2 Samuel Chapter 23:1-39

Just talking a good game. I met a lot of people in my life.

They can talk a good Christianity mean they have all this say the right things and address the right way that it is a but when it came to giving and serving them for their life. I'll when there are talking a good game.

Christianity is not talk a good day's walk. They say talk is cheap comes on the loving one another and given one another, serving one another, 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 is 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 want to 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 in 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 we tell others about Jesus, we can expect him to examine watch our lives on day-to-day basis to see if we really believe we say we believe, are you trying to say that our actions really do speak louder than words. Of course Bob people have heard a lot of things, but they want to see someone apply God's word to. Let's find out more about how to do that as David McGee shares first by first finishing up second Samuel chapter 23 today looking at the life of David and work 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 and credible 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 how second Samuel chapter 23 verse one says now these are the last words of David Ness as 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.

These are the names of the mighty men and David had Joe ship the she Beth attacked him.

One night, chief among the captains. He was called adeno that as night because he had killed 800 men at one time after him was aliens are the son of Dodo the Halo high one of three mighty men with David, when they defied the Philistines 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 verse 11 after him was Shema, the son of Agee the hair right. The Philistines are gathered together into a troop, where there was a piece of ground full of lentils so the people fled from the Philistines when he stationed himself in the middle of field defended it and killed the Philistines so the Lord brought about a great victory in three of the 30 chief men went down at harvest time and came to David at the cave of the dual. The trooper Philistines and camped in the Valley.

Every sham and David was then in the stronghold in 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. 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 their captain. However, he did not attain to the first 3000 and these groupings of three verse 20 bentonite was the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man from Zeal he would done many deeds he had killed two lionlike heroes of Moab. They also had gone down and killed a lion in the midst of a pit on a snowy day. 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 five. Christianity is not a religion, a pacifist's religion.

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 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 let's just go home and probably some TV on Thursday nights. I don't know what was about studying the Bible so we can do the comes on the loving one another. Given one another and serving one another life lesson.

Here are 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 handsomely talk about what they had done something different. I want to get the end of this life we go well.

Should've should've got involved in that that church. There were slot people got saved in the should've known that I would've surely could maybe I could be telling some stories there's going to be people like that's the reality.

I want to be one of I don't want you to be one want you to live out what you say you believe every church, including this one is always you have spectators were not comfortable spectators all make sure that the spectators are uncomfortable sometimes because I love them that much. We need to be need to be doing these things.

Verse 22 these things bentonite the center.

Jehoiada didn't want to name among the three mighty men. He was more honored than the 30 he did not attain to the first three and David appointed him over his car and asked that hail the brother of Joab was one of the 30 hung on the son of dodo Bethlehem Shema that Herod I leak out a hairline hell as a pal type hire the son of a cash particular user of the benefit site member neither hush and fight, beginning to verse 20 practices more verse 28 salmonella flight met her eye at the Neto@now we take a break now when things are really seemingly get the book of Chronicles is kinda interesting is is David didn't just have these guys that were serving within the work will is interesting thing were were told that he had a standing army of 24,000 men, who at a moments notice. Ready to do battle will happen is these guys were were the standing guard if you will for one month and then the following month.

There were a different 24,000 would be ready at a moments notice to service Canada. Early version, I guess, of the Army reserve and so everyone took turns serving at work.

It worked very well. One of the reasons it is sometimes you see in the body of Christ. You see people in ministry are tire their burnout is a lot of times there care and the loads of a lot of other people and instead of somebody serving ported out for season and smile stepping up to the place it is time for you. Catch your breath, let me do it for a while that because other people don't do this, the vocal responsibility falls on the shoulders of I think is one of the reasons that to be honest that one of the reasons I think the American church at times is very ineffective because a lot of the American church you've given the statistics 3% 5% 8% of the church actually serves, and yet really to serve the body takes a much larger portion of people.

So how does that work well. The 3 to 5 to 8% are torn to bits in the recipe for coast and that's not biblically healthy that that's not something you see presented in Scripture, and what you see is us carrying one another's load so that everybody gets to catch her breath and obviously we talked about about 50% of the people that that attend this church are in one form of ministry. Another that's the way were able to pull it off as we all come to share the load. Incidentally, to torment the battles and stuff.

One thing that you don't see in the life of David mentioned David being a warrior is incredible warrior but you realize David is I see in the Bible never picked a fight is incredible warrior but he never picked a fine and if you're going back to the story Goliath may remind you we went to the front line not the fight, but to take supplies to his brothers and when he heard this guy was coming out and challenge not only armies of Israel, but God himself got there nobody else is willing to go out there and imagine what the other people must've felt is a small young boy came up off-line and you really see a lot about the character of Saul when David young David comes up shepherd boy comes up to this king, who were told was a very tall man and his off-white Goliath and Saul's responses that you know what this is my gig. This is my job. You know I'm there to go out about Saul, the Weasley King says all you want to take my armor is a real insight in the solid David doesn't pick fights but David doesn't run from fights either when David finds himself in the midst of fight he stands his ground firmly think there's a lot of wisdom in this because a lot of times as Christians we try to go out with.

We try to pick fights. We got no business being involved in and then when the fight comes so a lot of times will I will and we don't stand our ground firm is a great model for ministry. I want to pick fights but when a fight comes to me and and friend.

I'll be honest, they have and they will continue to stand my ground firmly just roll over like a dead dogs and then on the that's not what were doing here. This is what God has called us to do this is what were doing and you know what in.

That's the end of the discussion that sent me to stand my ground firmly one because I don't want to roll over and fly Jesus talks about when he sees talks of the difference between a shepherd and a Harley's hireling runs when the wolf comes up you never see David when a fight comes a David there's like okay do the same. I'm ready and some of you have thought in the midst of these battles that you should rule over whatever don't pick fights. Some of you are probably picking way too many fights. What happens is you pick the many fights you don't have energy to fight the vice God brings it cc then the life of David not sad away from fights not to conflicts and just a lot of wisdom in 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 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 29. Helen, the son of Vanna, the neato faith I if I the son of her ball from giving the children of Benjamin Minaya paraffin. I hit AI from the book Brooks of gay ABM on the bus. I asked my fifth, the embargo might sortie a long time ago. Verse by verse, verse 32.

If ever I was going to mail it to me right now Delia by Michelle. Well I the sons of Jason Jonathan Shea mother Howard.

I ate the son of sure are the error I even fell at the son of Best Buy, the son of Meka fight easily, the son of the fill the dealing we been going through this genealogy needed genealogies in the Bible and and quite frequently go through me go. How is this even in here. I don't understand why you were given all this began to get me Began in there someplace and were just goes on and on and on missionary or something. As a Bible student as so many studies about every genealogy in the Bible has something in without exception, all of them have something in it where you start looking at will when women this verse 34 enters a mystery that has a felt was a man who it was said that he will.

It was as if speaking to God's counsel was so why, but is very confusing and and and we believe that David was speaking of the Hitler felt when he writes about his friend in the Psalms that they used to go to the temple together, but then with what we see in second Samuel is a hemp that fell who is in guy Lola guy when knights joins the rebellion of Absalom and felt was so tight with David Wasi joining the other side and when the rebellion with Absalom doesn't work out. Phil says he gets his house in order. He goes home and he kills himself.

What you really don't understand the background you look at that guy while his and his responses way out of proportion to the stimulus. There must be something else going on.

There was something else going on. I hit the fellow that is spoken of their and speaks of here were told. Hitler felt had a son helium. So what was up with a hint of felt were told to this genealogy in another verse second Samuel 11 verse three sister Davidson inquired about the woman and someone said is this not Bathsheba, the daughter of Helio, the wife of Uriah the Hittite hatha felt had a son.

His name was helium helium had a daughter her name was Sheba that is why the hit the fellow in David quit being friends hit the fill, left Jerusalem went to Gallo waited his for his moment of rebellion saw his opportunity with Absalom and saw revenge upon the life of David. Every genealogy has something like this in. If you look at it if you pray about it.

If you ask the Holy Spirit to reveal it to stay around here long enough to get to the genealogies each and every genealogy and you'll see something like this and every time I have to. Phil had the same option of everybody else in that when Damon messed and David said you know I messed up I sent I need God to forgive me. Felt had the opportunity to say no to forgive you.

David.

But what did he do, he held bitterness and unforgiveness in his heart and because of that ultimate fruit that unforgiveness, for others that critical spirit ends up taking his own life because that's the root of bitterness and unforgiveness. It will literally eat you alive tonight your nursing anything like that friend letting go letting go somebody's wounded you are wanted somebody cared about, don't carry that around anymore because I will eat you up inside. Given that the Jesus Christ and it may be that it's you don't feel it.

You don't feel like you don't want to in your heart, forgive this person, but as an act of will let your mouse I got forgive that person. Verse 35 has rather Carmelite pair either. Arbeit it all, the son of Nathan is over man of the Gadi verse 37 is elect them a nightmare.

I beer right over bear of Joab the son of Uriah fire the it's right care of this right and Uriah the Hittite 37 and so there was 30 mighty men 37 because it is one God. Somebody else will replace him, but it's kind of sad that the last verse includes Uriah the Hittite, who we know, was the husband of Bathsheba.

We know that he was an honorable man, so much to the point that when David caught them out the battlefield, he would even go home because his men that he was leaving were still on the battle. David tried to get him to do the go home and he wouldn't do it ends up Diane look at that life here I go wow what a wasted life.

He died in the service of the king who is in sin. You Ryan died in the service of the king who is and send to honor God. Uriah's life is not waste in the truest sense of the word why because Uriah was doing what he did to serve God that David, the king, he was servant obviously was in sin obviously was messing Uriah is still honored in this passage. What I say that because a lot of times I think we're looking for the perfect leader in the perfect church and them will serve and honor God right there you have your out your never going to find the perfect church so there you don't have to serve God or serve people for Esterline there churches, except God doesn't give you God knowing that were all in perfect says were supposed to love one another and serve one another and honor one another in esteem one another. Pray for one another $0.20. So, Uriah is honored, even here, even those messed up situation. He still was stored up heavenly rewards if you will the service people mess up people make mistakes you make mistakes all make mistakes, how we deal with one another and there's times tells a lot about who we are and you see when Damon messed, he said you know what, I'm the man. When Nathan came to visit, told a little story about the sheep and and and and David says it should be killed. Nathan Thursday Mrs. know you're the man. Davises been wrong. I am sin before God and evidently a lot of people that were gathered around David today we know that we love you still in a servient were starting to be with speaks highly of David speaks highly of those people and speaks extremely highly of the grace and mercy of God. The amazing thing is in this instant God never stepped David down as King in Emerson. David you can't be king anymore. You're done. That's it for me. Your goal way. You gotta go through this 12 year 12 step restoration process never did. Not only did God keep them as King, God still pondered the covenant that he had within God still shows him to be of the lineage of Jesus Christ. So much so that the crispers of the New Testament Matthew chapter 1 verse one says this the book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David. Certainly the author of the book was well aware of the rest of the book and what David had done left that part out what he calls Jesus Christ the son of David who we have come to know through this book messed up with Bathsheba conspiracy to commit murder. All these things will look at the grace and mercy of God. Matthew question is that consistent with the who you think God to be. That's who God is. If your perception is not that he is a God of mercy and a God of grace, may I suggest your perception is inaccurate because throughout this book. I see men messing up I see women messing up see David messing up and God loving and must-see Peter messing up and God loving. I see the forgiven woman who had committed adultery mess up and be forgiven and over and over, and yet how often we try to be the only army in the world that shoots his wound. Maybe tonight your the walking wounded. Maybe you've messed up maybe you've messed up so bad that you just don't think God can forgive you, God can forgive you of anything you know messed up in a lot of the ways in my life and remember one time there was there was one incident that I prayed over and over, please forgive me this God please forgive me of that and I Every time I would pray for God please forgive me this. Remember one time being in prayer saying that in the Lord that still small voice said was is not enough. So what we term it was said. I gave my son for you he blending died upon the cross so you can be forgiven not just of some of your sons, but Alderson and you keep insisting that I've not yet forgiven you of this one thing you keep coming back to me with was the blood of my son. Not enough to forgive you for got I'm sorry accept your forgiveness see friend of your out there in your sample God can forgive me of this or God can forgive and you are limiting the most powerful force on this planet. The shed blood of Jesus Christ, which has no limit to it knows no measure know about the only sin I cannot forgive is this thing that's never asked forgiveness for the only hard it cannot invade is the heart will not allow 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, 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 of 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 to bridge 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@crossthebridge.com and thank you for listening. We hope you'll join us again next time. As we continue studying first by 1st to 2nd Samuel