NOTES: 3 Rulers, Part 4
Sermon: 3 Rulers part 4- “Something Worth Stealing”
Text: 2 Samuel 15:1-6
Date: Sunday August 21 2022
2 Samuel 15:1–6 (ESV)
After this Absalom got himself a chariot and horses, and fifty men to run before him. 2 And Absalom used to rise early and stand beside the way of the gate. And when any man had a dispute to come before the king for judgment, Absalom would call to him and say, “From what city are you?” And when he said, “Your servant is of such and such a tribe in Israel,” 3 Absalom would say to him, “See, your claims are good and right, but there is no man designated by the king to hear you.” 4 Then Absalom would say, “Oh that I were judge in the land! Then every man with a dispute or cause might come to me, and I would give him justice.” 5 And whenever a man came near to pay homage to him, he would put out his hand and take hold of him and kiss him. 6 Thus Absalom did to all of Israel who came to the king for judgment. So Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.”
Something worth stealing? Your heart!
Beware of the modern day “Absalom.” (2 Sam. 15)
Jesus warns us of more Absaloms to come:
Matthew 7:15–16 (ESV)
15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16 You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles?
The wolf is the the dread of the shepherd, knowing the sheep are always vulnerable.
Paul also warns:
Acts 20:28–30 (ESV)
28 Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. 29 I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; 30 and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them.
2 Timothy 3:1–5 (ESV) “But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. 2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, 4 treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.”
Our call is not to be wolf-hunters, but to be a people that rightly discern and stay away from them.
Discerning modern day “Absaloms
What are they trying to accomplish?
How consistent are their actions with their words?
Does the “fruit” of their life demonstrate the holiness of God?
Beware of any message that departs from the centrality of Christ, His life, teachings, death and resurrection
2 Corinthians 11:3–4 (ESV)
3 But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ. 4 For if someone comes and proclaims another Jesus than the one we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or if you accept a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it readily enough.
Oswald Chambers quote—“God never gives us discernment in order that we may criticize, but that we may intercede."
At this time in history, we are uniquely vulnerable.
Acts 17:10–12 (ESV) 10 The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived they went into the Jewish synagogue. 11 Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so. 12 Many of them therefore believed, with not a few Greek women of high standing as well as men.
Our best safety against “Absaloms” is an increasing knowledge of God’s Word for ourselves and daily personal attentiveness to the Holy Spirit, while living within godly community.
32 And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.”
Our hearts are worth protecting!
Psalm 20:4-8 (ESV)
4 May he grant you your heart’s desire
and fulfill all your plans!
5 May we shout for joy over your salvation,
and in the name of our God set up our banners!
May the Lord fulfill all your petitions!
6 Now I know that the Lord saves his anointed;
he will answer him from his holy heaven
with the saving might of his right hand.
7 Some trust in chariots and some in horses,
but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.
8 They collapse and fall,
but we rise and stand upright.