Eleven Men gathered to study God's Word tonight.  What a blessing!  What great discussion!  What Kingdom fellowship we enjoyed!  Eleven men committed to meet twice a month for the sole purpose of growing in the Lord.  Each having a great desire to experience the "much more" Christian Life.  

God is about to do a God thing in Henderson, if these 11 men sell out and seek out God's purpose for their individual lives and their families and Henderson Baptist Church.

May God increase the attendance with men who are hungry for a real, powerful life changing with our God and Savior Jesus Christ.  We will meet again on Monday  February 20.  Come join us!

1 Kings 1:1-53

David was the ultimate dysfunctional father.  His son Adonijah was rebellious and spoiled but Scripture says David "had never disciplined him at anytime."  You do not love your child if you do not discipline him and both child and parent will suffer and society also. 

Acts 4:1-17
Religion recognizes the power of God and the name of Jesus, but at the same time rejects both.  Religion wants control.  God wants consent.
 
Just as Peter stood before the religious crucifiers of Jesus and proclaimed the mighty power of the son of God, so must we stand before a Godless world and proclaim the name of Jesus Christ.
 
Could the problem of today’s church be that we have the men, methods and machinery but we have lost the boldness of being with Jesus; the power of the Word or God and the presence of the Works of God?  We often talk a lot but have little to show for it.  When we “have seen and heard” we will have something to tell about Acts 4:19-20.
 
Four things the early church prayed for and we desperately need in these last days

1. “great boldness in preaching God’s Word”
2. Healing power by the hand of God
3. Miraculous signs
4. Wonders

All through the name of Jesus Christ.  All glorifying God and not man. All drawing the lost to the “only name given among men whereby we must be saved” and that name is Jesus Christ, God the Son!

Ps 24:1-8

"The trap is broken and we are free!" Let us live in the freedom of God!!"

Prov 16:24

Lord give me kind words to speak.

2 Samuel 20:14-21:22

These verses are filled with murder and revenge, rebellion and loyalty.  David would seek guidance from God and then it seemed as if he followed the plans of his own heart. 

Goliath's kinsmen arose and David was no longer able to face the giants.  His men had to rescue him.  They advised him to no longer battle against God's enemies.  They would do his fighting and he would become a figurehead.  Can any man fight our battles for us?

Acts 1:1-26
 
Jesus began to do and teach and left the task to His Disciples but they were not to enter into the work until they received the Holy Spirit.  The signs of the Holy Spirit in their lives were to be Power and Testimony.  Can you find those signs in your life? If ever there was a time that power and testimony were needed it is now.  Cultural Christianity has taken the place of World Shaking, God Working, devil beating, God glorifying Children of the living God.  We must return to the God of Abraham, Moses, Joshua, Nehemiah, Peter, Paul and the nameless thousands who saw the mighty hand of God working in their lives and world.  We live in the latter days where weak platitudes and man centered programs and preaching are not enough and really have never been enough.  God help us to return to the God of our Fathers.  Do mighty things through your repentant, obedient children.  Cleanse our hearts and restore unto us the power of your salvation.

Psalm 121:1-8
God is constantly by my side.  He will protect me and keep me from sin if I will only hear and obey.

Proverbs 16:18
Pride leads to falling; haughtiness to destruction and these lead to Cultural Christians who have a name but no power or testimony.  

2 Samuel 19:11-20:13
 
David extended mercy instead of judgment when he returned as King, but his mercy did not cloud his judgment.
 
John 21:1-25
 
Jesus led Peter to express his love for Him the exact number of times he denied Jesus!  God’s mercy and love can always outrun our sins.  He was telling Peter and us that we might be scarred by our sins but we are still usable in Kingdom work through His mercy and forgiveness.
 
Psalm 120:1-7
 
“I took my troubles to the Lord” –how many problems and how much hurt would be avoided if we practiced this simple truth?
 
Proverbs 16:16-17
 
God’s path will never lead you to sin.  If you are knocking on temptations door you are on the wrong path!

2 Samuel 18:1-19:10
 
The Death of Absalom
 God’s will has not been revealed in this story, but His truth is always present.  Absalom could not go unpunished and David keep the respect of the people. Joab violated the King’s order about Absalom and later paid a great price.
 
Perhaps David’s awareness of the great destruction caused by his sin with Bathsheba was David’s excuse for not disciplining his children.  I don’t know, but this I do know, undisciplined children are a shame to their parents and a sin against God.  We can’t make up for sin by disobeying God’s word.
 
John 20:1-31
“Early on Sunday morning while it was still dark.”  What great hope these words bring. It might be dark where you are, but remember ‘Sunday’s coming!’  Sunday is coming and the stone will be rolled away!
 
Jesus told Thomas “don’t be faithless any longer.”  Why live a life without faith? What a waste! Faith drives out fear, doubt and depression and ushers in courage, expectancy and the power of peace and joy.  Which life will you lead? One of FAITH or FAITHLESSNESS?
 
Ps 119:153-176
Vs 156
Feeling fearful? Oppressed? Persecuted? The antidote is easily found for all of these and  more.
“Let me be revived by following your regulations.” Obedience always brings relief!
v. 164  
“I will praise you seven times a day.” This means a life of praise lived in the midst of persecution and turmoil will bring peace and trust.
 
Prov. 16:14-15
Remember the “Kings smile” brings live and refreshes like a spring rain!”  Smile on me King Jesus, Smile on me!
​

​2 Samuel 17:1-29
David was fleeing from Absalom.  Absalom sought the best advice from man he could get and he got good advice.  The problem was that there is no record of him consulting God in anything he had done in the past or now in the present.  God sent counsel to destroy Absalom and end his rebellion.  Absalom turned down the good counsel and heeded the God Counsel and thus sealed his doom.  God’s word will come true regardless of who is sitting on the throne.
John 19:23-42
Once again God’s word is fulfilled.  Everything about Jesus’ crucifixion, death, burial and resurrection was preordained by God and thus would be fulfilled.  God’s word speaks of the last days when unholy religion will abound, natural love will be hard to find, homosexuality will come out of the closet, disease will be rampant and governments will be in distress.  Are we witnessing the fulfillment of these last days’ prophecies?  What do you think?  Is it all just coincidences or God’s Counsel??
 

​2 Samuel 15:23-16:23
 
David was running for his life.  He was reaping the Discipline of God for his sin against Uriah and Bathsheba but most importantly against God.  He acknowledged the justness of God’s discipline and gave himself completely to God.  His faith was in God, not in what God might or might not do.
 
Lord my sin is great, your discipline is just.  Give me strength to trust you and not give up or try to lean unto my own understanding. 
 
Psalm 119:113-128
 
David’s prayers were honest and transparent before God.  He brought his fears, doubts, disappointments and failures to God.  He sought for guidance on his selection of friends and counselors.  David asked for discernment to understand the Word of God and to recognize the traps of satan’s false ways.
 
How we need this wisdom today.  Satan has disguised himself as an angel of light and is leading many astray.  Instead of new way we must be asking for the “old paths.”  The problem in today’s church and with today’s people is that we want to use the world’s ways to do God’s work.  Holiness and the Holy Spirit have been laid aside for intellect and publicity.  Jesus simply and profoundly said the when we lift Him up all men would be drawn unto Him, by the Holy Spirit and not our methods and slickness!

David was ready to kill another man for the sin he had committed, but did not recognize his own sins of adultery and murder.  How easy it is to see someone else's sin and ignore my own.  

Would David have received lighter discipline if he had listened to the Holy Spirit's call for repentance prior to Nathan's confrontation?  We will never know.  

​Lord give me the wisdom to listen to the Holy Spirit when I sin and repent quickly.

​Tim Keller recently tweeted: "Anxiety is a daily statement to God saying, 'I don't think you have my best interest in mind.'" Do you think God has your best interest in mind today?
 
Apathy is a daily statement to God saying,”I don’t care for what you have in mind for me today.” Do I think that what I have in mind could possibly be better than God’s plan for my day?
 
Apathy and Anxiety rob God’s peace and anticipation.  I pray that God gives me ears to hear, will to desire, heart to love, eyes to see and hands to work as He speaks to me through His wonderful Word and reveals His commandments by His Holy Spirit who indwells me.