HESED CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP

Friday, 29 January 2010

Retired Baptist pastor Joseph Smith wrote:
“The longer we live, the more we have to be thankful for. But it is also true that the longer we live, the more mistakes we make, the more people we hurt, the more wrong directions we take, and so the more we have to be forgiven.”
“No-one ever grows too old to fall victim to the devil’s snare. It’s not only the young who are gullible, but the elderly can also fall prey to deception. Even David the king, wise and mighty in God, was not immune to falling victim to pride,” said Rev. Peter Richmond on Sunday evening.
As part of God’s judgement against Israel, the Lord allowed Satan to tempt David. Determined to do as much damage as he could, Satan found a crack of pride in David’s character and moved him to lead the nation into destruction, by ordering a census of all the men fit to fight. This census occurred near the end of David’s life. He had fought and conquered all his adversaries. He had overcome every one of them. The sin was the temptation to feel confident, safe and secure in the army’s military strength. It was the temptation on David’s part to place confidence in the number and strength of his army. David was relying on human power and might rather than on God Himself.
The pastor concluded: “The devil may tempt us to look at our strengths, as was the case with David. Confidence in bank accounts, health, etc.
“On the other hand, the devil may tempt us to look at our weaknesses, to see our lack in bank accounts, bad health, etc. so we are quickly cast down and deflated.
“Either way, the sin is the same because we’re looking at numbers, at circumstances. Either way, we have taken our eyes off God who is to be our absolute source of trust and confidence.”
The service included hymns and prayers. Hesed meet in the Avenue Centre again this Sunday evening, at 6 o’clock. Visit www.hesed.co.uk or telephone 01646 681805 for details.

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