Northpointe PCA Sermons

By Northpointe Presbyterian ChurchReligion & Spirituality Christianity

Northpointe PCA Sermons episodes

March 20, 2022Double-Dipped Faith
Scripture: 1 Samuel 26
Order of Service
Call to Worship — Psalm 150
Hymn — Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing
Prayer of Invocation
Confession of Sin
Assurance of Pardon — Romans 8:32-34
Scripture Reading — Acts 12:20–13:12
Hymn — Immortal, Invisible
Pastoral Prayer
Offering
Prayer
Hymn — Like a River Glorious
Sermon
Hymn — Beneath the Cross of Jesus
Benediction — Hebrews 13:20-21
Sermon Title: Double-Dipped Faith
Scripture: 1 Samuel 26
I. Fortified Faith Trusts the Providence of God
A. The scene: Saul pursues David again into the wilderness with three thousand men (1 Samuel 26:1-5)
B. David and Abishai enter Saul's camp by night (1 Samuel 26:6-12)
A deep sleep from the Lord falls on Saul and his army — verse 12 is the hinge of the passage
God's providence is at work on David's behalf; David is protected and given access to Saul
C. Abishai urges David to seize the moment — "God has given your enemy into your hand this day"
David recognizes the temptation to take matters into his own hands
David refuses: "As the Lord lives, the Lord will strike him" (1 Samuel 26:10)
David trusts that God will fulfill his promise in God's own time and way
D. Parallel to Christ's temptation in the wilderness
Satan offered Jesus the kingdoms of the world, bypassing the cross
Jesus steadied himself on God's word, quoting Scripture three times
Because Christ fully trusted the Father's providence, salvation is secured for all who believe
E. For believers today, trials are meant to deepen trust in God's providence and strip away self-reliance and pride
II. Fortified Faith Desires the Presence of God
A. David exposes Abner's failure and calls out to Saul from a distance (1 Samuel 26:13-20)
B. David's lament in verses 19–20: driven from the land, he feels cut off from the Lord's heritage and from public worship with God's people
David knew that to be cut off from Israel was to be cut off from the face of the Lord
His plea: let me return to worship with the gathered people before I die
C. David's longing for God expressed in Psalm 63:1: "O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you"
D. Illustration: phototropism — plants move instinctively toward the light; how much more should believers desire to be in the presence of the one who gives life
E. Application: Do we take for granted the privilege of gathering for worship?
The pandemic season reminded many how much corporate worship matters
Psalm 122:1: "I was glad when they said to me, 'Let us go to the house of the Lord'"
Fortified faith stirs a longing to be with God's people in the presence of God
III. Fortified Faith Enjoys the Pleasure of God
A. Saul asks forgiveness and invites David to return; David responds with his final words to Saul (1 Samuel 26:21-25)
B. David's declaration: he has spared Saul not because of who Saul is, but because of whose Saul is — the Lord's anointed
David has hitched his wagon to the God who rewards righteousness and faithfulness
David takes pleasure in obeying the God who takes pleasure in obedience
C. Contrast with Saul (1 Samuel 15)
Samuel's words: "Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in obeying the voice of the Lord?"
Saul trusted and took pleasure in his own word above the Lord's; he was rejected as king
David took pleasure in the word and promise of the Lord
D. David and Saul go their separate ways — each has been pursuing his own end throughout; David pursues the Lord's end
E. Christ as the fulfillment: "My food is to do the will of him who sent me" (John 4:34)
No one has ever taken greater pleasure in obeying the word than the Word made flesh
Christ obeyed to the point of death, even death on the cross (Philippians 2:8)
He who was righteousness became sin so that we might become the righteousness of God (2 Corinthians 5:21)
F. Application: Is your pleasure found in trusting Christ — your dreams, labors, status, and salvation — or in your own wisdom and works?
To trust in oneself is a fool's errand — like a hamster on a wheel
David's double-dipped faith (tested in the cave, with Nabal, and now again) shows the better way
Persistent trials are meant to fortify trust in God's providence, deepen desire for his presence, and cultivate delight in his pleasure
35 min
March 13, 2022The Voice of Reason
Scripture: 1 Samuel 25
Order of Service
Call to Worship — Isaiah 12:1-6
Hymn — To God Be the Glory
Prayer of Invocation
Confession of Faith — Athanasian Creed
Scripture Reading — Acts 12:1-19
Hymn — And Can It Be
Pastoral Prayer
Offering
Hymn — Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah
Sermon
Hymn — Softly and Tenderly
Benediction — Hebrews 13:20-21
Sermon Title: The Voice of Reason
Scripture: 1 Samuel 25
I. The Voice of Godly Reason Has Its Eye on God's Goodness
A. Abigail and Nabal are introduced as contrasting figures
Nabal (meaning "fool" or "ill-behaved") is harsh, self-interested, and identified entirely with his possessions
Abigail (meaning "my father is joyous") is discerning, beautiful, and an instrument of God's goodness
The Hebrew word tov (good) is woven throughout the chapter, reinforcing the theme of goodness versus evil
B. David's reactionary self-interested indignation mirrors Nabal's
David performs a genuine good deed in protecting Nabal's flocks, but expects recognition in return
When Nabal repays good with evil, David straps on his sword in vengeful rage — a stark contrast to his restraint toward Saul in 1 Samuel 24
Jesus says to his disciples in Matthew 7:11, "If you who are evil know how to give good gifts" — only God is good
C. Abigail redirects David's eyes from his own supposed goodness to the goodness of God
Her appeal focuses not on David's merit but on God's promises concerning David
A voice of godly reason corrects the illusion that our goodness earns entitlement to a response
II. The Voice of Godly Reason Has Its Eye on God's Honor
A. Abigail's appeal for peace does not set aside truth
She plainly acknowledges Nabal's worthlessness and that he will face God's judgment
She affirms God's promises that David will be prince over Israel — she stands on the truth as she appeals for peace
This mirrors David's appeal to Saul in 1 Samuel 24, where David upheld the truth of Saul's guilt even while seeking peace
B. A false, postmodern ecumenicalism scraps hard truths in the name of peace
The modern church often equates reasonableness with discarding divisive doctrine
This is not biblical reason — it is relativism; true peace cannot be built on the abandonment of truth
C. True peace and reason are grounded in the honor of God through the gospel of Christ
David's restraint toward Saul in chapter 24 was rooted in the truth that Saul was the Lord's anointed
Abigail's restraint of David is rooted in the truth that David is the Lord's anointed
If David sheds innocent blood, he dishonors the Lord who has anointed and consecrated him as king
The church as the pillar of truth (1 Timothy 3:15) guards God's honor by protecting and proclaiming the gospel of Christ
III. The Voice of Godly Reason Has Its Eye on God's Salvation
A. Abigail knows God will save David from his external enemies
The Lord strikes Nabal dead approximately ten days later (1 Samuel 25:38)
Saul's destruction will follow at the end of 1 Samuel
B. More urgently, Abigail sees that God must save David from an enemy within — a sin-burdened conscience
In 1 Samuel 25:26, she says the Lord has restrained David from blood guilt and from taking vengeance with his own hand
In 1 Samuel 25:31, she warns that David would carry grief and pangs of conscience for shedding blood without cause
David later understands this acutely — in Psalm 51:14 he cries, "Deliver me from blood guiltiness, O God of my salvation"
C. No earthly victory resolves the enemy of a guilty conscience before a holy God
All external enemies could perish, and a person still remains conquered by sin and guilt
The sum of godly reason is Jesus Christ — God's goodness, God's honor, and God's salvation all find their yes and amen in him
The only remedy for a sin-burdened conscience is the blood of Christ; run to him to be cleansed
40 min
March 13, 2022Fruit of the Spirit - Gentleness
Order of Service
Call to Worship — Psalm 100
Hymn — O Love That Wilt Not Let Me Go (#708)
Westminster Shorter Catechism — Questions 17 & 18
Hymn — Savior, Like a Shepherd Lead Us (#599)
Pastoral Prayer
Prayer of Illumination
Scripture Reading — Galatians 6:1-10
Sermon
Hymn — Love Divine, All Loves Excelling (#529)
Benediction — Numbers 6:24-26
Sermon Title: The Fruit of the Spirit — Goodness
Scripture: Galatians 6:1-10
I. Goodness Derives from God
A. Goodness flows from God's own character and nature; the Spirit does not produce goodness ex nihilo but conveys it from its divine source
Psalm 34:8 — "Taste and see that the Lord is good"
Psalm 100:5 — "The Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever" — a refrain repeated throughout Israel's history
B. God's goodness is supremely displayed in sending his Son
Peter summarizes Christ's earthly ministry in Acts: "He went about doing good"
All Christ did — loving the unlovable, healing the sick, restoring the broken — flowed from his selfless goodness for others
The cross is the climax of God's covenantal (hesed) goodness; Christ died for our good because he is good
C. Romans 8:28 — "All things work together for good for those who are called according to his purpose" — God is the fountain and headwaters of all goodness
II. Goodness Is Distinct in Believers
A. There is a common-grace awareness of goodness in all people as image-bearers, but it falls short of true Spirit-worked goodness
Even an avowed atheist may be motivated to serve the poor — yet her motivation was how it made her feel; when the feeling fades, the goodness fades
"Be good for goodness' sake" is absorbed into culture, yet without a grounded definition of what goodness truly is
B. Spirit-worked goodness is distinct because it encompasses the whole person — body and soul
The world's goodness, at its best, seeks to relieve affliction and make this life more tolerable (George Bethune)
Christ's physical healings were real but also pointed to a deeper spiritual need — he had authority both to restore sight and to forgive sins
The office of deacon exemplifies whole-person care: a spiritual office addressing physical needs for the purpose of spiritual well-being
C. Bethune outlines several further distinctives of true goodness in believers:
It is not mere sentiment — it is active
It is not merely impulsive but rational and considerate — requiring time, thought, patience, and labor, not only money and kind words
It is self-sacrificing — it may cost us something beyond surplus money and time; it may hurt
It is untiring — Galatians 6:9: "Let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap if we do not give up"
III. Goodness Dispenses Broadly
A. Galatians 6:10 — "As we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone" — goodness is to be dispensed widely across all relationships and contexts, limited only by honest evaluation of opportunity
B. Do good to your enemies
We ourselves were enemies of God, yet he showed goodness toward us by sending his Son
Romans 12:14-21 — bless those who persecute you; repay no one evil for evil; if your enemy is hungry, feed him; overcome evil with good
C. Do good in your community
God has placed each believer at a particular time and place for a particular purpose
Start small — get to know your neighbor, ask questions, identify needs
D. Do good in your work
Whatever your vocation — office, home, restaurant, classroom — you are surrounded by people with real physical and spiritual needs
Use every opportunity to encourage with words and deeds and to point to Christ
E. Do good in your family
The home is the training ground for Christian virtues
Practice goodness with spouse, children, parents, and siblings — it is both the hardest and the best place to cultivate this fruit
F. Do good to the church — and especially so (Galatians 6:10)
Christ has a special concern for his church; he gifts his people to carry one another's burdens
Satan loves to sow seeds of bitterness, discord, and jealousy within congregations — be vigilant against this
Continue and increase in love, generosity, and hospitality toward one another
G. Closing exhortation: When tempted to give up, remember God's never-ending goodness toward you in Christ — while you were still his enemy, he did good to you for the great benefit of your soul
34 min
March 06, 2022March 6, 2022; Sunday Morning Worship
Scripture: Mark & Stephanie Horn - PCA Church Plant in Ocean Springs MS
Order of Service
Hymn — O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing
Call to Worship — Hebrews 12:18-24
Hymn — O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing
Prayer of Invocation
Confession of Sin
Assurance of Pardon — Psalm 130:3-4
Hymn — Amazing Grace
Pastoral Prayer
Offering
Prayer of Dedication
Hymn — Come Ye Sinners, Poor and Needy
Sermon
Lord's Supper
Words of Institution — 1 Corinthians 11:23-25
Hymn — When I Survey the Wondrous Cross (vv. 1–2)
Prayer of Consecration
Distribution of Bread
Distribution of Cup
Prayer of Thanksgiving
Hymn — When I Survey the Wondrous Cross (vv. 3–4)
Benediction
Sermon Title: Seeing the Lost with the Compassion of Christ
Scripture: Matthew 9:35-38
I. We Must See the Lost as Jesus Saw Them
A. Jesus actively went throughout all the cities and villages — he did not wait for people to come to him (Matthew 9:35)
B. Jesus healed because he genuinely cared, not only to prove his power
C. Like the priest and Levite in the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:31-32), our systems and busyness make it easy to pass by the lost without truly seeing them
D. We encounter people with eternal destinies every day — at work, school, neighborhoods, and sporting events — yet often do not stop to consider them
The non-Christians around us are not the enemy; they are lost, blind, and dead in their sins
They are described in Scripture as harassed and helpless — sheep without a shepherd
II. We Must Let Our Hearts Break for the Lost as Jesus's Heart Broke
A. When Jesus saw the crowds he had compassion on them (Matthew 9:36) — literally, his heart broke for them
B. The Good Samaritan stopped because he saw the man and had compassion (Luke 10:33) — the same word used of Jesus
C. Genuine compassion moves us beyond agreement with the idea of evangelism to personal engagement
The preacher confessed his own failures — passing by the homeless after a worship conference, turning away a man at a gas station
When we stopped and truly listened, people unburdened themselves and trusted us with their deepest needs — a deputy whose family had left, a waitress whose granddaughter was cutting herself
D. 1 Thessalonians 2:8 — we loved you enough to share not only the gospel but our very lives, because you had become dear to us
III. We Must Go to the Lost with Life-Saving Intent
A. The church exists to glorify God and make him known — this includes personal evangelism, not only financial support of missionaries
B. The illustration of Marine Dakota Meyer running back into enemy fire to rescue the wounded — a picture of the greater hero, Christ, who willingly gave his life for the harassed and helpless
C. The illustration of Machiko, the girl saved from the Hiroshima blast — we know of an eternal fire; will we warn those around us to run to the cross?
D. Revelation 7:9 — God will fulfill his Great Commission; people from every race, tribe, and tongue will surround the throne; it is our privilege to participate
E. We who were once harassed and helpless have been rescued by grace — like beggars who have found bread, we are called to share the feast of the gospel with those who are starving around us
38 min
February 27, 2022The Fruit of the Spirit: Kindness
Order of Service
Call to Worship — Psalm 105:1-5
Hymn — All Creatures of Our God and King (#115)
Shorter Catechism — Questions 15 & 16
Hymn — More Love to Thee (#649)
Pastoral Prayer
Sermon
Hymn — What a Friend We Have in Jesus (#629)
Benediction
Sermon Title: The Fruit of the Spirit: Kindness
Scripture: Jonah 4:1-4
I. The Position of Kindness
A. The Spirit gives a heart of flesh in place of a heart of stone (Ezekiel 36:26)
Israel was indicted throughout the first half of Ezekiel for cruelty and unkindness, especially toward the poor and widows
The heart of stone is manifested in unkind, cruel actions; the Spirit replaces this with a heart of flesh
To not have the Spirit is to be inhuman; to have the Spirit is to be truly human — the Greek term in Galatians 5 means "an obliging, yielding, kind disposition"
B. Jonah's inability to receive God's kindness made him stony toward the Ninevites
God's commission to Jonah was itself an act of kindness — warning Nineveh of judgment rather than simply pouring out wrath
Jonah explicitly confesses he knew God to be "gracious, merciful, slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love" (Jonah 4:2) — yet he could not receive that kindness
C. The gospel is the immeasurable riches of grace found in God's kindness toward us in Christ (Ephesians 2:6-7)
Kindness must first be received before it can be practiced
As we daily soak ourselves in the undeserved kindness of God in Christ, it flows from us into daily life
The Holy Spirit, like stadium lights, illumines Christ to the heart; as we fix our eyes on Christ we become more like him — more kind (J.I. Packer)
II. The Practice of Kindness
A. The indicative-imperative pattern of the New Testament epistles applies directly to kindness
The indicatives (facts of who we are in Christ) must lead to imperatives (how we are to live) — waiting to "feel" the indicatives before obeying is an abuse of this pattern
Practice makes perfect — even Christ grew in wisdom and stature (Luke 2:52) as he practiced godliness, perfecting kindness at the cross
B. Jesus modeled the practice of kindness
He did not come for the righteous but for sinners — he entered the homes of tax collectors, prostitutes, and sinners, dined with them, washed disciples' feet
His opponents called him "a friend of tax collectors and sinners" (Matthew 11:19)
Application: becoming a friend to those with whom we disagree is more productive than remaining enemies
C. Kindness is distinct from niceness
Niceness exchanges pleasantries: "I'll make sure to pray for you"
Kindness moves toward the person: "Can I pray for you right now?"
Illustration: a neighbor who, upon hearing of a health crisis, came to the door, placed his hands on the preacher's shoulders, and prayed — crossing the threshold from niceness into Spirit-wrought kindness
III. The Perspective of Kindness
A. Busyness and deadline-driven thinking are the greatest enemies of kindness
Illustration: a father at his computer gives his son candy, then a toy, but never himself — the son wanted to be with him
Of the nine virtues listed as the fruit of the Spirit, not one is work, busyness, or productivity — Martha learned this the hard way
B. Jesus demonstrates the eternal perspective required for kindness
While trekking toward Jerusalem to accomplish the hardest work ever demanded, Jesus stopped for blind Bartimaeus (Mark 10) when the crowd rebuked him
When the disciples turned children away as an interruption, Jesus rebuked the disciples, took the children in his arms, and blessed them
Stopping to extend kindness was not a detour from his destination — it was the very path to it
C. Christian kindness flows from an eternal, not a 24-hour, perspective
The worldly person is bound by the clock and has no time for kindness
If we are in Christ, we trek toward eternal glory — the path there is the path of kindness
Like the Good Samaritan, we can set aside our schedule and cross the threshold from niceness into Spirit-wrought, Christ-like kindness toward all image-bearers — beginning with one another in the church (Galatians 6:10)
28 min
February 27, 2022God's Good Timing
Scripture: 1 Samuel 24
Order of Service
Hymn — Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken
Call to Worship — Exodus 15:1-11
Hymn — Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken
Prayer of Invocation
Confession of Faith — Nicene Creed
Scripture Reading — Acts 11:19-30
Hymn — We Gather Together
Pastoral Prayer
Offering
Prayer of Dedication
Hymn — Take My Life and Let It Be
Sermon
Closing Prayer
Hymn — I Surrender All
Benediction
Sermon Title: God's Good Timing
Scripture: 1 Samuel 24
I. God's Good Timing Involves Long-Suffering from the Believer
A. Saul, after dealing with the Philistines, immediately resumes pursuit of David with 3,000 men, finding him at En Gedi
Saul enters a cave unaware that David and his men are hiding in its depths
David's men urge him to seize the moment, possibly misquoting Scripture to justify taking the kingdom now
B. David's response: he cuts the corner of Saul's robe — a symbolic act
Recalls 1 Samuel 15:27-28: the tearing of Samuel's robe signified the kingdom torn from Saul; David's act echoes this symbolism
Yet David's heart immediately strikes him with conviction; he refuses to harm the Lord's anointed and rebukes his men sharply
C. Theological foundation: to strike the Lord's anointed is to dishonor the Lord himself
David will not grasp the kingdom in his own timing but waits on God's way
Parallel to Christ's temptation: Satan offers the kingdoms of the world now; Jesus refuses to take the kingdom by any means other than the Father's appointed way
Parallel to Peter's rebuke: "Get behind me, Satan" — Matthew 16:23
D. Application: the road to kingdom glory is cross-shaped and dependent on God's timing
John Bunyan spent 12 years in prison rather than renounce preaching; friends urged him to comply for his family's sake — a reasonable but worldly argument
Waiting on God's timing sometimes means turning a deaf ear to outwardly reasonable counsel
We live in the tension of the already/not yet kingdom; we must not try to yank down the not-yet consummation by our own means
II. God's Good Timing Involves Vengeance from the Lord
A. David emerges from the cave, bows before Saul, and shows him the cut corner of his robe, proving his innocence and exposing Saul's folly
David likens himself to "a dead dog, a flea" — Saul's enemy is no real threat; yet Israel's real enemies, the Philistines, go unaddressed
David calls on God as the righteous judge: Romans 12:19 — "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord"
B. The imprecatory psalms (notably Psalm 69 and Psalm 109) reflect this same principle
To imprecate is to invoke God's righteous judgment on his enemies — not personal revenge but calling on the Lord to act
Modern discomfort with these psalms may reflect a lack of zeal for holiness and too great a comfort with surrounding wickedness
C. The ultimate fulfillment of the imprecatory psalms is the cross
Isaiah 53:10 — "It was the Lord's will to crush him": God poured out his vengeance on the sin-bearer
Romans 5 — when we were enemies of God, objects of his just curse, he sent his Son to absorb that curse for us
D. Two-pronged application for praying about enemies today
Pray for enemies' salvation — that the imprecation would be exhausted for them in Christ, not upon them in judgment
Pray maranatha — as evil has its day (e.g., current events in Ukraine), cry out: "Come, Lord Jesus, crush the serpent" — 2 Timothy 2:25
III. God's Good Timing Involves Recognition from the Enemy
A. Saul weeps and acknowledges David's righteousness and right to the throne (1 Samuel 24:16-20)
David's refusal to repay evil with evil places burning coals of conviction on Saul's head
Saul asks David to swear not to cut off his offspring; David grants this — but notably, this oath had already been made to Jonathan in 1 Samuel 20:14-17
David honors the covenant with righteous Jonathan, not merely wicked Saul — fulfilled later in 2 Samuel 9:1
B. Christ as the ultimate fulfillment: Philippians 2:6-11
Though equal with God, Christ did not grasp equality with God but became a servant, submitted to long-suffering and to the Father's vengeance at the cross
The result: every knee in heaven, on earth, and under the earth will bow and confess Jesus Christ is Lord — recognition from every enemy
C. The church participates in this mission: Colossians 1:24
Paul "fills up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions" — not that Christ's atonement is insufficient, but that Christ's presence on earth is now through his body, the church
Augustine's insight: where the body is, there Christ is also — Christ's kingdom mission advances through the church
Jesus' words to Saul on the road: "Why are you persecuting me?" — to afflict the church is to afflict Christ; to serve through the church is to extend Christ's presence
As we wait on God's timing in long-suffering service, we hasten the day when every enemy will confess Christ as King of kings and Lord of lords
41 min
February 20, 2022Fruit of the Spirit - Patience
Order of Service
Westminster Shorter Catechism — Questions 13 & 14
Hymn — Breathe on Me, Breath of God (#334)
Pastoral Prayer
Scripture Reading — Psalm 62
Sermon
Hymn — A Mighty Fortress Is Our God (#92)
Benediction
Sermon Title: Fruit of the Spirit — Patience
Scripture: Psalm 62
I. Spirit-Wrought Patience Is a Remembering Silence Before Who God Is
A. David opens with an abrupt declaration: nevertheless, his soul waits in silence for God alone (Psalm 62:1–2)
B. David quiets himself by remembering who God is
God is a saving God — "from him comes my salvation"; like Job, David knows his Redeemer lives
God is a rock — a sure, unshifting foundation; the wise man builds on the rock (Matthew 7:24–25)
God is a fortress — a protecting stronghold; David shall not be greatly shaken
C. Application: When patience is a struggle, are you remembering who your God is?
Patience looks back to a saving God in order to wait with confidence through present trials
Just as a parent reminds a child of who they are, God calls us to remember him in moments of urgency
II. Spirit-Wrought Patience Is a Resolving Trust in Who God Is
A. David faces enemies who use false words and curses to batter and topple him (Psalm 62:3–4)
B. Feeling himself begin to sink — like Peter on the water — David now must speak to his own soul (Psalm 62:5)
The shift from declaring the state of his soul to addressing his soul directly is significant
Like the father who cried, "Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!" (Mark 9:24), we teeter between belief and unbelief
C. Spirit-wrought patience recalls who God is so we can resolve ourselves to trust him on the "help my unbelief" days
D. Patience must not be divorced from trust and hope in God's character
Wilhelmus à Brakel: "There is much time, much cross-bearing, and much strife between promise and possession. Patience supports hope so that it does not succumb to tribulations."
James calls us to establish our hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand (James 5:8)
III. Spirit-Wrought Patience Is a Discriminating Application of Who God Is
A. David contrasts false sources of trust with the God upon whom he has called himself to wait (Psalm 62:9–12)
B. People — whether of low or high estate — are merely a breath and a delusion (Psalm 62:9)
We are drawn to trust people of influence, but they are temporary and fleeting
C. Riches — whether gained honestly or through oppression — are equally unreliable (Psalm 62:10)
D. By contrast, God has spoken: power and steadfast love belong to him (Psalm 62:11–12)
He is a long-suffering, patient God — slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love (Exodus 34:6)
He is a just God, rendering to each according to their works
E. Application: In whom or what are you entrusting yourself?
The Spirit grows in us the ability to look through victories and defeats, gains and losses, and to see God
God is enough — even a glimpse of what he is doing, of the rest to which he is bringing us, is sufficient to fuel our waiting
He works all things together for the good of those called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28)
We must learn to know God as David did — in good times and especially in bad
30 min
February 13, 2022God Works in Mysterious Ways
Scripture: 1 Samuel 22
Order of Service
Announcements
Call to Worship — Psalm 117
Hymn — From All That Dwell Below the Skies
Prayer of Invocation
Confession of Faith — 1 Timothy 3:16
Hymn — Before the Throne of God Above
Sacrament of Baptism
Prayer
Offering
Hymn — Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing
Sermon
Hymn — I Am Not Skilled to Understand
Benediction — Psalm 121:7-8
Sermon Title: God Works in Mysterious Ways
Scripture: 1 Samuel 22
I. A Mysterious Refuge
A. David flees to the cave of Adullam (1 Samuel 22:1-2)
David's family joins him, likely fleeing Saul's bloodlust
A "motley crew" of 400 men — the distressed, indebted, and bitter in soul — gather to him
David's low estate mirrors Christ's: tax collectors, prostitutes, and sinners flocked to the one who said "Come to me, all who are weary and heavy laden" (Matthew 11:28)
B. David's parents find refuge with the king of Moab (1 Samuel 22:3-4)
Moab was a historic enemy of Israel, yet provides shelter
This refuge traces back to David's Moabite great-grandmother Ruth — Yahweh arranged kindness long beforehand
Small acts of faithfulness, entrusted to God's sovereign hand, bear fruit in ways and times beyond our comprehension
II. Mysterious Allies
A. The prophet Gad appears (1 Samuel 22:5)
The first mention of Gad in Scripture; he will appear again in 2 Samuel 24 as God's spokesman of judgment on David's census
From 1 Chronicles 29 he appears to have been a faithful companion of David until David's death
God had been silent through chapters 19–21; Gad's word breaks the silence David lamented in Psalm 13
New covenant Christians have something more sure than a living prophet — the closed canon of Scripture (2 Peter 1:19-21); Paul's greatest ally in prison was his Bible (2 Timothy 4:13)
B. The priest Abiathar escapes and joins David (1 Samuel 22:20-23)
By chapter's end David has been given both a prophet and a priest
In 1 Samuel 23 Abiathar brings the ephod so David can inquire of the Lord
David's prophet and priest foreshadow Christ, who is Prophet, Priest, and King in one person — giving his people God's final word, interceding for them, and reigning at the Father's right hand (1 Timothy 3:16)
III. A Mysterious Judgment
A. Saul's massacre of the priests at Nob (1 Samuel 22:6-19)
Saul displays every mark of a paranoid egomaniac — accusing his own servants and son of conspiracy
Doeg the Edomite, mentioned as a planted detail in 1 Samuel 21:7, reports David's visit to Ahimelech
Saul summons and wrongly condemns Ahimelech, then orders the slaughter of 85 priests, along with women, children, infants, and livestock — usurping divine prerogative in issuing the ban as though he were Yahweh
Saul's only remaining ally is Doeg the Edomite — a descendant of Esau, historically Israel's chief enemy (mentioned four times across chapters 21–22)
B. God's judgment on the house of Eli is fulfilled (1 Samuel 2:33)
God had promised that all descendants of Eli's house would die by the sword; Abiathar alone escapes, fulfilling the word that one would be spared "to weep his eyes out"
God uses wicked instruments to carry out his judgments: Assyria against the northern kingdom, Babylon against Judah, and wicked men placing Christ on the cross
C. The cross as the ultimate pattern of mysterious judgment bringing salvation
God's enemies throughout history believe they are fighting against him, but are actually carrying out his purposes
For those hidden in Christ, even evil's assault works for them (Romans 8:35-37)
The victory of the Christian is secured through the very instrument of apparent defeat — the crucified King; great indeed is the mystery of godliness (1 Timothy 3:16)
42 min
February 13, 2022Fruit of the Spirit - Peace
Order of Service
Call to Worship — Psalm 136:1-6
Hymn — Leaning on the Everlasting Arms (#616)
Shorter Catechism — Questions 11 & 12
Hymn — A Shelter in the Time of Storm (#619)
Pastoral Prayer
Scripture Reading — Ephesians 2:11-22
Sermon
Closing Prayer
Hymn — All the Way My Savior Leads Me (#605)
Benediction
Sermon Title: Fruit of the Spirit — Peace
Scripture: Ephesians 2:11-22
I. Vertical Peace
A. The nature of man's war with God
Paul's concept of peace draws on the Hebrew word shalom — wholeness, completeness, oneness, a well-ordered life in step with God
Before the Spirit's work, all mankind are "children of wrath" (Ephesians 2:3)
Romans 8:5-8 contrasts life in the flesh (enmity with God) and life in the Spirit (life and peace)
Man, not God, fired the first shot — sin severs the harmony of creation and declares war on God
B. The war won at the cross
Peace requires the right side to win — as Allied victory (not Nazi victory) was necessary for peace in WWII, God must defeat sin and death for true peace to follow
Colossians 1:19-20 — God reconciles all things to himself, "making peace by the blood of his cross"
Reconciliation and peace are interchangeable terms — atonement (at-one-ment) means oneness with God restored
God drops the "atomic bomb" of his wrath on Christ at Calvary, winning the war over sin and death
C. The Spirit applies Christ's work
Christ's finished work inaugurates the age of the poured-out Spirit on all whom he has reconciled
Peace with God comes with terms — life in step with the Spirit rather than the flesh (Romans 8:5-8)
The flesh and the Spirit are at war; peace can only reign as we walk by the Spirit and not the flesh (Galatians 5)
II. Internal Peace
A. The cleansing of the conscience
Hebrews 10:22 — hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience through Christ's blood
Hebrews 9:13-14 — old covenant sacrifices cleansed the flesh externally; Christ's sacrifice cleanses the conscience internally
The Spirit internalizes what Christ accomplished externally at Calvary — he "paints our hearts with the blood of Christ"
Romans 12:2 — the mind is transformed and renewed by the Spirit's work
B. Peace amid ongoing internal struggle
The internal struggle does not prove absence of the Spirit — Romans 7 shows Paul doing what he does not wish to do
"Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!" (Romans 7:24-25)
Romans 8:1 belongs to the conclusion of Romans 7 — "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus"
The Spirit uses the pain of battling the flesh to remind believers of the peace found in Christ alone
The gospel is never sweeter than when guilt makes it seem impossible — the internal struggle magnifies the extravagance of grace
C. The already and the not yet
Present peace is like Noah's peace in the ark — secure even as storms rage within and without
We await the "not yet" — new resurrection bodies fully free from indwelling sin, a stormless peace in the new heavens and new earth
III. Horizontal Peace
A. The objective peace accomplished by Christ
Ephesians 2:11-22 — Christ's blood brings both Jews and Gentiles near to God in one Spirit, breaking down the dividing wall of hostility
Atonement (at-one-ment) reconciles not only vertically but horizontally — oneness with fellow man
B. Our responsibility to live into that peace
Peter's failure in Galatians 2 — withdrawing from the Gentiles when Jewish believers arrived contradicted the very gospel of peace he proclaimed
Paul rebuked Peter to his face because his conduct denied the horizontal reconciliation Christ had accomplished
Quote from 19th-century Dutch Reformed pastor George Bethune: defenders of truth who use arrogant, wounding language are "verily guilty of breaking peace" — the gospel came to bring peace on earth and goodwill toward men
Conservative Christians are especially susceptible to truth-as-a-bomb approaches, particularly in online discourse — a fleshly defense of truth must be distinguished from a Spirit-wrought defense of truth
C. The fruit of the Spirit is singular
Peace cannot be isolated from the other qualities — love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control are all robust flavors of one fruit
Doctrinal correctness does not excuse careless or provocative speech toward brothers and sisters
As citizens of Christ's kingdom and covenant of peace, believers are to pursue peace in all they say and do, without abandoning truth
35 min
February 06, 2022February 6, 2022; Sunday Morning Worship
Scripture: 1 Samuel 21
Order of Service
Call to Worship — Psalm 34:1-10
Hymn — Rejoice, Ye Pure in Heart
Prayer of Invocation
Confession of Sin — 1 Kings 8
Assurance of Pardon — Psalm 103:11-13
Hymn — When Morning Gilds the Skies
Pastoral Prayer
Offering
Hymn — Be Still, My Soul
Sermon
Lord's Supper
Hymn — Rock of Ages
Benediction — Numbers 6:24-26
Sermon Title: Grinding It Out — Small Provisions and Small Victories
Scripture: 1 Samuel 21
I. Introduction: David in the Dog Fight
A. David does not shine in this chapter — his methods are questionable, but he survives
B. The Christian life is often a grind, not a mountaintop moment
The cross itself was not pretty — "pick up your cross" (Matthew 16:24)
Post-game analysis is easier than living through the battle
Progressive sanctification includes reviewing our responses after the heat of the moment passes
C. Psalm 34 — written by David after feigning madness before Achish — is a psalm of praise in the midst of desperation
Psalm 34:19-22: "Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all"
Echoed by Paul in 2 Corinthians 4:8-9: "Afflicted in every way but not crushed…struck down but not destroyed"
II. The Christian Grind Relies on Small Provisions
A. The provision of bread — David asks Ahimelech for food (1 Samuel 21:1-6)
Ahimelech has only the bread of the Presence — twelve loaves symbolizing God's provision for the twelve tribes, recalling manna in the wilderness
Ahimelech gives David the holy bread, recognizing the desperate situation
B. Jesus later refers to this episode when confronting the Pharisees about the Sabbath
Jesus declares: "The Lord desires mercy more than sacrifice" — a window into the heart of Yahweh
God is not primarily a ritualistic deity; He is first and foremost a merciful God who longs to show mercy
Ahimelech pictures the heart of Yahweh more than the Pharisees do
C. The provision of Goliath's sword — David asks for a weapon (1 Samuel 21:8-9)
The sword had been kept in the tabernacle behind the ephod as a symbol of God's victory over Israel's enemies
David is given both sustenance and protection — not a feast, not an army, but enough
D. Application: In the grind, God gives small tokens of grace — and they are enough
Illustration: Thai cave rescue (2018) — boys trapped 17 days survived on energy bars they received with thanksgiving
Consider how Jesus received his first morsel of bread after 40 days of fasting — he knew in a pointed way the blessing of God's daily bread
In the midst of the dog fight, focus on God's small provisions; they are sufficient
III. The Christian Grind Relies on Small Victories
A. David flees to Gath — a major Philistine city (1 Samuel 21:10-15)
This is as desperate as an American general seeking refuge in Berlin during World War II
The Israelite women's song from 1 Samuel 18 has reached Philistine ears — David cannot hide his identity
The Philistines conclude David, not Saul, is truly king — revealing why Saul's pride burns against David
B. David feigns madness to escape Achish
Achish refuses to keep a madman in his court — David is released
Not a glorious victory, but a survival retreat — he lives to fight another day
C. Small victories and retreats are part of the master plan
Historical illustration: The Battle of Dunkirk — a retreat that proved decisive for the outcome of World War II
Historical illustration: George Washington's brilliant retreats in the early Revolutionary War preserved troops for ultimate victory at Saratoga and Yorktown
On the final Victory Day, when Christ brings the crushing cosmic blow to all enemies, we will look back and see that our small victories and survival retreats were part of God's master plan
D. The proper perspective: live in D-Day knowing V-Day is certain
We are pilgrims in a foreign land, fighting principalities and powers (Ephesians 6:12)
Knowing V-Day is secure, we ought now — in D-Day — to praise God and sing Psalm 34
E. Illustration: Martin Luther in 1527 during the Black Plague
Luther's son nearly died; his own body was failing under pressure
He repeatedly turned to Psalm 46 — the basis for A Mighty Fortress Is Our God
He would say to Philip Melanchthon: "Come, Philip, let us sing the 46th song"
In the grind, may we say to one another: "Dear Christian, let us sing the 46th Psalm"
35 min

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Weekly expository preaching from the Lord’s Day morning and evening worship services at Northpointe Presbyterian Church (PCA) in Meridian, Mississippi.

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