Sunday, June 8, 2014

Come Out of Lo-debar

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

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