Tag: Val Watkins

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 21:53 — 15.0MB)

Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: II Samuel 12:15-31

The Life of David
David’s Child Dies
II Samuel 12:15-31

Even believers want to know how to come back after egregious sin.

Believers have to endure the consequences for sin even though we have been forgiven.

I. Seek God in Prayer (II Samuel 12:15-16)
But David did not assume that God’s declaration that the child would die was so settled that he just sat back and waited for the inevitable to happen.

II. Acknowledge Your Sin (II Samuel 12:17)
Don’t hide it or refuse to face those who are in a position to help and who want to help.

III. Submit to God’s Will (II Samuel 12:18-23)
David’s acceptance of the child’s death shows his submission to God’s will.

IV. Receive God’s Blessing (II Samuel 12:24-25)
Forgiveness cancels past sin, promises future blessing, and opens the gate of heaven.

V. Return to Duty (II Samuel 12:26-31)
God wants you to serve him with the gifts that he has given you.

And because of that truth, let me urge you to seek God in prayer, acknowledge your sin, submit to God’s will, receive God’s blessing, and then return to duty.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 24:28 — 16.8MB)

Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: II Samuel 12:1-15

The Life of David
David Rebuked by Nathan
II Samuel 12:1-15

Many months passed by after King David’s sin against Bathsheba and Uriah. Bathsheba became pregnant and David was confronted by Nathan after the birth of that child.

The narrative of David being rebuked by Nathan is really a story of God’s grace reaching out to an adopted son who has grievously sinned in order to restore him to fellowship with himself.

I. The First Step Is Conviction (II Samuel 12:1-12)
Nathan used an indirect approach with David. If he had started by saying that David had sinned, David might have been defensive or dismissive.

Nathan did not wait for David to respond. He went on to pronounce the findings of the Lord who was David’s judge.

So, the first step God uses to restore sinners back into fellowship with himself is conviction of sin.

II. The Second Step Is Repentance (II Samuel 12:13a)
David understood the magnitude of his sin and he repented of his sin.

III. The Third Step Is Forgiveness (II Samuel 12:13b-15)
However, I do want to remind us that God is just in all his ways and he never does anything wrong.

Whatever our sin, let us be convicted of our sin, truly repent of our sin, and then receive God’s forgiveness for our sin.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 26:04 — 17.9MB)

Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: II Samuel 11:1-27

The Life of David
David and Bathsheba
II Samuel 11:1-27

Sandwiched in the middle of these chapters is the shocking account of David’s dreadful sin with Bathsheba.

“Sin will take you farther than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay, and cost you more than you’re willing to pay.”

I. The Causes of Sin (II Samuel 11:1-4)
We are not told that David was busy with the affairs of the kingdom or that he was busy taking care of the problems of his people. Instead, he was on his couch.

As soon as David heard that she was married, he should have stopped pursuing her.

Sin does not just come upon us. It is not foisted upon us so that there is nothing we can do about it.

II. The Consequences of Sin (II Samuel 11:5)
But a consequence of sin is that more often than we like other people know about it.

III. The Cover-up of Sin (II Samuel 11:6-27a)
Sometimes our desire to cover up our sin by some kind of deception does not work.

IV. The Condemnation of Sin (II Samuel 11:27b)
What David had done was evil in his eyes. David had violated the law of God. David deserved to die. David’s sin condemned him to death.

Psalm 51:1-2 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 26:43 — 18.3MB)

Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: II Samuel 10:1-19

The Life of David
David Defeats Ammon and Syria
II Samuel 10:1-19

In II Samuel 10, David once again extended kindness, that is, hesed or steadfast love, to the son of a friendly neighboring king, who had died.

Like Onada, many people are fighting a lonely battle against the God who is offering reconciliation and peace.

I. Kindness Is Offered (II Samuel 10:1-2)
However, now that Nahash had died, David wanted to extend hesed to Hanun, Nahash’s son, for the hesed that had previously been extended to David by Nahash.

Well, Jesus’ offer of kindness is by far the best offer ever extended to anyone.

II. Kindness Is Rejected (II Samuel 10:3-5)
The rejection of David’s kindness points us again to the rejection of Jesus’ kindness. Jesus came to seek and to save the lost.

III. Kindness Is Redressed (II Samuel 10:6-19)
David offered kindness. And that offer of kindness was rejected by Hanun. So, David set out to take action.

Joab recognized and affirmed that God was in sovereign control of the outcome.

David’s redressing of his kindness that was rejected teaches us that Jesus will redress any rejection of the kindness that he offers.

Those who have rejected Jesus will know in that moment that all their greatest treasures were nothing compared with him, and they will bitterly regret that decision.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 20:49 — 14.3MB)

Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: II Samuel 9:1-13

The Life of David
David’s Kindness to Mephibosheth
II Samuel 9:1-13

Our scripture today about Mephibosheth, and particularly about David’s kindness to him.

I. Kindness Is Initiated (II Samuel 9:1-4)
So, David wanted to fulfill his covenant promise to Jonathan.

That is why he wanted to make sure that he was keeping his covenant promise to Jonathan when he asked, “Is there still anyone left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?”

But the good news of the gospel teaches us that David’s Greater Son, Jesus, takes the initiative to bring kindness–God’s steadfast love–to us.

II. Kindness Is Provided (II Samuel 9:5-8)
The lesson for us is that Christians are the recipients of God’s unmerited and gracious kindness.

III. Kindness Is Experienced (II Samuel 9:9-13)
But David initiated kindness toward Mephibosheth, he provided kindness for Mephibosheth, and then Mephibosheth experienced the kindness of David.

You don’t pay love back; you pay it forward.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 24:19 — 16.7MB)

Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: II Samuel 8:1-18

The Life of David
David’s Victories
II Samuel 8:1-18

“The Lord’s Prayer.” The prayer has an introduction, six petitions, and a conclusion.

I. The Conquests of the Kingdom (II Samuel 8:1-6,13-14)
The kingdom boundaries were extended to what God had originally promised to Abraham.

So, just like the Philistines, the Moabites were no longer a threat to Israel.

As we read about the conquests of the kingdom, our esteem for David grows.

David illustrates that the kingdom of God will conquer all opposition, not because of David’s prowess but because of God’s power.

II. The Spoils of the Kingdom (II Samuel 8:7-12)
The spoils of the kingdom, which are the blessings that Jesus secures, are available to any person who is willing to submit to Jesus.

III. The Administration of the Kingdom (II Samuel 8:15-18)
It is also the first of many occurrences in the Bible of the phrase “justice and equity,” or sometimes translated as, “justice and righteousness.”

Jesus’ administration, however, will be perfect. All his enemies will be defeated forever.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 25:30 — 17.5MB)

Speaker: Pastor Val Watkins
Scripture Text: II Samuel 7:18-29

The Life of David
David’s Prayer
II Samuel 7:18-29

As soon as David heard what God was going to do for him, David responded in prayer.

I think that the most difficult thing to do as a Christian is prayer.

I. Praise for God’s Plan (II Samuel 7:18-22)
Do you take time daily to sit before the Lord and talk to him in prayer?
A. Praise for Previous Grace (II Samuel 7:18)
B. Praise for Promised Grace (II Samuel 7:19)
Are you justified by faith alone in Christ alone by God’s grace alone?
C. Praise for Sovereign Grace (II Samuel 7:20-22)

II. Prayer for God’s People (II Samuel 7:23-24)
David recognized that God’s people are unique. God had chosen them out of all the other peoples on the earth.
A. Prayer for God’s Redeemed People (II Samuel 7:23)
You used to belong to Satan. But then God redeemed you by the blood of his Son, Jesus Christ, and now you belong to God.
B. Prayer for God’s Preserved People (II Samuel 7:24a)
C. Prayer for God’s Privileged People (II Samuel 7:24b)
He becomes our God and we become his people when we are united to Jesus by faith in him.

III. Petition for God’s Promise (II Samuel 7:25-29)
A. Petition for God’s Name to Be Magnified (II Samuel 7:25-27)
His petition is for God to glorify himself in the wellbeing of his believing people.
B. Petition for God’s Promise to Be Fulfilled (II Samuel 7:28-29)
David gave praise for God’s plan, prayed for God’s people, and petitioned for God’s promise to be fulfilled.

1st, plan to spend time each day in prayer.
2nd, use a plan to guide your prayer.
3rd, use a prayer list.
4th, don’t give up.