Skyview Presbyterian Church: Sermons David Series

Fall  of David's Rival 1/8/06 Pastor Rick Vasquez

David and "Christian" Character (Exposition of I Sam 16:1-13) 1/15/06 Pastor Rick Vasquez Over 50 chapters in the Bible are devoted to the life of David.   David's life typifies the search for a true king, and the importance of character in leadership and responsibility. The Seeing God - "I have provided for myself a king"                  I Sa 16:1.  God looks at the heart.  Man looks on the outward appearance.  Man does not see what is important.  Outward appearance is everything in our culture.  Our culture is obsessed with diet and weight.  Pornography is also rampant, but is opposite of how God sees things.  The character of the heart is more important than external appearance.  Without love, we are nothing, regardless of our gifts and talents. The Gripping Spirit.  The Spirit is the source of character.   "The Spirit of the LORD rushed upon (gripped) David"                I Sa 4:13.  The Holy Spirit was behind every success of David.   We too are anointed by the Holy Spirit.  We should be careful when we pray for patience, or for love.  When we pray for love, we should expect to sacrifice with nothing in return. The Isolated Son.  David was the youngest (smallest) v 11.   David was not respected, even as a son.  He was neglected, forsaken, scorned, and isolated.  The same can be said of Christ.  David, in his isolation, sought after God. The Ready Servant.  David demonstrated his service with action.

A Courageous Savior Like David (Exposition of I Sam 17:32-50)           1/22/06 Pastor Rick Vasquez The need for a Courageous Savior Like David - v32, Let no man's heart fail.  Courage means doing the right thing, no matter what the consequences.  We may conclude that the story of David and Goliath is designed to inspire us.  It is, but not necessarily in the way we may think. The alternative to a Courageous Savior Like David - Goliath draws courage from material means: steel, weapons, and human resources. Big is better.  Science and technology is superior.  Goliath was full of self-esteem and confidence.  His lack of fear blinded him to the real danger.   "If only we had the faith of David, had is courage, we would be successful."  This is a reliance on ourselves.  This event in David's life is not given to us as an example for us to follow.  God has not sent us an example, but a Savior.  God saves by Representation and Imputation.  David fought as a representative, in the place of the nation. The accomplishment of a Courageous Savior Like David - v26,45, David had righteous motives, for the glory of God.  v36, David's perfect track record.  v40, Confident foresight.   David picked 5 stones, not in case he missed, but in case Goliath's 4 brothers decided to take vengeance.  v49, Non-sensational victory, a victory that was transferred to Israel.  David was not only fighting for them, he fought as them.  Heb 11 tells us to remember David, but Heb 12 tells us to fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith. How do we obtain more courage?  Encourage means to place courage into others.  When we meet together, we transfer courage, we encourage each other. Note:  This is one of the most powerful sermons I have ever heard.  The effects of this sermon have rippled across the globe, with greater impact than a tsunami.  The message of this sermon has been shared with people in Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Virginia, Taiwan, and China, all with significant impact -- and that all within a few hours of the sermon delivery.  The life of David is meant to point us to Christ, and rejoice in the salvation that God brings about, for His glory, and by His effort -- not for our glory as a result of our effort, intent, courage, or resolve.

Envy, The Self Destroyer (Exposition of I Sam 18:1-14)          1/29/06 Pastor Rick Vasquez Note:  This is another very powerful sermon.  Envy destroys life, and all potential enjoyment of the good things of this life, the good of our neighbor and of ourselves.  Envy is driving the Pelagian captivity of the church, and destroys the good news of the gospel.  The sin of envy causes one to lose everything.  In our envy we want to be like God.  When we take credit for making the choice to be spiritually dead or alive, we dishonor God's character of Holiness and Sovereignty.

The Courage of Christ in Gethsemane (Exposition of Luke 22:39-54a) 2/5/06 Pastor Rick Vasquez The purpose for the agony of Christ in the garden was to make himself knowledgeable of his suffering so He might drink the cup by choice, and to make himself fully sensitive to what He was about to suffer.

Finding Friends in a Friendless World (Exposition of 1 Sam 18:1-4, 19:4-5, 20:40-42)  2/12/06 Pastor Rick Vasquez Covenant friendship has constancy and transparency.  Most of our relationships are utilitarian, vender/consumer, user friendships.  Jonathan's friendship to David models the friendship of Christ.   Jonathan spoke well on David's behalf, and endured the wrath of his father, even risking his life.   Jonathan was loyal to David, but also loyal and respectful of his father. Christ, as our friend, takes us into his private counsel.  God is intimate with the upright.  Cultivating our friendship to Christ allows us to be a friend to others.

Making Sense of What God is Doing (Exposition of 1 Sam 21:1-22, Psalm 57, Romans 5)       2/19/06 Pastor Rick Vasquez We can trust God, remembering his character.  God is holy and sovereign, so we can trust him. Prayer is an offering up of our desires unto God, for things agreeable to his will. God intervenes in our behalf.  Ps 57: They dug a pit in my path, but they fell into it. Ps 73:  When I entered into the house of God and worshipped, then I understood.

Grace Motivated Direction Principles for Discovering the Will of God (Exposition of 2 Sam 23:13-17, 1 Sam 23:1-14, Psalm 57, 142, Romans 12) 2/26/06 Pastor Rick Vasquez We don't exist for ourselves, we live for the glory of God, so that everything that happens to us, we are to pray, hope, and server God's purpose.  When we seek to serve God, we ask God to make us aware of our motives.  How often are our prayers about us, rather than about God?  Are we asking God to advance his kingdom?  Our prayers should be in God's will, in the name of Christ, and according to God's agenda. In the cave, David was transformed, by grace, from Saul's servant to the king of Israel.  Saul was not meeting his responsibilities as king, so David acted in behalf of Israel as their true king. James 1:5, If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault. We don't believe in fate.  We are not fatalists.  David asked God if the city would hand him over to Saul, and God said, "He will."  David fled.  When we pray for wisdom, we act on it. God's wills us to be saved, 1Ti 2:3.  God's will is that we discern his thoughts, Eph 5:17.  Gods will is that we remain mentally pure, uncorrupted by the world 1Th 4:3.  We cannot know the will of God if we dabble in sexual immorality, or corrupt ourselves with pornography.  God's will is that we be thankful in all things 1Th 5:17. Prov 16:9, In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps. So, by grace, we trust in God's direction.

Drawing Near to Christ By the Lord's Supper Principles for Discovering the Will of God (Exposition of 1 Cor 10:14-32) 3/5/06 Pastor Rick Vasquez As Participation in his blood As Fellowship with Christians As Beneficiaries of such Fellowship

The Fruit of Grace: Self Control (Exposition of 1 Sam 24; 2 Tim 1:7) 3/12/06 Pastor Rick Vasquez The Grace of God teaches Self Control By listening to a properly informed conscience By cherishing the sacred Overcoming evil with good The Grace of God, when it is refused, leads to ruin Getting Self-Control Look at Jesus Listen to Jesus Entrusting yourself to Jesus

Everything Rises and Falls on Leadership: Including Church Leadership. (Exposition of 1 Peter 5:1-6) 3/19/06 Pastor Rick Vasquez And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone.  I Th 5:14 Obey your leaders and submit to their authority.  They keep watch over you as men who must give an account.  Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you.  Heb 13:17

The Fruit of Grace: Forbearance (Exposition of 1 Sam 25) 3/26/06 Pastor Rick Vasquez Abigail and Nabal:  grace vs. the fallen human nature.

Eavesdropping on David: The Benefit of Trust (Exposition of Psalms 130-131) 4/2/06 Pastor Rick Vasquez Pride is a stumbling block to trust.  We, like unweaned children, complain and demand attention.   However, we are to be silent before a holy God.  Our hope in the LORD is the basis for our trust. When we read the Psalms, we eavesdrop on David, as David himself, inspired by the Holy Spirit, was eavesdropping on Christ. Ps 131: 1  Christ, as our example, did not lift up his heart, but made himself nothing.  Christ did not occupy himself with things too great and too marvelous -- Christ did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped. Ps 130:2  "Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my pleas for mercy!"  Christ, in intercession, pleads for mercy in our behalf:  "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." With the Lord, there is forgiveness.  Therefore, we live in holy terror before the face of God.  For with the Lord there is steadfast love and plentiful redemption, and He will redeem his chosen elect from all iniquity.

Restoring the Wanderer (Exposition of 1Sa 27:1-2; 28:1-2; 29:6 - 30:20) 4/9/06 Pastor Rick Vasquez Self deception is the first step in wandering away from God, and results in a double life.   God will never turn his back on his child.  God is more concerned with your holiness than with your happiness.   The times of our life are precisely orchestrated by God.  What is God doing in your life today?

Overcoming the Challenges to Resurrection (Exposition of Luke 24) 4/16/06 Pastor Rick Vasquez What is the Evidence for the Resurrection? The empty tomb Angelic testimony Human eyewitness account Mary Magdalene, Mary James' mother, Peter Cleopas, the Companion, and Simon Peter The apostles Fulfilled prophecy Recognizable identification of idiosyncrasies Empirical proof What Keeps People from Believing the Resurrection? Forgetfulness Cynicism Unbelief God's timing Why must we believe in the Resurrection? Because the Resurrection gives meaning to our suffering Because the Resurrection affirms God's divine approval Because the Resurrection presents God's great inducement to believe Self deception is the first step in wandering away from God, and results in a double life.   God will never turn his back on his child.  God is more concerned with your holiness than with your happiness.   The times of our life are precisely orchestrated by God.  What is God doing in your life today?

The Davidic Code: The Way to True Devotion (Exposition of Ps 15-24) 4/23/06 Pastor Rick Vasquez A.  Ps.15 Access Poem: Obeying God's Law B.  Ps 16 Psalm of trust: Declaring Confidence C.  Ps. 17 Lament:  Pleading Honesty D.  Ps 18 Celebrating Victory and Triumph E.  Ps. 19 Extolling the Beauty of God's Creative Power in the Written Word D'.  Ps 20-21  Celebrating Accomplishment C'.  Ps 22  Lament:  Pleading Honesty B'.  Ps 23  Psalm of trust:  Declaring Confidence A'.  Ps 24 Access Poem:  Obeying God's Law What is Davidic Code? Three Principles of Devotion True Devotion Delights in God's Revelation Ps 19: 709; Ps 15, 24 True Devotion trusts in God's provision, 16, 17, 22-23; 19:12 True Devotion focuses on God's glory, 19:1; cf.  24: 7ff.  Salvation is victory 18,20-21 It's not enough to love the Bible and not obey it. I can be secure because I put my trust in God alone.

How the Mighty have Fallen! (Exposition of 1 Sa 28:3-25, 31; 1 Chr 10:13-14) 4/30/06 Pastor Rick Vasquez A Truism:  Secret sins should not be neglected An Insight:  Faith is more important than morality An Invitation:  Give heed while you are able

The Lost Ark (Exposition of 1 Sa 5:1-8, 11; 6:1-8, 19-7:2, 2 Sa 6:1-23) 5/7/06 Pastor Rick Vasquez 1.  When God's Presence is Dangerous                Uzzah's presumption and irreverence                 Michael's criticism of David 2.  When God's Presence is our Delight                There must be confession.                Substitution - forgiveness                Freedom - knowing that God has accepted us wholly and completely

God's Kingdom of Promised Grace (Exposition of 2 Sa 7:4-19, 25-27) 5/21/06 Pastor Rick Vasquez 1.  Christianity is Truly Different ~ The Covenant of Grace.  What is a covenant? 2.  What is Divine Grace?  God's Resolve to Fulfill his unconditional promise unconditionally. 3.  Responding to the King of Grace Christianity is unique, not because Christians are unique, but because we have a unique God. God is pleased to do all for us.  God identifies with his people:  Immanuel - God with us. Christianity is based on God's work and favor entirely. When people say, "I tried Christianity, but it didn't work for me", they are basically saying, "I bargained for something, but God didn't deliver."  That's not obeying God, that's using God.  We are to obey Jesus Christ unconditionally, as Lord and King.

Learning to Fear God 5/28/06 Pastor Rick Vasquez

David, the Penitent (Exposition of 1 Sa 11-12) 6/4/06 Pastor Rick Vasquez 1.  The Context of Repentance ~ friendship 2.  The Marks of Repentance        True repentance doesn't hide behind excuses        True repentance takes personal responsibility        True Repentance is silent, making no objections 3.  The Fruit of Repentance         Return to duty: forgiveness restores us        Gives us hope: that we are not shelved, but are restored to usefulness and service        Restored to worship

David, the Sufferer (Exposition of 2 Sa 12) 6/11/06 Pastor Rick Vasquez 1.  Suffering as surgery, not punishment. 2.  Suffering with emotional reality and intellectual humility. 3.  Suffering as plan A. God is looking for us to completely depend on Him.  Jesus did not suffer so we don't have to suffer in this life, but that when we suffer, we would be like him.

Becoming a Man after God's Own Heart (Exposition of 2 Sa 23:13-17) 6/18/06 Pastor Rick Vasquez 1.  God's heart for war and warriors. 2.  God's and our true enemy:  Idolatry 3.  Becoming a man after God's own heart:  Loving God and loving others Anything that takes glory away from God is our enemy: pride and selfishness.  God, by his nature, is opposed to evil.  We are to devastate and annihilate evil by doing good.  God's wish is our command.  Religion is a check-list of things we have to do, but a person who is yearning for God doesn't have to be told how to obey.