people,
David's servants,
army,
that's going to start
and you can see them
organizing this army,
thousands and hundreds
and it almost feels
like this,
like a lot of the rings
kind of final war
kind of thing,
right?
They're marching outside
and this huge,
feels like,
oh,
something's going to happen.
Something's going to go on
and then you come down
to verse 2
and David comes
and he says,
hey,
I'm going to join you guys
as you go out
in the battle.
David says,
hey,
I'm going to go out
and fight this battle
with you.
But verse 3,
if you calm down,
what do they say?
Verse 3 says,
hey,
you shall not go out.
David,
you shall not go out
for if we flee,
they will not care about us.
If half of us die,
they will not care.
But you,
you,
David,
you are worth
10,000 of us.
In other words,
David's men
really value David
because it's something
that they understand
and they understand this,
that the king
is important
for the kingdom.
There cannot be any kingdom
without this king.
So David
has to be alive.
So,
which is why,
if you think about that,
which is why
what David says
in verse 5
is pretty ridiculous.
Right?
What does he say?
He calls them,
he calls the three commanders
and in front of,
as the army's marching on,
he calls them
and he says,
hey,
deal gently
for my sake
with the young man
Absalom.
I mean,
it's like,
it's like telling the doctor
who's doing
a cancer operation
on you,
telling the doctor like,
hey,
can you deal gently
with the tumor?
Like,
don't,
just don't fully cut it,
okay?
Deal gently with it.
Or imagine you're going
for a volleyball
final,
final match
and then the coach
calls you guys
and says like,
hey,
deal gently
with the other team,
okay?
Just don't play too hard.
We don't want to hurt them
or something like that.
And that's exactly
what's happening here,
right?
It's like,
imagine you're marching
up in the battle,
you're marching out
and the king,
you hear the king say,
hey,
deal gently
with the enemy.
Like,
hey,
if you see them,
like,
yeah,
you know,
just let them
kind of go.
But the thing is,
Absalom had to go
in the same way
the tumor has to go
if the person had to,
if the man had to live.
Absalom was out
to kill David.
Absalom was not around
playing.
He was out
to kill David
and if you remember
Absalom's track record
of murder,
there's no doubt about it.
I mean,
we skipped chapter 17
but chapter 17
is a lot about
receiving counsel
about how to get rid
of David.
How can we get rid
of David?
Now,
Absalom was out
to kill
and murder David.
And you see,
if the kingdom of God,
if this kingdom
was to live on,
if God's chosen king
was to live on,
then he needed
to be alive.
You cannot have
Absalom around
if you want the king
and the kingdom
to be around.
So it was this tension.
But,
but then Absalom
was not just any enemy,
was he?
He was not just
another one
of David's enemy.
You see,
and this is where
David's tension
comes in
because Absalom
was his son.
But Absalom
had to go
if David
was to live.
But that was his son.
But,
but the thing is,
David and Absalom
didn't have the greatest
father and son
relationship, right?
I mean,
they spent like
almost two years
not speaking to each other.
Absalom spent
most of his,
about four years
of planning
and working
to kill David.
Now,
it's not the best
father and son
relationship,
but nonetheless,
this was David's son.
And the tension
was that of
having Absalom
to die,
but the tension
was David
did not want
that to happen.
David did not want
that to be sin.
And this tension
is something
we're going to see
throughout today's
scripture,
throughout today's
word.
But I want us to
just sit on that
for a while.
You know,
a situation
where you know
what is the right
thing to do,
but it's difficult,
but it comes
with a cost.
That kind of
situation.
And if you think
about it,
whenever we are
in those kind
of situations,
it tells us
a lot about
our own heart,
doesn't it?
In the same way,
it tells us
about David's
affection towards
his son,
Absalom.
I mean,
the last chapter
of chapter 19,
it talks,
I mean,
Joab scolds
David about that.
He says like,
man,
you love
your son,
Absalom,
more than you love us.
We have fought
and given our lives
to save you.
And think about
our lives.
Whenever we are
in those kind
of situations,
does it not tell us
about our heart?
Think about
that example
of standing up
to your boss,
but it comes
with the cost
of having a target
on your back.
Maybe it tells us
that our heart
treasures our own
comfort and security
more than justice.
How about
for the promotion
that can take away
time?
Maybe it tells us
about our heart
that we would
rather love
our family
with money
than actually
spending time
with our families.
You see,
these examples
are of course
very complex,
right?
It's more,
it's not just
black and white.
But what I'm trying
to push us
to see is that
whenever we find
it difficult
to do something
that is right
because it comes
with a cost,
it actually tells us
a lot about our heart.
Maybe it's something
as simple as
getting out of your bed
to read your Bible.
Maybe the cost
is getting out
of your bed.
But does that
not tell us
about our heart
that we would
rather enjoy
our comfort
in our bed
rather than
sitting in God's
word?
So that's something
to think about.
But now coming
back to the story,
as we see this
tension
and all the people
hear of David's
request,
they hear,
hey,
deal gently
with Absalom,
deal gently
with this young man
Absalom.
Now what we're
going to find
in the next act
of this story
is the battle
starts.
The battle
begins
and through
this battle
what we're
going to see
is that
David is
going to be
delivered
which leads
us to the
second act
of the story.
So if you're
on your bulletin
look at from
verse 6 onwards.
Verse 6
and 7
it tells us
about the battle.
Now this battle
is devastating,
is brutal.
About 20,000
people are killed
and because
the battle
is in a forest,
the forest itself
takes more
life.
I don't know
how that was,
maybe it was
branches and
swamps,
but it's a very
brutal and
devastating war.
And what we're
going to see in
this battle
is that
God's hand
in delivering
David
is fully
in control.
God is fully
in control
throughout this
battle.
Now in the
midst of the
battle,
what do we
find?
We find
Absalom
riding his
mule.
Now we must
wonder,
why is
Absalom
in the
middle of
the battle
when the
army of
his enemy,
King David
is not even
in the
battlefield?
Why is he
there but
King David
is not
there?
And for
that we
got to go
back to
chapter 17.
And if you
look at
chapter 17,
God actually
had a hand
in bringing
Absalom to
the forest.
It's not in
the bulletin
but if you
look at
17 verse
14 it
says,
for the
Lord had
ordained to
defeat the
good counsel
of Ahithophel.
Now basically
what happened
was Absalom
was taking
counsel on
how to
kill or
how to
defeat David.
And Ahithophel
was this one
counselor,
one consultant
who had the
best consultant
firm at
those days.
And he
and he
his counsel
was basically
defeated by
God.
But then
Absalom
took the
counsel of
another man
which told
him to
go out
into the
field.
You see
the reason
Absalom
was there
in the
field in
first place
was because
God
had put
him there.
And what
happens if
you look at
verse 9?
And Absalom
happened to
meet the
servants of
David.
Absalom
was riding
on his
mule and
the mule
went under
thick branches
of great
oak and
his head
was caught
fast in
the oak
and he
was suspended
from heaven
and earth
while the
mule that
was under
him went
on.
In many
ways that
looks very
comical.
Imagine you're
out in the
battlefield,
you turn
around the
bush and
boom,
your enemy
is there
hanging on
a tree.
Like that.
It's sad
but it
feels like
wow,
that's so
much easier
than I
thought,
right?
But if
you think
about it,
this is
not a
coincidence
because in
God's word
there is
no coincidence.
God was
very much
in control
because if
you remember
in Deuteronomy
21,
it says that
anyone that
is hanging
from a tree
is cursed
by God.
Absalom
was cursed
by God.
In other
words,
if you look
at the
verse we
looked at
chapter 17,
it said that
God had
ordained to
bring harm
to Absalom.
God was
out to
bring justice
against
Absalom.
So we
find Absalom
hanging on
the tree,
unable to
do anything
and here
again we
see this
little bit
of tension,
right?
A soldier
comes in
and he's
like,
oh man,
I cannot
kill,
this is the
king,
king said
don't kill
him and
Joab is
like,
why don't
you kill
him?
And there's
this whole
tension and
finally,
Joab comes
in,
the commander,
he knows
what needs
to be done
and he goes
in and he
takes the
life of
Absalom and
it was done.
So the
question is,
what was
done?
What did
Absalom's
death mean
for David
or for the
kingdom of
God?
So I want
us to look
at verse 19
onwards and
that's where we
find our
answer.
Verse 19,
we do not
read in our
scripture reading
but what
happens here
is,
now the
battle's
finished,
Absalom is
dead,
now who
is going to
go and tell
David the
news?
Who is
going to
go tell
David that
the battle
is won but
his son is
dead?
And there's
this whole
tension again,
right?
There's one
guy who's,
Ahimez says,
I want to
go and tell
the king.
And Joab in
all his wisdom
says,
I don't think
it's a great
idea,
it's not the
best news and
he sends
another guy but
Ahimez is
like,
no,
I want to
go and
finally Joab
was like,
fine,
go and
Ahimez takes
a shortcut,
wins this
other guy
to tell the
news.
But what I
want us to
notice here is,
I want us to
notice the
news that
they were
bringing.
See what was
the news,
what had
actually happened
from their
mouth.
Look at
verse 19
on the bulletin,
it says,
then Ahimez,
the son of
Zadok,
said,
let me run
and carry
the news
to the
king.
And what
was the
news?
That the
Lord has
delivered him
from the
hand of
his enemies.
Now,
this is not
just a
random message
because this
is a message
that's repeated
two more
times,
in a total
of three
more times
and anything
that's repeated
in God's
word is
important.
Okay,
look at
verse 28.
28,
he says,
again,
the news
is,
who has
delivered up
the man
who has
raised their
hand against
my lord,
the king.
Look at
verse 31
again.
The good
news is
what?
For the
Lord has
delivered you
this day
from the
hand of
all who
rose up
against you.
So,
what has
God done
for David?
God has
delivered David
from the
hand of
his enemies,
those that
have raised
their hand
against him.
Those,
they are
all defeated.
David is
saved.
David is
delivered.
Man,
that's the
great news,
isn't it?
That's the
great news
for the
kingdom.
God's
kingdom,
God's
chosen king
is saved.
I mean,
all these
people that
had to run
away because
of the
rebellion,
that had to,
as they were
running away,
being mocked as
they ran away,
being cursed as
they ran away,
being stoned as
they ran away,
being exiled
because of their
sin away from
God's kingdom,
all these people,
all this situation
is finally
over.
God has
delivered David
and his people.
But then,
it doesn't
really feel that
way,
does it?
It doesn't
feel like it's
a great and
joyful moment.
Look at
verse 28.
Ahimez comes
with the same
joyful attitude,
right?
He comes with
this like,
woohoo,
it's done.
Let's go and
tell the king.
And Ahimez says,
yeah,
God has
delivered you.
And David
asks him,
hey,
but what about
the young man
Absalom?
What happened?
And Ahimez was
like,
whoops.
And he knows
what happened,
but he tells a
lie,
right?
He says,
I don't know,
there was a
crowd there,
something was
happening,
not exactly sure,
but yeah,
I don't know.
And David
tells him to,
why don't you
stand at the
side?
The second
messenger comes
in,
David,
God has
delivered you
from the
enemies,
the young
man Absalom?
Ahimez must
have been at
the side,
like,
don't tell
him.
And he
says,
basically,
Absalom was
no more.
And then in
verse 33,
David goes
back to his
room and
he grieves
and he mourns.
Now,
I don't think
David was
shocked by
the news.
he knew
that this
was going
to happen.
If you
remember
verse 1
to 5,
the whole
army,
you cannot,
as the army
was going
out against
Absalom,
we know
that war
isn't over
until the
enemies are
defeated.
It's not
a shock
that Absalom
was going
to be
defeated
and that
his life
was going
to be
taken.
You see,
but then
still,
David,
for some
hopeful
reason,
he gives
this request
of deal
gently
with this
young man
Absalom.
But if you
think about
it,
this whole
ordeal,
this whole
thing,
David kind
of knew,
he was not
shocked by the
news,
and yet it
comes and
he's in
his grieving
and mourning.
Yes,
he was
delivered,
but then
there was
this whole
sadness
to it,
which leads
us to
our last
thought,
last act
of the
story,
which is
the cost.
If you
look at
from verse
33 all
the way
till chapter
19,
verse 4,
we see
David
grieving,
David
mourning.
I mean,
yes,
he was
delivered from
his enemies,
yes,
he was
allowed to
come back
into God's
kingdom now,
but
nonetheless,
the deliverance
of him
was very,
very costly.
You see,
we see here
David mourning
his son,
but maybe,
not maybe,
but perhaps,
David was
also mourning
his role
in that.
You see,
because this
whole story
is an
outworking
of the
consequences
of David's
sin.
You see,
his sin
in being
very passive
when there
was abuse,
and murder
David's
sin in
being very
passive
and not
bringing
justice
when this
was happening
among his
son.
And more
than that,
his sin
right from
the beginning
of,
with Bathsheba,
where he
took a
woman that
was not
his wife
and murdered
her husband.
And outworking
of his sin,
we see it
throughout the
story.
And look
at the end
of verse 33
in chapter 18,
he says,
would I
have died
instead of
you?
And that
seems to be
a mourning,
yeah,
both of his
son,
but also a
mourning because
of his role
in this whole
event.
Now,
this does not
mean that
Absalom was
completely innocent
and guiltless.
I mean,
Absalom had
raised his hand
against the
Lord himself
by opposing
God's
appointed king.
Right?
If you remember
the story of
David,
when he was
running away
from King
Saul,
David never
raised his
hand against
King Saul.
Why?
Because he
was God's
appointed,
anointed one.
He was God's
chosen and he
would not raise
his hand against
God's chosen,
no matter how
much injustice
he was facing.
And in the same
way,
but what we see
here is Absalom
is raising his
hand against
God's anointed
one,
which is similar
to him raising
his hands against
the Lord himself.
Not only that,
he was someone
who planned a
murder for two
years.
And after that,
he was planning
a rebellion for
four years,
put it to work
and done it
and out to
kill David.
You see,
he's not like
most people.
Most people get
angry,
they do something,
they say something
and then they
regret it.
Right?
It's very
impulsive.
But Absalom
was a type of
man who gets
angry,
who plans it
out for two
years,
holds on to
it,
and then commits
and executes
it.
In many ways,
he's a very
evil man.
Very angry
and very
out to
kill man.
And justice
has come
upon him.
But going
back to
David's
deliverance,
we still see
that it came
with a cost.
We see that
what was broken
between David
and God,
his exile,
and for him
to come back,
it came with
a cost.
But if you
think about
it,
isn't that
what life
is like?
Isn't that
reality?
I mean,
if someone
breaks a
cup,
it's going
to cost
someone to
put it
back together.
Someone
got to
spend some
time and
money and
glue and
stuff.
I mean,
even if
someone buys
you a
cup,
it's not
free.
Someone pays
the cost
for that.
It's a
reality in
human
relationship.
When a
husband cheats
on his
wife,
for there
to be
reconciliation,
there is
a cost.
The wife
pays it
by choosing
not to
think about
it,
by choosing
to forgive,
learning to
trust again.
There's a
cost when
there's a
conflicts,
when one
person has
to forgive
in the
midst of
pain.
One
person has
to pay
the cost
of saying
it's okay,
I forgive
you.
You see,
it's a
reality in
life,
it's a
reality in
human
relationships,
and it's
a reality
with God.
God cannot
just forgive
us.
It comes
with a
cost.
There is
a cost
for our
sins to
be forgiven,
and who
is going
to pay
that cost?
And in
this story,
we see
that David
were in the
wilderness,
exiled,
very symbolic
of being
exiled away
from God's
kingdom because
of sin.
what is
going to
bring them
back?
And we
see the
cost that
David goes
through.
But the
question is,
how about
for you?
How about
for us?
Who is
going to
pay the
cost of
our sins?
Who has
the capacity
to pay
that cost?
You know,
by God's
word tells
us the
wages of
sin is
death.
Who here
has the
capacity to
pay that?
Who is
pure enough
to pay
that?
Well,
if you
are in
Christ,
I want
us to
think about
this.
You and
I,
we can
stand
before a
holy God
and ask
for forgiveness
and have
the assurance
of being
forgiven and
be forgiven
because that
cost has
already been
paid by
Jesus.
You see,
when a
criminal
murders
or kills
a person,
we cannot
just say,
oh,
it's okay,
that's fine,
don't do it
again.
He has to
pay the
price.
And it's
the same
for us.
Our sin
is a sin
against God.
And the
one who
is supposed
to pay
is us,
no one
else.
But when
we come
to the
cross,
it was
not us
who pays,
but it
was God,
the one
who we
sin against,
He is
the one
who pays
the cost
of our
sin.
Isn't
that
incredible?
You see,
God was
the one
who pays
it.
In fact,
2 Corinthians
5 tells
us,
for our
sake,
God made
Him,
Jesus,
who knew
no sin,
to become
sin,
so that in
Him,
we can have
the righteousness
of God.
In other
words,
because He
took the
cost,
now we can
have the
righteousness
of God.
we can
be forgiven,
washed,
and have
the right
standing
before God.
Because
Jesus,
Christ Jesus
paid that
price,
paid the
cost.
Isn't
that
incredible?
Isn't
that an
amazing
grace?
In a bit,
we're going
to sing
this song,
and there's
this line
in the
song that
says,
because
the
sinless
Savior
died,
my
sinful
soul
is now
set free.
For
God the
just is
satisfied,
to look
on Him
and pardon
me.
That's
something to
really ponder
upon.
That God
will look
at Christ
and would
pardon us
and unworthy,
undeserving
sinners,
because Jesus
paid that
price.
And if
you're new
here today,
or if you
have not
really given
your life
to Christ,
this is an
incredible
invitation to
come and
receive His
love,
isn't it?
You see,
because on
the cross,
the price
has been
paid,
which means
that you
don't have
to perform,
you don't
have to
do a
thousand
good deeds
to be
accepted
by God.
You don't
have to
sort out
yourself
and get
your life
in place,
sorted,
and come
before God,
because we
can all
come before
God with
our brokenness
and sin,
because when
we give our
life to
Christ in
faith,
we can
know that
the cost
has been
paid,
and that
we can be
accepted and
forgiven.
But church,
isn't that
incredible news?
That the cost
has been
paid.
But this is
what I really
want us to
take away
today.
This is what I
really want us to
think about,
not just take away,
but really meditate
and think about
in this coming
week.
You see,
the cost was not
cheap,
it was not
cheap for David,
and it's
definitely not
cheap and
simple for
Jesus and
God.
So I want us
to take away
these three
things.
And here's the
first thing,
don't take sin
lightly,
or don't
take the
cost of
salvation
lightly.
You see,
it's so easy
for us to
forget the
cross and
take our
sin very
lightly,
isn't it?
We can have
this attitude
of,
yeah,
Jesus has
forgiven my
sin,
I can go
on my life
and do
whatever I
want.
We might
not think
that,
but how
about when
we don't
deal with
our sin?
Maybe it's
an addiction
like porn
addiction,
when we
just get
used to
it and
just make
it part of
our lives
without ever
dealing with
it.
Or maybe
it's a
conflict that
we don't
move towards
resolution and
unity in
forgiveness.
You see,
all of these
things,
we can,
it's also an
example of maybe
we can usually
go back to
our life and
have this
attitude of,
yeah,
I've got
work,
I've got
relationships,
I'm just
going to go
back my
life and
never really
think about
God throughout
the week.
Maybe it
can go days
and months
and weeks
without actually
sitting with
God.
Or days and
weeks without
actually getting
on our knees
and thanking
God for what
He has done
on the cross.
How do we
take God's
costly payment?
How do we
take God's
sacrifice for us
in our lives?
that does
come off
very sharp,
but it's a
call for us
to think about
our life.
How is our
time used?
How is our
hearts and
passions used?
What are we
so passionate
about?
What is
something that
makes our
heart beat
fast?
What is
it?
Or is it
very easy for
us to
compromise
with the
things of
the world?
Do we
take sin
seriously?
do we
take the
cost that
Jesus paid
seriously with
thankfulness?
Now here's the
second thing for
us to take
away.
Follow the
footstep of
Christ.
When Jesus
calls us to
follow Him,
oh that's a
baby.
When Jesus
calls us to
follow Him,
He calls us
to carry our
cross and
follow Him.
God's words
tells us to
forgive one
another in
the same
way as
Christ has
forgiven you.
Or what
He's saying
is in the
same way
that Jesus
has paid
the cost in
forgiving us,
He's calling
us to bear
the cost of
forgiving one
another in
the same
way as
He has
done.
I mean,
it's not just
in conflicts,
right?
We're called
to consider
one another
better than
ourselves.
We're called
to disciple
one another
and to
pour out
our lives
in one
another and
all of
these things
cost.
But here's
the important
thing.
In all of
these things,
there is a
cost when
you do it,
but there is
also a cost
when you
don't do it.
You see,
in conflict,
yeah,
there's a
cost to
forgive,
but there's
also a
cost when
you don't
forgive and
walk away.
And the
cost is paid
by broken
relationships,
disunity in
the group.
Even for
considering others
better than
yourself,
there's a
cost in
doing it,
but there's
also a
cost in
not doing
it.
It brings
disunity,
it brings
pride,
it brings
jealousy,
it brings
a whole lot
of stuff.
And what
it does is
it also
mars the
gospel
message to
the world
because unity
is supposed
to be a
message.
The church,
unity in the
church is
supposed to
be a gospel
message to
the world.
It brings
it destroys
that image.
A cost is
still paid.
You see,
there's a
cost whether
we do it
or whether
we don't
do it.
And that
is true
also for
evangelism
when we
share the
gospel to
other people.
You see,
in some
other countries,
there's a
real physical
cost in
sharing the
gospel,
isn't there?
If you
share the
gospel,
there's a
high chance
that you
might lose
your life,
lose your
family,
lose your
work,
lose a
whole lot
of stuff.
In Hong
Kong,
that might
not be
fully true,
but there's
still a cost
nonetheless.
Maybe the
cost is to
be looked at
as your
weird or
outdated,
arrogant,
prideful.
the cost
might be to
come out of
your comfort
zone,
but there's
a cost to
bringing the
gospel to
the people.
But there's
also a cost
if we don't
do it.
But the
cost is
paid by
the person
who does
not hear
the gospel.
They will
bear the
cost,
for they
will never
hear the
gospel.
They will
not hear
the gospel,
and they
might be
eternally
separated
from the
Father.
You see,
there's a
cost both
ways.
But church,
I want us
to think
about this
deeply,
because if
we follow
Jesus,
if we know
his life,
if we know
the life of
Jesus,
and we
follow him,
shouldn't
our life
in many
ways reflect
his?
Sometimes
we are so
stuck
with getting
our own
lives right.
We are so
stuck with
getting our
devotions right.
We are so
stuck with
getting our
relationships
right,
our career
right,
our life
right,
and I'm
not saying
those things
are not
important.
God cares
about them,
but there's
something more
than those.
And it's
the last
thing that
Jesus tells
us to do
before he
lives,
and that is
to go
and make
disciples of
all nations,
baptizing
them,
teaching
them,
to follow,
to obey
Jesus.
If you
look at
the life
of Jesus,
he paid
the cost,
he surrounded
his life
with the
fact of
bringing the
gospel to
the world.
That was
his big
one,
and he
paid that
cost,
and shouldn't
our life
reflect that
too?
But many
times there
are other
things that
takes
advantage
or
dominion
of our
lives.
An Irish
missionary to
India,
her name
was
Amy
Carmichael,
who died
in 1952
at the age
of 84.
She was in
India as a
missionary for
55 years
of our
life.
She was a
missionary there
bringing gospel
and taking
care of the
orphans there.
Her life was
not easy.
There was
fractures,
there was
pain,
there was
persecution,
and very
hard.
And she
writes this
poem,
which is a
challenge to
Christians who
wanted to
live a
comfortable life
without sharing
the gospel.
It's very
sharp.
And this
is the
third
paragraph
of that
poem.
And she
says,
No wound,
no scar,
yet as the
master shall
the servant
be,
and pierced
are the
feet that
follow me.
But thine
are whole,
can he have
followed far
who has no
wound nor
scar?
It's a
poem to
really
reflect.
on.
Church,
I'm not
saying this
as a
person who
has really
created evangelism.
As much as
I'm speaking,
I feel like I'm
speaking to
myself.
How much
is mission
and the
gospel and
the love for
the lost
part of my
heart and
my desire?
Church,
it's so easy
to get lost
in our own
lives,
in our
work,
but there's
eternity.
eternity,
there's
Jesus,
and there's
the lost
outside of
this,
who needs
the gospel,
who needs
to hear that
Jesus has
paid the
cost.
So follow in
the footstep
of Christ,
in our daily
living,
in our
relationships
with one
another,
and mostly
in bringing
the gospel
to this
city and
to the
people around
us.
and here's
the final
thing to
think about,
is to go
with the
assurance of
Christ's love
for you.
Now,
this is not
a tag on
from the
second point,
which is
very harsh.
This
actually flows
out.
Go with the
assurance of
Christ's love
for you.
You see,
Christ paid
the cost
for our
sin,
and on
the cross,
the cost
was paid,
justice was
done,
and in
the same
way,
you know,
for David,
the cost
was paid,
there was
justice,
but in
many ways,
he lost
his son,
and in
many ways,
love did
not really
come together
with justice
there.
You see,
there was
justice,
but he
lost his
son.
But in
all history,
there is
one place
where justice
and love
comes together,
and it's
the cross.
You see,
when we come
to the cross,
our sin
is justified.
The justice
was done,
it's paid.
By the same
time,
we are so
loved at
the cross,
because it
was not
you,
it was not
me who
paid that
cost,
it was God
himself,
with his
son,
Jesus Christ,
dying on
the cross.
When we
look at
the cross,
in the
words of
late Tim
Keller,
we see
that we
are more
sinful than
we could
ever imagine,
ever think
of right
now,
and at the
same time,
when we look
at the cross,
we see
that we
are more
loved than
we can
ever dream
of.
So church,
don't take
sin lightly.
Do not
take the
cross,
the cost
that Jesus
has paid
lightly.
and at the
same time,
follow in the
footstep of
Christ in
paying the
cost in
our
relationships,
in our
servings,
and especially
in bringing
the gospel to
the people
around us.
And in
all of this
thing,
go with this
assurance that
you are loved,
that you are
justified,
that nothing can
take you away
from the love
of Christ.
And go with
this assurance
that Christ is
with you,
because in
the Great
Commission,
there is a
promise at
the end,
that Jesus
says,
I will be
with you
until the
end of
times.
He is with
you as you
bring the
gospel,
as you live
out a life
that does
not take
sin lightly,
that lives
a life of
thankfulness,
gratefulness for
what Jesus
has done on
the cross.
before we
reflect on
that,
I understand
that there is
a lot of
stuff in
this story,
and this can
be quite a
challenging
passage with
a lot to
reflect on.
So if you
guys have
any questions,
please feel
to reach out
to us,
the elders,
CG leaders,
where we can
study together
and pray
together.
So church,
why don't we
spend about
a few seconds,
20 seconds,
a minute or
so,
just to reflect
on that.
Where is our
heart?
How is our
heart?
How do we
take the
cross and
think about
where is
evangelism in
my life?
So let's
take a minute
or so as
the band
comes in.