NEHCC Sermon - 4-20-08 - Good Characteristics to Emulate
NORTHEAST HOUSTON COMMUNITY CHURCH
Sermon – Good Characteristics to Emulate
Scripture – 2 Sam 2:1-4
4-20-08
2 Sam 2:1-4
2 It happened after this that David inquired of the Lord, saying, "Shall I go up to any of the cities of Judah?" And the Lord said to him, "Go up." David said, "Where shall I go up?" And He said, "To Hebron."
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“After this” is referring to the news David received concerning the death of Saul. David knew that He was anointed to be king by Samuel but He did not take the throne by force. Although anointed, chased by Saul and banished from his country and people, he still remained loyal to king Saul because Saul was God’s anointed.
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I find David at this time to be a man of many qualities worthy to be admired. He has demonstrated courage (killing of Goliath and other battles). He has demonstrated respect for authority. He has demonstrated fear of God. He has demonstrated to be a leader. He has demonstrated to be a good friend to Jonathan. He demonstrated humility. He has demonstrated control over the four temptations that all sins fall under which are fame, fortune, power and pleasure.
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I find no evidence that David was obsessed with seeking fame. The fame he received was afforded to him by others after he was following orders. ( Saul kill thousand and David killed ten thousands).
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We may not call it fame today but we do seek recognition, “respect”. The most popular show on TV is “American Idol.” What are they seeking, fame. In their case they do so at the expense of being laughed at. But there are those that seek fame at the expense of harming others. The world’s fame is fleeting and soon forgotten. How many super bowl winners can you remember, World Series winners or just famous people?
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I believe that fame is one of those things that come when we consistently do the right thing. It may not be world-wide fame but it may be fame in your world.
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True Godly fame is always preceded by humility.
1 Peter 5:6-7 6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time… NKJV
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I find no evidence that David was focused on seeking a fortune. Up until this point he often had to depend on others for his basic needs. (Remember Nabal and Abagail how she became his wife)
Story: In his day, John D. Rockefeller was one of the richest men in the world. For all practical purposes, his money was virtually limitless. Once, an interviewer asked him, "How much money is enough?" Rockefeller replied, "Just a little bit more!"
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I did not find evidence of David seeking power. On at least two occasions David could have killed Saul and claimed the throne, but he did not.David had power from God to lead, to be victorious, and to have wisdom.
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Power from men and power over men is fleeting. History has proven that time and time again. But if you want real power, surrender to the HS and you will have real power from on high.
Acts 1:8 8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; NKJV
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And lastly I do not see any evidence of David at this point being obsessed with seeking pleasure.
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I have never said that obtaining these thing are sinful within themselves it is the obsession and prioritizing of then in our lives that cause us to sin against God and man. We can learn from David the proper attitude in dealing with these enticing sinful traps. If you want to seek something in life seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness then He will add everything else you need.
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DAVID INQUIRED OF THE LORD
David asked God if now was the time to go up to Judah to be proclaimed king. Why Judah? Judah was the tribe that David was from. He was first proclaimed king of Judah by them at Hebron.
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David did not claim to be the presumptive king of all Israel. He did not march up to the cities and proclaim his credentials and force the people to accept him as king on pain of death. His approach was one of humility. Humility does not mean weakness or cowardly. David was quite the opposite. For the strong and powerful to exhibit humility is more a sign of strength and wisdom. Jesus, the creator of the world and the Son of God was humble all the way to the cross.
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V2 So David went up there, and his two wives also, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the widow of Nabal the Carmelite. 3 And David brought up the men who were with him, every man with his household. So they dwelt in the cities of Hebron.
David went there with both his wives and his men with their families also. When the people of Hebron saw them they knew that they were not coming to fight because a fighting army does not go to war with their families.
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Let me mention the point of David’s two wives. I am not going to preach on it but let me say that it was not a sin for him to have two wives. This is not to condone the events taking place here in Texas concerning that polygamist sect. We are commanded and expected to obey the laws of the land when they do not conflict with the laws of God. From what I have heard these people are wrong.
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V4 Then the men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah.
David was anointed by the men as king. This doesn’t supersede the anointing by God but only confirms it.
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Another characteristic of David is patience. He waited on God’s appointed time. He is now a king, but only of Judah. He accepted that. It has been a long hard eight years of being pursued by Saul. But finally the promise of God is coming to existence. We have to wait on the Lord in the midst of His promises. In our waiting we must continue to be faithful and obedient.
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Thought: God has not promised to rescue us according to our time schedule. If it appears that your prayers are unanswered, do not dishonor the Lord with unbelief. Waiting in faith is a high form of worship
Don’t expect God to bless us when we are disobedient. God does not reward bad behavior.
I began by saying that we will learn from David’s life two things for sure. That which we should do and that which we should not do. There are examples of more things in his life we should do.
END
Humor
My Uncle Bill will sit in a boat all day, waiting for fish, then won’t hesitate to complain to my Aunt Fern if his dinner is a few minutes late.
Just outside the Pearly Gates is a line of men waiting to get in. A sign overhead read: “For Men Who Have Been Dominated By Their Wives All Their Lives.” The line extends as far as the eye could see. There is another sign nearby: “For Men Who Have Never Been Dominated By Their Wives.”Only one man was standing under it. St. Peter goes over to him and asks, “Why are you standing here?” The man replies, “I don’t know. My wife told me to stand here.”
RESPONSIVE READING
James 4:1-10
yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.
NKJV4 Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members?
2 You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet* you do not have because you do not ask.
3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.
4 Adulterers and* adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
5 Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, "The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously"?
6 But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: "God resists the proud,
But gives grace to the humble."*
7 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.
8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
9 Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom.
10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up. NKJV