Well the snow kept many away from this past weekend.  We had one worship service at 11:15am, and as promised God made a memory.  It was a powerful Sunday of worship and of studying God’s Word.  We looked a 1 Samuel 18-19, where Saul in his fear and jealousy, tried to kill David. 

How are you leading your life?

• OUTER LIFE = appearance, behavior, and actions
• INNER LIFE = Heart, soul, character

READ 1 Samuel 18:5-16, 28-30; 19:1-13 

How do you handle the songs and spears?

• SONGS = compliments and praise
• SPEARS = criticism

The Message: How do you deal with praise and criticism?  “The crucible of silver and the furnace of gold, but man is tested by the praise he receives.” Proverbs 27:21

WHAT DOES IT REVEAL?

 1. Where is your focus?

• On Self = angry, jealous, afraid
• On God = God can use what hurts us

2. What is going on in your heart?

• Saul = Angry feelings –> Angry Words –> Angry Actions (Tried to kill in son: 1 Samuel 20:30-33)
• David = Truth –> Trust –> Obedience

WHERE DOES IS LEAD?

1. Outer Life = darkness and destruction

2. Inner Life = to trust God more

• Check out David’s Psalms he wrote while chased out by Saul’s spear: Psalm 7:9; 9:1; 13:2, 5; 16:7, 9.
• Check out when David had a chance to kill Saul: 1 Samuel 24:1-15
• “What man meant for evil, God meant for good.” Genesis 50:20

HOW DID JESUS HANDLE SONGS AND SPEARS?

• “Hosanna, Son of David!  Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!  Hosanna in the highest.” Matthew 21:9

On the cross, Jesus quotes David’s words that he shared from the cave being chased by King Saul

• “My God, my God why have you forsaken me?” Psalm 22:1
• “Into your hands I commit my spirit…” Psalm 31:5

To confirm Jesus death, a Roman soldier pierced Jesus side with a spear.

DOES JESUS HAVE YOUR HEART?

ARE YOU RECEIVING SONGS OR ARE YOU RECEIVING SPEARS?

ARE YOU SINGING SONGS TO OTHERS, OR ARE YOU THROWING SPEARS AT OTHERS?