Mighty Men Rally the Church and Family

Mighty Men

Rally the Church and Family

Even though things are not the same as they were in the times of David and Jesus

There still is a battle

It is a time to stand against the overwhelming odds

The giants in our lives and the world we live in 

To fight the good fight of faith

Rally the Church and Family

The first thing we see about David’s Mighty Men

was they were attracted to him.

Although he was an outcast,

unexpectedly, they were drawn to him.

These men risked their lives

to get David a drink of water.

When David almost died fighting a giant,

 the men refused to let him fight again.

Like Jesus, He was sent to his own

 but His own received Him not.

But unlike David’s men, when Jesus

was arrested the disciples of Christ fled.

David’s men came from obscure places.

David’s Mighty Men lived in oppressive times.

Jesus’ mighty men lived in oppressive times.

David’s and Jesus’s men

faced overwhelming odds.

Times have changed, but today we live in

oppressive times and overwhelming odds.

David’s men and Jesus’ men changed the world.

They did not hide, they were not complacent.

The Mighty Men stood together

and at times stood alone.

They did not wait for the battle to

come to them they went out to battle.

Jesus said the Kingdom of God suffers violence.

The attack on God and His Kingdom is real.

There is a major attack on righteousness,

peace and joy, the spirit of the Kingdom.

Just like the times of David and Jesus,

it is a time to rally.

Under the New Covenant, we realize

we don’t fight with the world’s weapons.

Our battle is not against flesh and blood.

Our battle is against the deception entering into

the hearts and minds of people by princes of the air.

Messages change lives.

The only message that will set people free,

is the message of Truth.

As we follow Jesus Christ, we need to rally

around leaders who will bring us together.

The Church of Jesus Christ has

always done great things.

But each generation needs to build

on those positive works, and in this

generation and the next do greater things.

David’s Mighty Men did more

than hold classes on how to battle.

They were examples.

Men, there are two areas we must set an example in…

 The Church and the Family.

Our family of 2 people in 45 years

 is now a family of 14 people.

Soon our grandchildren will be at

the age of starting their own families.

In the next 20 years our family

could be over 45 people.

It won’t take long for our family

to be the size of a mega church.

The Muslims rapid growth has been due to

Muslim women having more babies

then the Christian women.

Christianity is still the largest

religion because of conversions.

I am not saying Christian

women should have more babies.

But our babies need to be equipped

to become Mighty Men and Women…

As a family, and as part of the Church.

The opportunities to get a message

out are greater than ever before.

Media and social media are changing the world.

Our children need to be equipped to share their faith…

To spread the Truth.

The media is land we must conquer.

Speaking may not be easy for you, but you and your

children can support those who are gifted speakers.

The point is this…

Even though things are not the same as

they were in the times of David and Jesus…

There still is a battle.

It is a time to stand against the overwhelming odds

and the giants in our lives and the world we live in. 

Scripture Reading

1 Chronicles 11:10-47 NIV

10 These were the chiefs of David's mighty men — they, together with all Israel, gave his kingship strong support to extend it over the whole land, as the LORD had promised— 11 this is the list of David's mighty men:

Jashobeam, a Hacmonite, was chief of the officers; he raised his spear against three hundred men, whom he killed in one encounter.

12 Next to him was Eleazar son of Dodai the Ahohite, one of the three mighty men. 13 He was with David at Pas Dammim when the Philistines gathered there for battle. At a place where there was a field full of barley, the troops fled from the Philistines. 14 But they took their stand in the middle of the field. They defended it and struck the Philistines down, and the LORD brought about a great victory.

15 Three of the thirty chiefs came down to David to the rock at the cave of Adullam, while a band of Philistines was encamped in the Valley of Rephaim. 16 At that time David was in the stronghold, and the Philistine garrison was at Bethlehem. 17 David longed for water and said, "Oh, that someone would get me a drink of water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem!" 18 So the Three broke through the Philistine lines, drew water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem and carried it back to David. But he refused to drink it; instead, he poured it out before the LORD. 19 "God forbid that I should do this!" he said. "Should I drink the blood of these men who went at the risk of their lives?" Because they risked their lives to bring it back, David would not drink it.

Such were the exploits of the three mighty men.

20 Abishai the brother of Joab was chief of the Three. He raised his spear against three hundred men, whom he killed, and so he became as famous as the Three. 21 He was doubly honored above the Three and became their commander, even though he was not included among them.

22 Benaiah son of Jehoiada was a valiant fighter from Kabzeel, who performed great exploits. He struck down two of Moab's best men. He also went down into a pit on a snowy day and killed a lion. 23 And he struck down an Egyptian who was seven and a half feet tall. Although the Egyptian had a spear like a weaver's rod in his hand, Benaiah went against him with a club. He snatched the spear from the Egyptian's hand and killed him with his own spear. 24 Such were the exploits of Benaiah son of Jehoiada; he too was as famous as the three mighty men. 25 He was held in greater honor than any of the Thirty, but he was not included among the Three. And David put him in charge of his bodyguard.

26 The mighty men were:

Asahel the brother of Joab,

Elhanan son of Dodo from Bethlehem,

27 Shammoth the Harorite,

Helez the Pelonite,

28 Ira son of Ikkesh from Tekoa,

Abiezer from Anathoth,

29 Sibbecai the Hushathite,

Ilai the Ahohite,

30 Maharai the Netophathite,

Heled son of Baanah the Netophathite,

31 Ithai son of Ribai from Gibeah in Benjamin,

Benaiah the Pirathonite,

32 Hurai from the ravines of Gaash,

Abiel the Arbathite,

33 Azmaveth the Baharumite,

Eliahba the Shaalbonite,

34 the sons of Hashem the Gizonite,

Jonathan son of Shagee the Hararite,

35 Ahiam son of Sacar the Hararite,

Eliphal son of Ur,

36 Hepher the Mekerathite,

Ahijah the Pelonite,

37 Hezro the Carmelite,

Naarai son of Ezbai,

38 Joel the brother of Nathan,

Mibhar son of Hagri,

39 Zelek the Ammonite,

Naharai the Berothite, the armor-bearer of Joab son of Zeruiah,

40 Ira the Ithrite,

Gareb the Ithrite,

41 Uriah the Hittite,

Zabad son of Ahlai,

42 Adina son of Shiza the Reubenite, who was chief of the Reubenites, and the thirty with him,

43 Hanan son of Maacah,

Joshaphat the Mithnite,

44 Uzzia the Ashterathite,

Shama and Jeiel the sons of Hotham the Aroerite,

45 Jediael son of Shimri,

his brother Joha the Tizite,

46 Eliel the Mahavite,

Jeribai and Joshaviah the sons of Elnaam,

Ithmah the Moabite,

47 Eliel, Obed and Jaasiel the Mezobaite.