How does God call and mold men?

1. How does God call and mold men? • We will examine one of the great men that God used for His purposes, King David.

2. How does God call and mold men? • We will examine one of the great men that God used for His purposes, King David. • The only one that more is written about in the Bible is Jesus Himself.

3. How does God call and mold men? • We will examine one of the great men that God used for His purposes, King David. • The only one that more is written about in the Bible is Jesus Himself. • Towards the end of David’s life God describes him as “the man raised up on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, and the sweet psalmist of Israel” (2 Sam 23:1)

4. How does God call and mold men? • God also recognizes a group of men that are described as “David's mighty men.”

5. How does God call and mold men? • God recognizes a group of men that are described as “David's mighty men.” • God wants us to know that David’s work was not accomplished alone.

6. How does God call and mold men? • God recognizes a group of men that are described as “David's mighty men.” • God wants us to know that David’s work was not accomplished alone. • In many ways we will see how Jesus, the son of David and the Son of God, in His ministry and today calls and uses “mighty men.”

7. The calling of the mighty men • These men were “out of step” with society. (1 Sam 22:1-2)

8. The calling of the mighty men • 1 Samuel 22:1-2 (NKJV) - David therefore departed from there and escaped to the cave of Adullam. So when his brothers and all his father’s house heard it, they went down there to him. 2 And everyone who was in distress, everyone who was in debt, and everyone who wasdiscontented gathered to him. So he became captain over them. And there were about four hundred men with him.

9. The calling of the mighty men • These men were “out of step” with society. (1 Sam 22:1-2) • Jesus found His followers from such “rejects.” (1 Cor 1:26-29)

10. The calling of the mighty men • 1 Corinthians 1:26-29 (NKJV) - For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. 27 But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty;

11. The calling of the mighty men • 28 and the base things of the world and the things which are despisedGod has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, 29 that no flesh should glory in His presence.

12. The calling of the mighty men • These men were “out of step” with society. (1 Sam 22:1-2) • Jesus found His followers from such “rejects.” (1 Cor 1:26-29) • The common attraction was a faith in God.

13. The calling of the mighty men • These men were “out of step” with society. (1 Sam 22:1-2) • Jesus found His followers from such “rejects.” (1 Cor 1:26-29) • The common attraction was a faith in God. • Before Jonathan knew David he stood by faith. (1 Sam 14:1, 6)

14. The calling of the mighty men • 1 Samuel 14:1 (NKJV) - Now it happened one day that Jonathan the son of Saul said to the young man who bore his armor, “Come, let us go over to the Philistines’ garrison that is on the other side.” But he did not tell his father.

15. The calling of the mighty men • 1 Samuel 14:6 (NKJV) - Then Jonathan said to the young man who bore his armor, “Come, let us go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised; it may be that the Lord will work for us. For nothing restrains the Lord from saving by many or by few.”

16. The calling of the mighty men • When Jonathan saw David’s faith they became friends. (1 Sam 17:57-18:1)

17. The calling of the mighty men • 1 Samuel 17:57 -18:1 (NKJV) - Then, as David returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, Abner took him and brought him before Saul with the head of the Philistine in his hand. 58 And Saul said to him, “Whose son are you, young man?” So David answered, “I am the son of your servant Jesse the Bethlehemite.”

18. The calling of the mighty men • 18:1 - Now when he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.

19. The calling of the mighty men • When Jonathan saw David’s faith they became friends. (1 Sam 17:57-18:1) • Where did Jesus find His followers? (Jn 1:29, 35, Mt 3:1-4)

20. The calling of the mighty men • John 1:29 (NKJV) - The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!

21. The calling of the mighty men • John 1:35 (NKJV) - Again, the next day, John stood with two of his disciples.

22. The calling of the mighty men • Matthew 3:1-4 (NKJV) - In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, 2 and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!”

23. The qualities of the mighty men • They had a strong faith

24. The qualities of the mighty men • They had a strong faith • Eleazar and Shammah (2 Sam 23:9-12)

25. The qualities of the mighty men • 2 Samuel 23:9 -10 - And after him wasEleazar the son of Dodo, the Ahohite, one of the three mighty men with David when they defied the Philistines who were gathered there for battle, and the men of Israel had retreated. 10 He arose and attacked the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand stuck to the sword. The Lord brought about a great victory that day;

26. The qualities of the mighty men • 2 Samuel 23:11-12 (NKJV) - And after him wasShammah the son of Agee the Hararite. The Philistines had gathered together into a troop where there was a piece of ground full of lentils. So the people fled from the Philistines. 12 But he stationed himself in the middle of the field, defended it, and killed the Philistines. So the Lord brought about a great victory.

27. The qualities of the mighty men • They had a strong faith • Eleazar and Shammah (2 Sam 23:9-12) • They were not here from privilege.

28. The qualities of the mighty men • They had a strong faith • Eleazar and Shammah (2 Sam 23:9-12) • They were not here from privilege. • The followers of Christ have learned to stand (Mt 12:30; Titus 1:9-11)

29. The qualities of the mighty men • Matthew 12:30 (NKJV) - He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad.

30. The qualities of the mighty men • Titus 1:9 -11 (NKJV) - holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict.

31. The qualities of the mighty men • They had a strong faith • Eleazar and Shammah (2 Sam 23:9-12) • They were not here from privilege • The followers of Christ have learned to stand (Mt 12:30; Titus 1:9-11) • They understood the meaning of love and loyalty.

32. The qualities of the mighty men • Genuine love does not wait on commands. (2 Sam 23:13-17)

33. The qualities of the mighty men • 2 Samuel 23:13-17 - Then three of the thirty chief men went down at harvest time and came to David at the cave of Adullam. And the troop of Philistines encamped in the Valley of Rephaim. 14 David was then in the stronghold, and the garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem.

34. The qualities of the mighty men • 15 And David said with longing, “Oh, that someone would give me a drink of the water from the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate!” 16 So the three mighty men broke through the camp of the Philistines, drew water from the well of Bethlehem that was by the gate, and took it and brought it to David. Nevertheless he would not drink it, but poured it out to the Lord.

35. The qualities of the mighty men • 17 And he said, “Far be it from me, O Lord, that I should do this! Is this not the blood of the men who went in jeopardy of their lives?” Therefore he would not drink it. These things were done by the three mighty men.

36. The qualities of the mighty men • Genuine love does not wait on commands. (2 Sam 23:13-17) • Must we wait for a command? (1 Cor 16:1-2; 2 Cor 8:8-9)

37. The qualities of the mighty men • 1 Corinthians 16:1-2 (NKJV) - Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given orders to the churches of Galatia, so you must do also: 2 On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come.

38. The qualities of the mighty men • 2 Corinthians 8:8-9 (NKJV) - I speak not by commandment, but I am testing the sincerity of your love by the diligence of others. 9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.

39. The qualities of the mighty men • They obeyed when it went against their reason and emotions.

40. The qualities of the mighty men • They obeyed when it went against their reason and emotions. • Abishai was willing to follow (1 Sam 26:6-12)

41. The qualities of the mighty men • 1 Samuel 26:6 -7 - Then David answered, and said to Ahimelech the Hittite and to Abishai the son of Zeruiah, brother of Joab, saying, “Who will go down with me to Saul in the camp?” And Abishai said, “I will go down with you.” 7 So David and Abishai came to the people by night; and there Saul lay sleeping within the camp, with his spear stuck in the ground by his head. And Abner and the people lay all around him.

42. The qualities of the mighty men • 1 Samuel 26:7-12 - So David and Abishai came to the people by night; and there Saul lay sleeping within the camp, with his spear stuck in the ground by his head. And Abner and the people lay all around him. 8 Then Abishai said to David, “God has delivered your enemy into your hand this day. Now therefore, please, let me strike him at once with the spear, right to the earth; and I will not have to strike him a second time!”

43. The qualities of the mighty men • 9 But David said to Abishai, “Do not destroy him; for who can stretch out his hand against the Lord’S anointed, and be guiltless?” 10 David said furthermore, “As the Lord lives, the Lord shall strike him, or his day shall come to die, or he shall go out to battle and perish. 11 The Lord forbid that I should stretch out my hand against the Lord’S anointed. But please, take now the spear and the jug of water that are by his head, and let us go.”

44. The qualities of the mighty men • 12 So David took the spear and the jug of water by Saul’s head, and they got away; and no man saw or knew it or awoke. For they were all asleep, because a deep sleep from the Lord had fallen on them.

45. The power of David’s leadership • David leadership was essential (2 Sam 18:3; 2 Sam 21:15-17)

46. The power of David’s leadership • 2 Samuel 18:3 (NKJV) - But the people answered, “You shall not go out! For if we flee away, they will not care about us; nor if half of us die, will they care about us. But you are worth ten thousand of us now. For you are now more help to us in the city.”

47. The power of David’s leadership • 2 Samuel 21:15-17 - When the Philistines were at war again with Israel, David and his servants with him went down and fought against the Philistines; and David grew faint. 16 Then Ishbi-Benob, who was one of the sons of the giant, the weight of whose bronze spear was three hundred shekels, who was bearing a new sword, thought he could kill David.

48. The power of David’s leadership • 17 But Abishai the son of Zeruiah came to his aid, and struck the Philistine and killed him. Then the men of David swore to him, saying, “You shall go out no more with us to battle, lest you quench the lamp of Israel.”

49. The power of David’s leadership • How important is a coach to a team?

50. The power of David’s leadership • How important is a coach to a team? • Which is more important to a church, a preacher or an elder?