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You arewelcome

StoneCreek

www.rossvillechurch.com

781 Salem Road, Rossville, GA 30741

September 23, 2012

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Fifth SundaySeptember 30, 2012

Picnic in the parking lotNo evening service

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1 Samuel 22 1 David therefore departed thence (Gath), and escaped to the cave Adullam: and when his brethren and all his father's house heard it, they went down thither to him.

Bethlehem

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2 And everyone that was in distress, and everyone that was in debt, and everyone that was discon-tented (bitter), gathered themselves unto him; and he became a captain over them: and there were with him about four hundred men.

There's a lesson here for the church.

Too often churches want "a better class of people".

Good solid Christians

Not weak people who stumble around

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But God sent David men in distress, the debtors, the bitter and discontented.

These are the people who need a church and good

spiritual leadership.

They need a church family who will love them and be patient with them as they struggle and grow.

May we be that church family!

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"Give me your tired, your poor,Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,I lift my lamp beside the golden door!" Emma Lazarus’ Famous Poem A poem by Emma Lazarus is graven

on a tablet within the pedestal on which the statue stands.

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Great motto for a church.

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Regardless of their pastCome to us ye tired and weak,

Jesus will make you strong.

Come singing, "Just as I am"

You will soon be singing, "I've been changed from right to wrong."

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2 And everyone that was in distress, and everyone that was in debt, and everyone that was discon-tented (bitter), gathered themselves unto him; and he became a captain over them: and there were with him about four hundred men.

These became a band of men who stood by David for many years through hard trials and tribulations.

Let's pray that God will gives us the Wisdom and the Power of His Holy Spirit

to minister to such folks, and lead them into spiritual maturity.

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Romans 5 6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet per-adventure for a good man some would even dare to die. 8 But God commendeth His Love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, being now justified by His Blood, we shall be saved from wrath thru Him. 10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved (preserved,

made whole) by His Life.

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God didn't wait until we had gotten our lives straightened out and were looking good --

Before He paid the price to save us.

And God is patient with His children, giving us time and opportunity to grow and learn to live.

God will never quit on us, because He loves us.

We must never quit on God.We must be patient with all of His children,

as He is patient with us.

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3 And David went thence to Mizpeh of Moab: and he said unto the king of Moab, Let my father and my mother, I pray thee, come forth, and be with you, till I know what God will do for me. 4 And he brought them before the king of Moab: and they dwelt with him all the while that David was in the hold (stronghold).

David's great grandmother was Ruth, a Moabite woman, who married an Israelite -- Boaz.

So they were distant kin, though not worshippers

of the True and Living God.

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While David was living safely in the Cave of Adullam, his mama and daddy were safe in Moab.

But this is not taking him closer to being king.

5 And the prophet Gad said unto David, Abide not in the hold; depart, and get thee into the land of Judah. Then David departed, and came into the forest of Hareth.

The forest of Hareth was east of Adullum, in the land of Judah.

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There is a lesson here for us.

There is a time for dwelling in safety and comfort for God's children.

Psalms 46:1 (KJV) 1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

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But just as God told David to leave the Cave of Adullum and venture out into the Forest of Hareth,

There comes a time when we must leave our zone of comfort and venture out, doing exploits in the Power of God.

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"Voice Of Truth"Oh what I would do to have the kind of faith it takes to climb out of this boat I'm in, onto the crashing waves

To step out of my comfort zone to the realm of the un-known where Jesus is, and He's holding out His Hand

But the waves are calling out my name and they laugh at me; reminding me of all the times I've tried before

and failed.

The waves they keep on telling me Time and time again. 'Boy, you'll never win!' "You'll never win"

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But the Voice of Truth tells me a different storyAnd the Voice of Truth says "Do not be afraid!"

And the Voice of Truth says "This is for My glory"

Out of all the voices calling out to me, I will choose to listen and believe the Voice of Truth.

O what I would do to have the kind of strength it takes to stand before a giant with just a sling and a stone

Surrounded by the sound of a thousand warriorsshaking in their armor, wishing they'd have had the

strength to stand

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But the giant's calling out my name and he laughs at me, reminding me of all the times I've tried before and

failed. The giant keeps on telling me time and time again "boy, you'll never win! "You'll never win"

But the stone was just the right size to put the giant on the ground. And the waves they don't seem so high

From on top of them looking down.

I will soar with the wings of eagles when I stop and listen to the sound of Jesus singing over me --

I will choose to listen and believe the Voice of Truth.

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When the waves of life seem overwhelming:

Financial waves,

Marital waves,

Temptations to sin,

Jesus is right there, in the midst of the storm,

And He is singing over us with His arm stretched out to help us walk on the waves.

Will you let Him help?Let Him take your hand and walk with you?