It Is WELL With My Soul Part 12 - Audio

Bakersfield First Assembly

"These verses tell of some of the exploits that the special corps of David’s army carried out. There were two elite groups of men: 'the Thirty' and 'the Three.' To become a member of such a group a man had to show unparalleled courage in battle as well as wisdom in leadership. 'The Three' was the most elite group." (Life Application Bible) 2 Samuel 23:13-17 (NLT) – [13] Once during the harvest, when David was at the cave of Adullam, the Philistine army was camped in the valley of Rephaim. The Three (who were among the Thirty—an elite group among David’s fighting men) went down to meet him there. [14] David was staying in the stronghold at the time, and a Philistine detachment had occupied the town of Bethlehem. [15] David remarked longingly to his men, “Oh, how I would love some of that good water from the well by the gate in Bethlehem.” [16] So the Three broke through the Philistine lines, drew some water from the well by the gate in Bethlehem, and brought it back to David. But he refused to drink it. Instead, he poured it out as an offering to the LORD. [17] “The LORD forbid that I should drink this!” he exclaimed. “This water is as precious as the blood of these men who risked their lives to bring it to me.” So David did not drink it. These are examples of the exploits of the Three. 1. Mighty men and women don’t start out that way. 1 Samuel 22:1-2 (NIV) – [1] David left Gath and escaped to the cave of Adullam. When his brothers and his father's household heard about it, they went down to him there. [2] All those who were in distress or in debt or discontented gathered around him, and he became their leader. About four hundred men were with him. 1 Corinthians 1:26-29 (NIV) – [26] Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. [27] But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. [28] He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, [29] so that no one may boast before him. 2. Satan is our ultimate enemy. Genesis 10:13-14 (NIV) – [13] Mizraim was the father of the Ludites, Anamites, Lehabites, Naphtuhites, [14] Pathrusites, Casluhites (from whom the Philistines came) and Caphtorites. 1 Peter 5:8-9 (NIV) – [8] Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. [9] Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings. 3. We often long for what we cannot have. 1 Samuel 30:3-6 (NIV) – [3] When David and his men came to Ziklag, they found it destroyed by fire and their wives and sons and daughters taken captive. [4] So David and his men wept aloud until they had no strength left to weep. [5] David's two wives had been captured—Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail, the widow of Nabal of Carmel. [6] David was greatly distressed because the men were talking of stoning him; each one was bitter in spirit because of his sons and daughters. But David found strength in the LORD his God. 4. True commitment is willing to take great personal risk. “Those in trouble, in debt, or discontented joined David, who himself was an outlaw. These people were outcasts themselves and could only improve their lot by helping David become king. David’s control over this band of men again shows his resourcefulness and ability to lead and motivate others. It is difficult enough to build an army out of good men, but it takes even greater leadership to build one out of the kind of men that followed David. This group eventually formed the core of his military leadership and produced his ‘mightiest men.’” (Life Application Bible) 5. No sacrifice is too great for God. John 12:1-8 (NIV) – [1] Six days before the Passover, Jesus arrived at Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. [2] Here a dinner was given in Jesus' honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. [3] Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus' feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. [4] But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, [5] “Why wasn't this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year's wages.” [6] He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it. [7] “Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “[It was intended] that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. [8] You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.”