1 Samuel Chapter 24:1-22

If somebody's advice is not biblically-based throwaway you get an unscrupulous attorney you might want to, you get an unscrupulous tax account. I can almost promise you, you have some broad but if he gets the money supply biblical front lives, then the given you got the company can heat be careful without welcome to cross the bridge with David McGee Senior Pastor of the bridge in Kernersville, North Carolina today were happy to have one of David McGee's assisting pastors with this best real program. Thanks, Bob. Thanks to the listeners out there, excited to get in as Pastor David finishes this chapter today and will be talking a lot about seeking wise counsel and making sure that counsel is from people that know the Lord.

I remember growing up as a believer seeking counsel from those that did not have the life submitted to the Lord and it was not good for me.

But as I came in wise counsel change my heart to licensor want to be about seeking good counsel from godly leaders. I'm sure first in chapter 24 has some awesome stuff about leadership, so be sure this verse by verse what's going on is David has been anointed to became, but is not Kenya.

Saul is still King and to be honest a long story short Saul start to lose it. He's very paranoid is very self-centered and what we see is his life. Continuing to fall apart as he continues to run from God and disobey God, and time again, he gets the opportunity to repent and time and time again he doesn't do and now he's chasing David around the country attempting to kill David, who is been one of his most faithful, loyal and powerful soldiers so that's what's happening now. Last week we talked about in a David in the desert and David in this place called an Getty, we realize that sometimes will go through desert experiences sometimes will have those places of great comfort and rest like an Getty is and that brings us to this chapter 24, first Samuel for Sam 24 verse once is not happened when Saul returned from following the thinnest Philistines that it was, told him, saying, take note, David is in the wilderness of an Getty.

Then Saul took 3000 chosen men from all Israel went to see David and his men on the rocks of the wild goats so we came to the sheepfold by the road where there was a cave and saw an end to attend to his needs. David and his men were staying in the recesses of the cave and the men of David said to them, this is the day of which the Lord said to you, behold, I will deliver your enemy into your hand that you may do to him as it seems good to you and David arose and secretly cut off a corner of Saul's robe now happened afterward the David's heart troubled him because it cut Saul's robe and he said to his men. The Lord forbid that I should do this thing the my master the Lord's anointed to stretch out my hand against the sea and he is the anointed of the Lord. So David restrained the servants with these words and did not allow them to rise up against Saul, and Saul got up from the cave and went on his way. David also rose after when out of the cave and called out to Saul, saying, my lord the king when Saul looked behind and David stooped with his face to the earth and bow down.

This is amazing stuff. Look at this verse David causing my Lord causing the king students with his face to the earth and bounced us all, and this is convicting and I bring this into personal application. There are some good reasons to leave the church. The primary reason to leave the church.

It is theirs. Some sort of heresy, being tall, or the word of God's not being tall. I think in either case you don't stick around to figure it out you don't stick around to fix it because usually you are not a place to fix amine of the pastor himself is decided he's not going teach the Bible. You sitting there week after week is not convincing teach the Bible but I think a lot of times what happens is we get a charge environment we stick around until we figure out that there centers in the church which, you know, depending on the church takes anywhere from a year to couple days and was a well matter there's there centers the ever classic Churchville hypocrites may revert up and use them for the you know the sad thing is, there is some truth in there but were called to do a holy mission and we still mess up sometimes, so there is that brothers that knowing what we should do and what we do. Verse nine and David said to Saul, why do you listen to the words of men who say indeed David seeks your harm look this day. Your eyes have seen that the Lord delivered you today in the my hand in the cave and someone urged me to kill you, but my I spared you and I said I will not stretch out my hand against my Lord, for he is the Lord's anointed.

I look at this is interesting couple groups of people, Saul's people were telling him they were surely get Saul lesson. David's people said you should kill Saul, David, and listen. Life lesson here.

Be careful who you listen to take advice from be careful who you listen to and take advice from somebody's advice is not biblically based, you should throw away will not Pastor doubts about that massive oversimplification know it's not you get an unscrupulous attorney, you might wind up in prison, you get an unscrupulous tax accountant.

I can almost promise you. You have some brought but if he gets the money supply biblical principles to their lives, then the giving you godly counsel you can heated. Be careful without David realized that sought the date that God was still in charge and God didn't deliver Saul in the David's hands that What are the chances that Saul came into the barricade.

The David and his men were out now. But that's what God did.

Now, Sunset hey David, God did this so that you can kill Saul was that the reason that God did that so he could test David rule that were get into the heart of the matter what do you do when God delivers your enemy into your hand, your reaction, your response a lot about your partner relationship with the Lord.

The cool thing is I say test and somebody get this thing back in school grade about do well a path of a failed it's all over now that's not true Christianity. Thank God. When you pass, you realize that God is becoming stronger and stronger in your life when you fail, you realize how desperate for gracious door. Either way there something that you can take home with you either are desperate need for grace or understand God's work in her life verse. Moreover, my father see absolves his father-in-law to make all this stuff worse. Moreover, my father see you see the corner of your robe in my hand friend that I cut off the corner of your robe and did not kill you know and see that there is neither evil or rebellion in my hand.

I have not sinned against you, yet you hunt my life to take it verse 12 let the Lord judge between you and me, and let the Lord avenge me on the my hand shall not be against you. This is amazing stuff.

The Bible says vengeance is mine says the Lord. Sometime you want to jump in and help.

We shouldn't do that we should wait on the Lord.

Verse 13 as the proverb of the ancients say says wickedness proceeds from the wicked, but my hand shall not be against you meaning each time a character is revealed by conduct is interesting look at the context of what is he saying that the Saul in this context. Saul on the killing David just let him escape and then David thing you know what characters revealed by conduct, I think Saul felt when he realized what he was saying. And again, you know, in my I have a have a saying that you know semi speaking evil against you doing evil against you, and all that stuff. It could be worse. You could be them.

Instead, be patient watch Lord come through. And here's the thing. Jesus asked us to do something in the New Testament is when people are evil against you when they hurt you when they speak evil against you when they do unkind things. Love, pray for them in the book of Matthew says if they ask you to go 1 mile, go to that you might not understand the context of the setting there a Roman soldier could go to any person at any Jewish persons that he carried my 50 pounds that and they were forced to care.

For at least a mile good carried over mile good making Karen Morlock is quite frankly sometimes a kill because the stuff was so happy but they had to carry a mile and to that crowd.

Jesus is when asking Karen for mile.

These guys that you hate and enter our ripping you guys off the taxes character see here's the thing. There's three, dynamics and relationships are number one repay kindness with evil anastomotic monies kind to you and your evil back to that's demonic. This terror. But you will experience a new Christian like you probably done it the people and people will do it to you but it's wrong and it's back repay kindness with kindness are evil with evil. That's just too many debts right now. And Jesus points. His eyes is like you know in somebody's life to your nice back big deal at everybody in the world is that just makes common sense is in your own best repay evil with kindness is a tough that's what Jesus does the just, here's what I want you to do some eyes mean the pray for thrice hurtful for her or hurtful to you, love on Sears. Jesus tell us do some impossibly you can't do this year in your own human effort. There's no way you cannot keep this up for any length of time, but whenever Jesus tells us to do something, it becomes possible you can do it if Jesus says love your enemies. Guess what's possible.

You can love your enemies. If Jesus is pray for your enemies. Guess what's possible. Pray for him. Jesus modeled this behavior, verse 14, after whom has the king of Israel come out. Whom do you pursue a dead dog or a flea. Therefore let the Lord be judge and judge between you and me and see and plead my case and delivered me out of your hand. David was not willing to take any shortcuts to the throne he trusted in God trusted his timing and an here's another Prather application any of us in here. Or, change me, make me more like you and God begins to do. Sometimes the trials sometimes you pray that God make me more like you. And he's been AE sends a few Saul peers in your life.

And boy to the prayers change quickly. Anna God get them here in guys like whoa I'm still answering your first prayer, about making you more like me and now you're saying the get these people out here and I was using them as the anointed ones in your life to make you more like me, you realize a very people you're upset with right now that you there's there's something weird going on in your relationship with God is using try the use that person to do more to get you closer to him than anybody else in your life, probably much more than semi that you just get along with.

I know it's convicting probably can have some I play this take back for me.

But you said see him again if you're looking for God just to use perfect vessels. As I I'm sorry got in at eight and God is using me in your life you need understand he's using imperfect vessel. I go ahead and buy me out now because you know what happens sometimes as people at all.

Pastor David you know and then I feel weird because sometimes get nervous when they come and talk to ministers, weird and and then you know it we talk long enough, you can see this recognition don't on their faces there talking me and or maybe were eaten lunch or not. I don't like my face. Writer Sen. something their son at some point in that got… To inform earn 30 there's going to be that revelation of my gosh, you're not all that why is God doing this thing here when you're like you are let logic was doing and get to that part okay if you're new here. I don't know why God's doing that God looks for a place where they're going to love on his people teach were to God and help less that place and he'll kill bless the people there but is not you know and always play whenever I hear Pastor to start, you know God's blessing is in parallel to my Holiness in my prayer life for I go quiet and that's true for any pastor there'd be like one or two people sitting out there listening because every pastor you've ever met is a sinner saved by grace God uses imperfect vessels in our lives.

And if you're always inspecting the vessel to see if it's really can be used to draw you close to God, you're missing the point you're missing the point.

Thank you for listening to David McGee with cross the bridge ministries. David's heart is to help you beyond a 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 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@youareloved.org. Now back to David McGee for 16th, so wasn't able to finish speaking, his words this all that Saul said is this your voice. My son David is all lifted up his voice and with many said to David, you are more righteous than I you have rewarded me with good, whereas I rewarded you with evil new assured me this day how you have dealt well with me for when the Lord delivered me in here and you did not kill me from a man finds his enemy, will he let them get away safely, therefore, may the Lord reward you with good for what you have done to me this day and now I know indeed that you shall surely be king that the children of Israel shall be established in your hand. Now this all sounds good but are you going to see the falls is buttering them up so they can ask something of because here's the thing Saul he's kinda repentant without really repenting.

He saying only things that are true, but once he not saying hey David, I'm sorry try to kill you men be kind of an obvious thing to confess at this moment when I'm sorry been chasing your own doesn't try to do in I feel bad about that. I feel convicted and you know what I like to do that anymore. Is that what he says not. It sounds really religious what he says it sounds good but he doesn't do anything. He never corrects his action was saying over and over how Saul messes up and apologizes but not really doesn't do anything interesting repentant should be tied to action. Repentance should be tied to actions if someone comes to Jesus as Jesus, forgive me of my sins. I'm sorry something should begin the change in their life. Maybe they didn't go to church before and also there going to church. Maybe they never served in a church before and another servant in the church. Maybe they've never given to surgeon and now they begin to give to the church but that something should begin to change the old hope this is one we use what God knows my heart ever heard people with blood again and it's always when not always usually it's like when you have been a church in like five years or God knows my heart that he know your hearts deceitfully way kidneys want you to be in charge so we can operate on your heart.

You got a heart problem with God knows my heart. United made pretty really sinner around that bank knows my heart is usually a copout. You know the Bible tells us faith without works is dead and useless, faith you want this useless plate. It's not her intentions but her actions that really count our actions or what were going to be rewarded for at the end of this life. The things we do for the Lord. Sue is the Lord begins the deal with you. You should have these life-changing and not just some hollow thing like Saul's doing but following through verse 21 therefore swear now to me by the Lord that you will not miss us all asking a favor of David.

Just get me to killing and David lets them go.

And even without apologize now so I wrote to me for what he says therefore swear now to me by the Lord that you will not cut off my descendents after me and that you will not destroy my name for my father's house. So David's word is all Saul went home but David and his men went out to the stronghold. Your attention please. Want to know something. David still went hiding. David didn't trust Saul anymore, and yet he gives him his request, plus his wife, family sources okay got me.

David said you got all wipe them out.

He stays true to this really see that efficient love my fish. If this time to a descendent of Saul, David, let's it is considered a stable so David doesn't trust Saul, he doesn't trust repentance is free from how could Saul asked this of David in the way that he's treated David and yet David by grace says okay so I got what right did Saul have to ask this of David. None whatsoever.

How have we treated the Lord in your life friend would be done. Maybe some of things that nobody else knows about that you know about God knows about you mistreated him. You mistreated people around you. You mistreated people to love you, and then we stand before God say God forgive me, what right do we have to be forgiven and of ourselves. Nothing we don't have of our own strength. The ability to say God forgive me. There's no Saul hasn't done any actions or any deeds, worthy to be forgiven, but he still makes a request there.

Such a picture of the Lord here because of what Jesus did on the cross because of his good we can ask for forgiveness and we can receive forgiveness, not because of our goodness, but because of his goodness. Saul could not ask this of his own goodness, but because of David's goodness he could request we use to words mercy and grace. If you use the word grace with a non-Christian, you should change that they they have no idea what grace really means navy suit to simple definitions for mercy and grace, mercy is not getting what you do deserve mercy is not getting what you do deserve and grace is getting what you do not deserve.

In other words you've messed up.

You said you deserve to be punished for your sin, and yet God's mercy says you know what you get what you do deserve this phrase. Why does one get what I deserve no you don't. If somebody arrogantly says that if you ever said that men repent God.

Tell him you're sorry that you do not want what you deserve is what you deserve is death. What you and I deserve his help eternal separation from God, but God's mercy says not if you asked me you won't get what you do deserve and grace. Grace is the joy and the love and the forgiveness all that in heaven to do we deserve that. No way can we ask that of her own goodness, absolutely not. What how in the world can we not only come to God for God, will you forgive me for encouraging this book to go boldly before the throne of grace and asked for these things through Jesus Christ. Through Jesus Christ and him and him alone because it's all about grace. It's all about grace and grace just flies in the face of religion. Religion says we can earn God's favor. We can build this tower up to the sky. We can gain access to God. That's what religions graces no way, man, women can't reach heaven can't reach God. God gave came up with a plan. Instead of men and women region him that he would reach men and women that plans across the think we need to be reminded.

As we look at this as we see David's response. You know when I can almost promise that most of us in here either.

In times past, or maybe even presently are not responding correctly and circumspect.

God has put people in here in the middle of circumstances in order to test you that you might be strengthening your faith in your sitting there going God, what are you doing get this all out of my life, get these people throwing spears at me out of my life is a powerful truth friend that I found to be true.

When you begin to pray about your circumstances and usually our prayers revolve around God change in our circumstances, you need understand what God is interested really are guys far less interested in changing your circumstances, then in changing you sometimes and we get the midst of suffering God change my circumstances got I'm changing you after you change change your circumstances. But first things first. But what do we want to change. First, our circumstances got does not know this is a longer-term project and that I want to change you want to take you through something that sometimes it can be hurtful to be painful.

You have leaders that you don't know what they're doing. You don't understand things and even you disagree with the estimate through that strengthen your faith is built on when you get to the other side that you be amazed at how God has changed you to their circumstances friend you know for sure that your sins have been forgiven.

You can know right now own 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 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 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 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.

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 daily devotional. Each day you could wake up perfectly past world 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 through first Samuel