DEVELOPING A GENEROUS SPIRIT: SOMETHING FOR NOTHING
2 SAMUEL 24: 11-25
SEPTEMBER 21, 2003
INTRODUCTION: Graduation Service of companies L and N of the United States Marines and PFC Timothy Lee Shires. 12 week, 3 months of intense training for one goal, to earn the title MARINE! One who will stand between harms way and for our freedom to ensure our safety!
Boarding the SS Dorchester on a dreary winter day in 1943 were 903 troops and four chaplains, including Moody alumnus Lt. George Fox. World War II was in full swing, and the ship was headed across the icy North Atlantic where German U-boats lurked. At 12:00 on the morning of February 3, a German torpedo ripped into the ship. "She’s going down!" the men cried, scrambling for lifeboats.
A young GI crept up to one of the chaplains. "I’ve lost my life jacket," he said. "Take this," the chaplain said, handing the soldier his jacket. Before the ship sank, each chaplain gave his life jacket to another man. The heroic chaplains then linked arms and lifted their voices in prayer as the Dorchester went down. Lt. Fox and his fellow pastors were awarded posthumously the Distinguished Service Cross.
Today in the Word, April 1, 1992.
Fifty-six men signed the Declaration of Independence. Their conviction resulted in untold sufferings for themselves and their families. Of the 56 men, five were captured by the British and tortured before they died. Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned. Two lost their sons in the Revolutionary Army. Another had two sons captured. Nine of the fifty-six fought and died from wounds or hardships of the war. Carter Braxton of Virginia, a wealthy planter and trader, saw his ships sunk by the British navy. He sold his home and properties to pay his debts and died in poverty.
At the battle of Yorktown, the British General Cornwallis had taken over Thomas Nelson’s home for his headquarters. Nelson quietly ordered General George Washington to open fire on the Nelson home. The home was destroyed and Nelson died bankrupt. John Hart was driven from his wife’s bedside as she was dying. Their thirteen children fled for their lives. His fields and mill were destroyed. For over a year, he lived in forest and caves, returning home only to find his wife dead and his children vanished. A few weeks later, he died from exhaustion.
Kenneth L. Dodge, Resource, Sept./ Oct., 1992, p. 5.
TRANSITION THOUGHT: Our text for today speaks of the right mindset concerning our affection for our Lord. Our text is a story of repentance and the power of a right heart before the Lord. Nothing worth having comes without cost. There is no such thing as a free lunch. Our salvation did not come without price; it cost Jesus His life and that upon the cruel cross of Calvary. As we begin a month long journey looking at A GENEROUS HEART, I want us to consider what we are willing to sacrifice for our Lord. What is the cost of discipleship and how are you willing to live to honor God our Father?
THESIS SENTENCE: A SACRIFICE PLEASING TO THE LORD IS ONE THAT COST US SOMETHING!
I. FOR DAVID SACRIFICE IS AN ALTAR BUILT
A. AN ALTAR IS A PLACE OF OBEDIENCE
1. Our text begins with the punishment of David!
2. David responds to the Prophet Gad, not Mimi Gadd, but to the prophet by setting in motion what must take place to end the Plague brought about by his sin. 3. This act of obedience is truly an example of repentance!
4. David is no longer turning from God but to God.
B. AN ALTAR IS A PLACE OF SACRIFICE
1. 70, 000 people are dead, but God stays his hand.
2. When the Lord saw the angel coming against Jerusalem, He had seen enough. David too had seen the Angel striking down the people and cried out to God. In response to David’s prayer, God spoke to the Prophet Gad and once again sent instructions through him.
3. The instructions were to build an altar.
4. The altar in the Old Testament had one use, do you know what that use was? 5. Something had to be placed on the Altar of Sacrifice. Something had to be offered up on the altar and it would be a sacrifice!
C. AN ALTAR IS A PLACE OF WORSHIP
1. The whole goal of offering sacrifices on the altar was to worship God. 2. God was stopping the plague prematurely and was worthy of being worshiped! 3. God was showing Grace and no longer justice! He was staying HIS hand when He could have destroyed the kingdom of David and of Israel!
4. Our God insists on being worshiped.
ILLUSTRATION: LUKE 14:28: “Suppose one of you wants so build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it?” This is the cost of discipleship Jesus is referring to. If one is a disciple, he must be ready to build an altar!
TRUTH: A GENEROUS HEART IS ONE WHO BUILDS AN ALTAR TO GOD IN THEIR LIVES!
II. FOR DAVID SACRIFICE IS AN OFFERING BOUGHT
A. AN OFFERING BOUGHT IS ONE OFFERED SACRIFICIALLY
1. Araunah saw the King coming and must have wondered what have I done to deserve this. Surely, he had heard of the plague though it was only a day old. Surely, he had heard of the seventy thousand dead.
2. When David spoke to Araunah and told him the reason he was there, Araunah was ready to give away his own livelihood for the King. He was willing to make a tremendous sacrifice!
3. Did you notice all he was willing to give to the King: “Take what ever pleases the King… Here are oxen for the burnt offering, and here are threshing sledges and ox yokes for the wood. O king, Araunah gives all this to the king (verses 22 &23).”
B. AN OFFERING BOUGHT IS ONE THAT COST SOMETHING
1. David could have let Araunah foot the bill for his worship!
2. David could have let Araunah foot the bill for his sin!
3. David could have let another live sacrificially so that he would not have to! 4. BUT, David’s response to this GENEROUS HEART was a GENEROUS HEART IN RETURN: I will not sacrifice to the Lord my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing (verse 24).”
5. You see, David knew that nothing worth having comes free! David had learned a great principle that he wants to transfer into our lives: God deserves our best and no one else can foot the bill for us! If we are going to move forward in obedience before our God, we must develop a Generous Heart!
ILLUSTRATION:
ACTS 20:28: “Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood.”
I CORINTHIANS 6:19-20: “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.”
I CORINTHIANS 7:23: “You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men.” 2 PETER 2:1: “But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves.”
TRUTH: A GENEROUS HEART IS ONE WILLING TO BUY SOMETHING OF GREAT WORTH!
III. FOR DAVID SACRIFICE IS A PEOPLE BLESSED
A. A PEOPLE BLESSED IS ANSWERED PRAYER
1. Our text began with tragedy and ends with triumph!
2. David has successfully repented!
3. David has found favor with God once more and now prayer is answered! 4. David’s sacrifice upon the altar is pleasing in God’s sight.
5. David had honored the Lord with his actions!
B. A PEOPLE BLESSED IS AN ENDED PLAGUE
1. Verse 15 seems to point that the plague lasted the three days promised, but the text that followed points to a halt in what was originally scheduled by the hand of God!
2. Verse 25 tells us that the Plague stopped. This suggests that the plague did not complete its action!
3. God has again spared the lives of the King and of the “Sheep”!
C. A PEOPLE BLESSED IS AN ACT OF SACRIFICIAL OBEDIENCE
1. David was willing to pay the price that his people might be spared!
2. David’s obedience to go and build an altar saved the lives of others!
TRUTH: WHEN WE ARE WILLING TO LEAVE THE SOMETHING FOR NOTHING MINDSET BEHIND, OTHERS ARE BLESSED!
CONCLUSION: YOU MUST BUILD AND BUY IF YOU WANT TO BLESS! What are we willing to sacrifice to bless others? Are we a people of a Generous Spirit? Do we have it in our Hearts to build an Altar to our God? Are we willing to pay the price necessary to see that God is honored? ON THE OTHER HAND, DO WE HAVE A SOMETHING FOR NOTHING MINDSET? WHAT IS THE HOLY SPIRIT SAYING TO YOU TODAY?
BENEDICTION: REVELATION 1: 5-6
