Manna in the Morning Desperate for God
E.A. Johnston teaches that King David's fall into sin was due to becoming comfortable with God, urging believers to remain desperate for God to avoid moral decline.
In this devotional sermon, E.A. Johnston explores the story of King David's moral failure as recorded in 2 Samuel 11:2-5. He highlights how David's comfort with God and his kingdom led to a dangerous spiritual complacency that resulted in grievous sin. Johnston challenges believers to maintain a desperate hunger for God to avoid similar pitfalls, emphasizing repentance and continual spiritual vigilance. This message encourages a heartfelt pursuit of God to sustain a vibrant faith.
Full Transcript
Hello friends, this is manna in the morning and our devotion today is desperate for God. Our scripture passage is found in second Samuel chapter 11 and verses 2 through 5. We see in God's word and it came to pass in a evening tide that David arose from off his bed and walked upon the roof of the king's house, and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself, and the woman was very beautiful to look upon. And David sent and inquired after the woman, and one said, Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite? And David sent messengers and took her, and she came in unto him, and he lay with her, for she was purified from her uncleanness.
And she returned unto her house, and the woman conceived, and sent and told David, and said, I am with child. And King David fell in stages, as seen in our passage. He looked, he lingered, he lusted, he inquired, he sent, he took, he lay, he sinned.
Later in the chapter he goes deeper into sin through the murder of Uriah the Hittite. And that's what sin does, friend. It is a sliding scale and a downward spiral.
It's been said of sin, sin will take you farther than you want to go, leave you there longer than you want to stay, and cost you more than you ever realized. And sadly, King David found that statement to be true in the life of his family. The lesson we can learn from this man who had a heart after God, but who fell into grievous sin, and sinned against God, is that King David fell morally because he was secure in his kingdom conquests, and he became comfortable with God.
His subsequent heartfelt repentance made him again desperate for God, in an earnest seeking of Him. Had David stayed desperate for God, he never would have fallen by becoming comfortable with God, and subsequently comfortable with sin. O great God, may we never become comfortable with You, but always remain desperate for You.
In the strong name of the Lord Jesus Christ we pray, Amen.
Sermon Outline
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I
- David's initial sin observed on the rooftop
- The sequence of David's moral decline
- The consequences of sin as a downward spiral
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II
- The danger of becoming comfortable with God
- David's security led to moral failure
- Sin's cost and lasting impact on David's family
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III
- David's heartfelt repentance
- The importance of remaining desperate for God
- A prayer for continual spiritual hunger
Key Quotes
“King David fell morally because he was secure in his kingdom conquests, and he became comfortable with God.” — E.A. Johnston
“Sin will take you farther than you want to go, leave you there longer than you want to stay, and cost you more than you ever realized.” — E.A. Johnston
“Had David stayed desperate for God, he never would have fallen by becoming comfortable with God.” — E.A. Johnston
Application Points
- Regularly examine your spiritual life to avoid becoming comfortable with God.
- Cultivate a continual desperation for God through prayer and repentance.
- Recognize the serious consequences of sin and seek God earnestly to overcome it.