WEBVTT

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 2 Samuel chapter 23, we're going to be looking at that together.

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 We have come almost to the end of our series in the book of 2 Samuel.

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 I'm not going to read David's last words from verse 1 to 7.

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 I'm going to pick it up in verse 8 just for the sake of time for the reading.

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 Normally, I will ask someone else to do the reading.

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 Sometimes I do it myself, but often I will ask someone else to do it.

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 This morning, there are so many names in this passage this morning

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 that I felt if I gave it to anybody in church, they would never, ever speak to me again.

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 And so I'm going to attempt them.

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 I ask for your forgiveness.

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 Just because I'm the pastor of the church does not mean that I am any better

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 at the pronunciation of Hebrew names written in English characters

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 or in Hebrew characters, for that matter.

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 So please do forgive me for the names that I get wrong.

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 But we're picking it up in verse 8, and we're going to read through to the end of the chapter.

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 These are the names of David's mighty warriors.

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 Joshab, Bashabeth, Atachemonite, was chief of the three.

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 He raised his spear against 800 men whom he killed in one encounter.

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 Next to him was Eleazar, son of Dodai, the Ahite.

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 As one of the three mighty warriors, he was with David when they taunted the Philistines,

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 sorry, when they taunted the Philistines gathered at Pas-Damin for battle.

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 Then the Israelites retreated.

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 But Eleazar stood his ground and struck down the Philistines

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 till his hand grew tired and froze to the sword.

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 The Lord brought about a great victory that day.

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 The troops returned to Eleazar, but only to strip the dead.

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 Next to him was Shammah, son of Agi, the Harite.

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 When the Philistines banded together at a place where there was a field full of lentils,

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 Israel's troops fled from them.

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 But Shammah took his stand in the middle of the field.

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 He defended it and struck the Philistines down,

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 and the Lord brought about a great victory.

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 During harvest time, three of the 30 chief warriors came down to David at the cave of Adalem,

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 while a band of Philistines was encamped in the valley of Rephain.

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 At that time, David was in the stronghold, and the Philistine garrison was at Bethlehem.

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 David longed for water and said,

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 Oh, that someone would get me a drink of water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem.

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 So the three mighty warriors broke through the Philistine lines,

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 drew water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem, and carried it back to David.

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 But he refused to drink it.

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 Instead, he poured it out before the Lord.

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 Far be it from me, Lord, to do this, he said.

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 Is not the blood of men who went at risk of their lives?

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 David would not drink it.

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 Such were the exploits of the three mighty warriors.

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 Abishai, the brother of Joab, the son of Zariah, was chief of the three.

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 He raised his spear against 300 men whom he killed.

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 And so he was as famous as the three.

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 Was he not held in greater honor than the three?

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 He became their commander, even though he was not included among them.

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 Benaniah, son of Jehiadah, a valiant fighter from Kebzeel, performed great exploits.

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 He struck down Moab's two mightiest warriors.

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 He also went down into a pit on a snowy day and killed a lion.

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 He struck down a huge Egyptian.

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 Although the Egyptian had a spear in his hand, Benaniah went against him with a club.

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 He snatched the spear from the Egyptian's hand and killed him with his own spear.

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 Such were the exploits of Benaniah, son of Jehiadah.

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 He too was as famous as the three mighty warriors.

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 He was held in greater honor than any of the 30, but he was not included among the three.

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 And David put him in charge of his bodyguard.

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 Among the 30 were Ashiel, the brother of Joab, Elam, son of Dodo from Bethlehem,

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 Shammah, the Herodite, Elikah, the Herodite,

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 Helez, the Palite, Ere, the son of Ikesh from Tekoa,

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 Abazir from Anoth, Sibkaph, the Hushite,

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 Zalmon, the Ahalite,

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 Mahariah, the Nethathalite,

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 Heldad, the son of Banna, the Nethalite,

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 Ithai, the son of Riba from Gibeah in Benjamin,

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 Benaniah, the Pirithite,

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 Hidai from the ravines of Gash,

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 Abi Abilon, the Abraphite,

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 Azimeth, the Bahuramite,

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 Ihlaiab, the Shabalonite,

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 the sons of Jashin,

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 Jonathan, never been so grateful for the word Jonathan,

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 son of Shammah, the Harite,

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 Ahim, the son of Shari, the Hazorite,

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 Elaphat, the son of Hashbi, the Mahakite,

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 Eliam, the son of Ahithophel, the Gilanite,

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 Hezro, the Carmelite,

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 Parah, the Arabite,

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 Igal, the son of Nathan from Zobah,

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 the sons of Hagri,

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 Zelech, the Ammonite,

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 Natali, the Birithite,

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 the armor-bearer of Joab, the son of Zariah,

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 Iriah, the Ithite,

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 Garab, the Ithrite,

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 and Uriah, the Hittite.

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 There were 37 in all.

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 Well, this is God's word.

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 Let's pray together

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 and ask that he might help us understand it.

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 Father, we've read

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 a list of names of people that you know and we don't.

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 And Lord, it's extraordinary to us that passages like this are in your word.

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 And so we ask, Lord, for your help this morning,

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 that we might understand these words truly.

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 But we pray even more boldly for more than just understanding with our minds.

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 We pray that you might be at work by your spirit,

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 that we might hear your voice,

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 that we might respond in obedience and faith.

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 Lord, do something in our church this morning,

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 even through the frailty of my mispronunciation of all these names

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 and my weakness as a preacher.

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 Please do something this morning for the sake of your glory.

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 In Jesus' name.

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 Amen.

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 I wonder if I was to ask you this morning

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 just to close your eyes for a moment and think,

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 what is a typical Christian?

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 What is a typical Christian?

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 What's coming to mind as you think?

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 What do they look like?

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 Are they black or white?

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 Male?

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 Female?

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 Young?

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 Old?

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 Cool?

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 Uncool?

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 Uncool?

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 I don't know, as you think about it,

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 what you come up with,

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 but I know that when the producers of TV shows

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 do something like that,

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 they come up with people like,

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 I don't know,

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 Doc Cotton,

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 the Vicar of Dibley,

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 Mrs. Bouquet.

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 The stereotype Christian in our culture

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 is an older white woman

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 who is fussy,

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 weak,

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 easily upset,

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 and knows their Christian faith

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 to be something probably implausible

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 to those around them.

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 They live somewhere in suburbia,

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 don't they,

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 or in the Oxfordshire countryside,

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 and they probably drive a Honda Jazz

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 at about 15 miles an hour

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 in the middle lane of the motorway.

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 You know the stereotype.

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 Now, we know, don't we,

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 that that's not right.

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 You only have to look around you this morning

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 to know that's not right,

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 but I want you to see from our passage this morning

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 how not right that stereotype is.

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 Because in 2 Samuel chapter 23,

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 we meet a list of mighty warriors

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 headed by this guy,

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 Josheb Bashabeth.

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 I doubt before this morning

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 that any of you had heard of him this morning.

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 Josheb is the most honoured of David's men.

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 He is the top of the list

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 of God's faithful soldiers.

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 And in our contrast

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 to the stereotype in our minds,

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 or at least the stereotype

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 in the minds of TV producers,

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 our hero this morning,

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 Josheb, is a man.

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 He's almost certainly a man of colour.

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 He's anything but weak.

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 If he did ever drive a Honda Jazz,

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 it would only be in hot pursuit

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 of someone who was trying to get away from him,

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 and he'd be probably driving it

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 on two wheels most of the time.

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 Josheb appears in verse 8,

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 doesn't he,

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 topping the list of courageous men

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 who trusted the Lord,

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 protected David,

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 and were committed

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 to God's covenant promises.

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 Now you might have noticed

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 as I read the passage

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 that the men themselves

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 are divided into two groups.

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 There's the three and the thirty.

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 The three are led by this guy, Josheb,

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 and are complemented by Abishai,

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 who in verse 18

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 wasn't included in the three,

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 but was honoured above them

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 and commanded them,

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 whatever that quite means.

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 The thirty are headed by Benanias,

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 son of Jehida,

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 who wasn't accounted among them,

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 but was also part of the bodyguard

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 and ran the bodyguards.

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 Look at the detail of all this with me

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 just briefly.

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 Josheb, we're told,

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 in verse 8,

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 killed 800

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 with his own spear

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 all in one go.

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 Eleazar, in verse 9,

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 was the guy who,

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 when everyone else ran off

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 in the army,

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 he courageously stood his ground,

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 fighting so hard

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 that his hand locked

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 on the sword

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 that he was using.

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 The rest of his mates

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 in the army

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 did return

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 once he'd finished killing,

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 but only to strip the dead

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 after they'd fallen

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 at Eleazar's hand

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 in verse 10.

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 Shammah,

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 slightly amusingly,

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 I suppose,

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 stood his ground

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 in a field of lentils,

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 right?

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 Obviously,

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 he really liked lentils.

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 Everyone else fled,

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 but Shammah wasn't going to flee.

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 He stood there,

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 not moved,

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 defeating on his own

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 all who came at him.

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 Abishai,

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 who doesn't make it

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 to the three,

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 imagine not making it

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 to the three,

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 even though he'd killed

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 300 men on his own.

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 Benaniah,

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 in verse 20,

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 is the giant slayer

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 of his time,

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 coming against the biggest

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 and the best

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 of other nations

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 and winning,

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 killing an Egyptian

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 who was a giant.

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 He even kills a lion,

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 presumably with his bare hands,

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 I think,

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 that's how we're to read it,

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 in a pit

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 on a snowy day,

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 maybe even without

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 his shirt on,

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 I think that's how

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 you have to imagine it,

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 isn't it?

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 You see,

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 basically what you find

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 in 2 Samuel 23,

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 in contrast to our stereotype,

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 what you find

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 in 2 Samuel 23

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 is that big men,

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 real men,

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 courageous men,

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 serve the king,

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 God's king,

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 Jesus.

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 You know,

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 in the stereotype

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 of our day,

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 this is more like

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 Anthony Joshua

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 than it is like

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 Doc Cotton.

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 This is more like

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 Tyson Fury

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 than it is like

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 the Vicar of Dibley.

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 Now,

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 I should say at this point,

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 if you're a woman

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 in the room,

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 I'm not trying to make you

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 feel uncomfortable

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 this morning,

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 nor should you think

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 that this is that kind

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 of stereotypical image

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 of aggressive

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 muscular masculinity,

00:11:14.779 --> 00:11:15.459
 the type that's been

00:11:15.459 --> 00:11:16.740
 so abusive and damaging,

00:11:16.899 --> 00:11:17.539
 especially to women

00:11:17.539 --> 00:11:18.379
 over the centuries,

00:11:18.779 --> 00:11:19.399
 that this passage

00:11:19.399 --> 00:11:20.500
 is not commending that at all.

00:11:20.860 --> 00:11:21.439
 I'll show you that

00:11:21.439 --> 00:11:21.860
 in a moment.

00:11:21.860 --> 00:11:23.680
 But I do think

00:11:23.680 --> 00:11:24.340
 that our passage

00:11:24.340 --> 00:11:24.840
 this morning,

00:11:24.960 --> 00:11:25.620
 although it's not

00:11:25.620 --> 00:11:26.879
 recommending that kind

00:11:26.879 --> 00:11:28.080
 of muscular masculinity,

00:11:28.700 --> 00:11:30.180
 the kind of toxic masculinity

00:11:30.180 --> 00:11:31.080
 that we hear about,

00:11:31.460 --> 00:11:32.899
 the passage does still

00:11:32.899 --> 00:11:33.720
 have something to say

00:11:33.720 --> 00:11:34.720
 to the men in the room,

00:11:34.779 --> 00:11:35.180
 especially.

00:11:36.600 --> 00:11:37.320
 So if you're a man

00:11:37.320 --> 00:11:37.659
 in the room,

00:11:37.740 --> 00:11:38.399
 let me speak to you

00:11:38.399 --> 00:11:38.820
 directly,

00:11:38.899 --> 00:11:39.399
 just briefly.

00:11:40.399 --> 00:11:41.639
 What you're going to find

00:11:41.639 --> 00:11:42.759
 in 2 Samuel 23

00:11:42.759 --> 00:11:44.340
 is that real men,

00:11:45.560 --> 00:11:46.680
 courageous men,

00:11:47.159 --> 00:11:48.980
 are not half-hearted

00:11:48.980 --> 00:11:50.120
 in their service

00:11:50.120 --> 00:11:50.800
 of God's king.

00:11:50.799 --> 00:11:52.459
 It's not what they're like.

00:11:53.759 --> 00:11:54.459
 Real men,

00:11:54.620 --> 00:11:55.399
 courageous men,

00:11:55.459 --> 00:11:56.519
 are not the guys

00:11:56.519 --> 00:11:57.500
 who play it coy

00:11:57.500 --> 00:11:58.179
 when it comes

00:11:58.179 --> 00:11:59.219
 to following the Lord,

00:12:00.120 --> 00:12:01.079
 just following him

00:12:01.079 --> 00:12:01.719
 when it suits

00:12:01.719 --> 00:12:02.279
 or when it doesn't

00:12:02.279 --> 00:12:03.339
 interfere too much,

00:12:03.799 --> 00:12:04.939
 but whose real passions

00:12:04.939 --> 00:12:05.399
 and interests

00:12:05.399 --> 00:12:06.000
 lie elsewhere,

00:12:06.079 --> 00:12:07.019
 not really following the Lord.

00:12:07.240 --> 00:12:07.839
 We just do that

00:12:07.839 --> 00:12:08.359
 on a Sunday.

00:12:10.439 --> 00:12:12.039
 Nor are the real men,

00:12:12.120 --> 00:12:13.079
 the courageous men,

00:12:13.379 --> 00:12:14.159
 living their lives

00:12:14.159 --> 00:12:14.919
 out on the streets

00:12:14.919 --> 00:12:15.599
 picking fights

00:12:15.599 --> 00:12:16.479
 with smaller kids

00:12:16.479 --> 00:12:17.699
 or taking knives

00:12:17.699 --> 00:12:18.299
 into school

00:12:18.299 --> 00:12:18.839
 to prop up

00:12:18.839 --> 00:12:19.919
 their low self-image.

00:12:19.919 --> 00:12:21.120
 It's not what

00:12:21.120 --> 00:12:22.099
 courageous men do

00:12:22.099 --> 00:12:23.379
 in 2 Samuel 23.

00:12:25.319 --> 00:12:26.719
 They're not snorting coke

00:12:26.719 --> 00:12:27.339
 in the toilets

00:12:27.339 --> 00:12:28.439
 of a seedy nightclub.

00:12:29.360 --> 00:12:30.079
 They're not dealing

00:12:30.079 --> 00:12:31.339
 weed on the streets

00:12:31.339 --> 00:12:32.319
 or joining gangs

00:12:32.319 --> 00:12:33.059
 just to get a sense

00:12:33.059 --> 00:12:33.439
 of belonging.

00:12:34.379 --> 00:12:35.819
 In 2 Samuel 23,

00:12:36.319 --> 00:12:37.199
 big men,

00:12:37.740 --> 00:12:38.679
 real men,

00:12:39.259 --> 00:12:40.779
 courageous men,

00:12:41.819 --> 00:12:42.500
 the kind of men

00:12:42.500 --> 00:12:44.099
 that we should long to be,

00:12:44.100 --> 00:12:45.860
 those men are losing

00:12:45.860 --> 00:12:46.740
 themselves

00:12:46.740 --> 00:12:48.259
 in the service

00:12:48.259 --> 00:12:48.940
 of God

00:12:48.940 --> 00:12:49.940
 and his king.

00:12:50.800 --> 00:12:52.279
 And that is the example

00:12:52.279 --> 00:12:53.100
 that's been set up

00:12:53.100 --> 00:12:53.820
 for us this morning.

00:12:54.800 --> 00:12:55.440
 In a way,

00:12:55.519 --> 00:12:56.080
 the application

00:12:56.080 --> 00:12:57.080
 of 2 Samuel 23

00:12:57.080 --> 00:12:57.580
 to you,

00:12:57.700 --> 00:12:58.180
 if you're a man

00:12:58.180 --> 00:12:58.580
 this morning,

00:12:58.639 --> 00:12:59.180
 is basically

00:12:59.180 --> 00:13:00.399
 something like this.

00:13:01.379 --> 00:13:02.019
 Man up

00:13:02.019 --> 00:13:03.399
 and take following

00:13:03.399 --> 00:13:04.759
 Jesus seriously.

00:13:06.500 --> 00:13:07.300
 And if you're a woman

00:13:07.300 --> 00:13:07.659
 in the room,

00:13:07.740 --> 00:13:08.240
 please don't think

00:13:08.240 --> 00:13:08.860
 that this has nothing

00:13:08.860 --> 00:13:09.740
 to say to you.

00:13:09.820 --> 00:13:10.800
 The truth is,

00:13:10.799 --> 00:13:12.379
 as a woman

00:13:12.379 --> 00:13:13.159
 in a church

00:13:13.159 --> 00:13:13.839
 where the men

00:13:13.839 --> 00:13:14.919
 are not rude

00:13:14.919 --> 00:13:15.519
 or abusive

00:13:15.519 --> 00:13:16.359
 or dismissive,

00:13:16.419 --> 00:13:16.839
 a church

00:13:16.839 --> 00:13:18.139
 where the men

00:13:18.139 --> 00:13:18.579
 in the church

00:13:18.579 --> 00:13:20.159
 are losing themselves

00:13:20.159 --> 00:13:20.979
 in service

00:13:20.979 --> 00:13:21.979
 of King Jesus

00:13:21.979 --> 00:13:23.479
 is the kind of place

00:13:23.479 --> 00:13:24.500
 where women

00:13:24.500 --> 00:13:26.099
 long to be also.

00:13:27.120 --> 00:13:27.819
 These are the kind

00:13:27.819 --> 00:13:28.099
 of men

00:13:28.099 --> 00:13:28.559
 that you want

00:13:28.559 --> 00:13:29.039
 to marry.

00:13:29.519 --> 00:13:30.039
 These are the kind

00:13:30.039 --> 00:13:30.319
 of men

00:13:30.319 --> 00:13:30.719
 that you want

00:13:30.719 --> 00:13:31.679
 leading the church.

00:13:32.039 --> 00:13:32.599
 These are the kind

00:13:32.599 --> 00:13:32.839
 of men

00:13:32.839 --> 00:13:33.459
 you want helping

00:13:33.459 --> 00:13:34.139
 at youth group,

00:13:34.279 --> 00:13:35.399
 serving in the church.

00:13:36.240 --> 00:13:37.319
 And besides all of that,

00:13:37.659 --> 00:13:38.879
 actually the truth is

00:13:38.879 --> 00:13:40.120
 that all of us

00:13:40.120 --> 00:13:40.740
 need to man

00:13:40.740 --> 00:13:41.779
 up or woman

00:13:41.779 --> 00:13:42.100
 up,

00:13:42.159 --> 00:13:42.759
 as it gets said

00:13:42.759 --> 00:13:43.560
 in our house,

00:13:44.000 --> 00:13:44.720
 in the service

00:13:44.720 --> 00:13:45.220
 of the Lord.

00:13:45.419 --> 00:13:46.139
 That's what we need

00:13:46.139 --> 00:13:46.519
 to do.

00:13:46.720 --> 00:13:47.100
 Man up,

00:13:47.200 --> 00:13:47.580
 woman up.

00:13:47.700 --> 00:13:48.539
 Take courage

00:13:48.539 --> 00:13:50.220
 and serve the Lord.

00:13:51.060 --> 00:13:51.899
 So let me show you

00:13:51.899 --> 00:13:52.919
 three ways the passage

00:13:52.919 --> 00:13:54.340
 teaches us to do that.

00:13:54.399 --> 00:13:54.980
 And the first one

00:13:54.980 --> 00:13:55.259
 is this,

00:13:55.340 --> 00:13:56.240
 man up or woman up

00:13:56.240 --> 00:13:56.940
 if you prefer that,

00:13:57.320 --> 00:13:58.320
 and trust the Lord

00:13:58.320 --> 00:13:59.399
 and not yourself.

00:14:00.000 --> 00:14:00.639
 Trust the Lord

00:14:00.639 --> 00:14:01.320
 and not yourself.

00:14:02.620 --> 00:14:03.419
 I think this is

00:14:03.419 --> 00:14:04.139
 what we're to notice

00:14:04.139 --> 00:14:04.720
 in the passage

00:14:04.720 --> 00:14:05.519
 is that it's not

00:14:05.519 --> 00:14:06.919
 so much the great feats

00:14:06.919 --> 00:14:07.539
 of the warriors,

00:14:08.019 --> 00:14:08.680
 but the repetition

00:14:08.680 --> 00:14:09.659
 of this phrase,

00:14:09.659 --> 00:14:10.639
 the Lord

00:14:10.639 --> 00:14:11.659
 brought about

00:14:11.659 --> 00:14:12.919
 a great victory

00:14:12.919 --> 00:14:14.120
 that day.

00:14:14.439 --> 00:14:15.379
 That phrase is there

00:14:15.379 --> 00:14:16.100
 in verse 10.

00:14:16.179 --> 00:14:16.679
 If you look down,

00:14:16.759 --> 00:14:17.600
 it's again repeated

00:14:17.600 --> 00:14:18.500
 in verse 12.

00:14:19.399 --> 00:14:19.959
 In other words,

00:14:20.120 --> 00:14:21.240
 these great warriors

00:14:21.240 --> 00:14:22.939
 find their greatness

00:14:22.939 --> 00:14:23.659
 not so much

00:14:23.659 --> 00:14:24.899
 in the size

00:14:24.899 --> 00:14:25.679
 of their biceps,

00:14:26.019 --> 00:14:26.620
 but in the fact

00:14:26.620 --> 00:14:27.899
 that they are instruments

00:14:27.899 --> 00:14:28.980
 in the hands

00:14:28.980 --> 00:14:29.500
 of the Lord.

00:14:30.679 --> 00:14:31.139
 Interestingly,

00:14:31.319 --> 00:14:32.439
 their physical appearance

00:14:32.439 --> 00:14:33.639
 is never mentioned,

00:14:34.100 --> 00:14:34.519
 is it?

00:14:34.939 --> 00:14:35.240
 Actually,

00:14:35.299 --> 00:14:35.960
 it's only mentioned

00:14:35.960 --> 00:14:36.779
 in a negative way

00:14:36.779 --> 00:14:37.740
 in its weakness

00:14:37.740 --> 00:14:39.059
 with a hand

00:14:39.059 --> 00:14:39.659
 that gets locked

00:14:39.659 --> 00:14:40.399
 to a sword

00:14:40.399 --> 00:14:41.139
 getting noted.

00:14:42.319 --> 00:14:42.659
 Now,

00:14:42.720 --> 00:14:43.779
 I'm sure these were

00:14:43.779 --> 00:14:45.019
 probably big guys,

00:14:45.139 --> 00:14:46.059
 but the truth is

00:14:46.059 --> 00:14:46.460
 they were not

00:14:46.460 --> 00:14:47.120
 the kind of guys

00:14:47.120 --> 00:14:48.079
 who were taking

00:14:48.079 --> 00:14:48.679
 those pictures

00:14:48.679 --> 00:14:49.240
 in the gym

00:14:49.240 --> 00:14:49.939
 of their muscles

00:14:49.939 --> 00:14:50.600
 and then posting

00:14:50.600 --> 00:14:51.159
 on Instagram,

00:14:51.419 --> 00:14:51.600
 right?

00:14:53.139 --> 00:14:54.460
 Some of those guys,

00:14:54.539 --> 00:14:55.379
 you know who they are,

00:14:55.419 --> 00:14:55.620
 don't you?

00:14:55.639 --> 00:14:56.519
 Maybe you are one yourself.

00:14:57.299 --> 00:14:58.319
 It's not those here,

00:14:58.439 --> 00:14:58.679
 right?

00:14:58.860 --> 00:14:59.659
 That's not what they're doing.

00:15:00.600 --> 00:15:01.100
 These men,

00:15:01.100 --> 00:15:02.060
 if you were to ask them,

00:15:02.139 --> 00:15:03.320
 where does your strength

00:15:03.320 --> 00:15:04.340
 and your prowess

00:15:04.340 --> 00:15:04.820
 come from?

00:15:05.159 --> 00:15:06.060
 How is it that you

00:15:06.060 --> 00:15:06.759
 have achieved

00:15:06.759 --> 00:15:07.580
 these great things

00:15:07.580 --> 00:15:08.480
 in service of the Lord?

00:15:08.580 --> 00:15:08.840
 They would say,

00:15:08.879 --> 00:15:09.060
 oh no,

00:15:09.080 --> 00:15:09.800
 that's really easy.

00:15:10.100 --> 00:15:10.620
 Let me give you

00:15:10.620 --> 00:15:11.580
 a simple answer to that.

00:15:12.000 --> 00:15:12.899
 The Lord did it.

00:15:13.800 --> 00:15:14.800
 The Lord did it

00:15:14.800 --> 00:15:15.440
 through me.

00:15:16.940 --> 00:15:17.120
 You know,

00:15:17.139 --> 00:15:17.759
 you're not to imagine,

00:15:17.879 --> 00:15:18.040
 are you,

00:15:18.080 --> 00:15:18.879
 that Joshua killed

00:15:18.879 --> 00:15:20.180
 800 men by himself

00:15:20.180 --> 00:15:21.200
 because he fancied it.

00:15:22.139 --> 00:15:22.840
 It's not like

00:15:22.840 --> 00:15:24.259
 he's at the gym one day

00:15:24.259 --> 00:15:24.480
 and going,

00:15:24.540 --> 00:15:25.040
 I wonder what I could

00:15:25.040 --> 00:15:26.120
 bench press today,

00:15:26.620 --> 00:15:26.899
 right?

00:15:27.160 --> 00:15:27.740
 I wonder if I could

00:15:27.740 --> 00:15:29.000
 take 800 men

00:15:29.000 --> 00:15:29.620
 by myself.

00:15:29.899 --> 00:15:30.440
 He's not thinking

00:15:30.440 --> 00:15:30.820
 that at all,

00:15:30.860 --> 00:15:31.060
 is he?

00:15:31.560 --> 00:15:32.560
 I think what you're

00:15:32.560 --> 00:15:33.139
 to imagine

00:15:33.139 --> 00:15:34.540
 is that he did that.

00:15:34.920 --> 00:15:36.320
 He took on 800 men

00:15:36.320 --> 00:15:36.920
 on his own

00:15:36.920 --> 00:15:38.580
 because everybody else

00:15:38.580 --> 00:15:39.100
 had fled.

00:15:40.600 --> 00:15:41.360
 That's exactly

00:15:41.360 --> 00:15:41.920
 what happens

00:15:41.920 --> 00:15:43.120
 to Eleazar and Shammah,

00:15:43.180 --> 00:15:43.480
 isn't it?

00:15:43.820 --> 00:15:44.940
 They trusted God,

00:15:45.019 --> 00:15:45.700
 not themselves,

00:15:46.080 --> 00:15:47.740
 even when everybody else

00:15:47.740 --> 00:15:48.639
 thought that all hope

00:15:48.639 --> 00:15:49.320
 was lost.

00:15:50.019 --> 00:15:50.659
 These are men

00:15:50.659 --> 00:15:52.220
 of courageous faith,

00:15:52.720 --> 00:15:53.440
 men who in the midst

00:15:53.440 --> 00:15:54.440
 of battle believed

00:15:54.440 --> 00:15:55.379
 that the Lord's promises

00:15:55.379 --> 00:15:56.360
 were still trustworthy,

00:15:56.779 --> 00:15:57.720
 that God would deliver

00:15:57.720 --> 00:15:58.639
 whatever the odds

00:15:58.639 --> 00:16:00.259
 because they were fighting

00:16:00.259 --> 00:16:01.399
 for God and his king.

00:16:04.500 --> 00:16:04.860
 Now,

00:16:04.919 --> 00:16:05.519
 just for a moment,

00:16:05.919 --> 00:16:06.080
 well,

00:16:06.139 --> 00:16:06.860
 maybe not just for a moment,

00:16:06.980 --> 00:16:07.740
 for the rest of the sermon,

00:16:07.939 --> 00:16:08.659
 but for this moment

00:16:08.659 --> 00:16:09.240
 in particular,

00:16:09.399 --> 00:16:10.259
 engage your brain

00:16:10.259 --> 00:16:10.860
 if you can

00:16:10.860 --> 00:16:11.620
 because we need to do

00:16:11.620 --> 00:16:12.399
 some work here

00:16:12.399 --> 00:16:13.340
 in order to see

00:16:13.340 --> 00:16:13.960
 the application.

00:16:13.960 --> 00:16:15.200
 Now,

00:16:15.200 --> 00:16:15.879
 you need to remember

00:16:15.879 --> 00:16:17.420
 that in David's day,

00:16:18.500 --> 00:16:19.519
 the great promises

00:16:19.519 --> 00:16:20.160
 of redemption,

00:16:20.560 --> 00:16:21.540
 so your Bible

00:16:21.540 --> 00:16:22.560
 is dominated

00:16:22.560 --> 00:16:23.519
 by promises

00:16:23.519 --> 00:16:24.420
 of salvation

00:16:24.420 --> 00:16:25.040
 which run from

00:16:25.040 --> 00:16:25.500
 the beginning

00:16:25.500 --> 00:16:26.160
 to the end.

00:16:26.420 --> 00:16:28.080
 They are hinted at

00:16:28.080 --> 00:16:28.580
 to Adam,

00:16:29.000 --> 00:16:30.080
 they are spelt out

00:16:30.080 --> 00:16:30.740
 to Abraham.

00:16:31.080 --> 00:16:31.940
 I will make you

00:16:31.940 --> 00:16:32.800
 a great nation,

00:16:32.940 --> 00:16:34.120
 I will bless you,

00:16:34.360 --> 00:16:35.759
 you will belong to me,

00:16:35.900 --> 00:16:36.960
 says God to Abraham.

00:16:37.500 --> 00:16:37.740
 Now,

00:16:37.840 --> 00:16:38.660
 that great promise

00:16:38.660 --> 00:16:39.180
 to Abraham

00:16:39.180 --> 00:16:40.180
 in David's day

00:16:40.180 --> 00:16:41.840
 is administrated

00:16:41.840 --> 00:16:43.399
 through the nation

00:16:43.399 --> 00:16:44.000
 of Israel

00:16:44.000 --> 00:16:44.820
 and his role

00:16:44.820 --> 00:16:46.720
 as king of Israel.

00:16:47.280 --> 00:16:48.019
 The promise

00:16:48.019 --> 00:16:49.680
 is demonstrated

00:16:49.680 --> 00:16:50.800
 by the success

00:16:50.800 --> 00:16:51.800
 of a nation,

00:16:51.960 --> 00:16:52.440
 if you like.

00:16:52.820 --> 00:16:53.740
 How do I know

00:16:53.740 --> 00:16:54.860
 that God has a promise

00:16:54.860 --> 00:16:56.019
 to save people

00:16:56.019 --> 00:16:57.000
 in the Old Testament?

00:16:57.320 --> 00:16:58.060
 I see it

00:16:58.060 --> 00:16:58.720
 in the success

00:16:58.720 --> 00:17:00.100
 of God's king

00:17:00.100 --> 00:17:00.840
 and this nation

00:17:00.840 --> 00:17:01.460
 of Israel.

00:17:01.840 --> 00:17:02.680
 That's how I see it.

00:17:03.360 --> 00:17:03.759
 Now,

00:17:03.860 --> 00:17:04.740
 that arrangement,

00:17:05.019 --> 00:17:06.900
 that administration

00:17:06.900 --> 00:17:07.960
 of the promise

00:17:07.960 --> 00:17:08.600
 made to Abraham,

00:17:08.700 --> 00:17:09.720
 that ends

00:17:09.720 --> 00:17:10.460
 at the end

00:17:10.460 --> 00:17:11.259
 of the Old Testament

00:17:11.259 --> 00:17:12.200
 when the nation

00:17:12.200 --> 00:17:12.599
 of Israel

00:17:12.599 --> 00:17:13.599
 are exiled

00:17:13.599 --> 00:17:14.200
 and then they

00:17:14.200 --> 00:17:15.400
 return to Jerusalem

00:17:15.400 --> 00:17:16.099
 in weakness

00:17:16.099 --> 00:17:16.720
 and defeat.

00:17:17.259 --> 00:17:17.960
 And then comes

00:17:17.960 --> 00:17:18.379
 Jesus,

00:17:18.519 --> 00:17:19.119
 the Messiah

00:17:19.119 --> 00:17:20.319
 in the New Testament

00:17:20.319 --> 00:17:21.920
 and he inaugurates

00:17:21.920 --> 00:17:22.660
 in his blood

00:17:22.660 --> 00:17:23.440
 what he calls

00:17:23.440 --> 00:17:25.480
 a new covenant.

00:17:25.900 --> 00:17:26.779
 A new covenant.

00:17:27.240 --> 00:17:27.839
 I am taking

00:17:27.839 --> 00:17:28.480
 these promises

00:17:28.480 --> 00:17:29.039
 of redemption,

00:17:29.240 --> 00:17:29.579
 says Jesus,

00:17:29.680 --> 00:17:30.279
 which dominate

00:17:30.279 --> 00:17:30.859
 your Bible

00:17:30.859 --> 00:17:31.940
 from the beginning.

00:17:32.339 --> 00:17:33.400
 Those are now

00:17:33.400 --> 00:17:34.160
 administrated

00:17:34.160 --> 00:17:35.160
 through me.

00:17:35.879 --> 00:17:37.000
 I am the one

00:17:37.000 --> 00:17:37.799
 who is able

00:17:37.799 --> 00:17:38.420
 to give you

00:17:38.420 --> 00:17:39.019
 membership

00:17:39.019 --> 00:17:39.819
 of God's people,

00:17:39.819 --> 00:17:40.679
 forgiveness

00:17:40.679 --> 00:17:41.460
 and love

00:17:41.460 --> 00:17:42.019
 and a knowledge

00:17:42.019 --> 00:17:42.579
 of God.

00:17:43.119 --> 00:17:44.099
 The New Testament,

00:17:44.279 --> 00:17:45.220
 the new arrangement.

00:17:46.419 --> 00:17:47.339
 And in the New Testament,

00:17:47.500 --> 00:17:48.099
 God's people

00:17:48.099 --> 00:17:48.819
 are no longer

00:17:48.819 --> 00:17:49.960
 just one nation,

00:17:50.019 --> 00:17:50.359
 are they?

00:17:50.720 --> 00:17:51.720
 In the New Testament,

00:17:51.879 --> 00:17:52.439
 God's people

00:17:52.439 --> 00:17:54.039
 are a church

00:17:54.039 --> 00:17:54.819
 made up of people

00:17:54.819 --> 00:17:56.799
 from all nations

00:17:56.799 --> 00:17:58.240
 under the leadership

00:17:58.240 --> 00:17:59.159
 of God's king,

00:17:59.579 --> 00:17:59.859
 Jesus.

00:18:01.339 --> 00:18:01.919
 And the promises

00:18:01.919 --> 00:18:02.539
 of Abraham,

00:18:02.879 --> 00:18:03.279
 the promises

00:18:03.279 --> 00:18:04.059
 of God to Abraham

00:18:04.059 --> 00:18:04.819
 are no longer

00:18:04.819 --> 00:18:05.779
 administrated then

00:18:05.779 --> 00:18:07.039
 by the sword

00:18:07.039 --> 00:18:07.839
 of a nation

00:18:07.839 --> 00:18:09.420
 but by the preaching

00:18:09.420 --> 00:18:10.379
 of a church

00:18:10.379 --> 00:18:12.319
 where men and women

00:18:12.319 --> 00:18:13.539
 from every land

00:18:13.539 --> 00:18:14.220
 are invited

00:18:14.220 --> 00:18:15.440
 to join God's people

00:18:15.440 --> 00:18:16.899
 not by surrendering

00:18:16.899 --> 00:18:17.639
 to Israel

00:18:17.639 --> 00:18:18.839
 but by trusting

00:18:18.839 --> 00:18:19.639
 in Jesus Christ

00:18:19.639 --> 00:18:20.859
 and joining the church.

00:18:21.399 --> 00:18:22.420
 Knowing that forgiveness

00:18:22.420 --> 00:18:23.519
 comes not from

00:18:23.519 --> 00:18:24.599
 a sacrificial system

00:18:24.599 --> 00:18:25.859
 in a temple

00:18:25.859 --> 00:18:26.579
 in Jerusalem

00:18:26.579 --> 00:18:28.139
 but from the fulfillment

00:18:28.139 --> 00:18:28.740
 of that

00:18:28.740 --> 00:18:30.220
 in Jesus' sacrifice

00:18:30.220 --> 00:18:31.019
 on the cross.

00:18:31.859 --> 00:18:32.859
 So the new covenant,

00:18:33.139 --> 00:18:34.500
 the promise

00:18:34.500 --> 00:18:35.440
 of the Lord

00:18:35.440 --> 00:18:37.319
 is not this land

00:18:37.319 --> 00:18:38.240
 will be ours

00:18:38.240 --> 00:18:40.240
 but that this church

00:18:40.240 --> 00:18:41.200
 will be his

00:18:41.200 --> 00:18:42.799
 and his church

00:18:42.799 --> 00:18:43.380
 will grow,

00:18:43.579 --> 00:18:44.559
 his church will flourish

00:18:44.559 --> 00:18:45.980
 and it will be full

00:18:45.980 --> 00:18:46.299
 of people

00:18:46.299 --> 00:18:47.299
 from every tribe,

00:18:47.660 --> 00:18:48.460
 every language,

00:18:48.920 --> 00:18:49.599
 every nation

00:18:49.599 --> 00:18:51.220
 and that King Jesus

00:18:51.220 --> 00:18:52.579
 will not let us down

00:18:52.579 --> 00:18:54.220
 but will return one day

00:18:54.220 --> 00:18:55.539
 in power and glory

00:18:55.539 --> 00:18:56.720
 to take his people

00:18:56.720 --> 00:18:57.440
 to be with him

00:18:57.440 --> 00:18:58.180
 in a world

00:18:58.180 --> 00:18:58.940
 that he remakes

00:18:58.940 --> 00:18:59.539
 by his power

00:18:59.539 --> 00:19:00.000
 and his glory

00:19:00.000 --> 00:19:01.059
 forever and ever and ever.

00:19:02.640 --> 00:19:03.779
 Now that means

00:19:03.779 --> 00:19:05.440
 that when you and I

00:19:05.440 --> 00:19:07.319
 read 2 Samuel 23

00:19:07.319 --> 00:19:08.680
 the application

00:19:08.680 --> 00:19:09.559
 is not

00:19:09.559 --> 00:19:11.319
 find a field of lentils

00:19:11.319 --> 00:19:12.619
 and stand firm,

00:19:12.980 --> 00:19:13.220
 right?

00:19:13.579 --> 00:19:14.079
 You'd do well

00:19:14.079 --> 00:19:15.139
 to find a field of lentils

00:19:15.139 --> 00:19:15.940
 in London anyway,

00:19:16.019 --> 00:19:16.339
 wouldn't you?

00:19:16.879 --> 00:19:17.539
 No, that's not

00:19:17.539 --> 00:19:18.740
 the invitation, is it?

00:19:19.160 --> 00:19:19.619
 The invitation

00:19:19.619 --> 00:19:20.500
 is not to wrestle

00:19:20.500 --> 00:19:21.779
 in a pit with a lion

00:19:21.779 --> 00:19:23.039
 but rather

00:19:23.039 --> 00:19:23.799
 the invitation

00:19:23.799 --> 00:19:25.279
 is stand your ground,

00:19:26.039 --> 00:19:26.819
 live your life

00:19:26.819 --> 00:19:28.879
 trusting Jesus Christ alone,

00:19:29.559 --> 00:19:30.779
 believing in his promises

00:19:30.779 --> 00:19:31.539
 that he has made

00:19:31.539 --> 00:19:32.700
 to build his church

00:19:32.700 --> 00:19:34.400
 that he will not leave you,

00:19:34.819 --> 00:19:36.240
 that he will not let you down

00:19:36.240 --> 00:19:38.240
 and that you can trust him.

00:19:39.039 --> 00:19:39.980
 Invest your hopes,

00:19:40.080 --> 00:19:40.380
 he says,

00:19:40.480 --> 00:19:41.660
 invest your service

00:19:41.660 --> 00:19:43.100
 in the promises of God

00:19:43.100 --> 00:19:44.400
 to build a people of faith.

00:19:44.940 --> 00:19:45.059
 You know,

00:19:45.220 --> 00:19:46.039
 manning up

00:19:46.039 --> 00:19:47.200
 or womaning up

00:19:47.200 --> 00:19:48.720
 means not giving up

00:19:48.720 --> 00:19:50.019
 on those promises,

00:19:51.019 --> 00:19:51.900
 the promises of God

00:19:51.900 --> 00:19:53.059
 to exalt King Jesus

00:19:53.059 --> 00:19:54.259
 and present him

00:19:54.259 --> 00:19:55.319
 with a beautiful church.

00:19:56.279 --> 00:19:57.100
 And so just like

00:19:57.100 --> 00:19:57.840
 for Josh Ebb

00:19:57.840 --> 00:19:58.420
 and Eliezer

00:19:58.420 --> 00:19:58.860
 and others

00:19:58.860 --> 00:20:00.120
 where real men

00:20:00.120 --> 00:20:00.880
 trust the Lord

00:20:00.880 --> 00:20:01.740
 to keep his king,

00:20:01.740 --> 00:20:02.519
 so today

00:20:02.519 --> 00:20:03.779
 real men,

00:20:04.279 --> 00:20:04.980
 real women

00:20:04.980 --> 00:20:06.319
 trust the Lord

00:20:06.319 --> 00:20:07.680
 to keep King Jesus

00:20:07.680 --> 00:20:08.620
 on the throne

00:20:08.620 --> 00:20:09.980
 for eternity.

00:20:11.019 --> 00:20:11.559
 So much so

00:20:11.559 --> 00:20:12.500
 that not giving up

00:20:12.500 --> 00:20:13.240
 in trusting the Lord,

00:20:13.299 --> 00:20:14.079
 the best way to live,

00:20:14.140 --> 00:20:15.859
 the only true thing

00:20:15.859 --> 00:20:16.799
 to invest in

00:20:16.799 --> 00:20:17.980
 is not our own fame

00:20:17.980 --> 00:20:18.779
 and our own glory,

00:20:19.180 --> 00:20:20.059
 not prosperity

00:20:20.059 --> 00:20:20.660
 and comfort

00:20:20.660 --> 00:20:22.039
 but trusting in

00:20:22.039 --> 00:20:23.160
 standing our ground

00:20:23.160 --> 00:20:24.240
 on the promises of God

00:20:24.240 --> 00:20:26.039
 knowing that God the Father

00:20:26.039 --> 00:20:26.799
 by the Spirit

00:20:26.799 --> 00:20:27.880
 through the work of the Son

00:20:27.880 --> 00:20:30.440
 will keep his promise.

00:20:30.440 --> 00:20:32.940
 So let me try

00:20:32.940 --> 00:20:33.340
 and give you

00:20:33.340 --> 00:20:34.420
 I think essentially

00:20:34.420 --> 00:20:35.600
 a contemporary

00:20:35.600 --> 00:20:36.779
 Josh Ebb

00:20:36.779 --> 00:20:37.759
 or Eliezer

00:20:37.759 --> 00:20:39.019
 or Shammah story.

00:20:40.799 --> 00:20:41.600
 Here the warrior

00:20:41.600 --> 00:20:42.980
 is a mother.

00:20:44.799 --> 00:20:46.559
 Her son has left home.

00:20:46.640 --> 00:20:47.559
 It's a true story.

00:20:48.039 --> 00:20:48.980
 It's a friend of mine.

00:20:50.080 --> 00:20:51.160
 Her son left home.

00:20:51.279 --> 00:20:53.160
 He got into drinking heavily

00:20:53.160 --> 00:20:54.840
 and fighting.

00:20:54.839 --> 00:20:56.779
 He was depressed

00:20:56.779 --> 00:20:58.079
 and self-harming.

00:20:58.220 --> 00:20:59.000
 He had absolutely

00:20:59.000 --> 00:21:00.199
 no interest in the gospel

00:21:00.199 --> 00:21:01.439
 despite having been raised

00:21:01.439 --> 00:21:02.279
 in a Christian home

00:21:02.279 --> 00:21:03.619
 where he had been taken

00:21:03.619 --> 00:21:04.439
 along to church

00:21:04.439 --> 00:21:05.199
 where his parents

00:21:05.199 --> 00:21:06.759
 had shared the gospel

00:21:06.759 --> 00:21:08.220
 with him day on day,

00:21:08.779 --> 00:21:09.519
 prayed for him

00:21:09.519 --> 00:21:10.559
 over and over

00:21:10.559 --> 00:21:12.579
 yet still fighting,

00:21:12.879 --> 00:21:13.220
 drinking,

00:21:13.639 --> 00:21:14.179
 self-harming.

00:21:14.399 --> 00:21:15.079
 That was his life.

00:21:16.019 --> 00:21:16.779
 And it went on

00:21:16.779 --> 00:21:17.759
 not just for a few months.

00:21:17.819 --> 00:21:19.039
 It went on for years

00:21:19.039 --> 00:21:20.819
 and years and years.

00:21:21.339 --> 00:21:21.939
 And then came

00:21:21.939 --> 00:21:22.720
 the global pandemic,

00:21:23.220 --> 00:21:23.439
 COVID.

00:21:23.440 --> 00:21:26.940
 And Tom started to think.

00:21:28.080 --> 00:21:29.400
 And he remembered the gospel

00:21:29.400 --> 00:21:30.019
 that his parents

00:21:30.019 --> 00:21:30.700
 had told him.

00:21:31.880 --> 00:21:32.960
 The seed sown

00:21:32.960 --> 00:21:33.759
 over his childhood.

00:21:34.880 --> 00:21:36.920
 He dug out his Bible,

00:21:37.000 --> 00:21:37.580
 his old Bible

00:21:37.580 --> 00:21:38.480
 and he started to listen

00:21:38.480 --> 00:21:39.019
 to sermons

00:21:39.019 --> 00:21:39.680
 because she could do that

00:21:39.680 --> 00:21:40.580
 online in COVID

00:21:40.580 --> 00:21:41.420
 for the first time.

00:21:42.180 --> 00:21:43.160
 And he gave his life

00:21:43.160 --> 00:21:43.799
 to Christ.

00:21:45.320 --> 00:21:46.519
 His parents,

00:21:46.960 --> 00:21:47.480
 his mom,

00:21:48.299 --> 00:21:49.039
 is a warrior

00:21:49.039 --> 00:21:51.299
 in 2 Samuel 23 terms.

00:21:51.299 --> 00:21:54.519
 What about a young person

00:21:54.519 --> 00:21:56.279
 who is willing at school

00:21:56.279 --> 00:21:57.200
 to talk openly

00:21:57.200 --> 00:21:58.180
 about being a Christian?

00:21:59.019 --> 00:21:59.779
 Who's bullied

00:21:59.779 --> 00:22:00.899
 for holding fast

00:22:00.899 --> 00:22:01.779
 to the Bible's message

00:22:01.779 --> 00:22:02.659
 even when teachers

00:22:02.659 --> 00:22:03.440
 are laughing at them?

00:22:04.119 --> 00:22:04.819
 Holding fast

00:22:04.819 --> 00:22:05.519
 to their commitment

00:22:05.519 --> 00:22:06.419
 to honour God

00:22:06.419 --> 00:22:07.519
 with their body,

00:22:08.099 --> 00:22:09.339
 to speak of Jesus

00:22:09.339 --> 00:22:10.319
 every opportunity

00:22:10.319 --> 00:22:11.039
 they get

00:22:11.039 --> 00:22:13.099
 despite everybody

00:22:13.099 --> 00:22:13.740
 coming at them?

00:22:14.740 --> 00:22:15.639
 They're a warrior,

00:22:15.859 --> 00:22:16.119
 aren't they?

00:22:16.119 --> 00:22:18.279
 What about the man

00:22:18.279 --> 00:22:18.919
 who faces

00:22:18.919 --> 00:22:19.899
 the full onslaught

00:22:19.899 --> 00:22:20.419
 of the world,

00:22:20.719 --> 00:22:21.299
 the temptation

00:22:21.299 --> 00:22:22.439
 to live for pleasure

00:22:22.439 --> 00:22:23.639
 and live for comfort?

00:22:24.619 --> 00:22:25.119
 Who's told

00:22:25.119 --> 00:22:25.959
 by everybody else

00:22:25.959 --> 00:22:26.799
 that life is about

00:22:26.799 --> 00:22:27.879
 the woman on your arm,

00:22:28.219 --> 00:22:29.379
 the money in your bank,

00:22:29.519 --> 00:22:30.819
 the car in the car park,

00:22:31.139 --> 00:22:31.979
 the name on the wall

00:22:31.979 --> 00:22:32.599
 at work

00:22:32.599 --> 00:22:34.479
 and yet they refuse.

00:22:35.959 --> 00:22:36.639
 I'm going to trust

00:22:36.639 --> 00:22:37.119
 the Lord.

00:22:37.919 --> 00:22:38.479
 I'm going to trust

00:22:38.479 --> 00:22:39.039
 his promises.

00:22:40.000 --> 00:22:40.679
 I'm going to live

00:22:40.679 --> 00:22:41.199
 for Jesus.

00:22:41.959 --> 00:22:43.239
 I'm going to give generously.

00:22:43.559 --> 00:22:44.299
 I'm going to invest

00:22:44.299 --> 00:22:45.399
 in gospel priorities.

00:22:45.400 --> 00:22:46.340
 I'm going to spend

00:22:46.340 --> 00:22:47.660
 my time and my energy

00:22:47.660 --> 00:22:48.580
 encouraging others

00:22:48.580 --> 00:22:49.019
 at church.

00:22:49.259 --> 00:22:50.120
 I'm going to make sure

00:22:50.120 --> 00:22:51.280
 I'm there when the church

00:22:51.280 --> 00:22:52.440
 gathers because I want

00:22:52.440 --> 00:22:53.720
 to be there to encourage

00:22:53.720 --> 00:22:54.900
 and bless and strengthen

00:22:54.900 --> 00:22:55.460
 others.

00:22:56.600 --> 00:22:57.580
 They're a warrior.

00:22:58.500 --> 00:22:59.500
 They're a warrior

00:22:59.500 --> 00:23:01.420
 because real men,

00:23:02.200 --> 00:23:02.700
 real women,

00:23:03.400 --> 00:23:04.240
 trust Jesus

00:23:04.240 --> 00:23:05.240
 and live for him.

00:23:06.380 --> 00:23:06.800
 Secondly,

00:23:07.120 --> 00:23:07.640
 man up

00:23:07.640 --> 00:23:09.060
 and sacrifice yourself

00:23:09.060 --> 00:23:10.000
 or woman up

00:23:10.000 --> 00:23:11.240
 and sacrifice yourself.

00:23:12.120 --> 00:23:12.860
 In the centre

00:23:12.860 --> 00:23:13.340
 of the passage

00:23:13.340 --> 00:23:14.640
 is an intriguing account

00:23:14.640 --> 00:23:16.560
 of these three warriors

00:23:16.560 --> 00:23:18.320
 bursting through enemy lines

00:23:18.320 --> 00:23:19.460
 to get David a drink.

00:23:20.520 --> 00:23:21.220
 It's an odd story,

00:23:21.300 --> 00:23:21.460
 isn't it?

00:23:21.520 --> 00:23:22.320
 David at the time

00:23:22.320 --> 00:23:23.700
 is hiding in the caves

00:23:23.700 --> 00:23:24.700
 in the stronghold.

00:23:24.800 --> 00:23:25.420
 He's on the run

00:23:25.420 --> 00:23:26.460
 from Saul

00:23:26.460 --> 00:23:27.540
 who's trying to kill him

00:23:27.540 --> 00:23:29.259
 and there's a garrison

00:23:29.259 --> 00:23:30.300
 of Philistine soldiers

00:23:30.300 --> 00:23:31.740
 who have set up camp

00:23:31.740 --> 00:23:32.700
 in Bethlehem

00:23:32.700 --> 00:23:34.180
 and David is longing

00:23:34.180 --> 00:23:34.820
 for a drink

00:23:34.820 --> 00:23:35.440
 from the well

00:23:35.440 --> 00:23:36.460
 near the city gates.

00:23:36.960 --> 00:23:37.800
 Not presumably

00:23:37.800 --> 00:23:38.840
 just because he was

00:23:38.840 --> 00:23:39.680
 generally thirsty,

00:23:39.780 --> 00:23:40.600
 although he might have been,

00:23:40.920 --> 00:23:42.000
 but really here's the sense

00:23:42.000 --> 00:23:43.920
 that he longs for home.

00:23:44.880 --> 00:23:46.640
 Nothing tastes quite like

00:23:46.640 --> 00:23:48.079
 the water from your own well,

00:23:48.160 --> 00:23:48.539
 does it?

00:23:49.160 --> 00:23:49.519
 You know that

00:23:49.519 --> 00:23:50.480
 when you go away on holiday

00:23:50.480 --> 00:23:51.799
 and you drink the water

00:23:51.799 --> 00:23:52.339
 from the tap

00:23:52.339 --> 00:23:53.240
 and this tastes weird.

00:23:54.039 --> 00:23:54.759
 That's it here.

00:23:55.000 --> 00:23:56.140
 I long to be in Bethlehem.

00:23:56.579 --> 00:23:57.279
 I long to be home.

00:23:58.319 --> 00:23:59.119
 And it's almost as if

00:23:59.119 --> 00:24:00.259
 the warriors sort of,

00:24:00.680 --> 00:24:01.720
 they're not commanded,

00:24:01.880 --> 00:24:02.039
 are they?

00:24:02.079 --> 00:24:02.779
 They're not ordered

00:24:02.779 --> 00:24:03.619
 to go and do this.

00:24:03.880 --> 00:24:05.019
 It's though they listen

00:24:05.019 --> 00:24:05.799
 to David and think,

00:24:05.859 --> 00:24:06.140
 do you know what?

00:24:06.180 --> 00:24:07.240
 David really wants?

00:24:07.380 --> 00:24:08.019
 He wants a drink

00:24:08.019 --> 00:24:08.539
 from that well

00:24:08.539 --> 00:24:09.400
 back in Bethlehem.

00:24:09.940 --> 00:24:10.460
 Okay, come on lads,

00:24:10.460 --> 00:24:10.840
 let's go.

00:24:12.880 --> 00:24:13.819
 And so they break

00:24:13.819 --> 00:24:15.000
 through the enemy lines

00:24:15.000 --> 00:24:16.319
 and draw some water

00:24:16.319 --> 00:24:16.819
 from the well.

00:24:16.900 --> 00:24:17.779
 How on earth

00:24:17.779 --> 00:24:18.500
 did they do that?

00:24:19.220 --> 00:24:19.960
 And they bring it

00:24:19.960 --> 00:24:20.480
 back to David.

00:24:21.220 --> 00:24:21.880
 And then oddly,

00:24:22.019 --> 00:24:22.720
 David gets it

00:24:22.720 --> 00:24:23.660
 and he pours it out

00:24:23.660 --> 00:24:24.400
 before the Lord.

00:24:24.779 --> 00:24:25.920
 I think as an honour

00:24:25.920 --> 00:24:26.480
 to the men

00:24:26.480 --> 00:24:27.460
 who got it for him.

00:24:28.319 --> 00:24:28.559
 You know,

00:24:28.640 --> 00:24:29.559
 I used to think,

00:24:29.640 --> 00:24:30.279
 surely they would be

00:24:30.279 --> 00:24:30.860
 slightly irritated

00:24:30.860 --> 00:24:32.019
 by David pouring it out.

00:24:32.360 --> 00:24:33.160
 Thanks very much.

00:24:34.000 --> 00:24:34.779
 Pours it on the floor.

00:24:35.500 --> 00:24:36.400
 But I think we're to see

00:24:36.400 --> 00:24:37.019
 that they are

00:24:37.019 --> 00:24:38.200
 being honoured

00:24:38.200 --> 00:24:38.840
 by David.

00:24:38.839 --> 00:24:39.039
 David,

00:24:40.199 --> 00:24:41.559
 your sacrifice

00:24:41.559 --> 00:24:42.339
 is so valuable,

00:24:42.339 --> 00:24:43.599
 I will pour this out

00:24:43.599 --> 00:24:44.599
 before the Lord.

00:24:45.480 --> 00:24:46.279
 I think in that sense

00:24:46.279 --> 00:24:47.059
 it's quite like

00:24:47.059 --> 00:24:48.339
 the story in Mark 14

00:24:48.339 --> 00:24:49.599
 where the woman

00:24:49.599 --> 00:24:50.379
 at Jesus' feet

00:24:50.379 --> 00:24:51.539
 pours out perfume

00:24:51.539 --> 00:24:52.439
 on his head

00:24:52.439 --> 00:24:54.799
 as a sort of ceremonial sign

00:24:54.799 --> 00:24:55.819
 that Jesus was worth

00:24:55.819 --> 00:24:56.439
 more to her

00:24:56.439 --> 00:24:57.720
 than the expensive perfume.

00:24:58.439 --> 00:24:58.819
 Jesus,

00:24:59.859 --> 00:25:00.319
 for her,

00:25:00.439 --> 00:25:01.299
 was worth everything.

00:25:02.139 --> 00:25:03.339
 Just like David's thirst

00:25:03.339 --> 00:25:03.759
 for home

00:25:03.759 --> 00:25:04.220
 was worth

00:25:04.220 --> 00:25:05.299
 the warrior's lives.

00:25:06.139 --> 00:25:06.339
 David,

00:25:06.339 --> 00:25:06.919
 we love you

00:25:06.919 --> 00:25:07.359
 even more

00:25:07.359 --> 00:25:08.240
 than our own lives,

00:25:08.279 --> 00:25:08.699
 he says.

00:25:09.339 --> 00:25:10.059
 I honour you

00:25:10.059 --> 00:25:10.399
 for that,

00:25:10.519 --> 00:25:10.859
 says David.

00:25:12.139 --> 00:25:13.119
 Now here what you've got

00:25:13.119 --> 00:25:13.619
 is a picture

00:25:13.619 --> 00:25:14.159
 of a warrior

00:25:14.159 --> 00:25:15.799
 with devotion

00:25:15.799 --> 00:25:16.759
 to the pleasure

00:25:16.759 --> 00:25:17.599
 of his king.

00:25:18.500 --> 00:25:19.179
 I will do

00:25:19.179 --> 00:25:20.459
 whatever it takes

00:25:20.459 --> 00:25:21.599
 to bring joy

00:25:21.599 --> 00:25:22.519
 to my king,

00:25:23.000 --> 00:25:23.559
 say these warriors.

00:25:24.579 --> 00:25:25.579
 And so for us

00:25:25.579 --> 00:25:26.579
 to do that same

00:25:26.579 --> 00:25:27.579
 translation work,

00:25:27.659 --> 00:25:27.740
 yeah,

00:25:27.799 --> 00:25:28.439
 the same work

00:25:28.439 --> 00:25:29.319
 that we were doing before,

00:25:29.720 --> 00:25:30.419
 and we can think,

00:25:30.500 --> 00:25:30.679
 can't we,

00:25:30.740 --> 00:25:31.959
 the rule of life

00:25:31.960 --> 00:25:32.880
 for the Christian

00:25:32.880 --> 00:25:34.700
 is I live my life

00:25:34.700 --> 00:25:35.880
 to bring joy

00:25:35.880 --> 00:25:36.400
 and delight

00:25:36.400 --> 00:25:37.319
 to King Jesus.

00:25:39.180 --> 00:25:40.680
 Not out of mere duty

00:25:40.680 --> 00:25:41.500
 or formality,

00:25:42.140 --> 00:25:43.180
 but because the joy

00:25:43.180 --> 00:25:43.680
 of the king

00:25:43.680 --> 00:25:44.680
 is my joy

00:25:44.680 --> 00:25:45.440
 and my purpose.

00:25:48.319 --> 00:25:49.400
 Let me try for a moment

00:25:49.400 --> 00:25:49.900
 just to see

00:25:49.900 --> 00:25:50.720
 how this might apply

00:25:50.720 --> 00:25:51.160
 for us

00:25:51.160 --> 00:25:52.200
 as a church corporately.

00:25:53.660 --> 00:25:54.460
 We were talking

00:25:54.460 --> 00:25:54.860
 as leaders

00:25:54.860 --> 00:25:55.539
 just the other day

00:25:55.539 --> 00:25:56.299
 that it feels like

00:25:56.299 --> 00:25:56.860
 in many ways

00:25:56.860 --> 00:25:57.480
 we are entering

00:25:57.480 --> 00:25:58.380
 into what essentially

00:25:58.380 --> 00:25:58.779
 feels like

00:25:58.779 --> 00:25:59.940
 a completely new season

00:25:59.940 --> 00:26:01.120
 for us as a church.

00:26:01.119 --> 00:26:02.679
 For a number of years

00:26:02.679 --> 00:26:03.179
 we've been trying

00:26:03.179 --> 00:26:04.159
 to purchase the freehold

00:26:04.159 --> 00:26:04.799
 and that looks like

00:26:04.799 --> 00:26:05.659
 that's now settled.

00:26:06.539 --> 00:26:07.599
 The hall on the back roof

00:26:07.599 --> 00:26:08.199
 has been leaking

00:26:08.199 --> 00:26:08.879
 for a long time

00:26:08.879 --> 00:26:09.839
 and that is now repaired.

00:26:10.719 --> 00:26:11.539
 The bank account

00:26:11.539 --> 00:26:12.339
 that had so much money

00:26:12.339 --> 00:26:12.979
 in it at one time

00:26:12.979 --> 00:26:13.859
 is now empty.

00:26:14.500 --> 00:26:15.559
 There is a merger

00:26:15.559 --> 00:26:16.439
 on the horizon

00:26:16.439 --> 00:26:18.039
 with Redeemer Queens Park.

00:26:18.679 --> 00:26:19.699
 And we're really here,

00:26:19.779 --> 00:26:20.019
 aren't we,

00:26:20.039 --> 00:26:20.819
 on the shoulders

00:26:20.819 --> 00:26:21.779
 of the sacrifices

00:26:21.779 --> 00:26:23.419
 of those who've gone before us.

00:26:24.119 --> 00:26:24.819
 The legacy

00:26:24.819 --> 00:26:25.819
 that was given to us

00:26:25.819 --> 00:26:26.459
 that's enabled us

00:26:26.459 --> 00:26:27.319
 to do those things,

00:26:27.439 --> 00:26:28.699
 to purchase the freehold,

00:26:29.039 --> 00:26:29.919
 to repair the roof.

00:26:29.920 --> 00:26:31.560
 The hard work

00:26:31.560 --> 00:26:32.580
 of many in this room

00:26:32.580 --> 00:26:33.519
 who've taken on roles

00:26:33.519 --> 00:26:33.940
 in the church

00:26:33.940 --> 00:26:34.820
 to keep things going.

00:26:35.940 --> 00:26:36.860
 And now, again,

00:26:36.940 --> 00:26:37.759
 we're being asked,

00:26:37.820 --> 00:26:38.600
 we're not being commanded,

00:26:38.740 --> 00:26:40.180
 we're being asked,

00:26:40.240 --> 00:26:40.620
 aren't we,

00:26:40.880 --> 00:26:41.720
 to consider

00:26:41.720 --> 00:26:42.860
 the pleasure of Jesus

00:26:42.860 --> 00:26:44.120
 greater than the comfort

00:26:44.120 --> 00:26:45.019
 of familiarity

00:26:45.019 --> 00:26:46.620
 as a church.

00:26:47.420 --> 00:26:48.640
 The question before us

00:26:48.640 --> 00:26:48.960
 essentially

00:26:48.960 --> 00:26:49.640
 in this new season

00:26:49.640 --> 00:26:49.820
 is,

00:26:50.300 --> 00:26:51.340
 do we want to stay

00:26:51.340 --> 00:26:52.220
 as we are

00:26:52.220 --> 00:26:54.600
 or are we willing

00:26:54.600 --> 00:26:55.519
 to change

00:26:55.519 --> 00:26:57.019
 and move forward

00:26:57.019 --> 00:26:58.680
 for the pleasure

00:26:58.680 --> 00:26:59.139
 of Jesus?

00:27:00.759 --> 00:27:01.920
 Because there are people

00:27:01.920 --> 00:27:03.099
 in these flats

00:27:03.099 --> 00:27:03.960
 around us,

00:27:04.099 --> 00:27:04.980
 in this community

00:27:04.980 --> 00:27:05.740
 in which we live,

00:27:06.160 --> 00:27:07.240
 that belong to Jesus

00:27:07.240 --> 00:27:08.879
 and our job

00:27:08.879 --> 00:27:09.740
 is to go call them

00:27:09.740 --> 00:27:10.700
 to come home to him.

00:27:12.480 --> 00:27:13.379
 And he's asked us,

00:27:13.440 --> 00:27:13.660
 hasn't he,

00:27:13.660 --> 00:27:14.500
 to be his mouthpiece?

00:27:16.519 --> 00:27:17.099
 I wonder,

00:27:17.220 --> 00:27:18.019
 I like to imagine this,

00:27:18.079 --> 00:27:19.639
 it's not here in the story,

00:27:19.700 --> 00:27:20.119
 but you imagine,

00:27:20.220 --> 00:27:21.559
 maybe these three warriors

00:27:21.559 --> 00:27:22.259
 tried to persuade

00:27:22.259 --> 00:27:22.799
 somebody else

00:27:22.799 --> 00:27:23.400
 to come with them

00:27:23.400 --> 00:27:23.980
 on that night

00:27:23.980 --> 00:27:24.980
 to go break through

00:27:24.980 --> 00:27:25.780
 to collect the water

00:27:25.780 --> 00:27:26.500
 from Bethlehem.

00:27:27.240 --> 00:27:28.000
 Maybe Abishai,

00:27:28.120 --> 00:27:28.460
 perhaps.

00:27:29.100 --> 00:27:29.700
 Hey Abishai,

00:27:30.420 --> 00:27:31.200
 we've got an idea.

00:27:32.240 --> 00:27:33.019
 What's your idea?

00:27:33.500 --> 00:27:33.640
 Oh,

00:27:33.720 --> 00:27:34.320
 what are we going to do?

00:27:34.400 --> 00:27:34.740
 We're going to,

00:27:35.180 --> 00:27:35.820
 you know the garrison

00:27:35.820 --> 00:27:37.320
 of Philistine soldiers

00:27:37.320 --> 00:27:38.200
 in Bethlehem?

00:27:38.300 --> 00:27:38.600
 Oh yeah,

00:27:38.620 --> 00:27:38.900
 I know,

00:27:39.000 --> 00:27:39.580
 I've heard of that.

00:27:39.980 --> 00:27:40.080
 Yeah.

00:27:40.600 --> 00:27:40.920
 Well,

00:27:40.940 --> 00:27:41.780
 they're guarding the well

00:27:41.780 --> 00:27:42.300
 in Bethlehem,

00:27:42.400 --> 00:27:42.500
 aren't they?

00:27:42.519 --> 00:27:42.660
 Yeah,

00:27:42.680 --> 00:27:42.820
 yeah,

00:27:42.820 --> 00:27:42.980
 yeah,

00:27:42.980 --> 00:27:43.140
 yeah.

00:27:44.180 --> 00:27:45.200
 We're going to break through

00:27:45.200 --> 00:27:46.380
 and we're going to get some water

00:27:46.380 --> 00:27:47.259
 for David to drink

00:27:47.259 --> 00:27:47.720
 from the well.

00:27:48.120 --> 00:27:49.160
 Are you nuts?

00:27:49.840 --> 00:27:50.120
 Are you,

00:27:50.200 --> 00:27:51.360
 are you crazy?

00:27:52.019 --> 00:27:52.380
 You know,

00:27:52.440 --> 00:27:52.660
 don't you,

00:27:52.660 --> 00:27:53.880
 that David is not instructing

00:27:53.880 --> 00:27:54.460
 any of you to do,

00:27:54.519 --> 00:27:55.180
 there's no command

00:27:55.180 --> 00:27:55.900
 to go do that.

00:27:56.220 --> 00:27:57.200
 Why are you doing it?

00:27:57.740 --> 00:27:58.019
 Oh no,

00:27:58.180 --> 00:27:58.200
 we,

00:27:58.460 --> 00:27:58.940
 no,

00:27:59.000 --> 00:28:00.140
 we want to see the look

00:28:00.140 --> 00:28:01.120
 on David's face

00:28:01.120 --> 00:28:02.460
 when he sees the water

00:28:02.460 --> 00:28:03.140
 from the well.

00:28:03.360 --> 00:28:03.820
 We can't,

00:28:04.320 --> 00:28:05.600
 we long to see that.

00:28:05.800 --> 00:28:05.980
 Don't,

00:28:06.080 --> 00:28:06.560
 are you in?

00:28:07.880 --> 00:28:08.460
 Abishai says,

00:28:08.560 --> 00:28:08.640
 no,

00:28:08.680 --> 00:28:09.240
 you're crazy.

00:28:09.759 --> 00:28:09.900
 You,

00:28:10.000 --> 00:28:11.140
 you go if you want to go.

00:28:11.220 --> 00:28:11.800
 You're crazy.

00:28:11.860 --> 00:28:12.200
 You go.

00:28:12.740 --> 00:28:13.740
 I'm staying right here.

00:28:14.860 --> 00:28:16.140
 And what does the passage say

00:28:16.140 --> 00:28:16.740
 of Abishai?

00:28:17.660 --> 00:28:19.440
 He was never included

00:28:19.440 --> 00:28:20.700
 among them.

00:28:21.300 --> 00:28:22.320
 He was never included

00:28:22.319 --> 00:28:22.759
 among them.

00:28:25.960 --> 00:28:26.819
 Where are we going?

00:28:27.799 --> 00:28:28.960
 We're about to risk it

00:28:28.960 --> 00:28:29.359
 for Jesus.

00:28:31.359 --> 00:28:32.279
 We're giving this,

00:28:32.379 --> 00:28:32.960
 we're going there,

00:28:33.039 --> 00:28:33.799
 we're doing that.

00:28:35.220 --> 00:28:35.439
 You do,

00:28:35.679 --> 00:28:36.379
 do you realize

00:28:36.379 --> 00:28:36.939
 that you don't need that?

00:28:37.259 --> 00:28:37.839
 Jesus doesn't,

00:28:37.980 --> 00:28:39.139
 we don't have to do that.

00:28:39.899 --> 00:28:40.720
 You don't have to give

00:28:40.720 --> 00:28:41.519
 a legacy to mission.

00:28:41.639 --> 00:28:43.000
 You don't have to sacrifice

00:28:43.000 --> 00:28:43.559
 your weekends

00:28:43.559 --> 00:28:44.339
 to go door to door.

00:28:44.619 --> 00:28:45.720
 You don't have to serve

00:28:45.720 --> 00:28:46.559
 on the refreshment rotor.

00:28:46.839 --> 00:28:47.960
 You don't have to serve

00:28:47.960 --> 00:28:48.919
 in the children's ministry.

00:28:48.920 --> 00:28:51.039
 You don't have to change.

00:28:51.420 --> 00:28:52.840
 You could stay where you are.

00:28:52.900 --> 00:28:54.320
 You could stay as you are.

00:28:55.680 --> 00:28:55.880
 Oh yeah,

00:28:56.180 --> 00:28:57.600
 I long to see the look

00:28:57.600 --> 00:28:58.680
 on Jesus's face

00:28:58.680 --> 00:29:00.120
 when I see him

00:29:00.120 --> 00:29:01.420
 and he says,

00:29:01.519 --> 00:29:02.820
 you sacrificed it for me.

00:29:04.300 --> 00:29:05.080
 Well done,

00:29:05.200 --> 00:29:06.160
 good and faithful servant.

00:29:06.160 --> 00:29:09.720
 Thirdly,

00:29:10.220 --> 00:29:10.700
 man up

00:29:10.700 --> 00:29:11.660
 and be faithful

00:29:11.660 --> 00:29:12.200
 to Jesus.

00:29:13.700 --> 00:29:14.779
 I hopefully have demonstrated

00:29:14.779 --> 00:29:15.580
 one thing to you

00:29:15.580 --> 00:29:16.480
 in my reading of the passage

00:29:16.480 --> 00:29:16.920
 this morning

00:29:16.920 --> 00:29:17.480
 and that is that

00:29:17.480 --> 00:29:18.340
 I am not very good

00:29:18.340 --> 00:29:19.460
 at Old Testament names.

00:29:19.980 --> 00:29:20.460
 It's nice of you

00:29:20.460 --> 00:29:21.140
 to laugh at me

00:29:21.140 --> 00:29:22.060
 as I read the passage.

00:29:23.320 --> 00:29:23.560
 You know,

00:29:23.720 --> 00:29:24.420
 I don't know about you

00:29:24.420 --> 00:29:25.759
 but I read some of these names

00:29:25.759 --> 00:29:26.840
 and they go through my head

00:29:26.840 --> 00:29:27.420
 but they fall out

00:29:27.420 --> 00:29:28.120
 the other side.

00:29:28.960 --> 00:29:29.779
 But even still,

00:29:29.960 --> 00:29:30.460
 even with,

00:29:30.759 --> 00:29:32.259
 even with a brain like that,

00:29:32.820 --> 00:29:33.400
 I've noticed

00:29:33.400 --> 00:29:34.160
 that there is an omission

00:29:34.160 --> 00:29:34.680
 on this list.

00:29:34.759 --> 00:29:35.120
 I wonder whether

00:29:35.120 --> 00:29:35.960
 you've noticed it too.

00:29:36.600 --> 00:29:37.240
 There's somebody

00:29:37.240 --> 00:29:38.240
 whose name you would expect

00:29:38.240 --> 00:29:39.200
 to be on there

00:29:39.200 --> 00:29:40.560
 whose name is not there.

00:29:41.220 --> 00:29:42.019
 It's a name that's come up

00:29:42.019 --> 00:29:43.040
 all the way through 2 Samuel

00:29:43.040 --> 00:29:44.580
 but is now excluded

00:29:44.580 --> 00:29:45.580
 from the list of warriors

00:29:45.580 --> 00:29:46.440
 and mighty men.

00:29:47.300 --> 00:29:48.519
 What is that name?

00:29:49.580 --> 00:29:50.700
 Well, it's the name Joab,

00:29:50.820 --> 00:29:51.180
 isn't it?

00:29:52.019 --> 00:29:53.220
 Joab is the commander

00:29:53.220 --> 00:29:54.300
 of David's army.

00:29:55.080 --> 00:29:56.960
 He too was an amazing warrior,

00:29:57.140 --> 00:29:57.320
 right?

00:29:57.820 --> 00:29:59.480
 You know how Joab got his job?

00:29:59.580 --> 00:30:00.540
 Can you remember that story

00:30:00.540 --> 00:30:01.200
 in 2 Samuel?

00:30:01.360 --> 00:30:02.380
 Joab got his job

00:30:02.380 --> 00:30:04.019
 because David said,

00:30:04.019 --> 00:30:04.259
 listen,

00:30:04.259 --> 00:30:05.160
 if you,

00:30:05.240 --> 00:30:06.299
 if you will do this for me,

00:30:06.339 --> 00:30:07.039
 you can be the commander

00:30:07.039 --> 00:30:07.640
 of my army.

00:30:08.180 --> 00:30:09.400
 I want to take

00:30:09.400 --> 00:30:10.240
 the city of Jerusalem.

00:30:10.359 --> 00:30:11.039
 No one had managed

00:30:11.039 --> 00:30:11.799
 to conquer the city

00:30:11.799 --> 00:30:12.240
 of Jerusalem.

00:30:12.359 --> 00:30:13.180
 It was too well defended.

00:30:13.680 --> 00:30:14.220
 But David said,

00:30:14.299 --> 00:30:15.119
 this is the city

00:30:15.119 --> 00:30:15.900
 I want for myself.

00:30:15.980 --> 00:30:16.480
 This is going to be

00:30:16.480 --> 00:30:17.299
 the city of David.

00:30:17.720 --> 00:30:18.980
 Someone conquer this for me.

00:30:18.980 --> 00:30:20.460
 And if you conquer this,

00:30:20.539 --> 00:30:21.240
 you can be commander

00:30:21.240 --> 00:30:21.819
 of my army.

00:30:22.120 --> 00:30:22.460
 Joab says,

00:30:22.519 --> 00:30:22.779
 I'm in.

00:30:23.640 --> 00:30:24.779
 And he climbs up

00:30:24.779 --> 00:30:25.740
 the water shaft

00:30:25.740 --> 00:30:27.960
 to conquer the city

00:30:27.960 --> 00:30:28.559
 of Jerusalem

00:30:28.559 --> 00:30:29.980
 and defeats the city

00:30:29.980 --> 00:30:31.059
 and hands it over

00:30:31.059 --> 00:30:31.599
 to David.

00:30:32.779 --> 00:30:34.240
 And so it's a massive surprise

00:30:34.240 --> 00:30:35.099
 as you get to the end

00:30:35.099 --> 00:30:35.519
 of the book

00:30:35.519 --> 00:30:37.319
 that Joab is not there.

00:30:37.819 --> 00:30:38.779
 He's not in the three

00:30:38.779 --> 00:30:40.120
 and he's not in the 30.

00:30:40.960 --> 00:30:41.400
 Why?

00:30:41.980 --> 00:30:43.160
 Well, if you've read 2 Samuel

00:30:43.160 --> 00:30:43.880
 and you've been with us,

00:30:43.900 --> 00:30:44.920
 you'll know that's because

00:30:44.920 --> 00:30:46.380
 Joab is unfaithful,

00:30:46.540 --> 00:30:46.860
 isn't he?

00:30:47.360 --> 00:30:49.080
 He refuses David's orders

00:30:49.080 --> 00:30:49.820
 time and again.

00:30:50.180 --> 00:30:50.920
 He takes matters

00:30:50.920 --> 00:30:51.800
 into his own hands.

00:30:51.920 --> 00:30:52.920
 He manipulates the king.

00:30:53.300 --> 00:30:54.280
 He murders people

00:30:54.280 --> 00:30:55.300
 when he doesn't get

00:30:55.300 --> 00:30:55.940
 his own way.

00:30:56.840 --> 00:30:57.480
 In the end,

00:30:57.600 --> 00:30:58.680
 Joab is actually punished

00:30:58.680 --> 00:30:59.880
 by David's son Solomon

00:30:59.880 --> 00:31:01.300
 who executes him

00:31:01.300 --> 00:31:02.460
 next to the altar

00:31:02.460 --> 00:31:03.240
 in the tabernacle.

00:31:04.280 --> 00:31:05.080
 And you see here,

00:31:05.140 --> 00:31:05.380
 I think,

00:31:05.420 --> 00:31:06.080
 is the point

00:31:06.080 --> 00:31:07.240
 in 2 Samuel 23.

00:31:07.680 --> 00:31:08.560
 Real men,

00:31:09.040 --> 00:31:10.260
 real women of God

00:31:10.260 --> 00:31:11.940
 are faithful to the king

00:31:11.940 --> 00:31:13.820
 not just on occasion

00:31:13.820 --> 00:31:16.360
 but in their lives.

00:31:16.380 --> 00:31:19.240
 courageously staying true

00:31:19.240 --> 00:31:20.080
 to King Jesus.

00:31:21.540 --> 00:31:23.000
 Living their lives for him.

00:31:23.620 --> 00:31:25.360
 Joab was faithful in moments

00:31:25.360 --> 00:31:27.220
 but not in the end.

00:31:28.060 --> 00:31:28.680
 He betrayed

00:31:28.680 --> 00:31:29.640
 and was unfaithful.

00:31:29.640 --> 00:31:33.360
 I went for coffee

00:31:33.360 --> 00:31:33.980
 this week

00:31:33.980 --> 00:31:35.060
 with a friend

00:31:35.060 --> 00:31:35.940
 who's pastoring

00:31:35.940 --> 00:31:36.560
 an Anglican church

00:31:36.560 --> 00:31:37.520
 not very far from here,

00:31:37.580 --> 00:31:38.520
 just over in Hampstead.

00:31:39.540 --> 00:31:40.160
 We've got a lot

00:31:40.160 --> 00:31:41.240
 of mutual friends as well.

00:31:41.360 --> 00:31:42.120
 We went to

00:31:42.120 --> 00:31:43.440
 theological college

00:31:43.440 --> 00:31:44.460
 around the same time.

00:31:45.200 --> 00:31:45.680
 He was actually

00:31:45.680 --> 00:31:46.140
 a couple of years

00:31:46.140 --> 00:31:46.700
 younger than me.

00:31:47.800 --> 00:31:48.540
 He didn't look it

00:31:48.540 --> 00:31:49.480
 but I'm sure he was.

00:31:49.800 --> 00:31:50.020
 Anyway,

00:31:50.180 --> 00:31:50.960
 he and I

00:31:50.960 --> 00:31:51.860
 were chatting together

00:31:51.860 --> 00:31:52.820
 and we were saying

00:31:52.819 --> 00:31:55.079
 about the people

00:31:55.079 --> 00:31:55.759
 who we knew

00:31:55.759 --> 00:31:58.119
 who we'd trained with

00:31:58.119 --> 00:32:00.639
 and how sad it was

00:32:00.639 --> 00:32:01.500
 how many of them

00:32:01.500 --> 00:32:01.960
 were no longer

00:32:01.960 --> 00:32:02.740
 walking with the Lord.

00:32:04.200 --> 00:32:05.859
 It wasn't difficult

00:32:05.859 --> 00:32:06.500
 for us

00:32:06.500 --> 00:32:07.339
 although we reflected

00:32:07.339 --> 00:32:08.359
 on people at college

00:32:08.359 --> 00:32:09.639
 who were brighter than us

00:32:09.639 --> 00:32:10.879
 and that was most of them

00:32:10.879 --> 00:32:12.179
 and who had gone on

00:32:12.179 --> 00:32:13.679
 to do amazing things

00:32:13.679 --> 00:32:15.299
 but who had made a mess

00:32:15.299 --> 00:32:16.179
 of their ministries,

00:32:16.759 --> 00:32:17.619
 blown up their lives

00:32:17.619 --> 00:32:18.799
 with scandal and sin,

00:32:19.559 --> 00:32:20.480
 people who'd fallen out

00:32:20.480 --> 00:32:21.059
 with one another,

00:32:21.059 --> 00:32:22.339
 people who'd covered over

00:32:22.339 --> 00:32:23.960
 the sins of others,

00:32:24.720 --> 00:32:25.659
 people who'd been unfaithful

00:32:25.659 --> 00:32:26.319
 to their wives

00:32:26.319 --> 00:32:27.899
 even for years and years

00:32:27.899 --> 00:32:28.960
 and pretended to be otherwise,

00:32:30.000 --> 00:32:30.679
 people who'd bullied

00:32:30.679 --> 00:32:31.859
 their staff members,

00:32:32.519 --> 00:32:33.259
 people who'd refused

00:32:33.259 --> 00:32:34.399
 to submit to the authority

00:32:34.399 --> 00:32:35.000
 over them

00:32:35.000 --> 00:32:36.099
 and had bounced out

00:32:36.099 --> 00:32:36.579
 of ministry.

00:32:37.379 --> 00:32:38.220
 The conversation

00:32:38.220 --> 00:32:39.079
 was kind of sad.

00:32:39.240 --> 00:32:40.399
 Lots of people had started,

00:32:41.059 --> 00:32:42.399
 not many people had finished

00:32:42.399 --> 00:32:45.019
 and that's it here.

00:32:46.019 --> 00:32:47.119
 These men get named

00:32:47.119 --> 00:32:47.700
 on the list

00:32:47.700 --> 00:32:48.720
 because they finish

00:32:48.720 --> 00:32:49.220
 with David

00:32:49.220 --> 00:32:50.879
 and they keep going

00:32:50.880 --> 00:32:51.560
 to the end.

00:32:52.240 --> 00:32:53.280
 Joab did not.

00:32:54.560 --> 00:32:55.160
 And so for you

00:32:55.160 --> 00:32:55.820
 and I this morning,

00:32:55.940 --> 00:32:56.820
 the call this morning

00:32:56.820 --> 00:32:58.620
 is not just follow Jesus.

00:33:00.580 --> 00:33:02.800
 The call is keep following

00:33:02.800 --> 00:33:04.840
 Jesus to the end.

00:33:05.400 --> 00:33:06.260
 Keep following him.

00:33:06.900 --> 00:33:08.460
 Don't just look back

00:33:08.460 --> 00:33:08.840
 and say,

00:33:09.040 --> 00:33:10.580
 I remember a great time

00:33:10.580 --> 00:33:11.860
 of closeness with the Lord.

00:33:13.060 --> 00:33:14.480
 But know those today.

00:33:15.720 --> 00:33:16.660
 So we're to man up,

00:33:16.800 --> 00:33:17.260
 woman up,

00:33:17.259 --> 00:33:18.279
 trusting,

00:33:18.940 --> 00:33:19.559
 sacrificing,

00:33:19.859 --> 00:33:20.980
 and keeping going

00:33:20.980 --> 00:33:22.039
 in faithfulness

00:33:22.039 --> 00:33:23.240
 to the Lord Jesus.

00:33:24.599 --> 00:33:25.680
 It would be wrong though,

00:33:25.720 --> 00:33:26.000
 I think,

00:33:26.079 --> 00:33:27.220
 to end a sermon there

00:33:27.220 --> 00:33:28.160
 because we have to ask

00:33:28.160 --> 00:33:28.859
 one more question

00:33:28.859 --> 00:33:29.599
 before we finish

00:33:29.599 --> 00:33:30.539
 and that's this question,

00:33:30.619 --> 00:33:31.059
 the question,

00:33:31.200 --> 00:33:31.539
 why?

00:33:32.079 --> 00:33:32.400
 Why?

00:33:34.119 --> 00:33:34.660
 I don't know

00:33:34.660 --> 00:33:35.240
 whether you've thought

00:33:35.240 --> 00:33:35.500
 about that.

00:33:35.500 --> 00:33:36.559
 why would these men

00:33:36.559 --> 00:33:37.799
 do that for David?

00:33:38.779 --> 00:33:38.880
 Right?

00:33:39.460 --> 00:33:40.559
 Why the trust?

00:33:41.220 --> 00:33:42.140
 Why the sacrifice?

00:33:42.319 --> 00:33:43.359
 Why the faithfulness?

00:33:44.140 --> 00:33:45.099
 Now the obvious answer

00:33:45.099 --> 00:33:46.359
 to that is it's because

00:33:46.359 --> 00:33:48.000
 of who David is.

00:33:48.180 --> 00:33:48.319
 Yeah?

00:33:49.200 --> 00:33:50.900
 David is God's king.

00:33:50.980 --> 00:33:51.740
 He's not just a nobody.

00:33:51.859 --> 00:33:53.940
 He is God's promised king.

00:33:54.039 --> 00:33:55.140
 He is appointed

00:33:55.140 --> 00:33:55.859
 to be the king

00:33:55.859 --> 00:33:56.559
 of God's people.

00:33:57.180 --> 00:33:58.480
 He is the holder

00:33:58.480 --> 00:34:00.039
 of the promise of God.

00:34:00.359 --> 00:34:01.359
 He is the administrator

00:34:01.359 --> 00:34:02.859
 of the blessing of God.

00:34:02.859 --> 00:34:05.419
 It is David as God's king

00:34:05.419 --> 00:34:06.719
 who is handing out

00:34:06.719 --> 00:34:07.699
 the blessing of belonging

00:34:07.699 --> 00:34:08.539
 to God's people.

00:34:09.699 --> 00:34:10.519
 And David himself

00:34:10.519 --> 00:34:11.579
 is the great warrior,

00:34:11.719 --> 00:34:12.000
 isn't he?

00:34:12.239 --> 00:34:13.339
 He is the boy

00:34:13.339 --> 00:34:14.460
 who went to a giant

00:34:14.460 --> 00:34:16.219
 with a few smooth stones.

00:34:16.900 --> 00:34:18.519
 He didn't just kill

00:34:18.519 --> 00:34:20.279
 an Egyptian as another soldier

00:34:20.279 --> 00:34:21.579
 but he went as a boy

00:34:21.579 --> 00:34:23.599
 with a stone and a sling.

00:34:24.559 --> 00:34:25.199
 David is the one

00:34:25.199 --> 00:34:26.019
 who they sang about

00:34:26.019 --> 00:34:27.219
 who had killed

00:34:27.219 --> 00:34:28.619
 thousands of people

00:34:28.619 --> 00:34:29.920
 in his great battles.

00:34:31.199 --> 00:34:32.239
 The courage

00:34:32.239 --> 00:34:33.139
 of these men

00:34:33.139 --> 00:34:35.059
 comes from David's status.

00:34:36.819 --> 00:34:37.299
 Why?

00:34:37.619 --> 00:34:38.579
 Why are you doing this

00:34:38.579 --> 00:34:38.959
 for David?

00:34:39.559 --> 00:34:40.239
 It's because

00:34:40.239 --> 00:34:41.939
 of who he is.

00:34:42.919 --> 00:34:43.579
 Their courage

00:34:43.579 --> 00:34:44.819
 comes from David's status.

00:34:45.079 --> 00:34:45.759
 And so for us,

00:34:45.879 --> 00:34:46.559
 why would we,

00:34:47.019 --> 00:34:47.939
 why would I

00:34:47.939 --> 00:34:49.399
 stand in front of you

00:34:49.399 --> 00:34:49.819
 this morning

00:34:49.819 --> 00:34:50.759
 and commend to me

00:34:50.759 --> 00:34:51.419
 and all of us,

00:34:51.479 --> 00:34:51.639
 listen,

00:34:51.899 --> 00:34:52.699
 I think you should

00:34:52.699 --> 00:34:53.459
 trust Jesus

00:34:53.459 --> 00:34:54.500
 with all that you have.

00:34:54.819 --> 00:34:55.519
 I think you should

00:34:55.519 --> 00:34:56.759
 sacrifice to him

00:34:56.759 --> 00:34:58.159
 in large ways

00:34:58.159 --> 00:34:59.079
 and small ways.

00:34:59.339 --> 00:34:59.979
 I think you should

00:34:59.980 --> 00:35:00.960
 be faithful to him

00:35:00.960 --> 00:35:01.820
 all the days

00:35:01.820 --> 00:35:02.360
 of your life,

00:35:02.420 --> 00:35:03.179
 living only for him.

00:35:03.460 --> 00:35:04.099
 Why on earth

00:35:04.099 --> 00:35:05.260
 would I say that to you?

00:35:05.820 --> 00:35:08.059
 Because of who Jesus is.

00:35:08.940 --> 00:35:10.559
 He's God's anointed king,

00:35:11.159 --> 00:35:12.380
 the eternal son

00:35:12.380 --> 00:35:12.860
 from heaven.

00:35:13.280 --> 00:35:14.360
 He's the one sent

00:35:14.360 --> 00:35:15.639
 to bring his people home.

00:35:16.179 --> 00:35:17.619
 How do you know that?

00:35:18.840 --> 00:35:19.440
 Well, not because

00:35:19.440 --> 00:35:20.260
 he went to a giant

00:35:20.260 --> 00:35:20.980
 called Goliath

00:35:20.980 --> 00:35:21.820
 armed with a pebble,

00:35:22.820 --> 00:35:24.420
 but because in an even

00:35:24.420 --> 00:35:25.500
 more remarkable way,

00:35:25.599 --> 00:35:26.519
 he went at the giant

00:35:26.519 --> 00:35:27.199
 of sin,

00:35:27.860 --> 00:35:28.340
 death,

00:35:29.139 --> 00:35:30.380
 hell and Satan himself

00:35:30.380 --> 00:35:32.739
 with a wooden cross

00:35:32.739 --> 00:35:34.679
 and he defeated it all,

00:35:35.199 --> 00:35:35.960
 defeated them all.

00:35:36.400 --> 00:35:37.440
 He rose from the dead

00:35:37.440 --> 00:35:38.659
 in triumphant victory.

00:35:39.119 --> 00:35:39.880
 He rescued us

00:35:39.880 --> 00:35:40.440
 from the clutches

00:35:40.440 --> 00:35:41.079
 of our sin,

00:35:41.480 --> 00:35:42.820
 promises us resurrection,

00:35:43.079 --> 00:35:43.699
 life with him.

00:35:44.179 --> 00:35:45.659
 Jesus smashes death,

00:35:46.340 --> 00:35:47.239
 destroys the devil,

00:35:48.119 --> 00:35:49.460
 rises to new life

00:35:49.460 --> 00:35:50.400
 and says,

00:35:50.500 --> 00:35:51.179
 come follow me.

00:35:52.400 --> 00:35:53.519
 And that's why

00:35:53.519 --> 00:35:54.699
 we're to be faithful to him.

00:35:55.119 --> 00:35:55.839
 That's why we're

00:35:55.839 --> 00:35:56.980
 to sacrifice to him.

00:35:57.239 --> 00:35:57.859
 And that's why

00:35:57.859 --> 00:35:58.919
 we're to trust him

00:35:58.919 --> 00:36:00.799
 because of who he is.

00:36:01.819 --> 00:36:02.500
 Perhaps you've never

00:36:02.500 --> 00:36:03.000
 thought about it

00:36:03.000 --> 00:36:03.719
 like that this morning

00:36:03.719 --> 00:36:04.299
 before.

00:36:04.839 --> 00:36:05.539
 Or maybe you're

00:36:05.539 --> 00:36:06.559
 kind of half-hearted

00:36:06.559 --> 00:36:07.519
 in your following of Jesus.

00:36:08.559 --> 00:36:09.419
 Well, listen,

00:36:09.480 --> 00:36:10.239
 if that's you this morning,

00:36:10.339 --> 00:36:11.259
 my encouragement to you

00:36:11.259 --> 00:36:11.859
 is not so much

00:36:11.859 --> 00:36:12.639
 to dig deep

00:36:12.639 --> 00:36:13.199
 and see whether

00:36:13.199 --> 00:36:14.000
 there might be courage

00:36:14.000 --> 00:36:15.119
 to live for Jesus there.

00:36:15.299 --> 00:36:16.059
 Please don't do that.

00:36:17.279 --> 00:36:18.099
 Please don't think

00:36:18.099 --> 00:36:18.939
 that I'm saying to you

00:36:18.939 --> 00:36:19.299
 this morning,

00:36:19.419 --> 00:36:20.879
 work hard to trust Jesus.

00:36:21.039 --> 00:36:21.939
 I'm not saying that

00:36:21.939 --> 00:36:23.159
 so much as saying,

00:36:23.579 --> 00:36:24.279
 look to Jesus.

00:36:24.699 --> 00:36:26.480
 Look at who he is.

00:36:27.299 --> 00:36:28.079
 Recognize that he is

00:36:28.079 --> 00:36:28.819
 the King of Kings

00:36:28.819 --> 00:36:29.839
 and the Lord of Lords.

00:36:30.500 --> 00:36:31.599
 All of us in this room

00:36:31.599 --> 00:36:32.839
 one day will stand

00:36:32.839 --> 00:36:33.980
 before Jesus

00:36:33.980 --> 00:36:35.539
 to give an account

00:36:35.539 --> 00:36:36.079
 of the lives

00:36:36.079 --> 00:36:36.819
 that we've lived.

00:36:37.419 --> 00:36:38.039
 And the more

00:36:38.039 --> 00:36:39.319
 that we see that,

00:36:39.619 --> 00:36:41.239
 the more that we know that,

00:36:41.699 --> 00:36:42.679
 the more that we'll find

00:36:42.679 --> 00:36:43.379
 by his spirit

00:36:43.379 --> 00:36:44.759
 we are courageously given

00:36:44.759 --> 00:36:46.139
 to live the Christian life

00:36:46.139 --> 00:36:47.039
 whose praise and his glory.

00:36:49.359 --> 00:36:50.439
 If I can put it like this,

00:36:50.460 --> 00:36:51.279
 and I mean this reverently

00:36:51.279 --> 00:36:52.480
 and not in a flippant way at all,

00:36:52.899 --> 00:36:53.960
 Jesus' identity,

00:36:53.960 --> 00:36:54.440
 if you like,

00:36:54.480 --> 00:36:55.659
 is the protein shake

00:36:55.659 --> 00:36:56.659
 of the Christian life.

00:36:57.659 --> 00:36:59.659
 If you want to build up

00:36:59.659 --> 00:37:00.800
 strength as a Christian,

00:37:01.280 --> 00:37:02.659
 look at who Jesus is

00:37:02.659 --> 00:37:04.860
 over and over and over again.

00:37:07.179 --> 00:37:09.480
 Jesus is the man's man,

00:37:09.559 --> 00:37:09.880
 isn't he?

00:37:09.980 --> 00:37:11.260
 The ultimate man.

00:37:11.840 --> 00:37:12.900
 The man of love

00:37:12.900 --> 00:37:13.740
 and generosity,

00:37:14.380 --> 00:37:16.139
 of sacrifice and service,

00:37:16.559 --> 00:37:17.579
 of faithfulness

00:37:17.579 --> 00:37:18.840
 and trustworthiness.

00:37:18.840 --> 00:37:21.400
 is the man to whom

00:37:21.400 --> 00:37:22.700
 all of us

00:37:22.700 --> 00:37:24.120
 one day will be united

00:37:24.120 --> 00:37:26.000
 in what truly is marriage,

00:37:26.220 --> 00:37:26.660
 isn't it?

00:37:27.200 --> 00:37:27.940
 As the church

00:37:27.940 --> 00:37:28.960
 becomes his bride.

00:37:30.660 --> 00:37:31.760
 In Matthew 25,

00:37:31.960 --> 00:37:33.140
 Jesus tells the parable

00:37:33.140 --> 00:37:33.920
 of the master

00:37:33.920 --> 00:37:34.780
 who goes away

00:37:34.780 --> 00:37:35.620
 and leaves his servants

00:37:35.620 --> 00:37:36.680
 with money to invest

00:37:36.680 --> 00:37:37.579
 and work

00:37:37.579 --> 00:37:38.420
 while he goes away.

00:37:38.760 --> 00:37:40.200
 He gives different amounts

00:37:40.200 --> 00:37:40.900
 to different people

00:37:40.900 --> 00:37:41.360
 what he says

00:37:41.360 --> 00:37:42.460
 according to their ability.

00:37:42.980 --> 00:37:44.220
 And the master then returns

00:37:44.220 --> 00:37:45.280
 to see what they've done.

00:37:46.060 --> 00:37:47.100
 For two of those servants,

00:37:47.340 --> 00:37:48.680
 they've lived courageously,

00:37:48.760 --> 00:37:49.140
 haven't they?

00:37:49.400 --> 00:37:50.580
 In the light of the master's

00:37:50.580 --> 00:37:50.940
 returning,

00:37:51.060 --> 00:37:51.700
 he says this,

00:37:51.740 --> 00:37:52.180
 and I'm going to end

00:37:52.180 --> 00:37:52.840
 with these words.

00:37:53.720 --> 00:37:54.620
 His master replied,

00:37:54.760 --> 00:37:55.300
 well done,

00:37:56.019 --> 00:37:57.540
 good and faithful servant.

00:37:58.380 --> 00:37:59.200
 You have been faithful

00:37:59.200 --> 00:38:00.440
 with few things.

00:38:00.960 --> 00:38:02.180
 I will put you in charge

00:38:02.180 --> 00:38:03.180
 of many things.

00:38:03.380 --> 00:38:03.700
 Come,

00:38:04.519 --> 00:38:06.280
 share in your master's

00:38:06.280 --> 00:38:06.980
 happiness.

00:38:07.900 --> 00:38:08.640
 We long to hear that,

00:38:08.700 --> 00:38:08.960
 don't we?

00:38:09.640 --> 00:38:10.420
 Come, Lord Jesus.

00:38:10.960 --> 00:38:11.460
 Let's pray.

00:38:13.800 --> 00:38:14.980
 Let me leave a few moments,

00:38:14.980 --> 00:38:15.659
 just as quiet

00:38:15.659 --> 00:38:16.780
 as you might reflect

00:38:16.780 --> 00:38:17.960
 on what the Lord

00:38:17.960 --> 00:38:18.800
 has said to you.

00:38:18.800 --> 00:38:18.920
 Amen.

00:38:44.980 --> 00:38:50.500
 Heavenly Father,

00:38:50.559 --> 00:38:52.019
 we want to be like these

00:38:52.019 --> 00:38:53.940
 soldiers here,

00:38:54.119 --> 00:38:56.300
 warriors of the faith.

00:38:57.440 --> 00:38:59.119
 We want to trust you

00:38:59.119 --> 00:39:01.260
 and King Jesus,

00:39:01.599 --> 00:39:02.159
 absolutely.

00:39:04.000 --> 00:39:05.280
 We want to consider

00:39:05.280 --> 00:39:06.980
 the joy of Jesus

00:39:06.980 --> 00:39:09.719
 worth even the greatest sacrifice.

00:39:09.719 --> 00:39:12.239
 and Lord,

00:39:12.259 --> 00:39:12.659
 we pray,

00:39:12.799 --> 00:39:13.539
 make us faithful

00:39:13.539 --> 00:39:14.419
 to the very end,

00:39:14.500 --> 00:39:15.159
 we ask.

00:39:15.839 --> 00:39:17.199
 Keep us trusting you

00:39:17.199 --> 00:39:19.099
 and living for you.

00:39:20.919 --> 00:39:21.139
 Lord,

00:39:21.179 --> 00:39:22.099
 we know that the strength

00:39:22.099 --> 00:39:23.139
 to do all of that,

00:39:23.219 --> 00:39:24.819
 none of that lies within us.

00:39:25.659 --> 00:39:26.339
 We long that you might

00:39:26.339 --> 00:39:26.859
 do that work

00:39:26.859 --> 00:39:27.599
 by your spirit

00:39:27.599 --> 00:39:28.959
 as we see more clearly

00:39:28.959 --> 00:39:30.000
 who Jesus is.

00:39:31.179 --> 00:39:32.259
 Leave us this morning

00:39:32.259 --> 00:39:33.719
 with a really clear impression

00:39:33.719 --> 00:39:35.299
 of the greatness

00:39:35.300 --> 00:39:36.700
 and worthiness of Jesus

00:39:36.700 --> 00:39:38.840
 that we might want to

00:39:38.840 --> 00:39:40.519
 and take courage

00:39:40.519 --> 00:39:41.900
 to live for him

00:39:41.900 --> 00:39:43.380
 in every area of our lives.

00:39:44.280 --> 00:39:44.760
 Please,

00:39:44.840 --> 00:39:45.780
 we pray this morning,

00:39:45.920 --> 00:39:47.460
 even especially for us

00:39:47.460 --> 00:39:48.260
 as a local church

00:39:48.260 --> 00:39:49.200
 at this point

00:39:49.200 --> 00:39:51.380
 in the life of our church.

00:39:52.160 --> 00:39:53.300
 May we not falter

00:39:53.840 --> 00:39:54.880
 in our courage

00:39:54.880 --> 00:39:56.180
 to live for you.

00:39:57.180 --> 00:39:57.680
 May we,

00:39:57.800 --> 00:39:58.720
 like those who have gone

00:39:58.720 --> 00:39:59.720
 before us,

00:40:00.880 --> 00:40:02.220
 consider all things

00:40:02.219 --> 00:40:02.779
 or loss

00:40:02.779 --> 00:40:04.659
 compared to the surpassing

00:40:04.659 --> 00:40:05.579
 greatness of knowing

00:40:05.579 --> 00:40:07.359
 Christ Jesus our Lord

00:40:07.359 --> 00:40:08.959
 and living for him.

00:40:09.719 --> 00:40:10.939
 In his name we pray.

00:40:11.279 --> 00:40:11.799
 Amen.

00:40:12.079 --> 00:40:12.399
 Amen.