Choosing Mercy Over Revenge: David's Example

I am sure that every one of us have had situations in life where we are tempted to try and get revenge on someone for something they've said or done that we think was unfair or hurtful that they didn't need to do but they chose to do it anyway and we're looking for some opportunity to get back at them somehow. [00:21:36] (25 seconds)

I love how even when we may be a little bit outside the will of God how we dig up and use verses what we pull out of context to try to make them say what we want them to say i mean if we've already made up our mind what we want to do what do we do then we look for a proof text to back it up to to tell us it's okay to do what we're wanting to do. [00:27:50] (26 seconds)

Satan will whisper in our ear this is justified you've got good reasons for doing this they brought it on themselves they shouldn't have done what they did and they wouldn't be in this position anyway right so satan will work on it and sometimes satan will use scripture here's what you need to know satan knows god really well he knows all about god he knows all about god's word. [00:31:34] (36 seconds)

He said to his men the lord forbid that i should do such a thing to my master the lord's anointed or lay my hand on him for he is the anointed of the lord david david still sees saul as a king that the lord anointed to be king something we forget about a lot of times is throughout history god has worked through leaders who were ungodly people to accomplish some things in his plan that he wanted to accomplish to get people to a certain place to get things to happen in a certain way they don't have to believe in god they don't have to trust god they don't have to honor god and god can still use them for his purposes that's how powerful god is that's how powerful god's plan is. [00:33:33] (55 seconds)

You can't possibly live the life filled with joy and peace that god wants you to have while you're eaten up with this desire that's controlling you the way it's controlling you or that's caused you to take action that hurt not just the person you were trying to get back at but could hurt so many others in the process. [00:37:26] (21 seconds)

This day you have seen with your own eyes how the lord delivered you into my hands in the cave some urged me to kill you but i spared you i said i will not lay my hand on my lord because he is the lord's anointed see my father look at this piece of your robe in my hand i cut off the corner of your robe but did not kill you see that there is nothing in my hand to indicate that i'm guilty of wrongdoing or rebellion i have not wronged you but you are hunting me down to take my life may the lord judge between you and me and may the lord avenge the wrongs you've done to me but my hand will not touch you. [00:38:21] (48 seconds)

I'm going to let god do whatever god decides to do but i'm not going to be the one who does the thing of my own accord that i was tempted to do that's a hard place to get to when somebody hurts you wrongs you cheats you unfairly takes advantage of you it's really hard to get to that place that you think you can trust god to handle that for you you don't have to handle it yourself the way the world would say to handle it. [00:39:28] (39 seconds)

Our decision on how we handle the temptation to get revenge cannot rest in what the other person does or doesn't do.Whether they change like they should or apologize like they should or don't, or if they don't do that. Our decision can't be based on that.Our decision has to be based on what David's decision was based on.I'm going to keep myself in God's will for me and let God take care of the rest.I'm going to do the right thing and let God handle whatever needs to be done with the rest of that. [00:44:32] (39 seconds)

In this world you'll have trouble, but take heart, be encouraged, I've overcome the world. This is temporary. Any bad thing, any bad offense against you, any liar or cheater or anybody that's done anything against you, the consequences of that are so minute compared to the glory that waits on the other side.You don't have to take revenge. You've got something waiting on you that's far better than any bad thing that's ever happened to you in your whole life. It doesn't even compare to what you have waiting on you. [00:49:55] (39 seconds)

Don't let the world convince you to walk in the flesh instead of walking in the Spirit.Understand that with the help of God and with the presence of the power of the Spirit of God, we can walk a higher road even while we're here than the world is walking.We can be a distinctly set apart and different people. That's part of what will help people be attracted to Jesus. It's when they see that in us, that we will walk a higher road, we will take a higher course of action, we won't get down on that level of worldly revenge, we'll stay on a different level, and the world will see that and want to know how we can do it. [00:50:34] (40 seconds)