Kingdom-Helps

TURN to 2 SAM. CH. 23,, PICKING UP in VS. 8

BEFORE BEGINNING: 2 THINGS:

THANK YOU—WORKDAY VOLUNTEERS && ALL WHO MAKE YOUTH RALLY HAPPEN.

APOLOGY—UNNECESSARY DIVISION, NOT BEING CHRISTLIKE.

!!OPEN in PRAYER!!

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Intro: The Greek Phalanx

FOR MOST OF MY LIFE I HAVE BEEN FASCINATED WITH ANCIENT GREECE IN A NUMBER OF WAYS.

ESP. MILITARY

ONE ASPECT = ANCIENT GREEK PHALANX

MILITARY FORMATION

COMPOSED of HOPLITE SOLDIERS

USED INCREDIBLY EFFECTIVELY for HUNDREDS of YEARS UNTIL ROME CAME AROUND...

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Description:

ROWS of SOLDIERS (UP to 16 DEEP)

ROUND SHIELDS CREATE LINE of DEFENSE

MEN FOUGHT SHOULDER to SHOULDER

YOUR SHIELD WOULD COVER the RIGHT-SIDE of YOUR NEIGHBOR

LONG SPEARS COULD REACH, EVEN FROM ROWS FURTHER BACK

--->> FOR a LONG TIME,, IT WAS ESSENTIALLY UNDEFEATABLE.

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HARD to BREAK THROUGH—SHIELDS = OVERLAPPING

TO DEFEAT a PHALANX REQUIRED it to SPLIT APART...

HOPLITE SOLDIER = NOT SUPER SPECIAL

POWER CAME in NUMBERS & FORMATION

***INCREDIBLY STRONG MILITARY SETUP…BUT ONLY STRONG in GROUPS.

BROKEN UP PHALANX = NOT POWERFUL at ALL

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PHALANX = HELPFUL ILLUSTRATION: CHRISTIAN LIFE & CHURCH

We might think we’re strong alone: But what truly makes us strong is that we aren’t alone.

TO SOME EXTENT, WE ALL HAVE STRENGTHS

WE CAN ALL PERSEVERE

STRENGTH ULTIMATELY = in NUMBERS

WE NEED OTHER PEOPLE.

WE NEED SOMEONE to COVER THAT RIGHT SIDE WITH THEIR SHIELD...

NEED:

AND THIS IS ONE OF THE REASONS I BELIEVE WE NEED THIS TEXT TODAY.

TEXT WILL REMIND US of OUR NEED for ONE ANOTHER

NEED for HELP FROM OTHERS

NEED to NOT DO IT ALL ALONE...

SHOULD BOTH CHALLENGE & ENCOURAGE US TODAY...

(T) BUT BEFORE WE BEGIN,

I WANT TO OFFER A QUICK RECAP FOR THOSE WHO WEREN’T HERE LAST WEEK.

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Recap: Kingdom-Security

“LAST [OFFICIAL] WORDS” OF DAVID.

CH. 21-24 = FINAL CLOSING SYNOPSIS of DAVID’S LIFE...

Last Week:

REMINDED,, DAVID = MAN WHOM GOD MADE GREAT

DAVID’S LAST WORDS = ORACLE:

JUST, GOD-FEARING RULERS = BLESSING to THEIR PEOPLE

ADMONISHMENT to FUTURE KINGS

POINTED FORWARD to THE KING...

We Saw:

POLITICAL VIEWS & VOTE SHOULD BE MADE BASED OFF BIBLICAL PRINCIPLES 1ST & FOREMOST.

ULTIMATELY,, NO POLITICAL SOLUTION WILL SAVE US… ONLY JUST is THE JUST RULER.

(T) AND AMONGST OTHER THINGS — DAVID = MAN HELPED BY GOD...

TODAY WE’LL SEE FURTHER a LIST of HIS KINGDOM-HELPS

LOOK W/ ME NOW @ 2 SAM CH. 23

BEGINNING in VS. 8

THE TEXT SAYS,,

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Text 2 Sam. 23:8-39...

Josheb-Basshebeth (V8)

2 Samuel 23:8–39 (ESV)

8 These are the names of the mighty men whom David had: Josheb-basshebeth a Tahchemonite; he was chief of the three. He wielded his spear against eight hundred whom he killed at one time.

AGAIN LAST WK: DAVID = MADE GREAT BY GOD...

BUT GOD DOESN’T WORK ALONE EITHER

DAVID = GREAT:

BUT DAVID = HELPED BY GOD

&& HELPED BY MAN.

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1ST KINGDOM HELP = JOSHEB-BASSHEBETH

WE’LL CALL HIM “JOSH!”

PROBABLY DON’T KNOW MUCH ABOUT HIM.

WE SKIM NAMES in LISTS,, RIGHT?

BASICALLY TURN INTO AUCTIONEER RUNNING THROUGH NAMES in HEAD??

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THIS UNKNOWN GUY = CHIEF!

***HE’S ONLY FOUND RECORDED in LISTS of NAMES

TODAY’S TEXT, 2 GROUPS:

THE THREE (ELITE of the ELITE)// NAVY SEALS

THE THIRTY (ELITE)

**JOAB/COMMANDER = SEPARATE CATEGORY

--->> UNKNOWN JOSH = CHIEF of the THREE!

HE’S the TOP DOG!

WHY??

IN a BATTLE --- HE STRUCK DOWN 800 MEN HIMSELF.

HE is DAVID’S MIGHTIEST MAN.

(T) SO, WHO ELSE is in DAVID’S CAMP??

LOOK W/ ME @ VS 9.

THE TEXT SAYS,

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Eleazar (V9-10)

9 And next to him among the three mighty men was Eleazar the son of Dodo, son of Ahohi. He was with David when they defied the Philistines who were gathered there for battle, and the men of Israel withdrew.

10 He rose and struck down the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand clung to the sword. And the Lord brought about a great victory that day, and the men returned after him only to strip the slain.

SECOND of “THE THREE”

ANOTHER LARGELY KNOWN GUY—ELEAZAR

ONCE in FIGHTING PHILISTINES,, EVERYONE FLED BUT HIM. (PERHAPS & DAVID?)

HE FOUGHT PHILISTINES STILL HIS HAND WAS STUCK!!

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ANY MEN HERE TODAY EVER HAVE YOUR HAND FROZEN to a HAMMER/ANOTHER TOOL?

I HAVE: STUCK CAR PARTS?? DEMO??

THIS GUY = KILLING PHILISTINES UNTIL HIS HAND = FROZEN SHUT...

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(V10) MOST IMPORTANT: TEXT SAYS,, the LORD BROUGHT GREAT VICTORY

—>> GOD NOT ONLY WORKS THROUGH DAVID,, BUT ALSO ELEAZAR.

GOD WORKS THROUGH MEANS!

HE DOESN’T SEND a MIRACLE FROM HEAVEN

HE SENDS ELEAZAR

MEN of ISRAEL GET to HELP CLEAN UP SPOIL

ELEAZOR = MIGHTY MAN…HE BROUGHT DELIVERANCE to ISRAEL.

(T) WE GOT ONE of “THE THREE LEFT”

WHO IS IT?

LOOK W/ ME @ VS 11,

THE TEXT SAYS,

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Shammah (v11-12)

11 And next to him was Shammah, the son of Agee the Hararite. The Philistines gathered together at Lehi, where there was a plot of ground full of lentils, and the men fled from the Philistines.

12 But he took his stand in the midst of the plot and defended it and struck down the Philistines, and the Lord worked a great victory.

LAST of “THE THREE” = SHAMMAH

FAMILIAR STORY W/ UNFAMILIAR MAN

PHILISTINES = PROBLEM AGAIN

SHAMMAH TAKES STAND in PLOT of LENTILS/PEAS

“THESE ARE OUR PEAS!!!”

MEN FLED AWAY

SHAMMAH STANDS in PEAS & DEFEATS PHILISTINES

(V12) SECOND TIME: “LORD WORKED a GREAT VICTORY”

GOD USES a BACKGROUND CHARACTER,, ACCOMPLISHES SALVATION for HIS PEOPLE...

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3 MIGHTIEST MEN STOOD AGAINST the ENEMY WHEN ALL ELSE HAD GIVEN UP

DECIDING FACTOR BETWEEN VICTORY & DEFEAT

BECOME the “THREE” MIGHTY MEN.

(T) AND THE TEXT CONTINUES AND SAYS IN VERSE 13,

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Three Bringing Water to David (v13-17)

13 And three of the thirty chief men went down and came about harvest time to David at the cave of Adullam, when a band of Philistines was encamped in the Valley of Rephaim.

14 David was then in the stronghold, and the garrison of the Philistines was then at Bethlehem.

15 And David said longingly, “Oh, that someone would give me water to drink from the well of Bethlehem that is by the gate!”

16 Then the three mighty men broke through the camp of the Philistines and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem that was by the gate and carried and brought it to David. But he would not drink of it. He poured it out to the Lord

17 and said, “Far be it from me, O Lord, that I should do this. Shall I drink the blood of the men who went at the risk of their lives?” Therefore he would not drink it. These things the three mighty men did.

REMEMBER: THERE is “THE THREE” & “THE THIRTY”

NOW— 3 ANONYMOUS MEMBERS of the 30 = REFERENCED...

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PROBABLY LOOKING BACK: DAVID’S TIME as FUGITIVE...

HARD TIMES—PHILISTINES EVERYWHERE!

EVEN a GARRISON in DAVID’S HOMETOWN!!

DURING HARDSHIP — DAVID BECOMES HOMESICK.

IN HOMESICKNESS— “I MISS the WATER FROM BACK HOME”

CHURCH, HOW MANY BELIEVE THERE’S NO WATER LIKE WATER @ HOME??

WE WOULD THINK WATER = WATER…BUT IT’S NOT.

ANYONE ELSE REMEMBER 1ST ENCOUNTER W/ SULFUR WATER??

I LIKE MY EGGS SEPARATE FROM MY WATER...

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HOMESICK DAVID,, THINKING/WISHING OUT LOUD,, LONGING FOR BETHLEHEM WATER

—> 3 of “THE THIRTY” TAKE it AS a CHALLENGE!!

INCREDIBLE DEVOTION to DAVID: BREAK THROUGH PHILISTINE CAMP to BRING DAVID a DRINK of THIS WATER....

THE KIND of GUYS YOU WANT on YOUR SIDE!!

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DAVID CAN’T TAKE IT...

CONSIDERING THEIR POTENTIAL SACRIFICE,, LIKE DRINKING THEIR BLOOD...

POURS it OUT as BLOOD OFFERING to the LORD in WORSHIP

AGAIN — DAVID WAS MIGHTY,, BUT HE WAS FAR FROM ALONE...

NUMEROUS MEN MADE DAVID WHO HE WAS...

(T) & THE LIST CONTINUES… LOOK W/ ME @ VS 18

THE TEXT SAYS,,

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Abishai (v18-19)

18 Now Abishai, the brother of Joab, the son of Zeruiah, was chief of the thirty. And he wielded his spear against three hundred men and killed them and won a name beside the three.

19 He was the most renowned of the thirty and became their commander, but he did not attain to the three.

· ABISHAI = 1ST FAMILIAR CHARACTER

BROTHER of JOAB

PART of NARRATIVES

OFFERS to KILL PEOPLE FOR DAVID MANY TIMES

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ABISHAI WIELDS SPEAR AGAINST 300

GAINS REPUTATION LIKE the THREE

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ABISHAI = HEAD of “THE THIRTY”

THE THREE GREATEST = JOSH, ELEAZAR, SHAMMAH

THE 30 = REST of ELITES,, HEADED BY ABISHAI

(T) Will we see any other familiar faces?

Look w/ me @ VS 20...

THE TEXT SAYS,,

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Benaiah (v20-23)

20 And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was a valiant man of Kabzeel, a doer of great deeds. He struck down two ariels of Moab. He also went down and struck down a lion in a pit on a day when snow had fallen.

21 And he struck down an Egyptian, a handsome man. The Egyptian had a spear in his hand, but Benaiah went down to him with a staff and snatched the spear out of the Egyptian’s hand and killed him with his own spear.

22 These things did Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and won a name beside the three mighty men.

23 He was renowned among the thirty, but he did not attain to the three. And David set him over his bodyguard.

BENAIAH —MAN WE KNOW a LITTLE ABOUT...

ANOTHER GUY STOOD OUT FROM CROWD,, BUT NOT QUITE “THE THREE”

KNOWN FOR GREAT FEATS:

KILLED 2 MIGHTY MEN of MOAB

KILLED a GOOD-LOOKING EGYPTIAN MAN

TOOK HIS SPEAR & KILLED HIM W/ IT!

KILLED a LION in SNOWY PIT

**HE BECOMES LEADER of DAVID’S BODYGUARD

NOT of “THE THREE”

BUT NEVERTHELESS VERY MIGHTY.

(T) AND NOW OUR TEXT IS GOING TO CLOSE

WITH THE LIST OF DAVID’S THIRTY MIGHTY MEN.

LOOK W/ ME @ VS. 24 THROUGH 39.

THE TEXT SAYS,

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Concluding List: The Thirty (v24-39)

24 Asahel the brother of Joab was one of the thirty; Elhanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem,

25 Shammah of Harod, Elika of Harod,

26 Helez the Paltite, Ira the son of Ikkesh of Tekoa,

27 Abiezer of Anathoth, Mebunnai the Hushathite,

28 Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai of Netophah,

29 Heleb the son of Baanah of Netophah, Ittai the son of Ribai of Gibeah of the people of Benjamin,

30 Benaiah of Pirathon, Hiddai of the brooks of Gaash,

31 Abi-albon the Arbathite, Azmaveth of Bahurim,

32 Eliahba the Shaalbonite, the sons of Jashen, Jonathan,

33 Shammah the Hararite, Ahiam the son of Sharar the Hararite,

34 Eliphelet the son of Ahasbai of Maacah, Eliam the son of Ahithophel the Gilonite,

35 Hezro of Carmel, Paarai the Arbite,

36 Igal the son of Nathan of Zobah, Bani the Gadite,

37 Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai of Beeroth, the armor-bearer of Joab the son of Zeruiah,

38 Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite,

39 Uriah the Hittite: thirty-seven in all.

TEXT TODAY BEGAN:

“THE THREE” = PRETTY WELL UNHEARD of....

ABISHAI & BENAIAH,, BACKGROUND CHARACTERS...

***NOW ONTO the 30—ALMOST ALL = COMPLETELY UNKNOWN.

NO STORIES ASSOCIATED W/ THEM...

JOSH—KILLED 800

ELEAZAR--HAND GOT STUCK

SHAMMAH— DYING on “LENTIL HILL”

ABISHAI—KILLED 300

BENAIAH—KILLED MOABITE MIGHTY MEN,, HANDSOME EGYPTIAN,, LION.

ALSO SAW 3 UNNAMED WATER BOYS

THEN THERE’S the REST.

BACKGROUND GUYS

GUYS WHO MADE IT HAPPEN

GUYS WHO WERE MIGHTY BUT UNKNOWN...

ONLY ONE in LIST WE KNOW MUCH ABOUT is URIAH—LAST BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST...

A MAN WHO WAS FAITHFUL TO DEATH

**THIS is the CALIBER of MEN THAT SERVED DAVID...

—>> APART FROM HIS MIGHTY MEN,, DAVID WOULDN’T HAVE BEEN DAVID.

(T) AND SO WE CAN LEARN FROM THIS PASSAGE TODAY, THE IDEA THAT,

HOMILETICAL IDEA:

The Kingdom of God might consist of great men and women, but they are those who are greatly helped, both by God and others.

IF DAVID —GREATEST KING—NEEDED HELP

IF GOD CHOSE to WORK THROUGH MEANS to ACCOMPLISH HIS PURPOSES...

WHY WOULD WE THINK WE CAN DO it ALONE?

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GOSPEL: FORGOTTEN DOWN HERE, REMEMBERED UP THERE

TODAY’S TEXT: NAMES of MEN,, MEN GENERALLY FORGOTTEN...

AGAIN: WE SKIM NAMES

BORING DURING DEVOTIONAL TIMES...

GENEALOGIES

LISTS of MEN/SERVANTS/MIGHTY MEN

LISTS of THOSE WHO HELPED NEHEMIAH, ETC.

WE KNOW:

DAVID

ABRAHAM

NOAH

MOSES

DANIEL

ESTHER

**THEY FILL SERMONS, BOOKS, CHILDREN’S BIBLES

BUT:

JOSHEB-BASSHEBETH,

ELEAZAR,

SHAMMAH—

DESPITE BEING “THE THREE” ...GET LEFT BEHIND

LET ALONE the THIRTY!!

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WE MIGHT NOT LOVE the LISTS of NAMES

WE MIGHT SWEAT IF WE GET STUCK W/ THEM in TIME of PUBLIC READING (WEDNESDAY NIGHTS)

THINK W/ ME: IT IS AWESOME THAT THESE LISTS MAKE it INTO SCRIPTURE.

WHY???

--->> IT PROVES that GOD CARES FOR the INDIVIDUAL,, NOT JUST the WHOLE...

GOD DOESN’T JUST LOVE ISRAEL (AS A WHOLE)....

BUT THOSE WHO COMPOSE IT.

GOD DOESN’T JUST LOVE the CHURCH (AS a WHOLE).....

BUT THOSE WHO COMPOSE IT....

GOD PUTS NAMES of INDIVIDUALS DOWN in HIS WORD— BECAUSE GOD CARES ABOUT the INDIVIDUAL.

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(T) I LOVE THAT GOD KEEPS RECORDS of NAMES....... I WANT to TELL YOU ABOUT the GREATEST RECORD...

N.T. TELLS US: THERE’S a BOOK of LIFE

EVERYONE WHOSE NAME = WRITTEN = REMEMBERED BY GOD && SPARED on DAY of JUDGMENT...

THIS is REASON FOR REJOICING!!

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JESUS SENT OUT 72:

RETURN REJOICING:

Luke 10:17 (ESV)

17 The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!”

JESUS REPLIES: YEAH,, YOU’VE GOT AUTHORITY OVER UNCLEAN SPIRITS, ETC....

Luke 10:20 (ESV)

20 Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”

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GOD CARES ABOUT the INDIVIDUAL....

GOD NOT ONLY LOVED the WORLD

***BUT HE LOVED: YOU, AND YOU, AND YOU, AND YOU.

GOD CHOSE US,, FOR ADOPTION to HIMSELF.

HE PICKED US.

HE LOVED US!

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CHURCH—AS WE LOOK @ LISTS of NAMES,, LET US REMEMBER THAT GOD CARES ABOUT the INDIVIDUAL...

NAMES SHOULDN’T STRIKE US as a CHORE,,

WHEN WE REMEMBER WE’RE PART of HIS LIST!!

&& GOD SENT HIS SON NOT JUST to SAVE “THE CHURCH” BUT to SAVE THE INDIVIDUAL!

WE HAVE REASON FOR REJOICING TODAY!

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IF YOU AREN’T POSITIVE THAT YOU’VE BEEN REDEEMED...

IF YOU AREN’T POSITIVE YOUR NAME is in GOD’S BOOK...

I’D LOVE to SPEAK W/ YOU AFTER SERVICE TODAY...

(T) AND NOW, IN CLOSING, I’D LIKE TO SHARE A FEW TAKEAWAYS WITH YOU ALL TODAY.

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Takeaways

LEARN ABOUT GOD?

1. GOD WORKS THROUGH MEANS.

GOD BRINGS ABOUT DELIVERANCE AND ALL SORTS OF GREAT WORKS,

BUT GOD RARELY WORKS ALONE.

HE CAN:

HE’S ALMIGHTY,

HE’S OMNIPOTENT.

—> BUT GOD DELIGHTS TO WORK THROUGH MEANS.

TODAY’S TEXT: GOD BROUGHT ABOUT VICTORY & SALVATION THROUGH GUYS WE DON’T KNOW MUCH ABOUT

(T) CONSIDERING this TRUTH: HOW OUGHT it TO WORK in OUR LIVES:

LEARN FOR US?

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WHO ARE YOU LEANING ON??

CHURCH, IF GOD DOESN’T USUALLY WORK ALONE.... THEN WHO ARE WE TO THINK WE CAN DO IT ALL ALONE?

GOD COULD HAVE:

SENT an ANGEL & CLEANED UP PHILISTINES—HE DID IT FOR HEZEKIAH

COULD’VE STARTED a PLAGUE—HE DID it IN JUDGMENT on ISRAEL

COULD’VE CAUSED THEM to FIGHT AMONGST THEMSELVES—HE DID it FOR GIDEON

HE COULD’VE SENT HAIL LIKE UPON EGYPT

HE COULD’VE SENT FIRE FROM HEAVEN— HE DID on SODOM & GOMORRAH & FOR ELIJAH

COULD’VE OPENED a BIG HOLE—DID AGAINST KORAH

SOMETIMES GOD WORKS THROUGH MIRACLES

&&& SOMETIMES HE WORKS THROUGH PEOPLE.

HE DOESN’T JUST COMMISSION ANGELS

BUT HE WORKS THROUGH IMPERFECT PEOPLE LIKE ME & LIKE YOU...

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HE USES PEOPLE LIKE DAVID,, BUT ALSO THOSE “MIGHTY MEN” WE’VE NEVER HEARD OF...

HE USES PEOPLE in POSITIONS of LEADERSHIP:

ME,

BILL,

STEVE

BUT HE ALSO USES: GARY, FAITH, KEVIN, CHARLIE, JULIE, ETC.

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TWO THINGS to LEARN FROM THIS:

I. EVERYONE is IMPORTANT in CONTEXT of LOCAL CHURCH

PAUL DESCRIBES: “BODY” of CHRIST

EACH PART = NECESSARY

DAVID HAD MANY HELPS—MANY WHO STOOD BY HIM FOR YEARS

TODAY—MANY BELIEVERS HAVE BEEN HERE FOR YEARS

STOOD TEST of TIME

REMAINED FAITHFUL

USED BY GOD in HIS WORK & PRESERVATION of HIS CHURCH

THE CHURCH is COMPOSED of MANY PEOPLE WHO NEVER MAKE the HEADLINES,,

BUT ARE NEVERTHELESS on the FRONT LINES.

NEW TESTAMENT:

WE THINK of PAUL...

TYCHICUS—LETTER-CARRIER??

TERTIUS—THE ONE WHO WROTE WHAT PAUL DICTATED to ROMANS??

LETTERS WITHOUT a MAILMAN DON’T DO MUCH.

KINGDOM of GOD = COMPOSED of MANY PEOPLE WHO WILL BE FORGOTTEN DOWN HERE...

BUT WE KNOW THEY’LL BE REMEMBERED UP THERE!

NAMES AREN’T WRITTEN in LIGHTS—BUT THEY’RE WRITTEN in GLORY!

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II. WE NEED EACH OTHER

OUR ENEMY WOULD LOVE to SEE US ALL as ISLANDS....

DIVIDE US

SEPARATE US

HOUSE DIVIDED DOESN’T STAND.

ONE LASTING TAKEAWAY FROM COVID: WE NEED EACH OTHER...

WE NEED FELLOWSHIP/FRIENDSHIP

WE NEED PEOPLE

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REF. INTRODUCTION: GREEK PHALANX....

WHO in YOUR LIFE,, IS GUARDING YOUR RIGHT-SIDE?

WHO,, ASIDE FROM GOD = YOUR HELP in LIFE??

TWO WEEKS AGO: KEVIN O. SAID to ME “YOU NEED to LEARN to LEAN ON PEOPLE”

—CHALLENGED—

WE CAN TRY & MAKE IT THROUGH LIFE on OUR OWN…BUT WE AREN’T EXPECTED TO...

THERE ARE NO LONE-WOLFS in the KINGDOM of GOD

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ONE REASON WHY CHRISTIANS NEED a CHURCH FAMILY...

A PLACE of GODLY RELATIONSHIPS/FRIENDSHIPS....

A PLACE WHERE YOU CAN BE LOVED & ACCEPTED

ARE WE AN IMPERFECT FAMILY? —YES.

DO WE MAKE MISTAKES? —YES.

DO WE HURT FEELINGS SOMETIMES? —YES.

DO SINNERS OCCASIONALLY SIN & IT CAUSES PROBLEMS? —YES.

YOU WON’T FIND a PERFECT FAMILY ANYWHERE —> DON’T THROW BABY OUT W/ BATH WATER.

WE NEED EACH OTHER.

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WHO ARE YOU LEANING ON?

REMEMBER: WE’RE in a WAR

ALL DEAL W/ OUR OWN SINFUL FLESH

POWERS/PRESSURES of the PRESENT-EVIL AGE,, CULTURAL PRESSURES

SPIRITUAL ADVERSARY—GOES AROUND LIKE LION,, SEEKING SOMEONE to DEVOUR

JESUS = the GOOD SHEPHERD,, DON’T FEAR

BUT the SHEEP THAT GETS TARGETED = THE ONE THAT STRAYS FROM the FLOCK

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IF DAVID COULDN’T DO IT ALONE

& IF GREAT PROPHET ELIJAH GOT DEPRESSED WHEN HE WAS ALONE.

& IF GOD CHOOSES to WORK THROUGH MEANS...

THEN CERTAINLY WE CAN’T DO IT ALONE.

& WE NEED PEOPLE ON OUR SIDE.

WHO ARE YOU LEANING on TODAY?

LET’S PRAY.