Built to Last, Part 4 (cont'd)

Blood may be thicker than water. But some things are thicker still just a few moments, Pastor Paul Shepherd explains the strong bond that can be forged through godly relationships as he shares his message built to last, but before he get started. He joins me know the studio in California Esther were entering into a very critical time in the life of most ministries. It's always the case, we get the summer time but this year I think people are ready to break out in all of the vaccine is more widely distributed vacation rentals are booked at a record pace. The world was ready to get out of this quarantine, but there's a concern there that ministries like ours don't end up forgotten, would you speak to that for moment, yes sir. Every summer I have that concern and I said okay Lord, please help the people to remember that the bills don't stop in the summertime.

The gospel is definitely free. I'm glad and I'm able to saved all of our donors.

You don't have to even think twice about it. When you give to us you're helping us reach others. Pastor Paul doesn't take a single dime of compensation from Destin for victory our resources.

My church takes really good care of me and I'm so glad that they do and so I'm able to serve the audience through Destin for victory without any charge to them, but while the gospel is free. The plumbing cost a lot of money. So even in the summer. I pray that our listeners will be faithful in their giving.

Because the bills continue to come and I want to breach all the way through the summer and let people know while there enjoying vacations the word of God stands forever to find out how you can be a partner or legacy builder with pastor Paul Shepherd please visit Pastor Paul.net that's Pastor Paul.net.

If you can't become a partner, but would like to send a special gift today we be happy to send you by request Pastor Paul's booklet finding strength in tough times. That's finding strength in tough times our gift to you by request for your generous donation to Destin for victory call 855-339-5500 or visit Pastor Paul.net to make a safe and secure donation online. You can also mail your gift to Destin for victory PO Box 1767, Fremont, CA 94538 again that addresses Destin for victory. Box 1767, Fremont, CA 94538 God brings people into your life. Even the natural family bond sales out for the best interest of David where he taps him from his enemy was Jonathan's own father and who is the king in Matthew chapter 12 Jesus tells us that relationships built on a solid Christian foundation form an even stronger bond than blind.

David and Jonathan had exactly the kind of friendship.

Pastor Paul Shepherd explores that now with this message. Built to last, saying blood is given water that tells you that godly relationships are thicker than blood that when God brings people into your life.

Even the natural family bond in the Bible here said that out for the best interest of David to the point where he taps him from his enemy was Jonathan's own father and who is the king you something. Some of us have to learn to let our relationships grow up so that we learn the art of protecting one another. Now I am not about enabling wrong behavior but I'm talking about protecting people from the enemies who would destroy what God is doing in their lives. We must learn the art of protecting people. Let me show you what I mean have you ever been an environment where people began to criticize someone who is there some takes on a wall told clear that this is not helpful is not godly. This is not designed to be redemptive. Anyway this is just backbiting. This is just slander and its role is the question what did you do about it.

What to do about and you don't have to be in a certain level of relationship with that individual brother or sister in Christ is being rolled in your presence. Man's that it speaks up and protects the person who is been wronged, and slander. Don't do it because it'll make you unpopular. I know I've interrupted our conversation full of gossip by saying you know I really don't think it's helpful for us to be talking about this person at all. After all, did not hear your meant to be helpful. Somebody got to tell them I often say to a person who is letting somebody else having to talk to them about this simple question about this with me. So that gives you the right to slander them.

No love insist that you sent me protected but you gotta know that that means you will be unpopular. Sometimes shut down the whole conversation get on a roll, insert a question like that was talking about sounds pretty serious about you shut the whole thing down, but you will please God. In the process protect people slander protect people from gossip all bring gossip.

You always bring it to me if somebody's always bring in Mr. you think your garbage collector so the question is why do you posture yourself in such a way that both feel free to come bring a bunch of junk about other folk to you if you really are. Next, with some gossip.

You really need to be said to be individual but here is what you do so. Sounds pretty serious. Think two things happen number one. I think we all stop and pray for them and, secondly, pray for them since you have the information we want to pray and ask God to bless you as you go talk to them what I've done time bring to you me Jack right now. You really think this really happened. Pray that God will have mercy that you have the details you pray and I agree with you on this. Such a role trying to gather their thoughts and try to get your God to bless somebody that they have no intention of what you want us in a message last time they bring Mr. you and you send them say what listen to me on the sea party is a and B conversation. I'm seen my way out and you go talk to a and let them know what's on your mind, take it seriously, why it's important for you to protect others because one day you will need somebody protect you will be talking about you will be slandering you listen there is a law of reciprocity. The Bible says, you reap what you sow. Protect the other thing in my life one day to be an innocent person. Somebody could be on my job at BMI community BMI charge whatever and I'm going to need somebody who will protect me and you want to be protect the best way to so protection into the lives of others so wonderful feature of living, as he protects his friend from the intentions of the king Saul protection number six.

First Samuel chapter 23 the six building block for godly relationships is sharpening sharpening first 23 verse 15 while David was that Horace learned that Saul had come out to take his life and Saul's son Jonathan went to David and Horace and helped him find strength in God and he said my father Saul will not lay a hand on you, you will be king over Israel, and I will be second to you.

Even my father, Saul knows this is a powerful passage look at what happens.

David is once again on the run from Saul man when Saul couldn't handle his envy when he saw the hand of God on that young man constantly caused him to seek David's life and yet again when you get the 470 23. David is on the run from a hateful, envious king and is running literally for his life and the Bible says Jonathan and his friend the king's son finds David goes out of his way to another town and the Bible says when he finds them he helps David find strength in God call that sharpening what I mean by sharpening. I get that term from Proverbs 2717 that says as iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another sharpening is the ability to add quality to a person's character behavior or state of mind. Say it again, sharpening is the ability to add quality to a person's character behavior or state of mind the ability to strengthen people where they are weak times to sharpen a person you're going to have to encourage and affirm them.

That's what happens here.

What is Jonathan doing he finds David he knows David is in a very discouraged frame of mind. After all, God's hand is on. He knows God is destined to be the king, and yet the present King is trying to kill and done nothing wrong state of mind you're in when you have been totally innocent, but someone continues to treat you like you are guilty, you know the discouragement of those moments when all you've done is in the best interest of people and all done is try to backstab you that hurt your feelings how holy you are that hurt your feelings and listen when you're in that state of mind you're in connectedness in relationship with other people, God will raise up the right person at the right time to come and help you and along comes Jonathan and the Bible says he helps David find strength in God. What does he do.

He tells him David. Don't be afraid. I noticed a bad man, but don't be afraid because God is going to protect you said you are going to be the king and I am going to be second you now the significance of that statement is.

Jonathan is the king's son but all he would expect to be the next King saying about me about this is about God's will and God's hand is on you to be the next king and I'm going to be second to you. Since I need you to be encouraged can't give up now they can't think now the Bible says don't become well doing well because in due season you will don't think will be right back with more of today's destined for victory message from Pastor Paul Sheppard, senior pastor, destiny Christian Fellowship in Fremont, California listen to the broadcast on demand. Pastor Paul.net that's Pastor Paul.net there you also find a host of great resources in our online store if you love someone, you will affirm them, encourage them to also be willing to rebuke them if necessary on the life of King David is Pastor Paul with the rest of today's destined for victory message built to last. Tell somebody close to faint. Now somebody through you into your next season. Remember it's dark before the break of day and night scenes, all all but hang in there because all is on its way down now. God's got something that is better than what's behind you strength in the Lord sometimes sharpening requires affirming and encouraging such as you find in this text, but at other times sharpening in order to sharpen someone to add quality to their character, their behavior or their state of mind.

Sometimes you have to rebuke them is not always affirming sometimes to add quality to someone's life.

You have to pull them aside and say you're wrong about that. Your behaving is not right or you just to get away. God don't like ugly pretty ugly right about now listen. Be sure that sharpening sometimes requires that redemptive please set you straight. Put in Proverbs chapter 27 better open rebuke then hidden love verse 627 says will from a friend can be trusted when an enemy multiplies kisses you know that means you live, and they always great and always smiling always telling you, you wonderful leaving you know you jacked up. That's not a friend that's an enemy. They may think they're a friend but you treated me like you and me when you are enabling my wrong behavior multiplies kisses and will shake his or her finger in your face, you are wrong. You need an attitude adjustment need to go somewhere and get yourself straight people sometimes to heal just like a position to heal, menu, surgery well is going to require the surgery to cut out what is making you sick.

What is killing you name will argue for season design to heal wounds from a friend can be trusted to have a sharp instrument and when their mouth as they talk to you. I am your friend is mom telling you that your friend that's why I'm rebuking you because that's what you need right now somebody to set you straight people and everybody else around them is just making up your wonderful and you see a glaring problem. That's why God has you in their life because you to cover the blind spot and you see that problem and you pointed out the enemy an enemy has a sharp instrument called a knife and stab you in your back to kill a friend has the instrument of surgery and you need you know I love you right you I love you know you my boy right coming ready surgery about the but after the surgery been wrong sharpening, sharpening, sharpening in people's lives. Sometimes that means encouraging and affirming.

Sometimes it means rebuke, but it's all that they might end up better when I let you go. The seventh building block of relationships that last is loyalty second Samuel chapter 9.

By the time you get the second sandal chapter 9 years have passed.

Jonathan is long dead. David is now the King has been the king for many years is on the throne.

Jonathan and his friend and covenant brother is dated and in second Samuel chapter 9 opens with the words the king asked is there no one still left in the house of Saul, to whom I can show God's kindness years after Jonathan is dead. David is saying you know what God use that relationship. The blessed me so much that not only was I a blessing to Jonathan in his lifetime, but I now want to be a blessing to him in his great how can I do that if there's somebody in his household still alive. I will treat them with kindness. I once treated Jonathan and he asked the question and finds out that Jonathan has a son who was a grown man himself at this point and is crippled in both feet and the Bible says David calls for him. He lives down in another town. He lives down and load bar and he calls for him and brings him to the palace any sense to him because of your father. I will not let you live in poverty.

I will not let you live in the slow said you will always dine at my table. I will take care of every need you have for the rest of your life.

Some of us have to learn that love must be loyal enough to say I with you to me in I'm not with you just in the good time with you, just and fair weather with you and somebody to ride which you good times with me when I get a ride with me when you win money is short just believe in God.

I need somebody to let me then a little friend bacon try to get help at all the different stages when it was all like that big time.

Don't want to encourage you when you don't want to let you know you, grinning. No bless you with some people will practice a loyalty be with you when it's thick and I'll be with you when it's copy with you in the sunshine copy with you through the storm. The Bible says Jonathan was blessed when he was dead because David's loyalty lasted past his lifetime and he said I'm going to bless your son and show him the kindness that God has poured out in our lives. I want to encourage you to build your godly relationships. On the seventh building block's and you will discover taking your relationships and your life to the next. Thanks so much for joining us for today's message built to last. If you'd like more information about the destined for Victor ministry with a special offer for those that give generously this month. Be sure to stop by our website Pastor Paul.net that's Pastor Paul.net, stop by on my way to heaven to tell somebody that when your last, your blessed but not everyone will like it. Not everyone will appreciate it. Not everyone will celebrate it because it sure as you do the will of God in your life you're going to discover that there some people who don't like it that's next time. In Pastor Paul Shepard's message dealing with haters. Until then, enjoy your holiday weekend and remember he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion in Christ, you are destined for victory