ARCC Sermons

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May 8

Our bible reading today is again in the songs of David...25,29,33,36,39.

We will start with Psalm 25. If there is a better testimony of the life of David in miniature God will just have to show me. Until then let’s look at the “heart” of the “man after God’s own heart”.

“O my God, in You I trust...” As a boy, David trusted God and obeyed his father. As a boy, he trusted God to protect him and the sheep that he watched over in his father’s flocks.

When God made David King in Israel, God said, “I watched your faithful shepherding of your father’s flocks. Now I have made you the Shepherd over all the people of Israel.” God saw genuine saving faith in David. Interesting isn't it? God anointed a “faithful boy”...then God worked and watched David’s faith grow for 15 years. David continued to grow in his trust in the Lord.

Did you hear him today? He said to God, 15 years after his anointing by Samuel, “To You O Lord I lift up my soul.” And why did he say that?...why did he do that?

Because for 10 years David’s God saved him day after day from Saul’s 3000 assassins. David knew that God had redeemed him...and made him His own...just like Moses preached!

David said, “Lord You teach me Your truth, Your ways. Lead me in Your paths. I'll wait for You. Please, Lord, I'll wait all the day long...for You...For You are the God of salvation.”

And why would David appeal to God like that? Why would he wait night and days on end for God to teach him and lead him? Because GOD had been the way and the triumph for His son in the faith...conflict after conflict...battle after battle...highs and lows physically and spiritually...God kept leading and showing Himself strong on David’s behalf.

Why did David place his trust in the Lord? Because God was strong in battle? That was one reason, but maybe not the weightiest reason. Listen...“The trouble of my heart is great...forgive my sins...”

Soul deep confessions. Mourningful repentances. And great heart relieving deliverances for David’s afflicted soul by God His redeemer.

Friends that’s the wide lens picture of the Gospel of Christ. God chose David. Jesus chose you and me. David trusted God for his salvation. We trusted Jesus. His life, His death on a cross for our sins, His burial, and His resurrection from the grave...all to secure eternal life for all who believe Him.

David trusted God as a learner. We trust Christ as His disciples, learning of Him, His Will, His Word, and His Ways.

David trusted God when it was hard...especially when it came to his daily sinning. Jesus calls us to trust Him the same way by confessing our daily sins to Him. Let’s listen to the apostle John “If we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us of all unrighteousness.”

God used David to fulfill God’s purposes in David’s generation. May the Lord find “us” willing to be Used by Him in our generation.

Have a great day

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May 7th

The Bible reading today is in 2 Samuel 7 and 1 Chronicles 17.

The text begins with a conversation between King David and the prophet Nathan. David says to Nathan...I would like to “build God” a house. I live in a nice house. But He lives in a tent.

Nathan thought David’s idea was a good one. And told him to do whatever was in his heart. That turned out to be counsel given too quickly.

Let’s “Think” about it. David...a man after God’s own heart had a desire to bless the Lord. Another man Nathan, who was called of God to be a prophet, told David he ought to act on his good idea to bless God. Or said another way...“Just follow your heart.”

But just hours after two Godly men agreed on a course of action, God intervened. He told Nathan to stop David from following his heart. He told Nathan to tell David that He had another plan.

I'll bet Nathan went away with a new resolve to not speak too quickly...at least not until he could say, “Thus saith the Lord!”

And this record today also tells me that it can be dangerous to tell friends in the faith to “follow their hearts”. Instead, let’s tell them that we will join them in asking God for His wisdom on the matter...and that we will wait with them until the answer comes.

Moving on in the text...God told Nathan to speak “

“God’s plan”...to David...and it was a stunning plan. Overwhelming David. David had to “sit down” to contemplate the weight of God’s mercy and grace toward him, “and” his household to follow ...all the way to the Throne Room of heaven.

David would have a Son who would rule on a “forever “ throne...that could only be God’s Throne...the Messiah would come from the household of David.

It was too much for David to wrap his mind around. So he was silent before God. And then he carefully praised and prayed to God. “What can I say to You after You have bestowed such greatness to me and mine? You are great and there is none like You O God...Your Name be magnified forever.

And Spurgeon’s take on that prayer rings true to my heart...”Lord, may You be Greatened in these days...and Your servants bow before You.”

Amen

Have a great day

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May 6

Our Bible reading today is in the Psalms...89,96,100,101, 105, 132.

I will use the “Old 100th” to grace our podcast together today. “Make a joyful noise to the Lord all the earth...”

What kind of noise? A JOYFUL noise...full of gladness...full of joy...the fruit of the Holy Spirit at work...that inner assurance of happy contentment that starts with “ALL is WELL” with our soul and rises from within to an outward expression of thankfulness to God for everything He does for us...from our birth and our rebirth in Christ...all the way to heaven.

Let’s listen to the chronicler...he tells the faithful that God uses the nature that He created to praise Him. 1 Chronicles 16: “The seas roar...the fields exult...and the trees of the forest sing for joy before the Lord”.

Listen again to Jesus address the scribes and Pharisees upon arriving in Jerusalem on Palm Sunday...”If these people keep silent, then the ROCKS will cry out in praise of what God is doing in your midst.”

The people roared like the seas...they stood in exaltation waving their branches as the wheat waves in the sunny breeze...and they sang joyfully like the trees in the forest anticipating the change in seasons coming.

The Father of English “hymn writing” was Isaac Watts of the early 1700s. The studious son of a reformed pastor in England complained to his father concerning the singing in church. He said, “It’s so sad and the members’ faces are so sad too. The Bible tells us to make a joyful noise, doesn't it?”

The elder Watts told his son, “If you think you can do better, you write a church song.” And he did...750 of them...like Joy to the World and Marching to Zion and When I Survey the Wondrous Cross.

Words like “joyful” and “glad” in the psalms reached out to the youngster’s heart and held that heart throughout his 70 years. And Watts testified to his desire to help “ordinary” church members to worship God “extraordinarily” with glad hearts and faces and yes, joyful noise.

“Make a joyful noise” reminds me of what Israel did when Samuel introduced Saul as their king...” the people “shouted”, “Long live the King! Long live the King!”

Doesn't that remind us of the coronation of Jesus as King at His resurrection over death and His Ascension to His throne in Heaven? I think so.

I'm a sinner saved by that King of glory that laid down his life at the cross so that I could have His eternal life...including forgiveness of sin and a right standing before God and a home in heaven when I die. “Long live the King..King Jesus”.

The psalmist exhorts “every land”, “every nation”, “every people group” to raise their voices in thanksgiving and praise to God who made them and sustains them.

And what’s the name of that God? Let’s listen to the Gospel of John...chapter one...“In the beginning, was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

‭‭John‬ ‭1:1, 3, 14‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Who was that Word?...that creator?...who is eternally God?...who took on flesh and dwelt on earth?...the only Son from the Father?...full of grace and truth for us who believe Him?

JESUS!!!!!

Lord, You deserve our highest praise. You deserve to be served with gladness. For we agree with the psalmist and the apostle Paul...as he teaches the church at Phillipi...chapter 2...“Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭2:9-11‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Enjoy the rest of the songs

Have a great day

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May 5

The Bible reading today is in the Songs...Ps. 1,2,15,22-24,37,68. I'm excited about hearing from God in these prayers and songs.

Ps.1:6 says...” For the Lord knows the way of the righteous...”

For centuries, there has been the constant contrasting of men...if not by strength and stature, then by wealth and poverty. Men have been contrasted by skin color, nationality, religion, politics, and marital and parental status...and by many more things.

But there is one division of man that has outlasted all the rest. And this Psalm describes it. “The eternal God has contrasted men by their relationship with Him.”

Men either have one or they don't. They are either known by God or they are not. They are either redeemed by God or they are not. They either belong to Him or they don't. They either trust God or they trust something else. They are either called the “righteous” or they are referred to as the “ungodly” as in today’s reading.

I want to focus on the songwriter’s conclusion considering that division. The song ends with a terrible finality for some and an eternal blessing for others. “The Lord knows the way of the righteous...”Ps 1:6

Who are the righteous? “The righteous” are God’s people of faith...and like Abraham, their faith is counted unto them for righteousness...thus they are called “the righteous”.

And friends, you and I in Christ are “the righteous ones” on this side of the cross.

Listen to Paul’s message to the church in Rome...” chapter 3 verse 22...Amplified version “the righteousness of God is meant for all who believe with personal trust and confident reliance upon Jesus Christ the Messiah.” That’s us...Halleluiah Thank You, Lord!

So let us listen and remember and rejoice..“The Lord knows...“perfectly...”the way of the righteous. He knows that our way ends in glory, in Heaven with Him and all the rest of the believers in Him down through the centuries. He knows that our way is His life in us...He is the Way...He knows that our way shall never perish, but have eternal life, both now and forever. He knows our way...from here to heaven.

So when we get confused...when we get lost...when we don't know our way...our loving Lord does...we can rest there...in Him!

Let’s do!

And the way of the ungodly? Well....It shall perish!

Is there any hope for the unrighteous, the ungodly, the wicked? Psalm 2 speaks of God setting His Son upon a throne as King above all kings...He is called Anointed...that is the Christ...in other words...our Jesus...Savior of the unrighteous, the wicked and the ungodly.

“Kiss the Son...God says...meaning: humbly surrender to the Lord...and blessed are all who take refuge in Him!”

Oh yes...there is hope in Jesus for all who believe Him!

Have a great day!

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May 4th

The Bible reading for today is in 2 Samuel 5:11-6:23 and 1 Chronicles 13-16.

Question: What do we see God doing today?

A little history first...King David took back Jerusalem from the Jebusites for Israel’s new capital. Our Bible reading recently told us what “GOD did...” “GOD gave David” the city.”

Then the King of Tyre built David a palace to rule from, there in Jerusalem. “GOD gave David” favor among foreign kings.”

Then David planned to bring the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem. “GOD gave David” knowledge early on to delight in Him. “GOD gave David” a promise that He would give him the desires of his heart. “GOD” was indeed at work!

For years, the worship of God languished under the kingship of Saul. Our Bible said that...“GOD gave Israel” into the hands of the Philistines...and the ark of the covenant was lost to Israel...“GOD gave the ark” to the Philistines. Then the Philistines gave it back... because “GOD judged them” sorely.

“GOD gave the house of Abinadab” the ark as a stewardship.

“GOD set apart” Eleazar to guard the ark as long as it was in Keriath Jearim.

God was indeed at work!

Twenty years later...David, after consulting with all the leaders in Israel, decides to gather all the people of Israel to Keriath Jearim to escort the Ark to Jerusalem. And it seemed good in the eyes of all the people. There were instruments playing. There were thousands of people singing and praising God. The congregation was excited about being in the presence of God. They were going to worship God all the way to Jerusalem. Ten miles through the highlands to the great city of David.

But not long into the journey of celebration, the music and the singing and dancing stopped. “GOD took Uzzah’s life.” WHY? Was it because Uzzah reached out to steady the ark on the shaken cart...touching the sacred box with his hand? That was certainly part of it.

But there was a bigger reason...a reason that God revealed to David later...and to the apostle Paul much later in the book of Hebrews. Yes, Uzzah died on the road to Jerusalem for irreverently treating the ark of God. But Uzzah also died in David’s place...sounds like the gospel of Jesus.

It was a new cart, pulled by oxen, upon which the ark was being transported to Jerusalem. Surely God would notice and be pleased. It wasn't just any old cart that was convenient, nearby. This was a brand new one that would certainly honor the God of the ark of promise.

Thinking out loud...the Ark of God... close to the “cart” of His covenant people that day. God wanted it close to the “heart” of His covenant people protecting them from going astray.

David and the leaders around him just wanted God to be at the center of Israel’s life. Some would say they retrieved a wooden box with gold on it and planned a great production for a great crowd. But Thinking out loud ...God perceived a wooden cross with Jesus’ bloody body on it and planned to forgive every sinner who believed.

David just wanted the nation to worship God again. He just wanted God to show up for the nation’s sake. And “GOD did show up...” just differently than David envisioned it.

Instead of happy and joyful hearts, shock, sorrow, and sadness prevailed. David was angry...What just happened? This isn't the way it was supposed to play out. David was confused. Until...he went back to the word of God found in the parchments of Moses.

Only Levites from the house of Kohath were to transport the ark...not Abinidab’s family. David’s fault...David’s sin. Only with the poles laid upon the shoulders of the Kohathites, was the ark to be moved...walking...never riding...David’s fault...David’s sin.

And never to be directly seen or touched by anyone, except the High Priest, in the tent or out. David's fault again. David's sin again.

David earned death by his irreverence to God that day. But he received grace and mercy. GOD gave David life that day...and God gave a nation great grace to worship Him for the generations to come.

Sounds just like Jesus. Who gave me eternal life one day...and gave my family great grace for generations to follow!

Have a great day

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May 3rd

The Bible reading today is in Psalms 106 and 107.

“Both we and our fathers have sinned; we have both committed iniquity; we have both done wickedness...we have not remembered the abundance of Your steadfast love toward us...You made the storm and then You stilled it...You made the waves high like heaven and then You hushed them...Whoever is wise let them consider the steadfast love of the Lord.”

The psalmist David spoke and wrote truth from his mind and heart...“praise to the Lord"...and ” confession of his sins.”

David’s conviction that God inhabits the praises of His people has helped me through the years to visualize God’s presence in my personal and corporate prayer to and worship of “Him”.

So most of my praying begins with thanksgiving and praise to God for His mighty deeds in my life and the life of my loved ones. So we see David begin both of these songs with praise to God.

One of the songs dealt primarily with David’s own struggle with sin as well as the sins of his fathers. But even dealing with the dark nights of his soul, David praised and thanked God. Apparently, to David, there was always reason to praise and worship God.

David had an additional belief. “God is Good, All of the Time”...and “All of the time, God is Good”...and “His Love” endures forever...there is no end to God’s Goodness and no end to His love for those who believe Him.

Even though David would spend multiple verses of his song dealing with his and his fathers’ sins, he sings and worships God...“how?”

Something the Spirit put deep in David’s heart and mind...“God’s steadfast love endures forever.” That’s why David could mourn over sin one moment and praise God in song the next. God loved David, no matter how long David forgot Him.

Remember Psalm 136...David repeats that belief: “God’s love endures forever”...25 times. Wow...a praise song for the “church to sing” repeating one line 25 times.

We complain sometimes when we repeat lines 3 or 4 times in our church worship songs. We might think that it’s too shallow and without depth. Apparently not so with the Holy Spirit and with David.

Why did the Holy Spirit lead David to sing that truth over and over and over again? The Spirit knew that David and us have a hard time remembering and believing God as we live.

“Do this in remembrance of Me...” Jesus said to his first followers during the communion they shared before his death and resurrection. “Don't Forget Me!”

David and us must rehearse true words to our souls...especially...”God is Good all of the time, even during that time when someone I love is hurting.” We must say to each other in our family and in our corporate worship that “God loves us” especially when bad and painful things are happening to us or to our friends.

God loves us even when He disciplines us...even when it seems that He is slow to answer our prayers...God is Good all of the time...and nothing will ever keep Him from loving His treasured ones like you and me.

Enjoy the songs

Have a great day

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May 2nd

Our Bible reading today is somewhat unique. Psalm 133 and its “three” verses. That’s all...just three verses.

Apparently the author of our reading plan found one more song that lined up with David’s coronation as king over all Israel.

Before the coronation, history paints a grim picture. Israelites against Israelites in some very bloody, deadly clashes for seven and a half years.

Now the new King of all the tribes writes a Spirit-inspired message in a song about unity restored. Listen to the beginning with me...“Behold how good and pleasant it is for brothers to dwell in unity.”

What a grand declaration. Two words stick out to me in the beginning of verse one: “behold” and “how”. Behold means “take notice”....” look at this”.

“How” is a part of the exclamation of David. Not unity among brethren is good and pleasant...but “how” marvelously good...” how” incredibly pleasant is unity among brothers and sisters.

“Behold...Look” at “how” God has “gloriously” brought us together! “Look” at “how” God has powerfully helped us to lay aside our personal preferences for the sake of fulfilling the purposes of God together “Look” at “how “lovingly good” our oneness in the Lord is. Look at “how” “beautifully pleasant” our fellowship together in God is.

David was exclaiming: Why would we ever allow selfish, personal, prideful ambitions to divide us. We were made to stick together. God will use our individual service, but He will sing songs over our labors together...for His glory and not our own.

Friends, Let us remember what Jesus prayed to the Father for His disciples in John 17...”Father keep them in Your name that they may be one as we are one....so that the world may believe their message of Me.”

Let us also remember the Spirit-led exhortation that Paul gave the church in Ephesus.

Ephesians 4:3-6 New International Version (NIV)

3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

Unity among brothers has been a big deal, not just in David’s music, but in Christ’s prayers and Paul’s letters to the churches.

So just how did David describe the goodness and pleasantness of brothers dwelling in unity? “It’s like the oil on the head that is so abundantly given that it rolls into beard and down to the edge of the robe.” Which refreshes the recipient and gives off a pleasant fragrance for all nearby.

Unity among brothers in the faith “abundantly refreshes” the body of Christ and creates a pleasant atmosphere for all to worship and work with God as each are called.

David likened Unity among the believers as the “dew of Herman” falling upon the mountains of Zion. The continued dew upon Mt Herman turned its peaks and slopes and valleys a lush green.

That is how David saw Israel coming together in unity. And that should be our visual aid for praying...praying for unity of Spirit in our church, from dry and fruitless to lush green, of spiritual fruitfulness.

Have a great day

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May 1

The Bible reading for today is in 2 Samuel 5:1-10 and 1 Chronicles 11 and 12.

We notice an overlapping in the record of historical events in our Bible reading from time to time. For instance, our 1 Chronicles reading recently and today’s 2 Samuel reading mirror one another.

They both create a miniature history of David’s rule and reign as King in Israel. Reading both of them side by side will give us more interesting detail of God’s working in that particular 40-year span.

Now Into the text...“Then” all the tribes of Israel came to Hebron of Judah...and the elders anointed David the next King in Israel.”

Before now, there was only one tribe that recognized David as king...and that was Judah. The other tribes recognized Ishbosheth, son of Saul.

Ishbosheth was murdered and “then” the leaders of the other tribes turned to David.

Do you see the self-incrimination in the decisions of the leaders of Israel? Their spiritual discernment, it seems, was next to nothing. Apparently they didn't recognize God at work upon, in, and through the godly young man, David.

Where were they? 22 years before? When the Prophet/Judge Samuel anointed the 15-year-old champion to be king in Israel after Saul? Where were they? Those following five years? when God used David to serve the king and the people so faithfully as a valiant warrior for Israel?

Wherever the leaders were, they weren't “looking” for God’s activity...that’s for sure.

So...they chose Ishbosheth to be their king and not the One that God chose. It’s sad that the tribes only turned to David after their “first” choice was taken away. It’s also sad that Ishbosheth didn't learn discernment from his older brother, Jonathon. If he had, he would have given David his royal robe and sword... just like Jonathon did.

Back to the text...David was 15 when God commissioned Samuel to anoint him, king, in Israel. David was thirty when he began his 40-year reign.

God spent 15 years preparing young David for his ministry as king in Israel. Sound like a long internship? How about Moses’ 40 years in the Midian desert?...How about Joshua’s 40 years in the wilderness of Sinai?

A call to leadership is a call to preparation. James was inspired to write the church to be patient...he said if we give patience her perfect work, we will not lack any good thing. And do you know what David’s first exploit as new king over all of Israel was? It was to “Take back” Jerusalem from the arrogant bullying Jebusites. And make that citadel...that impregnable city on a hill the new capital of the restored nation.

The Jebusites mocked David. They yelled down from the fortress ramparts...” you are so weak, our blind and lame could beat you back.” And God gave David an idea...the army would get inside the tall walls through the water conduit underneath the stronghold of Zion. David’s God...strong and smart...what was His Name...Adonai...Lord Jesus! Praise His name...right along with David.

Have a great day

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April 30th

Our Bible reading today is in Psalms 102,103,104.

Listen to Charles Haddon Spurgeon’s assessment of Ps. 103. “There is too much in this Psalm for a thousand pens to write. It is one of those all-comprehending Scriptures which is a Bible in itself. It might alone suffice for the hymnbook of the church.”

“As in the lofty Alps, some peaks rise far above others. So this Psalm seems to rise above all other Psalms”...not in Divine authorship...but perhaps in Divine inspiration to the hearts and voices Of God’s choir on earth.

Now to the text...The first part of the psalm is David rehearsing some personal mercies that he has received. The way he describes these mercies makes me want to believe that David wrote this song late in his life when appreciation for blessings from God comes from years of experiencing God’s good supply for everything he needed...body and soul!

But before the list of mercies, David speaks to his own heart and soul. “O bless the Lord, O My Soul...and all that is within me...bless His Holy Name!”

David was stirring up his own soul. He was speaking to himself as though he feared the cold clutches of “spiritual dullness” reaching out for him. He was exhorting himself as though “personal slipping away” from God’s fellowship.

Each of which can overcome us as well as David the Aged. Remember when a younger David and his 600 warriors came home to Ziklag only to find their homes burned down and their wives and children stolen by Philistine raiders?

Despair and fear overwhelmed all of these brave men. The Bible says that “David strengthened his own heart” in the Lord and courageously led his men to engage the raiders and take back their families.

Remember when a much younger David stood his ground against all preditors of his father's sheep? And with that same sling, the youthful shepherd became a warrior and champion over fear, intimidation, unbelief, and the giant Goliath.

Apparently David learned, from a young age, to “strengthen his heart in the Lord” and not in man and his clever ways. Apparently David’s “self speak” in today’s psalm was not new to his worship of the Lord.

“Soul...not just voice...but Soul bless and praise God. Sure use my voice to praise God. But He deserves all that is within me to praise and worship Him.

This is what I want from my innermost being...“Soul, use all the intelligence God has put in my mind to bless the Lord. Use all that I have learned from the Spirit...in and through Godly men and women in my life to praise the Lord.”

“Soul, use every determined resolve...every ounce of strength that God has given to me in my spirit and in my body to praise the Lord my God.”

“Soul, use every emotion...my gladness, my sadness, my happiness, my sorrow, my seriousness, and my playfulness...every God-given emotion displayed in smiles and grins and laughters...and also displayed in tears and solitude...to praise my God my Savior Jesus.”

“Bless the Lord O my soul...and all that is within me...BLESS His Holy Name.

David knew that his stirring his soul to worship was a “God thing”...but he couldn't just flip a switch to get to worthy worship of God...he must direct praise to the holiness of God’s Name...Adonai...Lord of all!!! Praise You Lord of all...me included!

So what are those mercies that David was praising God for?

Well, that’s the rest of the story...

Have a great day