2 Samuel Chapter 10:1-6

Is there fruit in the person's life that's offering their advice to you is there good fruit in their life have they shown a track record of hearing from the Lord and making good decisions. Do the relationship serve their family, friends, do they bear the benefits of the person's good fruit or is there bad fruit doesn't mean that God can't speak to somebody that has bad fruit, but it means you need to be all the more careful of the advice it's been given welcome to cross the bridge with David McGee, the senior pastor of the bridge in Kernersville, North Carolina. Today we have one of the keys assisting pastors with the program you thanks thanks thanks Bob and looking forward to get into this Scripture today talk about being careful whom we receive counsel from not all counsel is good counsel, Bob never taken counsel for someone realized the best counsel sometimes. I didn't realize until after the Council and the practice were gone and I think that's what Pastor David to be shared about today is being very careful who you listen to and you receive counsel. Alyssa David McGee as he shares first by first second Samuel chapter 10 so insert chapter 10 David is changing. And then last week we looked at his kindness to my favorite chef and am now with the Bishop was a offspring of Saul Saul's grandson Jonathan, son, and David extends his kindness to him and we we saw that as an act of grace similar to the active grace of Jesus extends to us offering to sit at his table. So now we pick it up in chapter 10 verse one. It doesn't happen after this that the King of the people of Ammon died and his son reigned in this place and then David said I will show kindness and the Son of Man as his father showed kindness to me today and sent by the hand of the service to comfort him concerning his father and David servants came into the land of the people of Ammon. We don't really have a long explanation here or in Scripture. The kindness that David refers to when they has been kind to we believe it probably happened during David's exile that they hash was kind to they hash and the people of Ammon were actually involved in a battle early on with King Saul. So I cannot fit to make sense because of David was still in the Army with King Saul. How would you really made a friend. If you will of of one of the enemies so we believe that's when it happened. But again, we don't know we don't have a lot of details and we can sit here and conjecturing I could say this say that I love the saying where the Bible is silent we should be where the Bible is silent we should be as a pastor, sometimes for you as a Christian, so I'll ask you a question.

What about this one about that and perhaps the Scripture doesn't speak especially to that item or two that issue in that's the case for in the best thing you can do is say, I'm not sure I don't know where this is what I think this is what I believe a lot of them see when you get in that conversation you start making stuff up there like you don't really know the answer to what all got a wing and I don't know and understand as a believer to when somebody ask your difficult questions to difficult questions floating out there I met sometimes the best answers, you know, I'm not sure, but I'm gonna research that question to dig in my Bible asked some friends and him to come back to and the person will really appreciate it because you get if you start making stuff up probably know, your wing and it making stuff up as you go, but if you if you have the care for them to go and research their questions so that you might answer the question is really going to Charlotte you can't notice something David is extending this to high noon is extending kindness. He sent the servants to him to wish him well and also probably within the first is an overture of the continued treating if you will with these people. Keep in mind David at this point, King of Israel and Israel's Wahpeton stop and him and I got you know powerful army. These guys are experienced in and so this is again a graceful burst in the princes of the people of Ammon said to hang on their Lord. Do you think that David really honors your father because he is sent comforters to you as David not rather sent his servants to you to search the city to spired out and overthrow it and we have two pictures. David's not interested in spying the city out. He's not sending these guys into spy out the city.

We take it at face value and that David was doing this to show kindness now here is this new King's father passed away. I think we can take it for granted is somewhat of an experience. King's father, who was King's passed away recently recently enough or they can send these people about anything because he's kind crucial place a critical place. Why, because he doesn't really have the experience they have all the answers but he's got these guys around them who think they have the answers to look at the Council. They give you a seat in mind as we go through this chapter is horrible counsel, they cannot feed on this guys possibly is already existing for years is paranoia if you will. And they say all you think there is be careful when you're making decision who you listen to his friend and makes all the difference in the world you ever thought you were going to make a certain decision. You know, go a certain way and then you talk to somebody and then after that conversation, you see I was about to make a really bad decision and sometimes that's a really really good thing we talk to the right people because if you talk to the wrong people at that time when you're at the crossroads you make a bad decision or at least it's going to help you in making a bad decision that old saying to be careful little ears what you hear. Be careful what you you you talk to see is this new King Henry is he's gonna make a bad decision in part based upon the Council of these Mensa brings us to the first wife left. Be very careful who you listen to be very careful who you listen to them at one time Vince and perhaps in certain parts of the world, there still is a vacuum of good biblical teaching in the United States in an apartment and thanks to the Internet and Internet great tool powerful, but the danger I think for most American Christians must people who follow Jesus in this country is not a lack of sound biblical teaching. It's a huge buffet of bad on biblical teaching me you get out there on the Internet and you can just you know you can and sometimes I do this just punch up put some in Google just to see you know what somebody say it is just amazing the stuff that you can find out.

Be careful, be very careful what song chapter 1 says first two verses, Blessed is the man or person who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful.

But his delight is in the law of the Lord and in his law he meditates day and night. These verses are so mission-critical to a follower of Jesus. It's interesting to me all the people who have made careers offering advice that are not necessarily biblical in their advice. Listen to some very interesting and very intriguing, entertaining, whatever you know and some of these people have some very interesting things to say I'm not saying everything they say is garbage but because again I'm to make a generalization. I'm not saying these people are on say.

But I've heard them give on biblical advice and if you're a believer. Be careful because if you know if you're at a decision point and you listen to one of these people were you listens my it doesn't know the Lord doesn't know the word of God friend you can go off in the wrong direction. Now was muzzled. What what what if they know the Lord that you know there still you still have to sit and really assess is there fruit in this person's life that's offering their advice to you is there good fruit in their life have they shown a track record of hearing from Lord and making good decisions. Are they living fruitful spiritual life, neither lines do their relationships or family friends do they bear the benefits of the person's good fruit or is there bad fruit doesn't mean that God can't speak through somebody that has bad fruit, but it means you need to be all the more careful of the advice it's been given part of these advisors I think were probably immature and inexperienced and in himself was an experience and there's another thing you do in ministry time cures a lot of things but you know, today I was thinking back on some of the mistakes I made made early on in some of the things are said 10 years ago 12 years ago 14 years I think about all the tape so you'll never hear them but time cures a lot of things and that's when things will look for to is the person experience Christian even better experience in in ministry. Now here's the thing to do that, we will look at this David's kindness to these people. It was perceived as weakness, they perceived his kindness as weakness anyone friend is going happen that's going to happen and why. When you extend mercy and grace to somebody there will be some people that will abuse that there will be some people that will use you through that. What does that change nothing. Nothing could see you still need to walk in the grace of God, you still need to walk in the goodness of God. It doesn't matter how many people abuse or use you in that sense because God will crack some hard hearts through that. So when you're kind to a person you're doing it for the Lord. If you're motivated by people or people's response equipment, good you're going to equip you to keep me in kind because there are going to be people that don't appreciate there are people that are you there will be people that abuse will be people to hurt your feelings. And if you're doing it just for people. But if you're going to do for God. God will honor that God honored David in this sense and and David and David's extending the olive branch of some people mistakenly think God, his mercy and his patience. They mistake for weakness and they try to take advantage of second Peter chapter 3 verse not as the Lord time at the Lord's return to the Lord.

Is it really been slow about his promise to return to some people think he's been patient for your sake he does not want anyone to perish, so he is given more time for everyone to repent God's way. If you've ever wondered why God's waiting says it right there in second Peter, sometimes a look around the world on my goodness even similar Jesus come what Jesus would have rapture of the church out here while I'm in the Matthew question students. How many of you in the last year either in that are in here right now how many of you either came to the Lord or came back to the Lord in the last year with generator praise God what what about the last two years. Richard, three years is keep your hands up for years five years. Praise God.

Aren't you glad you think about five years ago because all the people they just raise her hand and depending on the spiritual condition, whether they were in a the back when I get in the worst they would've got in at best there with the been in reward so God's waiting is not being weak he's being gracious and noticed David doesn't want never to be nice again.

Can't believe these people are being mean to me on the really nice in my life is doing it for the Lord 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 continue showing verse by verse well see how the new handles of verse four. Therefore, and then took David's servant shaved off after the beards cut off their garments in the middle with their Botox and sent them away so makes things worse. Man was bad enough that he gave year to these people who really were given bad invites, but then he takes it to the next level if you will and and this is I mean even beyond what we can read and see this is to an Israelite male.

I mean this is an incredible slam.

He was meaning to shame. These men, two things it Israelite male had particular pride would be the right word would be the beer and would be the roads.

The road remember the significance of Joseph with multicolor and then the deer was you didn't mess with the beard unless you were in a time of morning there was actually something in the Old Testament about not trimming your bearded and this is what this kind. He was humiliating.

These people and to do so really was.

It was like an act of war if you will mean he was slamming David and Israelites that heart verse five when they told David he said to meet them because the men were greatly ashamed and the king said waited Jericho until your beards have grown, and then return. This is interesting when noon shame these men, he also shame 13. It wasn't just about the service.

It was about this Attitude towards King David. Remember that next time somebody rejects you sharing the good news.

They're not really rejecting you. When I give an invitation on Sunday morning or Thursday night and I know that there's somebody or some people or some persons that are out there and they're gonna reject the invitation. The thing that breaks my heart is not that there rejecting me or that you know it's not gonna happen or whatever. The sad thing is in the fact that they are rejecting Jesus. There are consequences to rejecting Jesus. And when somebody rejects God's servant.

They are, in fact, to a degree rejecting God himself. So remember that when your share. Now when you share with compassion when you share when you've been led by the Holy Spirit, and filled with the Holy Spirit in order to share and they reject you are not rejecting you there rejecting Jesus there rejecting your king's these guys didn't say well you know the men of Ammon, we're going to declare war on you will you wait till the king gets a hold of you is left. They probably know in the back of their minds what David's response and look at the difference between a noon and David wants to shame these men what is David he brought Amanda Jerusalem and set a look at these men look what these people of Ammon did to these men less.

Remember this. Let's all go to war. Somebody did the kindness and the mercy and the how David was so others centered when they told David he sent to meet them because the men were greatly ashamed and the king said waited Jericho into your beards of grown and in return she David's mercy and doing his grace and his love.

I think we can take a lesson from you know why because sometimes somebody will share weakness with us.

We just can't wait to share with somebody you that all jokers I'll tell anyway there's three pastors in their meeting in one diocese, you know, I feel really bad. I need to confess I've been seeing this woman in the church next.

Pastor says well I need to confess I've been getting money out offer employee. The third, Pastor goes. Men often struggle with gossip and I can't wait to get out of here.

A lot of times we we expose the weakness of somebody else who's made themselves vulnerable to something they're going in life going through in life.

Meet me Real biblical attitude. You notice that some ices hey you know I'm struggle with absent in the next week in small group or some you go will not struggle with doing like Joel reserve) you be careful of that incidentally little side scan interesting. David make sure that his ambassadors are pulled back from Ammon before he makes the next move in a lot because that's what you do before you before the battle before war start first thing you do is you pull your masters out of the country such a big deal when you know countries at war: our investors out of after on our investors out of France because quite often that is preliminary to the act of war once I had to do with anything sloppy with the rapture because of work before that seven year battle starts, I believe the Lord pulls the ambassadors out verse six when the people of Ammon saw that they had made themselves repulsive. The date of the people of Ammon sent the Syrians about three in the Syrians is about 20,000 foot soldiers from the king of May, 1000 men and permission top 12,000 men use an interesting thing to me is why should they have done at this point, but the people of Ammon that what they should've done is they should've sent somebody to Israel somebody to Jerusalem somebody to King David and say you know what were sorry. I'm not sure what we were thinking we we had a bad day.

You know something bad food, something were sorry with the whole thing could've ended right there. It would've ended right how many arguments how many things that have gone wrong in your life wouldn't have gone is wrong. If somebody you would've apologized along the way, you could defuse the whole situation interesting to something which was from a big role in ministry apologized quickly apologized quickly. You know, I've been in situations where I wasn't even sure what I done wrong and still apologized for that. When you know you married me every night before you go to bed, apologized for what you might not know what it's for shield but I have actually called us to be with you. I'm not sure what I have done to make you so angry but I'm done so, please forgive me and see what I'm doing and that is I'm setting that hopefully for the conversation.

If you're an argument, chances are you played some part in what went wrong. Maybe a small part may be a big part apply to apologize for that and watch what happens because you know what one person can't really argue about himself. They may try if they got a big head, a single and they make keep going for a couple minutes when you continually apologized but at some point that arguments defuse Jesus in this.

Matthew five 2324 therefore you bring your gift to the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.

We misquote this verse and we we look at it wrong because a lot of think we go to the altar you know and we got some something against somebody we need to go straight versus versus if you go to the altar and your brother has something against you. You gotta get that straightened out as pretty set the bar pretty high.

Now what is that mean well.

The Bible talks about God structure and part of God structure. I believe all into this but I believe God structure is for the husband, the man is to be the leader in the home now and the rest of night on this, but what is what is at me with that leader that was and is a mean he gets a hold a remote is at me with what is that me that mean he gets inside the restaurant to go to know. Maybe. But just realize my wife was in the near no major stress related ways for Selena well in the context of what I'm saying that is misleading apologized to be a leader when it comes to repenting apologize been the one to say you're sorry for just one. Some of you thought that leader thing was a mess. That's part of being a leader means being the first to say you're sorry that is being leader wife lesson your many problems in our lives can be solved with the words. I am sorry many problems in our lives can be solved with the words I am sorry and yet there's three words are so hard for us to say next three that are really difficult somehow for us to say and even when we say sometimes you realize what we do we clarify and justify. We talked about this before but Manuel when you go to apologize about something for something ever explain why you did it because that's not really apologized everybody and here's done this and everybody in here that had this done to you or somebody is. I am so sorry that I yelled at you but you should not done me like that was an apology now. I'm sorry I did that you should look to me that way because were justifying our action say I'm sorry. Never use.

I'm sorry but you're the thing, but is a verbal erasure and the fact it just erases everything that came before that. I'm sorry but you shouldn't really done what he really said you really say you're sorry your say no to persons in a minute. But how many times her apologies key like I'm sorry, but you shall not, that's not really an apology. So I'm sorry. Most of us live a lifetime doing I'm sorry but so much so the next time you go to apologize. You might have to grab your math, I'm sorry, but with training you can get where you say I'm sorry and then stopped incidental. Can you make somebody else repent. No that is not within your power to be able to do so. What should your concern be your own semi that year so friend you know for sure that your sins have been forgiven. You can right now only Jenna short, simple prayer simply telling God you're sorry and asking him to help you to live for him. God want you to pray this prayer so much that he died to give you the opportunity and the ability to ask him to forgive you. 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 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 to 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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Thanks again for listening folks and we hope you join us next time. As we continue studying those flavors. Second seven