INTRO
* My favorite story in the whole Bible
* David because of a blood covenant that brings Mephibosheth to live in the King's palace
* Picture of God's love to us
* The thing that interests me about this story...
...there isn't a perfect ending!
* Mephibosheth is in the palace
* But still crippled...twisted ankles
* He is...Delivered But Damaged
* We have adopted a mentality that to be delivered means no more struggle
* What does it mean to be delivered...
* We've led people to believe something that the Bible doesn't teach
* God never promised that once you got saved
* You would...think no evil...feel no evil...desire no evil
* He renewed our Spirit...(Born Again) (Salvation)
* He is renewing our mind...(Desires) (Sanctification)
* He will renew our body
* In the meantime, we struggle and limp
1. A NEW KING
„o David is God's choice (Horn 1 Samuel 16)
„o Saul, First king, was people's choice (Flask 1 Samuel 10)
„o Saul's sons should have been king
„o But God rejects Saul...because Saul rejected God
„o Jonathan (Saul's son) should have been King
„o Jonathan died on the battlefield
NOTE: Jonathan was torn between
Dad Saul = Source of our flesh
Friend David = Will of God
He stayed with flesh and died without reaching his destiny
„o Jonathan has a son named Mephibosheth that had rights to the throne...but was rejected
„o David and Jonathan made a blood covenant
„o Now David will honor it
„o He calls...
2. A CRIPPLED SON
* Mephibosheth has a condition that hinders his position
* Mephibosheth = shameful one
* Lodebar = Place of no communication
o Don't want to talk about your problem
* He had rights because of the blood
* But living in his despair
* How he got like this
DRAMA Holding a little boy
Little boy in the arms of a nurse
She drops him
He wasn't old enough
It wasn't his fault
He was damaged by someone he trusted
He was lame in his feet
Because someone that was supposed to help...they hurt
This would be king
But, now broken
The reason...she withdraws...
The reason...Daddy don't cry...
The reason...Christians act,...
THEY'VE BEEN DROPPED
3. A FAITHFUL SERVANT
„o Saul's people are being killed
„o David now is looking for anyone in the House of Saul
„o See the picture...Jesus is looking to save anyone that is in the flesh
„o Because of the blood covenant made between him and man
„o But he needs a messenger
„o David sends Ziba out
DRAMA Pick up crippled young man
„o Jesus sends out the church
„o Watch Ziba go looking, searching...
„o Now carrying Mephibosheth back
„o Mephibosheth couldn't get to the palace
Unable
Fear
„o The church has got to go
„o When I could not find mercy
„o Mercy came running to me
4. THE LORD'S TABLE
* You're in a new place with an old problem
A leader in a the church......................but damaged
A president of a company....................but damaged
A father............................................but damaged
A mother..........................................but damaged
Love the Lord....................................but damaged
In the Palace.....................................but damaged
At the table.......................................but damaged
* I know I shouldn't have a problem with...
o Lust
o Self image
o Anger
o Depression
o Etc.
* I am missing my now because I am trapped in my then
* He felt condemned - Give up
Not receiving the blessing of being in the Kingdom
I am in the Kingdom, but not enjoying the Kingdom
* Pull up to the table...the table will hide your handicap
DRAMA ...set him at the table
DRAMA Bring others...Come and dine
Now if you look under the table...
You will see we all have a handicap
CONCLUSION
When UPS delivers
We never sign for a damaged package
Ephesians says we are accepted in the Beloved
God signed for us
Forget what is behind you
At the table you can eat meals you didn't cook
When I am at the Lord's Table you can't tell me apart from the others!
For the first time, I don't have to meet requirements
Under the cover we are all crippled.
