1 Samuel Chapter 29:1-5

Our is a rare exception where something catches you off guard, something happens that was totally unplanned but more often in their lives.

What happens over time and over years of bad decisions. All of a sudden the roof caves in, is usually a track record of some bad decisions like financial problems usually find yourself in financial problems because of one and then you find yourself there because of history of making bad decisions. Welcome to cross the bridge with David McGee Senior Pastor of the bridge in Kernersville, North Carolina. We are blessed to have the studio with us today. David McGee's assistant pastors Pastor Neal pleasure with his brother thanks Bob, it's good to be here with you as well start digging in this chapter, one of the main things pastors could be sharing about today is when those troubles and calamities come up in life we feel like that was an instant, but sometimes often times it's led up to by maybe decisions that we make in what way about mistakes and shortcomings mess up, but the reality is this Bob, we want to learn to be able to follow the Lord closely and do his will.

Awesome. Let's get right to David McGee verse by verse teaching first Samuel turn with me to first Samuel chapter 29 list.

A quick review.

Saul is seeking to kill David. David is been on the run for years now David as ran to the Philistines of all people and is hiding out there. I want you to remember that God did not tell David to go to the land of the Philistines, so I think we can assume a couple of things about David being in the land of the Philistines. Number one, it was not God who led them there and perhaps at this point David is either making real bad decisions. Or we might even be able to use the term backslidden because he's he's ran out of Israel and hidden.

He's admitted he and I can't really worship God in a strange land and is brought to this place of diligent by his own choosing and is going to be interesting as we look at tonight how God intervenes at first glance, I was thinking what will make it through chapter 29 and 30, Zamora looked at chapter 29 the more that's in there that is really a personal present-day application or something you can use something you can take away with tonight so probably just can leave it at chapter 29 Celeste jump in here. First Samuel chapter 29 verse one says then the Philistines gathered together all their armies at HVAC and the Israelites and can't buy a fountain which is in Jezreel Jezreel has some historical significance already.

Before this.

This is the place to remember where Gideon took on the Midianites with just 300 men. You may remember the story was the original 300 I guess we can and and you know there is a bunch of guys and God said, yet too many guys need to vent about something. The leader always wants to hear and then he still had too many guys got said I want to them out some more and some of them that drink a certain way from the brook with a 300 that God chose historical setting. Philistines are gathering to attack Israel and and quite frankly Saul. Saul is in trouble.

He's been told that this battle will not go well that he is and he and his sons will die Samuels now passed away.

David is no longer willing Saul is not walking with the Lord there it just the bad situation we see everything pointing to kind of a bad outcome, and I want you to notice as we going to the book of Samuel.

This is it because of one mistake Saul may.

This is because of repetitious mistakes and not willing to repent and not willing to hear from the Lord disobeying and not listen to other leaders. That's the first life lesson rarely to troubles and calamities come in an instant, rarely to troubles and calamities come in an instant. How is that rare exception where something catches you off guard, something happens that was totally unplanned for but more often in their lives. What happens over time and over years of bad decisions. All of a sudden the roof caves in, but it's usually again a track record of some bad decisions like financial problems usually find yourself in financial problems because of one event you find yourself there because a history of Macon bad decisions and this is certainly true in the life of Saul is going to find himself in a bad place because of the history of bad decisions.

I verse two says, in the words of the Philistines past and reviewed by hundreds about thousands, but David and his men pastor review at the rear with a shish limit remind you that David is now with the Philistines and that he ran off and he's been attacking. He's been telling this king that he's been attacking this place and that place what is been leaving out as he was attacking the enemies of Israel and meanwhile the leader is thinking that David is kind of on their sides of helps with the setup. Verse three says, then the princes of the Philistines said what are these Hebrews doing here and Asher said to the princes of the Philistines. Is this not David the servant of Saul king of Israel who is been with me these days of these years, and to this day I have found no fault in him since he defected to me of find no fault in him scan interesting in a shish is kind of an interesting guy and that he was willing to take David under his wing and I'm sure he took him under his wing because David was a good warrior, David had the 600 other men who were warriors, but still can. Interesting.

And please note, this is to this day I have found no fault in Christianity is an interesting thing lifetimes followers of Jesus think it's their ministry or their role. The find faults and other people to faultfinding send Smith if you will figure out what's wrong with somebody in the course broadcasted, but the Bible talks about love covering a multitude of sins. You realize everybody must just go ahead and break the suspense you realize everybody in here is a center and is messed up how some of us may be a little bit better at hiding that fact. But all of us are sinners. We messed up in the past I'd say most of us is probably messed up today and will mess up again. Hopefully it's getting less frequent and hopefully the sensor been less severe in the sense that there's life besetting sins. You should be letting go of the thing but it's amazing how much those things internally.

No judgment of others and lack of love with others how they can crop up just like that Dawson were looking at other people's lives. And the thing is I like the same whenever were pointing the finger at somebody else. There's three more point back it up, and oftentimes, and we talk about the fact were revealing.

What's wrong with students like the thing you've heard me say before counseling comes and says that they don't do the same work as upset this semi-coming we go also to they have probably got Dana evidently even sit in talking with them, so you also have probably got to be careful of this one because if you think it's your personal ministry to find out what's wrong with somebody else and you going to be breaking a lot of relationships. Figure out what's wrong with everybody else figured out what's wrong with other Christian let me get my cabbie.I'm not speaking of doctrinal issues with Christian leaders not talking about keeping people accountable to what they've promised to do what they said to do work to keep in a higher standard to those who are involved in leadership but still I think we need to be careful with this verse four is with the princes of the Philistines were angry with him so the princes of the Philistines said to him make this fella returned that he may go back to the place what you have appointed for him and do not let him go down with us to battle less than the battle he become her adversary. For with what could he reconcile himself to his master of not with the heads of these men is not this David, of whom they saying to one another and danced the same. Saul has slain his thousands, and David is 10,000 so they've got a very real fear same luck work were going to end of this battle really fine Israelites we got this major Israelite fighter that supposedly going into the battle with us. What's to keep him in the middle. This battle from turning on us is a very real fear that what's amazing is that David is in the enemy's camp. David has placed himself at the will and the whim of this ungodly leader and the amazing thing is through these people who don't like David, you are challenging him even being there who are ungodly men are being used by God to keep David out of fighting shouldn't be see this against the rock your theological boat a little bit and here's one we believe and we talked about this permissive will this perfect will of God, and I don't kinda challenge that notion you been around church very long. You've heard it you've grown up with it and yet I wonder about, and here's why. Because here's David who he wouldn't say is in the perfect will of God.

And yet, God will use these events in this location to work out his will in the situation in the enemies While David's running in David side you see most of us if we were in a one-on-one conversation or ask you to write down your answer this question in and said will God keep you whatever you do. Many of you would write down well as long as you do what's right. I need to challenge that that's your view of God see you got a very legalistic view of God you believe that God will look after you.

As long as you're doing what's right. So what happens when you do what's wrong this guy no longer keep you as is power shortened his arm shortly can keep you see were confronted with this is it. As we look at God's whole relationship with Israel. And I know there's people out there say what God is finished with Israel, we need to read Romans is according to Romans, God is not finished with Israel. But here's the problem in replacement theology.

I have a real issue with because of the roots and legalism that I have a replacement theology goes something like this guy had the special relationship with Israel but see after a moment of time. After years went by, and Israel didn't act right then God divorced Israel and said I'm done with. They just acted too bad for too long as it finished and now that Israel is finished and that God is finished with Israel. Now God has moved the church into all the promises were made to the Israel people. I had a bunch of problems with number one is very unscriptural courting the book of Romans, God's not finished with Israel during the book of Revelation. God is not finished with the but the concept of that if you mess God's done with you what happens the grace God's out the window sounded like this for years. I don't ever want to go back to an image like this well Asked Jesus to forgive me of my sense of asking the cleanse me from my past and as long as I do everything right.

From here on out every thing will be okay. I lived like that, and on the days that I was doing well. I thought God is pleased with me. God God. He loves me on the days I messed up I thought God didn't love me.

I thought God was angry with me and I thought God was trying to work out some plan to get rid of squash me like a proverbial book is no way to live and when we look at this chapter work confronted with some of these concepts and the other thing is I don't know how this works in an me balance this out. I'm not saying that you are presumptive are you assume God is going to take care of you no matter what you do is if you go out here and you make some bad decisions tonight.

You decide that you can do 90 on bone. God may see fit to get you busted okay, but that's not EE may keep you in the jail is still keeping but you may suffer some of the penalties of your action. So be careful about problem presumption here. Thank you for listening to David McGee with cross the bridge ministries.

David's heart is to help you beyond a 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 pastors. Maybe 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. Now back to David McGee essay in this book that somehow God redeems the history of men and women even when they mess up.

We talked about Moses before the fact that you know Moses, God said you're going to be used as the deliver and Moses said okay I'm to take them out one at a time so you know he starts his thing in. He wipes out a couple of injections in Godhead reminding you know what that that's not the plan to spend 40 years in the desert. Think about but while he was one drowned in the desert those times were just wasted.

They were used as later on he lab the Israelites around the desert. He knew where the wadi's that the screen the water was newer. The fields were think I can redeem the time in your life you look at the life of Joseph, and certainly can look is like go out. He wasted so much time God was in charge. The whole time with Potter for Potter for his wife and with the jail with the Pharaoh and all these things God was using those times he redeem those things. See because I think a lot of times, especially if you came to the Lord later in life. Maybe you're still sitting on the fence now.

Anything. Well, you know wasted so much to not sure what God can do with me now. I even do an incredible amount with is you step off the fence and the reality is, is he such a keeping God that even if you decide to stay on the fence and I would recommend that God still located. God is going to use this time in David's life for some powerful things now. Right now, these guys there matter and and David's probably going on. This is not good it feels things are mad at me, maybe singular to killing the guys can use it for the good test for the mystery of what I'm just talk about not God is able to use everything in your life or your spiritual God is not going to explain everything to you along the way.

There were gloomy times when your life here and think God, there is no way that you're using this for my spiritual good and I can promise you. I've had times in my life. I thought he must be mad at me. There's no way he's gonna work this out. Forget and guess what year, five years, 10 years after that I look back a while as you do that. How did you do that and say this not nonchalantly not likely because I know some of you are very painful situation, but it's amazing sometimes when you get most painful situations you you draw closer to God than you've ever been in your life, and at the end of this all, what would you rather have in hand the fact that you had less faith. Painful experiences you weren't that close.

The Lord, or the fact that you have a lot of pain and you were really close to God, I'll take the pain. I'll take the pain because I know that God will keep me through this season. The keeping power of God. Every time we close the service I pray a prayer of you. The Lord bless you and the Lord keep you and you know what I know when I pray those things God's able to do the God can bless you and God can keep you and he can keep you even when you decide to hang out. The enemies can be hanging out enemies can. Okay, don't be doing only got a minute so so so things will this work plan on fact is, you probably write down it and and at least half of us are being honest will say none that will keep us through. But God is a keeping God. The Hebrew word?

To protect to keep to put a hedge about actually that to put hedge about with doors, an interesting concept there in the Lord bless you and keep you hedge about the thorn's like he had the crown of thorns now the life lesson here, God is a keeping God.

God is a keeping God why is this so important because there's people out there that will say that you can lose your salvation in a heartbeat perfectly check every hour.

Make sure you're safe. Doubtless balance that out because there's other people that say was long as you utter a short prayer you're good you don't have to worry about God rest of your life you got fire insurance, rent okay I think that's flawed to but I think we need to recognize that God is a keeping God. In other words, you're going to go through things are going to go through seasons where you mess up, and God will keep you God will keep you in the midst of those things I'm not getting all this theology. From this chapter. I'm getting this theology from the whole book of Philippians chapter 1 verse six is this, and I'm sure that God, who began the good work within you will continue his work until it is finally finished. On that day when Christ Jesus comes back again no adverse housing God's keeping God who started the working according that verse, God is going to finish the work in you. According adverse God is what you're part. Give yourself over to God. God is able to keep you, he started he's going to completed. I think a lot of times we don't rest and that verse now again there's the balance of that doesn't mean your own coast now because you still have free will you stop decisions you need to make, but it means that God in his ability, is able to start something and you and is able to fulfill his wiry here tonight don't interact well. But why are you here to see everybody in this room has a different answer some of your like well my kids mainly come and you know my parents may make for my friend just what led up finally just making aquatic are some of your here because you're here every Thursday night. But deeper than that.

You're here because God is doing working. God is doing working and see this is so much cooler than you know I'm here because you know of a good person and good people go to church Thursday night. It's it's cooler than that. It's more often than that you're here because God is doing work in your life. That's why you're here because you're good people. I'm sorry to bust your bubble put the Bible talks about the innate human goodness of Manna basically says there is what it says. Romans 310, 323 says is not right and I don't want all fall short of the glory of God.

So you're here because God is doing working.

He is started to work in you gotta finish June 24 is this now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling in the present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy.

Now this verse gave me a theological heart for a while because it says that God is able to present you faultless before himself, Jessica, God, if you're able to do this once you do it or you known about why my not faultless all the time when I'm walking through my life got give me a picture driving down the road kind of thing and it was like I said, okay, God, I'm glad you forgive me of all my sins because of that, and you're welcome to ride in the car but just don't you been navigating and trying to tell me where to go. I'm just going to drop and you promise not to stumble but let me drop in courses on driving directing my life not really submitted to the will of God in the work of God, not just what happens is a drop-down share. I wind up in the ditch and then what happens when I want open-ended got God what you doing man you said you're going to keep me out of that God says is there. I'm able to do this but you gotta quit trying to drive because when you try to drive your mess up am I saying that every time you mess up your trying to be in charge of your life yet is pretty much what I'm saying because they do this when you mess up, you think you're really following God.

At that moment when you make the bad decisions you make. You think God's making you make those bad decisions are somehow led you in a minute that you man that you so when you mess up takes about pictures today. What about when you do good is God. That's God, because the book says flippancy 13. It says that he puts in you, the will to do what's right and to do of his good pleasure. In other words, when you do something good is because God is at work in you.

Fact that you're here tonight.

That is because God put in your heart and in your mind to get in your car to drive the displaced beards and when you don't show up is that God know that you you see the difference now for some you're going well. Palmer feeling all warm and fuzzy about showing it better than you get a little little warm and fuzzy is the fact the creator God is at work in your life couple other verses Hebrews chapter 12 versus two verse two says, looking on the Jesus the author and what's our finisher. What's our finisher of our faith and for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and I sat down at the right hand of God the author and finisher of our faith. Some of you really and challenge theological good thing.

That's a good thing because until you really get this in your head and get this in your heart, you're never going to be able to rest in your fight friend.

You know for sure that your sins have been forgiven. You can know right now only Jenna 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 well 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 prayed that prayer was 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. 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 as you step out on faith and give a gift to cross the bridge today. We will send this in appreciation for your generosity. Again, please visit cross 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's day wake up perfectly past work of God's life lessons to consider a daily reading plan and a fault to meditate on your day heart.

And it's easy. It's free to sign up today on cross the bridge.com folks. Thanks for listening into the next time. As David McKee continues teaching verse by verse. First Samuel