https://youtu.be/59mVEgzRFc8

2 sam 19:1-8 Love your enemies and hate your friends

Pleasing God is never a disgrace

5 Then Joab came into the house to the king, and said, “Today you have disgraced all your servants who today have saved your life, the lives of your sons and daughters, the lives of your wives and the lives of your concubines,Joab comes in and is upset with David- Why? David was weeping over his son Absalom. Upset that he was killed and that his people didn’t meet his demand to treat him kindly.He’s also probably lamenting over the fact that he was the one who caused all of it- with Bath.But Joab attacks him- Why? Because Joab doesn’t have David’s heart. He has a heart of war.He says “You have disgraced all your servants” In his mind, the payment his servants should have got was to see David Kill AbsalomWe’ve been re-watching Star Wars- Its kind of like the Emperor in Jedi- Wanted Vader to Kill Luke, but in the End, Vader still had love for Luke because he was his son. Not exactly- kind ofDavid’s heart- Psalm 19:14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer.David wanted to please God- He showed it through his whole life- Remember This is the shepherd boy who would fight bears, sings songs, fought Goliath, ran from Saul, Lead Israel. He’s full grown man now- but don’t forget his heart- And Joab comes and questions his heart because David didn’t respond how HE thought he should have?Galatians 1:10 For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ.

David wanted to please God- Not Joab. Its clear- Remember when he could have killed Saul?2 Cor 5:9 Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him.What does it mean to you?Do you feel like serving God and living for Him is a disgrace? Do you feel disgraced? Are you afraid? Do you worry more about what people think than God thinks? GOD IS WATCHINGMatthew 10:28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.We are to live to please God- and inevitably when we do so- it will not make sense to the worldSome people worship the opinions of men. They care too much what people think-John 12:43 for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.and when you DO do whats right- they call you a disgrace- and its not true! If God is pleased, that’s all ! You don’t have to worry if the Joab’s of your life agree with you or understand-Proverbs 29:25 The fear of man brings a snare,But whoever trusts in the Lord shall be safe.If you are living worry about what the Joabs of your life think, you’re never going to make itJoab’s look through the eyes of the World- not through the eyes of the truth of the GospelWhen you live an Gospel-centered existence- you’re not going to please the world.And those small and large decisions you make that no one sees but God- He’ll bless itAnd I want to encourage you- No one else may appreciate it or see it- but God does!Society will be moving into a realm where God followers are chastised- don’t give up!Acts 5:29 But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: “We ought to obey God rather than men.

We don’t live like the world

6 in that you love your enemies and hate your friends. For you have declared today that you regard neither princes nor servants; for today I perceive that if Absalom had lived and all of us had died today, then it would have pleased you well.That’s what happens when you live according to God’s word- People will misunderstand you because you do not think, believe or act like the world- They will never understand.

https://youtu.be/-WqUhsaKcDM

Give an example when an authority in your life decided something you disagreed. Did you support that decision or work against it? How do you feel about that now?

How often do you attend church (or stream at the moment) in a one month period? Would you classify yourself as "not forsaking the gathering of the brethren"? How has attending church regularly changed your life?

Do you strive to maintain peace within the body of Faith and Victory Church? Do your Facebook posts need to be edited? Is your social activism or politics more important than the relationships in your church? (not that social activism or politics isn't important)

Are you a member of Faith and Victory Church (rooted)? Describe a time where you had an argument, disagreement or negative experience at FVC. How were you able to move forward?

Are you "abounding" in Christ, having a general attitude of thankfulness? Name 5 things you are thankful for.

Order! Order I say!

Colossians 2:1-7

2 For I want you to know what a great conflict[a] I have for you and those in Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh, 2 that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, [b]both of the Father and of Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Now this I say lest anyone should deceive you with persuasive words. 5 For though I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing [c]to see your good order and the steadfastness of your faith in Christ. 6 As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, 7 rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding [d]in it with thanksgiving.

Paul may never have visited Colosse but kept close tabs on it through Epaphras, one of his converts and associates, most likely the church’s founder and a leader. Paul saw a church of Christ walking together in Gospel order, steady in their faith in Christ, abiding by the doctrine of faith, and maintaining an honorable profession and warning and admonishing them to stay connected to each other and to continue to be rooted in Christ and built up in the faith.

“joying and beholding your order” or as the Greek renders it, Paul declares "I rejoice that I can see your order"

The Colossian church stood fast in one spirit, contended and strove together for the faith of the Gospel, fought the good fight of faith, no hardship moved them from their station; so that they were attached to the Gospel, and to one another; they were united to, and abode by each other; they served the Lord with one consent, and kept the unity of the Spirit, in the bond of peace,

Ephesians 4:1-3 I, therefore, the prisoner [a]of the Lord, [b]beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, 2 with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, 3 endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

The church in Colosse was infiltrated by false teachers and they stood steadfast in the faith, opposing the false teachers and professing faith in Christ without wavering in the face of intense persecution and opposition from the surrounding society

To this outward condition Paul then subjoins the inner one, by which the former is conditioned: and the solid hold of your faith in Christ. That which has been made firm, represents the steadfastness and immoveable of faith in such a way,

https://youtu.be/BgvKuyWSm-o

If only I had died in your place- 2 sam 18- 19-33

Most people enjoy a good revenge movie. We love a story of someone getting what they deserve- Mean Girls, John Wick, The Equalizer, Get Carter, Death Wish. In most movies with a villain- we love the pay off of them “Getting what they deserve” and relish in their destruction. Its satisfying! We love when the evil get punished! Feel better about ourselves- JUSTICEIn our minds, guilty must pay- there must be retribution and payment for evil- destructionOther end- We all love a sacrificial hero story- Harry Stamper in Independence Day, Spock in Star Trek 2, Tony Stark in End Game- Avengers,  Obi Wan in Star Wars,When someone is able to sacrifice themselves for others, it touches our heart stringsBehind these stories is the idea of- We can’t always save ourselves- we need the help of othersWe pride our selves on self-sufficiency- but in the end- we know it’s a lie- Doctors, Police, Fire, friends. At the minimum, we need the intellect of others- you don’t discover anything no oneThere are stories where revenge happens, where the hero dies, but  what about a story where the Hero dies for the villain on whom there is supposed to be revenge?In todays story, we see Absalom is dead and the news gets to his father- DavidDavid isn’t perfect, and he isn’t God- but we see in this story a preview of the heart of JesusV 33 “My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you—O Absalom, my son, my son!Absalom was David’s son- who had stole his kingdom from him. Rebellious, angry, thieving, deceitful Absalom. We talked of his death- and the righteous penalty of it- Deserved it.This is a guy who was Willing to kill his own father so that he could rule his own kingdom and not be under the rule of his father- to kill the king to be the king- No matter what the cost.Sound familiar? Absalom is the villain of this story, David is the hero- and the Hero wants to die for the villain- He is willing to take the place of the Villian (Absalom) when he is the hero (david)This is the story of our faith. We are the villain. We are all Absalom. We wanted our own way, we wanted to rule ourselves. We didn’t want a king to rule us, so we took whatever steps we needed to take to ensure our kingdom reigned and we killed the king so we could rule.And the cry of Jesus came to us and saved us but instead of ‘If I had only died instead of you”Jesus actually came and died for us. We deserved Death, and the Hero came and died in the place of the villain. The greatest sacrifice ever for anyone.Theologians call this Penal Substitutionary Atonement- Penalty, In place of, Payment. Penalty of of sin (death), by someone (Jeusus)  instead of the offender (us) , to pay for our sin2 Corinthians 5:21  For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.This is the bedrock truth of the entire Christian experience- To reject it is to reject ChristYou must understand and internalize this doctrine. It will change your lifeIf you find that you lack purpose, joy, direction, peace, identity, passion, love, etc. It may be because you have not adequately reflected on this truthRomans 5: 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.This is the Gospel. This is salvation. We were sinners- who needed a savior- and Jesus CamePicture this- Officer that Killed George Floyd- Guilty- but you go and take his place so he can walk free. Seems scandalous! He deserves to die! Revenge! I know its visceral but its trueAll the benefits, emotional, spiritual, tangible etc. Flow from this truth. The Penal Sub. Atone.But why does it have to be that way? Why does someone have to die? Why does Christianity have to be such a bloody endeavor?

https://youtu.be/GFCXSFZdm-4

aColossians 1:24-29 Christ in You: the Hope of Glory

Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church, of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.

It’s so easy to read this text and then realize .. you haven’t understood a thing about it. Theres this huge run-on sentence right at the beginning and its full of weird phrases and its not clear how they’re connected. It’s a real doozy of a text.

but for all it’s difficulty and strangeness, the real doozy of it all, is it’s profoundly radical summons to live out the Hero’s story.

This word is not for the faint of heart. It’s not for those who aren’t all in, not for the fence sitters, for the lukewarm, for the wishy-washy. The message of this text, in the power and spirit of God-Almighty, beckons you come and disregard your own life that you might participate in a far greater one.

It’s an incredible thing.

so get ready.

Paul says, I now rejoice in my sufferings for you.

You suffer. You struggle. You know pain. But why do you suffer? Is it just because you’re in this cursed world? because you are sinful and your neighbors are sinful?  

You have aches and pains and you make stupid decisions and hurt people and people hurt you. That’s life, and in Jesus, praise God, you’re able to find peace and happiness despite your pain.

But what if you could, not just patiently bear your sufferings, but actually embrace them with gladness? What if you could join Paul in saying, I now rejoice in my sufferings for you. That’s a whole other question. That sounds so strange, so foreign. It’s probably not what your parents hoped for you. it’s not what you learned in school. It doesn’t sound like the life you aspired to.

Paul goes on to say, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ for the sake of his body which is the church.

Did he just say that he fills up in his flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ?

yeah, Theres definitely something going on here that we don’t quite get. … and we need to get it.

If it sounds strange, that something would be lacking in Jesus’ afflictions, that's a good thing. It should sound strange. If your pastor started teaching that somehow, Jesus didn’t suffer enough for you, that his humiliation and punishment didn’t quite pay the full price, didn’t actually satisfy God’s holy justice, the red flags should be going off all of the place.

Your Jesus suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, (1 peter 3:18)

being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high (Hebrews 1:3)

The work is over. its ended. it’s completed. its the most glorious thing in the whole universe. that jesus christ is completely pleased with his...

https://youtu.be/sniaOthEkbQ

Racism2 Sam 18:1-18 “he was left hanging between heaven and earth”See, the bulk of this story is about Absalom, David’s son who has taken over David’s kingdom.Joab, Abishai, and Ittai, sent and told- “Deal gently for my sake with the young man Absalom.”David loved his son! He wanted his kingdom back, but didn’t want to lose his son in the processThis ISNT what happens!They go out to battle Absalom gets caught up in a tree- “Hanging between heaven and earth” Unable to free himself- unable to defend himself. Unable to fight. CaughtAt the whim of men. A man- who had done wrong- but the King- “Deal Gently” and is in a treeA man comes to Joab- says “I found Absalom” Joab says “ I would have paid you to kill him” the man says “I would never do that” V 12-13David made it clear “Deal gently for my sake” to Joab but he ignored it- He wanted HIS JUSTICE14 And he took three spears in his hand and thrust them through Absalom’s heart, while he was still alive in the midst of the terebinth tree. (Kills a defenseless man because he thought it right)To add insult to injury- 15 And ten young men who bore Joab’s armor surrounded Absalom, and struck and killed him.- They didn’t defend Absalom- While a criminal- wasn’t to dieAnd where’s Abishai and Ittai? And the thousands of others? No where to be found!Only one man stood up and said- You are wrong Joab- I’m not taking part in this.

There’s huge problems with this story- and today it speaks specifically to what is going on around usToday I am going to use this scripture to show you how you can’t sit idly by and allow injustice to happen in your midst and to remain silent is to be complicit in the actionWhy do we need to talk about racism? I’m not racist- Church not full of homo- but still talk aboutHere are some hard truths that need to be said- Racism still exists in America. By and large White people are either ignorant or apathetic about it. Maybe not you- But its real. It’s a sin against GodI get it! I’m white- And white people say “What am I supposed to do about it”- starts in the churchYou can start by admitting that racism still exists. You may not be, you may not have experienced it, but if you had black or brown friends, you would know- Its still out thereThe church talks about sin- Homosexuality, fornication, envy, covetedness, anger, etc. Racism is a sin. It needs to be talked about. One of my first sermons at 18 was on Racism- Near to meWe’re not blaming anyone- Its like a Sermon about tithing- You shouldn’t feel uncomfortable about a sermon about tithing unless you don’t tithe, and you shouldn’t feel uncomfortable about a sermon about racism unless its in your heart. And that goes for everyone- regardless of raceGal 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. Ro 10:12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. Ro 2:11 For there is no partiality with God. Acts 17:26 And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings,We are all equal in the eyes of the law and in the eyes of the Lord-The image of God- Gen 1:26 but we can’t sit here in Church and pretend that our Black brothers and Sisters aren’t struggling- Educate yourself- Learn the struggle- Don’t pretend it doesn’t exist. – be the one who STANDS UPBut the POC have a opportunity in the church as well not to fix it- but to help others understandMake new friends- Pastor John and Pastor Raymond are my safe black friends- I can ask anythingYou can’t get angry at ignorance- Help us understand- Mikey Crack v Heroin epidemic

So let me Show you how this scripture speaks to our current ...

Small Group Questions

How do you maintain your faith?

Would you describe yourself as growing closer to God or departing (getting farther away) from God during this time? Why?

How have you defended the faith?

Do you have sin you aren't dealing with right now? Has it caused you to be farther away from God? How can you being to address that sin?

Grounded and Steadfast- (If You Continue in the Faith)

Colossians 1:19-23 New King James Version (NKJV)

19 For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, 20 and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross. And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled 22 in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight— 23 if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister.

The occasion for this letter was the appearance of false teaching that threatened the spiritual future of the Colossian church. The exact heresy is unknown, but it is apparent that it was a strange mixture of Christian teaching, certain extrabiblical Jewish traditions and pagan philosophy, similar to today. There is nothing new under the sun.

Paul wrote his letter to the Church in Collosse for a few different reasons: 1. To combat the dangerous false teaching that was supplanting Christ’s centrality and supremacy in creation, revelation, redemption and the church; 2. Make clear the apostolic revelation of Christ as the Son of God and 3. Stress the true nature of life in Christ and its fruit in the believer.

So, how do we stay “grounded and steadfast” according to this Scripture?

“IF you continue in the faith”- notice the ongoing human response that Paul states is necessary before we appear before Him blameless. The Lord has done His part and we must do ours. Like Paul, we have a race to run with endurance and perseverance. EX: MJ documentary, he is to basketball what Paul is to the faith. This is the same mindset and determination that we must have about our Christian walk.

Now more than ever we need to be grounded and steadfast in the faith! The enemy is fast at work among us and he is a master at deception:

1 Timothy 4:1 NKJV “Now the Spirit [a]expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons”

Let me break this down, “To depart” is the Greek translation meaning to “distance oneself from, step away, withdraw from, shrink away from”. It is where we get the word “apostate or apostasy”.

This departing depicts a departure that takes place slowly, over a period of time, and it pictures a person who changes his position and withdraws from what he once believed. This process occurs so gradually that those who are in the process of departing may not even realize they are in transition. But little by little, they are backing away from what they once believed and adhered to, and moving toward something very different.

The verse goes on to say, “some shall depart from the faith” as we near the end of the age. This is important to understand, in the Greek the words “the faith” has a definite article, which tells us that it is not talking about raw faith, such as “by faith are you saved”,

https://youtu.be/LePDRs4d05E

27 Now it happened, when David had come to Mahanaim, that Shobi the son of Nahash from Rabbah of the people of Ammon, Machir the son of Ammiel from Lo Debar, and Barzillai the Gileadite from Rogelim, 28 brought beds and basins, earthen vessels and wheat, barley and flour, parched grain and beans, lentils and parched seeds, 29 honey and curds, sheep and cheese of the herd, for David and the people who were with him to eat. For they said, “The people are hungry and weary and thirsty in the wilderness.”

We serve a God that provides

Philippians 4:19 And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

2 cor 9:8 8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.

Psalm 84:11 For the Lord God is a sun and shield; The Lord will give grace and glory; No good thing will He withhold From those who walk uprightly.

Nehemiah 9:15 New King James Version (NKJV)

15 You gave them bread from heaven for their hunger,

And brought them water out of the rock for their thirst,

And told them to go in to possess the land

Which You had [a]sworn to give them.

Ps 78:20 Behold, He struck the rock,

So that the waters gushed out,

And the streams overflowed.

Can He give bread also?

Can He provide meat for His people?”

John 6:35 New King James Version (NKJV)

35 And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.

Psalm 65:9You visit the earth and water it, You greatly enrich it; The river of God is full of water; You provide their grain, For so You have prepared it.

Matt6: 8 “Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.

It doesn’t mean you wont struggle

Deuteronomy 8:3-4 So He humbled you, allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna which you did not know nor did your fathers know, that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord. 4 Your garments did not wear out on you, nor did your foot swell these forty years.

Matthew 5:6 New King James Version (NKJV)

6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,

For they shall be filled.

Nehemiah 9:21 New King James Version (NKJV)

21 Forty years You sustained them in the wilderness;

They lacked nothing;

Their clothes did not wear out

And their feet did not swell.

Phil 4: 11 Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: 12 I know how to [d]be abased, and I know how to [e]abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.

Rom 8: 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

Luke 21: 16 You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, relatives and friends; and they will put some of you to death.

https://youtu.be/nXecBC6Ajrg

Small Group Questions

What's the weirdest thing that you have seen?

What is the most supernatural part of your faith?

Describe a time where you were deceived? How did you deal with it once you found out? How do you think you could have prevented being deceived?

What is your relationship with the Holy Spirit?

The Super Natural (Weird) Colossians 1: 15-18 (NLT)\

Last week Pastor Jay spoke about:

This is a young church which is in the middle of a gentile environmentLot of pagan and mystical influencesPaul is writing to get them rooted in the true Gospel

1. Acknowledgement of the Super natural world

Trash can story – Everyone has a moment that you have seen or heard something weird, you ignored it because you could not get any logic from itWeird - unnatural, preternatural. weird, eerie, unearthly, uncanny refer to that which is mysterious and apparently outside natural law. Weird refers to that which is suggestive of the fateful intervention of supernatural influences in human affairsAnd for this young Church Paul is wanting them to be aware of the power of the super naturalColossians 1:16 (AMP) For it was in Him that all things were created, in heaven and on earth, things seen and things unseen, whether thrones, dominions, rulers, or authorities; all things were created and exist through Him [by His service, intervention] and in and for Him.What I love about it, is that unlike the world, the super natural is not an addition to being a Christian, it’s part of being a Christian.Matthew 6:33(Ampc) - But seek ([a]aim at and strive after) first of all His kingdom and His righteousness ([b]His way of doing and being right), and then all these things [c]taken together will be given you besidesYou want knowledge on what is going on around you physically – Seek God first and His righteousnessYou want to be aware of the Spiritual – supernatural power of God– Seek God first and His righteousnessYou want to have a good life – Seek God first and His righteousnessFind Jesus and have your eyes openned to power of Christ – the seen and the unseenJust like Paul, I am trying to let you be spiritually aware (awake) so you don’t miss what God is doing in this season and the season to come.Isaiah 55:8-9For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.Understand this – We have very limited knowledge when it comes to the things of GodThe difference and distance between God and man is revealed, not to discourage us from seeking Him, but to keep us humble as we seek. “You may conclude that it is not intended that you should understand the infinite, for you are told that His thoughts and ways are far above you; but you are required to seek Him while he may be found, and call upon Him while He is near.” (Spurgeon)

Examples in the bible

All throughout the bible you will see how God works in the super natural. Here are some things that we know but can’t explain (not in a particular order)

God Spoke and the world become – Genesis 1:2-3 The earth was without form, and void; and darkness [a]was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light.Jesus is conceived by a virgin girl - Matthew 1:23Philip appears and instantly is teleported – Acts 8:26-40Philip is sent by an angel to a deserted roadHe meets a Eunuch from EthiopiaHoly Spirit tells him to and speak to him as he tries to...

https://youtu.be/LBdprYG_zlM

2 sam 16:15- 2 sam 17:14 On Purpose!, back in Jerusalem, Hushai david’s spy goes and praises Absalom who is concerned, and asks why he’s betrayed David and came to him. Hushai says he’s following the man Israel chose to follow- Absalom asks Ahithophel what he should do, he tells him to go into davids concubines he left behind. Absalom does it before all Israel fulfilling the prophecy of NathanAhithophel gives more advice, says he’ll ride out with 12k men and surprise David- and kill him and all of davids followers will come and follow Absalom. Absalom thinks it sounds good, but asks Hushai for a second opinion. Hushai says- bad advice- David is going to fight back. Instead- gather all Isreal to fight david- Absalom decided Hushai’s advice is better-

Prayer Changes things- But not God’s purpose

The first part of this story is that Ahithophel goes to Absalom to give him some advice- its weird advice- Go in to the concubines of David in the sight of Israel- Doesn’t realize that he is fulfilling a prophecy- but he is advising what Kings do that take over other kings- Show who is king.Here’s the thing tho- David prayed Athithophels counsel to be foolishness- 2 Samuel 15:31 Then someone told David, saying, “Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom.” And David said, “O Lord, I pray, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness!”it was foolish advice- It insured the demise of Absalom. How could he and David reconcile after such a thing? Absalom sexually assaults his fathers concubines as a show of powerHere’s the nugget of this part of the story tho- David’s prayer worked! He prayed that Athitophels counsel would be foolishness- and it was! This was horrible advice- PLUS- Later in the story- Absalom doesn’t take Ahithophels advice to let him go and attack- more foolishness.God answered David’s prayer and made Ahithophel look foolish- v17:23 says he committed suicideGod moves when people of God pray! Not the suicide but the foolish advice!Moses prayed to change God’s mind and it did “Ex 32:14 So the Lord relented from the harm which He said He would do to His people.Joshua prayed to stop the sun from Going down Josh 10:12-13Hannah prayed for a child- 1 Samuel 1:27 For this child I prayed, and the Lord has granted me my petition which I asked of Him.What does it mean to you?Are you praying for things that God can move on? Have you given yourself over to doubt?We serve a God that can do above and beyond all we can ask or imagine- We need to PRAYElijah prayed that it wouldn’t rain and it didn’t. james 5:17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months.

That’s an answer to prayer!Tons of scriptures on prayer in the NT-Mark 11:24 Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them. Matt 21:22If there are things in your life that you want to see God move- PRAY- watch what he does-1 John 5:14-15 READ He will answer!John 15:7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.Pray big bold- prayers that will change the course of your life- Watch what Does doesMatt 7:7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be openedPeople will say- what if God doesn’t answer- who cares! PRAY!Pray for a wife, kids, building, provision, protection, etc. Why me? Idk- But he answered!

Take wise counsel- Understand God’s purpose

Now in this part of the story- we see that Absalom took part of athithophels adv...

https://youtu.be/XIyVjldCdeQ

Small Group Questions

Give some examples of good fruit that you have because of your faith?

Do you have a Christian mentor? Are you mentoring another Christian?

Give an example of when you yielded to someone else that was to your benefit.

What are you praying for and why? Does that need to change after listening to this sermon?

Describe a time where you used God's strength to get through a trial.

Now that’s a prayer! (Colossians 1:9-14) *Verses in New Living Translation (NLT)*

- Recently we finished the Book of Acts, and it ended with Paul imprisoned in Rome.

- We are now going through Colossians. A “prison letter” written by Paul during that time.

- This letter is written to the Church in Colosse, a young and faithful church of mostly Gentiles.

- Paul is really trying to encourage them to stay rooted in the true gospel, and he begins this letter with a powerful prayer:

Part #1

- Colossians 1:9-10, So we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding. 10 Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better.

- This is the “good fruit” your life in Christ should produce:

- Galatians 5:22-23, But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!

- I think for the new-ish believer, one of the biggest challenges is transitioning to living a life that pleases God, because you know it on paper, but what does it look like to put it in to action?

- Example: I was a new firefighter with no experience, started copying the bad example around me, until a guy from another shift/station corrected me. I was so thankful!

- There are rules, and guidelines, and procedures on paper, but putting that into practice takes and example to follow. (What does “being patient” look like? What is “long suffering”?)

- Like in the movie A Few Good Men, “If it’s not in the book, how did you know where the chow hall was?” “I just followed the crowd at chow time, Sir.”

- You can be easily affected by the Christian culture around you, whether legalistic and judgmental, or compromising and accepting of sin.

- James 3:15-18, For jealousy and selfishness are not God’s kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and demonic. 16 For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind. 17 But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and the fruit of good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere. 18 And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness.

- This is an excellent example of what it should look like and what it shouldn’t look like. When you see the believer’s around you setting THIS example, you will know you are in the right place.

- John 15:4, (Jesus said), Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vi...