1 Samuel Chapter 30:1-17

When you pray about something. When you ask God any answers you need to act on that answer C and and David here. Ask question with a heart to carry through on the action so important. Have a willing heart is God what he wanted.

It will do anything God what he wanted while want to join the sparkle team and help clean the church okay other than that what he omitted is is there something else you have to be willing to follow through. That's the next life lesson God answers act on the welcome to cross the bridge with David McGee Senior Pastor of the bridge in Kernersville, North Carolina today. One of these assisting pastors is with this help us as we continue going through first Samuel chapter 30 welcome Pastor Neil thanks Bob for having me today great to join in with the listeners.

As we continue through first Samuel and just looking forward to this day as now we get to hear from listen. We've heard that word from the Lord heard him say go do this work. Talk to this person say this prayer or even not do something now it's time for us to respond with her from the Lord to take that step of faith… He is a continued teaching first by first Samuel chapter 31st Samuel is to a large part about David and Saul… Order Saul and David. Saul was a king who continued not to trust God continue not to be really obedient to God over a long period of time began to suffer from those bad decisions and we seen David and David made his share of bad decisions, but we see a heart that soft towards God willing to come back to God that when we were looking at chapter 29 what we saw is David who had made his camp with the enemy of you.

It was now live in and stay in with the Philistines and fool them into thinking he was on their side. He was planning on joining their battle with the Israelites and as we saw in chapter 29 the Philistines that will, we don't want you in this battle and so they said you can't be in this battle. And so David is left out of that battle but we talked about how that was the hand of the Lord. And so David, after being rejected by the Philistines of going in the battle against the Israelites.

Now he's getting ready to turn back to his home and that's where we pick it up in first Samuel chapter 30 start with verse one. Now it happened when David and his men came as a clack on the third day that the Amalekites had invaded the South and sick like ataxic leg and burned it was fire in a taken captive. The women and those who were there from small to great. They did not kill anyone, but carried them away and went their way.

So David and his men came to the city and there was burned with fire, and their wives are sons and daughters have been taken captive. Then Dave and the people who were with him lifted up their voices and wept until they had no more power to weep and David's two wives and a non-adjuster lightest and Abigail the widow of Nepal, the Carmelite had been taken captive that David was greatly distressed for the people spoke of stoning because the soul of all the people was grieved every man for his sons and his daughters, but David strengthened himself in the Lord is God. Then David said that Beth are the priest Ahimelech son. Please bring the e-file here to me and I prefer broadleaf on to David so David inquired of the Lord sent shall not pursue this troop shall overtake them and answered him pursue for you shall surely overtake him without fail. Recover all so far was one of the few guys that escape the massacre of the priest was Saul and so David is actually traveling with the only true high priest and is) a prominent Saul having an hear from God is the high priest who spoke to the people on behalf of God was unavailable to Saul because he was with Dave and so David says hey I want to inquire of the Lord. What does God want me to do and and what an awesome thing that again you can go straight to God. Now in complicated situations and things where there's a serious problem and you really need input again. I'm this is not an escape of responsibility.

This is wanting to encourage you to develop that relationship with the Lord. And so you don't have to have the high priest David does in this situation any. He wants to know what God wants him to do nothing about this.

These people have kidnapped his wife and children. They burn the village. David is obviously upset the people are trying to kill and and David has the composure to stop and say God what you want me to do what what a challenge is that isn't and how convicting that brings us to the next life lesson we should always ask the Lord about our decision.

We should always ask the Lord about our decisions. I'm sure that David was upset and because he was upset it was.

I think even more important for him to ask the Lord. David had been done wrong. Obviously, but still he stopped me sitting on the figure out what God wants me to not so important that so important, I think the more emotional you are about situation. The more important it is that you not act in your own assumptions. Patty asked the Lord is praying, asking God, I need to know what you want me to do about this job. I need to know what you are made about this car about this house Lord, I need to know what you want me to do with this person or this relationship in the Lord to speak to now, I've never heard an audible voice of God to hear that inner voice that small still Intervoice God speaks to me through his word he speaks to move through teachings like this and and also through other believers. But in what you want to do is seek out when you go to people seek out people who have a track record of hearing from God. Seek out people who understand the word of God and can counsel you through the word of God, not just on their own opinions and again in the midst of all this, David's responses to run the Lord to go to God's a God I need your help. Verse nine.

So David went he and the 600 men who were with them and came to the brook. The sore were those state who were left behind. So David went. David had his answer. David acted on answer David and go well I don't know. Not really sure I know the Lord said this, I know the Bible says this, but just not sure but is not sure what to do and I just not sure I will do anything so they'll just sit here in the gutter told me what to do for and you can't do that when you pray about something. When you ask God any answers you need to act on that answer C and and David here asked the question with a heart to carry through on the action that so important to have a willing heart is God what he wanted. I won't do anything God what he wanted to well want you to join the sparkle team help clean the church okay other than that when he omitted it is is is there something else you omitted have to be willing to follow through. That's next life lesson when God answers act on the answer when God answers act on the answer is been my experience that when you ask God something and then you don't listen. Sometimes a quick talk and quit talking.

I remember so vividly I was in a Christian band traveling around. God had begun lay on my heart to do more teaching and part of that was in just doing, a solo thing and acoustic guitar and occasionally use it in with bands as we travel in God laid out on my heart but I never done anything like that so I knew that's what God wanted me to do, but I was really dragging my heels and member went up to the spiritual, retreat place up in the near boon just to spend some time with the Lord took the family up there. Got them all in bed in a one night set down at the table just to praying in and feel impressions from the Lord and I had mob Bible open piece paper and a pen in your largest speak to me now you know. And I never forget that that small still Intervoice it I'm not telling you anything else until you do whatever told is like will okay will guess we can go back home now for the spiritual retreat that works because the Lord in our spaghetti scene ever told to lay down the band and to do this thing going forth and just you and in years later understood in part why did that because it enabled the minister do a lot more and a lot more places lot water of the Senate to even probably been done with the band so understood it later, but I had to take that step of faith and and I was willing. After that I was willing to step out and act on what God had told me to do and and that's important whether you hear that in that still small Intervoice or to teaching like this are in or through a devotion nor something.

Be willing to step out in action and and develop a listening ear and out and enlisting heart a listening ear and listening heart, not lust. Let's look at three things that David has done so far. Number one. Be encouraged in the Lord be encouraged in the Lord. Number two is inquire of the Lord inquire of the Lord.

Number three is take action for the Lord to be encouraged in the Lord inquire of the Lord, and take action. For the Lord.

If you do these things, God will bless you and God will help you in these things and I think a lot of times if you're not willing to do these things then it leaves you in a bad place but if you do these three things, even when bad things happen, you'll see a plan of God become clear in your mind. Thank you for listening to David McGee with cross the bridge ministries. David's heart is to help you beyond our radio program.

We will continue teaching the word of God in bringing hope to the power of the Scriptures we know that these are unusual times so we want to share with you many of our online tools. Please check out.

You are loved.org to take advantage of these free resources. Our daily devotional has a helpful reading plan thoughts from the Scripture and practical life lessons to help encourage you on. You are loved.org you can find full length teachings from Pastor David and his assistant pastor's baby, you're not able to attend services at your local church right now and visit you are loved.org so you can join us live on Sunday mornings at 10 AM Eastern and Thursday evenings at 7 PM Eastern time again, these are free resources to help you anytime day or night. During these difficult times. Now back to David McGee ever senses the David Purcell EN 400 men for 200 stay behind who were so aware that they could not cross the brook.

The sore part of the guys are really tired and worn out and they stop there, and David continued on. But both groups had a roller to play in the kingdom. This is important concept in this is one of the important lessons in here. Everybody has a part to play in the kingdom. Every single person and when somebody doesn't play their part within the body misses out when the body of Jesus. The church doesn't function as well as it should. Then the whole world suffers.

I think that's part of what we see now is wrong with the world potato story. My father was always a big giver Christmas very generous God, and always did beyond what you were expecting to show family with young kids and they always want more than we could afford. So grandpa would come to the rescue so is always a giver and then what I remember one year. He came in the house and the you know we had actually shut down a there is a cedar tree in the front yard that I had really I was going to cut down anyway yeah because it was kinda not in a good place in landscape so so I cut it down and I put it inside and uses a Christmas tree. It probably wasn't the most gorgeous Christmas tree hit everything. I remember that came by think that elected very good soldier led three of us through actually was in the front yard and a set and so it was just a couple nights later I came home and versus big, gorgeous, nice Christmas trees and him against the door and by that.

It felt so sorry for us think that is very and you know what every year after that the same thing would happen we come home and there be Christmas drills, but as my dad's health failed.

He was able to do less and less and he was bedridden that that the family out and we'd all bought gifts for my dad and and we gave them those gifts. Each child when we did that he after that part was finished she looked up at me and and there was a pain in his eyes and and I knew why the pain was there because dad didn't have anything to give.

It wasn't used been in that position now.

Thankfully I thought about this before and I actually had Starbucks cards for each family member and so I kinda leaned over to dad leaned over and in the bed and as I did. I slipped the Starbucks cards in his hand and a big smile came over his face and he a list of the cards to the kids said he got America's point of that story is that you and I never have to feel like my dad felt like that for a moment see that moment he felt like he had nothing to give. I was wrong because we wanted his love, but that's what he felt. But you know what Frank, you don't have to feel like that because God has uniquely gifted each and every person that's in here right now in some way to be a part to play a part in the kingdom of God. See don't have to feel like you have nothing to offer free and you got yourself off and you are a combination of some unique gifts now in first Kings 19 nine is an interesting exchange and I guess I need to actually set this up first. Elijah has has this. He's had these huge victories and will going all the detail but his hand is huge victories, but also think it's really freaked out because his life was threatened and he goes and he hides in a cave and there he went into a cave and spend the night in that place and hold the word of the Lord came to him in the center. What are you doing here, Elijah, God wasn't confused about why Elijah was there. He knew Roger was there a lot. It was on the ride. Elijah was letting his fear rule, his faith, and this is something that we see David had set into motion in his life that his fear was ruling his face and some of the other way around. That's why he wound up in Phyllis to a win in Phyllis the anyway. He was like a spear will is faith got into a mirror to be anointed king but his fierce and you better run solid indicate. David responded to the fear not the faith. Elijah was responded to the fear not the faith. Matthew question in your life responded to the fear are you respond to faith. Sometimes you want to stand up in spite of the circumstances. That's what was going on here with Elijah. But back to our story. Verse 11 then they found in Egyptian in the field and brought them to Dave and they gave them bread in the eight and 11 drink water from the game a piece of cake of fags into clusters of raisins. So when he and Eaton histories came back to free no bread nor drunk water for three days and three nights in verse 13. Then David said them.

To whom do you belong and where you from and he said I am a young man from Egypt servant of an Amalekite in the master left me behind because three days ago I fell sick so we see you know the Amalekites are not real warm fuzzy and charming. This servant get sick and they say will relieve it for kind of a sad commentary, but aren't you glad that you serve Jesus because as we serve Jesus. Jesus not only will carry you when you're sick, but he reward you at the end of all this. According to this book.

He doesn't, you know, look at jingo well you know your your margin what I thought you'd be here. You're not going to church quite as often as I thought you would is here not bring as much as I thought you would. I have to leave it out here in the hot thing in desert. He doesn't do that he doesn't do Jesus loves us so much he doesn't leave us. He doesn't turn to us and yeah I really hope to turn out better than list that he always stays with us carries us when we are sick or hurt. Verse 14 says we made an invasion of the southern area of the parasites in the territory which belongs to Judah, and of the southern area of Caleb and we burn zinc lag with fire. And David said to him, can you take me down to the street so I said swear to me by God that you will neither kill me nor deliver me in the hands of my master now will take you down of this troop and when he brought them down there. They were spread out all over the land, eating and drinking and dancing because of all the great spool which they taken from the land of the Philistines, and from the land of Judah then noticed something. Look at who the Amalekites were attacking talked about the distraction thing they were attacking the land of Judah. The men of Israel who were engaged getting ready and then this battle they were attacking in the land of the Philistines. The Philistines also engaged in this battle against the Israelites and they hit zinc lag where David and his men were because they were also preoccupied with this battle yet understand something here. The enemy will attack the home front. He will attack the home front. And if you're thinking that if you servant for you know or actually may be recalled in the ministry at some point. There's this holy halo and hedge becomes about your home.

That's not exactly true.

God will always always protect you but what I've learned is that there is a expectation from God to look after the home front and the enemy is starlight and op as you serve God more. The enemy doesn't why not. He comes on heavier and heavier because now you're more and more of a threat you see is only here a few potato you not really do anything you come in here you hear the teaching you leave may give a little bit. Maybe you don't. You're not really a threat to the enemy line because your friends and your families and your coworkers will be honest they probably don't take your faith really seriously because you're not living out what you say you believe, but the moment you begin to live out what you say you believe you become a threat to the enemy and lo and behold as you serve people and give your life away you become more and more of a threat to the enemy in your life will make a huge difference in reality is enemy will be upset to be sure again that you're fighting on the right fronts in your directing your energies in the right battles over 17 says, then David attacked them from twilight until the evening of the next day and not a man of them escaped except for hundred young men who rode on camels and fled as is interesting, want you listen only people escaping 400 young men how many people were there were a bunch of people.

How many people did Damon at 400 but this fighting force of David was so powerful and it was like an army now.

They started out as a bunch of ragtag rejects, but now God was using him an incredible way and he's going to continue to use them in incredible way and see this is the thing God's spirit can take a group of people and through his spirit and through training, turn them into an incredible fighting force and this is what you see in this verse.

Knowing this first, is also what you see in the New Testament. There's a beautiful verse Zechariah chapter 4 verse six says so he answered and said to me this is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel not by might nor by power but by my Spirit, says the Lord of host. She wanted to look as his regular why can't. Maybe you can't.

But God can maybe look at a situation while I'm not able maybe you're not able. But God is always a will maybe look at his regular that's impossible what was you.

It is impossible but with God all things are possible. I think of the New Testament think the 12 disciples of Jesus 11 after juice left and he told them he was going to use them to tell the whole world not be told in this in a day where there was no Internet.

There was no radio, no television, there were no cars there were no planes. There were no trains and he said you're going to reach Lahore on incredible thing and yet God using those 11 misfits and outcast. We know that because see other religious people are had rabbis that they were following Jesus told them to follow him. They were following anybody else really. Maybe complement John the Baptist but look what Jesus did with them. He gave them this challenge. Matthew 2816.

This is then the 11 disciples went away in the Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted.

Even at this moment. Interesting.

Verse 18 and Jesus came and spoke to them sent all authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations. What a challenge baptizing in the name of father and of the son of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I commanded you. And low. I'm with you always, even to the end of the agent men while anything about.

They looked around they saw a doubter denier couple brothers were very interested in the power structure in attaining power of former tax collector probably lied and cheated people in Jesus we drowns on army people to change the world and Jesus said to those 11 people.

I wonder what God's going to do. The people that are here now God desires to use us to turn the world right side up. The only thing that can stop us well as you if you refuse to engage. If you refuse to follow the Lord of you won't step up and allow the Lord to lead in your life and you can actually prevent the power of God for making a part of what's going on. Your sins can't your past can't your imperfections can't only her unwillingness to follow him and to engage and be a part of David was willing to follow any had victories and he made some mistakes and one in credible line file. Why because he was willing to engage in follow the Lord's will encourage you to do the same. Friend, you know for sure that your sins have been forgiven.

You can know right now own Legion.

A short simple prayer simply telling God you're sorry and asking him to help you to live for him.

God wants 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 it friend if 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 before we go. Have you been listening to the teachings to the book of first Samuel we can pick some of these teachings, it will encourage your prayer life. Pastor Neal can you tell us more about we all hunger for a deeper connection with the Lord and pastor David shares through past living examples how to have that deeper connection. So when you give a gift today we are going to send you for your generosity praying through first Samuel. It's a four CD series that will encourage you in a deeper relationship with the Lord. And as you step out on faith and give a gift to cross the bridge today will send this in appreciation for your generosity. Again, please visit crossed the bridge.com to give today and get your copy of praying through first Samuel we would also like to encourage you to grab pastor David Staley each day wake up perfectly past work of God's life lessons to consider a daily reading plant in the fault to meditate on your day heart. It's easy. It's free to sign up today on crossed the bridge.com folks.

Thanks for listening into the next time. As David McKee continues teaching verse by verse through first Samuel