With Friends Through the Furnace
Notes
Transcript
Handout
WELCOME
WELCOME
So, as most of you remember we took a detour from the book of Samuel and watched a 2-Part series from Pastor Jack Hibbs about where we stand prophetically at this time.
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So, we left off a two weeks ago as Saul presumed that God led him to David in order to take him out.
But David learns about Saul’s plan and prays to God for answers on what he should do.
And if you remember David received the answers even though the answers weren’t exactly what David wanted to hear.
But as we learned the answers were the truth, and the truth is what David needed to hear.
So, God told David that Saul will come down to Keliah to get him.
God also told David that the people of Keilah would deliver him over to Saul.
So, the people that David rescued will betray him and turn him over to Saul if he remained in Keilah.
So, God is about to allow David to go through the refiner’s fire of affliction.
A furnace so to speak of tribulation that will draw David closer to the Lord and teach him some valuable lessons.
Now here’s the exciting part.
During David’s trial, at his most desperate time, his friends come to his side and walk with him through this furnace of fiery afflictions.
But Peter, how can this be the exciting part?
Well, I’m glad that you asked me.
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So, with that let’s get into this mornings message. I’ve titled my message, “With Friends Through the Furnace.”
I’ve also broken down my message into two major points.
God’s Protection—vs. 13-15
A Friend’s Encouragement—vs. 16-18
Let’s get to our first point for this morning, God’s Protection in verses 13-15.
ONE: GOD’S PROTECTION—VS. 13-15
13 So David and his men, numbering about 600, left Keilah at once and moved from place to place. When it was reported to Saul that David had escaped from Keilah, he called off the expedition.
14 David then stayed in the wilderness strongholds and in the hill country of the Wilderness of Ziph. Saul searched for him every day, but God did not hand David over to him.
15 David was in the Wilderness of Ziph in Horesh when he saw that Saul had come out to take his life.
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So, after God told David what would happen to him if he stayed in Keilah, he and his men wondered around from place to place.
And when Saul found out that David wasn’t in Keilah any longer, he stopped his hunt in Keilah.
So, at some point David and his men end up in the mountain wilderness of Ziph.
And good old Saul was still trying to hunt David down but God protected him and didn’t let Saul find him. ELABORATE
You know whats crazy, Saul still doesn’t see the stupidity of trying to oppose God.
He continues to try and take out David even though he was told by Samuel that he’s no longer king, and that God would anoint another, which he now knew was David.
You can’t go up against God, you’ll never win.
Why? Because he’s God and we’re not! ELABORATE
Now, David on the other hand who was in the mountain wilderness of Ziph was learning by experience the meaning of the name Ziph.
The name Ziph means, “Refining place.”
Listen, in the refining process of affliction, trouble, trials, hard knocks, suffering, disappointment, and betrayal, God was preparing His king.
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IOW God uses the refining fire of these things to burn out the dross in our lives and bring us closer to the Lord just as he did for David! ELABORATE
Listen, we must always remember that God uses the refining fire of our trials to burn out the dross in our lives bringing us closer to Jesus.
IOW God’s refining fire softens and liquefies the metal of our lives so to speak, making them moldable.
For us, the fire makes us flexible to God’s will and conforms us to the shape of His mold for our lives, not ours. (ELABORATE)
Because of His love for us, He’s working to makes us more like Christ.
2 Corinthians 4:17 (HCSB)
17 For our momentary light affliction is producing for us an absolutely incomparable eternal weight of glory. (ELABORATE)
Psalm 119:67 (HCSB)
67 Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep Your word. (ELABORATE)
Listen, David was hurt emotionally by Saul.
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And the Lord at times will allow us to be hurt and disappointed so that we won’t hurt and disappoint people in our lives.
Guys, our hurts and disappointments should give us just a small glimpse of what Jesus went through as He was hurt and rejected by the very people He created. (ELABORATE)
Now, God not only allows trouble and trials in our lives to refine us, but for us to also understand what other people go through in their trials.
And this allows us to know how to encourage them in the same way that we were encouraged by the Lord.
2 Corinthians 1:3–4 (HCSB)
3 Praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort.
4 He comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any kind of affliction, through the comfort we ourselves receive from God. (ELABORATE)
We see from verse 14 that Saul was persistent in trying to hunt down David.
But we also see from verse 14 that the Lord didn’t allow that to happen.
IOW the Lord watched over and protected David from the wicked intentions that Saul had.
Romans 8:31 (HCSB)
31 What then are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us? (ELABORATE)
So, let’s talk for a moment about how often and in how many different ways God delivered David.
Saul spoke to his servants and Jonathan about killing David and uses Jonathan to spare him.
Saul throws a javelin at David and his rapid response God given rapid response saves him.
David’s house was staked out for a morning assassination and God uses Saul’s daughter, Michael, to let David down a window in the darkness.
Groups of assassins are sent to kill David and God fills them all with his Spirit, including Saul, and again David is miraculously spared.
At Keilah, David is warned of treachery by a spy and the Lord.
Later on, the Lord will use the Philistines to deliver David.
You know, what a comfort it is knowing that God is in control of our lives just as he was for David’s life.
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God doesn’t love David anymore than He loves you or me. (ELABORATE)
But what about temptation Peter.
Didn’t Saul and David experience temptation.
Yes, we all experience temptation.
But Saul chose to give in to his temptations as did David, but David repented of his sins.
Listen, when it comes to temptations, nothing happens to us with out the Lord’s consent, whether it be good or bad.
Let me give you three things to remember about temptations.
GOD’S TESTINGS REGARDING TEMPTATIONS
God in His wisdom plans the test and limits the temptation.
God in His love sends the test and permits the temptation.
God in His grace meets the test and overcomes the temptation.
Proverbs 17:3 (NLT)
3 Fire tests the purity of silver and gold, but the Lord tests the heart. (ELABORATE)
1 Peter 1:6–7 (NRSV)
6 In this you rejoice, even if now for a little while you have had to suffer various trials,
7 so that the genuineness of your faith—being more precious than gold that, though perishable, is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.
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1 Corinthians 10:13 (ESV)
13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. (ELABORATE)
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Listen, God uses affliction and testing in our life to help us stop sinning and make us more like Christ.
IOW our suffering is God’s sandpaper so to speak to knock off the rough edges in our life. (ELABORATE)
So, in the situation David finds himself in, he’s also having the rough edges knocked off his life as well.
But, while David finds himself in the furnace of suffering, the Lord gives him a blessing.
And that brings us to our 2nd point for this morning, “A friends encouragement” in verses 16-18.
TWO: A FRIENDS ENCOURAGEMENT—VS. 16-18
1 Samuel 23:16–18 (HCSB)
16 Then Saul’s son Jonathan came to David in Horesh and encouraged him in his faith in God,
17 saying, “Don’t be afraid, for my father Saul will never lay a hand on you. You yourself will be king over Israel, and I’ll be your second-in-command. Even my father Saul knows it is true.”
18 Then the two of them made a covenant in the Lord’s presence. Afterward, David remained in Horesh, while Jonathan went home.
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So, David really needed some encouragement in his life right about now.
And just as the Lord went through the furnace with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, God has a friend who goes through the refiner’s fire with David at Ziph.
In Galatians 6:7 we read this.
Galatians 6:7 (NRSV)
7 Do not be deceived; God is not mocked, for you reap whatever you sow.
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Listen, David is reaping what he’s sown.
You see, David came to Keilah and battled the Philistines after they send out an S.O.S. for help as we learned a few weeks ago.
But now someone comes to David’s side to be a blessing to him.
And that someone was his best friend, Jonathan.
And Jonathan does what we should all do to those who are our brothers and sisters in Christ.
And that’s to be an encouragement to them. (ELABORATE)
So, Jonathan encourages David while he’s in the furnace of suffering.
Listen, Jonathan is challenging us as believers to get involved in the lives of those who are in their own fiery trials.
He’s encouraging us to bear one another’s burdens.
And what a great opportunity this us for us to demonstrate the love of Jesus in our lives.
So, this brings up a question.
“How do we as believers help strengthen others in Christ, and those who we call our friend?
By our PRESENCE.
We should be spending time with them in their trial when they need us.
We should listen, comfort, and assure them in their troubles.
Proverbs 27:17 (NRSV)
17 Iron sharpens iron, and one person sharpens the wits (Minds) of another.
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So, how else can we help strengthen others who are Believers and friends?
Remind them of God’s promises.
We can do this by pointing them to the Lord
We can remind them of God’s promises
Jonathan reminded David that he would be King.
Listen, God also has promises for you and I as well.
Isaiah 41:10 (NRSV)
10 do not fear, for I am with you, do not be afraid, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my victorious right hand.
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Another promise you can give them is found in Hebrews 13:5.
Hebrews 13:5 (NLT)
5 Don’t love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.”
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So, how else can we help strengthen others who are Believers and friends?
Review past blessings, God’s provisions, and God’s leading which inspires their faith.
We do this by giving examples of our own life and what the Lord has done for us.
Psalm 9:11 (NLT)
11 Sing praises to the Lord who reigns in Jerusalem. Tell the world about his unforgettable deeds.
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3.
We rally them to rely decisively on the Lord for strength.
Psalm 46:1 (NRSV)
1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
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HOW IS GOD OUR STRENGTH?
Listen, we say this a lot but what do we mean when we say it?
IOW how is God our strength?
How was he David’s strength?
Let me share 8 thoughts and scriptures with you about this.
1 He PULLS us up when we’re down and encourages us by His Spirit of joy.
Nehemiah 8:10b (NRSV)
10 ....for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”
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Psalm 27:14 (NRSV)
14 Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!
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2. God’s PEACE is given in the midst of instability, chaos, and unrest.
Boy, aren’t we going through that right now in this world that’s turned upside down.
Psalm 119:165 (NIV)
165 Great peace have those who love your law, and nothing can make them stumble.
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Isaiah 26:3 (NRSV)
3 Those of steadfast mind you keep in peace— in peace because they trust in you.
I like this verse especially the way it’s translated in the original Hebrew which is,
Hebrew Translation
“Thou will keep him in peace peace or double peace.”
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3. The Lord PRIES us from the bondage of sinful habits.
Romans 6:18 (HCSB)
18 and having been liberated from sin, you became enslaved to righteousness.
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Romans 6:22 (NRSV)
22 But now that you have been freed from sin and enslaved to God, the advantage you get is sanctification. The end is eternal life.
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4. The Lord PROVIDES healing and strength for our weakness and sickness.
Hosea 6:1 (NLT)
1 “Come, let us return to the Lord. He has torn us to pieces; now he will heal us. He has injured us; now he will bandage our wounds.
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5. PROBLEMS and trials are countered by God’s provision of grace.
2 Corinthians 12:9–10 (HCSB)
9 But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may reside in me.
10 So I take pleasure in weaknesses, insults, catastrophes, persecutions, and in pressures, because of Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
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6. God PROMOTES courage when we are afraid and doubt.
Psalm 27:1 (HCSB)
1 The Lord is my light and my salvation— whom should I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life— of whom should I be afraid?
Psalm 56:3,11 (HCSB)
3 When I am afraid, I will trust in You.
11 in God I trust; I will not fear. What can man do to me?
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7. God PARDONS when we fail and seek His forgiveness.
1 John 1:9 (NRSV)
9 If we confess our sins, he who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
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The word “Cleanse” is an interesting word.
It’s a word of “Strength.”
It means to free from filth or break the bonds.
The Greek word for “Cleanse” is “Katharizo” and forms our English word “Katharize.”
And Here is the definition of the word “Catharize” from the Collins English dictionary.
To purify or make clean.
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8. God PROTECTS from danger when it is His will for our life
He protected Daniel in the lions den.
He protected Shadrach Meshach and Abednego in the fiery furnace.
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These eight points encompass what is meant by the phrase "God is our Strength."
Listen, inspire your friends in their furnace to trust God decisively by you being confident in the Lord yourself.
Why? Because the Lord is our strength and will walk with us through the furnace of afflictions.
And because of this, we’re able to walk with our friends in their furnace.
We’ll be able to encourage them in their heartache, sorrows, conflicts, poverty, defeats, failures, sickness, and discouragement.
We not only strengthen and encourage our friends in the furnace by our presence, but by pointing them to the Lord.
By Praying with them and for them.
In closing, David had a friend in Jonathan who was an encouragement to him.
Do you know someone who’s going through the furnace of trials right now?
Are the flames of failure, frustration, financial woes, family conflicts, or whatever else it may be singeing their lives?
If so, we have an opportunity before us to minister, to mature, to model Christ in our life, and to be a blessing to them.
Walking with a friend through the furnace will do more for you than for them.
If the Lord leads you to go through the furnace with a friend, then do it.
AMEN!
QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO PONDER THIS WEEK.
List the ways that God protected David.
How do you personally encourage and strengthen your friends?
How is God your strength?