2 Samuel Chapter 23:1-21

They were so loyal to David and so loving the David and David just made the simple comment. She I would like a glass of water.

These guys are, you and so they risk their life. David had an incredible love for these men. David was a great leader is incredible studied the ghostly would see the attributes of Dave and see the character of David.

See the personality of David how he loved people what a great leader.

Welcome to cross the bridge with David McGee Senior Pastor of the bridge in Kernersville, North Carolina today. Pastor David's teaching through second Samuel chapter 23 and we have as our guest of the studio, one of David McGee's associate pastors welcome DA hey Bob, were excitable God is doing to cross the bridge with Pastor David will take a few minutes to pray for some cities in our listening audience in California. We have Chico Clearlake Kalinga Crescent city, Desert hot Springs, Doris and Eureka Lord, we pray for people in the cities to tune in and listen. We pray that you would heal them. After battling some physical ailments.

We pray that today, many people will put their hope and trust in you for their personal salvation God. We pray that people would be excited about following you and the cities and got we pray for the churches and pastors that they would walk in unity that they would stick to the vision that you've given them more that they would apply your word in every area of their life in Jesus name, amen, amen, brother.

This is great to pray for one another and thank you Lester for praying along with Pastor DA DA what are some of the things that we want to take away from today's teaching in second Samuel chapter 23 Bob to be spiritual leader you have to have a love for God and for his people without love. You don't really care were doing it for selfish reasons and I think that's true, and even David as much as he loved God he still got mixed up sometimes, but we can learn from him and let's listen to David McGee as he continues teaching through second Samuel chapter 23 and learn what God has for us were looking at the life of David and work like couple of these things are little bit out of sequence, like we talked about last week. David's life is coming to a close and it's an awesome thing.

David is incredible warrior incredible leader incredible man of God and yet he was not perfect in Scripture records and it was not perfect when things I really enjoy about the Bible is that it doesn't leave the false frailties and the weaknesses of the people that are writes about out second Samuel chapter 23 verse one says now these are the last words of David Nessa's David the son of Jesse, this is the man raised up on the anointed of the God of Jacob, and the sweet psalmist of Israel. The spirit of the Lord spoke to me in his word was on my time, the God of Israel, said the rock of Israel spoke to me. He who rules over men must be just ruling in the fear of God, and he shall be like the light of the morning when the sun rises in the morning without cloud like the tender grass bringing out of the earth by clear shining after rain.

Verse five. Although my house is not so with God. Yet he is made with me and everlasting covenant ordered in all things, and secure for this is all my salvation and all my desire will he not make it increase but the sons of rebellion, shall all be historians thrust away because they cannot be taken with hands, but the man who touches them must be armed with iron in the shaft of the spear, and they shall be utterly burned with fire in their place strong words is the rebellious will live in unstable life in the certainly can see that people don't have the Lord and maybe they got stuff. Maybe they got things but there there live in an unstable life because they don't have that rock in that sheltered foundation of the snow we will talk about the mighty men as David is talking about verse eight. These are the names of the mighty men and David had Joe ship the she Beth attacked him on night. Chief among the captains. He was called adeno that as night because he had killed 800 men at one time. So these are the mighty men were. They are Mammon.

David's personal bodyguard. They may have been, busily you know ninja hits water something or limited both.

They were gathered around David. It was interesting to his weekends in Scripture the way they started gather around David when he was on the run from Saul and he says those who join with David were those who were in distress and in debt and on the run. Interesting. They were dissatisfied with life. Then they started following David and anyone that something fun and people who were passionate about Jesus passion about following Jesus passion about the Lord. There is Canada. There's a dissatisfaction with the things of this world you just get to that point where you know you think will of this happens and everything will be hunky-dory and I'll be totally happy and for a lot of us. We get to that point where that happens we go out nothing.

This is not what I thought it would be.

There's a dissatisfaction with this. This can't be what life is all about after him was aliens are the son of Dodo the high one of three mighty men with David, when they defied the Philistines who were gathered there for battle, and the men of Israel had retreated, he arose and attacked the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand stuck to the sword.

The Lord brought about a great victory that day and the people returned after him only to plunder these great stories are interesting story and it's interesting this phrase in his hand stuck to the store literally in the Hebrew. He wasn't sure where his hand stopped and sword began as he was fighting and you know what were you see as we greeted re-down this list really see that David had some really great people around him.

He had some really strong people around and I think that's important that something certainly have learned and am learning as a spiritual leader here.

This is to develop a team you can try to walk alone in this life, and friend.

Even with the Lord. If you're walking alone. There's only so much that you're going to accomplish by yourself. But when you've got God leaving you and then you begin develop a team around you.

You can accomplish a lot more working with others seems like sometimes we take this Christian independence that we don't need anybody else understand spiritually that perhaps is true and that you can go directly to Jesus Christ but to arrogantly think you don't need the church. You don't need Bible studies.

You don't need to worship in a corporate setting with other brothers and sisters. That's not independence that's my confidence in God that orders on arrogant God created us that we need one another. The life lesson here to accomplish great things. We need one another to accomplish great things. We need one another and there's a team approach to ministry. Here we have a great team have a great team of staff members who have a great team of pastors of a great team of elders great team of deacons and I think sometimes we slip in as well. I just need got I don't need people well actually do need people because God helps us to grow through other people, iron sharpening iron you got people in your lifeless use of sunshine and rain think you got people in your life that are sunshine and you also have some people in your life that are rain and they are both causing you to grow and that's what happens in the body of Christ. And so that's that's one of the ways that we see tremendous fruit we see tremendous fruit in this place.

The salvation than the baptisms in the microchip because there's a whole team of people ministering and it takes a whole team of people with it so far beyond what I could do what a couple of us could do at this point and I so appreciate the fact that the other pastors have a heart for you guys to minister to you everything that you see. And here's the sword we often see in Scripture as being the word of God. I think that's important in the battle he kept hold of the word of God because you know what happens a lot of times we we we set our sword down, it seemed like the moment we set our sword down, which are given trouble. We start drifting off to the side. We start drifting from the truth because we we sit down the word of God. Certainly for any Christian organization for any church for any pastor for any spiritual leader. Keep your hand on your sword in the battle and and as you read the Bible and as you attend Bible studies you hold on the sword and and God blesses you and your fights with the enemy. Verse 11 after him was Shema, the son of Agee the hair right. The Philistines are gathered together into a troop, where there is a piece of ground full of lentils so the people fled from the Philistines, but he stationed himself in the middle of field defendant and killed the Philistines so the Lord brought about a great victory. Great little stories and lentils are like beings was humans lurk there beings that you can could use in students well things are Philistines would do is they would allow the Israelites to plant these crop and the tandem water. We don't do all these things and then they would wait until they were ready to be harvested and then they would come in and it was still her food anything about their accomplish in several things at once. Number one, they were feeding their people.

Number two, they were starving their enemies search strategically that was what they did. That's why when Gideon when we come across Gideon he's threshing wheat in a secret place while because he was afraid that there were going to come in and steal the week that he thrashed because that was something else they do, they would wait until the week was harvested. It was thrashed. It was all purified. It was just grain income and is still well on this occasion they came in the room is still Shema said you are still the lentils interesting because when you look at this, he was defending the food they have. Once again we see unite and be careful about getting great theological truths from allegories and pictures of stuff, but here again we see another picture while because the Bible is spoken of a spiritual food and maybe you think it's common option whether to be in the Bible are not different if you're serious about checking out the claims of Jesus.

If you're serious about finding out what Jesus and God is all about.

If you're serious about following the Lord Bible study and Fino God's word is not an option. It simply is not an option. It's a necessity as much a necessity is feeding and eating every day. But it's interesting because occasionally where somebody while looking for a church that will do this. I'm looking for church.

Little do that for church with a particular type of worship or particular type of pastor particular location interest in the number one criterion looking for churches should be a place that absolutely teaches God's word. This is an important thing, but a lot of times we act like it's an option. What's everything we can to see will you know Schumacher EE collision here, here I am guarding the field of being. This is just man up to the honeymoon important job in the ministry. I don't to speak garden the bean field while he picked me to guard the main field guard the week for you no one ago. He could've really began to get discontent with what got a call but he did want to do what he was supposed to do to the visibility we need to understand that you know why because God honors friend Donald wants you in the small things and rewards you if your faithfulness. Small, sometimes we will have trouble that I got to clean up the church.

First, I really wanted to. You really want to do this and really want to build worship team really wanted teaching pathnames I have. Little did I really want to be on the sparkle team and you want that tells us they really don't have service OR you have a servant sorry like I can't believe that you let me even clean up your chart can leave it offer me that opportunity and God honors friend years ago when we were in the home Bible study and a lot of Thursday nights and a lot of Sunday morning for the first six months. Most of them when I said I would teach him sit down. When my wife and three kids you realize and never looked at them. One time it's in God's just all just get nobody else, just go watch TV and to be honest the thought never occurred to me as God told me that to teach the Bible how you will teach the Bible.

Whoever came the fact that my wife and three kids were showing up as grateful as I gargle stick to my mom would teach a Bible is going to do it God's only be a faithful small things, but if you are not faithful in the small things make me guarantee is God will never use in the big ones you're 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 13, then three of the 30 chief men went down at harvest time and came to David at the cave of aluminum in the triple Philistines, and camped in the Valley of Reese him and David was then on the stronghold, the garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem. And David said with a longing all that someone would give me a drink of the water from the well of Bethlehem which is by the gate to the three mighty men broke through the camp of the Philistines drew water from the well about the land that was about the gate and took it and brought it to David. Nevertheless, he would not drinking but ported out to the Lord and he said, far be it from me oh Lord, that I should do this.

Is this not the blood of the men who went in jeopardy of their lives.

Therefore he would not drink. And these things were done by the three mighty men. This can be a little confusing when you first read it. But one thing I notice as I'm reading through the story. These mighty men.

These leaders I spent a lot of time sitting around talking about what was wrong with David or whether David's really should be keying or anything like that. There was a commitment and a loyalty to the fact that they understood God had anointed David to be the leader and they were gonna love David and they were going to serve David and so because of that unity and that loyalty they accomplish great things for God. I think that's important you know the Bible talks about being in unity in the body of Christ and not being divisive in the body of Christ think that's an important thing. They were so loyal to David and so loving the David that when David just made a simple comment. She I would like a glass of water didn't say would somebody go get in and say age that you be nice glass of water and these guys are, and so they risk their lives, but David had an incredible love for these men was a great leader is incredible study because they would see the attributes of Dave and see the character of Dave and see the personality of David how he loved people what a great leader and he loved the Lord that brings an ex-wife lesson up to be a spiritual leader you have to have a love for God and for his people to be a spiritual leader you have to have a love for God and for his people. Member early on in ministry is Craig I do have to help me love people more. The Lord spoke to me in a still small voice. It's in you love me more and as you realize my love for you and you realize more love for me I will fill you with love, but if you run around trying to love people more you're going to run out is that as people or are you know were all fallen and sometimes we don't express our appreciation for one another to love God.

That's why that's in that order.

Have a love for God and you have a love for his people that will never run your can you imagine these are blunter ragtag fugitives. They God is going to take from these vagabonds are not the desert to lead the nation of Israel to the height of its glory and wiping out all their enemies's an amazing thing and you don't just go back 3000 years the say stuff like this again. I'm reminded of what God is done in this place, with his hand, God seems to enjoy doing that takes ragtag bunch of people whether it's a dozen disciples are these people David or in this church or in the early church or whatever takes a bunch of people. He started doing credible work through when some people talk about Christianity neck like it's boring. It's like paying Christianity. Do you just mean Christianity is anything but boring as mayor factors, like this nonstop adventure that boring would be nice every now and it's really this adventure in I think some family thing though. I think will be in full. So this possibility get everything all the world has fun in the world has a great, but the moment you begin to follow Jesus and you would have nothing could be further from the truth to me as his mentor stepped out to see what God is doing now, let's understand this passage as you look at first glance you went and got in this class a water and pours it on the ground is like being a jerk or some nice not being a jerk.

Let's understand what he's doing. They have offered David a gift that David considers to costly to accept decision what you guys risk your life to give me this water. I cannot accept this gift and when we read this.

What we see is okay they got this gift reported on the ground. That's not what it said. That is not what it says let's read it again. The end of verse 16.

Nevertheless, he would not drink it but ported out to the Lord. There's a big difference in your sport out on the ground. He was making an offering to the Lord asking course they were trying to explain to somebody that nonbeliever about tithing about giving to the Lord. They don't get because what they're hearing you say is that you might as well ride down the road and tossed 10% of your income out the window just poured out on the ground. That's not what were doing were pouring it out to Lord you come across family or friends that you serve in the church and you're trying to explain to them how much you enjoy serving at the church and they're not getting one because their perception is you're taking your time and your ported out on the ground that's not what's happening you're pouring it out to the Lord and seek.

David wasn't just pouring this out on the ground he was pouring it out to the Lord and it's interesting that the world looks good. Well, you're just wasting one stop and think about this for second chance is a real good that the 90% of your income that you spend on yourself, you're not going to receive any eternal heavenly reward for the that's just the reality that you're not going to get to heaven and God.

Do you know I want to reward you for making your mortgage payment.

You just did it with such excellence and is on the not happen, but the bottles very playing about the fact that the things that we do for God the things that we give for the Lord those things are stored up eternal significance. Eternal rewards so the only way you can keep from pouring things out on the ground is doing is under the Lord because everything else friend pours out on the ground in the world stands often they go why you get timbers in your income.

That's like wasting it when actually storing you know they say you can't you can't take it with you actually send it on ahead of you sort of heavenly reward, but that's the only way you can keep reported out everything else in the world is doing that they think their warning to themselves is actually being poured out on the ground. It is interesting that that which is a permanent and eternal significance. They sent back to what you're wasting that skews me not wasting anything they didn't waste that couple water.

He did is under the Lord. Verse 18. Now I wish I the brother of Joab the son of Zechariah was chief of another three and he lifted his spear against 300 men killed them in one name among these three was he not the most honored of three.

Therefore, he became the captain. However, he did not attain to the first 3000 and these groupings of three verse 20 bentonite was the king was the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man from Zeal who had done many deeds he had killed two lionlike heroes of Moab. He also had gone down and killed a lion in the midst of a pit on a snowy day so you got got tough enemy in a tough place in the tough times got tough enemy of the line the tough places of pit on a tough time with a snowy day and he still went still has a victory. Verse 21.

Any kiln injection a spectacular man. The Egyptian had a spear in his hand so he went down the hem of the staff rest of the spear out of the Egyptian fan and killed him with his own spear again were seeing these mighty men, these men of faith were seen men of battle. We need to understand where we can read a passage in this chapter go.

I'm a little uncomfortable with all the violence that unit was on this and then and it's just audited.

This is reality. There are fights that are worth fighting in this life. There are things that friend should tweak you and make you angry when you see injustices when you see when you see people going hungry when you see people mistreated by religious authorities is these are things that should stir you up to a fight. Christianity is not a religion, a pacifist's religion of warriors, people are willing to stand up and do battle on the behalf of the souls of men and women we read about these battles. Read about these things and these guys were just talking a good game. I met a lot of people in my life they could talk a good Christianity mean they have all this say the right things and address the right way that it it it it it. But when it came to giving and serving and porn their life out when there is talking a good game. Christianity is not talking a good game this walk they say talk is cheap.

Walking out and we were just engage in an academic exercise of studying the mama man was just go home and probably some on TV on Thursday nights. I don't know what was about studying the Bible so we can do the Bob comes down the loving one another.

Given one another and serving one another life lesson.

Here are actions really do speak louder than her words or actions really do speak louder than her words.

See at the end of their lives. These guys had some talk about did this I did that looked up that injection did this I member this time I did that they had someone talk about what they had done something different. I want to get the end of this life we go well should got involved in that. That church service why people got saved in the shutdown that I would've surely could maybe I could be telling some stories there's going to be people like that's a real I don't want to be one of which you live now what you say you believe every church, including this one is always an aspect were not comfortable spectators all make sure that the spectators are uncomfortable sometimes because I love them that much. Friend, you know for sure that your sins have been forgiven. You can 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, so congratulations for you just made the greatest decision that you will ever make. God bless you, if you pray that prayer with David for the first time we'd love to hear from you. You can visit cross the bridge.com to receive our first steps package with helpful resources to help you begin your walk with Christ. Or you can write to cross the bridge at PO Box 12, 515 Winston-Salem, NC 27117 and share how God is working in your life will DA before we go.

What are some ways that we can bless our listeners each day. You can wake up with encouragement from Pastor David to the word of God with his email devotional life lessons to consider a daily reading plan and the thought to meditate on throughout your day. From the heart. David McGee, that sounds good Pastor day and again.

It's been great to have you with us on the program today but tell us what else can a listers find on cross the bridge.com. If you're not able to make it to your home church this Sunday. Why not join us for our lifestream at 10 AM Eastern time or on Thursday night at 7 PM this visit, cross the bridge.com and click on our lifestream link their experience alive services David Sumter Britt North Carolina yet. That website crossed the bridge.com those are terrific and it's easy and it's free so folks sign up today, cross the bridge.com and thank you for listening.

We hope you'll join us again next time. As we continue studying first by first through second Samuel