The Place of Lo Debar

Review:  Left at Lo Debar no fault of your own. 

Learn to live there so you can survive. 

Leave there every bad situation has an expiration date.  God has better after you deal with bitter

Pericope: 2 Sam 9: 1 - 13

Sermon Text: 2 Sam 9:13  And Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem because he always ate at the king’s table; he was lame in both feet.

Sermon Title:  The Place of Lo Debar

Point 1: The Place of  our Past   vs. 3 The  king asked “Is there no one still alive from the house of Saul to whom I can show God’s kindness?”   Ziba answered the king, “There is still a son of Jonathan; he is lame in both feet.”

Mephibosheth’s life at Lo Debar determined the life he would live in the future and person the he would become. 

Point 2: Present vs. 6 - 6 When Mephibosheth son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, came to David, he bowed down to pay him honor. David said, “Mephibosheth!”  “At your service,” he replied.

Mephibosheth’ s present was a gift and he did not squander the moment.  He did not linger in yesterday. 

Matthew 6:34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. 

Psalm 118:24 The LORD has done it this very day; let us rejoice today and be glad.  John the Divine said

Revelation 1:10  On the Lord’s Day I was in the Spirit, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet,

Psalm 90:12 Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

Point 3:  Perfecting vs. 12-1312 Mephibosheth had a young son named Mika, and all the members of Ziba’s household were servants of Mephibosheth. 13 And Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem, because he always ate at the king’s table; he was lame in both feet.  It is clear in the text that Mephibosheth matured. 

Hebrews 12:6 says the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.”

Conclusion:

1.  Don’t wallow in your past.  Use it

2.  Maximize the moment.

3.  Measure yourself against perfection, not completion.  Rom 8:28 - 28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who[a] have been called according to his purpose.

THE MESSAGE SAYS IT THIS WAY - He knows us far better than we know ourselves, knows our pregnant condition, and keeps us present before God. That’s why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good.

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