The Cost of Backsliding

I forgot to acknowledge that John West is with us here today. It was good to see John. And the walkers are here with us. Good to see you all, Ben. Let's stand and read our call to worship, please.

Praise the Lord. Sing to the Lord a new song, His Praise in the Assembly of the Godly. Let Israel be glad in his Maker. Let the children of Zion rejoice in their king. Let them praise his name with dancing, making melody to him, with tambourine and lyre, for the Lord takes pleasure in his people.

He adorns the humble with salvation. Let the godly exalt in glory. Let them sing for joy on their beds. Let the high praises of God be in their throats and two-edged swords in their hands, to execute vengeance on the nations and punishment on the peoples, to bind their kings with chains and their nobles with fetters of iron. to execute on them the judgment written.

This is honor for all. godly ones. Praise the Lord. Amen. Please be seated.

Let's go to the Lord in prayer. Gracious Heavenly Father. It is good to be in your house with your people. Your people are your house. Let the prayers of your people inhabit heaven, Father.

Lord, let us come to you on bended knee. Let us be humble. You have given us salvation. As we come to you humbly, as the psalm says. Lord.

We thank you for Lowering yourself. to send your Son to live on earth as a man yet God, to be among us. to uh humble himself to show us the model for how we should be. Lord, we ask that you Bless this congregation as we worship today. Lord, that you would open our hearts.

They inspire us. And uh Help us to walk closer with you. Each day of our lives, as we are a light in the world, Lord, help us to be that light, help us to be salt. Guide us, dear Jesus. Um You are good and you are holy, Father.

We just pray that you would help us to be more holy. Help us in our walk. Underguard us, uplift us. Lord, let us look to you. for the hope that only you can provide.

You are the God of the universe. You created all. You created us. And Father, we honor you and praise you. for you or wholly.

Lord, we lift up the The Diacobonzilla family with the passing of Alex, and he is experiencing true and pure worship today. We praise you. Lord, be with me, me, and the girls. I polled them. Encourage them through your word, your people.

The visits. Lord, just be with them. Lord, we pray for John West. We just ask you. Keep him healthy.

Watch over him. and provide for him and Rachel. Lord, we pray for the McCatherines, Teddy, with Linda being sick and now his sister having cancer, Lord, we just. Lift them up to you, Lord, that you might minister to them. We pray for the congregation, Lord, that you would watch over us during this time of.

Trial and tribulation, Lord, that you would provide for us. as uh jobs are being uh potentially eliminated as uh People can't work as many hours. Lord, we just pray for provision. Let your people provide. as uh you help us Lord, just guide us this day.

We pray for us as we get ready for communion later. We ask that you anoint tonight service as well. And, Father, just prepare us. And we just praise you for watching over us and letting us come together to worship you and praise you. In the precious and holy name of Jesus, amen.

It's so easy in this life to get overwhelmed with the sheer magnitude of the battle we're up against. Here we are in a fallen world that's at enmity with God. Uh in a fleshly body that is bent towards sinful things. With a devil who roams around like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. All of these things can be just absolutely overwhelming, except for the fact that Jesus wins.

Christ has the victory. He has given us everything we need to be thoroughly equipped for every good work. And God in His wisdom Has graciously given us one day in seven to remind ourselves of that victory. to remind ourselves that Jesus is the victor. To remind us to run to grace, to run to the cross, to shake off our guilty fears, and take a long, hard look at Jesus Christ, the author and finisher of our faith.

That's what we're here to do this morning. Would you stand with me and sing, Arise, my soul, arise, shake off your guilty fears? Mm-hmm. Uh Alright. Why is my soul awry?

Shake off your guilty fear. The bleed. Kingside. Refine Bye. Appears before the throne, my surety stands.

For the Throne my surety stands, my name is. Is written all On his hand. He ever lives above. For me to intersee. Yeah.

Alright. Readiness. His blood. God's own forever. Every race.

His blood. Atone for every race and sprinkle.

Now The throw. Of grace. Five bleeding wounds he bears, received on Calvary. They pour effectual prayers, they strongly plead for me. Forgive him, oh, forgive, they cry.

Forgive him, oh, forgive, they cry, nor let that ransom save. My God is reconciled, his pardoning voice I hear. He owns me for his child. I can no longer fear with confidence and sigh now draw nigh, with confidence and sigh now draw nigh, and Father of a Father cry O church, arise and put your eyes. armor on, hear the calling.

Of Christ our captain, for now the weak can say that. They are strong in the strength that God has given. With you like Perfect. Faith and belts of truth. We stand against the death Devil's lie.

An army bold whose battle cry reaching out to those in dark. Darkness Our call to war to love the captive soul. but to raise against the cash. To And with the sword that makes the world We will fight with faith and value. When faced with trial On every side, we know the outcome is secure and tries to have the price for which.

which he died. An inheritance of nations arise, shine for your light has come. Arise, shine, for the risen sun lift your eyes. We are his radiant bride. Arise, old church, arise.

Come see. The cross where love and mercy meet, as the Son of God is stripped. Yeah.

Then see His fall. like crushed the knee. beneath his feet. for the conqueror has risen. It's uh And there's the storm.

is rolled away and Christ emerges from This victory. Victory March can In you still the day every eye and heart shall see.

So, Spirit come, put strength in every stride. Give grace for every hurdle that we may run with faith to win the prize of a servant good. And faithful as saints of all. Still line the way, retailing triumphs of his grace. We hear their calls and hunger for the day when with Christ we stand in glory.

Arise, shine for your light has come. Arise, shine for the risen sun. Lift your eyes. We are his radiant bride. Arise, old church, arise, arise, shine, for your light has come.

Arise, shine for the risen sun. Lift your eyes, we are his radiance. Bride arise, old church, arise. Amen. Our New Testament reading.

this morning is from Romans chapter 13. Verses 8 through 14, Paul says this. Oh no one anything. except to love each other. For the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.

For the commandments You shall not commit adultery, you shall not murder, you shall not steal, you shall not covet. and any other commandment, are summed up in this word You shall love your neighbor as yourself. Love does no wrong to a neighbor. Therefore, love is the fulfilling of the law. Besides this, you know the time that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep.

For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. The night is far gone. The day is at hand.

So then, let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly, as in the daytime, Not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ. and make no provision for the flesh. to gratify its desires.

This is the word of the Lord. Let's take a moment this morning to confess our faith. Going to use the Apostles' Creed, an ancient creed that has been used by generations of Christians. And this morning we join our voice to theirs as we confess confidence in the triune God, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Would you stand with me as we confess together?

Christian, what do you believe? I believe in God the Father Almighty. the maker of heaven and earth. and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord. who was conceived by the Holy Ghost.

born of the Virgin Mary. Suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried. He descended into hell. The third day he arose from the dead. He ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty.

From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost. The Holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body. and the life everlasting. Amen.

remain standing as we sing together the doxology. Pray. Praise God. From whom all blessings flow, praise him. All creatures here be Lord Praise Him above.

Of heavenly hosts. Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Man, let's remain standing in honor of God's word as we read it together this morning. If you have your Bibles with you today, turn with me, if you would, to 1 Samuel. We're looking at chapter 22.

beginning with the first two verses. David departed from there and escaped to the cave of Adullam. And when his brothers and all his father's house heard it, They went down there to him. And everyone Who was in distress? Everyone who is in debt.

Everyone who is bitter in soul. gathered to him. And he became captain over them. And there were with him About 400 men. Let's pray.

Heavenly Father, your word is so powerful. It is amazing that you can take a story of David. It took place a thousand years before Jesus was born. and use that story to teach us about Jesus. David did not know our Savior's name.

David did not know when Jesus would be born. David did not know what Jesus would look like. But this David did know. Jesus would be born in his family line. Jesus will be the fulfillment of the Davidic covenant.

Jesus would be the true king. King of kings and lord of lords. David was a shepherd. But he knew the Lord was the great shepherd. And David knew that the day was coming when he would see this good shepherd, this king of kings, this lord of lords.

And Psalm twenty-three said it this way. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life. And I will dwell in the house of the Lord. Forever. Father, fill us with David's excitement for the Messiah.

Bless this sermon. Help us look past David. and see Jesus. Lord, help me that you might keep my lips from error. For it is in your precious and holy name of Jesus Christ that we pray.

Amen. You may be seated. In 1981, I was invited to preach a series of revival services. at a church plant in Melfort, Saskatchewan, Canada. I flew into the Saskatoon airport and the pastor met me to drive me back to the church.

His name was Rich Mathis Rood. I had never met him before, knew nothing about him, but we had about a 90-mile trip back to his house, and so we had some time to talk. And Rich shared his testimony with me at that time. He had been the owner and the president, CEO of a large concessions company in California.

Some of their accounts were Disneyland. The California Angels and the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball team, just to name a few. Needless to say, Rich had been a wealthy man. He lived in a mansion. His wife had live-in servants.

He had his own personal Learjet. They had everything that money could buy. But Rich made his money in other ways as well.

Some illegally. He was selling drugs and he was into prostitution. making money that way. Rich at that time was 33 years old. He had a beautiful wife, two kids, and everything that money could buy.

But down in Rich's heart. There was a hole. A big, deep, empty hole. He had no peace, he had no contentment, he had no joy. He was absolutely restless.

So he started trying some things. And he tried drugs. started snorting cocaine. developed a habit that was so Powerful. that he would take cocaine several times a day, seven days a week.

started cheating on his wife. And at that time, everything began to fall apart in his life. His wife was telling him that she was going to leave him and get a divorce. His health was absolutely shot.

So one day he walked out of his office there on one of the main streets in Los Angeles. And he walked right out onto the curb of the street, cars going back and forth. And he just put his head down in his hands. At that time, his nose had been so ravaged by cocaine that vessels just started popping, and his nose began to bleed. As that was all going on, a man walked up behind him, sat down beside him, and put his arm around his shoulder.

Said, you look like you need a friend. And Rich said, yeah, I do need a friend. And so they begin to talk. And he began to ask him questions. The man was a preacher.

And the man said to him, I want to introduce you to the best friend you could ever have. And he began to share the gospel with him, took out his New Testament, went through the gospel with Rich. right there on that street curb where cars were going back and forth Rich Mathis Rue trusted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. It was just an incredible transformation. The Lord immediately broke the addiction of cocaine and all the drugs in his life.

And immediately uh just Did a work within his marriage and brought their marriage back together. And the pastor took Rich under his wing and began to disciple him. And then he began to take Bible courses in the mail. and took those Bible courses for two years. After about two years, he found out that this area in Melfort, Saskatchewan, was needing a church.

He sold his company for a dollar. And he moved all the way to up to Melford, Saskatchewan. to plant this church. The first people that came to Christ in his church were some Vietnamese refugees who were unemployed. And he said, we'll start a little company.

So there in his basement, he started an assembly line and taught them how to make fishing lures. It became very lucrative. And he shared the gospel with these Vietnamese, and many of them came to Christ. Let me tell you, that was the core of that church, but it had grown a good bit since I got there. And I'm telling you, that was an exciting week for me.

These people were excited about Jesus. And in that revival service, they not only came excited, but they brought their friends and their family. They weren't bogged down with religiosity. They were just excited about Christ. Jesus was real to these people.

He had pulled them up out of the muck and the mire of the drug culture and the homeless scene. They were spiritually Um Immature. They were emotionally Uh immature. They were ecclesiastically ignorant.

Now let me tell you this, they were in love with Jesus. I remember while we were there that week, a man came by the house. And he said to Rich, he said, I need some money. And Rich said, We just got you a job last month. You ought to have some money by now.

He said, well, that didn't work out.

So Rich went to talk to his boss. And his boss said to him, look, he said, he came in late every day. He wouldn't do anything I told him to do. He was just lazy. He said, I can't have somebody like that working for me.

Had to let him go.

So Rich went back and he talked to this man, and he told this man that he wasn't going to give any money. And he told him what his boss had said. The man was infuriated and said, You'll be sorry for this. And he went out in the community. And began to just tell everybody new that Rich was nothing but a phony and the church was nothing but a fraud.

Rich finally got news about that that week. And I was with him and I remember his eyes just welling up with tears. Turned around, he went into his bedroom. He was there for about a half hour, and he came back out and had this big smile on his face. I was wondering what in the world happened.

And he said, all right, I'm ready, let's go. And we got in the car and went to witness to somebody that he wanted me to talk to. On the way back, I said, Rich, I got to ask you a question. I said, how did you get over that hurt?

So quickly. He said, Well, He said, before I left Canada, God gave me a verse that's become a life verse for me. It's in 2 Corinthians 5, verse 15. And he died for all. That those who live Should no longer live for themselves.

But for him, Who died for them? and rose again. He said The people disappointed The Apostle Paul. People disappointed Moses. He said, people disappointed Jesus.

And he said, if people disappoint me, That's okay. As long as I am pleasing him. I'll never forget riding back, flying back to Charlotte that next Monday. And thinking to myself, This friend that I have just met. in Melfort, Saskatchewan.

is growing in the Lord. Let me ask you a personal question. Are you growing in the Lord? When you get your feelings hurt. When somebody does something to mistreat you, How do you handle it?

When you don't get appreciated for something that you've done. Might be something great that you've done for somebody. How do you handle that? Today we look at a tough time in David's life. And yet it's a time where we see David just spiritually growing like crazy.

As we saw last week, David had just gone through a time of backslidding. backsliding. God disciplined David because of that. And through this discipline, through this chastisement, David went through some suffering. And through that David repented.

And God used that in David's life. to just strengthen him unbelievably.

So here we have a story today. where we see God healing and maturing. a backslidden believer. I got five points I want to share with you. Number one is a picture of Christ.

Look with me at verses one and two. David departed from there and escaped to the cave of Adullum. And when his brother and all of his father's house heard it, they went down there to him. And every one who was in distress, and every one who was in debt, and every one who was bitter in soul, gathered to him. And he became commander over them.

And there were with him about 400 men. What kind of book is the Bible? I want you to know that all the history in the Bible is true, but the Bible is not primarily a history book. I want you to know that all the science in the Bible is true, but the Bible is not primarily a science book. I want you to know that all the prophecy in the Bible is true.

that the Bible is not primarily a prophetic book. Folks, the Bible, first and foremost, is a Jesus book. It was Jesus himself who said in John 5, 39, He said, Search the Scriptures, for they testify of me. And then in Luke chapter 24, verse 25 through 27, when Jesus is resurrected from the dead, he's walking together with the two disciples on the MAS Road. They don't recognize him yet.

Jesus said this to them. O foolish ones and slow of heart, to believe all that the prophets have spoken. Was it not necessary that Christ should suffer these things and enter into His glory? And beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. Brothers and sisters, the Word of God is a Jesus book.

1 Samuel chapter 22. Says Tells us that God is using David to point us to Jesus. He is using David to point us to Christ. David is a type. He is a picture, a symbol, a foreshadowing of Jesus to come.

A thousand years before Jesus was born in the little manger in Bethlehem, God was using David to point us to Jesus Himself. David is not a perfect picture. Because David is a sinner. But I tell you what, there's no way in the world you can read verses 1 and 2 here and not think about Christ.

Alright, so what's going on? David backslid and knob. He told a lie to Ahimelech. Then he ran for protection. And who does he go to?

He goes to Gath and he goes to a Philistine king named Achish and he wants help and he wants protection from them. It was there that God deeply convicted David, and there was And David repented. And then David went to a dullum, to a series of caves, where he was going to stay there while Saul was trying to hunt him down and to kill him.

Now in these verses we see a picture of our world. Folks, there are two kingdoms. There are two peoples. There are two kings. Who are those two kings in our world today?

It is King Jesus. And it is Satan. Jesus is king of kings and lord of lords. Jesus Christ is the one who is now seated at the right hand of God the Father. Jesus is the one who is coming back to this earth to save his people and to destroy the wicked.

And then we hear of the other king. The other king is Satan. Paul calls him the God of this world, the prince of the power of the air. Jesus tells us that his purpose is to kill, steal, and destroy. Folks, Saul is a picture of Satan.

He's a picture of that king. He is a murderer. He is jealous, self-centered. He is an enemy of God. of God.

David is a picture of Jesus. He's a man after God's own heart. He's a good shepherd. He is a king who sacrificially loves his people.

Now look at the followers of Saul and the followers of David. This is really interesting to me. To begin with, all the citizens of Israel. or followers of Saul.

Now that's like us. We weren't naturally born into God's kingdom. We were born in sin. We were by nature children of wrath. Paul said this about us in the third chapter of Romans.

He said this: There is none righteous, no, not one. There is none that understands, there is none that seeks after God. There is none good, no, not one. They have no fear of God before their eyes. And, brothers and sisters, whether you realize it or not, that's the way we were.

Before our conversion, that's what we were. We were in the world, we were in Satan's kingdom. And Came to know Jesus. But most people that live in our world today Never get out of that kingdom. They live and they die.

in the kingdom of Satan. Many stayed with Saul back in that day. They were content with his injustices and his wickedness. They were content with that. There was no desire to look any further.

Saul's kingdom promised great things. But he didn't deliver. In fact, he delivered heartache, hardships, and and um anxiety. As Proverbs 13, 15 says it well. The way of the transgressor is hard.

Most of the people of Israel were content to live under Saul's thumb, to live under his dominion. And you know that's the way it is in our world today. Most of the people in our world today are content to live under Satan's thumb. Why is that? Because they love their sin.

More than they hate Satan's bondage. And how sad that is. Look at those who followed David. What does it say about them here? They are discontent.

They are in debt. They are bitter in spirit. They are hurting. They got all these problems in their lives. They're not getting their needs met, so what do they do?

They decide to follow David. They follow David. Who was it that followed Jesus when he walked this earth 2,000 years ago? It it was fishermen. Tax collectors.

It was a woman who was demon-possessed. named Mary Magdalene. It was a great group of women. It's a great group of men. who the religious leaders absolutely hated.

These people came to Jesus. And they were absolutely transformed. By his power. Folks, that's important. Roger Aylesworth did a beautiful job in explaining to us why some people follow Saul, some people follow.

David. Why some people follow Jesus and some people follow Satan. Listened carefully to what he said. How is it that citizens of Saul's kingdom become dissatisfied and disillusioned with it? Is it a result of their own keen insight and understanding?

The Bible attributes all to the grace of God. It is God who creates disillusionment with Satan's kingdom. It is God who convicts a sinner of sin, righteousness, and judgment. It is God who causes the sinner to see the depth and guilt of his sin. It is God who makes the sinner to understand that he can never hope to stand in God's holy presence.

while still in his sins. A few weeks ago, on a Saturday morning, I was studying in my office at home. And I needed a drink of water, so I got up to go to the kitchen. As I was going through the living room, I looked over and saw Cindy. She was sitting in a chair.

She had her Bible in her hands, and tears were rolling down her cheeks. I said, Cindy, what's the matter? And she said, I've just been reading 1 Samuel chapter 6. where they were taking the ark of the covenant. Back to Israel.

And there were 70 men. Who went over Just spiritually careless. and looked into the ark of the covenant. And the holiness of God. and the glory of God and the power of God.

was so great That they were all killed right there on the spot. And the men of Bethshem cried out, and they said, Who can stand? before this holy God. She said, I was bowled over at that point in time with the grace of God. She said, I can stand.

Before this holy God. Not because I'm good. Not because I deserve it. Not because I'm holy, because I'm not. But because Jesus Christ took my place.

Because Jesus Christ was my substitute. Because Jesus Christ was my propitiation. Because Jesus Christ suffered my hell for me. She said, I am worthy to stand before a holy God, not because of anything within me. but because the blood of Jesus that washed me clean and imputed to me the righteousness of Christ.

But as many as received him To them gave he power to become the children of God. even to those who believe on his name. who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man. but of God. Back to Roger Ellsworth.

He said, It is God who points the sinner to the garment of perfect righteousness that has been provided by Jesus Christ, the Son of God. It is God who causes the sinner to see that Satan is a defeated foe, that he is destined to an eternity of woe, and that he, the sinner, must either break with Satan or share his woe. It is, of course, possible for a person to become disillusioned and dissatisfied with the things of this world and not be undergoing a work of God's grace. But everyone who experiences a true work of grace will experience this discontent. There is a period of intense struggle, but Finally, the sinner who by God's grace becomes discontented and disillusioned with Satan's kingdom makes the break and flees to Jesus Christ.

It is to be sure. A most costly decision. Those who left Saul's kingdom to join David left behind many comforts and conveniences. and entered into a life that entails sacrifice and suffering. But the peace and joy of being a follower of David far surpassed the hardships involved.

So it is with all those who, by the grace of God, leave Satan's kingdom for Christ. They must leave the world behind and enter upon a life of cross-bearing. But the peace and joy The followers of Christ find Far outweigh the difficulties. of the Christian life. Having that pointed out, may I ask you a question?

Which kingdom do you belong to? There is not a middle kingdom. There's two kingdoms. There's the kingdom of God. is the kingdom of Satan.

You either belong Two. Christ or you belong to Satan. You're either a Christian Or you are lost. You are the seed of the woman. Or you are the seed.

of the serpent. You belong to Christ or you belong to the devil. Folks God doesn't divide. By race. God doesn't divide by ethnicity.

God doesn't divide by social status. God doesn't divide by education. God doesn't divide by gender. God divides through his Son, Jesus Christ. He is the one that brings us together as His people.

Doesn't matter what color you are. Doesn't matter how much money you have. Doesn't matter what kind of education you have. What matters is this, do you know this Christ? Do you know him?

If you were in the kingdom of darkness, my counsel to you is this: run to Christ. Run to Christ right now. Run to Him, confess your sin to Him, repent of your sins. and then submit your life to the Lordship of Christ. In verse 2, the scripture says that all these people that were in debt, that were in despair, that were just so.

Unhappy with this world, they came to David to follow him. And what did David do for them? David became their captain. They submitted their life to His leadership. And brothers and sisters, that's the way it is in God's kingdom.

In God's kingdom, it works this way. We step out from the bondage of Satan and we step in under the lordship of Jesus Christ. We give up this idea of temporary happiness that this world can give. We turned away from that and we turned to eternal joy. that Christ gives.

And then what do we do? We step back. And we make this statement. It was all a sovereign work of God's grace. God gets the glory.

And he gets all the glory. Point two. A commitment to obedience. Look at verse 3 through 5. And David went there to Mizpah of Moab, and he said to the king of Moab, Please let my father and my mother stay with you.

Till I know what God will do for me. And he left them with the king of Moab, and they stayed with him all the time that David was in the stronghold. Then the prophet Gad said to David, Do not remain in the stronghold, depart and go into the land of Judah.

So David departed, went into the forest of Hereath. When Saul made a commitment to kill David, David knew that his family could be in trouble. that Saul might try to kidnap one in his family, and then he would take him and try to use that to say, David, if you don't come to me and let me kill you, I will kill your family member.

So David didn't want that happening, so he grabbed his family, brothers and sisters and dad, and he took them all the way to a place way away, a place of safety called Moab. Once he was there safely, Then David met another man. He was a prophet of God. His name was Gad. And Gaud the prophet came to David and says, God has a word for you.

You are to leave this place. You can't stay here any longer. And you are to go back to Judah. And what did David do? He immediately Obey the Lord.

And he went. Just as soon as God said it, he went.

So when you've been in a backslidden condition, what do you do? How do you get out of it? Here you go. You run to Christ. You confess your sin.

You repent of your sin. And then you make a heartfelt commitment to be obedient to him. There is no other shortcut. There is no other alternate route. This is the only way it can happen.

It is a heartfelt commitment to be obedient to the Lord. To love him with all your heart. David did that. And that takes us to point three. The persistence of the enemy, verses 6-10.

Now Saul heard that David was discovered and the men who were with him. Saul was sitting at Gibeea under the Tamaris tree on the height with his spear in his hand, and all his servants were standing about him. And Saul said to his servants who stood about him, Hear now, people of Benjamin, will the son of Jesse give every one of you fields and vineyards? Will he make you all commanders of thousands and commanders of a hundred? that all of you have conspired against me.

No one discloses to me when my son makes a covenant with the son of Jesse. None of you is sorry for me. Doesn't that make you sick? Here's the king of Israel saying, None of you feel sorry for me. My word.

Or discloses to me that my son has stirred up my servant against me to lie in wait as this day. Then answered Doeg the Edomite, who stood by the servants of Saul. I saw the son of Jesse coming to Nob, to Ahimelech, the son of Ahitub. And he inquired of the LORD for him. gave him provisions and gave him the sword of Goliath.

Brothers and sisters, when will our battle be over? When will the onslaughts of uh s of Satan stop? in our lives. I shared a little bit of the story with the This group a couple of weeks ago, a few weeks ago, when Laura sang the song, He Will Hold Me Fast. But let me just share the complete story with you.

Um young man called me up on the phone. He's in his early 40s, married. He's got children. Wonderful Christian man, doesn't go to this church. but his wife is suffering with cancer.

and it's progressing. And he called me and he said, Doug, he said, my wife is going through a very difficult time right now. Satan is just. just attacking her with doubts. She's doubting her salvation.

And he said she didn't have a dramatic conversion experience. and she can't give you a certain date for a spiritual birthday. I know this lady. She loves the Lord. She's a faithful member in the church.

She's a good wife. She's a good mom. She loves the Lord with all of her heart. And when I heard that, I just was infuriated. I said, look what Satan's doing to this poor woman who's going through this time of sorrow and this cancer right now, and she's battling all this.

And Satan knows that he can't do anything about her going to heaven, but in these times of hurt for her, he's going to. throw darts of doubt into her mind. trying to bring destruction into her life. I said, okay, this is what you do. He said, go to 2 Timothy 1, verse 12, and read this Torah.

Where Paul said, For I know whom I have believed and persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day. I said, then show her that it doesn't say, for I know when I have believed. It doesn't say I know where I have believed. He says, I know whom. I have believed.

I prayed with him, got off the phone, went down, laid in bed. I was thinking about this situation. All of a sudden, my wife comes in with her cell phone. And she says, I want you to hear this song. And she plays a song for me by Cela, the music group.

It's the song He Will Hold Me Fast. I lay there in that bed, tears rolled down my cheeks. The song went off. I said, send that to her. right now.

Get that to her immediately. Because she needs to understand That our confidence is not in how strongly We hold on to Jesus. But on how strongly. Jesus holds on to us. The attacks of Satan will not end, brothers and sisters.

Until our death. or until the second coming. Here, Saul is searching for David. He berates his army for not doing enough to help him kill David. And then, right in the middle of this, a guy named Doeg, who's an Edomite, steps up and says, I need to tell you something.

He says, I was down in Nob, and I saw David down there in Nob. And David was commiserating with Ahimelech, the high priest. And he was talking to him. They were working up a conspiracy. They were working up treason against you, Saul.

And he wants to take the things that you have done for him and he wants to turn them around. And he said David got food from Ahimelech, and David got Goliath's own sword. David got all of this, and now there can Enter into a treasonous conspiracy. to do you in. He completely, totally lied about what Ahimelech had done.

He totally misrepresented him. And Saul was so mad that he was ready right then to go to Nob to kill Ahimelech. Folks, 1 Peter 5, verse 8 says, Be sober, be vigilant, for your adversary, the devil, walketh about like a roaring lion. Seeking whom he may devour. Point four is the cost of backsliding, verses 11 through 19.

Then the king sent to summon Ahimelech, the priest, the son of Ahiatub, all the father's house. The priests who were at Nob, and all them came to the king. And Saul said, Here now, Ahi Tub. And he answered, Here I am, my Lord. And Saul said to him, Why have you conspired against me, you and the son of Jesse, in that you have given him bread and a sword and have inquired of God for him, so that he has risen against me to lie in wait as at this day?

Then Ahimelech answered the king, And who among all your servants is so faithful as David, who is the king's son-in-law and captain over your bodyguard and honored in your house? Is today the first time that I have inquired of God for him? No. Let not the king impute anything to his servant or to all the house of my father. For your servant has known nothing of all this, much or little.

And the king said, You shall surely die, Ahimelech, you and all your father's house. And the king said to the guard who stood about him, Turn and kill the priest of the Lord, because their hand also is with David. They knew that he fled, and did not disclose it to me. But the servants of the king would not put out their hand to strike the priest of the Lord. Then the king said to Doag, You turn and strike the priest.

Doag the Edomite turned and struck down the priest. And he killed on that day 85 persons who wore the linen ephid. And Nob, the city of the priest, he put to the sword, both man and woman, child and infant. Ox, donkey, sheep. He put to the sword.

All of that was a consequence. of David backsliding and telling a lie. If David had been truthful, If he had said to Ahimelech, Saul's chasing me, he's after me, he wants to kill me, then Ahimelech could have made a decision on what he wanted to do. He could have said, David, you need to go right now, get out of here, so I won't be in danger. Or he could have said, David, I'll be with you, but I'm going to go with you, and you've got to protect me, and I'll follow you, and I'll get out of here, too.

Well, that chance was never given to Ahimelech because David lied to him, and that lie cost the entire town of Nob their lives. As we saw last week, Saul commanded Doag the Edomite. to kill 85 priests. Only one got away. And then he killed all the men.

All the women. All the children. all the babies and even all the livestock. In knob. Folks, Saul is a type of Satan.

Doe egg is a picture of demonic activity. Would to God that you and I would realize the war that we are in. Folks, we're not on a playground. This is a battleground. that we're on.

Backsliding opens the door for satanic deception. We think we can sin without consequences, and when we think that way, we are dead wrong. How many marriages have ended in a split, in a divorce? Because somebody thought, well, just a little innocent flirting at my workplace is not a big deal. It is a big deal.

How many people became drug addicts because everybody else was saying, well, we're doing it. There's nothing wrong with it, everybody's doing it. Huh. David's lies led to deaths of everybody in Nob. Point five.

is sorrow that matures us. Look at verse 20 through 23. But one of the sons of Ahimelech, the son of Ahi tub, named Abiathar, escaped and fled after David. And Abiathar told David that Saul had killed the priests of the LORD. And David said to Abiathar, I knew on that day when Doag the Edomite was there, that he would surely kill Saul.

I have occasioned the death of all the persons of your father's house. Stay with me. Do not be afraid. For he who seeks my life seeks your life. With me you shall be in safe keeping.

David's backsliding opened his spiritual eyes. And when he saw his weakness, It drove him to repent. He did repent. God restored him. And God strengthened David.

And look what he does here. Is this guy Bythar? You remember who he is? Abithar is the son of Ahimelech, who is the high priest. He's the only one that got away.

And he got away, he ran to David. He's trembling and shaking with fear. He doesn't know what he's going to do. He thinks for sure he's going to be killed, too. And David puts his arm around him.

and love's owning. And he says, Son, you stay right here with me. I'm going to protect you. And in with me, You're going to be in safe keeping. You don't have anything to worry about.

Wow. You see what's happening? God is maturing David. He is growing him up. in God.

During that time, David wrote a Psalm, Psalm 52, and I want to read you what he said in verses 8 and 9. He says, but I am like a green olive tree in the house of God. I trust in the steadfast love of God. Forever. and ever.

I will thank you forever. Because you have done it. Hmm. What a lesson for us. When we've fallen, when we have backslidden, Don't stay that way.

Don't quit. But by the grace of God, get up. And let the rest of your life. Count for Christ's sake. Let's go to the Lord in prayer.

Heavenly Father, we praise you today because you are a merciful Father. You love us not because we are good or righteous or deserving. You love us because your Son's blood has washed away our sins. Your son died as our substitute. It was a double imputation.

He took our sins. He gave us His righteousness. And even when we fall, You promise never to leave us nor forsake us. We thank you for the transparency of Scripture. We thank you for using David's up and down life to give us hope.

Through suffering you spiritually mature, David.

Now we pray that you will mature us. Help us not to view suffering as detrimental to our spiritual growth. Help us to suffer well. And through suffering, Glorify you. We pray that when we come to the end of our journey, We will be able to say, It was worth it all.

For it's in Jesus' precious name we pray. Amen. At this time, we're going to celebrate with our Lord's Supper. I'm going to ask our elders, if you would, to come forward. And Larry, I'm going to ask you if you would help us today if you could.

Eugene is going to officiate this morning. There he is. Dan, would you and Scott please remove the cloth for us? Thank you. You can be seated.

Well, this is a very special time in our worship of the Lord. He has promised His presence in a special way, in a spiritual way. This is a sacramental meal. In which Christ is communing with His bride, the church. And it is incumbent upon me as a minister of the gospel to give fair warning that if you are here this morning and you're not in Christ, you're not a part of that holy bride that Jesus Christ has purchased, that we ask that you abstain from these elements.

Scripture says that to eat and drink these elements in an unworthy manner, in other words, to take them while being outside of Christ. Is to incur the judgment of the Lord. But by all means, if you don't know the Lord Jesus Christ, watch as the gospel is visibly demonstrated before your very eyes this morning. Let me read from Matthew 26 as we remind ourselves again that this. Is not some novel invention of man.

Jesus Christ Himself has instituted the Lord's Supper. That means that these elements, these material things that we're about to ingest. mean what Jesus says they mean. Matthew 26 has the description of the upper room, the first Lord's Supper. And it says, Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread and after blessing it, broke it and gave it to the disciples and said, Take, eat, this is my body.

And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, Drink of it all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. Doug has been reminding us throughout this series on David that David in the Old Testament is a picture, a foreshadowing, a type of Christ. That means we can read these stories of David and we can see clues about the coming Messiah. We should read the stories of David through the lens of what the ultimate David, David's greater son, Jesus Christ, has accomplished. And I just want to reread that second verse of our sermon text from this morning through that lens.

1 Samuel 22, verse 2: Everyone who was in distress, everyone who was in debt. everyone who was bitter in soul gathered to him. and he became commander over them. Folks, we are the ones who are in distress. We are the ones in debt, sin's debt against the Holy God.

We are the ones who are bitter of heart and murderous in heart and lustful and adulterous in our minds. We are the ones who need a King David, a Messiah, an anointed one to be our commander, our captain, our Savior and Redeemer. That verse reminds me of Matthew 11, Christ's own invitation, where he says, Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

This is the Christ to whom we come this morning. Church, would you take a moment to bow silently in his presence and confess any sin? Ask God's Spirit to search you, to try you. Let's use this as an opportunity to repent and return to the Lord Jesus. Lord Jesus, you are the anointed one of God.

You are the one who is sent from the glories of heaven. to walk this earth, to keep the law perfectly. In our stead, and to die our death. Absorbing in a Appeasing the wrath of God against us. Thank you, Lord Jesus, for saving us.

Sinners like us. Thank you that you I have promised your sweet presence now in this meal. I pray that you would use it to bless your church. Assure us that we are in your hand, that you will not let us go, that nothing can snatch us from your palm. We pray it all in your name, Lord Jesus.

Amen. Yeah.

As we take the Bread this morning. Remember to look to Jesus. He is the author and the finisher. of our faith. I asked my brother Dan to offer a prayer of thanks for the breath.

Lord God, we thank you for the gift of the salvation that you've given us through your Son, Jesus Christ. Lord Jesus, we thank you for humbling yourself. And taking it on the Send for us. in our place. We give you praise, honor, and glory for this.

Bread in Jesus' name. The body of Christ take and eat. The sacrificial system in the Old Testament. Made it clear. through types and shadows of what the New Testament makes explicit.

That without the shedding of blood, there is no remission, no washing away, no covering. for sin. But praise God, there has been shedding of blood. And that of a perfect Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, so that we. can know Forgiveness, pardon.

Redemption. in him. I asked my dad to stand and say a prayer of thanks for the cup. Lord, we give you thanks that. We are not redeemed with Christ.

corruptible things with the precious blood of Christ. That when we walk in the light, we have fellowship with you, and your blood cleanses us from all sin. Thank you for this reminder. We pray in your precious name. Amen.

The blood of Christ, take and drink. Would you stand with me as we close our time of worship this morning, singing of the grace of God, marvelous. Infinite. Matchless grace. Let's sing.

See. Marvelous grace of our love, grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt. Yonder on cavalry's mounds outpoured there where the blood of the Lamb was spilled. Grace, grace, God's grace, grace that will pardon and cleanse within. Grace, grace, God's grace, grace that is greater than all our sins.

Sin and despair, like the sea waves cold, threaten the soul with infinite loss. Yes, grace untold points to the refuge, the mighty cross grace. Grace, grace, God's grace, grace that will pardon and cleanse within grace, grace, God's grace, grace that is greater than all our sin. Dark is the stain that we cannot hide. What can avail to wash it away?

Look, there is flowing a grain untied, wider than snow you may be today. Grace, grace, God's grace, grace that will pause. And cleanse within grace, grace, God's grace, grace that is greater than all our sin, grace that is greater than all our sin. Amen. Thank you for coming and worshiping with us today and.

Let me encourage you to be back Wednesday night. Wednesday night, Eugene's going to be starting a new topic. Not going to tell you what that is yet. Uh but it's going to be an intriguing topic. and you will enjoy it.

Uh In the first service, I forgot. To announce this, been waiting for the Sunday night service since March, and I forgot it. Uh but Tonight, we are starting back our Sunday night service to be 6 o'clock. And for the next six weeks, we're going to be doing it specially for the new members. It'll be the new members' class, we're going to be doing some singing.

And we'll worship here, and everybody's invited.

So 6 o'clock tonight, love to have you back for that, especially you that are hoping to become new members. Also, let me encourage you to remember Saturday is Alex Diacobanzilla's funeral service to be held at 11 o'clock here. Family and friends will meet here at 10. And just be praying for that family. Alex, as you know, is from the Congo.

And uh A sweet, sweet man of God. and just pray for his family that uh taking it real hard. And just um That the Lord would give them the strength and encouragement and peace that they need during this time. In closing, let me encourage you with these words. And he died for all.

That those who live might no longer live for themselves. But for him, who for their sake died and was raised from the dead. And all God's children said.