I would encourage you as we turn a second, Samuel chapter 3, that
the references that will be shared tonight in relation to
what we're going to study would be turned to in your own Bibles
because I want you to see it in your own Bibles.
And I also want you to remember these scriptures, they're
extremely powerful when we consider them.
Sometimes we forget these verses sometimes, we remind of these
verses. But I realized in my life, that
one of the greatest ways of remembering references is to see
it in my own, copy of God's word.
There's almost like a map that's created in your own mind where
you can, maybe you might not remember the references, but you
remember where it's located on what side of the page and you're
able to quickly go there. And so, I want you to see these
verses in your Bibles. Second Samuel chapter 3, we're
going to start in verse 17. We're not going to complete this
chapter. It is It is a loaded chapter and
it would be a great Injustice to just scale and and to just kind
of, you know, just skim over these things without considering
their implications. I'm going to pray in a moment.
But it's going to wait for you to turn the.
I'm going to do my best as we turn to these references.
That I'll I won't quote it, I'll wait for you to meet me there as
well. All right, let's pray.
Louis, thank you. We thank you for this.
This discipleship school, that has been going on for many years
on Friday nights, Well, we thank you that we get to come to the
word of God, especially in the Old Testament and Lord receive
great, great, great Truth, for our lives today.
Great insight into who you are. Although we just pray that you
would help us, we admit our weakness not just in being able
to read our Bibles but to understand it is a great great
task. And so we need a great God to
help us. Lord teach us show us Lord let
there be a freedom in the Munication of your word but not
in a way where the flesh will intervene or interfere.
Let everything that is that is said be according to the will of
God, let our hearts receive all that you have to say, in a way
in which we will joyfully submit to your instructions.
Lord protect our minds and our hearts as we heard last Sunday,
Satan would love to interfere with this transaction of Truth.
And so Lord, protect us and help us Lord to sit in place and to
pay attention to who you are and what you have to say to us.
We ask these things in the precious name of Jesus Christ.
Amen. Can somebody give me a summary?
Maybe not as summary but yeah just a one-sentence summary of
what happened last week in our study of second Samuel chapter
3, what was the main event that took place?
I'll help us understand the rest of this chapter, who are the
main characters at this point. Abner is one and who's the
other? We've been studying it for a
long time, job is another. There's a there's another one
you can say is more important than joab.
David Abner and David Wright, joab.
A secondary character is beshara that another secondary
character, what happened between Abner anishka chef Are they on?
Good terms? Are you scared to answer?
Are you intimidated? I'm going to say you're wrong.
It's okay. I won't do that.
What happened are they on good terms or bad terms?
Okay, somebody didn't want to say it a lot, but they said, bad
terms. You're right.
I hope you all in agreement with that, they were not on good
terms. What did Abner decide to do?
Ha ha. It was that?
We're done here. I'm no longer going to be
supporting you, helping you, I'm going over to David side.
Good motives are bad motives questionable motives.
And so we see now that Abner who was on the son of Saul side,
trying to oppose David and the will of God is now switching his
Allegiance over to David and and not just switching his
Allegiance by. He he Endeavors to try to win
the hearts of the rest of the tribes.
To Crown David as the king over, not just Judah but all of
Israel. And that's what we see in verse
17. We read here in Abner conferred
with the Elders of Israel saying.
For some time, past you have been seeking David as king over
you now, then bring it about for the Lord has promised David
saying by the hand of my servant David?
I will save my People Israel from the hand of the
Philistines. And from the hand of all their
enemies, Abner also spoke to Benjamin, and then Abner went to
tell. David at Hebron all that Israel
and the whole house of Benjamin thought, good to do.
We have to read these verses very carefully or else.
We just think they're just there, it's not, the meat.
There is meat in this great meat in this.
What do you notice? And what Abner is saying to the
tribes? What does it reveal about him?
Specifically, look at verse 17, carefully and realize the
implications of his statement here.
For some time, past you have been seeking David as king over
you. So, Israel wanted David to be
king for a long, long time, and Abner by stating, this to the
different tribes, whether he realized or not, is indirectly
confessing something about himself and what is he
confessing? Hey, I was the one who stood in
the way. You've been seeking David to be
king. And the only reason why David is
not King is because I raised up opposition and I persuaded you
to join my ranks when in reality deep down inside.
You knew David was supposed to be the anointed one over Israel.
And so we see here that this man is actually confessing that he
was the sole cause for this delay in the will of God being
known and for the people of God to be blessed by the ordinance
that would come through, David's Administration over Israel, the
scripture. Is very honest and very
realistic and telling us in different ways how much one
person can do both for good and both for evil you.
And I have heard many, many messages conferences, sermons
about the inspiring examples of how one righteous man can do so
much good and a nation and an assembly in a community.
But it's equal for The Sinner that one person can so partner
with the Enemy or so be succumb to the flesh that he can do far
from far-reaching damage for the kingdom of God.
Or against the kingdom of God. Ultimately, the Gates of Hell
cannot Prevail. But there's a reason why there
is a fight against the advancement of the will of God.
It's possible to try to derail it or to delay it or to attempt,
to even bring some level of Destruction to it.
And Abner was that person. Abner was one person who was
able to bring an entire nation to a halt and I want you to turn
to a scripture because King Solomon noticed something
throughout his Reign and he says it in the Book of Ecclesiastes
chapter 9, look at Ecclesiastes chapter 9 verse 18 says, and
I'll wait for you to turn there again, I want us to take our
time, to see these verses in our own books and our own Bibles.
Ecclesiastes 9, 18 look what Solomon says in his observation.
Ecclesiastes. 9:18 wisdom is better than weapons of war.
But one sinner destroys much good.
One sinner, not 10, not 100, not 1501 sinner, destroys much,
good. All it takes listen.
All it takes is one individual to create Untold damage and
whatever context they find themselves in, all it takes is
one gossiper. All it takes is one person in
the church to preach false teaching.
All it takes is one person to not fear, God.
All it takes is one sinner to do much damage and this is what we
have to understand. That's not just a mere
observation. That's an insight for the
righteous to know how to respond to this potential destruction.
If one sinner can do so much. Good Paul uses the language of
Levin. He says, I live a little leaven
does, what leavens the whole lump.
Now, when Paul said that he said in two different places, what
was he referring to? Sin is one unrepentant sin,
right? He says that in First
Corinthians 5 about a man who is in a who was in a very
despicable sexual relationship and the church did not deal with
it. They actually tolerate, I
thought it was fine and Paul warns, he says a little leaven
leavens, the whole lump. If you loud this to remain here,
it will corrupt the entire assembly and you have to do
something about it. The other one is what in
Galatians Levin is referred to as what Want to send the other
is. False Doctrine false teaching
and notice Paul by the spirit. Whether it's unrepentant sin or
false teaching. He doesn't say a lot of love and
he says a little bit, all it takes, is for a little bit.
All it takes is for one sinner to do damage too much good.
And so, you have to understand that the righteous those, those
who are especially in the local church, even in your own life,
it's the duty to see the little leaven, or to see the one person
who is resilient in the rebellion and to confront it to
confront it. And when confrontation doesn't
work, we have to do what Paul says in First Corinthians 5.
You have to cleanse it. And that often unfortunately
means removal, there has to be drastic measures because one
sinner destroys much. Good Abner is an example of
that. If you ever doubt that if you
ever doubt what one person can do, remember, This man who
literally put a halt to a nation and experiencing David being
King over all Israel. It's a powerful truth and we
come back to our main text. And what do we see?
He's continued to speak to the tribes and verse 18.
Now then bring it about, bring it about for the Lord has
promised David saying by the hand of my servant David?
I will save my People Israel from the hand of the Philistines
of from the hand of all their enemies.
Now, we've already discussed in previous Bible studies.
That Abner was well aware that his schemes was in direct
violation to the will of God, he was literally fighting against
God's promise. I mean the crime is huge,
there's two sin. Unknowingly is one thing to
sinned, knowingly is a great great, great thing to do against
God and what he's doing here is that he's communicating to the
people that he's well aware of the promise of God over David.
And although this is a very wrong thing, what he is
Communicating, there's truth in this.
There is truth in what he is saying here, and it's very
applicable to our own lives because he sees he sees that the
people in verse 18 are not bringing it about sure, he was
standing in the way, but look at this Insight, right?
The people had a knowledge that David was supposed to be king.
It wasn't just Abner. He says, you knew you knew David
was supposed to be king, so they had knowledge.
Not only that and verse 17, they also had desire so they had
knowledge. David is supposed to be king and
they even had some kind of aspiration that it would come
about. So they long for that to a
certain degree, but here's the understanding knowledge and
desire are not enough to experience the blessings in
obeying, the will of God, It's not enough to have biblical
knowledge, it's not enough to even have great desire for that
to be realized in your life. What needs to happen is what
Abner saying? Now, then bring it about, you
gotta bring it about, you gotta make a choice, a very practical
choice, I think this as simple as that sounds, you would be
amazed to know how many Believers are paralyzed in their
sanctification. Because they think they're in a
good place, simply because they have knowledge.
Of the truth and they even get stirred once in a while and they
think that, I know I want this. But listen, you can know that
you should read your Bible. You can even have a desire to
read your Bible, but you will not know the blessing until you
read your Bible. Is that amazing.
It's astounding, right? You can know that you need to
praise a Christian. You can even have moments where
your stirred especially after meetings like this and
conferences that you need to pray.
But you're not going to know what God has for you, the reward
and Until you actually do it. Let me say one more example, you
can know the truth about who Jesus Christ is, you can even
have wishes in your heart that he would truly be Lord.
And you can actually surrender him, but that will not save you
until you bring it about and bow your knee and submit to the
lordship of Jesus Christ. A lot of people, what's standing
between them and actually knowing God's showering favor.
Is simply a decision to make just do it.
Just make that step and actually do it.
Don't wait for God to just pick you up with strings and and
throw you into that direction, he would give you the knowledge,
and he might even stir your hearts from time to time, but
the decision is yours. The decision is yours.
Ultimately, these people. They had to make a choice, Abner
is charging them. Now, bring it about you already
know the truth youyou seem to have the desire now.
Move forward. Would say the same two people in
here. Why are you, why are you staying
in the same place? When you already know it, and
your heart claims to testify that you want it, and just do
it, move forward. Make the steps, make the
decisions, block out the time, cut off the people, whatever it
is. You need to do just move forward
because God is not going to push you.
Verse 19. Abner also spoke to Benjamin.
Why did he speak to Benjamin? Why is it saying that he spoke
to this tribe separately? Where's Saul from The Tribe of
Benjamin so, Abner's, fully aware that if there's going to
be any resistance, the most resistance is going to come from
the tribe of Saul. So he singles them out.
He sits with them and he communicates them.
And there seems to be no objection here from Benjamin.
And after he, he convinces this tribe.
He makes his way towards Abner, a rather to Hebron, to sit, with
David and to tell him, We're getting there.
We're going to accomplish this. This is actually going to come
about after seven years of Civil War.
All of this is finally going to come to an end and the fruition
of the promises of God for David to be king over.
All of Israel is budding. You know what I looked at verse
19, when I read it last night, I thought to myself, that's
amazing. David was supposed to be the
King, David was anointed to be the king, and David did not have
to lift one finger for him to be the king.
David didn't force himself, he didn't use compulsion, he didn't
call her. She didn't threaten, he didn't
gather the people and tell them, you know, Samuel anointed me.
Don't you guys realize it? Don't you guys see it?
All David does is that he rests it in the fact that if God said
it then he would do it if God said it.
Then he would do it there. This is very important.
For many people who are in transitional periods of life
where they are seeking God's answers for things and they even
believe and even tell others that God told them something
that's a very, very risky thing to do if you're not confident
about it. But let me give you that advice.
If you do believe that, if God said it, he will do it.
There are sometimes where you and I have to make decisions
God's not going to do it for us and there's other things that
have God said he would do it and if it's if it's something beyond
your control and you believe God said he would do it then just
watch him do it. And don't see David did not
compromise his Integrity in this process.
He didn't lower himself, he didn't he didn't manipulate
anything, he just rest it in the fact that if God said it, then
he would do. I think two M's come to mind,
and that Ministry and marriage. Ministry and marriage people who
really want to serve God in a particular way.
If God called you something he's gonna trust me.
It will be effortless. The doors will open.
And you almost feel like there's a, there's a rope around your
waist and you're just being pulled in that direction.
It's incredible. When God calls somebody to it.
There's such an ease and Grace that comes with no devil and how
can stop you same with marriage. Same thing with marriage.
God will give you a peace. God Will Make A Way.
And if it's really God's will, you don't have to pull your hair
to make things happen. Just trust God and you, trust
him for your job, don't you, right?
You trust him for the car that you're driving, right?
You trust him for the job, all these things that we trust God
for. And when it comes to something,
as serious as marriage, we think that God is like, well, if you
make one wrong step, you're done.
I'm gonna let me just throw you out here, just trust the Lord.
Please, you'll save yourself from a lot of headache and you
will preserve your integrity. Early in the process.
And this case, David did the best thing by waiting on the
Lord to bring the people to him. And it's interesting.
The means that the Lord used to make it happen.
Listen. If you were, if you were to tell
David years before, this Abner is going to be used to bring the
nation before you. That'd be quite shocking.
You're talking about Enemy. Number One, is going to be the
the way in the reason for everybody else to be convinced
that that just doesn't make any sense.
Because God's Providence is not predictable I know we love to
try to predict how God moves and and that mean there's nothing
wrong with that. It's wrong.
If you think that God should move in this particular way and
if he doesn't, you get a, you got angry that's wrong, that's
sinful. But God's Providence is really,
really unpredictable. And that's what makes him God.
And that's how he gets, most got it because even in your mind,
when you think that, this is how God will do it, and he does it
some other way. You're just, you just give him
more worship that way, it's incredible.
It's incredible. When you just really trust the
Lord how he can he can really, really amaze you and how he
brings things about Abner was the one used.
To bring the nation, to David, who would have thought?
And there's so many. Promises and insights throughout
the Bible that indicate that for our own lives.
Can I give you one? There's many Proverbs that I
love this one always intrigued me.
It's in Proverbs 16 verse 7. And notice, what notice what it
says when a man's way, pleases the Lord, He makes even his
enemies to be at peace with him. Isn't that incredible?
When a man's ways, please? The Lord he makes even his
enemies to be at peace with him. That's exactly what's happening
to David. Now, we got to be careful with
some of the Proverbs, right? Some of the sayings because some
people take them as Total guarantees, no matter what the
context is. That's that's a very dangerous
way of interpreting things because there are many Saints
throughout church history where their enemies did not give them
favor. They were martyred, they were
tortured, they were despised. And so either we have a
contradiction or we need at we need the right lens and
interpreting a verse like this. It is not to say that every
single one of our enemies will be able to recognize our
righteousness and then work in our favor, for the glory of God.
What it is saying, is that God is able to do that.
That if in his wisdom and his plan for our particular lives,
for his program, for our lives, God is able to take the enemies
in our lives and actually turn them to be servants for God's
will. And that's exciting.
And that's what's happening here with David.
And what we see in Proverbs 16:7 is an instruction is that if you
want even that possibility of seeing even the enemies in your
life, actually serve the purposes of God in your life.
What do you need to do well live in a way that pleases the Lord?
Walk in the path that honors. God, that glorifies God and in
that path. You may see something just as
amazing as God taking your enemies and then actually
serving the purpose of God in your life.
That's awesome. That's wonderful.
That tells me, that the safest and most riveting and thrilling
place to be on earth is not is not your favorite state where
it's not your favorite country, the best place to be is in the
will of God, that's the best place to be no matter where you
are geographically. If you're in the will of God
things like this can become a reality.
I don't envy the sooner, I don't envy the wicked, I don't envy
the celebrity we heard it earlier.
There's no peace says the Lord For The Wicked but oh for the
righteous he can even make Your enemies.
Be a peace with you. Awesome.
What an awesome God. And so we see that with David
here. Now we come back look at verse
20 Verse 20, when Abner came with 20 men to David at Hebron
David Made A Feast for Abner and the men who were with him in
Abner said to David, I will arise and go and we'll gather
all Israel to my Lord, the king that they make a covenant with
you and that you may Reign Over All that your heart desires.
So David sent Abner away and he went in peace.
Just then the Servants of David arrived with job from a Raid
bringing much spoil with them, but Abner was not with David at
Hebron free. Had sent him away and he had
gone in peace when job and all the army that was with him came.
It was told, joab Abner, the son of nura came to the king and he
has let him go and he has gone in peace.
What? Phrase is being repeated here in
these verses? Peace, three times in three
verses, he had gone in peace, he went away in peace, he had gone
in peace. What the holy spirit is trying
to emphasize is that in the most unlikely relationship, you and I
are seeing a solidification of Peace.
There is reconciliation Happening Here.
And this reconciliation is more beautiful than just two
individuals who are at war with one another.
This relationship being rebuilt will actually bring streams of
healing to Israel. And all of Israel will be
unified together through the bond that these two are making
at this time. It's almost as though, it's look
at what's happening. Piece is becoming a reality
piece. Is manifesting piece is now
coming to this nation. After several years where there
was always contention and War and difficulty and and doubt.
And unrest, peace is finally coming.
Peace is a major not just a theme in the Bible.
Peace is something that you and I can inherit and it's something
that this world is desperately yearning for peace.
We hear that word a lot. I don't think we know what it
means, and I don't really, really think we know what it
really looks like. So let me ask you, when you hear
peace? What's the word association?
I mean practically what does that look like?
Peace. Shalom.
Peace. What does that look like
internally on an individual basis?
Let's start there. Calm.
Good calm, rest sense of absence of Hayes, what a beautiful way
of saying it. Absence of haste can synonymous
with calm. I think yes.
Okay. The primary and the most
Pinnacle experience of peace is with God, right?
So the gospel through Christ, secures a peace with God, Only
In Christ. Can you?
And I know a calm we can. No arrests.
May I add this piece involves security?
I feel secure. I'm not, I'm not operating with
agitation or anxiety of my surroundings or potential
threats, Harmony Tranquility. It includes all those things,
and the Bible promotes a piece, the most important piece you can
own this life with himself in Christ.
You and I don't have to live a minute in this world worried
about are standing with God. We're completely at rest, we
don't have to fear that he will destroy us eternally.
We don't have to worry that he will change his mind in the
Covenant, you and I can know a sigh of relief that we can sigh
for all of eternity because he's a good and faithful God.
And we can trust in his promise and you and I can walk knowing
that God really is for me. God is for me, he's not against
me. And that is a wonderful piece to
know and I you can't know a greater peace than that, but
there is a secondary piece of the bible, really, really
promotes. And it comes from the place of
laying the foundation of peace with God.
That's peace with one. Another Now peace with God is
more easily experience in peace with one another for the sole
reason that God that God is faithful.
And he's constant and he's true. And he's consistent and he never
fails, he never lies. He never does anything in the
flesh but peace with one. Another is very difficult to
achieve. It shouldn't be but
unfortunately it's so much more common to know.
Unrest doubt. Frustration agitation With one
another then this. Then this really like not just
short-term talk about long-term peace with other people.
Why why is that? Let me be more specific not just
because you're a sinner and I'm a sinner and we're just Sinners
that Jesus is trying to sanctify more specifically because for
the Bible to command that you and I should be at peace with
one another and that we can experience.
Peace. With mother says that it's
possible to have long-term peace with one.
Another Hallelujah. Why is it so rare wise why are
so many homes disruptive? Why there's so much disturbance?
Why in? So many local church.
I mean, it shouldn't be in our day-to-day.
You're hearing a more Church splits than Church
multiplication. How is that possible?
I don't understand that when the Bible says that it's possible
because every command for anything means that it's
possible to experience it. God does not tease us with his
commands. God didn't say do this, but it's
not possible. So just I just want to show you
what my will is but you can't do it.
That's not who God is every command.
Ensures us that it's possible to know it because he promises the
power to fulfill it. Let's be real.
Okay, we're a family. Some of you, this is your local
church. Some of you visit on Fridays,
your extended family, praise God.
But why is it that piece on a practical level is so uncommon
or so sporadic? In the context that we find
ourselves in? Any ideas?
It would be good to know. We want to diagnose it.
Okay. Self-dependence.
So we don't see the value in other believers.
So, why would I when you would care about being at peace with
them, when I can do this myself, Lone Ranger Christianity,
doesn't exist, anything else. Pride.
Who Pride? Yes, pride is a great enemy to
peace selfishness. Sure jealousy.
Jealousy, jealousy, jealousy evil.
It's really evil. You can't have peace.
When you look at somebody else and you feel a certain way, you
feel threatened about him. You you envy what they have.
It's just not possible. Good.
These are great answers. Anything else.
Because we're going to see how this piece is going to be very
short-lived and we're going to see exactly why it was
short-lived. Flash generally.
But what about my flesh? What about my flesh?
We touch on a lot of it. Unforgiveness.
How can you reconcile without forgiveness?
How can David have a feast with this man?
Unless he was able to forgive him and that incredible, David
was a very look. Look, he was human, right?
We learned last week that he was not a good father, but one of
the things about David is that he was a very forgiving man, and
that brought a lot of blessings, including peace to a whole
nation. What have David says you're
going to just come on all for a sudden, you want to be on my
side after seven years of Making this extremely difficult for me
and for the will of God. Yeah no thanks no he disarms
himself and he trusts in this and he's willing to mend this
broken relationship so that God's glory can be known,
beautiful unforgiveness anything else a couple more, maybe Sure
read. Yeah.
First John chapter 1 verse 6, This is from Austin.
Yes. Beautiful.
That pretty much summarizes it. Yes, you have something else.
Yeah, yeah. That that kind of mentality is
seeping into the church where people are becoming more easily
offended and and we see how that's becoming prevalent and
you see the privilege in that and that's becoming the norm.
So that people want to take advantage of because it ties
into selfishness. And as our brother just said,
walking in the light, if you were walking and complete light,
meaning an honesty before God and transparency before, God and
humility before God, then that will translate and you being
able to Fellowship. I'm genuinely with other people.
Here's the thing piece, we see it repeated in three verses
piece is now you can smell the fragrance of it after so long.
It's now coming about and it's quickly going to be snuffed out
and I'll tell you why we read it, joab steps into the scene
and when he steps on the scene, He says something to David and
verse 24. Then job went to the king and
said, what have you done, behold Abner came to you?
Why is it that you have sent him away so that he is gone, you
know, that Abner, the son of Nur came to deceive you and to know
your going out and your coming in and to know all that you are
doing. Joy of is not happy about the
news that came to him. That Abner came by for a visit
that they sat down and had a friendship is billing that
Disturbed him deeply and guess what.
He's right only because he did not know what Abner did behind
the scenes by cutting ties with especially with and coming to
David and saying I'm willing to join your ranks.
If that was not a reality, then job is being a good wise
Commander. How do you just let this guy
come in, scope out your headquarters and just leave.
You're supposed to apprehend this man, he's our enemy, he's
causing all this trouble. What's wrong with you?
But that's not the case. Because what job is doing is
he's making accusations. Based on limited information.
He's smearing the character of Abner Without Really knowing
what took place and that is often the case with many people
who are in context like this even who will never be able to
Know Rich meaningful relationships because they
operate by limited information because we can't stop it.
No matter, no matter how much we try.
You will never be able to really stop.
You hearing something about someone else.
Okay. This is really intensely
practical, but I've seen the destructiveness about it where I
can preach about it, every single, Single week.
I don't care how repetitive it is.
I will say it every week. It's amazing.
We want deep teachings and we can't even deal with this minor
thing in life. You you going to, it's going to
happen. And the danger is that pieces,
often stifled because we are ready to treat others based on
the things that are not true or maybe no longer true.
You see, what job should have done is what we always should do
based on any information you receive about anybody.
I don't care who it is or what it is.
He is so upset about this. That look at verse 26.
When job came out of David's presence.
He didn't even wait to hear what David had to say.
He'd made up his mind so much that he just, I'm not even going
to pause. I might even give you the chance
for you to sit. I'm just going to turn around
and walk on right out of here. And so, this man has made up his
mind. He just has these assumptions
maybe because of the history with Abner, but he didn't know
the change that came about and Outdoors life and then he
translates that into accusation and he's about to assault At
him, he's not the kill him. What would happen if David had
learned that Abner had a rather job blurted Abner had changed
what if he had sat down with David and communicated?
The details that he was unaware of?
Remember he was, he was on a raid.
He was not familiar with what's going on between Abner and
David, this guy is literally going to kill somebody else
because of a misinformation because of limited information.
Be very careful. I don't want you to Rob yourself
of beautiful meaningful, Rich relations with others because
you're easily swayed in One Direction or the Next, it's so
detrimental I've seen and I feel I really feel bad for people.
I really do because they destroy much.
If he was walking in wisdom, he would do this differently.
Now, I want to show you scripture in Romans chapter 14.
Look at this. This is beautiful.
And Romans 14. Verse 9, rather 19, let's go
together, I'll turn there with you.
In Romans chapter 14. Maybe keep your finger and
second Samuel. So you don't lose your place.
Romans 14 verse 19, he speaking to Believers.
So then let us pursue what makes for peace.
And for Mutual upbuilding like pursue it chase after it.
Blessed are the peacemakers for what they're called?
What? Sons of God.
God is a peacemaker God. Seeks to make peace even with
enemies. And so if you want to, if you
want to be identified to who God is and a very powerful way.
One way is by being a pursuer of peace with other people, You
don't, you don't enjoy drama. You don't enjoy tension.
You pursue reconciliation, you pursue peace.
You pursue Clarity. So then let us pursue what makes
for peace and for Mutual up building.
Now, what is the context? And Romans 14, Paul's hearing
that. There are some Christians who
are eating certain foods, that's disturbing the conscience of
other Christians and he's hearing that some of these
Christians who don't want to eat certain Meats, because they
think it's Unholy are criticizing the ones who are.
And what Paul is saying, is look verse 22.
Not for the sake of food, destroy the work of God.
Everything is indeed clean, but it is wrong for anyone to make
another stumble by what he eats. So he's saying, look, I'm among
those who understands Christian Liberty?
I'm not I'm not among those who say, you know, this is wrong or
that I see how God sanctifies these things.
And I see the Liberty that even though these things were
dedicated to Demons, When you pray over it it's made.
Holy and some, don't like that thing was dedicated to a demon
and I used to live that life and for you to eat it.
Disturbs my conscience pulses even though I'm in this camp
that says it's clean for the sake of my brother's conscience.
I'm not going to eat it. Like that's Christian love.
That's Christian sacrifice. And look at, look at the effort
like instead of saying well it's my right, my conscience doesn't
he doesn't do that. If this is going to make us be
able to see each other hug each other, love each other.
Walk and Harmony are going to do it.
Kingdom of God, is more than just food.
And so, what am I saying? If Paul says that is the extent
of the effort that we should make with one another then
shouldn't we also make the effort to investigate based on
things that we hear. If I'm willing if I'm supposed
to not be willing to enjoy certain things based on the
liberty of my conscience. How much more is it my duty to
say? Well, I'm not going to make
judgments about somebody based on just misinformation or little
information. Then I'm going to do my part to
seek peace. You see what I'm trying to say
here? What's at stake?
When there is no peace, when there's a lack of Harmony, When
We Make judges and we close ourselves off, or we even
refused to build a relationship with somebody initially because
of whatever things we perceive or heard.
Look at verse 20. Do not for the sake of food,
destroy the work of God, it destroys the work of God, it
hinders the work of God. See piece is so important for
advancement in the things of God that whenever Satan senses it
even from a distance like he did back in second Samuel, he would
do all that he can to bring about A disruption in that place
and he has many ways of doing it.
When peace is just beginning, the enemy comes in through the
Flesh and open door and he's about to bring chaos instead.
There's a second reason. Many of you mentioned it already
job is we come back to 2nd Samuel.
I would say that he's intimidated.
What's Jaws occupation in David's Army?
Commander general, what sabnis position.
What was he for Saul's Army? Commander General.
I don't think he's too comfortable with the fact that
David and Abner becoming friends.
Perhaps, he's threatened. This guy can take my position.
This guy can be a rival to me. And that's very carnal.
Because James 4:1 says something.
You don't have to turn to this one.
You're very familiar with it, but James for one tells us very
clearly what causes corals and what causes fights among you,
you know what it is. Is it not this that your
passions are at War within you? And then he goes on in verse 22,
say you covet, but you don't, you don't have, you know, you
seek after but you don't get. So you murder and James not
talking about actual murder. In this case, in 2nd, Samuel is
going to be actual murder. James is borrowing the language
of Jesus from the sermon of the mount.
Where if you hate your brother in your heart, you actually
murdered him. And so he's saying you want to
know what's he's talking to the churches?
Who are dispersed and saying, you know, what's going on with
you having Civil Wars within your assemblies and your homes
and your Ministries, very simple, your passions, your
selfish desires and Pursuits are not being satisfied and because
of that, you're actually causing Wars.
Very, very strong language. He causing battles among
yourselves because you are operating in the flesh.
You have these longings and these desires, and they're not
being fulfilled and you see people who are standing in the
way or you actually want what they have.
And because they have And you don't you're willing to actually
clash with them. And job is proving that to a
certain degree. I mean it's not explicitly clear
so I won't make a dogmatic statement about it, but when you
see johanns behavior in the future, you can tell that he
really he really Treasures his post.
There's a final last reason why job is really upset about Abner
and this is good. You'll get there, if you
understand the history between job and having, which is what,
what did I ever do to joab and directly killed his brother.
And he wants to avenge his blood.
You you killed my brother and you think you can just come in
here, Feast with my boss? And just pretend like nothing
happened. And so he doesn't want to even
hear from David. He looks at David, he speaks his
mind and he walks right out. He's not just going to walk out
and take a cool walk in a night and just hopefully forget about
it. Verse 26.
When job came out from David's presence.
He sent Messengers after Abner, and they brought him back from
the cistern of sriracha, but David did not know about it.
So Abner is already long gone. Jobs sends messages as get Abner
back over here. David has no clue.
What's about to happen verse 27. And when I am to return to
Hebron job, took him aside into the midst of the gate to speak
with him privately. And there you struck him in the
stomach. So that he died for the blood of
a sahal, his brother. Killed him cold-blooded cruel
murder. He destroys us man.
And we're never ever going to see the potential relationship
that could have been rebuilt. When there was peace.
It was snuffed out. Murder is wrong, David condemns,
joab, but there is a, there is a level of violation here.
That is deeper than just the fact that he killed He killed
Abner. What makes this?
Especially wrong? And the only way you're going to
know the answer is if you remember a Bible study, maybe a
few of them that alluded to a certain reality in the culture
of Israel that would make this more severe.
Okay. So there is an element of taking
Vengeance that solely belongs to God and that is stealing from
God. Because if he says vengeance is
mine and you take Vengeance into your own hands, you're taking
something that belongs to God and that's stealing we talked
about that once but think back. Think back to why this?
And this is really going to connect when this is why the the
Old Testament is so beautiful. When you understand that the the
totality of it, things begin to make sense and things connect in
a beautiful way. You're very close.
Did you hear Andrew? Is it because they were in the
gate? Yes, but there's more to it.
It part of it has to do with the fact that they're in the gate.
Okay, let's go to Joshua chapter 20.
Here's our answer and Joshua chapter 20.
We're going to read six verses. So be patient.
Once you read it, things are going to begin to make sense.
At least if there's 0% Clues your we're going to we're going
to bring that bar to 80% Joshua chapter 20 verse 1 down to verse
6. And this is the glory of the
word of God. And this is why we need to
master the scriptures. Verse 1 of Joshua chapter 20,
then the Lord said to Joshua say to the people of Israel appoint
the Cities of Refuge of which I spoke to you through Moses that
the manslayer who strikes. Person without intent or
unknowingly may flee there, they shall be for you.
A refuge from the Avenger of blood.
He shall flee to one of these cities and shall stand at the
entrance of the Gate of the city and explain his case to the
Elders of that City. Then they shall take him into
the City, and give them a place and he shall remain with them.
And if the Avenger of blood pursues, Him.
They shall not give up the manslayer and to his hand
because he struck his neighbor unknowingly.
And this is important did not hate him in the past and he
shall remain in that city until he has stood before the
congregation for judgement until the death of him, who is high
priest at the time. That's so pathetic.
Then the men sir may return to his own town and his own home to
the town from which he fled. When God was establishing the
Israeli Society in the Old Testament, he had a unique
feature in that culture and it was the Cities of Refuge, six
cities that would be placed in strategic areas in the land.
So that if there was involuntary, manslaughter
accidental murder or even something that took place, but
it was not premeditated, it was not done out of hatred, it was
just an accident, whatever the case may be, That person had the
right to flee to one of these Cities of Refuge and by doing,
so he would be protected from the closest relative to the one
who did die who had the right to avenge the blood of the
deceased. And so these these culprits they
would they would run, they would come to the gate, the elders are
come, he would explain his situation.
And then if it was clear enough that this is, this needs to be
this needs to undergo some kind of a child, they take him in,
they place them in. If the Avenger of blood comes in
and they ask for that person by law, it was illegal prohibited
for there to be Revenge. And that man had to stay there
until the trial took place and if he was found innocent and he
can go back. If he was found guilty, then he
can be given up to the to the Avenger.
Or until the high priest died. Here's what's interesting.
Abner killed a Sahel. Here's my question was a
premeditated. Wow.
Why was it premeditated? Very good more than once as to,
how was pursuing Abner, Abner looked back and he begged him to
stop. He would not listen, he
continued to pursue, he begged him to stop, he would not do it
finally, he takes his spear the but of it thrust it back into as
to how stomach and it comes out of his back.
What do you call that? Self-defense not out of hatred,
not premeditated. He is a candidate to be able to
undergo a trial to assess whether or not, he is innocent
or guilty in other words. He could have gone to a City of
Refuge. And he could have been
protected. Come back to 2nd Samuel.
You still keep a hand there in Joshua chapter 20, come back to
2nd Samuel. 227. If that person was in a City of
Refuge, the Avenger of blood could not touch him.
Second, Samuel 327. And when Abner after he was
called by Joe, I returned where To Hebron are you still in
Joshua chapter 20? Go back to Joshua chapter 20, we
read the first six verses look at verse 7 after he gave the
instructions of the City of Refuge.
Look, what he says, look what the word of God says.
So the people they set apart Kadesh and Galilee and the Hill
Country of naphtali and shechem in the Hill Country of Ephraim
him and curia far, but that is what Hebron.
In the Hill Country of Judah. Hebron was a City of Refuge.
Where was Abner murdered? And the City of Refuge.
Where he was supposed to be safe, is where he was killed.
And that just adds a severity to jobs crime.
He could be completely had, no reverence no fear of, he was so
filled with bitterness. that he actually kills him in the gate
the very place where Abner should have been to call for the
elders to explain his case as a very place, where he was not
given a chance but was instead murdered Next week.
We're going to see The Cry of David and the nation and I
believe that's an element to it. And so we heard about how you
and I can treat even a little sin to lightly and then there
are people who treat people's sin without regarding the laws
of God have had to be merciful and patient and forgiving and
they are quick to judge and quick to afflict condemnation.
And job here does not consider his surroundings of the consider
the significance of the feet and where their feet were planted
and he kills this man. And the blood that should have
been protected with shed. in that place but job is not the
only wrong one here. Who else is in the wrong?
I say Abner. I say Abner why?
Because he killed as to how long ago.
Why didn't you flee to the City of Refuge?
Why wasn't that your immediate reflux?
Abner's jawed after doing that if he really believed he was
innocent was to run to one of these places and to stay there
to receive a just trial or to wait until the high priest died,
and he didn't It could be that he thought he was so powerful
that he didn't need to. We don't know the reason why he
did it, but he didn't do it. And he died a Fool's death.
He died a Fool's death and Abner, there is a picture.
Is a picture of The Sinner because the City of Refuge is a
picture of Jesus Christ. Hebrews tells us that we have
fled to him for Refuge so many Psalms and Proverbs tells us
that running to the Lord, the name of the Lord is a strong
tower or we take refuge in the Lord, he is the City of Refuge
And what's amazing is just like Abner.
You have many people today who have sinned and they delay and
running to Christ. They wander about and just like
Abner pay very close attention to this.
They think things are fine. They thinks that nothing will
happen. And offer sudden without notice,
their life is taken from them. When it could have been spared.
Be be amazed to know how many people.
I know people for years, who have heard the gospel, many many
times who sat in meetings, many, many times and they still have
yet to run to the City of Refuge and you are no different than
Abner. You are no different than Abner.
Why are you waiting? Do you not know that at any
moment by surprise? Just like joab who invited him
for a conversation, seemed to be innocent seem to be harmless.
And job was very, very conniving in the way he killed.
People will see that in a different example.
All four sudden Abner's life was taken from who says that it's no
different than you. and for you, Abner is a picture of something
else to do not directly. In his case.
There is a scripture numbers 35, which tells us not just how to
get to the City of Refuge, but when you get there to stay
there, And it warns there's a law there that if you wander
outside of the City of Refuge and the Avenger of the blood, if
he finds you, he has the right to kill you.
And that's a picture of those who yes come to Christ as a
refuge and receives safety. But at one point in their lives,
they drift away from Christ and they wander from the will of
God, and they put themselves in danger and they end up suffering
much loss. And so, it's even possible
today, that you, as you sit in this place, you know, that your
heart is not where it's supposed to be.
And, you know, that you are not in the will of God, you know,
that there is compromising your life and that gives the enemy
legal license. To have his way with you.
And so my charge to you is to stay in the City of Refuge, my
brother don't wander, there's nothing profitable out there.
There's nothing beneficial. The only thing that you can
expect outside of the will of God, the only thing is the same
thing for that man. Slayer, who wanders, out of the
City of Refuge danger? That's the only thing that's
waiting Danger. And so I don't care if you are
in the City of Refuge, I don't care who's outside of the City
of Refuge, was calling for you to come outside.
I don't care what their persuading you with.
I Don't Care What They're inviting you to the same way
that there was a law established then, it is true spiritually.
Now moment, you step outside of the will of God, for whatever
reason, you put yourself in spiritual danger, but let me
close with this, have you even got there?
Every week I see at least one new face and I don't know where
you are. so, my question to you is as you've heard this Bible
study, Are you convinced that you've sinned against God?
You know what, one of my favorite Bible verses about
Sinners and first John one, where it says, if anybody says
he does not sin, he is a liar. So, if you claim, you two
haven't sinned against God, you already lied.
You've sinned. Welcome to the club.
Now, it's one thing to know that you've sinned against God that
if you stand before, God, that you will be guilty.
But here's my next question, have you fled to Christ?
Because Christ doesn't want you to stay there.
And here's what's beautiful about the City of Refuge.
I'm going to try to end it here, okay?
That in the Old Testament when God instructed, in verse 7 of
Joshua 20, we instructed the placement of these six cities.
He did it in such a way that no matter where you are
geographically, it would be easily accessed.
It wasn't placed in such a way that you would have to Sprint
across the land. And there was a great risk for
you to be caught by the Avenger of blood.
Every City of Refuge was placed in a certain way that no matter
where you were, you can have easy access to safety and that
is a picture of how Christ has made it so simple for you to be
saved. He didn't make it hard, realize
your sin, acknowledge your sin, confess your sin.
Repent of your sin and embrace the one who paid for your sin.
And then run to that. That's how you want.
You want to know how you pick yourself up and run.
That's how you do it. I have sinned, I confess I'm a
sinner. I confess that I've sinned
against God against, man. I confess that if I remain in my
sin, I will die in my sin. And I will be punished for
eternity, but I realized that he paid for my sin and so I will
run to him. Hide in him Embrace him and be
safe. Have you ever done that?
If not, you are not in the City
of Refuge? If you're outside and you're in
danger, run to him, he's waiting for you.
He wants to save you. He made it so easily available
to you. That is my Jesus, that is the
gospel. I preach.
That is the gospel, many of you believe in, and I put your trust
in, but maybe there's one in here who hasn't come to that,
and I'm calling you to run. He was the call for the person
who did who did Sin, they had to run immediately.
If not, you will be like Abner and years has gone by, I believe
after he killed a cell and he thought he was safe all four
sudden. He was swept away from this
life. Don't wait, please don't.
Wait, I beckon you come to the City of Refuge.
Who is Jesus Christ? Let's pray.
Father in heaven. We thank you for Jesus Christ,
Our City of Refuge. Thank you that we can run to
him. And he will keep us safe.
Thank you, Lord Jesus that you've made it so available to
all men of all ages. Of all backgrounds of all races.
Thank you. Lord, we just sit here tonight.
overwhelmed by the wisdom of your word, by the supernatural,
authorship of this word, and it causes us to just Adore, you.
your word is so rich, Lord, it is so deep and we are
overwhelmed by By the fact that every time we come together, we
learn something new and it just gives us another jolt of joy in
your presence. Lord for us who are in Christ,
protect us from the lies in the and the whether it's self
deception or outside this option, that would convince us
to step outside of the will of God.
Keep us in. And Lord for those who have
never even stepped foot, who have not come to the gate and
have reasoned. Lord, we just ask that.
Today would be the day where in their heart of hearts, they
would flee to Jesus Christ and they would declare that they in
fact, have sinned and they would trust that you will take them in
only your Holy Spirit. Can convince a man to run in
that direction. Lori bless you tonight at this
Bible. So, we want to worship you and
we want to worship you with the frame of mine that we are.
We are surrounded by you. We are shielded.
We are in the depths of the palm of your hand now, Nothing can
snatch us out. We are kept secure forever and
ever. Thank you for your love.
Thank you that we don't have to bear some, we don't have to look
over our shoulder and feared judgment anymore.
We are safe in Christ in Jesus name.
Amen! Let's stand and Worship the
Lord.