Keep Your SUDs in the Bucket (Lesson one)

This is lesson one of a five part series about experiencing forgiveness and restoration.

Noah, Abraham, Moses, Solomon and Peter all have something in common.

They all made seemingly unimportant decisions or SUDs, which ended up allowing sin into their lives. 

If you have been a Christian for any length of time, you probably can go ahead and add your name to the list, because you have not kept your SUD’s in the bucket.

2 Samuel 11:1-2 NASB

(1)  Then it happened in the spring, at the time when kings go out to battle, that David sent Joab and his servants with him and all Israel, and they destroyed the sons of Ammon and besieged Rabbah. But David stayed at Jerusalem.

(2)  Now when evening came David arose from his bed and walked around on the roof of the king's house, and from the roof he saw a woman bathing; and the woman was very beautiful in appearance.

Being unaccountable can be dangerous.  Let’s look at David’s SUDs.  Yes, King David a man after God’s own heart had SUDS.  He made seeming unimportant decisions that allowed sin to come into his life.

He should have been out fighting with his men.  David was the warrior King why was he at home?  Maybe he thought “they could take care of this, I’m the king, I deserve a rest”.

He got out of his routine.  He slept all day and awoke in the evening.  He was by himself so no one knew what he was doing.

Just a few suds (seemingly unimportant decisions.)

Continued next week

Why are you still Unsaved??????

This is the most serious question you will ever consider in your life.

Please continue reading the following information:

Only you and God and know your condition and God wants you to take JESUS.

How to be saved?

First you must realize….

God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.  (Joh 3:16 KJV)

Then know

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.  (Rom 10:9 KJV)

For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.  (Rom 10:10 KJV)

The answer is simple; confess that Jesus is Lord and Believe with your heart.  Many people have a head knowledge and belief that Jesus is Lord.  The issue with a head belief is that it is only lip service it does not bring about a heartfelt belief that allows the Holy Spirit to take up residence in our lives.  Only a true belief from the heart allows Jesus to come in.  This is the type of belief that changes our thoughts and actions to be in line with God’s desire for us, which is to love and serve Him so he can have a relationship with us. 

If you would like to accept Jesus as your Savior, bow down on your knees and humbly confess that you are a sinner and believe that Jesus is Lord.  Ask Jesus to come into your heart and truly mean it from the heart.  It is that SIMPLE Jesus said it was. 

The Path to Power (Lesson Four)

Acts 1:8 NASB

(8) But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth."

Over the past three weeks we have studied David and the path to power.  David knew that position and power comes from God.  God has a plan for each of us and He requires obedience. 

David realized that power evolves through humility.  By all rights, David could have taken the throne but he knew God’s plan calls for humble service.

David learned those in power should honor God.  God has His plan and His ways.  We must never take God for granted or expect Him to go by our rules.

Sometimes we get careless and forget that all Power comes from God.

Take a few seconds to think about what God has done for you.

Now finish these statements for yourself.

     Without God I was…………..

     Through God’s grace, I am ……….

     With God’s help I am becoming ……..

The Path to Power (Lesson Three)

2 Samuel 6:1-11 NASB

(1)  Now David again gathered all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand.

(2)  And David arose and went with all the people who were with him to Baale-judah, to bring up from there the ark of God which is called by the Name, the very name of the LORD of hosts who is enthroned above the cherubim.

(3)  They placed the ark of God on a new cart that they might bring it from the house of Abinadab which was on the hill; and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, were leading the new cart.

(4)  So they brought it with the ark of God from the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill; and Ahio was walking ahead of the ark.

(5)  Meanwhile, David and all the house of Israel were celebrating before the LORD with all kinds of instruments made of fir wood, and with lyres, harps, tambourines, castanets and cymbals.

(6)  But when they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah reached out toward the ark of God and took hold of it, for the oxen nearly upset it.

(7)  And the anger of the LORD burned against Uzzah, and God struck him down there for his irreverence; and he died there by the ark of God.

(8)  David became angry because of the LORD'S outburst against Uzzah, and that place is called Perez-uzzah to this day.

(9)  So David was afraid of the LORD that day; and he said, "How can the ark of the LORD come to me?"

(10)  And David was unwilling to move the ark of the LORD into the city of David with him; but David took it aside to the house of Obed-edom the Gittite.

(11)  Thus the ark of the LORD remained in the house of Obed-edom the Gittite three months, and the LORD blessed Obed-edom and all his household.

Those in power should honor God.  Desire and effort without obedience brings judgment.  David did not do as God required.  God had given specific instructions as to moving the ark. 

Do we ever get careless when it comes to God? 

When we pray do we say the same old things to God without putting any real thought into it?

Do you expect God to be there regardless of your attitude?

Many times, we attempt to place God into our box instead of getting into God’s box.  God is simple He demands obedience.

When we do things God’s way he is pleased.  On down in the chapter you can read that David went to get the ark and worshiped God.  He was obedient to God and was allowed to bring the ark home.