5. “Fessing up” to our failures

Aug 25, 2026 stjohnsttg Message, Sermon Bible, Confession, David, faith, Forgiveness, God, Humility, Jesus

Series: A person after God’s own heart (David) | 2 Samuel 12:1-14, Psalm 51:1-12 | Sunday 23rd August 2026 | Message by Pastor Rolly Stahl

I invite you to reflect on you own, or discuss with a friendly person:

How might people respond when “nailed” for a mistake or failure?

We might blame others, lie about it, or deny it.
We might make excuses for it, or justify it.
We might try to minimise it: “Well at least I haven’t killed anyone!”
We might point out the failures of the person confronting us, “Hey, what about the times you lied, stole, and got booked for dangerous driving!?”

The way a person handles failure reveals a lot about their character.

Let’s see what we can learn from David about two of his big blunders:

1. David’s adultery with Bathsheba and cover up

Instead of joining his men in battle, David was potting around his palace – perhaps feeling bored or restless. Once we lose sight of godly purpose in our everyday lives, we become vulnerable to temptation. As the old saying goes: “An idle mind is the devil’s workshop.”

From his palace roof, David saw Bathsheba bathing – and his desires were inflamed. He used his position to commit adultery with her. It’s ironic that David never lost a military battle; but he lost his battle with lust.[1]

When Bathsheba sent word to David that she’d fallen pregnant by him, David calls her husband, Uriah, back from the army, plies him with alcohol, and urges him to go home and sleep with his wife. That way, Uriah and others would assume the baby was his. But Uriah refuses.

When David asks him why, Uriah replied, “The Ark[2] and the armies of Israel and Judah are living in tents, and Joab and my master’s men are camping in the open fields. How could I go home to wine and dine and sleep with my wife? I swear that I would never do such a thing.” (2 Samuel 11:11 NLT)

Why does Uriah refuse to go home? Because his fellow soldiers are involved in a holy war. The army go out with the ark of the covenant – the symbol of God’s holy presence. Since God’s holy presence accompanies the army, all the soldiers need to be ceremonially clean – and that means no sex. Uriah swears on David’s life that he will not compromise himself, the army, or God by sleeping with his wife. Uriah’s devotion to duty highlights David’s self-indulgence.

Since plan A failed to cover up his moral failure, David resorts to Plan B. He arranges Uriah to be struck down in battle.

Then we read: When the period of mourning was over, David sent for her [Bathsheba] and brought her to the palace, and she became one of his wives. Then she gave birth to a son. But the Lord was displeased with what David had done. (2 Samuel 11:27 NLT) David didn’t just sin against other people. He also sinned against God.

Friends, no matter how hard we try to cover up our moral failings, God always sees it. God cannot pretend it doesn’t matter. Since God is perfectly good, holy, and just, he must deal with it. There are always consequences for breaking God’s commands.

The prophet Nathan presents a case to David for judgment. A poor man has one precious ewe lamb that’s like a member of his family. It ate from his plate and drank from his cup. He cuddled it like a daughter. Then there’s a rich man who has a visitor. Instead of taking an animal from his own vast flocks and herds, the rich man butchers the poor man’s pet lamb to feed his guest.

David’s anger hits the roof: “This man deserves to die!” With just four words, Nathan hits the bullseye of David’s heart: “You are that man!” “You have many wives, yet you took another man’s only wife and had her. When your efforts at cover up failed, you murdered her husband – and took his wife to be yours!”

Once confronted, there are 7 things David didn’t do:

1. He didn’t blame his upbringing: “As the youngest son, my big brothers picked on me.”

2. He didn’t blame other people: “I was under pressure from my advisors. I was under pressure from the competing claims of my wives and children.”

3. He didn’t blame his life circumstances: “Not being part of the war efforts against the Ammonites, I was having a mid-life crisis.”

4. He didn’t use past hurts to justify his actions: “After spending a decade on the run from Saul, I deserve a few kickbacks.”

5. He didn’t compare himself with others: “Other kings have done much worse things than I’ve done!”

6. He didn’t use his position as an excuse: “Since I’m the king, I can do as I jolly well please!”

7. He didn’t execute the prophet who confronted him.

Instead David “fessed up” to his failure

“I have sinned against the LORD.” (2 Samuel 12:13 NLT)

We even have a record of his confession in Psalm 51.

As I read some of it, note what David is asking God:

Have mercy on me, O God,
because of your unfailing love.
Because of your great compassion,
blot out the stain of my sins. (David knows that sin is stain on the soul that only God can remove)

Against you, and you alone, have I sinned;
I have done what is evil in your sight.

Create in me a clean heart, O God.
Renew a loyal spirit within me.
Do not banish me from your presence,
and don’t take your Holy Spirit from me. (like what happened to King Saul)

Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
and make me willing to obey you. (Psalm 51:1, 4, 10-12 NLT)

After David “fessed-up”, Nathan replied, “The Lord has forgiven you, and you won’t die for this sin. (2 Samuel 12:13 NLT) The Lord spares David’s life, takes away his sin, and restores relationship with David.

Now there were consequences of David’s actions: violence broke out in his family; four of his sons died prematurely; and one of David’s sons took his “wives”[3] and had them in public! Yet with the assurance of God’s forgiveness, David still gets to do life with God.

That same amazing grace is available for you and for me. By the blood of Jesus, shed at the cross, God has punished our mistakes – and blotted out the stain of our sins. Through his forgiveness, we still get to do life with God.

So friends, whenever you’ve done wrong, take a leaf out of David’s book. Confess it to God. Renounce it out of your life. Receive God’s forgiveness for Jesus’ sake. And keep asking the Holy Spirit to help you live in the love and truth of Jesus.

Here’s another mistake David made.

2. David took a military census

The king [David] said to Joab and the army commanders with him, “Go throughout the tribes of Israel from Dan to Beersheba and enroll the fighting men, so that I may know how many there are.” (2 Samuel 24:2 NIV)

Now the Lord could order a census of the Israelites. This happened twice in a book of the Bible called Numbers.[4] But if a king of Israel took a census, it was regarded as an act of pride in his army.

It was also considered an act of mistrust in God as Israel’s source of security. Even David’s ruthless general, Joab, objected: “May the Lord your God let you live to see a hundred times as many people as there are now! But why, my lord the king, do you want to do this?” But the king insisted that they take the census. (2 Samuel 24:3-4 NLT)

About 10 months later, Joab reported the numbers to the king. But after he had taken the census, David’s conscience began to bother him. And he said to the Lord, “I have sinned greatly by taking this census. Please forgive my guilt, Lord, for doing this foolish thing.” (2 Samuel 24:10 NLT)

Again David owns up, confesses his sin to God, and asks the Lord to forgive him.

Question: How can David so freely “fess up” to his failures?

Because he trusts that God’s mercy is greater than his sin!

Application:

There are 2 reasons why we avoid taking responsibility for our wrongdoing:

Because like Adam and Eve, we strive to hide our guilt and shame.

Because we’re not yet secure in God’s love for us in Jesus!

Follow the logic: If we’re not yet secure in God’s love for us in Jesus, we keep trying to secure ourselves. How?

By making ourselves look good.
By trying to impress God or others with our performance.
Or by gaining our sense of worth from what we do …or what we own.

Since we can’t afford to “lose face”, we hide our guilt, shame, hurts, and insecurities under the “veneer” of success that we present to those around us.

But like corks that keep popping up in a bucket of water, our selfish attitudes, words, and behaviours keep surfacing. We keep messing up…but we hate to admit it!

So, when we’re confronted or challenged about “those corks popping up”, what do we do? Defend ourselves, justify ourselves, and attempt to make ourselves look good by minimizing the bad we’ve done.

Question: In ALL this, who is in the centre? SELF!! No wonder it’s a disaster! We were never meant to be the centre of our own existence! Truth is that we need God to free us from our self-centredness – AND from our failures that emerge from that.

Yet when our identity, worth, and self esteem

are based on God’s acceptance of us in Jesus,

our security in him frees us to acknowledge our mistakes

– without it destroying us!

Through the cross of Christ, we know that God’s mercy

is greater than our worst failures. So now we can come clean.

John reminds us: If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. (1 John 1:8-9 NLT)[5] Friends, when God forgives us, he doesn’t rub it in. Instead, God rubs it out!

The aging Paul admits: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”— and I am the worst of them all.” (1 Timothy 1:15 NLT) If we can’t admit to being a sinner, then how can Christ save us? Like Paul, I’m a sinner… that’s why I need Jesus! He’s made it possible for us to become saints.

People after God’s own heart rest secure in his love and kindness to us in Jesus. Secure in God’s love, we can confess and renounce our failures, receive God’s forgiveness, and keep sharing his mercy with others! Amen.

An audio version of this message is available on St John’s Lutheran Church Tea Tree Gully YouTube page: https://youtu.be/1Sz4OKRsheg

[1] With David’s accumulation of wives and concubines over previous years, perhaps this indulgence was an accident waiting to happen.

See: 1 Samuel 25:39-44, 27:3, 30:5, 2 Samuel 2:2, 3:2-5, 5:13-16. On kings and numerous wives, see the prohibition at Deuteronomy 17:17. The outworking of the conflict among David’s children from these various wives is seen in 2 Samuel 13-19, and 1 Kings 1-2.

[2] The ark of the covenant. A transportable wooden box gilded with gold. The stone tablets of the covenant were inside the box. The atonement cover on top featured 2 cherubim facing each other. The Israelites understood that the Lord’s presence/throne was between the cherubim. Psalm 99:1 NLT: ‘God’sThe Lord is king! Let the nations tremble! He sits on his throne between the cherubim. Let the whole earth quake!’ (See: Exodus 25:22, Numbers 7:89, 1 Samuel 4:4, 2 Samuel 6:2, 2 Kings 19:15, 1 Chron 13:6, Ps 80:1, Isaiah 37:16)

[3] 2 Samuel 16:22 NLT: ‘So they set up a tent on the palace roof where everyone could see it, and Absalom went in and had sex with his father’s concubines.’

[4] Numbers 1:1-14, 26:1-4.

[5] Likewise, James says: Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. (James 5:16 NLT)

4. Doing life in God together

Aug 18, 2026 stjohnsttg Message, Sermon Bible, David, faith, friends, God, Grace, Jesus, jonathan, Love

Series: A person after God’s own heart (David) | 1 Samuel 14:1-15, 1 Samuel 18:1-4, 1 Samuel 23:14-18 | Sunday 16th August 2026 | Message by Pastor Rolly Stahl

1 Samuel 14:1-15 – Jonathan and his armour bearer take on the Philistines.

1 Samuel 18:1-4 – After David defeats Goliath, he and Jonathan become friends.

1 Samuel 23:14-18 – Jonathan finds and encourages David in the wilderness.

Recapping our series

Today is part 4 of A Person after God’s own Heart, looking at the life of King David.

In part 1, we looked at God’s surprising choice of a shepherd boy to replace Saul as king over Israel.
In part 2, we saw how David relied on the Lord to defeat Goliath.
In part 3, we considered David’s long wait to become king while on the run from King Saul – who wanted to kill him.

During those years, David was supported by others – including his best friend, Jonathan (King Saul’s oldest son). Today, we look at how they did life in God together.

Two are better than one

About 3000 years ago, a wise man wrote: Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 NLT) Aint that the truth?!

Western individualism feeds us the lie: “It’s all about…me.” Sadly, when the ME is more important than the WE, we become self-absorbed, entitled, selfish. That stuff wrecks relationships – so we end up alone.

This same ethos can creep into our church family. Instead of doing life in God together – many of us keep our faith and our inner worlds private. Generally, we don’t share our struggles – or offer to pray with one another. Generally, we don’t ask, “How’s your walk with Jesus going?” Instead, we’re on our own individual walks with God – and perhaps wondering why our spiritual journey is a bit dull…or a bit lonely.

Friends, God created us in his image for relationships. Our relationships with fellow believers are to reflect how the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit honour and love one another – and work in unity together.

Friends, none of us come into the world without others. None of us learns, grows, or matures without others. And none of us can grow as followers of Jesus without close connections with other believers. That’s why God has given us the church – also known as “the body of Christ”. In this family we grow in God together.

When a person stops worshipping and fellowshipping with other believers, what happens when doubt, temptation, trouble, or despair knocks them over? Pity the person who falls and has no one to help them up again! That’s why we need a few close Christian friends!

One reason David survived his years as a fugitive was through the support of friends. David inspired loyalty from others – and was loyal to those who helped him.

How did Jonathan and David become friends?

Most people know the story of David and Goliath. Yet in our first Bible reading, we see the same God-centred passion and courage in Jonathan:

Jonathan said to his armor bearer, “Come on now, let’s go across to these uncircumcised pagans. Maybe God will work for us. There’s no rule that says God can only deliver by using a big army. No one can stop God from saving when he sets his mind to it.”

His armor bearer said, “Go ahead. Do what you think best. I’m with you all the way.”

Jonathan said, “Here’s what we’ll do. We’ll cross over the pass and let the men see we’re there.

If they say, ‘Halt! Don’t move until we check you out,’ we’ll stay put and not go up. But if they say, ‘Come on up,’ we’ll go right up — and we’ll know God has given them to us. That will be our sign.”(1 Samuel 14:6-10 MSG)

Note that Jonathan’s courage is not in his ability, but in the Lord: “Hey we’re God’s people. God brought us into this land. If God acts on our behalf, we can defeat our enemies! So let’s rattle the cage of the Philistines. If they invite us up the cliff to engage in battle, it’ll be a sign that the Lord has given them into our hand!”

Against all odds, Jonathan and his armour bearer first climbed the cliff – and then began putting the Philistines to the sword. Their army panicked and fled. We read: When all the Israelites … heard that the Philistines were on the run, they joined the battle in hot pursuit. So the LORD rescued Israel that day. (1 Samuel 14:22-23 NIV) And how many people did it start with? Two!

Later, when David kills Goliath, Jonathan finds a kindred spirit: “Now, there’s a bloke who shares my kingdom passion. Another bloke who’s willing to go forward with confidence in the Lord and fight for what belongs to us as God’s people!”[1]

Jonathan and David made a covenant of loyalty to one another – and re-affirmed it several times.[2]

Jonathan encourages David in his struggles

In times of trouble, we soon find out who our friends are. A good friend walks in when others walk out. Jonathan was that sort of friend to David. During David’s season as a fugitive, we read: One day near Horesh, David received the news that Saul was on the way to Ziph to search for him and kill him. Jonathan went to find David and encouraged him to stay strong in his faith in God. (1 Samuel 23:15-16 NLT) I bet Jonathan never told his dad about this!

David had about 600 men with him. (1 Samuel 23:13) But it was his mate Jonathan who found him, listened to him, encouraged him in his walk with God. I imagine Jonathan saying: “Hey David, the Lord has chosen you to be the next king of Israel. We don’t know when that will happen. But between now and then, God will protect you from my dad. Now let me pray with you and commit you to God’s care and keeping!”

While Jonathan was the natural heir to the throne, he fully supported David as the next king. They reiterated their covenant of loyalty to each other – and their descendants.[3]

Note that Jonathan didn’t stay for 6 months. And David didn’t try to make Jonathan stay. We dare not try to be “god” in anyone’s life. Healthy spiritual care is helping people find strength in God – not making them dependent on us![4]

Friends, you or I can be in room full of people – yet still feel alone. When it hits the fan:

We need a friend to remind us that God is with us and for us.
We need a friend to point us to Jesus and what HE has done for us through his death and resurrection.
We need a friend to remind us of God’s promises.
We need a friend to pray with us and for us.

That’s how we help one another find strength in God.

[Sadly, before David became king, Jonathan died in battle fighting alongside his dad and brothers against the Philistines. David was devastated by the news. You can read his lament in 2 Samuel 1:17-27.]

Application

Let me ask you some pastoral care questions:

Who shares or ignites your passion for Jesus and his kingdom?
Do you have a friend with whom you can share your heart, your joys, your struggles and sorrows?
If you had an issue – or a burden of guilt – to get off your chest, who would you ask to listen to your confession?
Who helps you to find strength in God?
Who offers to pray with you when you’re struggling?
Who helps you with accountability in those areas you want to grow in?

No matter how many friends or colleagues you have, who else in the world will ask you how your relationship with Jesus is going – apart from fellow Christians? Friends, I submit to you that no one else will help you find strength in God except those who share your faith in Christ.

Jesus gathered a group of 12 – and then 70 – and sent them out two by two. The mission journeys of Paul seem to have been carried out by two, three, or more people. (Check out the beginning and ending of Paul’s letters. Even in prison, Paul often has company.)

Former head of the Christian Men’s Network, Edwin Louis Cole, made the point that:

We all need a Paul, a Barnabas, and a Timothy. We need a Paul to admonish us when we’re stepping out of line. We need a Barnabas to encourage and lift us up when we’re down. And we need to be investing into a Timothy – to mentor a “younger” Christian into maturity. I reckon that’s spot on!

That’s why finding a mentor, or getting together in small groups, is potentially so powerful. We become like the people we hang out with – for better or for worse. If you don’t have at least one good friend whose heart beats with the love of Jesus, you’re missing out on one of the greatest blessings on earth.

When we’re with trusted Christian friends, we can ask and listen carefully to one another’s responses to questions like these:

· How have you been keeping? (Or: How are things in your world? Or: How are you really going?)

We often say, “Fine thanks”. FINE acrostic: Freaked out, Insecure, Neurotic, Emotional.

· What’s been a recent joy or struggle in your life?

A sorrow shared is halved; and a joy shared is doubled.

· What’s God been showing you lately?

This helps us to reflect and recognise God’s work in our lives.

· How can I pray for you?

This is inviting God into our everyday situations and relationships.

Doing stuff like this helps us to grow as people after God’s own heart.

There are over 50 “each other” or “one another” phrases in the New Testament.

E.g., Jesus’ says: “Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” (John 13:34-35 NLT)

We do life in Jesus better by doing it together.

Theologian, Jurgen Moltmann, puts it well:

“I become truly free when I open my life for other people and share with them, and when other people open their lives for me and share with me. Then the other person is no longer the limitation of my freedom; he [or she] is an expansion of it.”[5]

Jesus is our best Friend forever

Here’s why. Jesus loves us unconditionally. He always wants what’s best for us. Through his sacrificial death in our place, Jesus has reconciled us with God. In Christ, we are God’s loved and forgiven children forever.

Jesus promises: “I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20 NLT)

And: “Where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them.” (Matthew 18:20 NLT)

We can talk with Jesus any time … anywhere… about anything. Once we share our struggles with the Lord, we often find it easier to share them with someone else.

If we want to keep growing as people after God’s own heart, we need to do life with other followers of Jesus. Amen.

An audio version of this message is available on St John’s Lutheran Church Tea Tree Gully YouTube page: https://youtu.be/riEh4-cC1s4

[1] David’s courage inspired others to join him: ‘David left Gath and escaped to the cave of Adullam. When his brothers and his father’s household heard about it, they went down to him there. All those who were in distress or in debt or discontented gathered around him, and he became their leader. About four hundred men were with him.’ (1 Samuel 22:1-2)

We read of David’s mighty men, who were fiercely loyal and helped win battles. (See: 2 Samuel 23:8ff, 1 Chronicles 11-12)

[2] 1 Samuel 18:3, 20:16-17, 20:42, 23:15-18.

[3] 1 Samuel 20:42, 23:18. See the story of David’s kindness to Jonathan’s crippled son, Mephibosheth: 2 Samuel 9:1-13.

[4] If you “need to be needed”, watch out for co-dependency! If you have a “merciful heart”, manipulative people will demand you to rescue them from the troubles they’ve got themselves into. Healthy boundaries are important because they help people to take responsibility for the consequences of their choices.

[5] Jurgen Moltmann, The Trinity and the Kingdom of God, 216.

3.Trusting God’s timing

Aug 11, 2026Aug 18, 2026 stjohnsttg Message, Sermon

Series: A person after God’s own heart (David) | 1 Samuel 18:6-16; 1 Samuel 24:1-12; 1 Samuel 26:1-12 | Sunday 9th August 2026 | Message by Pastor Rolly Stahl

1 Samuel 18:6-16 – Following David’s success, King Saul becomes jealous and afraid of him, 1 Samuel 24:1-12 – David spares Saul’s life at En Gedi, 1 Samuel 26:1-12 – David again spares Saul’s life in the wilderness of Ziph.

We’re in week 3 of our current series: A person after God’s own heart – based on the life of King David. In week one, we marveled at God’s surprising choice of David to become the next king of Israel. He was the youngest of 8 sons – and perhaps 15 years old. Last week, in the story of David and Goliath, we saw how God gives us his authority to stand firm when we’re facing “giants”. Today we’re exploring David’s long wait to become king.

I invite you to reflect on your own, or discuss these questions with a friendly person:

1. Why do we find waiting difficult?

2. How do we respond to a long wait?

3. What might be some good things that can come from waiting?[1]

Friends, here’s an insightful Proverb about waiting:

Hope deferred makes the heart sick,

but a dream fulfilled is a tree of life. (Proverbs 13:12 NLT)

David’s long wait

After his anointing by Samuel, David didn’t become king next week, next month, next year, or even next decade. Sometime after his anointing, David came into Saul’s service as a musical therapist. When Saul was troubled by a tormenting spirit, David played the harp to soothe his soul. David also became Saul’s armor bearer. (see 1 Samuel 16:15-21)

Saul was initially fond of David. But following David’s victory over Goliath, Saul’s attitude changed dramatically. Here’s why. When women celebrated the victory, they sang:

“Saul has killed his thousands, and David his ten thousands!”

This made Saul very angry. “What’s this?” he said. “They credit David with ten thousands and me with only thousands. Next they’ll be making him their king!” So from that time on Saul kept a jealous eye on David. (1 Samuel 18:6-9 NLT)

David’s success exposed Saul’s insecurity – and incited him to violence.

One day Saul tried to spear David, but David escaped him twice. (1 Samuel 18:10-11) When that failed, Saul sent David on military campaigns (or suicide missions) so David would be killed in battle – but to no avail. Instead, David’s success and popularity increased – infuriating Saul even more! (1 Samuel 18:14-30)

Saul intensified his efforts to eliminate David. He sent spies to track David down – and had his army follow up sightings. To evade capture, David and his loyal men fled from town to town, hid in caves, and kept moving through the Judean wilderness.

Scholars estimate that David waited about 15 years after his anointing to become king – including 10 years of being pursued by Saul!

Imagine David’s prayers: “Lord, why is this happening to me? I’ve faithfully served Saul, but now he’s hunting me down like a wild animal to kill me. Lord, how long will this go on? How long before I can settle down in one place? How long before you open the way for me to become king?” Friends, there are:

Two traps to avoid in the waiting

1. Passive resignation

One temptation is to forsake the calling and passion that God has put on your heart – and to settle for something that’s unsatisfying.

Like staying in a job you loathe because you don’t have the confidence or discipline to pursue your passion.
Or marrying a person you don’t even like to avoid being alone.
Or resignation: “I’m just going to mope around until God comes through for me.”

2. Manipulation and control

Another temptation is to manipulate people and control events towards our desired outcomes: “I can’t wait any longer! Since God’s not coming through for me like I expect, I’m going to make things happen!”

Friends, when we refuse to wait on God’s timing, we end up trying to be “god” over others. So there’s bullying, control, coercion, intimidation, and anger. Friends, there’s no grace in that. No love, no kindness, no mercy or giving freedom; just using and abusing others to get our own way.

David’s shows us two better ways:

1. Tell God all about it

We find examples of David’s complaint prayers in the psalms. David honestly shares his thoughts and feelings with the Lord – and asks God for help.

E.g., Psalm 59:1-4 NLT. The title tells us David’s situation.

“A psalm of David, regarding the time Saul sent soldiers to watch David’s house in order to kill him.”

‘Rescue me from my enemies, O God.
    Protect me from those who have come to destroy me.
Rescue me from these criminals;
    save me from these murderers.
They have set an ambush for me.
    Fierce enemies are out there waiting, Lord,
    though I have not sinned or offended them.
I have done nothing wrong,
    yet they prepare to attack me.
    Wake up! See what is happening and help me.’

Friends, Father God loves you and wants you to tell him whatever’s on your heart – whether you’re feeling glad, mad, bad, or sad. David’s complaint psalms might give you the words: to voice your disappointment to God; to get that burden off your chest; and/or to ask the Lord for his help.

2. Keep trusting in God’s timing

While waiting and running for his life, David had two opportunities to kill Saul and take the throne by force. The first time, Saul goes into a cave to relieve himself. He doesn’t know that David and his men are hiding deeper in the cave. David’s men urge him to kill Saul, but David refuses. Instead, David secretly cuts off a piece of Saul’s coat.

But then David’s conscience bothered him. He said to his men, “The Lord forbid that I should do this to my lord the king. I shouldn’t attack the Lord’s anointed one, for the Lord himself has chosen him.” So David restrained his men and did not let them kill Saul. (1 Samuel 24:6-7 NLT)

In the dialogue that follows, David tells Saul,“May the Lord judge between us. Perhaps the Lord will punish you for what you are trying to do to me, but I will never harm you.” (1 Samuel 24:12 NLT)

The second time, David and a mate take Saul’s spear and water jug while Saul and his army are sleeping in a field! David’s offsider wants to kill Saul. But David says, “Don’t kill him. For who can remain innocent after attacking the Lord’s anointed one? Surely the Lord will strike Saul down someday, or he will die of old age or in battle. The Lord forbid that I should kill the one he has anointed! ” (1 Samuel 26:8-11 NLT) Afterwards, David again assures Saul that he will do him no harm. (1 Samuel 26:23-24)

David refused to kill Saul and take the throne by force. Instead, David relied on God to remove Saul; and trusted God’s timing to make him king.[2] Fifteen years is a long apprenticeship, but when David came to the throne, he was READY! Once David became king, he ruled for 40 years.

Likewise, when we’re waiting, the living God invites us to trust him for our future.

Three questions can help us settle the issue:

1. Who is running the world – you or God?

2. Will you let Jesus be the managing director of your life?

(Or do you think you can do better without him?)

3. Will you let the Holy Spirit lead and equip you in God’s plans for your life?

Friends, when our lives are in God’s hands, we don’t need to be in a desperate hurry getting to where God wants to take us.

Now that’s not easy for some of us! We’re so used to instant gratification that we don’t even consider what God might be doing during our season of waiting. During winter, nothing seems to be growing. But hidden in the ground, lots of things are getting ready for the spring season ahead.

God’s seasons are for good reasons

When/If you’re in a season of waiting, don’t waste it by drowning in self-pity; or constantly venting your anger on others. Regard it as a time of preparation for the next season.

Friends, not all hard things in life are harmful. In Jesus, we know that God is with us always. In the waiting, God is growing our character and deepening our trust in him.

It’s helpful to reflect on questions like these:

What might be God’s purpose for me in this “waiting season”?
What is the Lord teaching me about his plans for his world – and my place in that?
How is the Lord opening my heart to him and transforming my character?
How is the Lord growing my compassion, understanding, and concern for others?

Friends, no matter what season you’re in, God wants to keep growing you into a person after his own heart! And waiting is often part of that.

Now, the waiting season might be a time to develop skills or discern next steps:

What skills would be helpful in fulfilling God’s calling on your life?
Have you considered joining a small group or finding a mentor to share your story – and help you to work out some next steps?
Can you talk with some people who are doing what you’d love to do?
Is there a course to consider or some volunteer opportunities to serve?

For some of us, the season of waiting might be a time to deal with baggage from the past.

Is there someone you need to apologise to – or reconcile with?
If you’re carrying hurts from the past, maybe it’s time to seek wise Christian counseling to process that pain and find healing.

God has a right time for working out his plans in our lives

For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven. (Ecclesiastes 3:1 NLT) Part of the art of living well is to embrace each season as it unfolds – and not writing it off as a waste of time through defiance, discontent, or self-pity.

While the people of Israel were waiting for the Lord to deliver them from exile in Babylon, he assured them: For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11 NLT)

Friends, God knows what’s ahead for you. So make the most of the season you’re in on the way to where God is taking you.

Friends, whenever we’re waiting, here are 3 things worth remembering:

1. God is always with us in the waiting.

2. Sometimes it takes God a long time to move quickly.

3. God is always on time; he is never late.

(c.1760 words)

An audio version of this message is available on St John’s Lutheran Church Tea Tree Gully YouTube page: https://youtu.be/ZOUxhlxTXpM

[1] Helps us realise we’re not in control. Helps us develop patience, perseverance, resilience. Helps us to turn to God. Gives us greater appreciation/relief/joy when the long wait is over.

[2] ‘For no one on earth — from east or west, or even from the wilderness — should raise a defiant fist.

It is God alone who judges; he decides who will rise and who will fall.’ (Psalm 75:6-7 NLT)

2. God’s help in slaying giants

Aug 4, 2026 stjohnsttg Message, Sermon

Series: A person after God’s own heart (David) | 1 Samuel 17:1-11; 32-50 – In the name of the LORD, David kills Goliath the giant | Sunday 2^nd August 2026 | Message by Pastor Rolly Stahl

Friends, I wonder: What “giants” have you faced in the past?

What “giants” are you facing now?

I invite you to reflect on your own; or share with a friendly person.

The story of David and Goliath

happened over 3000 years ago. Yet even today, journalists and sports commentators talk about a “David and Goliath struggle” between two unequal opponents – or two mismatched teams.

Imagine the original setting. The Israelite and Philistine armies were facing off across a valley. For 40 days, a 9-foot (or 274cm) giant named Goliath kept challenging an Israelite soldier to a dual: “If he kills me, then we will be your slaves. But if I kill him, you will be our slaves!” (1 Samuel 17:9 NLT)

But none of Israel’s soldiers would take him on. They’d forgotten the days of Joshua when God gave Israel victory over stronger nations so they could take possession of the promised land. Having lost sight of God, they were shaking in their sandals and paralysed by fear.

One day, young David brings supplies from home for his older brothers and their unit – who were soldiers in King Saul’s army. After witnessing Goliath’s challenge, David is furious: “Who is this pagan Philistine anyway, that he is allowed to defy the armies of the living God?” (1 Samuel 17:26b NLT)

In ancient times, a battle wasn’t just between kings and their armies. It was also a battle between the god of each nation to see which one was greater. According to David, Goliath had insulted the Lord God of Israel. David is so cranked off that he’s willing to confront the big bopper and do something about it.

“Don’t worry about this Philistine,” David told Saul. “I’ll go fight him!”

“Don’t be ridiculous!” Saul replied. “There’s no way you can fight this Philistine and possibly win! You’re only a boy, and he’s been a man of war since his youth.”

But David persisted. “I have been taking care of my father’s sheep and goats,” he said. “When a lion or a bear comes to steal a lamb from the flock, I go after it with a club and rescue the lamb from its mouth. If the animal turns on me, I catch it by the jaw and club it to death. I have done this to both lions and bears, and I’ll do it to this pagan Philistine, too, for he has defied the armies of the living God! The Lord who rescued me from the claws of the lion and the bear will rescue me from this Philistine!” (1 Samuel 17:32-37a NLT)

As David approaches, Goliath roars at him with contempt:

“Am I a dog that you come at me with a stick?” And he cursed David by the names of his gods. “Come over here, and I’ll give your flesh to the birds and wild animals!”

David replied, “You come to me with sword, spear, and javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies — the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. Today the Lord will conquer you, and I will kill you and cut off your head. …and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel! … This is the Lord’s battle, and he will give you to us!” (1 Samuel 17:43-47 NLT)

By faith in God:

David refused to let Goliath dictate terms to Israel.
David wasn’t going to let the Philistines and their pagan gods rob Israel of their God given freedom.
David made a stand for the Lord and his honour in the world.

David defeated the giant with a pebble from his sling. Why was Goliath so surprised? Because nothing like that had ever entered his head before! (Boom Boom) As soon as Goliath was defeated, the Philistines ran away – with the Israelites in hot pursuit.

God gave David the courage and the skill to kill the giant – and gave Israel victory over their enemies.[1]

Three application questions:

1. What “giants” are you facing?

Maybe health struggles, relationship struggles, work struggles, financial struggles, parenting struggles, or family struggles?

Perhaps it’s loneliness, lack of purpose, worry, anxiety, guilt, shame, fear, or depression?

Maybe one of the 7 deadly sins: laziness, greed, anger, pride, envy, gluttony, or lust.

Friends, I’m regularly ambushed by difficulties that throw me into confusion. I find myself riddled with fear and anxiety. Truth is, none of us have a trouble free life.

Friends, did Jesus have an easy life?

Did Jesus promise his followers a trouble free life?

Friends, when we seek to do life with God and for his glory, we’ll encounter opposition.

Paul reminds us that we’re in a spiritual battle. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. (Ephesians 6:12 NLT)

These evil spirits conspire against humanity to destroy us.

Think of the serpent’s lies that tempted Adam and Eve to rebel against God.
Think of the destruction of wars, and the devastation of our planet through greed.
Think of the temptations we face every day. Why is it a struggle to do the right thing?
Why do we find it so hard to admit when we’ve done wrong, and to apologize to those we’ve hurt?
Why is it a struggle to keep growing in the good things of God? Why do we so often get distracted by other things?

One reason is that the devil and his sidekicks seek to destroy our relationship with God. That’s why Paul urges us to: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. (Ephesians 6:10-11 NLT)

Question: “Who is greater: the giant you are facing; or the God you’re following?”

David reminds us that God is greater than any circumstances we face.

Once we remember that the Lord is with us and for us, we can put our problems into his hands. We can find peace in knowing that overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. (Romans 8:37 NLT)

2. In what areas of life are you giving in to “the enemy”

– without a fight?

If David retreated out of fear, the Israelites would have become slaves to their enemies. If Jesus retreated out of fear, we’d still be enslaved to the devil and our desires.

If we keep retreating out of fear, we allow “the enemy” to make us his slaves.

According to Jesus, the devil is a thief who comes to rob, kill, and destroy. (John 10:10) He’s a master of disguise and deception. Through social media, TV, the internet, music, and pop culture, the evil one aims to undermine our convictions, distort our values, destroy our families, trash our relationships, and wreck our lives.

There’s an old saying: “If we don’t stand up for something, we can fall for anything.”

Friends, if we don’t question culture in the light of God’s truth, we end up being shaped and enslaved by it. The word “acquiescence” means to give in without a fight. Through acquiescence, we allow the enemy to establish strongholds in our hearts and minds.

The evil one often uses our past hurts or present habits to enslave or imprison us. E.g.,

past rejection or abuse that keeps us in a silent prison of shame;
bitterness or unforgiveness that poisons our souls;
dysfunctional habits that keep messing us up;
or addictions we can’t seem to shake.

Satan, the accuser, tells us the lie that it’s God’s fault we’re so messed up.

He also tells us the lie that after what we’ve done – or what others have done to us – God wants nothing to do with us!
He keeps whispering the lie: “There’s no hope for you! NO hope for you! No hope for you!”

While we keep believing those lies, we remain trapped in misery.

Friends, the good news is that Jesus came to set us free! In his ministry, Jesus restored thousands of messed up people to health and wholeness.

At the cross, Jesus paid the price to break us out of the enemy’s prison and to win victory for us over the powers of evil. Paul tells us:

God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins. He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross. In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross.

(Colossians 2:14-15 NLT)

At the cross, Jesus took the blame and punishment for all the wrong things we’ve done. Through the atoning blood of Jesus, your sins are forgiven. As a result, the powers of evil can no longer accuse us, condemn us,[2] or threaten us.

Since Jesus shares his victory over them with us, we no longer need to live in fear or resignation to the evil one and his sidekicks. Jesus came to set us free so we can live confidently in the light of God’s truth and love.

3. In the name of the Lord Jesus, will you make a stand?

Paul writes to Timothy: For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline. (2 Timothy 1:7 NLT) Friends,

By the authority of God’s word,

and the power of the Holy Spirit,

and the mighty name of Jesus,

we can say “No!” to temptation and compromise.

Instead of acquiescing to the enemy, Paul urges us to live in the freedom we’ve been given in Christ: Christ has set us free to live a free life. So take your stand! Never again let anyone put a harness of slavery on you. (Galatians 5:1 MSG)

People of God, by the authority of Jesus, we can make a stand. Following David’s example, we could declare something like this:

“I will not passively sit back and watch the enemy plunder what God has given me and my family. By the grace of God, I’m going to stand up for what God says is right; and resist what God says is wrong.

In the name of Jesus, I will keep worshipping.

I will keep loving, respecting, and serving others.

I will keep growing in the good things of God.

I will keep praying. And I will keep pointing others to Jesus. Amen.”

Friends, if this resonates with you, I invite you to join me in declaring it.

Next time you’re facing “a giant” remember the story of David and Goliath.

Remember that Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil. (1 John 3:8 NLT)

And that overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. (Romans 8:37 NLT)

May the Holy Spirit give us the grace and courage to slay whatever giants threaten the truth and life that is ours in Jesus. Amen.

(c.1840 words)

An audio version of this message is available on St John’s Lutheran Church Tea Tree Gully YouTube page: https://youtu.be/ZOUxhlxTXpM

[1] In another story, David is at it again. The same passion and courage under fire happened near the same place where David killed Goliath. ‘Eleazar son of Dodai… was with David when the Philistines gathered for battle at Pas-dammim and attacked the Israelites in a field full of barley. The Israelite army fled, but Eleazar and David held their ground in the middle of the field and beat back the Philistines. So the Lord saved them by giving them a great victory.’ (1 Chronicles 11:12-14 NLT)

[2] ‘So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death.’(Romans 8:1-2 NLT)

1. God’s surprising choices

Jul 28, 2026Jul 28, 2026 stjohnsttg Message, Sermon

Sunday 26th July 2026 | Message by Pastor Rolly Stahl | Worship Series: A person after God’s own heart (David)

1 Samuel 16:1-21 – God chooses David and anoints him to be the next king of Israel; Mark 4: 30-34 – Jesus’ parable of the mustard seed; Acts 13:16-23 – Paul preaches that King David’s descendant, Jesus, is God’s promised Saviour of Israel

Introducing our new series

Today we kick off a new series: A person after God’s own heart. Over seven weeks we’ll be looking at David’s transition from a shepherd boy to the king of Israel; as well as stories from his 40-year reign.

After deciding to remove King Saul, God said to the prophet Samuel: ‘I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart. He will do everything I want him to do.’ (Acts 13:22 NLT See: 1 Samuel 13:14)

Friends, I invite to reflect on your own, or discuss with a friendly person:

What do you think it means to be a person after God’s own heart?

Here’s a few I came up with:

A person so secure in Jesus’ love that they want to do all of life with him.
A person who trusts God above all things, loves God above all others, and respects God more than anyone or anything else.
A person who delights in God’s word and putting it into practice.
A person who can admit their mistakes to God and others – and by his grace, move on.
A person who is open to all God wants to do in and through their life.
A person who has a heart for other people because they too matter to God.

Hands up if you’d like to keep growing as “a person after God’s own heart.”

Let’s ask God to grow us into that. (We pray…)

The thrill of being chosen

Maybe you can remember back to school days when two captains chose players for their teams. Those with obvious talent or popularity were always chosen first. Then those with average ability were chosen next. Finally, it got down to the last few. If you were one of those always left to the end, it wasn’t much fun, was it?

Hopefully at some points in life, we discover the thrill of:

being chosen for a special position, assignment, or job.
or being chosen as a husband or wife. (I’m still amazed that Leanne chose me!)
or being chosen to participate in a great adventure.

In 1997, I was chosen along with pastor David Altus to represent the LCA at a mission school in Bavaria, Germany. It was a great honour and an unforgettable experience.

It’s always a thrill to be chosen. Yet sometimes the ones who were chosen end up being rejected. We’ve seen high profile celebrities, sporting greats, or politicians who’ve lost their position due to misconduct. That’s what happened to King Saul.

Saul was chosen, but then rejected

God chose Saul as Israel’s first king. He was impressive in appearance. It says: Saul was the most handsome man in Israel — head and shoulders taller than anyone else in the land.

(1 Samuel 9:2 NLT, // 1 Samuel 10:23)

Saul was strong and courageous in battle. Yet Saul had some deep character flaws. When under pressure or angry, he made impulsive oaths that put people in danger. And despite his size, Saul was insecure and afraid of what others thought of him. Friends, when we fear people’s opinion more than God’s opinion, it often leads to compromise.[1]

As a result, Saul twice disobeyed God’s instructions through the prophet Samuel.

The first time Saul didn’t wait for Samuel to offer sacrifices before going into battle – but did it himself. (1 Samuel 13:7-14)
The second time, God instructed Saul to destroy the Amalekites and all their animals. But Saul spared the Amalekite king and the best animals. (1 Samuel 15:9)

Rejecting God’s instructions, Saul became a law unto himself.

Then the Lord said to Samuel, “I am sorry that I ever made Saul king, for he has not been loyal to me and has refused to obey my command.” (1 Samuel 15:10-11 NLT See 15:35)

After confronting Saul about his disobedience, Samuel said to him, “The Lord has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today and has given it to someone else.” (1 Samuel 15:28 NLT)

Saul’s disobedience grieved God – and the Spirit of the Lord left him. (1 Samuel 16:14) The rest of Saul’s life was marked by suspicion, fear, paranoia, and death in battle at the hands of his enemies.

Friends, our disobedience can also grieve the Holy Spirit and forfeit the destiny God has in store for us. When our hearts are closed to God, we end up in a mess.

God tells Samuel to anoint a successor

Now the Lord said to Samuel… fill your flask with olive oil and go to Bethlehem. Find a man named Jesse who lives there, for I have selected one of his sons to be my king.” (1 Samuel 16:1 NLT)

So Samuel heads to Bethlehem and looks up Jesse. When Samuel sees Jesse’s first strapping son, Eliab, he thinks: “Surely this is the Lord’s anointed!” But the Lord said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

In the same way all seven of Jesse’s sons were presented to Samuel. But Samuel said to Jesse, “The Lord has not chosen any of these.” (1 Samuel 16:6-7,10 NLT)

Puzzled, Samuel asked, “Are these all the sons you have?”

“There is still the youngest,” Jesse replied. “But he’s out in the fields watching the sheep and goats.” Note how David was ignored by his family and wasn’t even invited to the feast!

“Send for him at once,” Samuel said. “We will not sit down to eat until he arrives.”

So Jesse sent for him. He was dark and handsome, with beautiful eyes.

And the Lord said, “This is the one; anoint him.”

So as David stood there among his brothers, Samuel took the flask of olive oil he had brought and anointed David with the oil. And the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David from that day on. (1 Samuel 16:11-13 NLT)

Surprise, surprise! God chose the “runt of the litter” to be the next king of Israel. He’s not the one others would’ve chosen. But God looks inside David’s heart and says: “Now there’s a man after my own heart – a heart that’s open to me!”

Friends, I wonder if that’s what God says when he looks inside your heart – or mine.

“Look, there’s a heart that’s open and available to me!”
“Look, there’s a heart that rests secure in the love of my Son, Jesus!”
“Look, there’s a heart surrendered to my kingdom plans for the world!”

To be honest, my heart is often more centred in self than in God. I constantly need God to create a new heart in me. Perhaps you can relate to that.

Friends, here’s the good news. Since God constantly holds you and me in his heart, he wants to create a new heart in us! Now God doesn’t force himself onto us against our will. Yet the Holy Spirit keeps renewing our hearts as we do life with Jesus. It’s an amazing thing! As God renews our hearts, he can touch the hearts and lives of others through us! How does that happen?

God equips his chosen ones by the gift of the Holy Spirit

With the anointing of oil, the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David. (1 Samuel 16:13 NLT)

If David were here today, he’d quickly point out that the empowering Spirit of the Lord gave him the inspiration to write songs, the strength to persevere in tough times, the courage to fight in battles, the wisdom to rule, the humility to repent, the grace to remain faithful, and the charisma to gain favour with others. God equips his chosen ones.

We also see this in David’s greatest grandson. At Jesus’ baptism, the Father declares Jesus as his Son – and the Holy Spirit anoints him with divine authority for ministry.

With this authority, Jesus taught the people, healed the sick, cleansed lepers, gave sight to the blind, delivered people from unclean spirits, and raised the dead. The Holy Spirit gave Jesus the love and courage to lay down his life on the cross in our place. And the Holy Spirit raised Jesus to life again so we could have a future.[2]

At Pentecost, the Holy Spirit equipped the disciples to continue Jesus’ work in this world. Friends, do you know that the word “Christian” literally means “anointed one”? At your Baptism, God anointed you with his Holy Spirit. God calls you into his ministry of serving others – and pointing them to Jesus.

God equips those he calls! He did it with David. He does it with us!

Working out God’s choice – David’s apprenticeship

Sometime after David’s anointing, God opens an opportunity for him to work for Saul.

Saul was troubled by a “tormenting spirit” that filled him with depression and fear. His servants suggested a harp player to soothe his soul.

“All right,” Saul said. “Find me someone who plays well, and bring him here.”

One of the servants said to Saul, “One of Jesse’s sons from Bethlehem is a talented harp player. Not only that — he is a brave warrior, a man of war, and has good judgment. He is also a fine-looking young man, and the Lord is with him.” (1 Samuel 16:17-18 NLT)

Friends, people had been noticing God’s presence in David’s life.

So David went to Saul and began serving him. Saul loved David very much, and David became his armor bearer. (1 Samuel 16:21) In this position, David could learn how the king’s court functions, about statesmanship and diplomacy, about battle strategies and war.

In this “apprenticeship”, David is gaining insight and wisdom for when he comes to the throne. But that’s still a long way down the track.

God’s surprising choices

Friends, God has a habit of choosing people the world looks down on to accomplish his purposes. Do you know that – even before he made the world – Father God was thinking about you – and loving you. Even before he made the world, Father God chose you in Christ to be his!

Listen to what Paul says in Ephesians chapter 1.

Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. (Ephesians 1:4-5 NLT)[3]

Regardless of what we look like, our family of origin, our personal history, or our past mess ups and failures, God chose you and me to be his through Jesus Christ. And God anointed us with his Holy Spirit to bless, serve, and build up others.

God chose an ignored shepherd boy and turned him into a great king. Friends, imagine what amazing things God might want to do through you – as his loved and chosen children in Christ! Amen.

(c.1840 words)

An audio version of this message is available on St John’s Lutheran Church Tea Tree Gully YouTube page: https://youtu.be/FLbxklcuDdg

[1] Proverbs 29:25 NRSV: The fear of others lays a snare, but one who trusts in the LORD is secure.

[2] The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you. (Romans 8:11 NLT)

[3] In Ephesians chapter 2, Paul tells us: God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. (Ephesians 2:8-9 NLT)

And in the next verse Paul tells us why God chose and saved us: For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. (Ephesians 2:10 NLT)

Jesus Sows the Good Seed

Jul 21, 2026Jul 21, 2026 stjohnsttg Message, Sermon

Romans 8:12-25 – Life in the Spirit; Matthew 13:24-30–Jesus’ parable of the wheat and weeds | Sunday 19^th July 2026 | Message by Dr Steen Olsen

Jesus sows good seed into the world

But there is also an enemy who sows weeds into the world. The explanation Jesus gives of this parable says that the enemy is “the evil one”. We might therefore describe the weeds as evil. That is the work of the devil and his demons and those who follow their lead and do their work. These evil weeds are often obvious when fully developed both regarding the big and the small things.

We can easily identify terrorism, murder, rape, theft, injustice and the like, as well the abuse of children and others in the church. The Ten commandments help us to identify such things. There are of course also other things that we might be inclined to identify more in others than ourselves. The so-called seven deadly sins might give us some clues, as well as Jesus’ sermon on the mount and other teaching, but if you have been here in the past couple of months, then I don’t need to expand on those today.

That is all pretty gloomy, but our text brings us good news. In the midst of all this evil—all those weeds— there is one who has sowed good seed. That good seed is already present in our world. Our triune God has been sowing that good seed since the creation of the world. So our text tells us that Jesus sows the good seed.

This good seed is remarkable!

It takes root in the lives of those who hear and believe its promises. But sometimes it is sadly rejected as Jesus says in another parable earlier in this 13^th chapter or Matthew: Some of this seed falls on a path or rocky ground or among thorns and those who hear reject its promises. As Jesus says in explaining this earlier parable:

Some hear and the evil one immediately snatches it away, others receive it with joy, yet when it gets difficult they immediately fall away. That which is sown among thorns yields nothing when the cares of the world and the lure of wealth choke the life out of it. [paraphrase of v18-22]

But where there is good soil—so to speak—and its promises are not rejected the seed yields amazing fruit: 100 times, or 60 or 30 times per seed.

Not only that, it is seed that begins its work when we hear and are baptised and continues growing right into eternity. Simply stated, that seed is the good news that our heavenly Father sent his son Jesus into the world to suffer and die for us, so that all who believe and trust his promises may not perish but receive eternal life.

As God’s word takes root in our lives, the Holy Spirit works in us the things of which the word speaks, which brings abundant life.

Of course, this will only be complete in eternity. While we remain in this world, the good seed will live in us with the evil weeds.

Apparently, when it first begins to grow wheat & tares are hard to distinguish

This particular weed looks a lot like wheat in the early stages. More than that, the roots of the wheat and weeds are intertwined. So putting our focus on pulling out the weeds often means we destroy the wheat, perhaps because it focuses us on what we do and achieve, rather than on what the Holy Spirit does in us.

The good seed is not a better set of rules than we previously had

That is, in spite of the fact that evil weeds are also growing in us. New rules won’t enable us to overcome them and pull them out. Nor will simply resolving to do better, or new year’s type of resolutions. Obviously, that doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t resist evil in our lives. It just means that we will never be able to totally succeed in that and that we need to pray and rely on the Holy Spirit to empower the good seed to take root and grow in our lives.

Because the Gospel is not about things we have to do

Luther warned us not to turn Jesus into a new Moses. The gospel is the promise of reconciliation with God and our fellow human beings that Jesus accomplishes for us through his death and resurrection, forgiving our sins, and freeing us from the power of sin, death, and evil. As Rolly keeps telling us, it’s not that we got to but that we get to! We also want to do good things and can’t help but to do them.

Our text also tells us that the good seed is the children of the kingdom

That is God’s people in the world. A parable often has different shades of meaning depending on how it is read. Therefore, in the world there is good and evil living together and only on the last day when Jesus returns will it be completely clear who belongs to which group.

Once again, that doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t deal with evil in the world. That is why we have governments, and courts and prisons. But it does mean that we won’t completely succeed in that.

Likewise there will also be evil in the church.

In Jesus’ day the Pharisees thought they could make the church pure and they would relentlessly drive out everything and everyone they considered less than perfect. Indeed some even believed that if all Israel obeyed the Torah perfectly for just one day, then Messiah would come. They considered Jesus and his disciples to be a mixed bag and not proper keepers of the law. We all know what Jesus thought of these ‘holy-Joes’, these religious hypocrites. Jesus also makes it plain in this parable that they also pulled out some wheat with the weeds.

Sometimes sects today attempt to do this—they shun those who disagree. Some sects therefore refuse fellowship with other Christians and refuse to come together to the Lord’s table when there are lesser disagreements that don’t impact the gospel, even when they agree about what we receive there.

We are not to go on a fanatical crusade to purify the Church

We will never get our Church ethically and doctrinally pure, let alone our idea of what music should be used. We won’t even be able to remove all evil from the Church. Some people will still be treated badly and let down. people will be talked about and there will be hurtful fights.

10) Again, some sort of balance is obviously needed here

I am not saying we shouldn’t try to be loving and make Church a safe place for all people. Or that we shouldn’t correct error when the gospel is at stake and we should try to understand the Bible in our context, but even sour obedience and long faces won’t succeed in making Church pure.

Conc) In spite of the evil among the good seed, there will still be a harvest!

Apparently, God does not need us to be perfect in order to work through us. Isn’t that wonderful? I don’t have to be perfect for God to work! Yes, the messy weeds will be there till kingdom come or more precisely until the King returns. But that doesn’t stop the wheat from growing and producing a harvest.

Jesus is the one who sows the good seed and he is doing that for and through us as well. The word does its work in the lives of people. The good seed is the good news Jesus died for us and lives in us. The Son of God died on the cross to brings us back to God through the forgiveness of our sin and baptism into the family of God

Jesus is still sowing the good seed in the world and in our lives today!

Amen.

An audio version of this message is available on St John’s Lutheran Church Tea Tree Gully YouTube page: https://youtu.be/JuOVRKCyPlw

7. Freedom from lust (always promising, but never delivering)

Jul 14, 2026Jul 14, 2026 stjohnsttg Message, Sermon

2 Samuel 13:1-22 – Infatuated with his half-sister Tamar, Amnon fakes illness and violates her: Matthew 5:27-30 – Jesus gives us some straight talk on lust! (Series: Freedom from the 7 Deadly Sins) | Sunday 12^th July 2026 | Message by Pastor Rolly Stahl

Today, we’re looking at a sensitive topic. Depending on how it is used, human sexuality has power to bless us – or mess up. If you regard this topic inappropriate for your children or grandchildren, please feel free to take them out during this time. If this message brings you any personal distress, please feel free to move out to the hall – and come back in during the next song.

The loss of true intimacy

In the Genesis blueprint we read: God created human beings in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. Then God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and govern it.” (Genesis 1:27-28 NLT)

God created us for connection and companionship. As social beings, we need other people to flourish. We were all raised in some form of family. Throughout our lives, we enjoy having friends.

In God’s plan, the place for sexual intimacy to flourish is in the commitment of marriage. (Genesis 2:23-24) Marriage is set apart from all other relationships. The boundaries of marriage protect the intimacy that’s shared.

Sadly in our culture, instead of cultivating healthy and respectful relationships, many are taking a detour into an isolated and shame-filled world of lust and fantasy.

In our culture, it’s a difficult detour to avoid. We’re bombarded with sexual images from newsagents, billboards, magazines, advertising, movies, TV shows, music videos, social media, and the internet.

In recent years, some people have been “sexting” nude pictures of themselves – or others – via mobile phones. Now with artificial intelligence, and deep fake technology, people can make pornographic pictures of anyone. Then, without the consent of that person, those images can be posted on social media – where they can instantly spread far and wide.[1]

How would you feel if that happened to you – or someone you care about: a family member of a close friend?

The availability of internet porn has become a huge problem for men – and their relationships with women. The porn industry is doing untold damage to women and children – leaving a wake of shattered victims.

Some questions come to mind:

How is our culture shaping us as people – and how we relate to one another?
What damage are we doing – to ourselves and others – when we regard others as objects for sexual gratification?[2]
What happens to compassion, care, and commitment when we feed our minds with pornography and meditate on lust-based fantasies?

Amnon violates Tamar

Our first Bible reading shows us the devastation when unbridled lust gets the upper hand. Infatuated with his half-sister Tamar, Amnon fakes an illness and gets his dad – King David – to send her to cook for him.

After she bakes some fresh bread, Amnon sends everyone out of the room. Then he grabbed her and said, “Come to bed with me, sister!” “No, brother!” she said, “Don’t hurt me! This kind of thing isn’t done in Israel! Don’t do this terrible thing! [She’s clearly saying, “No!!”] Where could I ever show my face? And you – you’ll be out on the street in disgrace. Oh, please! Speak to the king – he’ll let you marry me.”[3]

But he wouldn’t listen. Being much stronger than she, he raped her. No sooner had Amnon raped her than he hated her – an immense hatred. The hatred that he felt for her was greater than the love he’d had for her. “Get up,” he said, “and get out!” (2 Samuel 13:11b-15 The Message)

I invite you to reflect on, or discuss, 3 questions from this story:

How could this have worked out differently?

Why did Amnon’s “love” for Tamar turn into such intense hatred?

What’s the difference between lust – and the love Jesus shows us?

Two years later, Tamar’s brother Absalom took vengeance – and had Amnon killed.

The journey towards purity – seven ‘lust busters’

The Psalmist asks:How can a young person stay pure? (Psalm 119:9 NLT) It’s a question I wrestled with for decades. If anyone asked me for advice in dealing with lust, here’s what I’d share with them.

1. Ask God to help you

Lust, fantasy, and pornography land us in a prison of silent shame. The evil one accuses us of being “perverts” – compounding the shame. While many blokes struggle in this area, few talk about it. Rarely does a man admit: “Hey, I’ve got a problem with lust.” Or: “My marriage is in a mess due to my porn habit.”

The good news is you don’t have to keep messing this up. God wants to help you break free from lust. God wants to bring you on a path of mental purity, so you can engage in healthy relationships. As in Jesus’ story of the prodigal son, your Father in heaven is waiting for you to turn to him for help. It starts with three words: “Lord, help me!”

Friends, anything that remains in the darkness never gets healed. While we stay in denial, keep making excuses, blaming others, or rationalizing our addictions, we will never get better.

God heals things brought into the light. When we admit having a problem we can’t fix, and turn to God for help, the light of God’s grace can start the healing process.

2. Repent and renounce lust as master

Like dealing with a life-threatening tumour, Jesus tells us to take whatever steps are necessary to deal with habitual lust:“If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out … And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.” (Matthew 5:29-30 NIV)

Now Jesus is NOT teaching self-mutilation. He’s saying that anything that keeps causing us to sin – and threatens to land us in hell – needs to be cut out of our life. Sometimes it requires drastic action!

A good start is to cut off all sources that fuel lust. If you’ve got explicit magazines, videos, DVD’s, images stored on your computer, phone, or secret hard drive, then destroy those idols – before they destroy you.

If you’ve been dabbling in internet porn: you can get a porn filter; or you can ask someone to regularly review your site log; or you can subscribe to software that alerts chosen friends whenever you go onto a porn site.

It’s also powerful to verbally renounce the unclean spirit of lust out of your life: “I renounce pornography and the spirit of lust in the name of Jesus!” This renunciation can be a daily part of living out your baptism, along with: “I renounce the devil, and all his evil works, and all his wicked ways.”

3. Receive Jesus’ forgiveness and cleansing

When Jesus met people in the grip of habitual sin, he didn’t condemn them. He asked questions and listened to them. He forgave them, delivered them from unclean spirits, and restored them to wholeness.

Friends, Jesus doesn’t want to compound your burdens; he wants to take your burdens away. At the cross, Jesus took the rap for every sin you’ve ever committed – including your every lustful thought, every mental act of adultery, every dirty habit, every dark deed, and every selfish act against God and his ways. Through the blood of Jesus, God makes you clean in his eyes – and gives you a fresh start.

No wonder James writes: Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. (James 5:16 NLT) Many find that confessing their sins to a pastor or a trusted Christian friend – and receiving God’s word of forgiveness – is powerful in breaking the stronghold of lust over their lives. When our sin has been forgiven by the blood of Jesus, the evil one loses his power to accuse us. God’s forgiveness frees us from the prison of shame – and brings us into the light of God’s grace.

4. Receive the gift of Jesus’ lordship over your sexuality

As God’s loved and forgiven people, we bring our thoughts and desires under Jesus’ rule. Remembering: “Jesus is Lord over my sexuality!” helps us to say “No!” to unclean desires.

After David’s adultery with Bathsheba, he prays:

Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me.

Do not banish me from your presence,

and don’t take your Holy Spirit from me. (Psalm 51:10-11 NLT)

By the presence and power of the Holy Spirit, we can maintain purity of heart and bear the fruit of self-control.

5. Take responsibility for your viewing and thinking habits

Jesus knew that whatever we take in through our eyes or focus on affects us – for good or for evil. He says: “Your eye is like a lamp that provides light for your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is filled with light.But when your eye is unhealthy, your whole body is filled with darkness. (Matthew 6:22-23 NLT)

Friends, we are not helpless victims of desire! Self-control is a fruit of the Holy Spirit in hearts where Jesus lives. By the Holy Spirit, we can choose what we feast our eyes on – and what we think about!

As Paul says: We take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. (2 Corinthians 10:5b NIV)

Past passivity and surrender are to make way for active vigilance. We take responsibility for what we allow our eyes to take in – and what we allow our minds to dwell on.

Like Job: I made a solemn pact with myself never to undress a girl with my eyes… Isn’t God looking, observing how I live? Doesn’t he mark every step I take? (Job 31:1,4 MSG) Job is aware that his every thought, word, and action is an open book before God. Job doesn’t give himself permission to pretend that God’s not around.

We can take a leaf out of Job’s book! If your eyes notice anything that provokes lustful thoughts, take that thought captive to Christ and turn your attention to something else.

Paul tells us: Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. (Philippians 4:8 NLT)

6. Hold yourself accountable

The desire to indulge in lust and porn for emotional quick fixes diminishes when we get real with someone else about what’s going on inside us – and help one another on the pathway to purity.

Accountability is giving someone else permission to ask us questions like:

“How’s it been going in your thought life lately?”
Or: “Have you recently exposed yourself to any sexually explicit material?”
Or: “What have you been watching on TV or your devices lately?”

We discover the healing power of Jesus as we support and mentor one another.

7. Enjoy healthy relationships

When God frees us from lust, we can enjoy the hearts, minds, and souls of other people created in the image of God. Men, when God frees us from lust, we can discover the total beauty of women. They are the pinnacle of God’s creative works, the pearl in the oyster of his creation.

The beauty of a woman’s compassion is medicine for the soul. The beauty of a woman’s kindness can take our breath away. The beauty of a woman’s loyalty helps us realize that there are more important things in life than work and play.

The image of God reflected in a woman shows us much about the character of God. We can enjoy and affirm a woman’s beauty as a masterpiece of God’s creation – without desecrating it in lust.

Wrap Up

Our hearts desire for companionship and intimacy will never be satisfied by lust filled fantasies. We will only ever cultivate real intimacy in real relationships with real persons. Freedom from lust is freedom to enjoy healthy relationships, where we can love and grow together as people created in the image of God. Amen.

(Message c.1950 words)

[1] 60 Minutes recently had two stories of women who were victims of this: “How Dare You?” 60 Minutes 2026, episode 13. Aired 17th May 2026.

[2] The Royal Commission has revealed the depth of personal trauma and devastation for victims of institutional child abuse.

[3] Now this is unlikely, since such a marriage was prohibited in Israel (Leviticus 18:9, 20:17, Deuteronomy 27:22). No doubt Tamar is trying to get some space between herself and Amnon.

6. Freedom from gluttony (an endless appetite for more

Jul 7, 2026 stjohnsttg Message, Sermon

Proverbs 23:19-21, 29-35 – Words of wisdom about gluttony and drunkenness: Philippians 3:17-20 – Making a god of one’s stomach is deadly! Matthew 6:31-33 – Jesus tells us to focus on greater things than food. (Series: Freedom from the 7 Deadly Sins) | Sunday 5^th July 2026 | Message by Pastor Rolly Stahl

Gluttony in our Aussie culture

Eating and drinking is a God-given pleasure. Two of our senses, taste and smell, are devoted to its cause. I reckon that catching up with family or friends over a meal is one of our greatest pleasures in life. We celebrate a new marriage with a meal. Some couples go out to dinner to celebrate their anniversary. We celebrate birthdays and Christmas with a meal. No wonder that in the Bible, one of the most common pictures of heaven is a banquet!

But friends, how do we feel when we eat and drink too much? Bloated. Stuffed. As full as a pig. Even sick!

Gluttony is an endless appetite for more. It’s an obsession or addiction that bends us out of shape.

Gluttony is built into the food industry, with phrases like: Super-size, up-size, smorgasbord, banquet, and all you can eat. Some of our fast-food outlets are loading us up with sugar, salt, and fats.

Even though we know the benefits of healthy eating, statistics indicate that we’re not paying attention. According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare:[1]

• In 2022–24, an estimated 67% of adults (aged 18 and over),

were living with overweight or obesity.

• In 2022–24, an estimated 27% of children and adolescents (aged 2–17),

were living with overweight or obesity.

Getting drunk is a form of gluttony. Whether it’s a pub crawl, a party with friends, a victory celebration, or happy hour at the pub, many Aussies drink excessively.[2]

But friends, gluttony is not confined to an endless appetite for food, drink, or drugs.

We can be gluttons of reading or studying.
We can be into binge streaming or binge gaming.
We can be totally obsessed with music, sport, or dancing.
We can be addicted to hoarding, gambling, or shopping.
We can be gluttons with our interests or our hobbies.
We can be addicted to our work or our play.

Let’s see how:

Gluttony can be a form of idolatry

When feeling anxious, ashamed, bored, depressed, guilty, lonely, restless, or vulnerable, we might turn to any of these things to make ourselves feel better.[3] It can be a form of self-medication – that can lead to an unhealthy obsession or addiction.

Question: Does it work?

The pleasure makes us feel better for a while. But the “endorphin hit” doesn’t last.

None of those things can heal our hurts or resolve our issues.
They don’t relieve our guilt or take away our shame.
They don’t give us lasting satisfaction or bring us peace.
They don’t connect us with the living God. They just take his place.

And what do we call anything that takes God’s place in our lives? An idol. Turning to these things for comfort will never bring us the fulness of life that Jesus promises.[4]

Martin Luther writes:

‘A god is whatever a person looks to for all good things

and runs to for help in trouble.’

And: ‘Anything you set your heart on and rely on is really your god.’ [5]

Friends, I submit to you that whenever we’re obsessed with anything other than the living God, we are turning to an idol. And idols always demand sacrifices.

On the altar of the idol called “gluttony”:

We sacrifice opportunities to go deeper in our relationship with Father God.
We sacrifice God’s plans and purposes for our lives.
We sacrifice healthy relationships with family and friends.
We sacrifice our capacity to serve and help others.
We sacrifice the health of our bodies, minds, hearts, and souls.
And we potentially sacrifice years of our lives.

Idols never deliver what we hope for. Instead, they entice us. Then they enslave us. Then they destroy us. And the thief/devil who comes to rob and kill and destroy rubs his hands together with glee! (John 10:10)

No matter what we use to make ourselves feel better, if it’s not the God who created us for his pleasure, our hearts will remain empty and restless.

Jesus satisfies the longing of our hearts

In his young adult years, while studying at Carthage, Augustine (c.354-430 AD) searched for satisfaction in rhetoric, philosophy, and various forms of religion. Influenced by his peers, he gave himself over to pleasure. At 19, he began an affair which lasted for over a decade and produced a son.

In his early 30’s, Augustine came to know Jesus. One of his best known quotes is this:

“Lord, you have made us for yourself.

Our hearts are empty and restless until they find their hope in you.”

Friends, you and I were created in the image of God – to do life with God. We have a God shaped hole in our hearts that nothing else can fill – no matter how hard we try.

Jesus came to fill that hole – so we can live in his forgiveness and love; so we can find meaning and purpose in our walk with God; and so we can inherit eternal life.

In John chapter 4, Jesus meets a woman at a well. During their conversation, Jesus says to her: “Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.” (John 4:13-14 NLT)

After feeding the 5000, Jesus said: “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” (John 6:35 NLT)

Jesus promises to satisfy the deepest longing of our hearts. In Jesus you can know and experience God’s love for you – personally, intimately, and eternally.

Jesus’ hunger and thirst

Jesus ate and drank with lots of different people. The religious leaders labelled him as: a glutton and a drunkard, and a friend of tax collectors and other sinners! (Matthew 11:19 NLT)

Jesus participated in the Jewish festivals and feasts. At a wedding banquet, Jesus turned 6 jars of water into a vast amount of wine – about 760 bottles. (John 2:1-11)

But friends, get this: Jesus also fasted and prayed. Jesus’ hunger and thirst in connecting with his Father was the most important thing in his life.

I wonder:

How did Jesus deal with rejection from his hometown when they intended to throw him off a cliff? (Luke 4:28-30)
How did Jesus cope with the constant opposition and fault finding from the religious leaders?
How did Jesus handle the relentless pressure of crowds wanting his attention?

Jesus didn’t self-medicate with substances, activities, or entertainment. Instead, Jesus started his day by spending time alone with his Father. That’s where Jesus could share his burdens, ask for help, and find strength to carry on.

In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus was anxious and afraid. He told his friends, Peter, James, and John, “My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death.” (Matthew 26:38 NLT) Three times, he asks his Father if there might be another way. Yet he is still committed to his Father’s will. Out of love for you and me, he continues his journey to the cross.

At the cross, Jesus declines the offer of narcotics. (Mark 15:23) At the cross, while taking the blame and punishment that we deserved, Jesus is still talking to his Father: “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?”(Mark 15:34 NLT) And: “Father, I entrust my spirit into your hands!”(Luke 23:46 NLT)

Through his death and resurrection, Jesus has brought you into a right relationship with our heavenly Father, so you can experience God’s cleansing from guilt, God’s freedom from shame, God’s healing of past hurts, and God’s peace in your life.

Friends, Jesus never filled the yearning of his heart with anything or anyone else other than God. He calls us to do the same: Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. (Matthew 5:6 NIV)

Jesus urges us – not to indulge ourselves with things that don’t satisfy – but to come to our heavenly Father with our troubles and needs:

So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom (Greek word for “first” is proton = in first place; first of all; above all else; to begin with) and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. (Matthew 6:31-33 NIV)

In other words, “When our relationship with Father God – and what he wants for us – is top priority, he’ll take care of the rest.”

In closing

Whenever you’re anxious, restless, or troubled, tell the Lord what’s going on – and how you feel about it. And keep asking God for the help you need:

“Father God, I need your comfort and peace.”
“Jesus, help me to walk in your ways.”
“Holy Spirit, help me to bear the fruit of self-control.”

The antidote to gluttony is remembering our identity and security in Christ – and taking refuge in his everlasting arms of love. Amen.

(c.1520 words)

An audio version of this message is available on St John’s Lutheran Church Tea Tree Gully YouTube page: https://youtu.be/ukp1O8ePtxA

[1] https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/overweight-obesity/overweight-and-obesity/contents/how-many

[2] Around 700BC, the prophet Isaiah addressed the unbridled gluttony of his day: “But see, there is joy and revelry, slaughtering of cattle and killing of sheep, eating of meat and drinking of wine! “Let us eat and drink,” you say, “for tomorrow we die!” (Isaiah 22:13 NIV)

Having lost sight of God, the leaders of Israel indulged themselves to the max.

[3] TV cooking shows use the phrase “comfort food”? What’s that saying about the place of food in our lives? Maybe: “If you’re a bit down and need some comfort, then eat something.”

[4] Jesus: “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” (John 10:10 NIV)

[5] Luther’s Large Catechism, (Adelaide: Lutheran Publishing House, 1983), 18.

5. Breaking Free from Envy (a festering bitterness at others’ success)

Jun 30, 2026 stjohnsttg Message, Sermon

Sunday 28^th June 2026 | Message by Pastor Rolly Stahl | Genesis 4:1-15 – Out of envy, Cain killed his brother Abel.; Proverbs 23:17-18, 24:1-2 – Do not envy the wicked – but grow in the Lord.; Mark 15:6-15 – Out of envy, the chief priest’s handed Jesus over to Pilate.

What is envy?

Around 380 BC in ancient Greece, an Olympic champion named Theogenes so excelled in boxing and running that the people of Thasos raised a statue in his honour.

Now another athlete who’d never beaten Theogenes decided to destroy the statue.

But while doing this, the statue fell on top of him and crushed him to death.

It’s a classic case of envy and its consequences. It destroys us!

Jealousy is different from envy. Jealousy is wanting what someone else has. But envy is a festering bitterness at another’s success… that seeks to destroy that person.[1]

Where do we see envy today?

1. Gossip, slander, and malice. We Aussies have a national past-time of tearing down tall poppies. Envy moves us to assassinate other people’s reputations.

2. Competition. A few years ago, the Aussie cricket team was renowned for sledging the opposition. Nowadays, football players are receiving online threats from hostile spectators. Leading up to the 1994 Olympics, the boyfriend of champion ice-skater Tonya Harding hired a thug to injure her closest competitor, Nancy Kerrigan. The thug smashed Kerrigan on the knee with a metal bar.[2]

Let me ask: What are you good at? How do you handle it when someone turns up who can do that same thing better than you can? Perhaps you feel threatened, anxious, or resentful?

3. Sibling rivalry. Perhaps you grew up always comparing yourself – or being compared with – a sibling. Maybe you’re still miffed because you didn’t have the same abilities, brains, looks, musical talent, personality, or popularity as they did. Perhaps you’ve been trying to outshine or overcome that sibling for decades.

We find sibling rivalry in:

The story of Cain and Abel

In Genesis 4, Adam and Eve’s two sons, Cain and Abel, bring sacrifices to the Lord. Cain brings some of his crops. But Abel brings the best from the firstborn lambs of his flocks. The issue was NOT about plants or animals. But between a careless, thoughtless offering – and a choice, generous offering.[3] The sacrifices expressed their honour and gratitude to God.

We read: The Lord accepted Abel and his gift, but he did not accept Cain and his gift. This made Cain very angry, and he looked dejected. “Why are you so angry?” the Lord asked Cain. “Why do you look so dejected? You will be accepted if you do what is right. But if you refuse to do what is right, then watch out! Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you. But you must subdue it and be its master.” (Genesis 4:4b-7 NLT)

The Hebrew word for crouching portrays the image of a demon waiting at a doorway – and ready to pounce on people as they pass through. The envy festering in Cain’s heart is inciting him to do evil. God urges Cain to gain self-control and master his evil desires.

Did Cain listen to God? No! Filled with envy, his heart was poisoned against his younger brother. Cain invites Abel into the field … and murders him in cold blood!

When the Lord asks, “Where’s your brother?” Cain pretends to have no idea. He doesn’t realize that his brother’s blood cries out to the Lord from the ground for justice. Consequently, Cain is driven from his homeland to become homeless wanderer.

Envy resulted in the death of Abel, a curse on Cain, the loss of two sons to Adam and Eve, and surely grief in the heart of God.

Four ways that envy wrecks our lives

1. Envy stops us from doing good. Instead of going back to his garden and making sure his next offering honoured God, Cain plots to destroy his brother. Friends, when we’re filled with envy, we’re not doing the good things on God’s heart for us.

2. Envy causes conflict. A person full of envy has a chip on their shoulder. They’ll strive to prove their supremacy over anyone they regard as a threat.

3. Envy leads to evil. When you’re green with envy, you’re ripe for trouble. As James tells us: For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. (James 3:16 NIV)

Examples of envy leading to evil:

Joseph’s brothers sold him into slavery – and lied to their father. (Genesis 37)
Miriam and Aaron bad mouthed Moses, and God took it up with them. (Numbers 12)
King Saul slandered David’s character and tried to kill him. (1 Samuel chapters 18-27)
The chief priests’ envy of Jesus moved them to arrest him and demand his execution. (Mark 15:10)

4. Envy makes us miserable. In the movie Armadeus, the well-known composer Salieri was so consumed with envy over Mozart’s musical ability that it drove him crazy. According to Proverbs: A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones. (Proverbs 14:30 NIV) Envy wrecks people’s lives – including our own.

How can God free us from envy?

1. Thank God for making you, you!

Friends, do you know that there’s never been a person exactly like you – and there never will be. You’re not just one in a million; you’re one in 8.3 billion!

You are a one-off original masterpiece of God’s creative power and love. In you, God put together a unique package of personality, gifts, abilities, temperament, interests, experiences, and passions.

God has a unique plan for your life that’s different from everyone else’s.

David had a healthy grasp on this. Listen to his prayer in Psalm 139:

You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb.
Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! You saw me before I was born.

Every day of my life was recorded in your book. (Psalm 139:13-14a,16 NLT)

So how can we respond to God for being one of his original masterpieces? I love the words of The Butterfly Song: “I just thank you Father for making me, me!”

Application: The only person God wants you to be is you! Once you settle this in your heart and soul, you’ll be so comfortable in your own skin that you won’t need to envy anyone else.

2. Receive Christ-esteem

Envy arises out of fear and insecurity. Jesus was totally secure in his Father’s love. That’s why Jesus didn’t envy others, compete with others, feel threatened by others, or manipulate others. He trusted his Father was in control.

Jesus never gloated over his position as the Son of God – but emptied himself – for us. As the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, Jesus made us right with God through his atoning death at the cross.

As Isaiah writes:

    He was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins.
    All of us, like sheep, have strayed away.
    We have left God’s paths to follow our own.
    Yet the Lord laid on him the sins of us all. (Isaiah 53:5-6 NLT)

Out identity, worth, and destiny as God’s children doesn’t depend on what we’ve done – but on what Jesus has done for us. Through baptism and faith in Jesus, you are now in Christ.

Dear friends:

In Christ, you have God’s forgiveness, favour, and delight.
In Christ, you have the same source of security that Jesus had: the unconditional and unfailing love of the Father.
In Christ, you have the power of the Holy Spirit to resist evil; and to bear the fruit of Jesus’ character.
In Christ, you have a family of brothers and sisters – to do life together with Jesus. It’s called the Church!
In Christ, you have a place in God’s heart and a forever home in God’s heaven!

Application: Let your heavenly Father secure you in his love for you in Christ.

3. Refuse to compare yourself with others

Comparisons are the root of envy. We can’t win by comparing ourselves with others. We either envy those who are better than us; or we puff up with pride for being better than someone else. Either way, the enemy gets a foothold into our hearts. As they say: “Comparisons are… odious!”

Paul gives us some great advice: Make a careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given, and then sink yourself into that. Don’t be impressed with yourself. Don’t compare yourself with others. Each of you must take responsibility for doing the creative best you can with your own life. (Galatians 6:4-5 MSG)

Application: Do you envy someone who is more gifted, or had more success, than you? If so, God calls you to repent. Confess your envy to God. Renounce envy in Jesus’ name. Receive his forgiveness. Let go of your bitterness. And live in peace.

4. Enjoy the season you’re in

One of the tragedies of modern life is that we’re either grieving the good old days of the past; or we’re so busy rushing into the future – that we don’t enjoy the present.

Friends, how often do we simply enjoy the present as God’s gift?

Each season has its joys and its challenges. That’s life! As a servant of Jesus, Paul had a tough life. Instead of complaining about being in prison, Paul says: I have learned how to be content with whatever I have.(Philippians 4:11 NLT)

Contentment is the grace-filled art of enjoying the present.

Contentment increases as we thank God for providing our daily needs.

Enjoying what God gives us each day helps us avoid the trap of envy.

Application: Each day, reflect on your joys and sorrows. Thank God for the joys; and put your sorrows into God’s hands. You’ll be amazed at how much more you’ll enjoy life as God’s gift.

5. Affirm other people’s success

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered. (1 Corinthians 13:4-5 NIV)

Where there is love, there is no rivalry, jealousy, slander, or envy. The love of Jesus calls us to:Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep. (Romans 12:15 NLT)

Love rejoices in the success of others: “Good on you!” “Well done!” “Congratulations!” “I’m happy/delighted for you!” “I thank God for your success!”

The Holy Spirit helps us to bear this fruit of love – bringing glory to God and encouraging others!

Application: Who can you encourage, affirm, or cheer on this week? Perhaps you could send a text or email, phone them, send a card, or write a note of appreciation.

May the Holy Spirit give you and me the security in Jesus that eliminates envy.

And may the Holy Spirit give us the grace to enjoy the success of others. Amen.

(c.1800 words)

[1] Another Greek called Xenophon summed it up well: “The envious are those who are annoyed only at their friends’ successes.”

[2] The story was captured in the 2017 movie, I, Tonya, starring Margot Robbie.

[3] NIV Study Bible, note on Genesis 4:3-4, p.11.

4. Freedom from pride (exalting self against God)

Jun 23, 2026 stjohnsttg Message, Sermon Bible, Christianity, faith, God, Jesus

Sunday 21^st June 2026 | Message by Pastor Rolly Stahl | Matthew 5:1-11 | Series: Freedom from the 7 Deadly Sins

Numbers 12:1-15 – Moses was a humble man of God.

James 4:6b-10 – We are to keep submitting ourselves to God who gives grace to the humble.

Matthew 5:1-11 – The antidote to pride is a heart that is soft and open to God.

What is pride?[1]

This week I typed into my internet browser: “Pride is…” Here’s the first answer:

…an unreasonable overestimation of one’s own superiority in terms of talents, looks, wealth, importance etc., which manifests itself in lofty airs, distance, reserve and often contempt of others.[2] What do you think about that?

Pride can sneak into our hearts. Like a snake, it wants to settle in without our detection.

Perhaps that’s why I can’t stand pride in anyone else – and I can’t see it in me!

Pride might be the deadliest of the seven deadly sins. If we could conquer the six others, our pride over that achievement would still bring us undone.

CS Lewis: “The essential vice, the utmost evil, is pride… Pride leads to every other vice; it is the complete anti-God state of mind.” In line with most Bible commentators, Lewis saw pride as the sin which turned one of God’s angels into the devil.

Pride refuses to submit to God; but instead wants to take his place.
Pride thinks it knows better than anyone else – even God!
Pride gloats over its achievements and exalts self at every turn.

In the English language, pride and sin have the same thing in the centre: an “I”.

Pride is an obsession with self.

There’s an old saying: “Pride comes before a …FALL.”[3] In Genesis chapter 3, pride provoked Adam and Eve to eat the forbidden fruit in the garden of Eden. After listening to the serpent’s lie, they ignored God’s word. Wanting to like God, they ate and fell!

Like our ancient grandparents, we also have a habit of ignoring God’s truth to do our own thing. And how does that work out? With painful consequences! Here’s some of:

The devastating effects of pride

According to the Bible:

Pride stops us from seeking God (Psalm 10:4, 14:1)
Pride provokes cruelty (Psalm 73:6)
Pride exaggerates the faults of others – and minimises one’s own (Matthew 7:3-5)
Pride incites comparisons and conflicts (Proverbs 13:10, Mark 9:34)
Pride makes us prejudiced and judgmental (Romans 12:16-17)
Pride stops us from admitting our mistakes and failures (Matthew 9:12-13)
Pride stops us from taking steps towards reconciliation (Matthew 5:23-26, 18:15ff)
Pride prevents us asking for God’s help (Matthew 6:5-15)
Pride cuts us off from God’s mercy (Luke 18:14).
Pride brings God’s punishment (Proverbs 16:5, Daniel 5:20)
Pride destroys us (Proverbs 16:18, Jeremiah 50:32)

Friends: Given the devastating effects, hands up if you’d like freedom from pride?

Let’s see how God can help us cultivate humility.

Freedom from pride / Cultivating humility

1. We stop posing and keep asking God for mercy

Jesus tells a story of two chaps going to pray. The first chap, a Pharisee, boasts about himself to God: ‘I thank you, God, that I am not like other people — cheaters, sinners, adulterers. I’m certainly not like that tax collector! I fast twice a week, and I give you a tenth of my income.’ (Luke 18:11-12 NLT)

Did you notice how many times he says, “I”? (5x)

Why does this poser think he can impress God?

Doesn’t he realise that God knows his selfish motives and desires?

Where’s his reverence and respect for God divine majesty and holy perfection?

“But the tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, ‘O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.’ (Luke 18:13 NLT) Jesus said that this man, rather than the other, went home right with God.

Jesus’ story reminds us: “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” (James 4:6 NLT, 1 Peter 5:5 NLT- quoting from Greek version of Proverbs 3:34)

What can God do in us, with us, or through us – when we’re full of self?! Nothing! Friends, if we want to deal with God on our terms, we’ll encounter God’s opposition.[4]

Yet we encounter God’s grace by humbling ourselves. We admit our mistakes and seek God’s kindness and mercy to us in Jesus. And we let Jesus take up his rightful position as Managing Director over our lives.

Most of us don’t set out to become proud, arrogant, or stubborn. Despite our best intentions, pride can still creep in. Some questions:

When comparing yourself with others, who do you look down on to exalt yourself?
In what areas of life are you rejecting what God wants for you?
Are you grieving the Holy Spirit by some habit that you know isn’t right, but refuse to surrender it to God? Do you have peace with God in that part of your life?
Maybe you need God’s help for an ongoing struggle, but you’ve been too proud to ask? You think: “I can do it MYSELF!” Hmm. How’s that working out for you?
What areas in your life would be different if you were mindful that God is always watching over you – and wanting to help you do life his way – so he can bless you?

Friends, if any of these ring true for you, take a leaf out of the tax collector’s prayer:

“Lord, have mercy on me, a sinner.”

Or: “Jesus, I am yours, save me!”

Or: “Abba Father, please help me!”

Or: “Come Holy Spirit, free me from my selfishness and pride!”

When we come to God in genuine humility, he forgives us and pours his grace into our hearts. By the power of the Holy Spirit, we can live new lives.”

2. Daily recall the cross of Christ – and your baptism!

Jesus humbled himself and became obedient to death – even death on a cross! (Philippians 2:8) Friends, it’s hard to be obsessed with self when we focus on Jesus.

In the light of his perfect life and his sacrificial death, I see myself differently.

First, that that I’ve fallen far short of the glory of God.
Second, that my failure to love God and others made Jesus’ death necessary.

Friends, when I consider the love that moved Jesus to take my place under the hammer of God’s judgment, I’m undone! The love of Jesus nails me and my foolish pride. The love of Jesus also sets me free from self-centredness. When I put myself at the foot of the cross, I can no longer be full of myself.

Friends, in baptism, you and I were joined to Jesus’ death and resurrection.[5] So when Christ died, our old proud, self-centred nature was nailed to the cross with him![6] At the cross, we died to doing life “MY WAY”.

When Christ rose to life again, we were given a share in his eternal life. The same Spirit who raised Jesus back to life is now at work in us, reminding us that we are Father God’s much loved children – and helping us to live that out.[7]

As a result of our baptism, we can declare with Paul: I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20 NIV) We daily live out our baptismal identity by dying to self-rule; and remembering that Christ lives in us.

Paul makes it clear that we are to:

3. Keep reflecting Jesus’ humility in our relationships

Paul reminds us: Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us. Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. (Colossians 3:11-13 NLT)

In Moses, we see this humility in action. When the Israelites grumbled and found fault with Moses, he’d often fall face-down to pray. When his siblings, Miriam and Aaron criticized and envied Moses, Miriam was afflicted with leprosy.

If you or I were in Moses’ sandals, what would we have said to her? Perhaps: “Serves you right!” Yet Moses cries out: “O God, I beg you, please heal her!” (Numbers 12:13 NLT) That’s humility in action. To bear the offence and extend mercy is Christ-like humility.

Humility is looking away from self to the needs of others.
Humility seeks to be a companion rather than a competitor.
Humility comes alongside people in their struggles – to bless and help them.
Humility is that openness of heart that allows people to tell us the truth about ourselves – even when we may not want to hear it.

One way to keep a check on pride and cultivate humility is to join a small group; or find a mentor. Giving someone permission to ask how it’s going in our struggles fosters humility. Friends, growth happens when we can acknowledge 3 things: “I’m struggling/in trouble. I can’t fix it. I need help” Friends, that’s why we need Jesus! And that’s why we need to share our burdens with some fellow believers.

When we can confess our failures to a fellow believer – and hear that sweet word of forgiveness in Jesus’ name – it keeps us humble. Friends, as we grow the humility to share our vulnerabilities with one another – and support each other in our struggles – God will build up our St John’s family.

Friends, we need to remember that Jesus is “a friend of sinners” – not people who think they have it all together! I don’t think it’s possible to grow in Jesus’ character without getting real with some fellow believers and doing life together with Jesus. That’s why we need to be part of a local church family.

4. Give God the glory for your success

Here’s an insightful Proverb: Fire tests the purity of silver and gold, but a person is tested by being praised. (Proverbs 27:21 NLT)

When people are applauding your accomplishments, or singing your praises, you have a choice: You can soak up all the glory for yourself; or you can give glory to God.

My dear friends,

How can we refuse to give God the glory when every beat of our heart – and every breath of our life happens only because he has determined it?
How can we rob God of the glory when he has hard-wired various talents, abilities, and gifts into us?
How can we steal the glory from God when he gives opportunities for us to develop those gifts – and to serve and bless others with those gifts?
In the light of God’s goodness, how can we gloat over our accomplishments?

When God allows you to succeed – and others notice it – you have an opportunity to point them to the goodness of God.

E.g., “Thanks for that. Isn’t God good?”

Or: “Thank you… and praise God!”

Or: “Thanks for your appreciation. You know, God has given me this gift to bless others.”

Conclusion

Pride remains a problem while we’re obsessed with self. God invites us to let him be the centre of our hearts and lives. Thank God that this is possible – not on account of our achievements – but on account of his mercy poured out on us through Jesus. As Paul says: As for me, may I never boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Galatian 6:14 NLT)[8]

Amen.

An audio version of this message is available on St John’s Lutheran Church Tea Tree Gully YouTube page: https://youtu.be/I2MlPJDUyq0

[1] Parallel words for pride in the Bible: stubborn, stiff necked, hard hearted, arrogant, contempt, presumption, insolence, haughtiness, rebellion, derision/scoffing/mocking.

[2] https://search.nortonsafesearch.com/serp?caller=extn_init&q=Pride%20is…&annot=false&cmpgn=29308&browser=Secure&doi=2023-11-03&installSource=nag&prod=Secure&track=T4&darkMode=false&source=chrome.ob&segment=nortonsafesearch01&subid=migration

[3] Proverbs 16:18 NLT: ‘Pride goes before destruction, and haughtiness before a fall.’

[4] The psalmist prays to God: “To the faithful you show yourself faithful; to those with integrity you show integrity.
To the pure you show yourself pure, but to the crooked you show yourself shrewd.
You rescue the humble, but you humiliate the proud.” (Psalm 18:25-27 NLT)

[5] ‘Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it? Or have you forgotten that when we were joined with Christ Jesus in baptism, we joined him in his death? For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives.’ (Romans 6:2-4 NLT)

[6] ‘When you came to Christ, you were “circumcised,” but not by a physical procedure. Christ performed a spiritual circumcision — the cutting away of your sinful nature. For you were buried with Christ when you were baptized. And with him you were raised to new life because you trusted the mighty power of God, who raised Christ from the dead. You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins. He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross.” (Colossians 2:11-14 NLT)

[7] See: Romans 6:5-23, Romans 8:1-15, Colossians 3:1-17.

[8] As the Scriptures say, “If you want to boast, boast only about the Lord.” (2 Corinthians 10:17 NLT)

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