First Baptist Church

Fairbanks, Alaska

805 Sixth Avenue

(907) 456-4923

http://www.firstbaptistfairbanks.com

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2 Samuel 3:1

Mark Howdeshell (5 August 2007)

2 Sam 3:1   The war between the house of Saul and the house of David lasted a long time. David grew stronger and stronger, while the house of Saul grew weaker and weaker.

Questions to Ponder

1.       Have you ever struggled with sin?

2.       Have you ever been compelled to do what you knew was wrong?

3.       Which side wins more often in your life?

 Heart of the Matter

Even though our salvation is secure, our sins are forgiven, and we have a place reserved in the Father’s house, our old nature is not destroyed.  At best, our sinful nature is Spirit controlled not Spirit destroyed.    

Review of Last Message

Last week we reviewed Hebrews 12 and Revelations 2 & 3.

• We should REJOICE in the discipline of God because it shows how much He cares for each of us.

·         Everyone goes through discipline.

·         What does the Spirit say to the churches? 

o    Ephesus- Don’t forsake your first love

o    Smyrna- Be faithful, even to the point of death

o    Pergamum- Hold true to the Word and Teachings of God

o    Thyatira- Overcome all obstacles and stay true to God’s will to the end

o    Sardis- Your salvation is secure…but God still wants you to get dirty

o    Philadelphia- Endure patiently…your day is coming

o    Laodicea- Don’t be lukewarm.  Take a stand for Christ!

·         God disciplines us for our good that we may share in his holiness.

It is for our good that God disciplines us.  You can rest assured that He knows the best methods to shape or mold our moral character back into His good and perfect will.

The Word

2 Sam 3:1   The war between the house of Saul and the house of David lasted a long time. David grew stronger and stronger, while the house of Saul grew weaker and weaker.

1 Cor 15:42-49  

42 So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; 43 it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; 44 it is sown a natural body , it is raised a spiritual body .   If there is a natural body , there is also a spiritual body . 45 So it is written: "The first man Adam became a living being"; the last Adam, a life-giving spirit. 46 The spiritual did not come first, but the natural, and after that the spiritual. 47 The first man was of the dust of the earth, the second man from heaven. 48 As was the earthly man, so are those who are of the earth; and as is the man from heaven, so also are those who are of heaven. 49 And just as we have borne the likeness of the earthly man, so shall we bear the likeness of the man from heaven.

Rom 7:14-25

14 We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. 15 I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. 16 And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. 17 As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. 18 I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 19 For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do — this I keep on doing. 20 Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. 21 So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. 22 For in my inner being I delight in God's law; 23 but I see another law at work in the members of my body , waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. 24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? 25 Thanks be to God — through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God's law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.

2 Cor 12:7-10

7 To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9 But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Eph 6:10-18

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God , so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

1 Thess 5:16-24

16 Be joyful always; 17 pray continually; 18 give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.  19 Do not put out the Spirit's fire; 20 do not treat prophecies with contempt. 21 Test everything. Hold on to the good. 22 Avoid every kind of evil. 23 May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it.

The Meat of the Message

1. If you consider the house of Saul as your old, sin-filled nature, and the house of David as your new, Spirit-led, nature, you can see that we have and will continually wage war against the 2.  Our goal as we mature is for the house of Saul to lose its influence and the house of David to rule our lives.  We want to live a Spirit controlled life!

2. The 2 natures are confirmed throughout the Scripture.  1 Corinthians 15 says it quite clear.  If there is a natural body, THERE IS A SPIRITUAL BODY! 

3. The battle rages on throughout our Christian lives.  The conflict can become overwhelming for believers unless they understand the nature of the conflict.  Even Paul stated, “I do not understand what I do…” and “I have the desire to do what is good but I cannot carry it out.”  Finally he states, “What a wretched man I am!  Who will rescue me from this body of death?” Knowing your enemy and his tactics will help you to overcome the old sinful nature.  Avoid things that tempt you and take hold of the promise found in 1 Corinthians 10:13:  No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

4. Our internal war has a specific purpose.  If we could “cruise” through this life without temptation, conflict, and struggle, why would we look forward to Heaven?  God does not tempt us but allows our own sinful nature, led by the evil one, to lead us down the wrong path.  James 1:2-4 gives us the best explanation as to His purpose…2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

5. How do we persevere?  What weapons can we bring to the fight?  Put on the full armor of God and apply 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24 and we will be prepared for the fight.    Don’t be fooled……..it will be a fight and we MUST be prepared for war.  Always remember, though, that Jesus has already won the victory!!  Praise the Lord!!!!

The Bottom Line

We are in a war.  Knowing our enemy, preparing for battle, and using the weapons provided are the only way we can persevere.  We cannot do it alone!  Jesus must be and is our ally and only with His power, His glory, His grace, His patience, and His LOVE can we win the ultimate victory.

The Take-Away

If you think you are winning the war in your life, you’re just where the enemy wants you.  Be careful, he’s ready to pounce.  Consider this quote….and continually be prepared to fight.

If it ain't broke, don't fix it' is the slogan of the complacent, the arrogant or the scared. It's an excuse for inaction, a call to non-arms.

General Colin Powell

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Last modified: 11/30/08