I will sing of the steadfast love of the LORD, forever; with my mouth I will make known your faithfulness to all generations. For I said, "Steadfast love will be built up forever; in the heavens you will establish your faithfulness."
Let the heavens praise your wonders, O LORD, your faithfulness in the assembly of the holy ones! For who in the skies can be compared to the LORD? Who among the heavenly beings is like the LORD, a God greatly to be feared in the council of the holy ones, and awesome above all who are around him? O LORD God of hosts, who is mighty as you are, O LORD, with your faithfulness all around you?

In Christ alone my hope is found;
He is my light, my strength, my song;
This cornerstone, this solid ground,
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace,
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease!
My comforter, my all in all—
Here in the love of Christ I stand.

In Christ alone, Who took on flesh,
Fullness of God in helpless babe!
This gift of love and righteousness,
Scorned by the ones He came to save.
Till on that cross as Jesus died,
The wrath of God was satisfied;
For ev’ry sin on Him was laid—
Here in the death of Christ I live.

There in the ground His body lay,
Light of the world by darkness slain;
Then bursting forth in glorious day,
Up from the grave He rose again!
And as He stands in victory,
Sin’s curse has lost its grip on me;
For I am His and He is mine—
Bought with the precious blood of Christ.

No guilt in life, no fear in death—
This is the pow’r of Christ in me;
From life’s first cry to final breath,
Jesus commands my destiny.
No pow’r of hell, no scheme of man,
Can ever pluck me from His hand;
Till He returns or calls me home—
Here in the pow’r of Christ I’ll stand.

Come ye souls by, sin afflicted,
Bowed with fruitless, sorrow down;
By the broken, law convicted,
Through the cross, behold the crown;
Look to Jesus; Look to Jesus; Look to Jesus;
Mercy flows through Him alone.

Take His easy, yoke and wear it;
Love will make your, obedience sweet;
Christ will give you, strength to bear it,
While His grace, shall guide your feet
Safe to glory, Safe to glory, Safe to glory,
Where His ransomed captives meet.

Blessed are the, eyes that see Him,
Blest the ears that, hear His voice;
Blessed are the, souls that trust Him,
And in Him, alone rejoice;
His commandments, His commandments, His commandments
Then become their happy choice.

Sweet as home to, pilgrims weary,
Light to newly, opened eyes,
Like full springs in, deserts dreary,
Is the rest, the cross supplies;
All who taste it, All who taste it, All who taste it
Shall to rest immortal rise.

Father, You have been perfectly faithful in every generation. You have never failed to keep Your promises, never forgotten Your people, and never abandoned Your covenant of grace.

Yet we confess that we have not been faithful. We are quick to forget Your goodness and slow to trust You. We often remember our fears more readily than Your promises, our disappointments more clearly than Your mercies, and our own desires more eagerly than Your commands.

Forgive us for our divided hearts. Forgive us for the ways we have failed to love You wholeheartedly. Teach us to remember Your steadfast love shown throughout Your Word and fulfilled perfectly in Jesus. By Your Spirit, make us a faithful people who delight to honor You, obey Your Word, and bless others with the same steadfast love You have lavished upon us. We ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Lamentations 3:22-24
22 The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; 23 they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. 24  “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.”

How deep the Father’s love for us, how vast beyond all measure
That He should give His only Son, to make a wretch His treasure
How great the pain of searing loss, the Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the Chosen One, bring many sons to glory

Behold the man upon a cross, my sin upon His shoulders
Ashamed, I hear my mocking voice, call out among the scoffers
It was my sin that held Him there, until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life, I know that it is finished

I will not boast in anything, no gifts, no power, no wisdom
But I will boast in Jesus Christ, His death and resurrection
Why should I gain from His reward? I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart, His wounds have paid my ransom

In addition to taking children to Ridge Kids and using the restroom, take time to meet/greet one another. “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near." (Hebrews 10:24-25)

After this David inquired of the Lord, “Shall I go up into any of the cities of Judah?” And the Lord said to him, “Go up.” David said, “To which shall I go up?” And he said, “To Hebron.” 2 So David went up there, and his two wives also, Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail the widow of Nabal of Carmel. 3 And David brought up his men who were with him, everyone with his household, and they lived in the towns of Hebron. 4 And the men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah.
When they told David, “It was the men of Jabesh-gilead who buried Saul,” 5 David sent messengers to the men of Jabesh-gilead and said to them, “May you be blessed by the Lord, because you showed this loyalty to Saul your lord and buried him. 6 Now may the Lord show steadfast love and faithfulness to you. And I will do good to you because you have done this thing. 7 Now therefore let your hands be strong, and be valiant, for Saul your lord is dead, and the house of Judah has anointed me king over them.”

Main message: when we remember the Lord’s faithfulness and love, we will respond with faithfulness and love.
-       “Steadfast love and faithfulness” (2 Sam. 2:6) = chesed (חֶסֶד)
-       One Hebrew word encompasses multiple English expressions (i.e. faithfulness, steadfastness, kindness, mercy, covenant love, etc.)
 
1 Samuel 31

• The Lord is faithful to His Word
  • 1 Sam. 28:19, “The Lord will give Israel also with you into the hand of the Philistines, and tomorrow you and your sons will be with me.”
  • In 1 Sam. 31:1-8, some version of the word “fell/fallen” is used four times
  • When everything seemed to be falling apart – God’s Word was the one thing that wasn’t!
• The response of Jabesh-gilead: faithfulness and love
  • 1 Sam. 10:1, “And you shall reign over the people of the Lord and you will save them from the hand of their surrounding enemies.”
  • 1 Sam. 11: Nahash the Ammonite defeated by Saul; Jabesh-gilead delivered
  • In remembering the Lord’s faithfulness to His Word, and His love towards them, the men of Jabesh-gilead responded with faithfulness and love of their own. 

 
Love: to take sacrificial responsibility to honor the Lord, keep His Word, and bless others in so doing.
 
2 Samuel 1

• The Lord’s faithfulness and love towards David
  • Saul’s crown and armlet brought to David; a sign of the fulfillment of David’s anointing in 1 Samuel 16
  • Saul was dead; the Lord had brought judgment on his sin and vindicated David. David no longer needed to flee for his life.
• David’s response: faithfulness and love
  • Faithfulness to God’s Word and Word (v. 14 and v. 16, “The Lord’s Anointed”)
  • Love towards both Jonathan and Saul (see vv. 11-12 and vv. 17-27)

 
2 Samuel 2:1-7

• The Lord’s faithfulness and love towards David (vv. 1-4a)
  • Love: David and his people are welcomed back to the Promised Land
  • Faithfulness: David is anointed King (first fruits of 1 Samuel 16)
• David’s response: faithfulness and love (vv. 4b – 7)
  • Faithfulness: treating the men of Jabesh-gilead based on the Lord’s actions, not based on any perceived threat
  • Love (v. 6): “Now may the Lord show steadfast love and faithfulness to you. And I will do good to you…”

Conclusion: How Then Shall We Live?

• Remember the faithfulness and love of the Lord
  • In passages like this one
  • In Jesus – the Better David, who shows Better Steadfast Love and Faithfulness
  • Cross-reference: Genesis 3:15, “I will put enmity between you and the woman, between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.”
• Respond with faithfulness and love of your own (i.e. take sacrificial responsibility to honor the Lord, keep His Word, and bless others in so doing.)

’Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus, Just to take Him at His word
Just to rest upon His promise, Just to know thus saith the Lord

’Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus, Just from sin and self to cease
Just from Jesus simply taking, Life and rest and joy and peace

Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him, How I've proved Him o’er and o’er
Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus, Oh for grace to trust Him more

Oh how sweet to trust in Jesus, Just to trust His cleansing blood
And in simple faith to plunge me, Neath the healing, cleansing floodA

Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him, How I've proved Him o’er and o’er
Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus, Oh for grace to trust Him more
Oh, for grace to trust Him more

I’m so glad I learned to trust Thee, Precious Jesus, Savior, Friend
And I know that Thou art with me, Wilt be with me to the end

What gift of grace is Jesus my redeemer
There is no more for heaven now to give
He is my joy my righteousness and freedom
My steadfast love my deep and boundless peace
To this I hold my hope is only Jesus
For my life is wholly bound to his
Oh how strange and divine I can sing all is mine
Yet not I but through Christ in me

The night is dark but I am not forsaken
For by my side the Savior he will stay
I labor on in weakness and rejoicing
For in my need his power is displayed
To this I hold my Shepherd will defend me
Through the deepest valley he will lead
Oh the night has been won and I shall overcome
Yet not I but through Christ in me

No fate I dread I know I am forgiven
The future sure the price it has been paid
For Jesus bled and suffered for my pardon
And he was raised to overthrow the grave
To this I hold my sin has been defeated
Jesus now and ever is my plea
Oh the chains are released I can sing I am free
Yet not I but through Christ in me

With every breath I long to follow Jesus
For he has said that he will bring me home
And day by day I know he will renew me
Until I stand with joy before the throne
To this I hold my hope is only Jesus
All the glory evermore to him
When the race is complete still my lips shall repeat
Yet not I but through Christ in me

Having been reminded of the future grace which is ours in Jesus Christ the Lord, may you now be refreshed by the grace which is yours already:

• You are loved by God the Father - there is no one left to please.
• You are saved by God the Son - there is nothing left to prove.
• You are comforted by God the Spirit - there is nothing left to fear.

Autumn Ridge Family - you are sent into the world to make disciples of all nations. Go, therefore: in the love of God the Father, in the resurrection of God the Son, and in the comfort of God the Spirit; now and forevermore. Amen.

Grab a Missions Memo to keep up with other dates/opportunities to be involved

August 9 - Second Sundays: Transformation Groups
August 16 - Baptism Sunday
August 23 - Youth Transformation Groups
September 9 - Generations of Grace

Second Sundays: Transformation Groups
On Second Sundays this Summer, we invite you to stay for lunch after worship and participate in orientations for The Seeing Jesus Together Journal, which we utilize in our church's Transformation Groups. In addition to being trained on the applications of the Seeing Jesus Together Journal for both group life and for personal devotional rhythms, you'll get the opportunity to fellowship with fellow members and attenders of Autumn Ridge Community Church.

Transformation Groups will launch in August/September. We ask that anyone who wishes to participate in a Transformation Group participate in the final Second Sunday session on August 9. Please register here.

Baptism Sunday - August 16
If you have questions about baptism or are interested in
pursuing baptism, please contact Davis Lacey:
davis@autumnridgecommunitychurch.com

Youth Transformation Groups - August 23
Starting on Sunday, August 23, students in 6th - 12th grade are invited to participate in gender-specific Transformation Groups! Adult leaders will be on site (upstairs at the Victory Christian Center) at 8:45a, and the youth Transformation Groups will begin at 9a. For more information, please email Damon or Samantha Gabriel (damon@artfulellijay.com, samantha@artfulellijay.com).

Generations of Grace
After such a great turnout and a special evening in May, we have already set a date for the next gathering to "bridge the gap and build the bonds"!
Get it on your calendar…more details to come later!
Wednesday, September 9th 6pm