craigmanderson

LED BY THE SPIRIT # 3 – HOW TO LISTEN WHEN YOU DON’T WANT TO HEAR

PREACHING FOR SUNDAY 19^TH MAY 2013 AM

REVISION

We want to be a Spirit filled and a Spirit led church. We want to be open to the Holy Spirit and allow Him to lead and have His way in us. God has designed human beings to be filled with and controlled by the Holy Spirit.  In April our theme was about being Baptised in the Holy Spirit. The number one reason we need this experience of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit is so that we can be a witness. We learned that at salvation our own human spirit is recreated by the Holy Spirit. We learned that being baptised in the Spirit is a secondary experience to being born again and we learned about the power and value of praying in other tongues.

This month we have shared the wonder of being led by the Spirit of God. In week 1 we learned Man was created to be a vessel for the Holy Spirit to live in. You are called to live a higher life. A spirit dimension life not a natural or carnal life. In week 2 we learned that being led by the Holy Spirit helps us build relationships with each other as we show the fruit of the Spirit.

Today I want to share with you how to listen when you don’t wan to hear. Here’s our story.

2Sa 11:1  IN THE spring, when kings go forth to battle, David sent Joab with his servants and all Israel, and they ravaged the Ammonites [country] and besieged Rabbah. But David remained in Jerusalem.

2Sa 11:2  One evening David arose from his couch and was walking on the roof of the king’s house, when from there he saw a woman bathing; and she was very lovely to behold.

2Sa 11:3  David sent and inquired about the woman. One said, Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite?

2Sa 11:4  And David sent messengers and took her. And she came in to him, and he lay with her–for she was purified from her uncleanness. Then she returned to her house.

2Sa 11:5  And the woman became pregnant and sent and told David, I am with child.

2Sa 11:6  David sent to Joab, saying, Send me Uriah the Hittite. So Joab sent [him] Uriah.

In our sordid little tale of a King who is staying home from war and finding himself up to no good; he actually arranges for this innocent husband to be killed in the battle and later King David marries Bathsheba. Her baby dies and later she bears David a child who is Solomon the future King.

Think with me for a moment about the mindset of a king. A king in this culture has all power. He can pretty much do anything he wants and is essentially above the law. In the story of Esther we see that coming into the presence of the king unannounced may lead to death if the king does not point his sceptre at you. Certainly no one ever comes to the king to challenge him or criticise him. So imagine the fear in the heart of Nathan the prophet who comes to challenge David with a word from God.

2Sa 12:1  AND THE Lord sent Nathan to David. He came and said to him, There were two men in a city, one rich and the other poor.

2Sa 12:2  The rich man had very many flocks and herds,

2Sa 12:3  But the poor man had nothing but one little ewe lamb which he had bought and brought up, and it grew up with him and his children. It ate of his own morsel, drank from his own cup, lay in his bosom, and was like a daughter to him.

2Sa 12:4  Now a traveller came to the rich man, and to avoid taking one of his own flock or herd to prepare for the wayfaring man who had come to him, he took the poor man’s lamb and prepared it for his guest.

2Sa 12:5  Then David’s anger was greatly kindled against the man, and he said to Nathan, As the Lord lives, the man who has done this is a son [worthy] of death.

2Sa 12:6  He shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing and had no pity.

2Sa 12:7  Then Nathan said to David, You are the man!

Nathan goes on to describe the judgements of God against David for his sins. His actions will result in many regrettable outcomes.  Now watch how David reacts to this news; and remember how kings have a mindset that they are above the law and can do what ever they please.

2Sa 12:13  And David said to Nathan, I have sinned against the Lord.

In Psalm 51 David prays for forgiveness and repents deeply of his sins, saying “against you and you only, Oh God, have I sinned and done this evil in your sight.”

King David was able to listen when he didn’t want to hear. He was able to repent although he had sinned so greatly. He must have ignored every warning light in his heart as he lay with Bathsheba and later had her husband killed. His was a position of power over. His sin was greater because of his position.

This is why I believe God calls David a man after God’s own heart.

Act 13:22  And when He had deposed him, He raised up David to be their king; of him He bore witness and said, I have found David son of Jesse a man after My own heart, who will do all My will and carry out My program fully.

I believe God says this, not because David is a good man but because David was able to be moved by the Spirit of God. King David was able to listen when he didn’t want to hear.

Can you listen when you don’t want to hear?

When was the last time the Holy Spirit tapped you on the shoulder and said, “You’re wrong!”  Have you ignored warnings that go off in your heart? David’s attitude is also our attitude when we contemplate going outside the guidelines the Holy Spirit wants to bring to our lives. I can do it we say! I can do what I want. We become our own little king. It’s called pride. A heart overtaken in pride will find it very hard to hear correction.

Pro 15:10  Correction is grievous to him who forsakes the way; he who hates reproof shall die. (MKJV)

Humility is a choice, but it’s harder when we are not used to cultivating a life of humility. If we are used to getting our own way – that’s the flesh! The flesh life or the carnal life doesn’t recognise the leading of the Holy Spirit. The spirit life or the life of the Spirit is in sync, in tune with the Holy Spirit.

Sometimes when we go off track we need to be open to the Holy Spirit to show us where we are wrong and repent quickly.

Psa 139:23  Search me [thoroughly], O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts!

Psa 139:24  And see if there is any wicked or hurtful way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

Are you like David? Open? Teachable? Able to be turned? Able to listen when you don’t want to hear?

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. Discuss how being a king meant that David had great power over others and this power made it difficult to hear a contrary opinion.
2. Discuss how Nathan the prophet would have felt coming to see David and being commanded by God to correct the king.
3. Why did Nathan tell a story that seemed unrelated to David’s sin?
4. Discuss how David responded to Nathans approach.
5. David repented deeply, still Bathsheba’s baby died; why do you think that is?