1 Samuel Chapter 29:1-8

God is keeping God why is so important because there's people out there that will say that you can lose your salvation in a heartbeat. Mafic need check every hour. Make sure you're safe now must 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. I think that's want 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 go through seasons were you mess up God will keep God will keep you in the midst of welcome to cross the bridge with David McGee Senior Pastor of the bridge in Kernersville, North Carolina. We are blessed to have one of David McGee's assisting pastors with us today on the program. Welcome Pastor Neal thanks Bob home to be here with you today.

You know what God is a keeping that God is a leading God and we get the opportunity to follow his lead and survive.

I'm asking you the question I'm asking our listeners.

The question you have to ask myself the question is to look in the Scriptures today eight God is leading are we following great question to the teaching McGee. Verse by verse through first Samuel 29. Turn with me to first Samuel chapter 20 list of quick review. Saul is seeking to kill David. David is been on the run for years now, David has ran to the Philistines of all people and is hiding out there. Now 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 Celeste jump in here. First Samuel chapter 29 verse one says then the Philistines gathered together all their armies at a slack, and the Israelites and can't buy a fountain which is in Jezreel, in the words of the Philistines past and reviewed by hundreds about thousands, but David and his men Pastor review at the rear relationship, 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.

Verse four, but the princes of the Philistines were angry with the princes of the Philistines said to him make this fellow return that he may go back to the place which 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 us thousands, and David is 10,000 so they've got a very real fear same luck work were going to end of this battle will be fine.

Israelites we got this major Israelite fighter that supposedly going into the battle where the 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 wheel 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 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. Mafic need check every hour.

Make sure you're safe now must 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 go through seasons were 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 is finally finished. On that day when Christ Jesus comes back again your verse tells me God's keeping God who started the working according that verse, God is going to finish the work in you, according verse, God is what's your 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 is able to fulfill his wiry here tonight. Don't answer about 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 the aquatic are some of your here because you're here every Thursday night. But deeper than that.

Your 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 awesome than that your 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, but 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 what you known about why my not faultless all the times 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 be navigate in trying to tell me where to go. I'm just going to drop you promise not to stumble but let me drop courses on driving, directing my wife not really submitted to the will of God in the work of God like guess what happens is a drop-down share. I want 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 think 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 as 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, the 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 to be here tonight and when you don't show up is that God let you you see the difference now for some you're going well. Palmer feeling all warm and fuzzy about Shona. It's hundred and 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 some of you really can challenge theologically. That's a 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 you're never going to be able to rest in the Lord now there is a spiritual rest in the Lord that can be a very busy place but spiritually it's a restful place. Second Timothy 213 says this. If we are faithless, he remains faithful he cannot deny himself. What a glorious verse.

What a glorious verse is, I know that many of you have walked around in your life thinking okay will if it's going to be. It's up to me, but God is constantly always faithful and according to this verse.

Even when were not the Lord will keep you in the midst of your troubles will you will be allowed to reap some of what you so no doubt if your trust in Jesus of you basking to forgive you of your sent.

I don't think you'll ever really read what you so maybe a partial reaping and that be enough. A man, but the thing is, and we look at this with David coming here. Yes, he's getting ready to go into a battle against Israel and saw this is bad no matter how it would work out. It would've been bad had David been lying tenacious and and really plan to go in and attack the Philistines, it would've it would've gone poorly because the Philistines were going to see what happens were in situ wins this week, but the couple chapters.

It would've been bad.

It was your fault with the Philistines. I think for the rest of his life. You would regret it to be honest I think that's what David intended to do. I think David had been on the run long enough from Saul that he was better enough against Saul that he was ready to do it once and for all the gets all the way that he had his moments of strength were he would not raise his hand against Saul. I don't think this is one of I know that some commentators say will David was just pulling a ruse to see a verse in the moment that I think housewife but again, how consoling David's life doesn't end in chapter 29 not in chapter 39 chapter 31, not even in the hope we get way in the second Samuel unit that tells me that God did look at Dave and get all David, you're such a mess up on some done with you and do they look nice at all man you got yourself in a world of hurt there. David have to help you out of this.

You know what happens over time you can begin the trust in the Lord's protection. You may mess up the godless collegiate and even when you make a mess of things God won't turn his back on you and walk away. He'll intervene. He'll intervene in your life even to protect you from yourself, he'll do that some of you probably have experience where you are looking to do something stupid and damaging to yourself and somehow this would work out.

That was God I was God not allowing you to whatever by the fast car you want it or get the drugs you want it or find out all you thought you needed God put the cap on his know you can do that to Linda and he protected you from yourself. What a consolation when conflict thank you for listening to David McGee with cross the bridge ministries. David's heart is to help you beyond our radio program 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. Now back to David McGee the verse six tenacious call Dave and said that Shirley is the Lord lives you've been up right and you're going out your coming in Wednesday and the Army is good in my site for to this day have not found evil nuisance the day of your coming to me. Nevertheless the Lord's do not favorite. Who is God using to direct David's path at this point, these other Philistines. Not sure you like this application.

Who is God using in your life to direct your life, all Bible studies, pastors, radio, Christian radio, television, rallies and ungodly people to direct you in your life is kind of bizarre. In it, but he'll do that when we promise you, he'll do that if God doesn't want you in a certain job anymore. You realize he'll make that atmosphere so miserable that you begin to look for the job that he had God will lead ungodly people to direct you and why you're looking around for only perfect people and people that know the Lord to direct you in your life. You could really miss some stuff. Let me give you one graphic example in my life. I was years ago I was involved lost the funds owned and operated a recording studio in an was going out occasionally as a Christian artist and also was a on staff at a church and also the life and and also was a proper guitar instructor and had been a prominent tour instructor for Walt had like 88 students a week is fairly busy and I started going out more and more because God was opened in more and more doors and was praying about, you know, Lord, wife get very busy and probably let one of these things go in and it's up to you which one overly soft frame.

To this end, the manager of that particular location. There was, I was at two locations in and can regroup and was more at one location.

The manager at one location was a Christian the manager.

This location was not in one week and I'd gone out to retreat and did teaching music is awesome time you come back in the nieces I needed done chat with us. Okay so I sent them start talking to him. He goes lucky because I know this this how to put this whole Christian thing you're doing is important to understand that you want to help people improve their lives in a civil get them saved more exact, whatever, but still I understand that that's important to you, but as you're going out and doing this you need to remember what is really important in working and provide for your family and I sat there and I like that.

I was just amused as I thought he thinks he just told me to focus on being guitar instructor what he just told me is I need to quit and I need to go focus on the ministry. That's what he said to me, and I had the walkway going God.

That was not the answer to prayer. I was thinking, but thank you for answering my prayer and was about two or three days later went back to do adequate doing this I adequate doing this and step out in faith and see what the Lord has now I could've in that position… Will you know Rob.

This pagan do and you are to really listen to you, you're not believe me spiritually. But God sent him and got a set other people in my life and in my life in my life. Well, I believe, when one life here Sgt. reincarnation is not scriptural says it's pointed on the man to live, what brings God how would you like to die over and over again. Anyway, not sort, reincarnation were talking about here in from God through others and if you think they got only speaks to Bible studies and their devotions into pastors, you've probably been missing the Lord in your life. Keep your ears open Watchung God will direct you. Because God is directing David at this point.

These unbelievers verse seven says tenacious continues and says therefore return now and go in peace that you may not displease the lords of the Philistines's decision not you're done. God is leading David. Here's a life lesson God is leading God. God is a leading God. You understand that you can actually pray about something, and God will answer that prayer.

You can ask God do you want me take this other job God you want me to move here, God, you want me to move there, and God will answer that prayer is matter fact honors him free to go to him and asking it honors the Lord and the Lord leads you and you know what the Lord knows how okay we make this person the Lord knows how thickheaded I am sometimes and he realizes how strongly he has to speak to me sometimes guess what he's willing to speak strongly to me. So whatever it takes to communicate to you.

God is willing to speak in that manner is willing to speak to the people that are presently in your life to lead you, and be careful that you don't arrogantly assume what God wants to do in your life because there's been times when I thought God wants me to do this and maybe it was something good, but it was not the Lord God is want me to do something else he wants to leisurely speak to speak to you tonight. Not just summon nebulas will life's purpose, life's calling sent but I mean in a daily sense.

He wants to lead you, God, is a leading God and what happens over life as you can begin the trust that in the more you trust that the more God will lead you in the more you quit fighting that the more you walk in the blessings of God.

Here we see David and backslidden state willing to go fight against Israel and God still evening look at verse eight. So David said they should. But what have I done and to this day when we found in your serving as long as I've been with you that I may not go and fight against the enemies of my lord the king. This verse is a very interesting verse I think is a very key verse in this chapter, and here's why I think it reveals David's heart. I think they would really was planning to go fight against as I could be wrong. But there's another problem infused that you think will maybe he was going to still attack him from the back. He got from Peter's call tenacious as Lord and King that seems indicate all is not well with David. We not only is he willing call Asus's king is also calling Ms. Lord that's a problem.

Whenever we start to let other things direct our lives whenever time we put something ahead of God, and we make something else our Lord were engaged idolatry and it can be a lot of good things. It can even be good things, but God doesn't want anything above him. He doesn't want us to read further to somebody else's. Our Lord let's take the flip-flops out perfect. What is David was wantonly going to this battle to attack the Philistines and protects all you got a kind of a different lesson but there's a lesson.

Even then, what's that God and wanting to protect so God and wanting to help him got to say no and I can help solve the stuff you made help them out of a lot of jams may have thought a lot about us form #4 Nissen. For those of you in leadership or in ministry. Here's a tough there some fights. God doesn't want you to fight our benevolence team is kind of one of those situations because they have a heart for the Lord. Everybody that ever comes in with a problem they want to blossom financially. Problem is, that's not what God wants to do. A lot of times, so I might come in from just years of making bad decisions and simply handed some money so money is not a fixed what we want to do and what we want to help them do was is to learn to make better decisions so they don't find themselves repeatedly back in the that's a difficult place to be because you know some people come in late, they get attitudes all go to Google your group known all this different stuff but you better believe that these people may God what he wants to do with the situation.

It's not always the thing to do to jump in and rescue somebody David, I think might have been willing to jump in the rescue saw it were going that way but got to not rescue many many situations in your life. We thought somebody else to the rescued.

Maybe learn the wrong lesson maybe should be asking yourself how you wound up in a position to begin with. I'm not trying to be harsh or hard but were all living and learning a lot of times God puts us in a place where were supposed to learn through the hard lessons and if you been here more than once you know my heart. We've got closet place to give close to people we got a hold food pantry to give food we give literally thousands and thousands of dollars every year to help people make their expense, but obviously we have to prayerfully consider who we do know we don't so just like it may have been in David's heart.

The rescue saw I was in God's point and this is a tough mean. It is a tough one in ministry 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 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 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've handpicked 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. We 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 daily devotional each day. Wake up perfectly past world of God's life lessons to consider a daily reading plant in the fault to meditate on your day heart.

And 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