1 00:00:01,040 --> 00:00:01,840 Oh come on. Like you. 2 00:00:01,840 --> 00:00:05,200 Mean it tonight. From the bottom of your heart, 3 00:00:05,200 --> 00:00:09,680 with everything that's inside of you, I love you, Jesus. 4 00:00:10,600 --> 00:00:12,240 I love you, Jesus. Come on. 5 00:00:12,240 --> 00:00:15,440 Why don't you just say? That all. 6 00:00:15,440 --> 00:00:18,040 Over and over again, He loves to hear you say it. 7 00:00:18,040 --> 00:00:21,840 I love you, Jesus. I love you, Jesus. 8 00:00:23,040 --> 00:00:27,520 Oh what a great God. Thank you, seniors and 9 00:00:27,520 --> 00:00:29,400 musicians. Thank you, pastor, for that 10 00:00:29,400 --> 00:00:32,840 song. And I want to give honor tonight 11 00:00:32,840 --> 00:00:37,000 to the Mcgees and the Masons. I love and appreciate them very, 12 00:00:37,000 --> 00:00:39,960 very much. And what a great weekend we've 13 00:00:39,960 --> 00:00:42,320 had. And thank you for all your 14 00:00:42,320 --> 00:00:44,240 kindness. Thank you for your faithfulness 15 00:00:44,240 --> 00:00:45,720 of being in the House of the Lord. 16 00:00:46,480 --> 00:00:48,560 And I know God is going to reward you. 17 00:00:48,560 --> 00:00:53,120 I just believe God's getting ready to do great things, not 18 00:00:53,120 --> 00:00:55,320 just in this church, but all across the globe. 19 00:00:55,320 --> 00:00:59,040 I believe God is getting ready to wrap this thing up, and I 20 00:00:59,040 --> 00:01:01,840 believe He's going to have a great revival and harvest before 21 00:01:01,840 --> 00:01:04,120 he does. And I want to be a part of it, 22 00:01:04,120 --> 00:01:06,040 don't you? Amen. 23 00:01:06,360 --> 00:01:08,160 So good to see each and everyone of you. 24 00:01:08,520 --> 00:01:09,960 Got to. Talk to brother Bryce right 25 00:01:09,960 --> 00:01:13,560 before service and he's one of the few people that I've met 26 00:01:14,160 --> 00:01:18,040 that know, not just knows where Pocahontas AR is has been to 27 00:01:18,040 --> 00:01:21,760 Pocahontas AR and we we know several. 28 00:01:22,000 --> 00:01:26,920 He knows my in laws and some other friends there in small 29 00:01:26,920 --> 00:01:31,280 world because I bet nobody else has ever heard of Pocahontas AR. 30 00:01:32,240 --> 00:01:36,080 We got a couple. But anyway, but it's so it's so 31 00:01:36,080 --> 00:01:38,080 good to have him today and all the guests. 32 00:01:38,080 --> 00:01:42,280 Thank you for being here and thank you for being in the House 33 00:01:42,280 --> 00:01:43,840 of the Lord. If you have your Bibles, turn 34 00:01:43,840 --> 00:01:48,600 with me to the book of First Samuel, First Samuel, the 25th 35 00:01:48,640 --> 00:01:57,400 chapter. Tonight will be a little 36 00:01:57,400 --> 00:01:59,240 different. I don't expect you to be 37 00:01:59,880 --> 00:02:02,240 swinging from the chandeliers before we're done. 38 00:02:03,440 --> 00:02:08,560 Even though I don't see any chandeliers, if we had them, I 39 00:02:08,600 --> 00:02:10,120 don't expect you to be swinging from them. 40 00:02:11,120 --> 00:02:16,080 First Samuel 2523 and when Abigail saw David, she. 41 00:02:16,080 --> 00:02:19,520 Hasted and lighteth off the donkey she fell before David on 42 00:02:19,520 --> 00:02:22,200 her face she bowed herself to the. 43 00:02:22,200 --> 00:02:25,400 Ground and. Fell at his feet and said upon 44 00:02:25,400 --> 00:02:30,200 me, my Lord, upon me, let this iniquity be, and let thy 45 00:02:30,200 --> 00:02:35,480 handmaid, I pray thee, speak in that audience and hear the words 46 00:02:36,000 --> 00:02:38,160 of thy handmaid. I want to preach to you tonight 47 00:02:38,160 --> 00:02:42,600 on this Sunday evening to close down this great weekend on this 48 00:02:42,600 --> 00:02:47,240 thought at Like Abigail. Look at your neighbor. 49 00:02:47,240 --> 00:02:50,000 And tell him, say act like Abigail. 50 00:02:50,880 --> 00:02:53,160 Would you set your Bible down? Would you lift your hands? 51 00:02:53,160 --> 00:02:55,520 Would you lift your hearts? Would you help us? 52 00:02:55,520 --> 00:02:58,160 Pray right now, Lord, we love. You and we thank you for who you 53 00:02:58,160 --> 00:03:00,560 are. We thank You for your power, we 54 00:03:00,560 --> 00:03:02,800 thank. You for Your Majesty, we thank. 55 00:03:02,800 --> 00:03:06,280 You for your glory, we thank. You for your spirit God, we ask 56 00:03:06,280 --> 00:03:08,800 you to move in this place like only you can. 57 00:03:09,160 --> 00:03:13,560 Speak to our hearts, speak to our lives, God, we ask you to 58 00:03:13,560 --> 00:03:18,080 move in this place, God. I ask you, God, to let a spirit 59 00:03:18,080 --> 00:03:21,840 of intercession fall in this house tonight, God. 60 00:03:21,840 --> 00:03:25,080 Speak to us, God. Let us leave here different than 61 00:03:25,080 --> 00:03:27,120 what we walked. In, we give you praise for what 62 00:03:27,120 --> 00:03:29,760 you're going to do. In the mighty matchless. 63 00:03:29,760 --> 00:03:31,360 Name of Jesus we. Pray. 64 00:03:31,720 --> 00:03:32,280 Amen. Why don't? 65 00:03:32,280 --> 00:03:36,040 We clap our hands one more time, and the Bible says not only to 66 00:03:36,040 --> 00:03:40,480 clap your hands, but shout unto God with a voice of triumph. 67 00:03:40,480 --> 00:03:43,880 Hallelujah. Thank you. 68 00:03:43,880 --> 00:03:47,480 You can be seated when I was a kid, I like I almost said little 69 00:03:47,480 --> 00:03:50,840 kid, but I don't want to lie to you fine people when I was a 70 00:03:50,840 --> 00:03:54,560 kid, I loved story time. Anybody loved story time when 71 00:03:54,560 --> 00:03:56,760 you were So I'm I'm going to we're going to have a little 72 00:03:56,760 --> 00:03:58,160 story time for. Just a minute. 73 00:03:59,200 --> 00:04:03,440 There was a certain man in Moan who carried on his business in 74 00:04:03,440 --> 00:04:06,200 the region of Carmel. He was very prosperous. 75 00:04:06,680 --> 00:04:09,320 He had 3000 sheep and 1000 goats. 76 00:04:09,320 --> 00:04:12,240 And it was sheep sharing time in Carmel. 77 00:04:12,760 --> 00:04:16,720 The man's name was Nabel and his wife's name was Abigail. 78 00:04:17,200 --> 00:04:20,560 The woman was beautiful and good looking and intelligent, and the 79 00:04:20,560 --> 00:04:25,440 man was brutish and mean. While out in the Backcountry, 80 00:04:25,440 --> 00:04:29,680 David hears that Nabel is shearing his sheep, and he sends 81 00:04:29,680 --> 00:04:33,280 ten of his young men with these instructions. 82 00:04:33,280 --> 00:04:38,280 Go to Carmel and approach Nabel. Greet him in my name and speak 83 00:04:38,280 --> 00:04:42,640 peace and life to him and peace to their entire household and to 84 00:04:42,680 --> 00:04:45,560 everyone there. And tell him that we've heard 85 00:04:45,560 --> 00:04:49,560 that it is sheep shearing time and that when his shepherds were 86 00:04:49,560 --> 00:04:52,560 camped near us in the wilderness, we never took 87 00:04:52,560 --> 00:04:56,000 advantage of them. They didn't lose a single thing 88 00:04:56,280 --> 00:04:59,640 the entire time that we were with them in Carmel. 89 00:04:59,640 --> 00:05:03,120 And tell him that he can ask his young shepherds and they'll 90 00:05:03,880 --> 00:05:08,280 verify the story. And all that we're asking is 91 00:05:08,320 --> 00:05:12,160 that he would be generous with us and share his feast. 92 00:05:12,160 --> 00:05:15,480 And give whatever your heart tells you to give to your 93 00:05:15,480 --> 00:05:18,160 servants and to me, David, your son. 94 00:05:18,160 --> 00:05:22,040 So David's young men, they go and deliver the message word for 95 00:05:22,040 --> 00:05:25,080 word to Nabel, and Nabel tears into them. 96 00:05:25,400 --> 00:05:28,720 Who is this David? Who is this son of Jesse? 97 00:05:29,040 --> 00:05:32,480 The country is full of runaway servants these days. 98 00:05:32,920 --> 00:05:36,320 Do you think I'm going to take my good bread and wine and meat 99 00:05:36,560 --> 00:05:40,560 freshly butchered for my sheep shears and give it to men that 100 00:05:40,560 --> 00:05:44,120 I've never even laid eyes on? Who knows where they've even 101 00:05:44,120 --> 00:05:46,920 come from? David's men got out of there and 102 00:05:46,920 --> 00:05:49,280 they went back and told David what he had said. 103 00:05:49,280 --> 00:05:52,080 And David says, strap on your swords. 104 00:05:52,080 --> 00:05:54,920 And 400 men strapped on their swords. 105 00:05:54,920 --> 00:05:58,280 And they followed David back to Nabel's house. 106 00:05:58,800 --> 00:06:02,040 Meanwhile, one of the young shepherds, Toad Abigail Enable's 107 00:06:02,040 --> 00:06:03,640 wife. What happened? 108 00:06:03,640 --> 00:06:07,680 And David sent messages from the Backcountry to salute our 109 00:06:07,680 --> 00:06:10,840 master, but he tore into them with insults. 110 00:06:11,080 --> 00:06:13,680 Yet these men treated us very kindly. 111 00:06:13,680 --> 00:06:17,480 They took nothing from us and never took advantage of us the 112 00:06:17,480 --> 00:06:19,680 entire time we were in the fields with them. 113 00:06:20,040 --> 00:06:24,280 They actually formed a wall of protection around us, protecting 114 00:06:24,280 --> 00:06:28,320 us day and night the entire time we were out tending the sheep. 115 00:06:28,760 --> 00:06:32,960 Do something quickly, because big trouble is ahead for our 116 00:06:32,960 --> 00:06:36,280 master and all of us. Nobody can talk to him. 117 00:06:36,280 --> 00:06:38,800 He's impossible. He's a real brute. 118 00:06:39,600 --> 00:06:44,360 Abigail flies into action. She takes 200 loaves of bread, 2 119 00:06:44,360 --> 00:06:48,960 skins of wine, 5 sheep dressed out and ready for cooking, a 120 00:06:48,960 --> 00:06:53,480 bushel of roasted grain and 100 Raisin cakes, 200 fig cakes. 121 00:06:53,480 --> 00:06:55,920 And she loads them all on some donkeys. 122 00:06:55,920 --> 00:06:59,400 And she tells her young servants, go ahead and pave the 123 00:06:59,400 --> 00:07:01,800 way for me. I'll be right behind you. 124 00:07:01,800 --> 00:07:04,800 But she said nothing to her husband, Abel. 125 00:07:05,280 --> 00:07:09,080 And as she was riding that donkey descending into a ravine, 126 00:07:09,080 --> 00:07:13,360 David and his men were descending from the other end of 127 00:07:13,360 --> 00:07:16,440 the ravine, and they met there on the road. 128 00:07:16,440 --> 00:07:21,120 And David had just told his men that it was a waste of time 129 00:07:21,120 --> 00:07:24,360 guarding everything that Naval had while they were out in the 130 00:07:24,360 --> 00:07:26,960 wilderness. Yeah, so that he didn't lose 131 00:07:26,960 --> 00:07:29,560 anything. And this is how he rewards me 132 00:07:29,560 --> 00:07:32,720 with insults. This is a slap in my face. 133 00:07:32,720 --> 00:07:38,120 And David said, May God do worse to me if Naval and every cur and 134 00:07:38,120 --> 00:07:41,080 his misbegotten brood aren't dead meat by the morning. 135 00:07:42,080 --> 00:07:45,840 As soon as Abigail sees David, she gets off the donkey. 136 00:07:45,840 --> 00:07:51,360 She falls on her knees at his feet, her face to the ground and 137 00:07:51,360 --> 00:07:55,120 homage, saying, my master, let me take the blame. 138 00:07:55,400 --> 00:07:58,680 Let me speak to you. Listen to what I have to say. 139 00:07:58,680 --> 00:08:01,760 Don't dwell on what that brute Nabel did. 140 00:08:01,760 --> 00:08:04,400 He acts out the meaning of his name. 141 00:08:04,720 --> 00:08:08,800 Nabel. Full foolishness oozes from him. 142 00:08:09,160 --> 00:08:12,280 I wasn't there when the young men, my master sin arrived. 143 00:08:12,520 --> 00:08:15,960 I didn't see them. And now my master, as God lives 144 00:08:15,960 --> 00:08:20,880 and as as you live, God has kept you from this avenging murder. 145 00:08:21,080 --> 00:08:25,360 And may your enemies, all who seek my master's harm, end up 146 00:08:25,360 --> 00:08:28,080 like navel. Now take this gift that I've 147 00:08:28,080 --> 00:08:31,280 brought to you, your servant girl, and give it to the young 148 00:08:31,280 --> 00:08:33,640 men who follow in the steps of my master. 149 00:08:33,919 --> 00:08:37,960 Forgive my presumption, but God is at work in my master, 150 00:08:38,280 --> 00:08:40,960 developing a rule solid and dependable. 151 00:08:41,159 --> 00:08:45,400 My master fights God's battles and as long as you live, no evil 152 00:08:45,400 --> 00:08:48,480 will stick to you if anyone stands in your way. 153 00:08:48,720 --> 00:08:52,160 If anyone tries to get you out of the way, know this. 154 00:08:52,320 --> 00:08:56,320 Your God honored life is tightly bound in the bundle of God 155 00:08:56,320 --> 00:09:00,080 protected life, but the lives of your enemies shall be hurled 156 00:09:00,080 --> 00:09:03,360 aside as a stone is thrown from a sling. 157 00:09:04,160 --> 00:09:06,880 When God completes all the goodness he has promised to my 158 00:09:06,880 --> 00:09:12,080 Master and sets you up over over the King of Israel, my Master 159 00:09:12,080 --> 00:09:15,320 will not have this dead weight in his heart, the guilt of an 160 00:09:15,320 --> 00:09:18,080 avenging murder. And when God has worked things 161 00:09:18,080 --> 00:09:20,080 for good from my Master, Remember Me. 162 00:09:21,320 --> 00:09:24,440 And David said, blessed be God, the God of Israel, he has sent 163 00:09:24,440 --> 00:09:26,760 you to meet me. And blessed be your good sense, 164 00:09:27,040 --> 00:09:30,240 Bless your keeping me from a murder and taking charge of 165 00:09:30,240 --> 00:09:32,760 looking out for me. This was a close call. 166 00:09:32,960 --> 00:09:36,080 And as God lives, the God of Israel who kept me from hurting 167 00:09:36,080 --> 00:09:39,480 you, if you had not come as quickly as you did, stopping me 168 00:09:39,480 --> 00:09:42,560 in my tracks, by morning there would have been nothing left of 169 00:09:42,560 --> 00:09:45,800 navel but dead me. Then David accepted the gift 170 00:09:45,800 --> 00:09:48,880 that she brought him and said return home in peace. 171 00:09:49,320 --> 00:09:52,680 I have heard what you have said, and I will do what you ask. 172 00:09:53,120 --> 00:09:56,760 Now story time is over. Let me preach for a few minutes. 173 00:09:56,760 --> 00:09:59,320 There are three main characters in this story. 174 00:09:59,800 --> 00:10:03,960 In this chapter of the Bible. There's Nabal, the evil wealthy 175 00:10:03,960 --> 00:10:08,040 man whose name means full or foolishness. 176 00:10:08,720 --> 00:10:13,720 Then there is Abigail his wife, beautiful and intelligent, which 177 00:10:13,960 --> 00:10:19,080 her name means source of joy. And then there is David, the 178 00:10:19,080 --> 00:10:25,440 anointed king, whose name means loving naval represents this 179 00:10:25,440 --> 00:10:30,320 foolish world that we live in. Abigail represents the source of 180 00:10:30,320 --> 00:10:35,560 joy, the Church, and David represents Jesus, our loving 181 00:10:35,560 --> 00:10:39,680 anointed King. And just as this foolish naval 182 00:10:39,680 --> 00:10:43,960 didn't realize it, this foolish world doesn't realize it either. 183 00:10:44,240 --> 00:10:48,800 But there has been an anointed king on the outskirts of town, 184 00:10:49,000 --> 00:10:52,560 watching and protecting this world while they have been 185 00:10:52,560 --> 00:10:57,480 enjoying themselves, partying and celebrating their abundance 186 00:10:57,480 --> 00:11:01,080 and their blessings. And just as David, the loving, 187 00:11:01,080 --> 00:11:06,760 anointed king, sent messengers to the foolish naval, Jesus, our 188 00:11:06,760 --> 00:11:11,680 loving anointed king, has constantly and consistently been 189 00:11:11,680 --> 00:11:15,000 sending messengers to this foolish world. 190 00:11:15,240 --> 00:11:19,360 And just as David's messengers reminded the foolish neighbor at 191 00:11:19,360 --> 00:11:23,360 his party that they had been keeping and protecting them so 192 00:11:23,360 --> 00:11:27,080 they can even have what they have and celebrate their wealth, 193 00:11:27,400 --> 00:11:30,960 and all they want in return was for them to share their feast, 194 00:11:31,320 --> 00:11:35,400 so has God's messengers came with the same message. 195 00:11:35,680 --> 00:11:40,560 They come to remind this foolish nables of this world that the 196 00:11:40,560 --> 00:11:45,120 King of all glory is the only reason we are alive today. 197 00:11:45,400 --> 00:11:48,120 He is the only reason that we are blessed. 198 00:11:48,400 --> 00:11:52,280 He's been keeping you. He's been protecting you, He's 199 00:11:52,280 --> 00:11:56,360 been blessing you. And all He wants in return is 200 00:11:56,360 --> 00:12:00,480 some gratitude, some thankfulness, some love and 201 00:12:00,480 --> 00:12:04,040 appreciation. He desires your praise and your 202 00:12:04,040 --> 00:12:07,440 adoration. He wants your devotion, who 203 00:12:07,440 --> 00:12:11,320 wants your heart. It's not too much to ask in 204 00:12:11,320 --> 00:12:15,920 return for all the blessings and benefits that he has given to 205 00:12:15,960 --> 00:12:19,920 us. And just like the foolish naval 206 00:12:19,920 --> 00:12:23,200 question the messengers. Who is this David? 207 00:12:23,960 --> 00:12:29,040 This foolish world questions God's messengers to who is this 208 00:12:29,240 --> 00:12:33,040 Jesus? Who is this anointed king that 209 00:12:33,040 --> 00:12:35,920 you speak of? I don't know him. 210 00:12:36,240 --> 00:12:38,840 I've never heard of him. I've never met him. 211 00:12:39,040 --> 00:12:41,400 He's just a figment of your imagination. 212 00:12:42,160 --> 00:12:45,520 This is my life. This is my stuff. 213 00:12:45,800 --> 00:12:48,640 This is my spouse. This is my family. 214 00:12:48,920 --> 00:12:52,240 These are my kids. This is my money. 215 00:12:52,440 --> 00:12:55,600 This is my job. This is my education. 216 00:12:55,880 --> 00:12:59,320 This is my house. These are my vehicles. 217 00:12:59,640 --> 00:13:02,080 I'm the one that's worked so hard for them. 218 00:13:02,280 --> 00:13:06,400 Why should I share any of this with this Jesus that you talk? 219 00:13:08,360 --> 00:13:12,960 You mean you want me to do what? You want me to give my life to 220 00:13:12,960 --> 00:13:15,480 Him? You want me to come to church on 221 00:13:15,480 --> 00:13:19,560 Sunday, my only day off? You want me to come to church 222 00:13:19,560 --> 00:13:23,720 again on Wednesday after I've worked hard all day and I'm 223 00:13:23,720 --> 00:13:25,480 exhausted? You want then. 224 00:13:25,480 --> 00:13:30,280 You want me to give my ties and my offerings out of my paycheck 225 00:13:30,440 --> 00:13:35,520 that I work so hard to earn. But see, you need to understand 226 00:13:35,520 --> 00:13:40,000 he has been dealing with this rejection from fallen humanity 227 00:13:40,240 --> 00:13:44,600 for thousands of years. And his judgment tonight is 228 00:13:44,600 --> 00:13:47,680 sure. But I'm so thankful that it's 229 00:13:47,680 --> 00:13:52,920 not swift. But one day he will return, and 230 00:13:52,920 --> 00:13:57,560 just like David was angry and told his men to get their swords 231 00:13:57,560 --> 00:14:02,680 on and get ready for war, one day Jesus will do the same with 232 00:14:02,720 --> 00:14:07,600 all of His angelic army. Revelation 1911 tells us about 233 00:14:07,600 --> 00:14:09,800 it. And I saw heaven open, and 234 00:14:09,800 --> 00:14:13,160 behold, a White Horse. And he that set upon him was 235 00:14:13,160 --> 00:14:16,480 called faithful and true. And in righteousness He does 236 00:14:16,480 --> 00:14:19,880 judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of 237 00:14:19,880 --> 00:14:22,400 fire, and his head were many crowns. 238 00:14:22,760 --> 00:14:26,240 And he had a name written that no man knew but he himself. 239 00:14:26,640 --> 00:14:30,360 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood, and his 240 00:14:30,360 --> 00:14:33,800 name is called the Word of God. And the armies which were in 241 00:14:33,800 --> 00:14:38,640 heaven followed him upon white horses clothed in fine linen, 242 00:14:38,640 --> 00:14:41,640 white and clean. And out of his mouth go with a 243 00:14:41,640 --> 00:14:45,600 sharp sword, that with it it should smite the nation's, and 244 00:14:45,600 --> 00:14:47,920 he shall rule them with a rod of iron. 245 00:14:48,200 --> 00:14:52,040 And he treaded the wine Press of the fierceness and wrath of 246 00:14:52,040 --> 00:14:57,040 Almighty God, and he hath on his vestures and upon his thigh a 247 00:14:57,040 --> 00:15:00,560 name written, King of Kings and Lord of Lords. 248 00:15:00,560 --> 00:15:04,800 See, one day our anointed King is coming to this earth again, 249 00:15:05,120 --> 00:15:07,360 but next time it's going to be different. 250 00:15:07,640 --> 00:15:12,200 This time he won't be the meat sacrificial Lamb of God, but 251 00:15:12,200 --> 00:15:17,080 next time he's returning as the triumphant lion of the tribe of 252 00:15:17,080 --> 00:15:20,200 Judah. He's not returning as a lamb 253 00:15:20,200 --> 00:15:24,640 slain from the foundation of the world, but he's returning as the 254 00:15:24,640 --> 00:15:28,960 King of Kings and Lord of Lords to conquer this world. 255 00:15:29,200 --> 00:15:32,320 And if you're not ready to meet him, I don't know if you can 256 00:15:32,320 --> 00:15:37,120 tell by the news, but end time prophecy is daily being 257 00:15:37,120 --> 00:15:39,960 fulfilled. If you're not ready to meet him, 258 00:15:40,120 --> 00:15:43,560 you need to get ready tonight. If you've not repented of your 259 00:15:43,560 --> 00:15:46,200 sins, you need to repent of your sins. 260 00:15:46,560 --> 00:15:50,920 If you've not been baptized in the only name under heaven given 261 00:15:50,920 --> 00:15:55,440 among men, whereby we must to be saved, the saving name of Jesus, 262 00:15:55,840 --> 00:15:58,560 tonight is your night. If you've never been filled with 263 00:15:58,560 --> 00:16:01,080 the Holy Ghost, tonight is your night. 264 00:16:01,200 --> 00:16:05,480 If you've grown cold, if you're back slid, tonight is your night 265 00:16:05,480 --> 00:16:13,960 to get days right. But thank God that there's 266 00:16:13,960 --> 00:16:19,680 another character in this crazy story, Abigail, the source of 267 00:16:19,680 --> 00:16:25,000 joy that represents the church, which is God's source of joy. 268 00:16:25,680 --> 00:16:30,040 When Abigail hears what all the commotion at the party is about, 269 00:16:30,520 --> 00:16:35,320 the spirit of intercession comes over her, and she realizes that 270 00:16:35,320 --> 00:16:39,640 she must do something, like all of us here tonight need to do. 271 00:16:39,840 --> 00:16:44,440 She understands that she must become an intercessor, that she 272 00:16:44,440 --> 00:16:48,320 must stand in the gap and make up the heads for the rest of her 273 00:16:48,320 --> 00:16:52,360 household and community, and Abigail quickly gathers her 274 00:16:52,360 --> 00:16:55,000 servants. She instructs him to gather 275 00:16:55,000 --> 00:16:59,200 food, wine, and gifts, hoping to appease the Anointed King's 276 00:16:59,200 --> 00:17:03,080 natural appetite and his appetite for revenge. 277 00:17:03,320 --> 00:17:06,960 And Abigail and David meet along the road between them. 278 00:17:07,280 --> 00:17:11,319 Abigail falls on her face. She grapples at his feet. 279 00:17:11,520 --> 00:17:15,000 She begins to beg. She begins to intercede. 280 00:17:15,319 --> 00:17:19,000 Please don't destroy all of our people for one man's 281 00:17:19,000 --> 00:17:23,200 stubbornness and foolishness. Here, take this food, take this 282 00:17:23,200 --> 00:17:27,520 wine, take these gifts. Let your anger be subdued. 283 00:17:27,760 --> 00:17:32,360 I know my husband is worthy of death and our entire household, 284 00:17:32,520 --> 00:17:37,120 but please spare us. And just as Abigail, the source 285 00:17:37,200 --> 00:17:42,080 of joy, met David at that place between them, and she interceded 286 00:17:42,080 --> 00:17:46,400 with the anointed king for her husband and her household, we, 287 00:17:46,400 --> 00:17:52,040 the church, his source of joy, we must meet with Jesus at this 288 00:17:52,040 --> 00:17:56,640 place between heaven and earth to intercede with our anointed 289 00:17:56,640 --> 00:17:59,240 king for the souls of this world. 290 00:18:02,400 --> 00:18:06,880 We need to pray, God, I know we're justified of judgment. 291 00:18:08,480 --> 00:18:13,480 I know we're deserving of death. But God, could you meet out a 292 00:18:13,480 --> 00:18:16,880 little mercy? Could you give us some grace? 293 00:18:17,320 --> 00:18:19,800 Could you convey some compassion? 294 00:18:20,040 --> 00:18:24,880 Would you lend us some love? Could you find some forgiveness? 295 00:18:25,320 --> 00:18:27,800 Jesus, my family isn't ready to meet you. 296 00:18:28,200 --> 00:18:32,160 My children are back slid. My neighbor hasn't accepted my 297 00:18:32,160 --> 00:18:36,160 invitation for a Bible study. My coworker hasn't seen the 298 00:18:36,160 --> 00:18:39,720 revelation yet. Please, God, give us more time. 299 00:18:39,960 --> 00:18:43,680 There's still a harvest. There's still souls not ready to 300 00:18:43,680 --> 00:18:47,240 meet you. Oh, anointed King, give us a 301 00:18:47,320 --> 00:18:51,800 space of grace to win more people before you return. 302 00:18:54,840 --> 00:18:56,560 And you know what happened, David? 303 00:18:57,120 --> 00:19:01,960 The anointed king accepts Abigail's intercession and 304 00:19:01,960 --> 00:19:06,840 judgment is held back. See, I believe that's the only 305 00:19:06,840 --> 00:19:08,600 reason we talked about it the other night. 306 00:19:09,240 --> 00:19:12,160 I believe that's the only reason that the anointed King Jesus 307 00:19:12,160 --> 00:19:15,520 hasn't returned yet. It's the prayers and the 308 00:19:15,520 --> 00:19:20,280 intercession of Abigail, the church begging for one more day 309 00:19:20,560 --> 00:19:26,000 to reach one more song, and what I find probably most amazing 310 00:19:26,000 --> 00:19:31,040 about this story. So Abigail could have easily 311 00:19:31,360 --> 00:19:35,400 just stayed at the party enjoying the abundance and the 312 00:19:35,400 --> 00:19:38,520 blessings. She could have went on with life 313 00:19:39,000 --> 00:19:41,840 and business as usual. And you know what? 314 00:19:41,840 --> 00:19:44,080 You and I have the same option here tonight. 315 00:19:44,440 --> 00:19:46,680 We can choose to just enjoy life. 316 00:19:47,040 --> 00:19:51,120 We can spend our days and our time enjoying the blessings and 317 00:19:51,120 --> 00:19:54,720 benefits of belonging to Him. We can live out our life 318 00:19:54,760 --> 00:19:58,200 enjoying the favor and faithfulness of our anointing 319 00:19:58,200 --> 00:20:01,080 King Jesus. We can just live our lives 320 00:20:01,080 --> 00:20:06,200 comfortable and complacent until He returns without a care in 321 00:20:06,200 --> 00:20:08,040 this world. World, or for this world, 322 00:20:08,280 --> 00:20:10,840 because you know what? We've we have it good tonight. 323 00:20:13,200 --> 00:20:16,000 We are. We're spiritually spoiled and 324 00:20:16,000 --> 00:20:22,480 religiously rotten because none of us have been persecuted like 325 00:20:22,480 --> 00:20:26,200 they're being persecuted in communist countries as we speak. 326 00:20:26,840 --> 00:20:30,520 No one has ever taken one of my numerous Bibles away from me. 327 00:20:30,880 --> 00:20:34,720 No one has ever threatened my life if I talk about, teach, 328 00:20:34,720 --> 00:20:39,160 preach, proclaim, or mention the name of Jesus or his glorious 329 00:20:39,160 --> 00:20:41,840 gospel. No one when I walked in here 330 00:20:41,840 --> 00:20:46,960 tonight, no one threw eggs, tomatoes, or rocks at me when I 331 00:20:47,000 --> 00:20:50,720 entered this beautiful building. Nor will it happen when we leave 332 00:20:51,320 --> 00:20:53,800 and go home and return later this week. 333 00:20:53,960 --> 00:20:57,600 We have carpet instead of dirt floors like some churches I've 334 00:20:57,600 --> 00:21:01,080 preached in overseas. No one sitting on the floor. 335 00:21:01,080 --> 00:21:05,000 You're sitting on pews. This isn't an open air building 336 00:21:05,000 --> 00:21:08,000 with animals crawling in and out and bugs flying around. 337 00:21:08,280 --> 00:21:10,200 But this is an air conditioned building. 338 00:21:10,440 --> 00:21:14,600 No one had to walk miles and miles to church and hours and 339 00:21:14,600 --> 00:21:19,160 hours just to come to church. Tonight we are enjoying this 340 00:21:19,160 --> 00:21:23,400 party called Pentecost. Just coming to church, just 341 00:21:23,400 --> 00:21:27,080 going through the motions, leaving and enjoying the life 342 00:21:27,120 --> 00:21:31,320 we've been blessed with. And when he returns, we're going 343 00:21:31,320 --> 00:21:33,680 to make it. You're going to survive his 344 00:21:33,680 --> 00:21:37,200 terror and his revenge. But there are others. 345 00:21:39,320 --> 00:21:45,640 Our family members, our friends, our neighbors, our coworkers, 346 00:21:45,840 --> 00:21:49,560 our classmates that don't have the same privilege tonight. 347 00:21:51,840 --> 00:21:56,200 And Abigail, the source of joy, the church realizes that it 348 00:21:56,200 --> 00:22:00,560 wasn't about her anymore. It wasn't about her blessings 349 00:22:00,560 --> 00:22:04,440 and her abundance. It wasn't about the party, but 350 00:22:04,440 --> 00:22:07,360 it was about those that were getting ready to be slain with 351 00:22:07,360 --> 00:22:10,800 David sword. And she quickly realizes that 352 00:22:10,800 --> 00:22:13,720 she's getting ready to attend more funerals than parties. 353 00:22:14,920 --> 00:22:18,120 And can I tell everyone in this house tonight, we can't get so 354 00:22:18,120 --> 00:22:22,160 fixated on this party called Pentecost that we, the church, 355 00:22:22,160 --> 00:22:26,840 forget that outside of these four walls is a world that is 356 00:22:26,840 --> 00:22:32,280 lost, dying, and on their way to an eternity of torment and a 357 00:22:32,280 --> 00:22:35,560 devil's hell. And Abigail stopped worrying 358 00:22:35,560 --> 00:22:38,720 about if everyone was having a good time at the party. 359 00:22:38,960 --> 00:22:42,640 She stopped making sure that there was enough appetizers and 360 00:22:42,640 --> 00:22:44,960 punch. She stopped worrying about the 361 00:22:44,960 --> 00:22:48,440 music was too loud and if everybody had a comfortable 362 00:22:48,440 --> 00:22:50,600 seat. She stopped worrying about what 363 00:22:50,600 --> 00:22:54,280 was happening, happening in the house, in the party, and she 364 00:22:54,280 --> 00:22:57,920 started worrying about what was happening outside the house and 365 00:22:57,920 --> 00:23:01,160 outside the party. What seemed to matter before no 366 00:23:01,160 --> 00:23:04,480 longer matter to her. What was seemingly significant 367 00:23:04,480 --> 00:23:07,760 before was now merely insignificant to her. 368 00:23:08,000 --> 00:23:12,040 And the only thing that stopped the justice of David, the 369 00:23:12,040 --> 00:23:15,840 anointed king was Abigail. And the only thing that's going 370 00:23:15,840 --> 00:23:20,320 to stop the justice of Jesus, our anointed king, is a church 371 00:23:20,560 --> 00:23:25,960 that's willing to become and act like Abigail and intercede for 372 00:23:25,960 --> 00:23:34,320 the lost souls of humanity. Help us to pray. 373 00:23:35,200 --> 00:23:39,080 Help us to beg. Help us to plead. 374 00:23:39,280 --> 00:23:43,920 Help us to intercede. Give me one more Jay Jesus. 375 00:23:44,360 --> 00:23:48,840 Give me one more prayer meeting. Give me one more Bible study. 376 00:23:49,080 --> 00:23:53,360 Give me one more church service. Give me one more altar call. 377 00:23:53,480 --> 00:23:56,960 I'm working on my family. I'm working on my friends. 378 00:23:57,240 --> 00:24:01,200 I'm working on my coworkers. I'm working on my classmates. 379 00:24:01,520 --> 00:24:08,240 I'm working on my neighbors. Don't get so distracted by the 380 00:24:08,240 --> 00:24:09,960 party that you forget about the pitiful. 381 00:24:11,880 --> 00:24:14,720 Don't get so distracted by the celebration that you forget 382 00:24:14,720 --> 00:24:17,800 about the Sinner. Don't get so distracted by the 383 00:24:17,800 --> 00:24:20,320 blessings that we forget about the backsliders. 384 00:24:22,960 --> 00:24:26,520 You know what happened in the end of that story, Nabal? 385 00:24:26,520 --> 00:24:30,520 Here's what Abigail did. And the Bible says that his 386 00:24:30,520 --> 00:24:33,280 heart turned to stone and he died. 387 00:24:34,320 --> 00:24:39,360 Then David, the anointed king, he marries Abigail because of 388 00:24:39,360 --> 00:24:44,000 her beauty and her actions. And can I tell you tonight that 389 00:24:44,000 --> 00:24:46,760 one day after this gospel has been preached to the entire 390 00:24:46,760 --> 00:24:50,640 globe, there will be some that their hearts are going to turn 391 00:24:50,640 --> 00:24:53,640 to stone and they're going to die a spiritual death. 392 00:24:54,240 --> 00:24:58,800 But Jesus, our anointed King, is coming back to marry his bride 393 00:24:59,360 --> 00:25:02,600 because of her beauty of holiness and her actions of 394 00:25:02,600 --> 00:25:05,000 intercession. Because it can't just be 395 00:25:05,000 --> 00:25:08,840 righteous living and not reaching the lost, nor can it be 396 00:25:08,840 --> 00:25:11,040 reaching the lost without righteous living. 397 00:25:11,200 --> 00:25:14,480 We must do both. We can't get so worried about 398 00:25:14,480 --> 00:25:17,800 our appearance that we forget about His appearing tonight. 399 00:25:23,000 --> 00:25:27,480 And I draw to a close with these two Scriptures 2 of what I 400 00:25:27,480 --> 00:25:31,800 consider the saddest scriptures in the entirety of the Bible. 401 00:25:32,800 --> 00:25:39,680 Isaiah 5916 And he saw that there was no man, and wondered 402 00:25:39,680 --> 00:25:45,080 that there was no intercessor. Ezekiel 22 and 30. 403 00:25:45,440 --> 00:25:48,280 And I sought for a man among them that should make up the 404 00:25:48,280 --> 00:25:51,840 hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I 405 00:25:51,840 --> 00:25:59,120 should not destroy it. But I found God when you show up 406 00:25:59,120 --> 00:26:03,840 on a Sunday night, God, when you show up in this house tonight, 407 00:26:04,320 --> 00:26:10,640 don't find an Isaiah 5916 church, don't find an Ezekiel 22 408 00:26:10,640 --> 00:26:14,120 and 30 people God. When you stop by on this Sunday 409 00:26:14,120 --> 00:26:18,200 night and you look down into this service, don't let it be 410 00:26:18,200 --> 00:26:20,560 said that there was no intercessor found. 411 00:26:20,880 --> 00:26:24,240 Don't let it be said that there was nobody that would make up 412 00:26:24,240 --> 00:26:28,360 the hedge or stand in the gap so that you wouldn't destroy the 413 00:26:28,360 --> 00:26:33,480 land. God and I know we're homesick. 414 00:26:34,520 --> 00:26:38,080 With each and every passing day, we get more and more homesick. 415 00:26:38,520 --> 00:26:42,280 Seemingly with every report or word coming out of Washington 416 00:26:42,280 --> 00:26:46,360 DC, we long more and more for the coming of our Lord and 417 00:26:46,360 --> 00:26:48,200 Savior. I know we pray. 418 00:26:48,200 --> 00:26:52,160 Come quickly, Lord, especially the more evil and dark this 419 00:26:52,160 --> 00:26:55,480 world becomes. We cry out for our Redeemer. 420 00:26:55,640 --> 00:27:00,080 We cry out for our Deliverer. But while we're praying for him 421 00:27:00,080 --> 00:27:04,600 to come, we also need to pray. We also need to intercede. 422 00:27:04,720 --> 00:27:08,000 We need to travail. We need to make up the heads and 423 00:27:08,000 --> 00:27:10,520 stand in the gap for the lost of this world. 424 00:27:11,920 --> 00:27:15,960 Because Isaiah said that as soon as Zion prevent travailed, as 425 00:27:15,960 --> 00:27:18,800 soon as the church travailed, she brought. 426 00:27:18,800 --> 00:27:21,640 Forth her children. You know what I think? 427 00:27:21,640 --> 00:27:24,600 I think that we ought to turn this building tonight into a 428 00:27:24,600 --> 00:27:28,320 labor and delivery unit. God, let there be weeping. 429 00:27:28,720 --> 00:27:32,920 Let there be travailing, Let there be interceding until 430 00:27:32,920 --> 00:27:36,920 spiritual babies are born. God, let there be a spirit of 431 00:27:36,920 --> 00:27:41,240 Rachel that falls on us today and we say, give us children or 432 00:27:41,240 --> 00:27:44,120 else we die. God, Lord, I don't want you to 433 00:27:44,120 --> 00:27:47,840 stop by here and just see a church going through the motions 434 00:27:48,080 --> 00:27:50,600 and join this party that we've been enjoying. 435 00:27:50,840 --> 00:27:54,160 But God, when you look down on us tonight, let there be 436 00:27:54,160 --> 00:27:56,760 somebody that's willing to intercede. 437 00:27:57,000 --> 00:28:00,000 Let there be somebody willing to make up the hedge. 438 00:28:00,280 --> 00:28:03,400 Let there be willing somebody willing to stand in the gap. 439 00:28:03,640 --> 00:28:08,160 Let there be travailing take place until children are born. 440 00:28:13,000 --> 00:28:15,520 I don't know about you, but I got family members that are 441 00:28:15,520 --> 00:28:19,840 lost. I've got friends that are lost. 442 00:28:19,840 --> 00:28:21,880 I've got backsiders in my family. 443 00:28:22,120 --> 00:28:26,440 I got backsiders in my friends. I don't know about you, but I 444 00:28:26,440 --> 00:28:30,520 can tell you story after story of people that are lost tonight. 445 00:28:30,680 --> 00:28:34,720 And if Jesus came back right now, they would not go with him. 446 00:28:35,000 --> 00:28:39,120 God help me to pray for them. Help me to intercede. 447 00:28:39,240 --> 00:28:44,240 As we see times drawing to a close, we should be praying more 448 00:28:44,240 --> 00:28:46,840 fervently. We should be interceding like 449 00:28:46,840 --> 00:28:50,120 we've never interceded. We should be travailing like 450 00:28:50,120 --> 00:28:53,440 we've never travailed. We should be standing in the gap 451 00:28:53,720 --> 00:28:55,320 like we've never stood in the gap. 452 00:28:55,480 --> 00:28:58,280 We ought to be making up the heads like we've never made-up 453 00:28:58,360 --> 00:29:03,520 the head. So I wonder tonight, can we just 454 00:29:03,520 --> 00:29:06,680 turn this place into a prayer room? 455 00:29:07,440 --> 00:29:10,600 Can we just turn this place into a labor and delivery unit? 456 00:29:11,680 --> 00:29:15,200 Can you just in your own way, in your own place, if you want to 457 00:29:15,200 --> 00:29:18,360 come to the front, if you want to kneel, if you want to stand, 458 00:29:18,360 --> 00:29:21,120 if you want to walk around? But would you just find a 459 00:29:21,120 --> 00:29:24,400 posture of prayer and begin to intercede? 460 00:29:24,680 --> 00:29:29,840 God, I know you're coming soon, but before you come, God, help 461 00:29:29,840 --> 00:29:33,080 me to reach my family. God, I've got children that 462 00:29:33,080 --> 00:29:36,320 aren't ready to meet you. God, I got parents that aren't 463 00:29:36,320 --> 00:29:39,560 ready to meet you. God, my spouse isn't ready to 464 00:29:39,560 --> 00:29:43,120 meet you. God, my coworker, my classmate, 465 00:29:43,360 --> 00:29:46,360 my neighbor, my friend, they're not ready. 466 00:29:46,360 --> 00:29:51,760 God, come on, church, act like Abigail. 467 00:29:52,480 --> 00:29:54,440 Come on. Let a spirit of intercession 468 00:29:54,440 --> 00:29:58,960 arise in you tonight. Let there be travailing in this 469 00:29:58,960 --> 00:30:01,760 house. Let there be interceding in this 470 00:30:01,760 --> 00:30:19,760 place. Come on, Mama, pray for them 471 00:30:19,760 --> 00:30:22,680 babies. Come on, grandparents, pray for 472 00:30:22,680 --> 00:30:26,000 your grandchildren. Oh, come on. 473 00:30:26,760 --> 00:30:29,040 If you're not going to do it, who's going to do it? 474 00:30:29,560 --> 00:30:33,000 Somebody's going to act like Abigail in this house tonight. 475 00:30:34,840 --> 00:30:38,400 It was Abigail, the source of joy, that stopped the anointed 476 00:30:38,400 --> 00:30:41,600 King David from killing everybody in the camp. 477 00:30:42,040 --> 00:30:46,760 God help us to act like Abigail and intercede with our anointed 478 00:30:46,760 --> 00:30:47,840 King Jesus.