Todd's Road Grace Church would
like to invite you to listen to a sermon by our pastor, Todd
Nyberg. We are located at 4137 Todd's
Road, two miles outside of Manowar Boulevard. Sunday services are
at 10.30 a.m. and 6 p.m. Bible study is at
9.45 a.m. Wednesday services are at 7 p.m. Nursery is provided for all services.
For more information visit our website at toddsroadgracechurch.com. Now here's our pastor, Todd Nybert. I've entitled this morning's
message, David Found Favor Before God. The text is Acts chapter
7, verse 45 and 46, where we read that God drove out before
the face of our fathers unto the days of David. who found
favor before God, and desired to find a tabernacle for the
God of Jacob." David found favor before God. Now this word favor
is the word that is generally translated grace. By favor are
you saved, by grace are you saved. David found grace before God. There's an Old Testament scripture
that is very much the same, but Noah found grace in the eyes
of the Lord. Now, if you and I have God's
favor, if you and I have God's grace, and I desperately want
that for myself and for you, if you and I have God's favor,
we're going to have it the same way that David did. Now, as far as men go, and I'm
talking about sons of Adam other than Abraham, I believe that
the most significant individual in the Scripture is David. Christ is called the Son of David. And when he's addressed, he would
be addressed like this, Jesus, thou Son of David. have mercy
on me." You see, Christ was promised through the Davidic line, and
he's the son of David. That gives us some idea of how
important this man David was. And David gives us so many types
of Christ throughout his history. The first thing I think of is
David and Goliath. You're familiar with that story.
It's used quite often. But if David wins, all of Israel
wins. And there wasn't any doubt about
David's victory. God's hand was upon him. He had
killed a lion and a bear with his bare hands, according to
his own testimony, and that was because he was supernaturally
enabled. But that teaches us something about Christ. He saved
everybody when he died that he died for. He saved all of his
elect, all of his people. When he won, they won. Salvation by a representative. And we have so many types of
the gospel in the life of David. And I think this is, I'm thankful
for this. Many of David's sins and flaws
are recorded in the Scripture. David, like you and I are, David
was a sinful man. Sexual sin, murder, abuse of
power, anger issues, vengeful, proud, quite often hypocritical,
these things are recorded regarding David. As a matter of fact, the
last event of his life is when through pride he numbered the
people, and 70,000 people lost their lives because of that.
He could be deceitful, fearful, unbelieving. David was a sinful
man, and the Scripture points out much of his sin. But why
does the Bible do this? I wouldn't want to expose somebody,
but The Lord exposes David's sin, a lot of it, and here's
the reason. He's letting us know that for
David to be saved, it must be by God's grace, by God's favor. And for me or you to be saved,
it must be by God's grace or God's favor. Now, 2 Samuel 23,
5. These be the last words of David. These are his dying words. He
said, although my house be not so with God. Now he's talking
about Israel. He's talking about his family. He's talking about his own body,
the body he was housed in. Although my house be not so with
God, Yet hath He made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered
in all things, and sure, this is all my salvation. and all
my desire, though he maketh it not to grow." He found grace. He's a demonstration that salvation
really is by grace. For David to be saved, salvation
must be by grace. David found favor. David found
grace before God. And I desire to find that same
favor. I desire for you to find that
same favor. Now, David is first mentioned
in the book of Ruth. He was the great-grandson of
Boaz and Ruth. And he's first mentioned in 1
Samuel 13, where this is after God has rejected Saul. He says, to Saul because Saul
had tried to offer a sacrifice without a priest. He tried to
come into God's presence on his own without a priest. He bypassed
Christ is what that means. He bypassed his need of Christ.
But we read where Saul said to Samuel, but now thy kingdom shall
not continue. The Lord has sought him a man
after his own heart." Now, that's David. With all of David's flaws
and sins, David was a man after God's own heart. He'd been given a new heart.
And God says, with regard to David, his heart beats with mine. What's important to me is what
is important to him. You know, David, really, he had
the mind of Christ, like every believer has, given in the new
birth. But God calls him here, and this
is also quoted by Paul in the book of Acts. a man after God's
own heart. I don't think there could possibly
be a greater commendation of a man than this. He's a man after
my own heart. Now, I'd like to read in 1 Samuel
16, where we're introduced to this man, David, who found grace
before the Lord. Samuel also said in De Saul,
chapter I'm in chapter 16, verse 1. And the Lord said unto Samuel,
How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected
him from reigning over Israel? Fill thine horn with oil, and
I will go send thee to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have
provided me a king among his sons. David is the king that
God has provided. You'll remember Israel wanted
Saul because he was taller than everybody, better looking than
everybody. But this is the king of God's providing. Now, let's
go on reading. And Samuel said, How can I go?
If Saul hear, he'll kill me. And the Lord said, Take an heifer
with thee, and say, I'm come to sacrifice to the Lord. And
call Jesse to the sacrifice, and I'll show thee what thou
shalt do. And thou shalt anoint unto me him whom I name unto
thee. You're not going to pick this
person out. I'm going to name this one. And Samuel did that
which the Lord spake, and came to Bethlehem. And the elders
of the town trembled at his coming, and said, Comest thou peaceably?
And he said peaceably, I'm come to sacrifice unto the Lord. Sanctify
yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice. And he sanctified
Jesse and his sons and called them to the sacrifice. And it
came to pass when they were come that he looked on Eliab. This
was the oldest son, a very tall, good-looking boy. And Samuel
said, surely the Lord's anointed is before me. But the Lord said
unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height
of his stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord seeth
not as man seeth, for man looketh on the outward appearance, but
the Lord looketh on the heart. Then Jesse called Abinadab, and
made him pass before Samuel, and he said, Neither hath the
Lord chosen this, Then Jesse made Shammah to pass by, and
he said, neither hath the Lord chosen this. And again, Jesse
made seven of his sons pass before Samuel, and Samuel said unto
Jesse, the Lord hath not chosen these. Now, Jesse had another
son, but he knew that wasn't going to be the one. He didn't
even have him come to the sacrifice. He was out watching the sheep,
David. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Are
here all thy children? He said, There remaineth me the
youngest, and behold, he keepeth the sheep. There's just not that
much to him. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Send and fetch him,
for we will not sit down till he come hither. And he sent and
brought him in. Now he was ruddy and with all
the beautiful countenance and goodly to look on. And the Lord
said, Arise, anoint him, for this is he. Then Samuel took
the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of the brethren.
And the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward.
So Samuel rose up and went to Ramah." Now, here we have the
Lord's favor toward this young man, David. Now, what I think
is so interesting about this is the seven brothers, it says,
God refused and did not choose. Now don't miss that. That's important.
This is what God said regarding these seven boys. He refused
them and did not choose them. He chose David. Now somebody
says, why did he choose David and not choose the brothers? Well, Romans 9 and 11 speaks
of two brothers, Jacob and Esau, with the children being not yet
born, neither having done any good or evil, but the purpose
of God according to election might stand. Not of works, but
of him called that was said unto her, The elder shall serve the
younger. As it's written, Jacob have I loved, Esau have I hated."
Now, those are God's words regarding to those two brothers. God loved Jacob. God hated Esau. Somebody said, I thought God
loved everybody. Well, you won't get that from
the Scripture. Scripture says He hates all workers of iniquity.
He loves His people. He loves everybody Christ died
for. He loves everybody who's eternally united to Christ. And
His hatred is not like It's not a human hatred. Our hatred is
evil, but it's a righteous, holy, and just hatred. Whatever God
does is right. Now, whenever we start thinking,
well, how can it be fair for God to show preference to one
over the other, whatever God does is right. And remember,
fair is hell. Fair is hell. If God gives me
and you what we deserve, he will send us to hell. That's what's
fair. Anything else is mercy and grace
and part of the goodness of God. Now, the Lord chose David. The Lord's favor was toward David. He looked upon the heart that
he'd given David. and he was pleased with David. Now, I want to read another scripture,
and I think this is one of the most important scriptures in
all the Word of God. As a matter of fact, you can't
understand anything regarding the Gospel until this is seen. Now, if you ever see who God
is, you'll see this about yourself. You're not going to see this
about yourself without seeing who He is, but if you ever see who He
is, you're going to see this about yourself. Now, in Genesis
6, verse 5, we read, this is right before the flood, And God
saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that
every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And did you hear that? God saw
that the wickedness of man was great in the earth and that every
imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. Now, David was in that group. That's how God saw David apart
from Christ. Now, look what it says about
Noah, though, in verse 8 of this same passage of Scripture. But
Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. The grace of God
was the difference between Noah and everyone else. Noah was included
in those people who had wickedness that was great and that every
imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. That was Noah. But Noah found
grace. in the eyes of the Lord. And
look what it said of Noah in verse 9. These are the generations
of Noah. Noah was a just man and perfect
in his generations, and Noah walked with God. Now, Noah was
just or righteous. He was perfect, undefiled, without
sin, whole, complete. Now, how could that be? How could
you say that every imagination of the thoughts of Noah's heart
was only evil continually, and the same thing would be said
of David, and yet he could be just and righteous and undefiled
and perfect before God? How can that be? Grace. But Noah found grace in the eyes
of the Lord. The same thing is said of David.
David found favor before God. Now listen real carefully. Grace
is God loving you and making a difference between you and
everybody else. If you have grace, it's God loving
you. and making a difference between
you and anyone else who does not know Him. Listen to this
scripture, 1 Corinthians 4, verse 7. Paul says to the church of
Corinth, who maketh you to differ from another? And what do you
have that you didn't receive? Now, if you're a believer, you
do differ from the unbeliever. You have a nature, a new heart
that he doesn't have. You've been born of the Spirit.
You've been elected by the Father. You've been redeemed by the Son. You've been given a new life,
regenerated by the Holy Spirit, and it's God who has made you
to differ. You don't give yourself the credit. You don't give your works the
credit. You don't think it's because of an act of your will.
You know that it's God that made you to differ. Now, when we talk
about grace, first we need to realize God's grace is a gift.
We read in Romans 5.17, it's the gift of God. Now, it's not an offer. Grace,
the grace of God, the favor of God, is not offered to you and
it's up to you to accept it or reject it. No, no. God's grace
is not an offer. God's grace is a gift that He
gives. And if He gives it to you, you
will receive it. It's a gift. And this grace that
David found, that Noah found, this grace of God is eternal. God is eternal. He never began to be. He'll never
end. And before there was anything
called time or space, before the creation of the world, God
gave David, Noah, and everybody who has this grace, this grace. It is eternal grace. Paul said in 2 Timothy 1.9, He
saved us. and called us with a holy calling,
not according to our works, but according to His own purpose
and grace which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world
began." God's grace is eternal grace, and God's grace, this
favor that David had, that Noah had, that every believer has,
is sovereign, discriminating grace. And I use that word purposely,
discriminating. Now, discrimination among men
is evil. To give someone preference because
of the color of their skin or because of their gender or anything
else is evil. I'm so thankful for the gospel
that puts everybody on the same level. But discrimination is
evil among men. But the only way anybody will
be saved is if God does something for you that He didn't do for
somebody else. You see, not everybody is saved.
God's grace is discriminating grace for the children being
not yet born, neither having done any good or evil that the
purpose of God, according to election, might stand, not of
works, but of him that calleth. It was said unto her, The elder
shall serve the younger, as it's written. God discriminated here.
Jacob have I loved, Esau have I hated. Now, that's what the
Bible teaches. I hope you'll consider this. This is what the
Bible teaches. I know that it goes contrary
to most religion, but this is what the Bible teaches. And God's
grace is always saving grace. By grace, this is the favor David
found. By grace, you are saved. Through faith, and that not of
yourselves, that faith is not of yourselves, it's the gift
of God. not of works, lest any man should boast. His grace is
always saving grace." Now, somebody says, can't we reject grace?
Not if God gives you grace, you can't. You see, His grace is
invincible and irresistible. Like I said, grace isn't just
thrown out there and offered to you, and it's up to you as
to whether or not you'll accept it or reject it. Grace always
saves. In Romans 5, verse 20, we read,
moreover, the law entered that the offense might abound. That's
all the law does is expose sin. But where sin abounded, grace
did much more abound that as sin hath reigned unto death. Now, can you say no to death? Can you stop death? Is there anything you can do
to keep from dying? The answer is absolutely not. If you have sinned, you will
die. Your death is sure, my death
is sure, and there's nothing we can do to prevent it. You can live as healthy as possible,
and that's a good thing to do, but that will not prevent death. that as sin hath reigned unto
death, even so in the same manner might grace reign." That means
if God's going to have grace and give his grace to you, and
you're going to be like David and have grace before God, there's
nothing you can do to prevent it. His grace is irresistible. His grace is invincible. and
you will find His grace irresistible. You're going to say, oh, let
me be found in Christ. Let me have His grace. God's grace is saving grace. It can't be rejected. I love
what the Lord said in John 6, 37, all that the Father giveth
me shall come to me, not A lot of the people that the Father
gave me, but all that the Father giveth me shall come to me. and him that cometh to me I will
in no wise cast out." Now, to speak of this being only for
select people shouldn't discourage anyone. If you come to Christ,
He'll have mercy on you. You're not going to be coming
to Christ and say, no, you're not one of the elect. No, you come to
Christ, He'll have mercy on you. And the reason you come is because
He has had mercy on you. Now, God's grace does not operate
in the realm of works. If you put conditions you must
meet before grace can operate, it's no longer grace. Romans
11.6 says, if by grace it's no more of works, otherwise grace
is no more grace. But if it be of works, it's no
more grace. Otherwise, work is no more work. Now, works and grace, salvation
dependent upon what you do or salvation dependent upon God's
grace, they exclude each other. They cannot mutually exist or
coexist in harmony. You can't believe works and grace. They're enemies of each other.
If you believe the message that salvation is in some way dependent
upon you, you believe works. You reject grace. You know, just
the message, Christ died for all, God wants to save everybody,
but it's up to you to accept what he did, you might as well
say you gotta be saved by keeping the Ten Commandments because
it's still making salvation dependent upon you. And that will not work. You see, according to the scripture,
God's grace justifies. That's how David was accepted.
That's how Noah was seen to be a perfect and righteous man,
because God's grace actually justifies those that he gives
his grace to. Listen to this scripture. Being
justified freely by his grace. Now, that's what justification
is, and it makes it to where I stand before God justified.
You know what that means? That means I stand before God
having never sinned, having no guilt. Somebody says, how can
that be? Because my guilt, my sin, was
given to the Lord Jesus Christ on Calvary's tree. It became
his sin. He became guilty of the commission
of it. The wrath of God came down upon
him. He was getting what he deserved.
Somebody says, well, that was the innocent being punished.
No, it was the guilty being punished. My sin became his sin, the wrath
of God came down upon him, and his righteousness, his perfect
obedience is given to me, and every believer stands before
God justified, having never sinned. And that justification is through
the redemption, through the redeeming work of Christ on the cross.
You know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. that though he
was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that you through
his poverty might be rich. The forgiveness of sins comes
according to the riches of his grace. The reason any man is
born again is because of His grace. His grace causes you to
be regenerated. Listen to this scripture. Not
by works of righteousness, which we have done, but according to
His mercy, He saved us by the washing of regeneration and the
renewing of the Holy Ghost. If you're born again, it's an
act of grace, and every grace that you have, faith, repentance,
love to God, whatever it might be, is because of His grace. Ephesians 1, 6 says, we are accepted. He hath made us accepted. And that word accepted is grace.
He has made us graced. He has graced us. He has favored
us. This is talking about every believer.
He has made us accepted in the beloved. And every hope we have
between now and judgment day, if we're believers, is because
of grace. I have a hope that I'm going
to be Stand perfect before God, and I have a hope that between
now and then, everything's working together for my good and His
glory, and the reason I have that hope is He hath given us
a good hope through grace. Now, Paul summed it up this way.
1 Corinthians 15, 10, by the grace of God, I am what I am. I'm a sinner. I am a sinner. And it's only the grace of God
that's taught me that. Not everybody really believes
that about themselves, but I know I'm a sinner. That's by the grace
of God. I'm a justified sinner, and that's
by the grace of God. I'm a redeemed sinner. My sins
have been paid for. That's by the grace of God. I'm
a regenerated sinner. I've been given a new heart to
believe. And that's by the grace of God.
I'm a preserved sinner. I am persevering in the faith.
And that's because of the grace of God. I am what I am, whatever
I am. I'm a sinner. I'm a saved sinner.
I'm a sinner saved by grace. By the grace of God, I am what
I am. David found favor, grace before
the Lord. And anybody who looks to Christ
only as everything in their salvation has found this favor before the
Lord. Now we have this message on DVD
and CD. If you call the church, write
or email, we'll send you a copy. This is Todd Nyberg praying that
God will be pleased to make Himself known to you. That's our prayer.
Amen. To receive a copy of the sermon you have just heard, send
your request to todd.nyberg at gmail.com. Or you may write or
call the church at the information provided on the screen.