Mighty Men
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
When David Livingstone was working in Africa, some friends wrote this to him: “We would like to send other men to you. Have you found a good road into your area yet?” To which he replied with this: “If you have men who will only come if there is a good road, I don’t want them. I want men who will come if there is no road at all.”
E.M. Bounds said this, “The church is looking for better methods, but God is looking for better men.”
Vance Havner wrote, “God is on the lookout today for a man who will be quiet enough to get a message from him, brave enough to preach it, and honest enough to live it.“
We need committed people to carry out the work of God today! People that aren’t looking for easy street, but are willing to work!
All throughout history, whenever God has done a significant work, He has done it through committed people. God doesn’t work through the lukewarm, but through those who are fervent in their love for Christ and His kingdom!
The church today needs mighty men like these who surrounded David!
The Men
The Men
What examples can we find in these men that we can apply to our own lives today? Let’s look at them.
8 These be the names of the mighty men whom David had: The Tachmonite that sat in the seat, chief among the captains; the same was Adino the Eznite: he lift up his spear against eight hundred, whom he slew at one time.
Adino - He slew 800 men at one time! He was a man who didn’t worry about being outnumbered!
9 And after him was Eleazar the son of Dodo the Ahohite, one of the three mighty men with David, when they defied the Philistines that were there gathered together to battle, and the men of Israel were gone away:
10 He arose, and smote the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand clave unto the sword: and the Lord wrought a great victory that day; and the people returned after him only to spoil.
Eleazer - He refused to quit! His hand cramped around his sword because he was clenching it so hard! We too, have a sword today, this blessed Bible, how hard are you hanging on to it today? It’s the most powerful weapon we have!
11 And after him was Shammah the son of Agee the Hararite. And the Philistines were gathered together into a troop, where was a piece of ground full of lentiles: and the people fled from the Philistines.
12 But he stood in the midst of the ground, and defended it, and slew the Philistines: and the Lord wrought a great victory.
Shammah - He stood his ground in the pea patch when everyone else ran. We often get our eyes on others and get discouraged. Shammah didn’t care though, he was going to do what was right, no matter what everyone else did.
13 And three of the thirty chief went down, and came to David in the harvest time unto the cave of Adullam: and the troop of the Philistines pitched in the valley of Rephaim.
14 And David was then in an hold, and the garrison of the Philistines was then in Beth-lehem.
15 And David longed, and said, Oh that one would give me drink of the water of the well of Beth-lehem, which is by the gate!
16 And the three mighty men brake through the host of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Beth-lehem, that was by the gate, and took it, and brought it to David: nevertheless he would not drink thereof, but poured it out unto the Lord.
These 3 mighty men broke through the enemy line to get their King some water.
Were they commanded to? NO.
Were they compelled by duty? NO.
They did it simply because they loved their King...How is your love for your King today?
20 And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man, of Kabzeel, who had done many acts, he slew two lionlike men of Moab: he went down also and slew a lion in the midst of a pit in time of snow:
21 And he slew an Egyptian, a goodly man: and the Egyptian had a spear in his hand; but he went down to him with a staff, and plucked the spear out of the Egyptian’s hand, and slew him with his own spear.
22 These things did Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and had the name among three mighty men.
23 He was more honourable than the thirty, but he attained not to the first three. And David set him over his guard.
Beniah - He slew two “lion-like” men, and also slew a lion in a pit filled with snow. He was the head of David’s guards.
All of these men stood for their King in spite of opposition, being out-numbered, out-muscled, exhaustion, or confusion.
They stood for their King. They were fearless, courageous, steadfast, and loved their King.
Their example is a challenge for us to be Mighty men for Christ.
As they were under David's guidance, we ought to be under God's guidance in our life.
Psalm 48:14— For this God is our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide even unto death.
John 16:13— Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
Psalm 32:8— I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.
As these men left all and sacrificed for David, we ought to sacrifice for Christ. If the Lord has our heart, He has us.
Psalm 51:17— The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
When the Lord has our heart, our attitude and priorities will be right.
As these men sought to exalt David and establish his supremacy as king, we ought to glorify Christ as king of our life.
Matthew 5:16— Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
John 15:8— Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.
1 Corinthians 6:20— For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.
As they loved King David, we ought to love our Lord.
Matthew 22:37— Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
John 14:15— If ye love me, keep my commandments.
We need some mighty men of God today!
We need people that are wholly devoted to the Lord! I can’t even imagine all that God would do in our cities, our schools, our nation, if we, as His people, would stand on His Word, unwavering, preach the truth no matter what people say about us, and simply be willing to do ANYTHING for our Lord who give Himself for us!