Sermon: Restrained by the Lord

We welcome guest preacher, Matt Moran, from Community of Grace Church near Buffalo NY to preach at Seven Mile Road from the first chapter of Philippians. Matt was a pastor at Seven Mile Road for years before moving to the Buffalo area with his family in 2017. 

Have you ever found yourself in a tough spot without a plan asking God for His will? That's what happens to King Saul in this week's sermon. Saul decides he wants God's will, but ultimately he wants things his own way. We are tempted the same way and must ask: do we want God's will or our way?1 Samuel 28

David faces a no-win decision as Saul threatens his life repeatedly. He chooses to escape to the Philistines for safety despite being anointed by God as the future king. This raises the challenge of staying loyal to God, Saul, and Israel while under Philistine rule. Similarly, as followers of Jesus, we encounter challenging circumstances that test our loyalty to God and his mission. Will we trust Jesus as he leads us into strange, difficult, or hostile seasons and situations?1 Samuel 27

In what turns out to be their final interaction, King Saul is again seeking David, and again, David has an opportunity to harm King Saul that he does not take. David continues in his refusal to harm King Saul because of what God has said. Though it costs him, David’s only hope is that his life will be precious in the sight of the Lord.

We've all seen bad counsel in life, the kind driven by immediate gratification or hurt. Last week, we saw David receive that. But this week, we'll see what it looks like for someone to courageously offer good, holy, gospel counsel in a hard situation ... and for the Lord to accomplish his purposes through it.1 Samuel 25

This Sunday, we'll return to God's King, our sermon series through the Old Testament Book of Samuel. As David and Saul come face-to-face, it becomes clear who has been more righteous than the other, who has spared who, and who is trusting God. As we read, we'll see that like Saul and like David, we too need one "more righteous than I." We need God's King to spare us

This is the time of year when we think a lot about gifts. What should I give? What would I like to receive? We may even give thought to what it is that makes a gift great. The best gifts we receive often have a certain usefulness or beauty or thoughtfulness that connects with us and sets them apart.  This week, in Isaiah 55, we’ll see that the greatest gift we could ever receive came to us in Jesus.

Christmas evokes mixed emotions: hope and despair, joy and sadness. Isaiah foretold a king who would bring hope and eliminate violence and destruction, leading to a true understanding of God. Jesus fulfills this promise, inviting us to abandon sin and selfishness. Through his Spirit of wisdom, we can be a blessing and build up rather than hurt and tear down. He is both the humble king we desire and the powerful king we need.