Richmond Community Church

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Sermon Audio: David’s Wives Are Captured
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: I Samuel 30:1-31
Duration: 22:36
Size: 15.5 MB

The Life of David
David’s Wives Are Captured
I Samuel 30:1-31

Chapter 30 tells us what happened when David and his men arrived back in Ziklag.

I completely lost the sense of God’s presence. God was silent. And he remained silent for two years.

I. God’s Servant Is Distressed (I Samuel 30:1-6a)
Once they arrived in Ziklag, they discovered that the city had been burned, and no bodies were there.

Do you feel that things cannot get any worse? And then they do?

II. God’s Strength Is Provided (I Samuel 30:6b-10)
But, when his back was against the wall, when he was in significant distress, he went to his heavenly Father.

III. God’s Providence Is Indispensable (I Samuel 30:11-15)
God’s providence is indispensable in turning tragedy to triumph.

IV. God’s Grace Is Recovered (I Samuel 30:16-25)
A works-oriented view says that we get blessing for ourselves.

A grace-oriented view says that we receive God’s blessing only by his grace.

V. God’s Generosity Is Shared (I Samuel 30:26-31)
And I opened my mouth as I wept aloud, and I was surprised at what I heard coming out of my mouth. I heard, “I love you Jesus.”

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Sermon Audio: Saul and the Medium of Endor
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: I Samuel 28:3-25
Duration: 23:21
Size: 16.0 MB

The Life of David
Saul and the Medium of Endor
I Samuel 28:3-25

Today’s lesson is about Saul and the final hopelessness of a person who thought he was right with God but in fact he was not.

I. The Desperation (I Samuel 28:3-6)
Now, however, Saul desperately wanted some spiritual guidance, but Samuel was no longer alive.

II. The Defiance (I Samuel 28:7-14)
He literally had to go around the Philistine army to get to Endor.

In his defiance against God, Saul was seeking guidance from the spirit of someone who had died.

III. The Danger (I Samuel 28:15-19)
This clearly was not what Saul wanted to hear. He was hoping to get some relief for his distress.

IV. The Despair (I Samuel 28:20-25)
Now he eats his last meal, prepared by a witch, and goes forth to certain death.

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Sermon Audio: David Flees to the Philistines
Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: I Samuel 27:1-28:2
Duration: 24:08
Size: 16.5 MB

The Life of David
David Flees to the Philistines
I Samuel 27:1-28:2

Even though David had God’s promises reiterated to him on numerous occasions, he got weary of being on the run from Saul.

Affirm that every character in the Bible–with the exception of Jesus Christ–is flawed, totally depraved, and sinful in nature.

I. David’s Plan (I Samuel 27:1-4)
But despite all these assurances that were given to David, he began to feel the pressure of being stalked and hunted and chased for more than seven years.

We make so many mistakes when we do not go to the Lord in prayer, and seek his guidance on a matter.

II. David’s Place (I Samuel 27:5-7)
Without knowing it, Achish gave David a place that David actually co-opted eventually into Judah.

III. David’s Practice (I Samuel 27:8-12)
According to a recent study, people who tell small, self-serving lies are likely to progress to bigger falsehoods, and over time, the brain appears to adapt to the dishonesty.

IV. David’s Predicament (I Samuel 28:1-2)
David was in a real predicament because he was being conscripted to go and fight against his own people.

And yet, even though David’s faith faltered, God was faithful to him and preserved him for his future calling.

When Gladys and the orphans made it through, they proved once again that no matter how inadequate we feel, God is still God, and we can trust in him.