1 Samuel Chapter 31:1-13

Remember, in the garden when Adam was trying to hide from God against what he doing Adam had a big week thinking he was hiding something from God and you know are having is no less bizarre Lewis comical no less tragic can't hide from God.

You cannot hide from God.

Welcome to cross the bridge with David McGee Senior Pastor of the bridge in Kernersville, North Carolina continues in first Samuel chapter 31 and we also have the program today. One of his assisting pastors welcome Pastor Neil well Bob, I really enjoyed studying through first angel 31 with you and all of our listeners and now were coming to a close of this book to be an awesome teaching today and really going back to the first problem. Someone had we mess up when we make mistakes hiding from seems to be a pattern in the Scriptures, and we do that every day, but we want to be encouraged not to hide from God when something happens but the really pressing in seek his grace seek his forgiveness. Listlessness continues during my first closing out first Samuel chapter 31st Samuel chapter 31 verse one the Philistines fought against Israel and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines and fell slain on Mount Gilboa, then the Philistines followed hard after Saul and his sons in the Philistines killed Jonathan Bennett down Melcher shoe solves sons. The battle became fierce against Saul and the archers hit him and he was severely wounded by the archers and Saul said to his armor bearer draw your sword and thrust me through with it less. These uncircumcised men come and thrust me through, and abuse me, but his armor bearer would not three was greatly afraid.

Therefore, Saul took a sword fell on verse five and when his armor bearer saw that Saul was dead. He also fell on his sword and died with them. So Saul has three sons. His armor bearer and all his men died together.

That same day when the men available who were on the other side of the valley and those who were on the other side of the Jordan, Saul, that the men of Israel had fled in that Saul and his sons were dead. They forsook the cities and fled.

Philistines came and dwelt in them. So what happened the next day when the Philistines came to strip slain, that they found Saul and his three sons phone on Mount Gilboa and they cut off his head stripped off his armor and sent word throughout the land of the Philistines to proclaim it in the temple of the rhinos and among the people.

Verse 10 then he put his arm in the temple of the*they fasten his body to the wall that she bet Xian is a very interesting city was a large city and it's one of the largest group of ruins and Israel. It's incredible when you come around the corner. I mean it. It's a city.

You see a large city and you see the temple up on the hill there is a Roman basilar's amphitheater. There's street in the cargo section.

The heart of the city you can walk down and see part of the shop that they had thousands of years ago. Incredible thing and they've actually discovered the temple of ash to raw in the city. That's an amazing thing when you see this verse written 3000 years ago talking about a temple of Asher often bet Xian and guess what we found that there was a temple of Asher often bet Xian over and over again we see archaeological stuff proving what this book says there has never been one item found anything discovered that disproves the validity and the truth and accuracy of this book not one thing friend. Remember that verse alone now and the inhabitants of Jabez.

Gilead occurred with the Philistines at Dundas Saul all the valiant men arose and traveled all night and took the body of Saul the bodies of his sons from the wall of bet Xian. They came to Jabez and burn them. There they may read this and may wonder why these guys come to the service of Saul.

Well, we were told in the book of first Samuel one of the first acts of Sam and I saw as a leader first Samuel 11 chapter 9 verse 11 says and they said the message to the messengers okay – you shall say to the men of Jabez Killian tomorrow.

By the time the sun is hot. You shall have help then the messengers came reported to the men of Jabez and they were glad. Therefore, the minute Jabez said tomorrow will come out to you and you may do with us whatever seems good to you. So was on the next day that's all. But the people and three companies when they came into the midst of the camp in the morning watch and killed ammonites in Toledo the day it happened that those who survive are scattered so that no two of them were left together men of Jabez, Gilead had a problem they sent us on said Saul. Can you help us and Saul responded and Saul came in and help them and they won the battle and these men of Jabez Killian never forgot that Saul began his service to God such promise. Again, a Jabez, Gilead, and it's interesting that the enemas like this is tucked in there that refers back to the beginning again. Saul was gifted.

Saul was anointed, but he didn't. He didn't just make one bad decision you make one bad decision after another bad decision after another bad decision and became prideful rebellious rebellion was the beginning of in these men. They felt like they had owed Saul something because Saul had a relationship with them when they were in trouble. They called on Saul.

Saul responded now in this moment, Saul Hardy, deceased has a problem. They come to his rescue. Here's the thing, build relationships, build friendships, build them in this body because here's what I see. Sometimes I see people who don't build relationships they don't serve in the body. They don't really function as a body member.

Then they had a snack and then they say a semi-need to help me.

A lot of times there in that place, in part because they not built relationship. See they built relationship within the body you got people that are praying for the moment, they had trouble the moment they share with you know I met a hard spot. I'll be praying for him and sometimes as we get to that spot and we go I need some friend is a bad time to start needing friends. Well, that's a bad time to start realizing you needed friends. He needed friends all but see if you wait till tragedy hits. That's hard to build a bridge in a day and builders relationships while you are doing well and you don't have some catastrophe on your life. They had this relationship with one another, three reversals, all the valiant men arose and traveled all night and took the body of Saul the bodies of his sons from the wall that she came to Jabez and they burned in their burned they were cremated, you know, whenever we look at the lives of Bible characters in inevitably semi-last whether they go to heaven.

I go to I don't know. I have no idea how do you know conjecture.

I'm not sure about Saul.

I mean, that's reality. I hope it was anointed one time he was walking to the Lord.

But you know I mean we all be thankful and let the judge to things in life are sure number one there is a God number two I'm not him, so what about Jonathan and absolutely Johnson's and I think I why say that they were cremated. What is cremated cremation have to do with heaven and hell nothing. We think of Christian burial as putting some money in the ground, but implementing is cremated, does that mean that, given them a glorified body is beyond the power and the scope of God absolutely not. Now if you got something against cremation, only cremated. It's that easy.

But don't go around to other people enforcing your personal convictions that are outside of this book upon them because of her to search our stories of pastors and Christians going to a family that just lost a loved one who is been cremated and say was to baddies and LL even though the man lived a godly life knew Jesus Christ as a safe but because supposedly he was cremated.

He's not going to have. You cannot show me in this book that that is a true and valid concern. Again, if you have a problem with being cremated. Don't be cremated, don't you know and and no you don't need to email me and go back to figure completely wrong. If you do email me about cremation them if I just attach a chapter and verse to what you believe about cremation is that we can have a discussion see now. No, I'm not going get emails about that topic. Praise God that in every word really. Here's an interesting thing to consider these men honored Saul even though as we look at the latter part Saul's life is always an act and that honorable, but they still honored Saul, why is that I think they not only honored Saul.

They honored the office of Saul and this is important thing for us to remember because seaweeds leave had we've had presidents that I didn't necessarily respect personally but I respected the office and therefore didn't speak against. I didn't agree with them but in degree necessarily with her faith. I didn't agree with her believes, but they were president and you know it's always amusing to me when somebody goes around and belittles the resident because they are being so arrogant to think that they have the same knowledge that the highest office in the land carries every president we ever have.

Has known things about the world that you will never know friends, and upon that knowledge made decisions based upon that knowledge. See interest to sit back and go well. I would've done it like that will start the did you have the same base knowledge not seaweeds. We have to understand that because we need to be careful, presidents, pastors, elders, senators, deacons Congressman or Congresswoman you need understand there is in your that's attached to the office now. Some of these people will not act honorable, but that doesn't mean that you get to openly and publicly desk them. Be careful. Be very careful because you should still honored now here's an interesting thing is really convicting. Fasten your seatbelts there's turbulence ahead if your family if your husband or the father spiritual leader in household and you speak against the leaders in this land, don't be surprised when rebellion rises up in your house because you're not respecting the authority that year under so why should you expect the people that are under your authority to respect your authority to you're not respecting your whatever your pastor, your governor, your mayor, your president and your setting the model for the rest of your family that it's okay to be in rebellion. See your leader illegal good places. Regrettably, sometimes you leave the bad places so understand this, and these men they honored Saul, why because solid fall from cross rivers. They did all these things gathered here tonight to honor God who fought for us actually died for us all across the rivers muck in the mire of our lives to reach out to us to love us to chase us down until we give in to his forgiveness. We need to remember that God put communion in place to remind us of what he did for us. That's kind of sad that God knew that he needed to put a reminder in to remind us, but it also speaks of his grace that he never really slams us and reminding us of that community's do this and remember me, it doesn't say you know like I like your perhaps some mothers or grandma when you forgot to call me you forgot me forgot you know just as you know it. Just do this and remember me, just remember, 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.

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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 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. David wants to offer you peace. Where could be lacking help in your time of need and build you up with these free resources that you are loved.org. Now back to David McGee first 13 then they took the bones and buried them under the tamarisk tree at Jabesh fasted seven days truly a sad chapter sad conclusion to an awesome book and you may want to in a look back through the reread the book her and listen to the teachings really absorb it all the it's interesting looking at some of the parallels and the contrast CEC Samuel and Saul.

And Samuel early on hears from God is not sure who it is and in the end of the books all try that God to talk to because he's not listened and rebelled for so long, God's no longer speaking to the beginning of the book Samuel prays for battle with the Philistines. This victory in the end Saul praise for about four victory against the Philistines and these lost Samuel lives with honor dies with respect.

Saul has a few glory days passes from the window history really makes one bad decision after another bad decision and it's interesting in also sad that in this chapter of Hebrews. It's called the Hall of Fame of faith with a lot of glorious leaders in Hebrews chapter 11 verse 32.

Part of that glorious chapter. This is and what more shall I say, for the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barack and Sampson and Jaffa also have David and Samuel and the prophets.

Saul's name, nowhere to be found goes on who through faith subdued kingdoms works righteousness obtain promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire escape the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens Samuel and David go down in history as heroes.

Sad epitaph that Saul is not mentioned in these verses was learned about Saul.

We've learned about samples learn about Dave in this book and every each of their lives. We learn something Samuel about listening, the God Jonathan about self-sacrificing face of pressure father what to do. What was wrong. We learn the cost of not repenting from Saul. We learned from David keep coming back to the Lord keep turning back toward trusting God strength because it's all in this chapter, black people.that happens our sin not only affects us and affects those around us.

We hear stories almost every day here that happening.

Jonathan suffered for Saul since this world suffers from the plague of sin. There's an answer. There is an Romans chapter 5 verse 15 says with the free gift is not like the offense forever by the one man's offense many died, much more the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many this chapter.

Many people died because of the sons of Saul, that versus talking about the sins of Adam doesn't say anything guys about the sin of the one man's sin entered into the world. Death passed upon the world. Death passed upon all men. Sin passed upon all men, but that one man sin, death passed all men but by the death of Jesus Christ. Salvation becomes available to all men, freedom from sin and yeah it's everyone of us ask, like Saul, sometimes, notice I didn't say everyone you guys notice I didn't pick up my Bible and pointed anybody and start yelling you guys act like Saul said we do. We've all been Saul all sins. The amazing thing is what we do when we sent you and that makes all the difference. What you do when you sin makes all the difference. It's interesting that when we mess up when we sent once our first inclination to hide from God to not go to church to not be in the word of God to not be in the Bible.

Remember, in the garden when Adam was trying to hide from God gets it when he doing Adam had a fig leaf thinking he was hiding something from God and you know our hiding is no less bizarre. No less comical, no less tragic can't hide from God.

You cannot hide from God last life lesson we try to hide from God, we hide from his grace in our forgiveness. We try to hide from God, we hide from his grace in our forgiveness is what you do when you mess up the makes all the different in this chapter we see because of what man one man did many people died, but because of what man what one man, Jesus the God man the good man did we.

Everybody in this room can now live but you have to make the decision you have to make the decision either for the first time, asked Jesus to forgive you of your sin.

Or maybe for the 50th time 505,000 top condemns a Jesus I need your forgiveness once again. The Bible says his mercies are everlasting. He's never going to run out of mercy.

The only sin that you won't be forgiven is the sin that you don't have forgiveness for and so there's the decision that each of us has to make Saul or David delivered a.tragedy victory. Your choice. Your call.

Your decision Saul through his choices just tragedy. He could've chose victory, but it and in the end his choices decided how we wound up his choices decided his ending and you know what we don't have to end up like Saul, but you have to make a choice.

If you choose not to decide you still made a choice you've chosen the way of Saul, we have choices. We usually break them down the tube but let me break down the three tonight. Number one, you have an eternity without God. That's one choice you can be eternally separated from God and you can suffer the consequences of your sin. That's choice one choice to would be you can ask God to forgive you of your sin and you can retain control and ownership of your life and never served and never give in at the end of this you get 11 with absolutely no rewards what so ever to be tragic to the book tells us that as we live for him as we do things for him. We reap eternal rewards that mom can't corrupt and Ross does not take away choice to get in by the skinnier date first two choices like friends or the third one asked God to forgive you live for him.

And when you mess up that if you mess up when you mess up, run back to don't run from God. God sees everything God knows everything run to God is a God, forgive me once again it's me standing here needing your grace needing your love needing your forgiveness and God will give it to and at the end of this life.

You come into his presence with joy unspeakable with lots of heavenly rewards those of the three choices. I wish I could make him for I can't know anything I can do is lay him out and then let you know your choice. Your call.

Your decision after this point you definitely can't say what in no I didn't know about the rewards thing I thought just been saved by good, I didn't know you need to be saved. I didn't know you need to ask for forgiveness. Recent Diana can't say didn't know now. Now you choose. Each person in here has to choose. I know enough about myself and about humanity to know will in the guest everybody in here is messed up today some big ways little ways maybe some sin by what you did. Maybe some send about what you didn't do believe all messed up. Will you do that, 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.

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 friend of 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 bring 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 take 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's day you can wake up perfectly past word of God's life lessons to daily reading and enough thought to meditate on throughout your day heart.

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Thanks again for missing folks and we hope you join us next time is studying first by first, second