The Power of Friendship | DAVID | Pastor Joaquin Pardo

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The Power of Friendship | DAVID | Pastor Joaquin Pardo

August 4, 2024 • Pastor Joaquin Pardo • 1 Samuel 18:1–3, 1 Samuel 18:4, 1 Samuel 19:1–2, 1 Samuel 19:4, 2 Samuel 9:1

The power of friendship! This weekend Pastor Joaquin Pardo continued our DAVID series with a message about friendship.

1 Samuel 18:1-3

As soon as he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. And Saul took him that day and would not let him return to his father’s house. Then Jonathan made a covenant with David, because he loved him as his own soul.

David, a man after God's own heart, and Jonathan, a man faithful and committed to the Lord, shared a special friendship in the Lord's sight. Here is what we can learn from them:

1) A friend affirms God's calling on your life.

In 1 Samuel 18:4, we see Jonathan's remarkable act of faith and friendship:

"And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was on him and gave it to David, along with his armor, sword, bow, and belt."

As the son of King Saul, Jonathan was next in line for the throne. However, God had chosen David instead due to Saul's disobedience. Rather than being resentful, Jonathan honored God's decision by giving David his royal garments and weapons, symbolizing his wholehearted support for David as God's chosen king.

2) A friend protects.

1 Samuel 19:1-2

And Saul spoke to Jonathan his son and to all his servants, that they should kill David. But Jonathan, Saul’s son, delighted much in David. And Jonathan told David, “Saul my father seeks to kill you. Therefore be on your guard in the morning. Stay in a secret place and hide yourself."

True friends care deeply about each other's safety and well-being. They will go to great lengths to protect one another from harm, just as Jonathan did for David.

3) A friend speaks well of their friend.

1 Samuel 19:4

And Jonathan spoke well of David to Saul his father...

Despite having much to gain from David's death, Jonathan refused to speak ill of him. Instead, he advocated for David's life, spoke well of him and defended his innocence.

4) A friend keeps their promise.

After Jonathan's death, David honored the covenant he made with him:

2 Samuel 9:1

"Is there anyone still left of the house of Saul to whom I can show kindness for Jonathan's sake?"

David sought out Jonathan's remaining son and treated him as his own. David's love for his friend was selfless and unconditional, motivated by genuine affection and loyalty.

5) Jesus: The Greatest Friend.

The story of David and Jonathan highlights the power of true friendship, but it ultimately points us to the greatest friend of all, Jesus. While we should strive for friendships like theirs, we might feel lonely at times. However, that's not true—Jesus embodies all the qualities of the perfect friend and more. He is God, reaching out to be your friend.

Failure Doesn't Have To Be Final | DAVID | Pastor Steve Andres

August 25, 2024 • Pastor Steve Andres • 2 Corinthians 5:21, Proverbs 27:16, Psalm 51:10

What if you weren’t defined by your worst moments? This weekend Pastor Steve Andres continued our DAVID series with a message about how to recover from failure. Psalm 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. After David’s sin with Bathsheba is exposed, he is humiliated and 1) Failure gives us a new perspective. David’s reaction to his sin is one of true humility and brokenness before God. If we fail to recognize that our sin is against God, our repentance can still be self-serving. 2) Failure might be a me thing, but repentance is a we thing. Nathan was a wise voice speaking into the David’s foolishness. When we fall, we need to listen carefully to other godly voices that can guide us. 3) Failure is never the final word for the righteous. Many people are defined by their failures. David’s deep and sincere repentance meant that his failure would not be final. Proverbs 27:16 For though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again, but the wicked stumble when calamity strikes. The righteous person is not defined by their falling, but by their rising. Because Jesus paid the price for every sin, we can be confident that God will give us grace to rise after falling! 2 Corinthians 5:21 God put the wrong on him who never did anything wrong, so we could be put right with God. Failure doesn’t have to be final!

The Promise Is Closer Than You Think | DAVID | Pastor Steve Andres

August 18, 2024 • Pastor Steve Andres • 1 Samuel 30:3–4, Jeremiah 1:12

This weekend Pastor Steve Andres continued our DAVID series with a message about holding on to God’s promises! 1 Samuel 30:3-4 When David and his men reached Ziklag, they found it destroyed by fire and their wives and sons and daughters taken captive. So David and his men wept aloud until they had no strength left to weep. After decades of waiting on God’s promise, David seems further away from its fulfillment than ever. How do we stay steady when we can’t see God moving? 1) God’s plan is not about efficiency. It’s about fruitfulness. More Psalms were written in the wilderness than any other setting. Sometimes God’s plan is to take us the long way so that we can be more fruitful. We handle OBEDIENCE. God handles OUTCOMES. When we can’t see the destination, we still have a way that God has called us to walk. Trust that His way is best! 2) Steward what God provides. Hope for all he promised. David took care of the families that he led, fighting to rescue them. But he continued to look for God’s promise of the throne of Israel. 3) Don’t give up. The promise is closer than you think. The enemy of our souls will whisper in our ears that God has forgotten his promise. Don’t believe it. The enemy doesn’t win if you get discouraged or hurt or heartbroken. He only wins if you quit. God will do everything he said he will do. Jeremiah 1:12 I watch over my word that I should perform it. Three days after David rescues the families that had been taken captive, the crown is delivered to him and God’s word from many years earlier is realized. If David had quit, he would never have seen the promise! Jesus faced his darkest moment on the cross, when it seemed that all hope was lost. But it was precisely at that moment when he was closer than ever to the fulfillment of his mission to bring forgiveness and life. Don’t give up!

How To Keep Your Heart Clean | DAVID | Pastor Steve Andres

August 11, 2024 • Pastor Steve Andres • Psalm 52:8–9

How do you keep your heart clean (even when you’ve been done dirty)? This weekend Pastor Steve Andres continued our DAVID series with a message about how to heal from hurts. Psalm 52:8-9 But as for me, I am like a green olive tree in the house of God; I trust in the faithfulness of God forever and ever. I will praise You forever, because You have done it, And I will wait on Your name, for it is good. Everyone will GO through hurt but not everyone will GROW through hurt. What does David’s prayer teach us about how we can handle our deepest wounds? 1) “As for me.” Start with me. Just because we’ve been unquestionably wronged does not mean we are unquestionably right. Start with the humble examination of whatever part of this that we need to own. 2) “I trust in the faithfulness of God.” Leave room for God to work on your behalf. David trusted that God would take care of him. This is the trust that sets us free from the need to retaliate or take revenge. 3) “I will praise you because you have done it.” Make space for purpose in your pain. God is able to take what was intended for evil and use it for good. You can thank him in advance for how he will use this hurt to heal others. 4) “I will wait on your name.” The best fruit takes time to grow. Olive trees grow slow, but they bear a lot fruit. David knew that it would take time for fruit to come from his hurt, but he was willing to wait. God is able to help us grow and flourish through every season!