First Baptist Church

Fairbanks, Alaska

805 Sixth Avenue

(907) 456-4923

http://www.firstbaptistfairbanks.com

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“What happens when you reach the end of your rope?”

2 Samuel 5:7 

Mark Howdeshell (February 24, 2008)

2 Sam 5: 7 Nevertheless , David captured the fortress of Zion, the City of David.

Introduction

This morning’s message was inspired by one of the devotionals that I read, On the right note, distributed by K-Love radio, 88.5 on your radio dial!! 

My question for you this morning is simple… 

What are you facing that is bigger than you are?  Is there anything that you’re up against that you cannot see how in the world you can overcome it?  

I want to assure you, you are not alone!  We all face obstacles in our daily lives that are bigger than we are.  

Heart of the Matter 

The year is 1000 BC.  We see King David, a relatively new King of about 7 ½ years , standing outside the heavily fortified walls of the pride of Israel, The City of JEBUS.  How many of you know anything about the City of Jebus, the home of the Jebusites?  More importantly, what can we learn from the epic battle:  King David vs. Jebus?  

The Meat of the Message

1 Chron 11:4-5   4 David and all the Israelites marched to Jerusalem (that is, Jebus). The Jebusites who lived there 5 said to David, "You will not get in here."

2 Sam 5:6 The king and his men marched to Jerusalem to attack the Jebusites , who lived there. The Jebusites said to David, "You will not get in here; even the blind and the lame can ward you off." They thought, "David cannot get in here."

1. Facing Walls
   1. David stood outside the city and saw the stronghold

                                          i.    High walls

                                         ii.    Heavily fortified

                                        iii.    Well defended

                                       iv.    INSURMOUNTABLE!

2. What walls are you facing today?  What strongholds does Satan bind you with to keep you from reaching the peace and joy that Christ has predestined for you.

                                          i.    Financial difficulty

                                         ii.    Bad temper or sharp tongue

                                        iii.    Stubborn addiction

2. “Even the blind and lame can ward you off.” 
   1. David’s enemies openly taunted him from the top of the wall.
   2. Satan will try to discourage you through many different methods when you’re facing these walls

                                          i.    Which guy do you listen to…

1.    The devil guy on one shoulder

a.    The most subtle and effective attacks are the ones we don’t even realize are happening

                                                                                          i.    The enemy may say, “You’re stuck here and you’ll never get out.”

                                                                                         ii.    “You’re not good enough for that.”

                                                                                        iii.    “Who are you to think you deserve that?”

b.    If we give him an ear, he’ll take your life

2.    The angel guy on the other shoulder

a.    “You can do it, don’t give up.”

b.    “Pray about it and trust God.”

c.    “We’ve already won this victory.”      

                                         ii.    Do you practice selective hearing, not listening?

1.    Guys and teenagers are experts!!

2.    Selective hearing—

a.    Don’t even listen to what he wants to tell you

b.    King David wasn’t discouraged by the words spoken by the enemy

3.    Selective listening—

a.    Means you hear what he’s telling you then you have to choose to ignore what you heard

b.    Give an ear, risk your life!!

c.    “Get thee behind me, Satan”  (Matthew 16:23)

2 Sam 5:8  On that day, David said, "Anyone who conquers the Jebusites will have to use the water shaft to reach those 'lame and blind' who are David's enemies." That is why they say, "The 'blind and lame' will not enter the palace."

3. Look through the eyes of faith
   1. While everyone else saw the walls, King David saw the tunnel!

                                          i.    God revealed the tunnel that enabled the “impossible” to happen

                                         ii.    God knows the weaknesses/ vulnerabilities of Satan that we can exploit

                                        iii.    Satan knows our weaknesses/ vulnerabilities that he can exploit (that’s why we need God in our corner!)

2. Don’t focus on the problems, look for the possibilities in your everyday life

                                          i.    Look for ways that God can lead you through

                                         ii.    God also works with and through

1.    fellow church members

2.    pastors and deacons

3.    mission/ charity organizations

                                        iii.    Don’t let pride keep you from asking for help (Satan wins, again.) 

2 Sam 5:6-7 & 1 Chron 11:5 7 Nevertheless, David captured the fortress of Zion, the City of David.

4. NEVERTHELESS--- in spite of
   1. In spite of all the things that showed King David that it couldn’t be done, he did it

                                          i.    Earthly strongholds are no match for God

                                         ii.    Satan’s strongholds are no match for God

2. Our promise that even when we seem overwhelmed by the circumstances around us, despite the unimaginable odds, and when all seems lost, God can overcome it all.  Nothing on this earth can compare to the Creator.
3. We enable the “Nevertheless” when we understand the 2 principles I’ve talked about:

                                          i.    Practice selective hearing

                                         ii.    Look through the eyes of faith 

The Bottom Line  When we face the walls of our life, and we will, God wants to help us like He helped King David.  Practice selective hearing and listen for His Word and look through the eyes of faith for His possibilities and we can practice and claim, “nevertheless, I overcame it through the power of God.”  Because David did what nobody expected, he accomplished what nobody envisioned.  The world is a difficult place, nevertheless, with God’s help, we can overcome it. 

INVITATION

What walls are stretched out before you this morning?  Are you practicing selective hearing and looking at them through the eyes of faith?  Do you see tunnels or impossibilities?  This morning I invite you to come to the altar to ask God to give you a new hearing aid and glasses so that you can claim God’s promise of “nevertheless.”

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Last modified: 08/04/08