David managed his challenging relationships by:

1. Behaving Wisely

2. Staying Humble

3. Trusting in God.

David’s Incredible Escapes

1 Samuel 19:1-5

1 Samuel 19: 6-7

1. God helped David escape King Saul’s death sentence incredibly by– the king’s son Jonathan.

1 Samuel 19:8-10

2. God helped David escape death incredibility by causing Saul’s spear to miss him three times.

When provoked, don't retaliate; hold your peace (1 Sam.19:10)

Romans 12:19

“Pray it don't say it.”

David Guzik, David was gone, but the spear remained. The thing Saul didn’t need – the spear – was left. The one thing Saul really did need – the person David – was gone. Saul was a loser on both counts.

1 Samuel 19:11-12

3. God helped David escape death incredibility by using Saul’s daughter

1 Samuel 19:13-15

Show pictures of dummy heads used in escape from Alcatraz

Samuel 19:16-18

When in distress seek Godly counsel (1 Sam. 19:18)

1 Samuel 19:19-21

4. God helped David escape death incredibility by using the power of His Spirit

David Guzik: This was the Holy Spirit’s warning to these men and to Saul. It is as if the Spirit said, “I don’t want David captured. I am sending these men home empty

handed. Instead of seeking to kill David, you should seek to be filled with the Spirit of God.”

1 Samuel 19:22-24

David Guzik: Three times, the Holy Spirit said to Saul, “Leave David alone. My Spirit is stronger than you are. You will never win this battle against Me and against David.” But Saul didn’t listen.

God will humble us under His power when we oppose His plans (1 Sam. 19:20-24)

1 Samuel 20:1-3

Loyal friendship is a rare and invaluable gift (1 Sam. 20)

David Hits an All Time Low

1 Samuel 21:1-2

1 Samuel 21:3-6

1 Samuel 21:7

1 Samuel 21:8-9

1 Samuel 21:10-15

1 Samuel 22:1-2

3 pics of the Cave of Adullam

"Everyone who was in distress" (Hebrew word: zuk, means not only "in distress," but under pressure, under stress.)

"Everyone who was in debt," (Hebrew word nashah, means to lend on interest, to have a number of creditors.)

"Everyone who was discontented." (Hebrew word maar nephesh, means to be in bitterness of soul, to have been wronged and mistreated.)

Alan Redpath, “These are the kind of men who came to David: distressed, bankrupt, dissatisfied. These are the kind of people who come to Christ, and they are the only people who come to Him, for they have recognized their distress, their debt, and bankruptcy, and are conscious that they are utterly discontented. The sheer pressure of these frustrations drives them to the refuge of the blood of Christ that was shed for them.”

Psalm 142

A Plea for Relief from Persecutors. A Contemplation of David. A Prayer when he was in the cave.

Psalm 142:1-7

Note: I will go thru the 5 points below quickly. Please add them underneath each other one at a time as I go thru each point.

How David Faced His Problems

1. David Verbalized the Situation Before God

2. David Visualized the Situation Before God

3. David Recognized Something About God

4. David Realized the Provision He Had in God

5. David Arrived at the Place of Victory

Psalm 142:7

David Jeremiah, The challenge in the Christian life is not how to avoid problems—trouble will find us in spite of our efforts to avoid it. The challenge is learning to move through the problems by staying focused on God. David started with problems but prayed his way through to praise.

1 Samuel 22:3-5

David the Deliverer Delivered

1 Samuel 23:1-2

1 Samuel 23:3

1 Samuel 23:4-5

When in doubt, seek God out!

1 Samuel 23:6

(pic of Urim & Thummim)

1 Samuel 23:7

1 Samuel 23:8

1 Samuel 23:9-12

1 Samuel 23:9-12

1 Samuel 23:13-14

1 Samuel 24:1-3

1 Samuel 24:4 (partial) Then the men of David said to him, “This is the day of which the LORD said to you, ‘Behold, I will deliver your enemy into your hand, that you may do to him as it seems good to you.’

1 Samuel 24:4b. (partial) & verses 5-7. And David arose and secretly cut off a corner of Saul’s robe. I will continue reading thru verse 7.

Even if you don’t respect the person, you should show respect for the position of authority

1 Samuel 24:8

1 Samuel 24:9-15

Wait on the Lord with prayer; wait for the Lord with patience

1 Samuel 24:16-22

David Guzik, Many times, a person repents and claims to recognize their sinful ways just like Saul did. But the validity of repentance and a changed heart isn’t demonstrated by the emotion or sincerity of a moment. It is demonstrated by the ongoing direction of one’s life and David had every right to say, “I’m going to stay in the stronghold until I see the direction of Saul’s life.”

The Marks of Champion for God

1 Samuel 17:1-7

Show Pictures of Robert Wadlow. There are 3.

1 Samuel 17:8-11

1 Samuel 17:12-16

Chuck Swindoll, How applicable to any "giant" we encounter! That's the way with the giants of fear and worry, for example. They don't come just once; they come morning and evening, day after day, relentlessly trying to intimidate. They come in the form of a person, or a pressure, or a worry. Some fear that hammers on your heart every morning and every night, day in and day out, yelling across the ravine in your own personal valley. Few things are more persistent and intimidating than our fears and our worries – especially when we face them in our own strength.

1 Samuel 17:17-37

1 Samuel 17:29

Champions for God:

1. Stay focused despite criticism

1 Samuel 17:30-33

2. Don’t listen to discouragers

1 Samuel 17:34-37

3. Have faith in God to move on their behalf

1 Samuel 17:38-39

4. Don’t try to be someone else

1 Samuel 17:40

1 Samuel 17:41-47

5. Give their battles to the Lord

1 Samuel 17:48

6. Are courageous

1 Samuel 17:49-53

7. Inspire others

1 Samuel 17:54

8. Remember their victories

Chuck Swindoll, So often, when facing our own giants, we forget what we ought to remember and we remember what we ought to forget. We remember our defeats and we forget the victories. But what is needed during a time of challenge is a focus on the remark-able victories that God has pulled off in our past.

Romans 2:1-5

1 Corinthians 4:5

Truth #1: God’s judgment reflects reality (v.2)

2 Chronicles 6:30, “then hear from heaven Your dwelling place and forgive, and give to everyone according to all his ways, whose heart you know (for you alone know the hearts of the sons of men),”

Truth #2: God’s judgment allows no exceptions (v.3)

Truth #3: God’s kindness is an invitation to repent, not a permit to sin (v.4)

Truth #4: Unrepentance stores up wrath (v.5)

Romans 2:6-11

Display screenshot below:

Truth #5: God’s judgment is according to what we have really been, sought, and done (vv.6-10)

Truth #6: God’s judged outcomes are eternal (vv.7-8)

Truth #7: God’s judgment is personal and individual (vv.6, 9-10)

Truth #8: God’s judgment is absolutely impartial (v.11)

Romans 1:16

Romans 2:12-16

Truth #9: God’s judgment falls on all—whether you had the Law in your hands or on your heart (vv.12-15)

Truth #10: God’s judgment reaches the secrets of the heart (v.16a)

Truth #11: God’s judgment is through Jesus Christ—and this belongs inside the gospel (v.16b)

Romans 2:16

John 8:24

John 1:12

Proverbs 4:23 NIV

What if the greatest danger to our soul is not open rebellion—but quiet religious confidence?

[from The Great Divorce by C.S. Lewis]

Visitor: “Is it possible you don’t know where you’ve been?”

Resident: “Now that you mention it, I don’t think we ever do give it a name. What do you call it?”

Visitor: “We call it Hell.”

Resident: “There is no need to be profane, my dear boy. I may not be very orthodox in your sense of that word, but I do feel that these matters ought to be discussed simply, and seriously, and reverently.”

Visitor: “Discuss Hell reverently? I meant what I said. You have been to Hell.”

Resident: “Go on, my dear boy, go on. That is so like you. No doubt you’ll tell me why, in your view, I was sent there. I’m not angry.”

Visitor: “But you don’t know? You went there because you are an apostate.”

Resident: “Are you serious, Dick?”

Visitor: “Perfectly!”

Resident: “This is worse than I expected. Do you really think people are penalized for their honest opinions? Even assuming, for the sake of argument, that those opinions were mistaken.”

Matthew 7:22-23

Romans 2:17-24

[display point and then question on same slide]

I. The Danger of Overconfidence

Do I assume I am right with God because I know the truth, rather than because the truth has changed me?

Romans 2:17-24

Luke 18:9-14

Romans 2:24

Romans 2:25-27

II. The Danger of False Security through Association

Do I trust my relationship to God’s people more than my relationship with God Himself?

Romans 2:28-29

Ezekiel 33:30-32

Deuteronomy 30:6

Colossians 2:9-11

Romans 10:9-10

Romans 3:1-8

1. Objections of Man

Psalm 147:19-20

2 Timothy 2:13

Romans 3:9-18

2. Indictment Against Humanity

Ivan Turgenev – “I don’t know what the heart of a bad man is like, but I do know what the

heart of a good man is like, and it is terrible.”

A. Character

Jeremiah 29:13

John 6:44

B. Conduct

Ephesians 4:29

C. The Cause

Romans 3:19-20

3. The Verdict

Romans 3:21-25a (stop at “whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith…”)

[List of key words; display one at a time but all on one slide if possible]

Law (verse 21): The revelation to Moses by God, the official title of the Old Testament (including the prophets, ten commandments, etc.).

Righteousness (verse 21): The quality or state of being just, sound, without prejudice or guilt of any kind.

Faith (verse 22): To believe something is true, or someone is legitimate.

Glory (verse 23): Praise or acknowledgement.

Justified (verse 24): The means or method by which one becomes righteous or to be declared righteous.

Grace (verse 24): A gift or attitude of benevolence, compassion, and generosity; receiving something you do not deserve.

Redemption (verse 24): To purchase back, to free, to liberate or redeem.

Propitiation (verse 25): An appeasement or a peace offering; to propitiate something is to remove the wrath.

Romans 3:21-22c (end at “to all and on all who believe…”)

1. How is the righteousness of God revealed in the present time?

1 Corinthians 1:30

2 Corinthians 5:21

2. How is justification now possible for all who believe?

1 Peter 1:18-19

Romans 3:23-25

Romans 3:26-28

3. Why did God demonstrate righteousness in this way?

Romans 3:29-31

4. Who may be justified?