The first nine chapter of 2 Samuel present to us David's victory over his enemies so the that the borders of the Promised Land are secure. In 2 Samuel 7 we are told that the land is at rest and peace from war. In chapter 9 David shows his care for Jonathan's son Mephibosheth. It seems that all is as it should be in the land of God's people.

But when it appears that things are going well, the devil will want to attack and that is exactly what happens to David. Through a simple approach of paying respect to a dead king, David is drawn into a regional conflict where his army is faced with the prospects of loss. But the Lord hears the prayer of Joab and ensures victory.

The warning from this passage is about upholding the name of the Lord in the midst of the devil's attacks. David stands firm and Joab seeks the Lord. So to we today must stand firm in Christ and against the attacks of the one who wants to make shipwreck our faith.

The True King Of God's People is a teaching series from Annalong Presbyterian Church. To find out more visit www.annalongpc.org/podcasts.

You can watch a video of this sermon on YouTube at https://youtu.be/-54J1PWAo-g.

One of the most often overlooked characters in the gospels is Joseph, the husband of Mary. We perhaps consider him to have little or no part to play because he does not carry or give birth to the Saviour as Mary does, nor does he appear much in Scripture beyond Jesus' childhood. Yet, Matthew 1 presents us with eight verses that tell us so much of this man who appears to be a minor player in the story.

But from these verses we get to see Joseph as the obedient man he is called to be. It is by Joseph that Jesus is born into the line of David. It is Joseph who adopts Jesus as his own son, training him practically in the skills of a carpenters trade, and in the religious practice that Joseph was faithful to.

It is to his auto of adopting Jesus as his own that draws our attention in this sermon to the great initiative of God in salvation, where he adopts those who trust in Jesus for the forgiveness of sins as his own sons and daughters. This is not by rite of birth or baptism, but by his unfailing love and grace.

The reality for us today is what John writes in the prologue to his gospel in John 1 v 12,

This is a wonderful truth of encouragement as we look to Jesus for salvation and know adoption into the great family of God.

The Life of Jesus: Good News for Everyone is a teaching series from Annalong Presbyterian Church. To find out more visit www.annalongpc.org/podcasts.

You can watch a video of this sermon on YouTube at https://youtu.be/qzTR_IyNtFM.

The book of Revelation is the pulling back of the curtain so that we can see what the future of God's people will be. This revelation is our glorious hope as we look to Jesus in these days of tribulation and know for sure he is coming back to take us home.

As we come to the closing chapter of John's Revelation we have a lot presented to us that is familiar. By way of conclusion we are once again warned of urgency of responding to the gospel. Three times in chapter 22 we are told that Jesus is coming soon, impressing on us the need to be ready.

As John looks further into the new Jerusalem he sees the river of life and the invitation is to those who are thirsty to come and drink. This echoes what Jesus said in John 4 and here we see the never ending sustenance of God to his people. But we are once agin warned that there will be no evil in the city, so all that is unclean and accursed to face punishment outside of the city in the lake of fire.

What this means for us is to pay attention and not ignore the truth of these words. If we try to doctor them or make them more sensational than they are they we will face the punishment we deserve. Rather we are to believe them, trust in the Saviour and know Glorious Hope in a future in heaven with the Lamb.

Glorious Hope is a podcast teaching series from Annalong Presbyterian Church. You can find out more at http://www.annalongpc.org/sermons.

Get your copy of the ESV Scripture Journal (Revelation) wherever you get your Christian books to help your own study in this series.

A video podcast is available at https://youtu.be/flqmOlMSezc.

Matthew opens his gospel with a genealogy, presenting to us the family of Jesus Christ from Abraham, through David and the Exile to Joseph and Mary. It is a gallery of the good and the bad of Israel's history. It includes people who did get things for God and trusted in his word, and those who not only disregarded God's truth, but intentionally led others into sin. It is filled with faithful actions of integrity and morally questionable choices, but it is the family line of Christ and is recorded for us, so it must mean something!

This list of names, like any list, tells us information that is important. No one on the list is ever truly good enough; each one needs a saviour. So, beginning with Abraham who first received the covenant promises of salvation through all the generations to Christ, he is presented as the one who fulfils all the Old Testament prophecies and the fulness of God's covenant with his people.

The reality for us today is what Paul teaches us in Romans 3: 23-24,

This verse tells us:

• Our problem: “All have sinned.” No one of us is pure and good.
• Our failure: “Fall short of the glory of God.” How we live is not by God's standards. Even our good works are not good enough.
• God's answer: “Justified freely by his grace.” God has the answer and it is given to us without cost.
• The means: “Through… Christ Jesus.” It is only through Jesus we can know salvation and our great need of Saviour.

The Life of Jesus: Good News for Everyone is a teaching series from Annalong Presbyterian Church. To find out more visit www.annalongpc.org/podcasts.

You can watch a video of this sermon on YouTube at https://youtu.be/b7UWUuPTYWE.

The book of Revelation is the pulling back of the curtain so that we can see what the future of God's people will be. This revelation is our glorious hope as we look to Jesus in these days of tribulation and know for sure he is coming back to take us home.

Moving on into chapter 21 we have a closer look at the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband (Revelation 21:2). She is a beautiful city who is made up of the church throughout time-Old Testament and New Testament-as both the twelve tribes of Israel and the apostles are marked in her walls, gates and foundations. This tells us that it is a place of witness and testimony of Jesus, leading to salvation and refuge forever.

But this is not like the city of Jerusalem we know on earth. There are significant things missing. There is no temple, nor is there the sun and moon to give us light. God's presence and holiness is enough for us. It is the holy city that will never pass away and is the eternal home of God's people. Like viewing a house that has the potential to be our new home, Revelation 21 gives us a foresight of what our home in Christ will look like and we can be ready and excited for it now!

Glorious Hope is a podcast teaching series from Annalong Presbyterian Church. You can find out more at http://www.annalongpc.org/sermons.

Get your copy of the ESV Scripture Journal (Revelation) wherever you get your Christian books to help your own study in this series.

A video podcast is available at https://youtu.be/JJRFRlhYSf4.

Psalm 80 is a psalm of the collective yearning for divine forgiveness and salvation, emphasising the necessity of communal supplication before God. This ancient hymn of Israel encapsulates the Israelites' plea for restoration from the consequences of their unfaithfulness, illustrating the intimate relationship between the Shepherd and His flock. As we delve into this psalm, we explore the themes of waiting on the Lord, recognising His enduring faithfulness amidst our shortcomings. The repeated calls for restoration reveal a deep understanding of our need for divine intervention, underscoring that our salvation is rooted not in our merit, but in God's unwavering covenantal promises. Thus, we are invited to reflect on our own lives, acknowledging our sins and seeking the Saviour who alone can restore and redeem us.

Takeaways:

• Psalm 80 serves as a poignant reminder for both Christians and non-Christians to seek God's forgiveness and salvation amidst their struggles.
• The communal nature of Psalm 80 resonates with believers, emphasising the importance of collective repentance and the longing for divine restoration.
• Through acknowledging our sins and turning to God, we can experience His grace and restoration, as illustrated in the psalm's repeated pleas for God's favour.
• The imagery of God as a shepherd in Psalm 80 encapsulates His care and protection for His people, urging us to trust in His guidance during times of distress.

You can find our more at www.annalongpc.org/podcasts and watch a video of this sermon at https://youtu.be/r7hqR4qy-18.

The book of Revelation is the pulling back of the curtain so that we can see what the future of God's people will be. This revelation is our glorious hope as we look to Jesus in these days of tribulation and know for sure he is coming back to take us home.

As the destruction and rancid stench of the punishment of rebellious humanity takes its course, we enter chapter 21 with a new vision and it is one of glorious hope! John sees the new heaven and the new earth, creation restored, and the new Jerusalem coming down to earth. This Jerusalem is nothing compared to the city found in Israel. Today’s Jerusalem is only a pointer to the heavenly one, which is adored as a bride for her bridegroom. At last all the suffering of this world will come to an end for God’s people and they will be with him forever.

But chapter 21 also warns us about who won’t be in heaven and it is confronting for those who have rejected God’s way of salvation through Jesus. Their punishment is to be cast in the lake that burns with fire and sulphur. The only way we can enter the glorious kingdom of God is by trusting in Jesus Christ, that his sacrifice on Calvary’s cross is enough to satisfy God’s wrath toward our sin.

Glorious Hope is a podcast teaching series from Annalong Presbyterian Church. You can find out more at http://www.annalongpc.org/sermons.

Get your copy of the ESV Scripture Journal (Revelation) wherever you get your Christian books to help your own study in this series.

An video podcast is available at https://youtu.be/bARiZwlFPF8.

As humanity we often look back to history. The question is do we learn from it? The people of God singing Psalm 79 are called to look back to remember what God has done for them. It begins with the problem they find themselves in. They see Jerusalem razed to the ground by Gentile nations. This has happened because of their unfaithfulness. They then bring their plea to God to punish those who have disregarded his holy place. Their plea gives way to penitence, knowing that it is their sin that has removed them from the land, leading them to seek God preservation of them as they affirm their trust in him.

Takeaways:

• A retrospective examination of our past can yield lessons that prevent history from repeating itself.
• Psalm 79 exemplifies the necessity of learning from our past while trusting in the Lord to keep us in the days ahead.

You can find our more at www.annalongpc.org/podcasts and watch a video of this sermon at https://youtu.be/PtkSi0A1YQw.

Find out more at www.annalongpc.org/podcasts and watch the video of this sermons at https://youtu.be/p6PcXTfsROQ.

Find out more at www.annalongpc.org/podcasts and watch the video of this sermons at https://youtu.be/VRVJwzFN-r4.