David & Bathsheba - What Fruit?

 I shared the story of David and Bathsheba today with our discipleship group. I kept thinking, "Oh, how the mighty have fallen." We got into a discussion about power and corruption. We were able to find so many modern examples of how powerful people have fallen. Pastors, Politicians, business leaders, teachers, medical professionals, and the list of people who abused their power, is endless. Sin is pervasive in society and it seems to find a fertile feeding ground with people that have a lot of power.

My favorite part of the story of David and Bathsheba is when the prophet Nathan meets with David.

"So the Lord sent Nathan the prophet to tell David this story: 'There were two men in a certain town. One was rich, and one was poor. The rich man owned a great many sheep and cattle. The poor man owned nothing but one little lamb he had bought. He raised that little lamb and it grew up with his children. It ate from the man's own plate and drank from his cup. He cuddled it in his arms like a baby daughter. One day a guest arrived at the home of the rich man. But, instead of killing an animal from his own flock or herd, he took the poor man's lamb and killed it and prepared it for his guest.' David was furious. 'As surely as the Lord lives,' he vowed, ' any man who would do such a thing deserves to die! He must repay four lambs to the poor man for the one he stole and for having no pity.' Then Nathan said to David, 'You are that man!'" (2 Samuel 12:1-7)

David had used his power to steal Uriah's wife, commit sexual sin, and kill to over it up. All through this story David's selfishness rules his actions and led to sin. What is sin? Sin is ANYTHING that separates us from God. 

"It's your sins that have cut you off from God. Because of your sins, he has turned away and will not listen anymore." (Isaiah 59:2)

Sin is lawlessness. (1 John 3:4) We are all infected with it. (Romans 3:23) Sin leads to death. (Romans 6:23) So what is the solution? 

Repentance! So, what is repentance?

Repentance is turning away, turning back toward God.(Acts 3:19) Repentance is an act that begins to "restore our right relationship with God." Repentance is more than being sorry. It is being sorry with action. 

A Christian who sins will feel remorse, will be convicted of their wrong doing and turn toward God. A non-believer might feel some type of remorse, not always. A non-believer just thinks about themselves and how they feel. God never enters the process. You can tell the strength of your relationship with God because of your reaction to sin. If your actions lead to sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkeness, wild parties, and other sins like these, you need to turn toward God. If your actions lead to love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control you are filled with the fruits of the Spirit. (Galatians 5:16-23) Your fruit bears witness to your relationship with the Lord. 

What fruit do you see in your life? Are you being controlled by sin or by the Spirit of the Lord? Repent and be saved! David repented and God forgave him. Yes, he had to live with the consequences of his sin, but he was saved! What about you? 

Now might be the best time to get on your knees and repent of your sins. Accept the salvation of Jesus earned for you by his death on the cross and his resurrection from the grave. Jesus will wash away your sin. Your slate will be clean. Pray the Holy Spirit fills your life and guides your steps. Pray that you will begin to produce the fruit of a life filled with the Lord. He will honor that request! Amen and Amen!