II Samuel 9:1-13
The
story today is about a crippled man named Mephibosheth. This is a story about friendship, promises,
grace, love, compassion, forgiveness, and hope. Most of all it is a story about
God’s seeking the wounded and crippled for restoration.
Mephibosheth’s nurse
carried him to Lo debar which means “the place of no pasture” or desolation.
I. You Don’t Have to Do Anything to have a Problem.
· Mephibosheth was from a Disgraced
Family.
We are crippled when it comes
to pleasing God in our power.
· Mephibosheth was from a Doomed
Family.
There is no relationship with God
apart from holiness and no holiness without payment for sin and
that payment must be a blood sacrifice…death.
II. Mephibosheth Lived in a Desolate and Destitute
Place.
· Lo-debar is a place of shame. 2 Samuel 9:8
Shame is a toxic emotion that
destroys our identity, dignity and potential.
The problem with shame is that it
leads you to believe that what you did is who you are
and nothing can change that.
· Lo-debar is a place of fear.
Satan loves to take people to
Lo-debar where he can destroy their relationships with God, others and themselves.
III. Everything Changes When the King Comes Calling.
2 Samuel 9:5
· Lo-debar is a place of fear.
· God’s grace restores us. 2 Samuel 9:7
· God’s offer of grace must be received. 2 Samuel 9:13
Grace is where you discover
who you were born to be.
Grace has been called “God’s Reward
At Christ’s Expense”.
Embracing grace means letting go of
our crippled past.
God desires to trade your past
for His presence
