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This sermon explores the contrast between Saul and David in 1 Samuel 26, illustrating the Christian struggle against relentless spiritual opposition. It highlights how God's sovereignty protects believers through trials while exposing the futility of resisting divine will. The preacher emphasizes that true endurance requires reliance on Christ rather than human strength or fear of consequences. By examining David's refusal to harm Saul, the message encourages believers to resist temptation with a heart motivated by love for God. Ultimately, it calls for faithful perseverance and trust in Jesus as the ultimate refuge from spiritual warfare.

What is the secret to a life of spiritual longevity? How did saints of old overcome the daily battle of temptation and trouble? In this sermon on Psalm 16:8 titled "… Set the Lord Always Before Me," Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones expounds on this psalm of David to share this secret. It is the daily decision to actively set the Lord always before oneself. This daily spiritual discipline enables the Christian to face the uncertainty of the future without fear as one considers who the Lord is and who they are to Him. Dr. Lloyd-Jones encourages with a gracious reminder that there are two things the Christian can do to "set the Lord before us." First, they must make an active decision to consciously remind themselves of God. It is an act of determination to think on the Lord and what He has done; otherwise their lives will be swept into busyness and God becomes secondary in thoughts and affections. Secondly, after one sets their hearts steadfastly on seeking the presence of God, they turn to the means of communion with God. Christians seek Him through prayer and reading Scripture. They are the means of communing with God on days when one feels like seeking Him as well as the days their hearts feel cold and distant from Him. Find encouragement from Dr. Lloyd-Jones's preaching on David's resolute desire to battle temptation and find comfort in setting the Lord always before him.

I WAS BLIND, BUT NOW I SEE John 9 is more than the healing of a man born blind; it is a picture of what happens when Jesus opens the eyes of a sinner. The man was physically blind from birth, but his story also mirrors our spiritual condition. We are born unable to truly see Christ until He gives us sight. Jesus saw the man before the man could see Him, and what looked like a lifelong tragedy became a stage for the works and glory of God to be revealed. As the man's eyes were opened, the Pharisees could not deny that something had happened, so they tried to discredit the One who did it and then discredit the man himself. That is often how the world responds to genuine transformation. If people cannot deny the evidence of what Christ has done, they may attack the person who has been changed. But the man stood on the one thing he knew: "Though I was blind, now I see." He did not know everything about Jesus yet, but he knew enough to trust the One who had opened his eyes. His parents, however, were afraid of being rejected by the religious leaders. They could see that something had happened to their son, but fear kept them from openly standing with Jesus. Their response shows how the pressure of acceptance, reputation, family, or community can keep people from confessing Christ even when His work is plainly visible. The formerly blind man grew bolder as the questioning continued. His understanding of Jesus developed from calling Him "a Man," to "a prophet," to recognizing that He must be from God, and finally to confessing, "Lord, I believe," and worshiping Him. That progression beautifully pictures discipleship: Jesus opens our eyes, and as we follow Him, we increasing

Spiritual warfare is real, but Christians are not called to live in fear or become consumed with speculation about the demonic. Scripture calls believers to be sober-minded, watchful, and firmly grounded in the truth of God's Word. In this episode of Contending for the Word Q&A, Dave Jenkins examines what Scripture teaches about spiritual warfare. He explains why the Christian battle is not against flesh and blood, how the enemy works through deception and distortion of truth, and why biblical discernment is essential. Christians should neither ignore spiritual warfare nor see demonic activity behind everything. Instead, believers must recognize the reality of the spiritual battle while standing firm in Christ and trusting the sufficiency of Scripture. God has not left His people unprepared. He has given us His Word, and His Word is truth. For more from Contending for the Word Q&A, please visit: https://servantsofgrace.org/contending-for-the-word-qa/

What is biblical wisdom, and how should it shape the Christian life? In this concluding episode through Proverbs, Dave Jenkins considers the major themes we have encountered throughout the book. Wisdom begins with the fear of the Lord and means living rightly before God according to His Word. Proverbs repeatedly presents two paths: wisdom leading toward life and folly leading toward destruction. It teaches that wisdom touches our words, relationships, work, decisions, desires, and character. It also directs us inward to the heart while reminding us that the sovereign Lord directs our steps. Living wisely means fearing the Lord, remaining in His Word, guarding our hearts, watching our words, walking humbly, receiving correction, and choosing wisdom day after day. Yet Proverbs ultimately points beyond ourselves to Jesus Christ. We have not lived wisely or obeyed God perfectly, but Christ has. Jesus is not merely an example of wisdom. He is the wisdom of God. Through His death and resurrection, sinners are forgiven, transformed, and enabled to walk according to God's ways. Proverbs 9:10: "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight." For more from Reading the Bible Daily with Dave, please visit: https://servantsofgrace.org/reading-the-bible-daily-with-dave/

Jesus focuses on the attitude of luxery, unnecessary, physical possessions that people store and stockpile for selfish reasons. 1. The Rich: tempted to trust in their riches & possessions, tempted to become self satisfied in the false security of their riches. 2. The Poor: tempted to doubt God's provision, tempted to worry & fear in false security of their poverty Anxious: full of mental stressor uneasiness because of fear of danger or misfortune, greatly worried, apprehensive Worry: to torment oneself with disturbing thoughts

Proverbs 31 concludes the Book of Proverbs by showing what wisdom looks like when it is lived out in everyday life. In this episode of Reading the Bible Daily with Dave, Dave Jenkins explains how Proverbs 31 emphasizes wise leadership, faithful character, diligent living, care for others, and the fear of the Lord. The opening verses call leaders to exercise wisdom, protect the vulnerable, and pursue justice. The portrait of the excellent wife demonstrates strength, faithfulness, stewardship, generosity, and diligence. The chapter then brings everything back to the central foundation of biblical wisdom: fearing the Lord. Proverbs 31:30 declares, "Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised." Ultimately, true wisdom is perfectly revealed in Jesus Christ. He leads righteously, serves humbly, lives faithfully, and perfectly honors the Father. Through Christ, sinners are forgiven and transformed into people increasingly characterized by godly wisdom. For more from Reading the Bible Daily with Dave, please visit: https://servantsofgrace.org/reading-the-bible-daily-with-dave/

Listen-in to the 8/10/26 Monday This Day in Prayer and in The Word podcast, "Fear Not," and let's see what God's Word has to say.