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How to Flourish Like David: 5 Keys to Spiritual Growth

SDA Journal Sermon Aug 14, 2022

David wrote about half of the Psalms. He was a gifted writer and musician, and with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, he wrote a plethora of hymns that have resonated with the hearts of God's people for centuries. Psalm... (read more)

David wrote about half of the Psalms. He was a gifted writer and musician, and with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, he wrote a plethora of hymns that have resonated with the hearts of God's people for centuries.
Psalm 52 is no exception. It ends with these words:
<blockquote>"But I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God; 
I trust in God's unfailing love forever and ever. 
I will praise you forever for what you have done; 
In your name I will hope, for your name is good. 
I will praise you in the presence of your saints." 
Psalm 52:8-9 (NIV 1978)</blockquote>
David experienced much pain and suffering in his life. In his early years, before he became Israel's king, he was the victim of undeserved abuse at the hand of King Saul. And after taking the throne, he brought much turmoil on himself as a result of his adultery with Bathsheba and his murder of her husband Uriah.
Yet through it all, he maintained a life of devotion to God. He is described twice as a man "after God's own heart" (1 Samuel 13:14, Acts 13:22). And here in Psalm 52 we see David reflecting on his life and saying, "I am like a green olive tree" (ESV). Like any tree, a healthy olive tree should have green leaves and bear fruit. This is what a tree is made to do. This is what it means for it to flourish and thrive.
After comparing himself to a mature, fruit-bearing olive tree, David then proclaims what that kind of life looks like. He takes a personal inventory and sees the evidence of God's power at work in his attitudes and actions. And while David praises God for His provision, we get a firsthand account of five spiritual keys which enabled him to pursue and maintain a godly life no matter what.
<h4>Key #1: Acceptance of God's forgiveness.</h4>
"I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God." Note that David says he is like a fruitful tree in the house of God. The temple wasn't built yet, so this could be a reference to the tabernacle, the place where repentant sinners came to acknowledge their sins and offer an animal sacrifice to symbolize the provision of God's grace through the forgiveness of sins. A godly life starts here, with the recognition of our rebellion against God and our need for His mercy. When we repent, God is more than willing to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from our unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). To live a God-pleasing life, David knew that he needed God's forgiveness, as evidenced by his writing of Psalms 32 and 51.
<h4>Key #2: Faith in God's love.</h4>
"I trust in God's unfailing love forever and ever." David was a firm believer in the never failing, steadfast love of God. He had a confident conviction in God's unwavering commitment to His people. This faith was based on a profound understanding that God knows what is best for us. He can be trusted because He is trustworthy. We can rely on Him to take care of us through thick and thin, good times and bad. Just like us, David had plenty of both.
<h4>Key #3: Praise for God's work.</h4>
"I will praise you forever for what you have done." At any point in time, David could look back on his life and see what God had done for him. David recognized God as the ultimate source of all he had experienced in life, and he continued to worship God regardless of his circumstances. The beginning of verse 9 can also be translated, "I will thank you forever, because you have done it." David was a thankful man, filled with gratitude for the grace and mercy of God to him, an undeserving sinner.
<h4>Key #4: Hope in God's goodness.</h4>
"In your name I will hope, for your name is good." David was a man of hope. Because of the goodness of God, he had a positive outlook on the future. In Scripture, the word "hope" is not the wishful thinking that says, "I hope I win the lottery." Instead, it is the strong expectation and certain assurance that "in all things God works for the good of those who love Him" (Romans 8:28).
<h4>Key #5: Fellowship with God's people.</h4>
"I will praise you in the presence of your saints." David did not trust God in isolation from others. His faith and hope were bolstered by a close relationship with other believers. He lived for God with the people of God. This is one of the indispensable marks of genuine faith -- identification with and involvement in the church of Christ. The genuine Christian life is not a solo flight. It is lived out in the context of the local church -- the family of God, the household of faith.
<h4>Reality Check</h4>
As you reflect on these key characteristics of David's life, I urge you to take an inventory of your own life. How are you doing in each of these areas?
Do you regularly and genuinely confess and forsake your sins, going to God directly to express heartfelt sorrow over your faults, as well as the need for God's power to overcome them? Then, while looking to the death of Jesus as the sole basis for God's forgiveness, you experience the sweet joy of reconciliation with your Savior.
Do you believe in the sovereign, never-changing love of God? To increase that faith, it is essential that you spend much time in the Word, knowing that "faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ" (Romans 10:17).
Do you offer praise and thanks to God for His work on your behalf? A true Christian is increasingly enthralled by God's work of salvation on our behalf through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. We never tire of hearing the good news of the gospel of Christ. It is sweeter than honey and more precious than gold!
Do you find hope in the goodness of God? You do not have to travel far or spend much money to experience God's kindness. Simply open the Bible and you'll find evidence of His grace on every page. Then take a look at your own life and you'll see the same God extending that same grace to you.
Are you actively involved in a local church? Do you enjoy spending time with God's people, worshipping Jesus together, serving Him together, and becoming increasingly like Him together? If not, something is amiss and you are outside the will of God.
By the grace of God and the strength provided by the Holy Spirit, every believer can flourish by living in the presence of God. May this be my experience, and yours as well.

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The Sower (Parable of Jesus)

SDA Journal Sermon Jun 30, 2022

Matthew 13:1-23 That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore.... (read more)

Matthew 13:1-23
That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. Whoever has ears, let them hear.” The disciples came to him and asked, “Why do you speak to the people in parables?” He replied, “Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. Whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. This is why I speak to them in parables:
“Though seeing, they do not see; 
though hearing, they do not hear or understand.
In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah:
“‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding; 
you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. 
For this people’s heart has become calloused; 
they hardly hear with their ears, 
and they have closed their eyes. 
Otherwise they might see with their eyes, 
hear with their ears, 
understand with their hearts 
and turn, and I would heal them.’
But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear For truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it. “Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”

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It Is Well With My Soul

SDA Journal Sermon Nov 10, 2021

Horatio Spafford was a successful lawyer and real estate investor living in Chicago in the 1800’s. He and his wife, Anna, were close supporters of Dwight L. Moody, the famous evangelist headquartered in Chicago. The Spaffords had 4 daughters and a son named Horatio Jr. The first tragedy to befall them was the death of their son at age 4 of Scarlet Fever (1870). A year later, in 1871, the great Chicago fire killed hundreds and left more than 90,000 homeless. Spafford had invested heavily in Chicago properties that literally went up in smoke. Still he and his wife focused on helping out others who had suffered loss in the fire.

The Spaffords decided to take a break from all that had happened so they planned a vacation to Europe. Just before leaving for New York to sail to Europe, Horatio was detained by business dealings, and decided to send Anna and the 4 girls on promising to join them as soon as possible. The French ship they were travelling on, “Ville de Havre” was struck by another ship near the middle of their journey and sunk in only 12 minutes. All four daughters died, but Anna was found alive and unconscious hanging to a broken spar that was floating adrift. Of the 307 passengers 226 drowned leaving about 90 passengers and crew to be rescued. Another survivor, Pastor Weiss, quoted Anna as saying, “God gave me 4 daughters. Now they have been taken from me. Some day I will understand why.”

When Anna reached Cardiff she wired her husband the following message dated Dec. 1, 1873: “Saved alone. What shall I do? Mrs. Goodwin, children, Willie Culver lost. Upon receiving the wire, Horatio sought passage on the next available ship to join his grieving wife and bring her home. On that voyage, the ships captain summond Horatio to inform him that according to his coordinates they were passing over the exact spot where his daughters had drowned. Heartsick, Spafford returned to his cabin and with pen in hand poured out his heart to God.

When Peace like a river, attendeth my way,

When sorrows like sea billows roll;

What ever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,

It is well, it is well with my soul.

In ways that only the Lord can do, the Holy Spirit begin to minister peace and strength to his troubled soul. In reading these lyrics you can see his faith taking wings and the reality of the Lord’s presence even in his pain. Writing to his wife’s sister while on the ship, he wrote, “On Thursday last we passed over the spot where she went down, in mid ocean, the waters three miles deep. But I do not think of our dear ones there. They are safe, folded, the dear lambs.”

The Spaffords had three other children, two of whom, Bertha and Grace, survived. In 1881 they moved to Jerusalem and established what became known as the “American Colony,” a mission to the poor which did much outreach during World War I. Horatio Spafford died of malaria in Jerusalem on Oct. 16, 1888, just four days short of his 60th birthday. Before he died Horatio wrote “I rely exclusively, exclusively on the power and grace of God in Christ. I am a miracle of grace! Blessed God, how patient thou hast been with me!”

Though the story swirling around this beloved hymn tell of tragedy and loss, the comfort that shines from this beloved hymn reveals that God has the ability to transform tragedy into powerful comfort and blessing. We are reminded of Paul’s admonition in 2 Corinthians 1:3-7 (NIV)

Conclusion: Given the opportunity to make a choice, not a one of us would ever choose the crucible of suffering, tragedy, or loss, but Paul had learned from what he suffered, that it is God himself who comforts us in our troubles and passes on to us and through us the ministry of comfort thus enabling us to become comforters of others. In the midst of Horatio Spafford’s pain and loss, came the resonant song that has comforted millions of believers through the years. How a man can write, through the tears of his own loss, “It is well with my soul,” is a testimony to the powerful comfort God’s holy spirit can bring even in the middle of a hard moment in life. No one would wish for the tragedy Spafford suffered, but the testimony of his life gives a practical underpinning to the powerful words of the song he wrote "it is well, it is well with my soul.”

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How to Flourish Like David: 5 Keys to Spiritual Growth

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The Sower (Parable of Jesus)

It Is Well With My Soul

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