Take Heed!
2004042
Topic # 1400
Introduction:
A. 1 Cor. 10:11-13. Focus on 10:12.
1. Wedged between “stands” and “fall” are the words “take heed.”
2. We need to take notice of what is going on in our spiritual life.
B. Warnings to be aware are numerous!
1. 2 Cor. 13:5; Rom. 13:11-14 (wake up)
2. Warnings of possibility of falling away are seen in Heb. 6:4-8; 10:26-31.
C. And yet, it is while things are going good spiritually – that we can set ourselves up for the fall by failing to “take heed!”
I. Consider what we learn from David’s life:
A. 2 Sam. 11 – David is 50 years old. King for 20 years. Had distinguished himself as:
1. A man of God; composer of psalms; a valiant warrior; a great leader.
2. A man of passion as well as compassion.
3. But there would come a segment in David’s life filled with sin.
a) Devastating consequences! Sin always brings them!
b) Take heed @ any age! No one is too young or even gets too old to fall!
B. Things had been going extremely well for David.
1. 5:12-13
2. Between chapter 5 & 11 – all we see is a tremendous success story.
a) In fact David at an all time high.
b) Chapter 8 heralds his military accomplishments.
c) Reached the peak of public admiration
d) Ample money; incredible power; remarkable fame.
e) Took land from 6K sq miles to 60K sq miles.
C. But…he was vulnerable.
1. 5:13 – this contradicted Deut. 17:14-17. Kings were not to:
a) Multiply horses for themselves or allow people to do so.
b) Multiply wives for themselves
c) Multiply silver/gold for themselves.
2. Success on some of this, but not all.
a) Even though the # of his wives/concubines increased- his passion was not abated. Problem w/sexual sin.
b) This would come back to haunt him.
3. When we get to 2 Sam. 11 – things are going good for David.
4. But…pride, accomplishments lead to spirit of indulgence that haunts him for the remainder of his life.
II. David’s failure to take heed of his vulnerabilities led to his fall.
A. 2 Sam. 11:1 – David not in battle – where he belonged.
1. Had he been where he belonged – no sin w/Bathsheba!
2. Greatest battles do not come when we’re working hard. Come at a time of leisure; when time is on our hands; when boredom sets in.
3. He belonged in battle- but was in the bedroom.
B. Eastern kings usually built bedrooms on 2nd floor of palace. Room had doors that opened onto the patio roof.
1. Above the other buildings – away from the streets. People could not spot him.
2. 11:2b
C. When we read this – we instinctively think of the seriousness of David’s sin.
1. But, the “very beautiful” woman cannot be totally excused.
2. Bathsheba: careless & foolish. Why wash where she could be easily seen?
3. It is not enough to avoid sin ourselves?
a) Rom. 14:12-13 - We must ensure that we do not become a stumbling block to others.
b) Had she thought seriously about her actions – she would not have placed temptation in her path!
D. We must work in cooperation with our righteousness!
1. Give thought to:
a) Our actions; dress; “looks”, conduct!
b) We must be modest, careful, and controlled! Not having even a hint of allurement – lest someone else be tempted!
2. Yes...David stopped, stared, lusted, and sought her – they were both at fault on this occasion!
E. There is truth in Js. 1:13-15.
1. Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s comments.
F. In times of temptation – there is one command! Flee!
1. 1 Cor. 6:18 – flee immorality!
2. 1 Cor. 10:14 – flee idolatry!
3. 2 Tim. 2:22 – flee youthful lusts. Pursue righteousness!
G. There is no resistance to Satan in lust – other than flight! Don’t run? Failure!
1. Running from temptation causes lust to back off!
H. Temptation causes us to have spiritual amnesia.
1. Smoldering desire burnt into flames – God becomes distant and unreal to us!
2. Temptation causes us to forget who we are!
3. Temptation causes us to forget all the lessons we’ve learned in life to that point.
4. Temptation causes us to “go out of control.”
a) Say “no” to all the things we should say “yes” to.
b) Say “yes” to all the things we should say “no” to.
c) And so, we ignore any warning & all consequence.
III. Pleasures of sin are passing.
A. 11:4 – appears to be a one-time adulterous affair. Back home before midnight?
1. Time of temptation? Devil shows us the beauty, fun, excitement, and the stimulating adventure of stolen desires.
B. Never tells the alcoholic about AM after.
1. Never tells the drug user about the endless road of addiction.
2. Never tells the thief he’ll get caught.
3. Never tells the fornicator that pregnancy & disease are a real possibility.
C. When the sin is done & the penalties of sin come down – the devil is no where to be found!
1. FB Meyer: one brief spell of passionate indulgence, and then, his character blasted irretrievable, his peace vanished, the foundations of his kingdom imperiled, the Lord displeased, and great occasion given to his enemies to blaspheme.
IV. Road of temptation leads us away from God.
A. 11:5 – Bathsheba is pregnant.
1. Presented w/a choice: admit it or cover it up & move into areas of deception & hypocrisy.
2. His decision only causes him more misery down the road. In sin – STOP! Don’t add to the misery!
a) He was a fool to cover up his sin.
B. 11:6-9 – clever idea flops.
1. If there’s a pregnancy & Uriah has slept with his wife, no one will ever know what David has done.
C. 11:14 – David has Uriah unknowingly carry his own death warrant to the commander of the army – Joab.
1. 11:17 – deed was done. Uriah murdered. David set him up to be killed!
D. Consequences of sin can be devastating. Have effect on innocent people around us.
1. Consider Joab. Did he have a clue as to why David wanted Uriah on front line? 11:18 – Joab sends news to the king.
2. 19-21 – tells David what he wants to hear.
3. Remember – Uriah wasn’t the only one to fall in that battle!
a) Many others paid the price for David’s sin on that battlefield.
b) 11:25 – David’s reply. Height of hypocrisy.
4. For us it is the same. Our sin can have far reaching effects!
a) Spouse; children; church; co-worker; family.
b) Achan – Joshua 6-7 – entire family killed b/c of his sin!
E. Sin causes us to be in “react” mode.
1. We cover up; smear over; cloud up; deny; scheme until we find ourselves in such a maze we can never escape!
2. Only way out is repentance & seeking God!
F. 11:26-27 – a simple statement of fact.
1. Here is the raw, open sewage of David’s life.
2. Great king of Israel now living in shadows of his own palace.
a) Sin had shriveled him into something he was never destined to be.
b) Why? He deliberately compromised with wrong!
Conclusion:
A. If you playing w/the sins of the flesh – you’re living on borrowed time.
1. Nothing can damage our spiritual lives more!
2. When chapter 11 comes to an end – David in misery!
a) Psa. 51:3-4 – total misery! Worst feeling – totally alone! So many miles from God!
b) Psa. 32:3-4 – full of groaning & agonizing!
3. Let these verses permeate your mind.
4. We need to see afresh the wages of sin.
B. 1 Cor. 10:11-13 – are you taking heed?
1. We must understand the reality of temptation & be planning on how we can resist it!
C. Are you trapped in sin?
1. Don’t go on deceiving yourself & covering up your sin!
2. Get it out in the open before God!
3. Psa. 51:7-12
D. Do you need to become a Christian?
E. I N V I T A T I O N
