Grace City Portland

It’s virtually the same story that gets told over and over again.

It’s the narrative arc of the Bible.

And it’s the story that was ultimately realized in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus - 

   the man who is God with us. 

It’s the story of the priestly king, the Creator himself, who interceded for his own people… Jesus prayed, Father, forgive them! They don’t know what they’re doing!

And then, he freely offered himself - the only one among us who was actually innocent -

   he offered his own life as a sacrifice for us all, for the sins of the world. 

And as he did, he cried out with a loud voice, Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!

And then… The floodgates of mercy broke open!

And all who receive His great gift of grace will be saved. 

And not just for a time, but forever! 

Have you ever heard of the ‘upside-down kingdom’?

Jesus would often describe to his disciples what the kingdom of heaven was like, what it would look like to live as citizens of that kingdom, and how they should always remain fully awake and alert, in eager anticipation of the king’s return. 

This is the part of the story that foreshadows that… The return of the king, and his upside-down kingdom, as the end of the rebellion has finally come.

It’s a wonderful, challenging, and beautiful vision. And if understood rightly, it should leave us all joining in with the saints of old, as we say the ancient prayer together… Come Lord Jesus! Come! 

Come dwell in our hearts.

Come dwell in our homes.

Come dwell in our motives.

Come dwell in our hopes.

Come dwell in our dreams, and in our fears, in our hoping, and in our tears. 

Because we can’t build the Kingdom of Heaven apart from you. 

Although, God knows we’ve tried. 

WHEN THE SHEPHERD-KING RETURNS, WHAT WILL THE KINGDOM LOOK LIKE?

In the wake of his sin, instead of David suffering the lawful penalty of judgement, the innocent son died for him. And… Another child was born - the boy named Peace and Beloved of God; the child through whom God’s great story of forgiveness and redemption would continue to be told. 

And yes, the ramifications of David’s choices would still be felt for at least three or four generations. But those affects would soon be dwarfed by the thousands of generations that would come after that; by those who would bask in mercy’s triumph over judgement and evil and some day even death itself.  

If God’s not served by human hands, then what are we doing when we serve God?

God commands us to serve Him, but not because He needs our service.

God doesn’t need you to serve Him.

God doesn’t need you.

But He does desire you. Because God loves you.

And because it’s His nature to enjoy loving union with people – the way He’s always enjoyed loving union with the Son and the Spirit in Holy Trinity.

Therefore, if God commands you to serve Him, it’s not for Him, but for you, for your benefit, for your joy, for your peace, and for those around you.

He desires to bless you, and... It’s not about you.

Have you ever been on a long journey in life, when one day you wake up and can’t quite remember why you started in the first place?

SOUL DRIFT: When the truth of the gospel and your actual lived-out experience begin drift apart.

Jesus will often interrupt a moment to address the soul drift that happens in our lives.

THIS IS A PORTRAIT OF A MAN WHO HAS NOTHING TO PROVE, NO FEAR OF REJECTION, NO FAÇADE TO UPHOLD, NO REPUTATION TO PROTECT, NO EGO TO SHIELD

David is simply free – free from the opinion of others and bound by his great love for the God who has been so good, mighty and faithful towards him his entire life so far.

And... The context of David's mighty worship is the 'fear of the Lord.' What does uninhibited worship and the fear of God have to do with each other? Everything, as it turns out.

I believe, in many ways, we as a society have forgotten how to grieve well. 

Obviously, we are all very aware of the reality of pain and regret and disappointment.

I think it’s fair to assume that everyone is familiar with feelings of loss and sorrow.

But I think it’s also fair to say that many of us are lacking the ability and awareness to process these emotions in a way that’s actually healthy and whole – with patience and grace and honesty and courage. 

Which is one of the many reasons why I’m so grateful for the Scriptures...

Because the Bible is so brutally and wonderfully honest about the reality of pain and sorrow in our world – and the Scriptures offer us wisdom – an ancient path, not just to ‘move past’ our pain, but to meet God in it, and to experience – truly experience – comfort, healing, gratitude and hope. 

When was the last time you remember grieving well?

Not when was the last time that you felt deep sorrow?

But in your sorrow, when was the last time you can recall grieving well?

The life of David – the man after God’s own heart – is the tale of the merciful king.

And the tale of the merciful king is the story of God.

It seems like no matter how you break it down, the life of David simply keeps leading us back to Jesus – the King without a crown, the Lamb of God, the Lord of the cross.

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HOW CAN WE PRACTICE LIVING AS AMBASSADORS OF THE MERCIFUL KING?

AS REPRESENTATIVES OF THE KING WHO’S FAMOUS FOR HIS MERCY?

Young King David...

Leader of the misfits, captain of the rejects, commander of the distressed!

This is origin story of David’s ‘mighty men.’

He didn’t recruit the elite, or the influential.

Instead, he attracted the rejects and the rabble, the distressed and heavy laden, the bitter in soul.

David drew the ones who the empire spat out... 

The ones who were fed up doing it Saul’s way...

Always striving to keep up appearances, fighting for scraps, desperate for rest, only stuck, day after day, competing for power. 

So they defected.

It would seem that they saw a glimmer of a new kind of Kingdom in David.

So to David they gathered, at the cave of Adullam.

BUT WHAT HAPPENS IF THE ‘BITTER ROOT’ IS LEFT IN THE SOIL?