Gospel Meeting 07/05/2017

2^nd Samuel Chapter 9.

This chapter is full of grace, but the grace of The Lord Jesus Christ towards mankind is far greater.

Jonathan remained true to his friend David, despite his father Saul's  feelings.

Saul and Jonathan both die in battle and David becomes king.

King David had enemies all around, but defeated all of them. Now that he reigned in peace, he remembered his oath with Jonathan that they would always help each other, and wanted to show kindness to any remaining descendants of his family.

Mephibosheth – Jonathan’s son is a picture of us

1)      Lived in Lo-debar, which means “no pasture” – a wilderness area.

2)      He was lame – helpless.

3)      He was separated from many things.

This can be like us until we receive Christ into our hearts as Saviour.

We are described as being “dead in your trespasses and sins” – Ephesians ch2 vs1.

We have no life, can do nothing, and are helpless until we know Christ personally.

No other can pay the price of our sins – only the blood Jesus Christ shed for us on the Cross at Calvary can make atonement.

King David asked that Mephibosheth should be brought unto him, and he did so, coming and paying reverence to him. As a deposed king’s son, he would have lived in fear of his life as they were usually killed to avoid any kind of rallying call, and maybe feared he was called to be beheaded. However, King David called him by name and told him to fear not.

King David guaranteed his kindness to Mephibosheth, and to restore all the land of Saul as an inheritance. Also, David had the 15 sons and 20 servants of Ziba - a servant of the house of Saul - to work for Mephiboshesh and help with the land. Mephibosheth was even to eat at his table, as a king’s son.

He had been cut off, cast off, helpless, but was now transformed to the king’s table – all of David’s grace and love for Jonathan. 

We too are pictured like this – the whole human race is sinful through and through since Adam & Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden.

 “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all, for that all have sinned” – Romans ch5 vs12.

“Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me”. – Psalm ch51 vs5.

“There is none righteous, no, not one” – Romans ch3 vs10.

We are all sinners by nature and practice.

Only by repentance and having faith and trust in the blood of Jesus Christ, gives us standing before Holy God.

Mephibosheth could not do anything because of his condition, and neither can we outside of accepting Christ and His Cross –

“…ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold… but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot” – 1st Peter ch1 vs18/19.

God knew in His plan from the beginning, that there was only one way for mankind to get right with God – through the precious blood of the Lamb that was to come. The man Christ Jesus, who lived a sinless, holy, undefiled life, completely separate from sin.

The Apostle Paul said of Jesus Christ – "He knew no sin"...

Apostle Peter said “Who did no sin” …

Apostle John said “In him is no sin”.

The Lord Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God, who created all things and is the sustainer of all things. He came as a baby in Bethlehem , lived in “despised” Nazareth, and lived an absolutely holy life for 30 years, before the heavens opened and the voice from heaven said -

 “Thou art my beloved  Son, in whom I am well pleased” – Mark ch1 vs11.

All the delight of Holy God was centred on His Holy Son.

Everything Jesus Christ said and did proved who we was… raising the dead just by speaking… or just by touching to heal the deaf, dumb and lame. He spoke the healing word, and it was.

Then He came to Calvary… and suffered at the hands of men, who shouted “Away with him”, “Crucify him”.

“They hated me without a cause” – Gospel of John ch15 vs25.

 The 3 hours of darkness was when our Salvation was accomplished.

“Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree…” – 1^st Peter ch2 vs24.

“All thy sins were laid upon Him, Jesus bore them on the tree,; God, who knew them, laid them on Him, And believing, thou art free” – words from hymn by Joseph Denham Smith.

Mephibosheth was welcomed and told to fear not… but we should fear our eternity if we do not know The Lord Jesus Christ as Saviour. We will face the wrath of God for unforgiven sins and cast into the “blackness of darkness” and suffer eternal torment.

So many people today have no time for God or His Son, no time for the question of their eternal destination… what regret they will have.

“…God for Christ’s sake  hath forgiven you” – Ephesians ch4 vs32.

The shed blood of Christ makes it possible to be saved from the penalty of our sins.

“”For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God”. – Gospel of John ch3 vs16-18.

Take these words to heart – are you standing condemned at the moment? You need to pass from death to life, through Christ Jesus.

Mephibosheth had all the land restored as an inheritance,

 Apostle Peter said “Blessed be the God and father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you.” – 1^st Peter ch1 vs4.

This is to all who love the Lord Jesus Christ.

“…we are the children of God: and if children, then heirs, heirs of God, and joint – heirs with Christ”. – Romans ch8 vs16/17.

All because of Calvary’s Cross and to those who would repent and put their faith and trust in Christ Jesus. We are brought into His family.

Absolutely wonderful things!

“Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God”. – 1^st John ch3 vs1.

It was a wonderful situation for Mephibosheth to be eating at the King’s table, and to eat there always, continually. We too shall have this blessed privilege to feed at our King’s table!

If you are still unsure where you will spend eternity give it serious thought tonight and remember – “But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions – it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages, he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus”. – Ephesians ch2 vs 2-7.

The grace of God towards us is beyond all measure. He has brought us from nowhere into fellowship around the throne of God.

Get to know Jesus Christ now as your own Lord and Saviour – His day of grace will soon be over and it will be too late.

Receive His offer of forgiveness now!