2 Samuel 9:1-13 • The Adoption Gospel
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(This transcript was prepared using software tools and has not been reviewed for complete accuracy.)
NOW, LET ME ASK THAT YOU
WOULD LOOK IN YOUR BIBLES AT 2
SAMUEL CHAPTER 9, 2 SAMUEL
CHAPTER 9.
WE HAVE BEEN REMINDED ALREADY
THAT THIS IS SANCTITY OF LIFE
SUNDAY, AND YOU HAVE SUNG SO
BEAUTIFULLY: HE'S A GOOD, GOOD
FATHER, AND I AM A CHILD OF GOD.
I MEAN, SO MUCH OF THAT
SUMMARIZES WHY WE CELEBRATE THE
SANCTITY OF LIFE.
WE CELEBRATE WHAT GOD HAS DONE
IN EVERY INDIVIDUAL LIFE THAT HE
BRINGS INTO THE WORLD.
HE IS A FATHER; WE ARE HIS
CHILDREN.
THAT'S IMPORTANT TO SAY, BECAUSE
AS WE CELEBRATE LIFE, WE HAVE
PARTICULAR OBLIGATION IN THIS
CULTURE POST ROE V. WADE TO TALK
ABOUT NOT JUST THE EVIL OF
ABORTION BUT THE GOODNESS OF ITS
ANTIDOTE.
AND THAT IS FOR THOSE FAMILIES
WHO RECOGNIZE THE BLESSEDNESS OF
CHILDREN, THE IMPORTANCE OF
ADOPTION.
IT IS ONE THING TO SAY TO A
STRUGGLING YOUNG MOM, "IT IS
YOUR RESPONSIBILITY BEFORE GOD
TO BRING A CHILD TO TERM."
IT'S QUITE ANOTHER NOT TO MAKE
ANY PROVISION.
THAT'S BOTH CRUEL AND
HYPOCRITICAL.
BUT FOR US AS THE PEOPLE OF GOD
TO SAY, "WE ARE SO CONCERNED FOR
LIFE THAT WE ARE DEDICATING
OURSELVES TO HELPING THE
CHILDREN THAT YOUNG WOMEN WITH
RESPONSIBILITY BRING INTO THIS
WORLD," THEN WE NEED TO TALK
ABOUT WHY IS THAT IMPORTANT.
AND THERE'S PERHAPS NO BETTER
CHAPTER IN THE BIBLE TO THINK
ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF
ADOPTION, HOW IT SIGNALS THE
GRACE AND THE GLORY OF GOD, THAN
2 SAMUEL CHAPTER 9 WHERE WE
ACTUALLY SEE KING DAVID'S
ADOPTION OF A MAN NAMED
MEPHIBOSHETH WHO IS LAME IN BOTH
FEET.
LET'S STAND AS WE'LL LOOK AT
THIS PORTION OF GOD'S WORD AND
SEE WHY THIS ADOPTION IS SO
IMPORTANT IN THE HISTORY OF
SCRIPTURE.
SECOND SAMUEL 9, "AND DAVID
SAID, 'IS THERE STILL ANYONE
LEFT OF THE HOUSE OF SAUL, THAT
I MAY SHOW HIM KINDNESS FOR
JONATHAN'S SAKE?'"
NOW, JUST A LITTLE PAUSE.
SAUL WAS THE KING BEFORE DAVID
WHO TURNED AWAY FROM GOD.
SAUL'S SON WAS JONATHAN.
AT THIS POINT, BOTH SAUL AND
JONATHAN, WHO WAS DAVID'S VERY
GOOD FRIEND, HAVE BEEN KILLED IN
BATTLE BY THE PHILISTINES.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
VERSE 2, "NOW THERE WAS A
SERVANT OF THE HOUSE OF SAUL
WHOSE NAME WAS ZIBA, AND THEY
CALLED HIM TO DAVID.
AND THE KING SAID TO HIM, 'ARE
YOU ZIBA?'
AND HE SAID, 'I AM YOUR
SERVANT.'
AND THE KING SAID, 'IS THERE NOT
STILL SOMEONE OF THE HOUSE OF
SAUL, THAT I MAY SHOW THE
KINDNESS OF GOD TO HIM?'
ZIBA SAID TO THE KING, 'THERE IS
STILL A SON OF JONATHAN; HE IS
CRIPPLED IN HIS FEET.'
THE KING SAID TO HIM, 'WHERE IS
HE?'
AND ZIBA SAID TO THE KING, 'HE
IS IN THE HOUSE OF MACHIR THE
SON OF AMMIEL, AT LO-DEBAR.'
THEN KING DAVID SENT AND BROUGHT
HIM FROM THE HOUSE OF MACHIR THE
SON OF AMMIEL, AT LO-DEBAR.
AND MEPHIBOSHETH THE SON OF
JONATHAN, SON OF SAUL, CAME TO
DAVID AND FELL ON HIS FACE AND
PAID HOMAGE.
AND DAVID SAID, 'MEPHIBOSHETH!'
AND HE ANSWERED, 'BEHOLD, I AM
YOUR SERVANT.'
AND DAVID SAID TO HIM, 'DO NOT
FEAR, FOR I WILL SHOW YOU
KINDNESS FOR THE SAKE OF YOUR
FATHER JONATHAN, AND I WILL
RESTORE TO YOU ALL THE LAND OF
SAUL YOUR FATHER, AND YOU SHALL
EAT AT MY TABLE ALWAYS.'
AND HE PAID HOMAGE AND SAID,
'WHAT IS YOUR SERVANT, THAT YOU
SHOULD SHOW REGARD FOR A DEAD
DOG SUCH AS I?'
THEN THE KING CALLED ZIBA,
SAUL'S SERVANT, AND SAID TO HIM,
'ALL THAT BELONGED TO SAUL AND
ALL TO HIS HOUSE I HAVE GIVEN TO
YOUR MASTER'S GRANDSON.
AND YOU AND YOUR SONS AND YOUR
SERVANTS SHALL TILL THE LAND FOR
HIM AND SHALL BRING IN THE
PRODUCE, THAT YOUR MASTER'S
GRANDSON MAY HAVE BREAD TO EAT.
BUT MEPHIBOSHETH YOUR MASTER'S
GRANDSON SHALL ALWAYS EAT AT MY
TABLE.'
NOW ZIBA HAD FIFTEEN SONS AND
TWENTY SERVANTS.
THEN ZIBA SAID TO THE KING,
'ACCORDING TO ALL THAT MY LORD
THE KING COMMANDS HIS SERVANT,
SO WILL YOUR SERVANT DO.'
SO MEPHIBOSHETH ATE AT DAVID'S
TABLE, LIKE ONE OF THE KING'S
SONS.
AND MEPHIBOSHETH HAD A YOUNG
SON, WHOSE NAME WAS MICA.
AND ALL WHO LIVED IN ZIBA'S
HOUSE BECAME MEPHIBOSHETH'S
SERVANTS.
SO MEPHIBOSHETH LIVED IN
JERUSALEM, FOR HE ATE ALWAYS AT
THE KING'S TABLE.
NOW HE WAS LAME IN BOTH HIS
FEET."
LET'S PRAY TOGETHER.
>>> FATHER, THANK YOU FOR
WITNESSING IN YOUR WORDS SO MANY
DIMENSIONS OF THE GRACE OF THE
GOSPEL.
HERE WE SEE A KING WHO
REPRESENTED YOU, TRYING TO SHOW
YOUR KINDNESS TO ANOTHER BY
RECEIVING INTO HIS HOUSE ONE WHO
COULD MAKE NO PROVISION FOR
HIMSELF.
SUCH IS OUR EXAMPLE BUT ALSO OUR
MESSAGE: THAT YOU HAVE MADE US
YOUR OWN BY NOTHING IN US THAT
QUALIFIES BUT SOLELY BY THE
MERCY THAT'S IN YOUR HEART.
YOU HAVE SHOWN THAT MERCY THIS
WEEK, AND WE AS A PEOPLE OF GOD
WANT TO CELEBRATE BY FREEING
SAEED ABEDINI.
WE WITH THE CHURCHES OF THIS
WORLD HAVE PRAYED FOR HIS
RELEASE FROM CAPTIVITY IN IRAN,
AND THIS WEEK, YOU MADE THAT
HAPPEN, YOU WHO RELEASE THE
CAPTIVE AND CARE FOR THE ORPHAN.
THIS DAY WE LIFE OUR HEARTS TO
YOU AND ASK FOR YOU TO HELP US
SEE JESUS, OUR ADVOCATE.
AND SO WE PRAY IN HIS NAME.
AMEN.
>>> PLEASE BE SEATED.
HOW DO YOU WIN A CULTURE WAR?
IN AN IMPORTANT ARTICLE BY THAT
NAME, CAPITOL HILL BAPTIST
PASTOR MARK DEVER ANSWERS BY
SAYING, "IT IS NOT ENOUGH SIMPLY
TO CRITICIZE WHAT IS WRONG IN A
CULTURE.
AS GOD'S PEOPLE, WE MUST BE
WILLING TO LIFT OUR HEADS ABOVE
THE FRAY, ABOVE THE ANGRY
VOICES, AND ACTUALLY CELEBRATE
THE TRUTHS OF THE GOSPEL, TO BE
ABLE TO SAY TO A WORLD, 'WE ARE
NOT ONLY BEING CRITICAL OF YOU;
ACTUALLY, THE GRASS IS GREENER
ON THIS SIDE OF THE FENCE.'
IF ALL WE DO IS CRITICIZE AND
REBUKE, NOBODY WANTS TO BE AT
OUR PARTY.
BUT IF WE SAY, 'THE LORD HAS
PROVIDED OUT OF HIS MERCY AND
GRACE WONDERFUL PROVISION FOR
HIS PEOPLE, A CELEBRATION OF
LIFE, THE GLORY OF THE GOODNESS
OF THE WORLD MADE AVAILABLE EVEN
TO THE LEAST OF THESE,' THAT
MESSAGE OF THE GOSPEL IS ONE
THAT PENETRATES ALL CULTURES AND
ALL HEARTS FOR THE SAKE OF
CHRIST.
WHAT THAT MEANS FOR US, OF
COURSE, IS IT IS NOT ENOUGH FOR
US TO DECRY THE STATE OF SECULAR
MARRIAGE.
WE MUST ALSO CELEBRATE THE
BEAUTY OF THE UNION OF A MAN AND
WOMAN THAT SHOWS CHRIST'S LOVE
FOR HIS CHURCH.
WE MUST NOT ONLY FUME AT A
SECULAR'S CONVER--, SECULAR
CULTURE'S PERVERSION OF
SEXUALITY BUT AT THE SAME MOMENT
CELEBRATE THE UNION AND THE
PURITY AND THE WONDER OF
SEXUALITY IN MARRIAGE.
IT IS NOT ENOUGH SIMPLY TO
CRITICIZE ABORTION: WE WANT TO
CELEBRATE ADOPTION BECAUSE OF
WHAT IS SIGNALS ABOUT THE VALUE
OF EVERY CHILD AND THE MERCY OF
GOD IN DEMONSTRATION.
IT IS NOT ENOUGH, OF COURSE,
JUST TO IN RHETORIC SAY THAT
LIFE IS SACRED.
BY OUR ACTIONS, THE CHURCH IS
OVER AND OVER AGAIN,
PARTICULARLY WHEN WE ESTABLISH A
CULTURE OF ADOPTION, SAYING
EVERY CHILD IS PRECIOUS TO GOD.
AND THAT MEANS WE TOO OF
LIMITATION, WE TOO WHO NEED
PROVISION, WE TOO WHO NEED
MERCY, ARE NOT ONLY PROVIDING IT
BUT BEING REMINDED OF IT BY OUR
MINISTRY TO THOSE WHO ARE MOST
IN NEED."
I CANNOT THINK OF A BETTER WAY
OF DECLARING WHAT THIS MESSAGE
IS ABOUT THAN SIMPLY REPEATING
WHAT DEREK AND MARY TANIS SAID
IN THE HEARTBEAT MINISTRY VIDEO,
WHICH FIRST PREVIEWED A COUPLE
OF YEARS--, A COUPLE OF WEEKS
AGO.
AND IN THAT VIDEO, DEREK SAID
THESE WORDS: "WHEN WE ADOPT, WE
DO FOR A CHILD WHAT CHRIST HAS
DONE FOR US."
SIMPLE.
AND YET VERY PROFOUND AND VERY
POWERFUL.
WHAT DOES ADOPTION DECLARE?
WELL, WE SEE IT IN THE MINISTRY
OF DAVID TO THIS YOUNG MAN NAMED
MEPHIBOSHETH.
ONE OF THE MOST REMARKABLE
ADOPTION CHAPTERS IN ALL THE
SCRIPTURES, BECAUSE WHAT DAVID
DOES IN HIS DECLARATION BY
TAKING MEPHIBOSHETH INTO HIS
HOME IS DECLARING TO
MEPHIBOSHETH AND TO THE KINGDOM,
"MEPHIBOSHETH, AS YOU ARE, I
WAS."
THE GOSPEL DECLARATION ALWAYS
BEGINS WITH HUMILITY.
I NEED THE GOSPEL, TOO.
I NEED GRACE, TOO.
I DO NOT QUALIFY.
APART FROM THE GRACE OF GOD, I
WOULD BE ALONE.
I WOULD BE DESPERATE.
I WOULD BE BROKEN.
AND EVERY ONE OF THOSE THINGS IS
WHAT MEPHIBOSHETH IS
EXPERIENCING AND DAVID KNOWS THE
STORY, TOO.
IS MEPHIBOSHETH ALONE?
YOU KNOW ENOUGH OF THE STORY TO
RECOGNIZE HIS ALONE.
HIS FATHER AND GRANDFATHER HAVE
BEEN KILLED IN BATTLE WITH THE
PHILISTINES.
AND AS A RESULT, HE HAS FLEED
INTO THE WILDERNESS.
HE KNOWS WHAT IT MEANS TO BE
WITHOUT A FAMILY.
BUT, OF COURSE, DAVID ECHOES
THAT TOO.
WHERE MEPHIBOSHETH IS ALONE
BECAUSE HE IS FLEEING AN ENEMY,
DAVID HIMSELF KNEW WHAT IT MEANT
TO BE ALONE BECAUSE OF A KING'S
CALL.
DO YOU REMEMBER?
SAUL, YEARS AGO, ABANDONED GOD.
AND AS A RESULT, AN EVIL SPIRIT
COMES INTO HIS MIND.
HE HAS THESE, WHATEVER IT IS,
MIGRAINE HEADACHES THAT HE WANTS
TO BE SOOTHED.
AND SOMEBODY SAYS, "THERE'S THIS
YOUNG MAN NAMED DAVID, A
SHEPHERD BOY.
HE PLAYS THE LYRE REALLY WELL.
AND MAYBE HE CAN SOOTHE YOUR
MIND."
AND SO WHILE IT'S A PRIVILEGE
FOR DAVID TO COME INTO THE
KING'S HOUSEHOLD, HE IS TAKEN
OUT OF HIS FATHER'S HOUSE, AWAY
FROM HIS BROTHERS, AWAY FROM HIS
FAMILY, AT AN EARLY AGE BY THE
KING'S CALL.
HE'S WITHOUT A FAMILY.
MIF--, MEPHIBOSHETH, BECAUSE OF
HIS BEING IN THE WILDERNESS, IS
DESPERATE.
HIS FATHER'S DEAD.
HIS GRANDFATHER'S DEAD.
THE KING'S HOUSEHOLD HAS BEEN
DIVIDED.
EVERYTHING'S A MESS IN HIS LIFE,
AND THE EVIDENCE OF THAT IS
BEING IN LO DEBAR.
SOME OF YOU HAVE SEEN PICTURES
OF THE WILDERNESS AROUND ISRAEL.
THIS IS THE WILDERNESS OF
WILDERNESS.
IT ACTUALLY MEANS NO PASTURE, LO
DEBAR.
AND IN THE PEOPLE OF GOD'S TIME,
IT ACTUALLY MEANT THE PLACE
WHERE THERE IS NO WORD OF GOD,
AS THOUGH NO PROVISION CAN ENTER
IN TO THAT WILDERNESS; IT'S SO
BLEAK AND SO DARK.
BUT ONE OF THE THINGS YOU MUST
RECOGNIZE IS DAVID KNOWS THAT
WILDERNESS TOO.
YES, MEPHIBOSHETH IS FLEEING THE
SWORD OF DAVID.
HE FEARS NOW THAT BECAUSE DAVID
IS THE NEW KING, HE'S GOING TO
TRY TO GET RID OF ALL THE HEIRS
OF SAUL.
AND SO MEPHIBOSHETH GOES INTO
THE WILDERNESS.
BUT IT'S THE SAME WILDERNESS
THAT DAVID FLED TO WHEN SAUL
TRIED TO GET HIM WITH A SPEAR.
DO YOU REMEMBER?
SAUL BEGAN TO HATE DAVID.
THOUGH DAVID SOOTHED HIS MIND,
THERE CAME A TIME WHEN DAVID'S
ACCLAIM BEGAN TO GROW IN THE
LAND OF ISRAEL.
HE GOT OLDER.
HE GOT TO BE A GOOD WARRIOR.
AND THE WOMEN OF THE NATION
BEGAN TO SING, "SAUL HAS SLAIN
HIS THOUSANDS, BUT DAVID HAS
SLAIN HIS TENS OF THOUSANDS."
AND JEALOUSY AND RAGE SO ROSE IN
SAUL THAT HE TRIED TO KILL
DAVID, THE VERY ONE THAT HAD
PREVIOUSLY LOVED.
AND DAVID FLED TO THE WILDERNESS
OF LO DEBAR AS WELL.
AND IT'S NOT JUST THAT THEY BOTH
KNOW THE WILDERNESS.
DAVID HAS TO KNOW THERE'S A
BROKENNESS IN MEPHIBOSHETH THAT
ALSO IS ECHOED IN HIS OWN HEART.
MEPHIBOSHETH, GRABBED BY HIS
NURSE WHEN HIS FATHER AND
GRANDFATHER HAD BEEN KILLED BY
THE PHILISTINES AND THEIR BODIES
HUNG ON THE WALL AT BETH-SHAN,
THE NURSE FLEEING WITH SUCH
PANIC, THAT SHE DROPPED
MEPHIBOSHETH, AND AS A
CONSEQUENCE HE'S LAME IN BOTH
FEET.
HE IS DAMAGED BY THE MISCARE OF
ONE WHO WAS SUPPOSED TO TAKE
CARE OF HIM.
AND DAVID KNOWS SOME OF THAT,
TOO.
HE, TOO, HAS BEEN DAMAGED BY THE
KING.
HIS FATHER GAVE HIM TO SAUL TO
TAKE CARE, AND OVER TIME, DAVID
BECOMES THE SUBJECT OF THE ABUSE
OF SAUL.
YOU WANT TO UNDERSTAND HOW BAD
IT WAS?
IN VERSE 8, THERE'S JUST A
STRANGE PHRASE THAT'S MEANT TO
ECHO IN OUR EARS AS CAREFUL
READERS OF THE SCRIPTURES.
AS MEPHIBOSHETH IS ADDRESSED BY
DAVID WITH HONOR, MEPHIBOSHETH
SAYS IN VERSE 8, AS HE PAID
HOMAGE SAID, "'WHAT IS YOUR
SERVANT, DAVID, THAT YOU SHOULD
SHOW REGARD FOR A DEAD DOG SUCH
AS I?'"
IT'S AN AWFUL THING TO SAY OF
YOURSELF.
WHAT YOU MAY NOT RECOGNIZE IS IT
MUST HAVE ECHOED LOUDLY IN THE
EARS OF DAVID.
THERE WAS THAT TIME, AFTER ALL,
WHEN SAUL WAS HUNTING DAVID IN
THE WILDERNESS AND DAVID AND HIS
MEN HID IN A CAVE IN ENGEDI.
AND THEN THE STORY THAT WE LIKE
TO TEASE AND LAUGH ABOUT: SAUL,
HUNTING DAVID, WENT INTO THE
CAVE TO RELIEVE HIMSELF, AND
DAVID AND HIS MEN, ALREADY
HIDING THERE, SNUCK UP ON HIM.
THE MEN WERE GOING TO KILL SAUL.
DAVID SAID, "I WILL NOT LAY A
HAND AGAINST THE LORD'S
ANOINTED."
BUT INSTEAD CUT OFF A CORNER OF
HIS ROBE AND WHEN SAUL EXITED
THE CAVE, DAVID HELD UP THE
CORNER OF THE KING'S ROBE AND
SAID, "SAUL, WHY ARE YOU HUNTING
ME LIKE A DEAD DOG?
I DIDN'T KILL YOU.
I DIDN'T RAISE MY HAND AGAINST
THE LORD'S ANOINTED.
I STILL LOVE YOU, EVEN AS YOU
HUNT ME."
BUT THE REALITY IS, MEPHIBOSHETH
RECOGNIZED IN STATION, IN
STATUS, IN REPUTATION, HE'S JUST
A DEAD DOG.
HE DOESN'T HAVE LIFE.
HE DOESN'T HAVE STATUS.
HE DOESN'T HAVE HOPE AS THE
FORMER HEIR OF THE NOW DEAD
KING.
HE CALLS HIMSELF A DEAD DOG, BUT
DAVID KNOWS THAT WAS WHAT HE
CALLED HIMSELF JUST A FEW YEARS
BEFORE.
BOTH OF THESE RECOGNIZE GOD HAS
DONE SOMETHING WONDERFUL, BUT
THERE IS NO DESERVING IN THEM.
THE CLAIM UPON THEM HAS NOT BEEN
BECAUSE OF ANYTHING IN THEM.
IF THAT SOUNDS STRANGE TO YOU,
THEN WE PERHAPS HAVE NOT WALKED
AS DEEPLY IN THE GOSPEL AS WE
THINK WE HAVE, BECAUSE YOU MUST
RECOGNIZE THAT THE CLAIM OF
ANYONE WHO'S GOING TO BE
EFFECTIVE IN PROCLAIMING THE
GOSPEL IS APART FROM THE GRACE
OF GOD, I TOO AM BROKEN AND
DESPERATE AND ALONE.
ADRIANA MONDRAGON IS A COMMUNITY
HEALTH WORKER WHO WROTE RECENTLY
WHAT IT MEANT TO DISCOVER WHAT
IT MEANT TO BE AN ORPHAN IN THIS
CULTURE BY THE PERCEPTION OF
OTHERS.
HER IMMIGRANT STATUS WAS HIDDEN
FROM HER BY WELL-MEANING PEOPLE
UNTIL SHE TRIED TO GET INTO
COLLEGE.
AND THEN WHEN SHE COULD NOT GET
INTO COLLEGE, THE STELLAR
STUDENT FOUND OUT THE REASON.
SHE WROTE, "I LEARNED THAT MY
STATUS COULD BAR ME FROM
TRAVELING AND ATTENDING COLLEGE.
I ALSO FACED PROFOUND CONFUSION
ABOUT WHO I WAS AND WHERE I
BELONGED: TOO AMERICAN TO
RETURN TO MEXICO, TOO FOREIGN TO
BELONG IN THE STATES.
IN THE MIDST OF THAT EXPERIENCE,
I HAD TO DEFINE THE CORE OF MY
IDENTITY.
I AM A PERSON OF COLOR.
I AM A WOMAN.
I AM POOR.
I AM FATHERLESS.
I AM AN UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANT.
INDEED," SHE SAID, "IT HAS BEEN
EXCRUCIATING TO ME TO SEE MYSELF
IN THE EYES OF THE WORLD.
BUT AT THE SAME TIME ON THIS
JOURNEY, I HAVE DISCOVERED MY
TRUE IDENTITY.
ABOVE ALL THE OTHER LABELS, I AM
A CHILD OF GOD."
YOU SANG IT EARLIER.
KEVIN MADE US SING IT OVER AND
OVER AGAIN TO DRIVE THE TRUTH TO
YOU: "I AM A CHILD OF GOD."
ABOVE ALL THE OTHER LABELS, THAT
IS THE LABEL THAT STICKS, THAT'S
MOST IMPORTANT, THAT'S MOST
CRUCIAL TO OUR UNDERSTANDING.
IF THE ACCOUNT SOUNDS STRANGE TO
HEAR SOMEBODY WHO'S FATHERLESS
WITH IMMIGRANT STATUS SAYING,
"APART FROM GOD'S CLAIM, I
RECOGNIZE I'M JUST LIKE DEAD DOG
STATUS IN THIS CULTURE."
IF THAT SOUNDS STRANGE, WE HAVE
NOT READ OUR OWN BIBLES CLEARLY
AND DEEPLY ENOUGH.
I THINK OF EPHESIANS 2 WHERE THE
APOSTLE PAUL, SPEAKING TO US,
SAYS, "AT ONE TIME YOU WERE
STRANGERS TO THE COVENANT OF
PROMISE, HAVING NO HOPE, WITHOUT
GOD IN THE WORLD.
BUT NOW IN CHRIST JESUS YOU WHO
WERE FAR OFF HAVE BEEN BROUGHT
NEAR BY THE BLOOD OF CHRIST.
SO THEN YOU ARE NO LONGER
STRANGERS AND ALIENS BUT FELLOW
CITIZENS AND MEMBERS OF GOD'S
HOUSEHOLD."
"BEHOLD WHAT MANNER OF LOVE HE
HAS LAVISHED UPON US, THAT WE
SHOULD BE CALLED THE CHILDREN OF
GOD."
THAT'S THE LABEL THAT'S ETERNAL,
THAT'S ALWAYS UPON US,
REGARDLESS OF WHAT WE FACE, THAT
WE ARE ABLE BY THE SPIRIT OF
ADOPTION TO CRY, "ABBA, FATHER;
YOU'RE MY DADDY NOW."
WHAT THE WORLD SAYS TO ME IS,
"YOU, YOU'RE ADDICTED.
YOU'RE AN ADULTERER.
YOU'RE A FOOL.
YOU'RE A FAILURE.
YOU'RE BANKRUPT."
WHAT ARE ALL THE LABELS THAT CAN
BE PUT ON US THAT WE KNOW
DESTROY US, NOT JUST IN THE
WORLD'S EYES BUT IN OUR OWN
EYES?
AND THE IMPORTANCE OF THE GOSPEL
IS TO HEAR GOD SAYING, "AS YOU
ARE UNITED TO CHRIST BY FAITH,
YOU ARE MINE."
YOU ARE A CHILD OF GOD BY HIS
MERCY, NOT BY YOUR PERFORMANCE.
NOT BY WHAT YOU ACCOMPLISH.
IT'S THE MESSAGE THAT GOD IS
COMMUNICATING TO US BY DAVID,
WHO'S SIMPLY SAYING, "I WANT TO
SHOW," DID YOU CATCH IT?
"THE KINDNESS OF GOD TO
MEPHIBOSHETH."
THIS IS HOW MY GOD WORKS.
THIS IS HOW THE FATHER IS.
HE'S PROVIDING FOR THOSE WHO ARE
LAME, WHO ARE BROKEN, WHO ARE
DESTITUTE, WHO ARE DESPERATE
BECAUSE OF THEIR CIRCUMSTANCE.
AND, YET, THE KINDNESS OF GOD IS
WHAT DAVID IS TRYING TO
DEMONSTRATE.
WE MAINTAIN AN ORPHAN MENTALITY
WHEN WE THINK THAT WE'RE
ACCEPTED TO GOD OR TO THE WORLD
BY OUR PERFORMANCE, BY WHAT WE
ACCOMPLISH, BY HOW OTHERS LOOK
AT US.
BUT THE CHILD OF GOD MENTALITY
IS SAYING, "I'M NOT BEFORE GOD
BECAUSE OF WHAT I HAVE DONE BUT
BECAUSE OF WHAT CHRIST HAS DONE.
IN HIM, I AM GOD'S PERFECT
CHILD.
IN HIM, MY SINS ARE PUT AWAY.
BECAUSE I'M ATTACHED TO HIM, HIS
RIGHTEOUSNESS COVERS ME.
I'M MADE RIGHT, NOT BY WHAT I
DO.
SO THE WORLD CAN CHIDE.
THE WORLD CAN LOOK DOWN ON ME.
MY OWN FAMILY CAN REJECT ME.
I AM A CHILD OF GOD."
AND THAT REALITY THAT IS MY
LABEL IS WHAT GIVES ME HOPE AND
MEANING AND JOY ON THIS SIDE OF
THE FENCE.
IT IS SO GOOD TO CELEBRATE WHAT
IT MEANS TO BE A CHILD OF GOD.
THAT'S WHY THE APOSTLE JAMES,
THE BROTHER OF JESUS, SAYS IT
WITH SUCH CLARITY.
"WHAT IS RIGHT RELIGION AND
TRUE?
TO CARE FOR THE ORPHAN AND THE
WIDOW IN DISTRESS."
AND THAT'S NOT JUST ABOUT DO-
GOOD-ISM.
THAT IS ABOUT DECLARATION AS WE
THE PEOPLE OF GOD PROVIDE FOR
THOSE WHO CANNOT PROVIDE FOR
THEMSELVES.
IT IS SUCH A PROCLAMATION OF THE
NATURE OF GRACE, TRUE RELIGION,
THAT GOD MUST MAKE A WAY FOR
THOSE WHO CANNOT MAKE A WAY FOR
THEMSELVES.
AND THAT'S NOT US QUALIFYING FOR
HIS GRACE: THAT IS US
PROCLAIMING HIS GRACE BY THE
WONDER AND THE GOODNESS OF WHAT
WE SHARE.
AND THAT'S PART OF THE
PROCLAMATION OF THE GOSPEL AS
WELL, RIGHT?
NOT JUST TO OTHER PEOPLE: I WAS
AS YOU ARE.
I CONFESS THAT.
BUT PART OF WHAT WE DECLARE IN
ADOPTION AS A PEOPLE IS: I ONLY
SHARE WHAT I HAVE RECEIVED.
THAT'S ALL I DO.
I IN ADOPTING SHARE WHAT I HAVE
RECEIVED.
WHAT DID DAVID SHARE?
MAYBE IT'S OBVIOUS.
HE SPARED THE LIFE OF HIS ENEMY.
I MEAN, IF YOU WERE AN ANCIENT
KING, YOU WOULD RECOGNIZE THAT
WHOEVER WAS A BIOLOGICAL HEIR OF
THE FORMER KING WOULD HAVE SOME
CLAIM TO THE THRONE,
PARTICULARLY WHEN THERE WAS AN
OPPORTUNE TIME FOR YOUR
POLITICAL ADVERSARIES TO
ADVOCATE FOR THAT PREVIOUS HEIR.
AND SO DAVID, OF COURSE, WHEN HE
SAYS TO MEPHIBOSHETH IN THAT
FIRST MEETING, "DO NOT FEAR,"
HE'S NOT JUST ECHOING THE ANGELS
AT CHRIST'S BIRTH.
HE IS, HE'S ECHOING THE REALITY
OF THE GOSPEL: YOU DON'T HAVE
TO FEAR ME; I GIVE YOU LIFE.
AND DAVID GIVES LIFE.
WHAT HE SHARES COMES, OF COURSE,
WITH THE PROMISE OF A GREAT
FUTURE.
IT'S SAID IN VERSE 7 FIRST,
RIGHT AT THE END.
"'I WILL RESTORE TO YOU ALL THE
LAND OF SAUL.'"
NOW, THAT JUST GOES BY REAL FAST
IN OUR ENGLISH TRANSLATIONS.
BUT I WANT YOU TO THINK OF WHAT
THAT MEANS.
I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU ALL THE
LAND OF KING SAUL, THE ONE WHO
CAME BEFORE ME, THE ONE WHO HAS
THE MOST LANDHOLDINGS IN THE
LAND, THE MOST TREASURES IN THE
LAND, THE ONE WHO HAS THE MOST.
I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU ALL THAT
SAUL HAD.
IT'S ACTUALLY EMPHASIZED EVEN
MORE IN VERSE 9.
"THE KING CALLED ZIBA, SAUL'S
SERVANT, AND SAID TO HIM, 'ALL
THAT BELONGED TO SAUL AND TO ALL
HIS HOUSE.'"
I MEAN, NOT JUST SAUL HIMSELF
BUT HIS CHILDREN AND EVERYBODY
THAT'S ASSOC--, I'M GOING TO
GIVE IT ALL TO YOU,
MEPHIBOSHETH.
I'M GIVING YOU LIFE.
I'M GIVING YOU A FUTURE.
I'M GIVING YOU PROVISION.
I'M GIVING YOU LOVE, TOO.
DID YOU CATCH IT?
SO IMPORTANT.
KIND OF TOWARD THE END OF VERSE
11.
"MEPHIBOSHETH ATE AT DAVID'S
TABLE."
IN THE ANCIENT WORLD, THAT
CERTAINLY MEANT HE HAD FAMILY
STATUS.
BUT LOOK MORE.
"MEPHIBOSHETH ATE AT DAVID'S
TABLE LIKE ONE OF THE KING'S
SONS."
WOW.
JUST LIKE MY OTHER KIDS.
YOU HAVE THAT STATUS.
YOU HAVE THAT HEART OF MINE.
WHAT GOD IS EXPRESSING IS
DAVID'S SHARED LIFE AND FUTURE
AND LOVE.
HOW DID MEPHIBOSHETH QUALIFY FOR
ALL THAT?
WELL, YOU KNOW THE ANSWER.
HE DIDN'T QUALIFY AT ALL.
HE DOESN'T HAVE THE BACKGROUND
TO QUALIFY.
HE'S ACTUALLY THE ENEMY, IF
YOU'RE LOOKING AT BACKGROUNDS.
AND HE CERTAINLY DOESN'T HAVE
THE PERSONAL STRENGTH TO
QUALIFY.
HE'S LAME IN BOTH FEET.
HE CAN'T DEFEND HIMSELF.
HE HAS MERCY POURED OUT ON HIM,
AND HE CAN'T QUALIFY AT ALL.
DAVID KNOWS THAT STORY, TOO.
AFTER ALL, DAVID IS NOW THE KING
OF ISRAEL.
HOW DID HE QUALIFY FOR THAT?
REMEMBER THE STORY?
THE PROPHET GOES TO THE HOUSE OF
DAVID'S FATHER.
"SHOW ME ALL YOUR STRAPPING
YOUNG MEN.
I'M GOING TO APPOINT THE NEXT
ONE TO BE THE KING OF ISRAEL."
AND ALL THE STRAPPING YOUNG MEN
OF JESSE'S HOUSE COME BEFORE THE
PROPHET AND, "NO, NOT THAT ONE,
NOT THAT.
ISN'T THERE ANYBODY ELSE?"
"WELL, I MEAN, THE YOUNGEST
KID'S OUT WATCH, OUT WATCHING
THE SHEEP."
YOU KNOW.
AND SO DAVID COMES IN, SUNBURNED
AND SHEEP-STINKY AND.
[LAUGHTER]
"YOU'RE THE ONE.
YOU'RE TO BE THE KING, TO HAVE
LIFE AND A FUTURE AND THE
KINGDOM OF PROMISE.
IT IS YOURS.
BUT YOU DIDN'T QUALIFY AT ALL."
DAVID KNOWS THE STORY AS HE IS
SHARING WITH MEPHIBOSHETH.
IT'S AT GREAT COST.
HE'S GIVING UP SO MUCH OF HIS
OWN KINGDOM, ALL THAT SAUL HAD
IS GOING TO MEPHIBO--.
IT'S AT GREAT COST TO HIM.
BUT HE'S SIMPLY SHARING AS HE
HAS RECEIVED, DESPITE THE
LIMITATIONS OF MEPHIBOSHETH.
ISN'T THAT THE GOSPEL?
THAT WE SHARE WHAT WE HAVE
RECEIVED, EVEN AT GREAT COST TO
OURSELVES BECAUSE WE RECEIVED IT
WHEN WE OURSELVES DID NOT
QUALIFY.
I THINK OF SOME FRIENDS OF KATHY
AND ME, A FAMILY THAT'S HAD
MULTIPLE ADOPTIONS, AND WHAT
THEY COMMUNICATE TO US AND WHAT
THEY COMMUNICATE TO OTHERS.
EACH NEW ADOPTION HAS COST THIS
FAMILY IN DIFFERENT WAYS.
THERE IS THE SON ADOPTED AFTER
NEVER BEING HELD AS AN INFANT.
AND SOME OF YOU KNOW THAT MEANS
HE HAS DETACHMENT DISORDERS.
HE IS NOT ABLE TO BOND.
HE'S NOT ABLE TO SHOW GENUINE
LOVE.
EVEN AS YOUNG ADULT, HE HAS NO
CONSCIENCE.
IT IS SO HARD.
THERE'S A YOUNG WOMAN THAT THEY
HAVE ADOPTED, A DAUGHTER OF
THEIRS NOW.
SHE HAS A LIMITED MIND AND BODY,
OFTEN CONFINED NOW TO A
WHEELCHAIR.
SHE WILL ALWAYS HAVE THE MIND OF
A CHILD.
SOME OF THE COST OF THAT WAS
RECENTLY SHOWN IN A FACEBOOK
POST BY HER MOM.
THE MOM WROTE, "OUR LILA STILL
GETS DISTRESSED WHENEVER SOMEONE
GETS BAPTIZED IN OUR CHURCH.
SHE CRIES OUT, 'PRAY, PRAY,' AND
PEOPLE THINK IT'S CUTE.
BUT SHE ACTUALLY THINKS THE
PASTOR IS DROWNING PEOPLE.
AND SO SHE CALLS OUT, 'PRAY,
PRAY.'"
THE MOM WROTE, "AND I NEED TO
CONFESS MY OWN SINS AND ASK
FORGIVENESS FOR WHAT I DID IN
CHURCH RECENTLY.
LILA'S BELOVED SHREK DOLL, A
STUFFED DOLL, WAS NEAR ITS
DEMISE WITH ITS BELLY FALLING
OUT FROM ALL HER HOLDING AND
HUGGING.
I PATCHED AS MUCH AS I COULD,
AND I WAS LOOKING FOR ANOTHER
ONE JUST LIKE IT ON EBAY.
BEFORE IT CAME, WE HAD TO FIND
TO GET AWAY, GET THE OLD SHREK
OUT OF LILA'S HANDS."
AND SO HER MOM TOLD HER THAT
THEY WERE GOING TO SEND SHREK TO
GET SURGERY WITH A DOCTOR FRIEND
OF THEIRS TO REPAIR THE BELLY.
WELL, THAT GOT THAT SHREK OUT OF
HER ARMS, BUT WHILE THEY WERE
WAITING FOR THE NEW SHREK, LILA
WAS ON HER MOM'S PHONE ONE DAY
IN CHURCH AND CAME ACROSS THE
PICTURE OF THE NEW SHREK, ALL
HEALED AND MADE RIGHT.
AND LILA BEGAN TO RAISE HER ARMS
AND PRAISE GOD FOR THE HEALING
OF SHREK.
[LAUGHTER]
AND THE MOM CONFESSED, "I DIDN'T
TRY TO STOP HER, SO I LIED IN
CHURCH.
GOD, FORGIVE ME."
[LAUGHTER]
WELL, MY GUESS IS, EVEN IF YOU
DON'T THINK THE LIE WAS RIGHT,
YOU DO KNOW GOD FORGIVES HER.
WHY DO YOU KNOW THAT?
BECAUSE YOU UNDERSTAND THE GRACE
OF GOD IS NOT SOMETHING WE
QUALIFY FOR.
IT IS SOMETHING GREATER THAN ALL
OF OUR SIN.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE GET NOT
BECAUSE WE HAVE QUALIFIED, NOT
BECAUSE OF OUR GREAT
PERFORMANCE, NOT BECAUSE OF OUR
GREAT POSITION BUT BECAUSE GOD
IN HIS MERCY IS PROVIDING FOR
CHILDREN LIKE YOU AND ME, IN ALL
OF OUR WEAKNESS AND SIN.
AND WHAT WE ARE SAYING IN
ADOPTION IS, "AS I HAVE
RECEIVED, SO I SHARE.
THE MERCY AND THE GOODNESS OF
GOD TOWARD ME IS BEING SHOWN
TOWARD ANOTHER."
WE, OF COURSE, RECOGNIZE THAT
WHAT WE ARE DOING IN ADOPTION IS
WE ARE GRAFTING OTHER PEOPLE
INTO OUR FAMILIES FOR GOD'S
PURPOSES.
WHY DO WE DO ADOPTION?
WHAT ARE WE TRYING TO PROCLAIM?
WE ARE PROCLAIMING TO THE WORLD
THE TREASURE OF EACH LIFE.
DESPITE STATUS AND LIMITATIONS,
EACH CHILD IS PRECIOUS.
THIS CHILD IS PRECIOUS.
WE DECLARE TO THE CHILD,
"DESPITE YOUR BACKGROUND OR THE
DIFFICULTY OR THE COST TO US,
YOUR LIFE IS WORTH OUR LIFE."
AFTER ALL, ISN'T THAT WHAT WE DO
WHEN WE TAKE A CHILD INTO OUR
HOME OR PROVIDE FOR THEM?
THERE'S OFTEN GREAT COST, RIGHT?
IT'S, WHAT'S THE COST?
YOU KNOW, THE ACCOUNTANTS SAY
IT'S, BEFORE COLLEGE, 200 TO
250,000 DOLLARS FOR EACH CHILD.
TAKE THAT TO LUNCH WITH YOU,
OKAY?
[LAUGHTER]
BUT THAT'S NOT THE GREATEST
COST.
THE GREATEST COST IS THE
CARPOOLS AND THE PEANUT BUTTER
AND JELLY AND THE PRAYERS AND
THE TEARS AND THE HOPE.
THAT'S THE COST.
I MARVEL AT THE ADOPTION CULTURE
THAT'S DEVELOPING IN THIS
CHURCH, THAT'S HAPPENED REALLY
ACROSS THE GENERATIONS OF
LEADERSHIP IN THIS CHURCH.
I THINK OF ONE OF OUR ELDERS
LIKE A GOOD BUSINESSMAN WHO TOLD
ME THAT BEFORE THEY ADOPTED THAT
HE DID WHAT GOOD BUSINESSMEN DO.
HE CREATED THE CREDIT AND THE
DEBIT SHEET AND HE BEGAN TO LINE
UP, OKAY, HERE'S ALL THE REASONS
NOT TO ADOPT: COSTLY, NOT JUST
MONEY, COST OF FREEDOM, COST OF
TEARS, COST OF PAIN, ALL, LA--,
LONGER TIME TO RETIREMENT, ALL
THOSE THINGS.
LONG COLUMN ON THE DEBIT SIDE.
AND THEN WHAT'S THE REASON TO
ADOPT?
HE SAID THERE WAS JUST ONE ITEM
ON THAT SIDE: TO SAVE A CHILD.
YES, IT COSTS, BUT WHAT WE SAY
TO A CHILD IS, "YOU ARE WORTH IT
ALL."
UNTO THE LEAST OF THESE, SUCH AS
WE WERE TREATED, WE SHOW THE
GRACE OF CHRIST.
WE DECLARE TO OUR OWN HEARTS,
"SUCH WAS CHRIST'S LOVE FOR ME."
WE OFTEN UNDERSTAND SO MUCH MORE
OF WHAT WE HAVE WHEN WE SHARE
IT.
IT'S WHEN WE HOARD IT THAT WE
DON'T KNOW, WE DON'T REALLY
UNDERSTAND ALL THAT GOD HAS DONE
FOR US.
WHEN WE SHARE, WE UNDERSTAND
GOD'S INTENTION.
WE UNDERSTAND THAT GOD'S
INTENTION IS THAT FAMILIES ARE
GOSPEL FACTORIES.
ISN'T THAT TRUE?
THAT THE WAY IN WHICH WE ARE
SHOWING LOVE OF SPOUSE TO SPOUSE
IS CHRIST IN THIS CHURCH.
THE WAY THAT A FATHER AND MOTHER
ARE SHOWING LOVE TO THE CHILDREN
IS THE LOVE OF A HEAVENLY FATHER
FOR US.
AND THE WAY THAT RECEIVE THOSE
THAT ARE NOT DESERVING AT ALL IS
THE WAY THAT EVERY SINGLE ONE OF
US HAS BEEN RECEIVED FOR THE
GOSPEL SAKE INTO THE HEAVENLY
KINGDOM ITSELF.
FAMILIES ARE GOSPEL FACTORIES.
IF YOU BELIEVE THAT, WE HAVE TO
ANSWER THE QUESTION: SO IS
ADOPTION FOR EVERYONE?
IS EVERYONE SUPPOSED TO ADOPT?
WELL, CLEARLY THE BIBLICAL
ANSWER IS NO.
I MEAN, THERE'S NO SPECIFIC
MANDATE IN SCRIPTURE THAT EVERY
FAMILY ADOPT ANY MORE THAN
THERE'S A SPECIFIC MANDATE THAT
WE HAVE A CERTAIN NUMBER OF
CHILDREN.
THE MANDATE IS THAT WE BE CLEAR,
EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US, ABOUT
OUR RESPONSIBILITY OF GOSPEL
PROCLAMATION.
I MEAN, AFTER ALL, THAT'S WHY
JAMES SAID, "RIGHT RELIGION AND
TRUE IS TO TAKE CARE OF ORPHANS
AND WIDOWS IN DISTRESS."
THAT ADOPTION IS A POWERFUL
MEANS OF EXPRESSING THE GOSPEL.
AND FOR THAT REASON, THOUGH NOT
EVERYONE IS CALLED FOR IT, WE
HAVE TO VALUE THAT.
NOT EVERYONE PROCLAIMS THE
GOSPEL THE SAME WAY.
NOT EVERYONE'S CALLED TO BE A
PASTOR.
NOT EVERYONE'S CALLED TO BE A
MISSIONARY.
NOT EVERYONE'S CALLED TO BE AN
ARTIST.
NOT EVERYONE'S CALLED TO BE AN
ARCHITECT.
BUT EVERY ONE OF US ARE ALWAYS
TO BE ASSESSING: HOW IS, GIVEN
MY FAMILY, MY CIRCUMSTANCES, MY
ABILITIES, MY TREASURES, HOW AM
I TO BE PROFESSING THE GOSPEL?
AND FOR MANY OF YOU, THAT HAS
BEEN A WONDERFUL STATEMENT OF,
"WE'LL OPEN OUR HOMES."
AND IN OPENING OUR HOMES, WE
RECOGNIZE THAT IS POWERFUL
EXPRESSION.
IT'S NOT FOR EVERYONE.
WE WEIGH OUR CAPACITIES.
WE WEIGH OUR PERSONALITIES.
WE WEIGH THE PRESSURES UPON OUR
FAMILIES, THE FAMILY DYNAMICS,
THE AGE THAT WE ARE.
ALL IS RIGHTLY TAKEN INTO
CONSIDERATION.
BUT FOR EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US,
WE STILL HAVE TO SAY, "AND YET I
KNOW THAT ADOPTION IS SOMETHING
I SHOULD BE THINKING ABOUT AS A
CHURCH TO SUPPORT, TO HELP,
BECAUSE OF THE STATEMENT IT
MAKES ABOUT THE NATURE OF THE
GOSPEL."
AS GOD HAS GRAFTED US INTO HIS
FAMILY, SO WHEN WE GRAFT OTHERS
INTO OUR FAMILIES, WE ARE
SHOWING HIS NATURE AND HIS
GOSPEL.
HOW CAN WE GRAFT OTHER PEOPLE
IN?
FAIRLY QUICKLY HERE, YOU'LL KNOW
THIS ALREADY.
SOME OF YOU HAVE THE HEART AND
THE CAPACITY FOR PERMANENT
ADOPTION.
HEARTBEAT MINISTRY, AGAIN,
THEY'RE GOING TO BE OUT IN THE
FOYER AFTER THIS SERVICE TODAY
IF YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT THIS,
EVEN HOW TO HELP IF NOT HOW TO
DO IT YOURSELF.
WE RECOGNIZE SOME FAMILIES HAVE
THE CAPACITY FOR PERMANENT
ADOPTION.
AND WE JUST REJOICE IN THE
ADOPTION CULTURE THAT'S BEING
BUILT IN THIS CHURCH AND, BY THE
WAY, BEING BUILT AMONG
EVANGELICAL CHURCHES IN THIS
COMMUNITY.
YOU TAKE A CHURCH LIKE BETHANY
BAPTIST: THEY'RE KIND OF WAY
AHEAD OF US IN TERMS OF
THINKING, "HOW DO WE TAKE THE
GOSPEL IN THE COMMUNITY?"
AND WE SHOULD CELEBRATE THAT.
WE SHOULDN'T BE THE ONLY CHURCH
CONCERNED TO EXPRESS THE GOSPEL
IN THIS WAY.
AND WE DON'T JUST CELEBRATE WHAT
OTHERS ARE DOING.
WE SAY AT THE SAME TIME WHILE
SOME HAVE THE CAPACITY FOR
PERMANENT ADOPTION, OTHERS MAY
HAVE HEARTS AND HOMES FOR FOSTER
CARE.
NOW, THAT'S A SHORTER
COMMITMENT.
IN SOME WAYS, IT'S THE HARDER
JOB, RIGHT?
BECAUSE OF THE SEPARATION THAT
WOULD BE REQUIRED AT ANOTHER
TIME.
BUT WE RECOGNIZE AT THE SAME
TIME WHEN THERE ARE FAMILIES
AMONG US WHO FOR A TIME ARE
PROVIDING SHELTER AND HOME AND
FAMILY FOR CHILDREN IN DISTRESS,
WE'RE ACTUALLY MAINTAINING AN
ETHIC OF CHRISTIANS THROUGH THE
AGES OF PROVIDING CITIES OF
REFUGE, A PLACE THAT PEOPLE NEED
IN A TIME OF TROUBLE.
AND SOME OF OUR FAMILIES CAN
PROVIDE THAT, EVEN IF IT'S NOT
APPROPRIATE FOR US TO BE
THINKING ABOUT PERMANENT
ADOPTION.
WHAT IF OUR FAMILIES, OUR
PARTICULAR HOMES, ARE NOT THE
ONES EITHER BY AGE OR FAMILY
CIRCUMSTANCE, THAT IT'S NOT
RIGHT FOR US TO BE INVOLVED
DIRECTLY IN ABOR--, IN ADOPTION,
WHAT ELSE CAN WE DO?
SOME OF US HAVE HEART AND MEANS
TO SUPPORT THOSE WHO ARE IN
ADOPTION MINISTRIES: BY PRAYER,
BY FINANCES, BY VOLUNTEERISM.
I THINK NATIONALLY OF BETHANY
CHRISTIAN SERVICES WHO HAS
MAINTAINED A MINISTRY OF
ADOPTION IN AN ABORTION CULTURE
FOR DECADES NOW AND HAS SAVED
THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF
LIVES, BECAUSE PEOPLE LIKE US
HAVE SUPPORTED THAT MINISTRY.
THERE ARE LOCAL MINISTRIES,
HEARTBEAT HERE IN THIS CHURCH.
AS A CHURCH, YOU WERE WONDERFUL
IN SUPPORTING WITH YOUR
THANKSGIVING OFFERING THE
LAUNCHING OF THIS HEARTBEAT
MINISTRY, SAYING WE WANT TO BE
PART OF THIS, TOO.
WE CAN, IF WE'RE NOT INVOLVED
PERSONALLY, WE CAN FINANCIALLY
HELP IN WHAT IS GOING ON.
THERE ARE SO MANY WAYS THAT WE
CAN HAVE FOSTERING AND ADOPTING
FAMILIES HELPED BY FINANCES THAT
WE PROVIDE.
JUST STRAIGHT TALK FOR A MOMENT:
SO OFTEN THE FAMILIES WHERE IT
IS MOST APPROPRIATE TO CONSIDER
ADOPTION, THOSE ARE YOUNG
FAMILIES WITH PEOPLE YOUNG IN
THEIR CAREERS AND THEREFORE WITH
LESS FINANCE.
AND IT'S ACTUALLY A
RESPONSIBILITY OF THOSE WHO HAVE
MORE FINANCE TO THINK, "ARE
THERE YOUNG PEOPLE THAT I CAN
HELP?"
I MEAN, SOME OF THE ADOPTIONS
THAT HAVE HAPPENED WITH FAMILIES
IN THIS CHURCH HAVE BEEN OF
OTHER--, AS OTHER FAMILIES HAVE
HELPED THEM AFFORD IT.
I THINK AS WE HAVE TRIED TO HELP
OUR CHILDREN FROM TIME TO TIME,
IN THE SAME WAY MY REFLEX IS TO
SAY, "I WANT TO HELP FINANCIALLY
BECAUSE THIS WILL MAKE MY
CHILDREN HAPPY."
I NEED TO TAKE A STEP BACK AND
SAY, "NO, IT'S NOT JUST MAKING
MY CHILDREN HAPPY TO HELP THEM
FINANCIALLY AT A YOUNG PLACE IN
THEIR CAREERS."
THERE IS THE SOUL OF A CHILD I
NEED TO BE THINKING ABOUT, TOO,
A CHILD I DON'T EVEN KNOW BUT
GOD KNOWS AND IS MAKING
PROVISION FOR EVEN BY THE
FINANCES I MAY HAVE.
SOME HAVE HEART AND OPPORTUNITY
NOT TO PROVIDE THAT KIND OF
SUPPORT BUT JUST TO ADOPT FOR A
TIME.
I THINK OF KATHY AND ME,
PROBABLY OUR MORE CONSISTENT
EXAMPLE HAS BEEN WHEN OUR
FRIENDS' FRIENDS HAVE BEEN IN
DISTRESS, HOW WE'VE HAD
OPPORTUNITY REALLY REPEATEDLY TO
HAVE THOSE FRIENDS COME AND BE
IN OUR HOME FOR A PERIOD OF
TIME.
THERE'VE, THERE ARE SOME OF YOU
WHO ARE GRANDPARENTS WHO HAVE
HAD TO MOVE PAST EMBARRASSMENT
AND ANGER AND AGE TO RECEIVE
YOUR OWN GRANDCHILDREN BACK INTO
YOUR HOME.
AND I WANT TO CELEBRATE THAT.
AS FOR THE SAKE OF THE GOSPEL AT
GREAT COST TO YOURSELF,
SOMETIMES AT GREAT HURT TO
YOURSELF, YOU ARE SAYING, "UNTO
THE LEAST OF THESE, EVEN IF IT'S
MY OWN FAMILY, I WANT TO EXPRESS
THE NATURE OF THE GOSPEL.
THIS IS GOD'S PRIVILEGE IN MY
LIFE."
OTHERS OF YOU, IT'S, IT CAN BE
JUST AS POWERFUL BUT EVEN MUCH
MORE SIMPLE TO RECOGNIZE
DISTRICT 150 IS ASKING FOR
TUTORS IN ITS READING PROGRAM,
JUST AN HOUR OR TWO A WEEK, IN
OUR OWN SUNDAY SCHOOL PROGRAM,
IN THE GOOD NEWS CLUBS THAT ARE
IN LOCAL GRADE SCHOOLS, IN THE
NURSERY CARE.
SO MANY OF US ARE SAYING, "IT'S
NOT MY CHILD, BUT I CAN HELP
SHARE THE GOSPEL, SHOW THE
GOSPEL, MAKE THE LOVE OF CHRIST
KNOWN TO THIS CHILD BY THE WAY
IN WHICH I CARE."
I CAN MULTIPLY EXAMPLES.
YOU CAN MULTIPLY EXAMPLES.
I'M GOING TO RUN OUT OF TIME AND
THE ABILITY JUST TO KIND OF SAY
ALL THAT NEEDS TO BE SAID.
I HOPE WHAT YOU'VE HEARD ME SAY
IS THIS: AS CHRIST HAS LOVED
US, IN ADOPTION WE SHOW HIS
LOVE.
IT IS NOT REQUIRED OF EVERY
PERSON, BUT THE POWER OF THE
EXAMPLE WE ARE REQUIRED TO
UNDERSTAND SO THAT WE WILL
PROPERLY AS A CHURCH SUPPORT,
AND SHOULD GOD CALL US TO THE
ROLE, DO WHAT HE CALLS US TO DO,
BECAUSE THE REALITY IS IF OUR
HEARTS ARE OPEN TO COMPASSION,
GOD WILL GIVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR
IT.
SOME OF YOU GAVE ME THE IDEA OF
SANDY GRIFFITH, A WOMAN WHO HAS
A ROCKING MINISTRY AT A LOCAL
HOSPITAL.
WHEN HER CHILDREN WERE IN THE
N.I.C.U. BEING BORN AND SHE
WOULD GO DAY AFTER DAY TO ROCK
HER OWN CHILD, SHE NOTICED THAT
SO MANY OTHER CHILDREN JUST WERE
IN THEIR CRIBS ALL DAY.
AND IT INSPIRED IN HER A
WILLINGNESS TO START A ROCKING
MINISTRY, JUST TO GO IN TO ROCK
CHILDREN IN NEED AT THE EARLIEST
STAGES OF THEIR LIFE.
SHE EXPLAINED RECENTLY WITH ONE
CHILD: "THIS LITTLE BABY," SHE
SAID, "HAD JUST BEEN TAKEN OFF
METHADONE AND WAS SUFFERING
HORRIBLY.
AS LONG AS YOU WERE HOLDING HIM,
HE WAS HAPPY.
BUT IF YOU PUT HIM DOWN, EVEN TO
CHANGE HIS DIAPER, HE SCREAMED.
SO I JUST PULLED UP A CHAIR, AND
I HELD HIM FOR ABOUT THREE
HOURS.
HIS ABILITY TO REST IN MY ARMS
WAS SUCH A PICTURE OF MY ABILITY
TO REST IN CHRIST'S ARMS."
SHE WROTE SHE'D HAD STORMS IN
LIFE RECENTLY, AND BY SHOWING
THE LOVE OF CHRIST, SHE HERSELF
WAS ABLE TO REMEMBER IT AND TO
REST IN IT.
THAT'S THE BLESSING, ISN'T IT?
THAT WE DON'T JUST SHARE IT: WE
RECEIVE THE LOVE WHEN WE SHARE
IT.
WE UNDERSTAND THE BLESSING MORE,
EVEN AS WE PROCLAIM IT BY
ADOPTION MINISTRIES.
WHAT WE FUNDAMENTALLY RECOGNIZE
IS BY CARING FOR OTHERS, AS THE
MINISTRY AND THE MESSAGE OF
CHRIST GOES FORWARD, YOU DON'T
HAVE TO HAVE A MILLION BUCKS OR
WIN A BILLION DOLLAR LOTTERY TO
MAKE A MILLION YEAR DIFFERENCE
IN THE LIFE OF A CHILD.
GOD IS CALLING US TO WONDERFUL
MINISTRY, AND ONE OF THOSE
ASPECTS OF MINISTRY IS US OR
ENABLING THOSE AMONG US TO SHOW
THE LOVE OF CHRIST TO THE LEAST
OF THESE, THAT THE GOSPEL MAY BE
KNOWN FOREVER.