I Am Redeemed

I Am Redeemed

Note: We opened up with a dance to the song I Am Redeemed by Big Daddy Weave

Is it not great to be redeemed?

What does that mean?

You were bought with a price. To be set free.

1 Peter 1:18–19: “For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And it was not paid with mere gold or silver, which lose their value. It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God Please” (NLT).

From Desiring God

The redemption of Christ frees sinners from guilt, being “justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” (Romans 3:24). The benefits of redemption include the following:

- Eternal life (Revelation 5:9-10).

- Forgiveness of sins (Ephesians 1:7).

- Righteousness (Romans 5:17).

- Freedom from the law’s curse (Galatians 3:13).

- Adoption into God’s family (Galatians 4:5).

- Deliverance from sin’s bondage (Titus 2:14; 1 Peter 1:14-18).

- Peace with God (Colossians 1:18-20).

- The indwelling of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).

This must have been how Mephibosheth felt as he sat at David’s table. You say, “Who is Mephibosheth?” He is little known character found in 2 Samuel 9. He was invited to the kings table to sit for life.

Don’t’ feel bad if you don’t know who Mephibosheth is, David didn’t either.

(2Sa 9:1) Now David said, "Is there still anyone who is left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan's sake?"

There is a lot to unpack in this verse. David had now become settled in the kingdom. After being on the run for Saul for many years. Hiding in caves and pretending to be a mad man. David is now king. The nations around him have been conquered or at least are fearful of Israel. There is a settling moment.

Yet David’s best friend had been Jonathan, the son of Saul. Jonathan had protected him for the wrath of his father a few times.

So David made a promise, when he became king he would show kindness to the children of Jonathan. 1 Samuel 18

(2Sa 9:2) And there was a servant of the house of Saul whose name was Ziba. So when they had called him to David, the king said to him, "Are you Ziba?" And he said, "At your service!" (3) Then the king said, "Is there not still someone of the house of Saul, to whom I may show the kindness of God?" And Ziba said to the king, "There is still a son of Jonathan who is lame in his feet."

So David calls Saul’s servant Ziba. Notice his answer. He doesn’t give David his name. It is almost as if Ziba is fearful of David’s reaction. He doesn’t know the heart of David. Ziba is saying, “Now David there is a young man but he is lame”. 2 Samuel 4

This reminds me how we are when God approaches us. God is wanting to bless us but we are walking in fear. God is wanting to draw close to us yet we are afraid.

John_10:10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

James_1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.

(2Sa 9:4) So the king said to him, "Where is he?" And Ziba said to the king, "Indeed he is in the house of Machir the son of Ammiel, in Lo Debar."

This is how far Mephibosheth. Living in Lo Debar “pasturless, a desolate place.

Mephibosheth was dropped He was dropped at the age of five.

Dropped by his nurse

Dropped by his family

Dropped by his inheritance

Living in a borrowed home in 6. He was living in Lodebar, a ghetto town in Biblical times. The word means "no pasture,"(2 Samuel 17:27) "no word" or "no communication" [Wikipedia].

More than likely he was living in fear. Afraid that David would find out where he was and kill him. He had settled to just live.

Another Lesson: He was dropped but not bitter.

Our condition

We were once crippled by sin. Slaves to sin.

For some have settled to stay here. They are just barely passing by. Living in addiction, just existing. Living in a desolate place.

Let me tell you, you don’t have to stay here.

We are no longer slaves but we have been redeemed.

1 Peter 1:18–19: “For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And it was not paid with mere gold or silver, which lose their value. It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God” (NLT).