Hidden in My Heart

And He said to them, "Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of the things he posesses" (Luke 12:15; NKJV)

O Absalom My Son, My Son!

Consider this article by Sewell Hall: http://truthmagazine.com/archives/volume32/GOT032056.html

Then consider this article by Ron Halbrook: http://www.truthmagazine.com/archives/volume32/GOT032057.html

Be blessed by both of them.

Jason Cicero

Psalm 3

David wrote Psalm 3 when he fled from his son Absalom (2 Samuel 15).

1. David's Predicament (1-2)

2. David's Peace (3-6)

3. David's Prayer (7-8)

When you find yourself in hard predicaments, seek the peace that passes understanding and pray Psalm 3.

Jason Cicero

2 Samuel 13-19

2 Samuel 13-19 tells the story of the dysfunction that appears in the next generation of David's family.

As we read these chapters let us look for these four points:

1. We see David, a man of God with feet of clay.

2. We see the disaster which we create when we fail to deal with sin in our lives.

3. We see that the consequences of our sin are often passed on to our family.

4. We see a great God, full of grace and mercy, every working to save us from ourselves.

Jason Cicero

I Shall Go to Him

And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, "Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last. I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death." (Revelation 1:17-18; NKJV)

1. Hades - the abode of the spirit

2. Death - the abode of the body

When the child of David and Bathsheba died, David said, "Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me" (2 Samuel 12:23; NKJV). It seems David had some understanding of Hades and Death and resurrection and that we will know one another in Heaven. And so, with the Thessalonians, we "comfort each other and edify one another" with this knowledge and in this hope (1 Thessalonians 4:13 - 5:11; NKJV).

Jason Cicero

Psalm 51

David wrote Psalm 51 after the awful events of 2 Samuel 11-12.

1. Plea for Forgiveness (1-2)

2. Proffer of Confession (3-6)

3. Prayer for Moral Cleanness (7-12)

4. Promise of Renewed Service (13-17)

5. Petition for National Restoration (18-19)

Read Psalm 51 and see David's repentance, God's forgiveness and the renewal that comes as a result of that combination.

Jason Cicero

Mephibosheth and Me

In 2 Samuel 9 David shows kindness to one of Saul's house.

1. His name – Mephibosheth

2. His calamity – dropped by his nurse

3. His deformity – lame

Is there anyone who sees you for who you are and not what you did? ¨

For two decades he lived in a distant land…

1. Unable to walk to the King…

2. Too fearful to talk to the King…

3. Unable to help himself…

Mephibosheth was...

1. Called

2. Found

3. Rescued

He still needed assurance. Don't we all? “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8; NKJV) ¨

Consider Mephibosheth and David. Consider yourself and Christ. Rejoice in the grace you've been shown.

Jason Cicero