The heart of a mighty man/woman of God

Lessons learned from David’s mighty men

Wednesday discussion about Halloween and the commitment of satanists to prepare and go out to curse and work evil.

Do we have that commitment?

2 Samuel 23:8-23

What made these men mighty?

They had the courage to fight when others didn’t.

2 Samuel 23:9 “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.”

2 Samuel 23:10 “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.”

Reality is not everyone has the heart to fight. Not everyone has the courage to fight. In the face of impossible odds, most people run.

The question is…do we have the courage to fight…even when others are fleeing?

It’s easier to have courage when those around you are walking in courage, but when you see the hearts of those around you failing…what will you do?

Are you focused on Jesus or are you focused on what others are doing? Is your faith dependent on others?

2. They defended what was theirs and did not compromise!

2 Samuel 23:11-12 “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. 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.”

Why did Shammah stand to fight over lentils?

The other Israelites were probably saying, “It’s just a field of lentils. It’s not worth it!”

Yet Shammah stayed to fight.

That field was theirs. That field was food that they needed. Shammah was not about to give up what was theirs just because it didn’t seem that important.

I think we are too quick to surrender small portions of truth to avoid conflict. When we do, we surrender the knowledge of the truth and the sustenance that truth affords us for our daily walk.

3. They would do anything for their king because they loved him and they were committed to him.

2 Samuel 23: 14-17 “David was then in the stronghold, and the garrison of the Philistines was then at Bethlehem. And David said longingly, “Oh, that someone would give me water to drink from the well of Bethlehem that is by the gate!” 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 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.”

Are we willing to do whatever our King wants?

Are we willing to break through the ranks of the enemy?

This also points us to a spiritual truth....to get to the living water of Jesus (Bethlehem= house of bread) you have to break through the forces of the enemy!

4. They trusted in God and not their circumstances

2 Samuel 23:8 “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.”

2 Samuel 23:18 “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.”

We need to stop looking at how hard it seems or how inadequate we feel. With the Lord on our side we cannot lose!

5. They chased the enemy instead of the enemy chasing them!

2 Samuel 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.”

Some of us have allowed the enemy to chase us most of our lives. In certain areas at least. It’s time to turn the tables! It’s time to use our authority and be willing to chase the enemy into a pit. He’s had us in a bunch of pits throughout our lives. It’s time for him to go into a pit and be defeated!

6. They used they weapons the enemy attacked them with to take their enemy down!

2 Samuel 23:21 “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.”

David cut off Goliath’s head with Goliath’s own sword. God wants to use how the enemy has attacked you to take him down and help others!

3 Reasons why the mighty men are listed in the Bible

To give us spiritual understanding of our battle and our enemy

To show us God’s power and mighty works so that we can trust for the same in our lives!

Because God knew that you were going to need to hear these stories!

No matter what you are facing right now…don’t give up…run away…don’t lose sight of God…don’t stop fighting!