January 4^th, 2015

Today’s Services:

9:30 am .................................................................................................. Blessed For Christ's Sake -- Genesis 30:27

10:00 am.................................................................................Under The Cloud; Through The Sea -- I Corinthians 10

Birthdays: January 11^th -- Lauren Parks, 18^th-- Cody Groover, 31^st -- Robin Pendry

Nursery Duty Today: First Service - Aimee , Second Service - Irene, Alternate - Wendy

Church Cleaning: This Week: Bobbitts

Dealing Gently For Christ's Sake

"And the king (David) commanded Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, 'Deal gently for my sake with the young man, even with Absalom.' And all the people heard when the king gave all the captains charge concerning Absalom."

Absalom was a wicked, rebellious, violent and hateful son . . . unworthy of mercy, unworthy of love . . . but David loved him anyway. And David gave a strict command to his captains, saying: "Deal gently for my sake with the young man." Don't be too hard on him. Don't treat him roughly. Don't cut him off or kill him, but be merciful to him . . . "for my sake."

O' what a command this is to all the Son of David's captains, or preachers. "The servant of the Lord must not strive (fight, argue); but be gentle unto all men" (II Tim.2:24). And this applies to all God's people, all believers , who are His servants; "All the people heard the charge." David said, "Deal gently with the young man . . .even Absalom." Though he is the worst, the chief offender, the most undeserving rebel . . . go easy on him.

What thoughts arise in our hearts when we see a rebel? . . . especially a young man, or young lady? I'll be honest and tell you that I often get angry and lifted up with indignation against him or her. God be merciful to me. I've forgotten who I am and where I came from. I've forgotten that the Lord dealt so gently with me . . . FOR CHRIST'S SAKE. And I have forgotten how the people of God dealt gently with me when I was in the hog pen. I well remember when this prodigal was brought home, how the people received me as one of them . . . a sinner, and were merciful to me.

We need to remember that every son of Adam and daughter of Adam is someone's son or daughter, loved by their parents and treat them as we would have others treat our own children . . . even the Absaloms . And most of all, we need to think of sinners as maybe being one of the Lord's elect children. That is not to say that all people are God's children, nor does God Love everyone, but rather hates some and will destroy them someday. But the command to us is: Love your enemies . . . do good unto all men . . .let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: and be ye kind (deal gently) one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, EVEN AS GOD FOR CHRIST'S SAKE HATH FORGIVEN YOU."

The end of the story is tragic, sad and fearful. Absalom was killed. Joab took 'three darts (anger, wrath & malice?), and thrust them through the heart of Absalom.' Though Absalom deserved it, Joab (and ten other young men) seemed to enjoy killing the king's son. Even God does not take pleasure in the death of the wicked. Since no matter was hidden from the king (v.13), David heard of it, and later gave strict orders to Solomon concerning Joab: "let not his hoar (gray) head go down to the grave in peace" (2Kings2:6); and so Solomon had Joab slain and buried in the wilderness.

May the Lord make us merciful, kind, compassionate, longsuffering and patient with others, gentle, easy to be entreated

. . . as our Lord is with us, and may He cause us to remember His Word to us all: "Deal gently for my sake."

Some Quotes by Thomas Brooks (English preacher/pastor,1608-1680)

" Suffering times are sealing times. The primitive Christians found them so, and the suffering saints in (Queen) Mary's days found them so. When the furnace is seven times hotter than ordinary, the Spirit of the Lord comes and seals up a man's pardon in his bosom, his peace with God, and his title to heaven. Blessed Bradford looked upon his sufferings as an evidence to him that he was on the right way to heaven."

"Much faith will yield unto us here our heaven, but little faith, if true, will yield us heaven hereafter."