1 Samuel Chapter 23:1-17

Living like job changes of I got was AOL pray about that in the Bible to pray about everything. Not everything perfect in one place pulses to pray without ceasing. Does that mean that you know your Swiss just wake up all day and not do anything else that it means you should live a life this in constant contact constant communication with a warm welcome to close the bridge with David McGee Senior Pastor of the bridge in Kernersville, North Carolina today. David McGee will be teaching through first single chapter 23 in studio.

We have one of David's assisting pastors deal with this welcome new hey Bob, great to be here with you. Great is always to be here with our listeners as we start chapter 23 on a one of the things that Pastor David is talking about today is prayer rain. When making decision you been, pray about everything in life, not just the big things. It will take care of yeah I think Bob that we can get into just making decisions every day and forgetting to seek the Lord. Praying about everything.

Let's get right to teaching verse by verse Samuel chapter. Turn with me to first Samuel chapter 23. So we find ourselves looking to live the life of David and at this point David has been anointed as King Saul is still the acting King and Saul has continued to reveal serious flaws in his character, serious flaws in his leadership and he's trying to kill David and David has never done anything but serve sauce faithfully since interesting as we look at David's response to these things that are going on and last chapter, we saw that one of the towns that David hit out with and Saul found out about it.

Went and killed all the trees that were in that town so Saul is really really beginning to lose it.

That brings us to first Samuel chapter 23 verse one says they told David St. what the Philistines are fighting against keylock and they are robbing the threshing floors. Therefore David inquired of the Lord, saying, shall I go and attack these Philistines.

I want you to notice and really see a pattern in this chapter starts with this verse, the Philistines are fighting against keylock. Those are Israelites and they are stealing their food. Now you would think that David would look at the situation okay was a no-brainer. I need to go and mean my 600 guys and we need to attack the Philistines that ripping off the Israelites curricula but that's not what he did since he inquired of the Lord. He stopped and asked didn't assume anything. I think that I think we need to be more like David think a lot of times we look at some situation. No-brainer.

Knowing that you still need applause and asked the Lord, Lord, what he want me do the situation. Do you understand that God wants to be intricately and intimately involved in your life. Verse three David's men said to him, look, we are afraid here in Judah. How much more then we go to kill against the armies of the Philistines and David inquired of the Lord once again and the Lord answered him and said, arise, go down the clock for I will deliver the Philistines into your hand, and David and his men went to collage and follow the Philistines struck them with a mighty blow and took away their livestock to David say the inhabitants of clock that happened when habits are the son of Ahimelech fled the David accolade that he went down with and e-filed in his hand when Saul was told that David had gone the clock so Saul said God has delivered him into my hand, for he has shut himself in by entering the town that has gates, and bars. Then Saul called all the people together for to go down the collapse of the siege.

David and his men. Verse nine when David knew that Saul plotted evil against me said that before the priest bring the e-file here and then David said, oh Lord God of Israel, your servant has certainly heard that Saul seeks to come to collage to destroy the city for my sake will the men of God deliver me into his hand. Will Saul come down as your servant is heard the Lord God of Israel, pray tell, your servant, and the Lord said he will come down.

Then David said, will the men of God delivered me and my man into the hands of Saul, the Lord said they will deliver you see again with David is a man of prayer. He goes to Lawrence's Lord.

This is what's going on what's can happen & prayer is not supposed to be a monologue. Dialogue. But you have to sit still long enough in your prayer time with the Lord to hear from. I would encourage you to do that, to sit still before the Lord.

Now I've never heard the audible voice of the Lord, but I hear that still small voice the Lord all the time all the time and sometimes when I'm reading I'll be read in a verse of just pop out like there's the answer to my prayer. Thank you Lord now occasionally understand there's there's about at least four answers to prayer. There's yes there's no there's not yet. Sometimes the Lord just waits to respond doesn't answer right away and those are times that the really tough when you don't feel like you have that answer from the Lord. But there also very much building your faith building your faith now David ASCII says hey you know these people and I rescued turned me over Saul got sick yet pure now as you read that you know this is this about meeting went down there is one name in this fight. He took his men down there to fight against the Philistines and then when Saul was going to head down there. He realizes these people turning men over Saul. Remember I said in the life of David. You see a lot of stuff that applies to anybody serving the Lord.

There's no see. Because what happens very often in ministry is well somebody that you help semi that you pour into pray for turns around and will speak ill of you. That's just part of ministry, and I know I can't even count on my hands and fingers and my toes anymore. How many people that's happened to me what they know I don't count anymore. It really doesn't matter what because I'm doing it is under the Lord.

And Jesus knew this was going to happen before he ever came here, he realized that the very people that he was coming to say would betray depict Judas even though he knew Judas was going to try. It was created the universe. He grew the tree that he would be crucified on a new but still it went through with centrally convicting you want. Sometimes we don't do something for somebody because of what we think they might do. Jesus knew Judas would do, they still loved still served may be hard for some of you swallow, but this is something that you have to grab a hold of because were all special. Serve the Lord, were all supposed to serve the Lord, and there will be people in your life that you will serve, and you turn around they will stab in the back is just as part of life.

That's part of ministry will it hurt all you better made always for because the if you get to the point where that doesn't hurt anymore. Now you're hardhearted and calloused. I want to be like that lady sitting okay will I do it mean of all happen every day really encourage their your me, but this is this is part of the reality of ministry. And if you're not aware of this, it may catch you off guard. It honestly. It caught me off guard first couple times see here's the thing why do well number one there is a blessing and helping others.

There is a blessing and help another our people always can appreciate and I'm so but there's a blessing and helping others look back at verse five in this chapter Dave and his men went to Kalon Saul of the Philistines struck them with a mighty blow and took away their livestock. These guys have been wandering in the desert and when they went into this battle in Clawson they had sent me.

They were blessed for what they did, they were blessed in the here and now for what they did and yes there's blessings abounding in heaven for what we do for the Lord.

But there's also blessings he there is also blessings here. You understand, God has wired you to serve other people what goes on in your heart and in your life when you serve other people. It feels good right some of you think this is a trip trip. It feels good what God wired you. That way he wired you that when that there is a fulfillment in serving others. He created us in his own image. Remember, and so when we do that there is a blessing in that were act like Jesus. Everything is tells us the love and care for each other so I can think God tells us the love and care for each of insight. What love and care for each other's lungs are acting right loving caring for each other's long as they're being appreciative love and care for each other's lungs are saying thank you God said that's in love. Love and Jesus was our example in and there will be times as you serve the Lord, where you will do things for people that nobody else will see no human will see the God sees everything. There's a lovely verse Hebrews chapter 6 verse 10 says for God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love, which you've shown George's name and that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister to God sees everything that you do for other people other people don't see everything you do for them. But God sees and God will reward you and see here's the thing you're motivated by somebody saying thank you. Your motivation is wrong. If you're doing something so that people will appreciate it. Your motivation is wrong because were supposed to be doing things is under the Lord and for the Lord towards other people what I've experienced is that sometimes when I do something like that and you know and and semi-doesn't say thank you.

It's a hard check card check intermittent restaurant opened the door for somebody and then go through it not say thank you. What you think you have anything to go not be better used to force it and so you think that you feel that will what we noted for. Were you really just do it so they would say thank you and you get noticed and that's not really a good motivation and here's what I found is God behavior me and motorbike motivated like that will put you in a position where people will not say thank you so can reveal you your heart about what's going on is a money, you realize you know I just do not dear, thank you, and occasionally as interesting as it is the church and and doesn't happen that often, but is just an interesting year because sometimes I visit a church in it and some may be vacuum in the in the seeming vacuum and you know what it's like. Thank you for vacuuming.

I guess I just I don't want anybody to do anything around here so that I say thank you for the Lord because reality is I will always be there to say thank or their team leader or their elder or their deacon. Matthew chapter 5 verse 1112 the God God blesses you when you are mocked and persecuted lot about because you are my followers be happy about it. This is Jesus telling us this be very glad for great reward awaits you in heaven. Remember the ancient prophets were persecuted to when this happens to you. No big deal. It happened Jesus and Jesus was perfect and there was ever anybody that walked this earth that that people should of been appreciative of that people should have been mean and spiteful to those Jesus, but there were mean and spiteful to him know I should only be that way. So here we see that again.

There's a blessing and helping others. God tells us to love and care for each other and he created us this way.

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Now back to David McGee verse 13 so David is met about 600 arose and departed from cloth and went wherever they could go that was told Saul that David had escaped from glossary halted the expedition.

So David scrambles off and is running came across a quote by Booker T. Washington I thought was interesting since I have learned that success is to be measured, not so much by the position that one is reached in life as by the obstacles that is overcome while trying to succeed, we read that again.

I've learned that success is to be measured, not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which is overcome while trying to succeed. Here's David.

He's on the run as an outlaw is being chased around the debtor being betrayed by others. And yet it will rise above all this to be king and not only just the king but one of the greatest kings. The world is ever known and not only one of the greatest king, but a man in the genealogy of Jesus Christ. He rose above all this and that should encourage you and I because I understand that each person in here has overcome certain obstacles to be here tonight to even sit here tonight.

There were certain obstacles that you had overcome the beer and yet you persevered in your ear be encouraged that right there shows a year in overcome her things have happened in each person's life that's in here the could have turned you away from God, but they did near here. God has a plan for each and every one of us. Jeremiah 2911.

All subscription since I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give your future and hope as I know the plans I got another thoughts and thinking towards you, thoughts of peace, to give you a future and a hope. Matthew question.

Does your perception of God lineup of that verse. I dare to say that many of us in here tonight.

It does not. We think of God as some I don't know some huge police chief in the sky whose unit spends most of his time being angry at us about what we've done wrong is that the way the Bible describes it may have been the way your Sunday school teacher described in treatment but is that the way the Bible describes it know it's not the Bible describes him as a graceful God is a forgiving God. Yes, a just God. Yes, a righteous God through Jesus Christ.

We can all be forgiven over said in the Lord himself talked about him being merciful and him being gracious and he says I know the thoughts that I have toward you, so here's the real here's David is running from Saul. It would been so easy for David look around his life and go while life is a bomber Saul is chasing me.

Samuel anointed me to king, he anointed me to be king analysis, this is all just bogus. This all some big hope sums is gone horribly wrong but didn't do that why you stressing out while he was running around the desert while he left this place of knob where all these priests got killed. He still trust in God. Life lesson trust Lord even when you are unsure of what is going on around you, especially the trust in the Lord even when you're unsure what is going on around you, especially that see when you're in those times when you're unsure of stuff that's going around print you can make really bad decisions you can find yourself in that vice grip and Oswald Chambers calls it the tyranny of the urgent.

You can make really bad decisions. At that point because you're unsure of your circumstances.

Print why you should be at times, unsure of your circumstances. You can be sure of your God.

You can be sure of your God is the same today, tomorrow and forever and you can trust them. Verse 14 and David stayed in strongholds in the wilderness and remained in the mountains in the wilderness. Is this Saul saw him every day. But God did not deliver him into his hands these out in the desert now that verse 15 said they would Saul that Saul had come out to seek his life and David was in the wilderness is in a forest. Then Jonathan Saul son arose and went to David in the woods and strengthened his hand in God want you to notice that phrase strengthened his hand in God. Verse 17 and he said to him, do not fear for the hand of Saul. My father shall not find you shall be king over Israel, and I shall be next to you.

Even my Saul.

Even my father Saul knows that Jonathan is mostly right here in the David will be king Saul will not harm him.

Although Jonathan will not be next to him in his room. Again we see this is the last time we'll see Jonathan and David speak but what an awesome man. Jonathan is the understand this man was in line to be king, but somehow because of his relationship with the Lord. He was content with David being king. A lot of times we want this position or that position when we should ask Lord, Lord, where do you want me Lord what he want me to be doing. Jonathan, who had every right to say no I'm there to be king David, this is you can't be king say no David, I recognize God want you to be king.

And I'm not just in the way of what God desires. See and it's interesting especially when you contrast Jonathan and Saul here Saul.

Saul knows David is going to be king.

And he's fighting God's will, with every fiber of his being and he is being made miserable in the process fought against the will of God no later it's a miserable thing I have, and that when the silliest things you can do the coming short in the freight take out the will will the will of your fighting against God. You think you know when that one pretty thinking to tire out first. Don't fight against the will of God. Jonathan finds them in this place. Notice what Jonathan ties. John doesn't go to Dave and go old David all about good news so sorry Joe chasing you back Saul Bradshaw.

He didn't say that he doesn't play in two sympathy David. That's important for ministries actually because there are times when you will be tempted to give somebody sympathy when you need to give them lovingly. The truth and encourage them in the Lord and strengthen their hands in God.

Like it says in verse 16. Life lesson here. We should encourage one another in the Lord.

We should encourage one another in the Lord lately. We talked about servant once you step on you begin to serve the Lord there. There is opposition.

There also and you know, family members, and mold while you go, serve and why got me what you got go early. Why daylight and people he there's resistance there and and you need to be encouraged in the Lord why because anytime you step out to do some for God there's going to be opposition is just spiritual battles right and what Jonathan is saying the David.

It reminds me of John the Baptist and Jesus went to John the Baptist. They suggest, and John had this also ministries a lot of people coming to my people hear and speak baptize a lot of people. Also in the sky.

Jesus comes on the same now also and more people are following him beliefs of all John now following Jesus or someone John's followers came to John. John going after this Jesus. John's answer to credit John 330. He simply says he must increase but I must. He must increase, I must decrease. You realize that was atrocious to be doing with the Lord. The Lord is to be increasing in our life as we are decreasing otherwise interesting when you come to the Lord and ask him to forgive you of your sins, you begin a lifelong journey of letting God direct your life no more. 18 you are you to assume and you take control of your life.

Thank you for saving. Thank you for forgiving me on Dave Vermeer guzzling man herein is God wants to direct our life as well. 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 want 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