2 Samuel Chapter 4:1-5

When you come in in this church you don't check your problems at the door. Neither does a new believer person is coming to Jesus for the first I've got stuff going on in certain areas of their life there. We in the vulnerable and how you treat them says a lot about your relationship to the Lord. Welcome to cross the bridge with David McGee Senior Pastor of the bridge in Kernersville, North Carolina. As David McGee begins teaching in second Samuel chapter 4 we have the studio is assisting pastors showed. Thanks, Bob, and I know our listeners can see is but yeah, Bob's a little bit weak in the arms and Neil Pastor Neal is strong like Mr. clean know that's not true, but spiritually sometimes in the body of Christ.

There's those that are stronger in their faith and sometimes there's those new believers that are weaker and talk about showing grace in those times where we are dealing with those weaker in the faith.

When someone weaker be just, criticize them and tear them down for you should know better than that got saved last week. Again, we want to flex Bob's spiritual muscles today and even years out there there listening, so check it out. Pastor David teach second thing turn with me to second Samuel chapter 4, review a little that were here in the transition time between the rule and the reign of King Saul and the rule in the reign of King David and during that transition. There was a Civil War as the fourth and final son of Saul stopped up and said you know what I think I want to be king and and the other guy Abner that we learned about that was encouraging him and they were really going against the hand of God because God chosen David as a king. As a matter fact it was go back a little bit in the book of Samuel Samet was a prophet and Samuel was the spiritual leader of the nation and the people came to Samuel said we want to king. We want to be like other nations, and several said God is your king God is your king and that's known as a theocracy governed by God. When the church really should be today governed by got. They said no we want to be like other nations we want to king and we want them now. I believe this is kinda conjecture but I believe God wanted to set up a king over Israel and I king was to be David because the people insisted the have their way right at that moment they got King Saul and King Saul had a great and glorious beginning, but fell apart rather quickly and then we follow David Samuel you know he looks through all the brothers at first he wants to anoint this older brother David because he I think is because the guy was tall, and it reminded him of Saul one anoint him and got the nuts I hand don't get so locked in the appearances, God doesn't judge by the outside appearance.

God judges the looks on the heart and Samuel says do you have any more children. Says yeah I got one on the field wasn't considered. She will bring them here as soon as he brought his senses. The guy can imagine being one of his older brothers are you pouring oil on my younger brother one is worthless. The one I just sits on the film things all day and I was anointed to be king wanted they would do right after that went around and started running television ads about stuff not he went right back out and start watching the sheep again based on the small things and he stated that we don't how long I think it was probably a number of years and what happens is that comes to Mrs. David got some.

I want you to do there. So what is Aaron what you want some food up to the front lines and David said that's beneath me. I've been anointed king I can be your errand boy anymore that is that what he said when he said is okay, whatever. I'll take it all go, so he takes the food the front his brother's income to the front and their mean they say, what are you doing here you sneaking away from watching the sheep you need to go they were encouraging and in a Brotherly Way, David. Here's this guy coming out knocking on the field mocking Israel mocking God and sit well with David.

David still is much smaller than Saul, but he goes the silences off like this guy you know and I wonder. I wonder Saul just sent them out the getting killed is say what I don't think inwardly, you know there I can you take alarm, yet he did the armored didn't work. There is only the arm go menacing to be over in her. David runs out there. Talk about being bold for the Lord is just some about that particular chapter that endears David Gerard is coming. The glass was like 9 feet tall and David goes out and you know pretty much as you going down the cut your head off and fidgeted the birds he wasn't like he I hope this goes well and you be sure to play Mr. laughing and I mean he was just he was bold as a lion. What was his confidence in his ability was in God. It was in the Lord even think cockeyed couple rocks in the sling. This is going to go well that he would think alike. Here's a great thing for healing to Goliath and said there's no way you can stand before the power, my God, you're going down and he didn't wave the battle all this is important. He didn't weigh the battle by his stream by God, start coming times we get in the middle of a battle and we go oh I don't know if I can make it. I don't know if I can get through this. I don't know if I really have the strength of the perseverance of the grace of the stamina to get through this battle, you realize it's a good place to be because at that moment your recognizing your dependence upon God. Your ear saying in the ministry here here in line for miracle see because what you're facing now the situation you got I got this new problem you're going to try to do in your own strength but the moment you think you know what, there's no way I can do this outside the power of God and that tickles the ears of God when he hears you think that when he hears you say that because he's gone okay great. He knows she knows they can't do it.

I'm going to give them the power and that way when they come through on the other side going to recognize that it wasn't me that brought them through this, not their own strength, not their own power.

But how often we look at our child. Look at our battles and we think all I can't do it your right you can't you can't occasionally have people come and they go description life, so what's wrong as far as I usually encourage a mugger. It's not hard it's impossible. First, thanks Pastor. I'm encouraged but that's the reality.

God set it up that way.

We're dependent upon his stream to get through this thing and so when it becomes impossible for us it's possible for him. The Bible says we can't do anything in and of ourselves of any significance is what Simplot you can't do anything of yourself of any significant but with God all things are possible.

All things are possible. David, he gains real military strength these days, military leader is men are following up and then Saul begins to get paranoid and thinks David's out to get him. Saul decides David's his enemy and starts to try to killing. They may have the opportunity takes off twice and he doesn't tell us a lot about the character of David. He was trusting God and God's timeline to place Ms. King hasn't really interesting thing you can imagine being anointed as King and in heaven the king right there with you a sword in your hand. How easy it would be the say praise God praise God he's he's laying there he sleeping. I got a sword in my hand.

Praise the Lord. It's obvious what I should do the solid David. He waited. It's a great model. Remember that you know you're gorgeous or convenience store. Some like that and somebody gives you too much change back hotel. Praise God, look what he gave me some money. Praise the Lord. That's not that that's a test so David pass at this they would pass the test. That brings us into second Samuel chapter 4 and again there's a civil war going on this man. Abner had been killed by one of David's leaders Joe and now the son of Saul Logan to see that is a little bit worried second Samuel chapter 4 verse one says when Saul son heard that Abner had died and have brought he lost heart and all Israel was troubled. No written remember Saul son is Bishop was Abner's account of his right-hand man who was encouraging him in a way probably should've been encouraged him and and then Abner when they have an argument he deserted and it was going over to David but David's leader actually killed Abner and I think in a weird sort of way suspicious if he recognized that he needed Abner and Abner really needed him at the unit we need to remember that it does take a team to do stuff. It takes a team to minister.

It takes a team to accomplish things in an thing the people we have here the staff people elders and deacons. Team leaders, I think their incredible and in its neat because they all have unique gifting's they can do things and team leaders and elders and deacons and their wives can do things that I can't do. They can do things better. Certain things better than I can do and they do them very well. There are certain things that I'm gifted to do that they may not be gifted so as we join together. It's a neat way the body of Christ fits together takes a team and what happens here is Abner staking out as you see the weaknesses of this worship is weaknesses are going to become apparent that here's an interesting thing starts to freak out walk is Abner staking out the picture. It was the trust is just not distressing in man Psalm 118 eight says that it is better to trust the Lord and the confidence in people.

It is better to trust the Lord in the put confidence in people.

When you begin to put your faith and trust in people from your Gumby dissolution. There's got to be some point in the future or somebody disappoint you.

Somebody let you down and you can be. And at that point you can realize you know what people are people. We only Jesus. Have you ever heard somebody feel is not intended. Everyone of us is done. You've heard somebody feel is not intended to. So how come it's so difficult to give somebody grace when they do that ever said the wrong thing at the wrong time.

I know I have so understand when somebody else says the wrong thing at the wrong time.

Get them grace give them grace because at some point will all be disappointed one another, but were focused on Jesus. Jesus never disappoint you as you trust in him is not only the source of forgiveness, but according to the Bible. He's the source of your livelihood and your provision. That's an easy one to get confused about. You understand the company or the person or persons that you work for really not your source. It's God's. In this day and age of layoffs and all the stuff going up that can really make you freaked out on job security. I'm not sure if you understand your sources. God you can walk in quiet confidence, while the rest of the world is freaked out.

So here is for sure if this freaked out your listening to Pastor David McGee on cross the bridge will be back with more than just a moment but first, if you haven't been to our website@crossthebridge.com yet what are you waiting for go to cross the bridge.com to learn more about how listeners like you are helping get the life-changing truth of God's word to more people to the radio, Internet and mobile technologies across the bridge.com you can also check out our broadcast schedule. Listen to more teaching from Pastor David and sign up for Pastor David's free daily devotional and there's more thereto, so visit cross the bridge.com today.

Now here's Pastor David as he continues showing verse by verse verse two spell Saul son had two men who were captains of troops.

The name of one was van in the name of the other cop in the sons of remind the parasite of the children of Benjamin from our office was also part of Benjamin because the parasites fled to get him and have been sojourners there until this day. Verse four Jonathan Saul son had a son who was lame in his feet.

He was five years old when the news about Saul and Jonathan came from Jezreel and his nurse took him up and fled. And it happened that she made haste to flee that he fell and became Lane and his name was for Russia at this point shift is about 12 years old because the Civil War had been going on about seven years is five years old when it's when the battle started. And so he's about 12 years old and he understand why she was running off of the job because any time. Solomon killed the battle and in three of his sons, and so she ran off with Saul's grandson because usually and aiming at enemy would walk and he would come in and he would kill everybody who had any claim to the throne so that nobody else could rise up against them and so this young boy.

His life was. It was in danger now he was never in any danger from David is my fight will see when I go to get into the night, but David's never going to harming he's going to be the one remaining person from the house of Saul and David can extend kindness toward why because David could that here's here's a great lesson for us as a church. Here's this guy who's weak he's Lane could have been. I guess potentially a threat they didn't seem that way they would never harm and I think there's a there's kinda something in here working to get into this more in the relationship later on a few chapters but even though this man is is this young boy at this point it is weak and vulnerable. David never hurts him. David never takes advantage of think there's a lesson in there for us as a body because he is continuing to bring people, God's continued work will continue to see people come to saving faith in Jesus Christ and you know as well as I know that when they come they don't check their problems at the door when you coming to this church. You don't check your problems at the door.

Neither does the new believer persons coming to Jesus for the first and got stuff going on in certain areas of their life there.

We in the vulnerable and how you treat them says a lot about your relationship to the Lord.

If you love him, and your time shows the love of God. They were judgmental and harsh shows your lack of love for Lord John talks about this and if his choices. How can you say you love God whom you've not seen you don't love your brother or sister, your sister, and there's nothing there but you hear your brother or your sister whom you have sent. How we treat them you in and how our church treats people who are weak and vulnerable. It makes a statement and makes a statement to one another.

It makes a statement to the world we don't ever want to become a church that you know yet.

You gotta get it in a halfway right before you really get in. That's one reason we don't have a membership is a moment we have a membership you know what she had been in place, the criteria for member will remember you got do this you do that you don't do they think you're not a member, you don't belong.

You're not one of us is that really the message that we want to send pulses. This first Corinthians 12 says banality. There many members, yet one body, not cannot say to the hand. I have no need of you, nor again the head to the feet.

I have no need of you know, much rather those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary necessary. Paul goes only talks it's a great analogy for talks about the body of Christ and those who are weaker give us the opportunity for stronger to lavish grace and mercy on not to judge them, to encourage and and those are stronger in their faith. The weaker can look at them and go how I can get through this and so it works great in the body of Christ. That's an analogy that Paul gives us the body fits together. You have to find your place in the body and be that active part of the body. If you're not that active part of the body, what happens when part of your body is an active what happens. It happens me a lot the signature for a long time to sit in a certain way or whatever and then all of a sudden what happened here leg falls asleep or some right is your is your leg very useful when it falls asleep and that it's really irritating and it is in you get up and try to walk and it's like you know and then you see somebody and they go to your leg, let you know when you're walking like that. That's the way some members are in the body of Christ. That's okay for season if you're spiritually asleep, so to speak. We need to carry a perceived as fun. We love enough. There's enough grace and mercy to do. But that's not the way you're supposed to live the rest of your life and that's what is so often I talk about serving your body is just an amazing thing and just so defies evolution your honey could not have come together it just it just couldn't work. I mean that you, your hand if your hand at work precisely you would've starved to death. You would've starved it, and even now you can imagine what it here and I love this Nelly wanted your hand gotten rebellion in your hand thought you know what I want to be the hand anymore. I want to be the brain. So in order for me to be the brain. First thing I need to do is add a take the brain out so I can replace it every time that you eat every thought about this forever and forever twister meals but every time you eat, understand, you take a deadly sharp instrument and aiming at your face. Now if your hand is in rebellion. You got a real problem because what you know one day you will be your thinking your gonna that food in your mouth near like the brain out and you got in your head because the hand is the hand I want to be handing more and I want to be the princes can think the brain see the problem. That's what happens in the body of Christ and you just can't start switching. He parked it doesn't work. First Corinthians 1214 says yes the body has many parts, not just one part in the foot says I'm not part of the body because I'm not a hand, does that make it any less a part of the body and what would you think if you are in here say I'm not part of the body, because I'm only a near non-not without making any less a part of the body. Suppose the whole body were then how would you hear the whole body were just one big here. How would you smell anything. So Paul brings his out and maybe even think it will not really not doing a whole.

I hear my contributing a lot important for the body and while I I'm always adamant passionate about people serving.

We all make up this body and if you serve in any way you pray for me in any way. You're fitting into this body your precious part of Ephesians 412 love this versus why is it that actually pulled this from the new living Bible study about it. It's but it's it's an interesting reference in Ephesians 412 live about why is it that he gives us the special abilities to do certain things best is that God's people will be equipped to do better work for him building up the church, the body of Christ to a position of strength and maturity. So we all fit together to serve one another and serve God, and it works beautifully watch on the service evening service. Morning boy. People function together. It's almost all volunteer base and people join together, work together and just it works so well.

It's a beautiful thing if the body of Christ and some were strong in some areas. Some are weak in some errands a life lesson here.

We are to consider those among us who seem weaker. We are to consider those among us who seem weaker not cast them off and go you can join the club. This is an elite club. You can't meet the membership criteria but to consider them. Paul talks a lot about this unit were talking in the book of acts, retirement circumcision, not even stop in and and will talk about that. The Sunday that Paul saying you know what you need to consider the people who are weaker and you might not have a problem eating certain things they have problems eating certain think you need to be careful about stumbling the weaker person. Christianity is not this survival of the fittest thing it's it's loving one another in encouraging one another in our faith and bring friend, brother or sister if you're weak in an area. This body wants to provide hedge around you if you will pray through that to see strength in those areas and as we all joined together. That's what happens and if you know if you've known the Lord longer. Your more mature in your faith or whatever. Look for somebody who's weak.

Pour out mercy and grace and perhaps scriptural wisdom on them so that they might be encouraged to and in that process. Incredibly, you're going to be strengthened in your faith.

Verse five. Then the sons of Vermont to verify Rick cabin by the set out and came at about the heat of the day to the house of this bishop who was lying on his bed at noon now understand were in the Middle East.

He's not being slothful he or anything like that, there's generally, especially the warmer air is there's a siesta taken in the mill the day where you go when you go do something else because it's just so hot when you can't really do anything in the mill data sports United States are like that. Like have a Sioux City is one of those places in Arizona and they they had a hot last year before they had a hot live actually minister the 537 and then you know what they say what's driving so you do not love them is a dry heat. You see me sticking my head that the pastor friend the pastor's family there. This is down the answers that the pastor's family there. You know you know what their backyard wasn't a dog or cat. It was a desert tortoise well that's a whole God store because he got used to party there big party cities live in LA got their party about God called him to that area in these pastor anyway. He's in bed at noon, so it's not black and diligent cities in bed at noon friend you know for sure that your sins have been forgiven. You can know right now only Legion a short simple prayer simply telling God you're sorry and asking him to help you to live for him. Please pray this prayer with me out loud right now.

Dear Jesus, I believe you died for me that I could be forgiven and I believe you were raised from the dead that I could have a new life not done wrong things I have sent and I'm sorry.

Please forgive me of all those things.

Please give me the power to live for you. All of my days in Jesus name, amen it friend of you prayed that prayer according to the Bible you've been forgiven you've been born again. Jesus said he would not turn anybody away who comes to him and he came for those people who knew they needed forgiveness. Those who were sick, not the righteous. So congratulations for you just made the greatest decision that you will ever make. God bless you, if you prayed that prayer with David for the first time we'd love to hear from you.

You can visit crossed the bridge.com to receive our first steps package with helpful resources to help you begin your walk with Christ. You can also write to cross the bridge at PO Box 12, 515 Winston-Salem, NC 27117 and share how God is working in your life.

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