2 Samuel Chapter 20:1-15

We don't get to say what doors.

"What is our responsibility go through what is ours possibility always in closed-door. Leave it alone. Because here's what happens a lot of times we see closed-door. We think Julia deadbolt take that door man I know from others backup kick that door right at that moment thing on giveaway like a melting pot is posted is close the door you really want to walk welcome to cross the bridge with David McGee Senior Pastor of the bridge in Kernersville, North Carolina today. Pastor David's teaching through second Samuel chapter 20 and we have is our guest of the studio, one of David McGee's associate pastors welcome DA hey Bob, excited about being here want to pray for a few cities in our listening audience, today in Arkansas. We have Fort Smith, Huntsville, Jonesboro para gold Paris Pine Bluff and in California we have Barstow Lord, thank you for the cities. We pray that many with tune in and listen to your word today. God we pray for those who are sick and battling different ailments. We pray that you would please heal them for your glory God.

We pray that many will put their hope and trust in you for their salvation today we pray for revival in the cities. Everyone would get excited about following you lower pray for the churches and pastors in these areas that they would stick to your word look to what your word has to say make application of it and others will be drawn to that as well as a folly. You in Jesus name, amen, amen Pastor. The ASP going to the teaching today and second Samuel chapter 20 to us about some of the life lessons we should be taking away Bob is deciding the hearing God's word. How Pastor David shows us we can trust the Lord to open and close doors. Sometimes we want to know what God we just can pray and ask God opened doors that you want me to walk to and keep doors closed that you definitely don't want me to walked her awesome. Let's listen as David McGee continues teaching verse by verse through the Bible we been going for a second look at the life of David.

We saw they were all these things we saw him go through the rebellion of Absalom and then we saw some of the people in David's leadership and whatnot join with Absalom in the rebellion, but then we saw all that rebellion came enough and ended really. Not only with the death of Absalom, but with the rest of Israel now saying will will follow you, David. You indeed are King would close the last chapter, something interesting. These men had began to get upset with David because the tribe of Judah escorted David back to Jerusalem and I got upset because these other tribes said you know what we really wanted to be part of this escort party and we weren't really inviting this party and so they got upset so there became this division.

Now we saw last chapter, closed with what we thought was the end of that division, but last week I mentioned that this was not the end of a division but a continuation of a division because when David first became king he was king of Judah for seven years before he was king known over all of Israel as a continuation if you will that division second leads us into second Samuel chapter 20 verse one says, and there happened to be there. A rep whose name was Sheba, the son of McCurry, a Benjamite and he blew a trumpet and said we have no Sharon, David, nor do we have inheritance and the son of Jesse, every man to his tents. All Israel. So every man of Israel deserted David and followed Sheba the son of the Creek, but the men of Judah from the Jordan. As far as Jerusalem remained loyal to their king. Now David came to his house in Jerusalem, and the king took the 10 women, his concubines only left to keep the house and put them in seclusion and supporting them, but did not go into them so they were shot out to the day of their death.

Living in widowhood. These are the women the concubines of David that Absalom had violated. David had left them in Jerusalem when he left Jerusalem and Absalom had come in and publicly from the city had violated the and so David put some away because they've been taken advantage of, or whatever he still he still takes care of the stuff he doesn't want more women.

I gotta be real careful here. He's actually wanting less women in his life, which I don't know.

Anyway, move along.

Verse four quickly and the king said to a similar manner of Judah for me. Within three days, and the present here yourself. So Mohsen went to some of the men of Judah, but he delayed longer than the set time which David had appointed, and David said to have a shine now Sheba the center victory will do us more harm than Absalom take your Lord's servants and pursue him. Leslie find for himself for five days and escape us. This tells the importance of the timeframe that perhaps a method and understand David. David understood that this could be more deadly than the Absalom mass my time in this timeframe, and so they get into this rebellion, which which could have been less but notice something David's whole life in the heart of a warrior. Now he knew when not to be a warrior and there were the times when he was that I never saw it could've taken Saul out, but he knew you know lustrous to be a warrior. He knew when not to be a warrior like this remain on top of rebellion and look at the last few that few words in verse it Leslie find for himself, fortified cities and escape us this very different. David isn't leaving Jerusalem going out if you want my kingship and you want me king okay I'm out here because Damon Absalom even whispers to be moved to step back and allow the will of the Lord to be worked out. He knew Sheba was not so he moved toward rather and say let's try this again and protect ourselves decision on pursue. This can make sure you skate part of warrior also were seven suggests men with Sheriff sites and the pillow fights and all the mighty men went out after him and they went out of Jerusalem to pursue Sheba, the son notice all the mighty men. These were men who'd been with David for a long time. These were men who had been with them through Saul chase around the country trying to kill David admin through David through the whole Sheba and Uriah thing had been with David through the Absalom moments in these men they had something that is a rare and valuable word these days had loyalty to King David. They never question David may never undermine David.

They never rebelled against Damon. They never open their mouth against. They were always extremely loyal which is a rare thing these days, and they followed David and so any moment of any trouble until he could count on these mighty men is an awesome thing and you think we we all need to find those people in our lives and we need to cultivate those relationships. Because there are people who are trustworthy and they are people who are loyal and there's also people who talk about it who are developed as relationships because these mighty men lingered.

David love them and David knew the mighty men loved him.

Verse eight when they were at the large sandwiches and give me on a matzoh came before them was dressed in battle armor known it was a belt with a sword fashioned in its sheath at his hips and knees. He was going for to fill out. Then Jewett said Thomas are you and help my brother Jewett took Thomas about the beard with his right hand the kissing.

This was a form of greeting did not notice the sword that was in Joab's hand and he struck him with it in the stomach in his and Charles poured out on the ground and he did not strike him again.

Leslie.the enjoyment I wish I brother pursued Sheba the center victory. Now what it sounds like to me. I think what happened was as enjoyable as approaching a matzoh. He intentionally dropped his sword and when and when he dropped his sword. He bent over to pick it up as he was great and Thomas really didn't think Hg he's greeted me with a sword in his hand and then Joab who very much a warrior and Tom's knees a little treacherous kills Thomas with the sword. Keep in mind something David had not asked Joab to kill a mouse in my factors verse later on will get too much later on that David didn't think that was the thing to do but obviously Joab felt strongly about it is the Kalamata you read and study about things are real clear in this situation. I'm not sure how rebellious Thomas Ozment's ear was rebellious and effort. When David said come back in three days. He didn't come back in three days, which you can have a generally doesn't listen to the king, it doesn't work like that Jesus laid on the New Testament is how a house divided against itself can stand that's what's important for people in leadership even when they disagree that they agree to disagree.

Got men in my life here at the church. I think Holly up they can come to me as I don't think we should be doing as I don't think we should be doing, but they come to me and come anybody and at the end of Satan honor understand your concern. Understand your point, but this is the way the were doing okay and I will help you accomplish that to the best of my bill. Mohsen wasn't doing this relationship was destined to fail why Mohsen was not in submission to David how rebellious we don't know men as bad as he was running off to Beersheba, it could've been that bad. We don't Joab obviously is taking exception with what's going on but here's what I wonder David had a reason for saying into a matzoh you have to be back here in three days. I want you to go gather the people that want you back here in three days. Matzoh says okay I'll go gather the people, but as far as me and back there would be back in three to major. He's not taking David seriously, why because I don't think I must understood the importance of the timeframe the understand the importance of healing came out right but he didn't understand, and so he thought was, since I don't understand and follow me. Follow me, since I don't understand. I don't really happen that see that's where real submission is either discovered or lost. See want two people agree on something, there's no issue submission is just agreement but when somebody doesn't understand something or they disagree with it. You find out if there really is a submission to the God-given authority there's true submission doesn't matter.

They understand doesn't matter if they agree with God-given authority and submission to God and his word. We think will all submit to God, and I'll go with that in understand what he's doing, but then comes a time when we don't understand what is and what happens, something begins. The external hard think I would. You don't know what you see was going on. Well, we'll see was, like you don't really understand me that I really don't have cement here. Sorry. That's what happens.

Life lesson here.

We should obey God even when we don't understand we should obey God even when we don't understand, Damon had his reasons for saying put three date understand the three-day think he disobeys any experiences pain and death because of print is not based on a matter of your understanding.

It's based on the fact of what Ghana said in a Tom's God will tell us to do things that we don't understand, but we still have to be in submission to your listening to Pastor David McGee on cross the bridge will be back with more just a moment but first, if you haven't been to our website across the bridge.com yet you waiting for go to cross the bridge.com to learn more about how listeners like you are helping get the life-changing truth of God's word to more people to the radio, Internet and mobile technologies across the bridge.com you can also check out our broadcast schedule. Listen to more teaching from Pastor David and sign up for Pastor David's free daily devotional and there's more thereto, so visit cross the bridge.com today. Now here's Pastor David as he continues showing verse by verse bumper sticker I got from my perspective put a bumper sticker out for Wallace and God said it, I believe it that's out of the first thought that so wrong while it doesn't matter whether you believe it or not, God said it that settles when you believe it or not doesn't really matter if you went on top of this roof of this building and jumped off and said I don't believe in gravity. We slammed to the ground just as hard as somebody that believes in the power gravity.

One.

Because along.

Gravity works regardless of whether you believe it or not, the laws of the Bible work with you believe a letter we have so many things in neighbor scriptures that are interesting that we look back on. We see all these all these at Levitical laws laws contained in Leviticus and someone had to do with line here is that what you do a blood what you don't do with blood and I'm sure the people and I thought this whole thing about 2000 3030 500 years later, we now know that most illness are live illnesses are spread and contagious to the blood that a lot of bacteria are transferred to the black.

They did not back then we know it now. God knew back then and he said this is what you need to do and this is what you don't need to do because there was a blessing that even though they didn't understand they all made it long before we knew about food sanitation guy give certain dietary restrictions and laws about food. I am sure the people in understand. I'm sure they didn't say what's up with something they would pay bacon like a good thing. Certain doctor restrictions for reasons that now we know there are certain things like trichinosis and stuff the nursing parasite that you can't cook out of pork. That's a reality Google to be fun.

You know the weird thing at the anabolic you're still wanting making God new and does dietary restrictions they didn't understand why God understood what very interesting concert circumstance, amount, needs that they said 3000 years for 3000 years smells up and serves as its only in the last 3040 years that we discovered something very unique happens in the cycle of the baby that there is a peak in the platelets which is a part of blood that clots the blood there is a peak in the whole lifetime of that child that person. There is a peak on the eighth day of the platelets condensate doing only think because of this he said just do it on the day and because you are will and submit there's a blessing in that submission. So where you really find out where your submitted to God. God-given authority structure. Whatever is when you don't agree, and how quietly you don't agree or how you voice that this agreement, we see a massive doesn't handle it well and he doesn't keep his word.

Now you can say what she what was David thinking when he made the guy that was the general for Absalom. Was he thinking when he made him his general he was acting in grace he was acting in mercy as a gesture of peace and extension of the olive branch of your well minimize or even take it. Searcy said David trusted Thomas. He probably should. Sometimes in Christianity we think we should trust everybody I sent the case back.

There's a place in the Bible it says Jesus didn't do certain things around certain people because he knew what was in friend repeatedly somebody breaks. There were two you need to come to the realization that they're not trustworthy, but they're not going to keep their word that they make promises that either they have no intention or no integrity in keeping after YSI okay well I can't really trust the word of this person.

That's a sad fact, but there's also certain people that say you know what I'm to do this and they do even if there's great difficulty fulfilling the word to you. They do it there trustworthy.

They have integrity, they been there and I've come through and say when you see that people you can begin to build a trusting relationship with those people and it's a good healthy thing to stop and think, okay, good people in my life there trustworthy and who are the people in my life that are not because when you come. That realization what you see is people who are not trustworthy in Alaska really does work and continue not to be trustworthy and you can save yourself a lot of pain and heartache. Realizing whether saying this, but adding it happen and you can also develop those relationships where you know when somebody tells you something. It's as good as gold is as good as Bill pursuant meanwhile want to do with men stood near Mohsen said whoever favors Joab, and whoever's for David follow Joe Kelling's David Joe.

Be careful with political causes and link themselves to Christianity because sometimes it's exportation going all verse 12 Mohsen Wallen and his blood in the middle of the highway when the man saw that all still move the mouse from the highway to the film through garment over me when he saw that everyone who came upon them halted when he was removed from the how well the people one on after job to pursue Shiva the Senate. So he and he's dead and thereby stand around going with you and what we going to do so. Then he moves them in the traffic resumes grizzly persisting. Then they came and beseeched him about all of that in the past at the siege mall against the city and stood by the rampart and all the people who were with Joab battered the wall to throw it out.

So they find the sky Shiva. He showed up in the city. This is an this is actually in the hula Valley in the northern part of Israel north of the city of so they find them in this place and Judah had made this statement on loyalty complete statement of loyalty to David the other tribes.

Apparently they were make some of these people went with them.

Not as many as she either not as many women, Shiva or Shiva did not have it to together mall together. So again we see the timeframe be an important. Here's an interesting thing Joab is back in charge anything in charge. Because really, I mean you could say was because he took out Thomas yeah in part I believe that the Lord was really opening the door for a seasoned warrior like you up to once again be leading against this rebellion, Shiva. The thing about this Joab wanted to take a myself I believe you want to take myself because he felt like he is rebelling against his cane, not because he thought what I think this guy that I can take his place think that was what was going on. I think the door got opened and now he's back in chart, you know, I see it wobbly that because nowhere in the last few chapters have we seen Joab going well, not general mean general again David� You seem doing. Evidently see know that you want must choose must I'm with supporting whether I agree with your decision on the matter of following your marketing your my God-given authority with what happens while think in part because he's not whining, complaining, groaning the guy opens the door for him once again delete I think Joab understood that at some point in the future.

God was can open up the opportunity for him to lead the men again and because of that he didn't feel the need to try kick the door down. There's a spirit in school in the Bible about God, opening doors and closing doors and you know what, if you can get this tonight.

This will save you minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, years off your spiritual journey. There is the concept of open doors and close doors throughout the Bible explicitly in the book of Revelation.

But here's the thing, God has opened doors and closed doors in front of your life. But here's the problem to us.

We don't get to say what doors open and close.

God does what is our responsibility will missing open door, go through what is our responsibility. Always a closed-door leave it alone. Because here's what happens a lot of times we see a closed-door.

We think it's only a deadbolt door man I know from others backup kick that door right at the deadbolt that they don't give away like a melon popsicle. But as I posted because if we kick down that door that's been closed to close the door. God kick down close doors before, and I've always regretted it takes far less energy to walk through a door that God has opened because of God's closed-door friend you really want to walk through. I mean, you may think you do.

But after a short time. A fallen Lord Evans close.

I don't want back that was open okay. That's the one I want to go in life.

Trust in the Lord's open close doors for you now again this goes back to that whole agreement summation thing because somewhere in your life, close the door that you really want and you look at that door go okay you want to closed your my heavenly father you know much more than me. I don't want to that door or you see a door that opens that you really think automation and you're looking at it when Dorothy got some but that it was during the drafting, but God knows what's good for us and it's kind interesting next chapter 5, verse 33 when they heard this, they were furious and plotted to kill them. Then one in the council set up a firstly named Emily of a teacher of the law held in respect to all the people I commanded him to put the apostles outside for a little while and he said to them, men of Israel taking to yourselves what you intend to do regarding these men for some time ago Theo this Rosa claiming to be somebody a number men, about 400, joined was slain in all who made them were scattered after this man Judah gallantly rose up in the days of the senses and drooling many people after him.

He also personnel who made him were dispersed and now I said, you keep away from these men and let them alone for this plan, or this work is amenable come to nothing.

But if it is of God. You cannot overthrow list you even be found to fight against God.

See we can get this concept is so liberating and so free, so free I walk through this ministry and in life. People go to do something that I really felt strongly was not the Lord God taught me to just sit back it's okay Lord will whatever happens, happens. If you're in it. It's going to be blasted if you're not, it will be.

Trust God with these doors. God has an open door for you than go through the doors closed. Do you really want to try to bust down even as I say this I know some of you that a personal challenge that music closed-door understand that that's not some of your leaders and that's part of what makes your leader that you have to allow God to lead you before you can lead anybody friend you know for sure that your sins 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 it 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 pray that prayer with 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. Or you can write to cross the bridge at PO Box 12, 515 Winston-Salem, NC 27117 and share how God is working in your life will DA before we go. What are some ways that we can bless our listeners.

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Why not join us for our lifestream at 10 AM Eastern time or on Thursday nights at 7 PM Eastern time.

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The bridge in North Carolina again.

That website is cross the bridge.com that sounds good. Yesterday and again. It's been great to have you with us on the program today but tell us what else can a listers find on cross the bridge.com day you can wake up with encouragement from Pastor Dave to the word of God with his email devotional life lessons to consider daily reading plan and thought to meditate on throughout your day. From the heart. Dave McGee those are terrific and it's easy and it's free so folks sign up today@crossthebridge.com and thank you for listening and hope you'll join us again next time. As he continues to first try 1st to 2nd set