CALVARY CHAPEL MAIDSTONE CALVARY CHAPEL MAIDSTONE

A wedding, a funeral and an opportuntity to kill your enemy - David’s life is anything but dull!

The days of David hiding in the wilderness are drawing to a close, but first David needs to face King Saul one more time.

The Lord has taught David many things in his time on the run, and through the encounter with Nabal and the wisdom of Abigail he has learnt to leave his enemies in God’s hands.

However that lesson now needs to be tested and proven.

Saul is one the war path for David and is camped at the Hill of Hachilah, but the Lord has sent the entire company into a deep sleep.

David creeps into the camp with Abishai and once again is presented with hte oporutnity to kill his enemy. Will he leave his enemy to God, or will he take matters into his own hands once more?

The thirty-third sermon in a series by Pastor Matthew Hobbs.
Teaching delivered on Sunday 28th January 2024

http://calvarychapelmaidstone.uk/?ctc_sermon=1-samuel-2536-2625-david-spares-saul-the-second-time

It's sheep shearing season!

The richest man in the land, Nabal, is cashing in on his flocks and it is a time for celebration! He is paying his under-shepherds, holding a feast and everyone is high spirits.

All year David and his men have worked hard to help protect Nabal's sheep and so now they rightly expect a cut in the celebration and the pay.

Yet, this businessman dismisses David, his men and the work they have done, insulting him and rejecting the anointed of God into the bargain.

Incensed and on the war path, David looks to take matters into his own hands...but God has other plans.

A noble woman, the wife of Nabal, seeks to intercede for her husband, appease David's wrath and bring balance and perspective to this future king of Israel.

Has there ever been a more godly woman in Scripture, whose actions parallel this of Christ?

How then are we to understand her criticism of her husband and her acting behind his back.

A dense passage, with much to unlock...the account of Nabal and Abigail is fascinating.

The thirty-second sermon in a series by Pastor Matthew Hobbs.
Teaching delivered on Sunday 14th January 2024

http://calvarychapelmaidstone.uk/?ctc_sermon=1-samuel-251-35-nabal-abigail

At the end of chapter 23 David had almost fallen into the hands of Saul, now the tables are reversed as Saul now falls into the hands of David.

Saul steps into a cave in En Gedi, unaware that in the dark recesses of the cave David and is men are in hiding.

David resists the urging of his fellow men to take Saul's life, but does cut off the corner of Saul's robe.

David, convicted by God, then steps out of the cave making himself known to Saul and what he has done.

What is the significance of the robe and its hem?
Why is it such a sin to cut of the corner of that robe?
What will happen when David comes out from hiding?
Is David in Saul's hands, or the hands of the Lord?

The thirty-first sermon in a series by Pastor Matthew Hobbs.
Teaching delivered on Sunday 31st December 2023



https://youtu.be/hGcJOBI77tE

Saul's relentless pursuit of David continues, as David hides in the strongholds of the Judean wilderness.

David has both allies and enemies: Jonathan, who comes to strengthen David's hand in the Lord, and the Ziphites who betray David's whereabouts to Saul.

However, David has learnt to rely on the Lord and hope in God, as Psalm 54, which was written at this time, shows us.

As Saul closes in at "the rock" near Maon, David finds himself trapped, with no way of escape...it would seem that David has finally met his end.

The physical wilderness is a picture of the spiritual wilderness all believers find themselves in at times.

Saul, bearing the character of Satan, shows us the depth of spiritual warfare the wilderness can illicit.

In all things we see, God is in control and God is faithful.

The thirtieth sermon in a series by Pastor Matthew Hobbs.
Teaching delivered on Sunday 17th December 2023



https://youtu.be/_HBBzR7VFOQ

The Philistines are raiding the Israeli city of Keilah!

David hears the report of their plight and inquires of the Lord whether he and his band of 600 men should go to their aid.

The Lord bids him go and assures him of victory.

Saul, on the other hand, hears that David is Keilah, and with a mind to rid himself of David, marshalls his armies for Keilah too.

A showdown at Keilah between David and Saul seems inevitable, yet the Lord is with David and he flees to the wilderness of Ziph before Saul arrives.

Within this account we see how the Lord works in the life of David, the anointed of God.

Every born-again believer is also anointed of God, according to 2 Corinthians 2:21-22.

As such, the lessons that David learns at Keilah are lessons for us to learn to day as well.

The twenty-ninth sermon in a series by Pastor Matthew Hobbs.
Teaching delivered on Sunday 3rd December 2023

In light of the war between Israel and Hamas, triggered by Hamas' attack on Jewish civilians and settlements on 7th October 2023, the need for a Biblical perspective was needed.

This message answers the following questions:
- Who are Hamas?
- What does their charter state as their purpose?
- Who are the Palestinians?
- Is Israel an illegal occupier of the land?
- What are God's promises to Israel regarding the land?
- How should we respond as Christians and a Church?

Message delivered on Sunday 12th November 2023 by Pastor Matthew Hobbs.