Text: 2 Samuel 10:1-14, Title: New Riverlutions, Res #2: Playing the Man, Date/Place: NRBC, 1/30/11, AM
A. Opening illustration: the pig and the chicken gonna cook bacon and eggs for the farmer, 40 Inspirational Speeches in Two Minutes video, “to do the same things in the same ways and expect different results is insanity” –attributed to Einstein, “no one puts new wine into old wineskins; or else the new wine bursts the wineskins, the wine is spilled, and the wineskins are ruined. But new wine must be put into new wineskins."
B. Background to passage: David had a treaty with Nahash the king of Ammon. Death, comfort, rebuff, embarrassment, anger, armies. Joab realized a little late that the two groups of Syrians that Ammon had secured had maneuvered into position with two battle lines on either side. They were trapped, and in a bad spot. So the plan was to divide up the army, fight both fronts simultaneously, dangerous. And Joab gives Abishai (which is what I would have named Knox if Erika would have let me) this speech of commitment. Joab puts the lives of every man in the hands of God, and says lets go for God, we are all in! For emphasis this morning I am going to use the phrase “real men,” but my meaning is “believers” men and women. And view this message as encouragement, not condemnation, “come on, let’s play the man.”
C. Main thought: If “now is the time,” if our common ground is “increase, improvement, and impact,” and if we have “a burden” for others, we must raise our level of commitment and rise to the occasion! For us to agree that we desire and are burdened for these things now, and not to be willing to work harder, sacrifice more, live better (Wal-Mart), is an exercise in futility, and we might as well wait another year before believing God to move, and setting our goals high. “If you are going to pray that God make the sun stand still, you must be willing to have an all-night march to Gilgal.” –Furtick
D. Five Fresh Commitments as we PLAY THE MAN
A. Serious Prayer
1. The full biblical witness to the necessity of prayer for spiritual success or spiritual renewal. The bible acknowledges our weakness and propensity to faint and get weary in prayer. Every major move of God through the ages was connected to prayer. No one there or here would dispute that fact.
2. James 5:16, Matt 21:21,
3. Illustration: In 1857, four young Irishmen began a weekly prayer meeting in a village school. The next year, more prayer meetings started and revival was the common theme of the preachers. The next year, 100,000 people were converted into the churches of Ireland in what is marked as the beginning of the Ulster revival of 1859. By 1860, crime was reduced and the judges had no cases to try. One county in Ireland reported no crime and the no prisoners were held in the jail. It was the greatest thing to hit Ireland since the ministry of Saint Patrick. Services were packed with people, there was an abundance of prayer meetings, family prayers increased, Scripture reading was unmatched, Sunday Schools prospered, people stood firm, giving increased, vice abated, and crime was reduced significantly, “Poverty-stricken as the Church is today in many things, she is most stricken here, in the place of prayer. We have many organizers, but few agonizers; many players and payers, but few pray-ers; many singers, few clingers; many pastors, few wrestlers; many fears, few tears; much fashion, little passion; many interferers, few intercessors; many writers, but few fighters. Failing here, we fail everywhere.” -Ravenhill
4. If we are to see a real impact, any increase, and improvement in ministry this year, we must recommit to pray. Not simply more prayer, but more of the right kind of prayer. We must not only spend more time in prayer, but we must work to advance our knowledge of and spiritual growth in prayer. Prayer will fan the flames of our burden, increase our faith, and move mountains. Prayer will change us, and prayer will move the heart of God. But the question is are we willing to pray? "Have you noticed how much praying for revival has been going on of late - and how little revival has resulted? I believe the problem is that we have been trying to substitute praying for obeying, and it simply will not work. To pray for revival while ignoring the plain precept laid down in Scripture is to waste a lot of words and get nothing for our trouble. Prayer will become effective when we stop using it as a substitute for obedience." –Tozer. Real Men pray! Let us gather in the mornings, in the evenings, on Wed nights, or Sat mornings for prayer. Let’s wear out a space on the altar or our closet floor. Let’s burn a hole in the ceiling with the gasoline soaked, flaming, unceasing please of fire going up before His throne! Let’s play the man in prayer!
B. Consistent Participation
1. I bet Joab was counting heads, and since he was taking the best, the elite with him, he wanted to know that they were all there. It meant life or death. And they needed to be there with their game face on, their mind engaged in what they were doing, and putting forth their best, or it might be their last half-hearted effort. I am glad Jesus wasn’t too tired to go the cross. The word church means the gathering or assembly.
2. Heb 10:24-25,
3. Illustration: we have frustrated teachers who don’t have students, story of a wife who endured unfaithfulness because as she said, “in my family we were raised not to do that or divorce.”
4. Without a commitment to coming to meet with the body, we will not see God move. Ministries will be strained for help. Worship will not be as vibrant. Discouragement with low numbers (although idolatrous, natural) will abound. No increase for students who don’t see their SS teachers there on Sun/Wed nights understand that it is really not that important. You won’t be able to encourage your fellow struggler. The body suffers because you are not here. We need your input at business meetings, it may not be fun, but it is the Kingdom work. You do not receive the food and encouragement you need. Wouldn’t it be encouraging to have 75 people here for prayer meeting, or 200 for Sunday worship? Wouldn’t it be great to have the building ring with the songs of Zion so loud you could hear it outside? Which reminds me, this doesn’t mean legalism, or simply presence in body only. But we must play the man when we don’t feel like it. Real men come despite distractions, obstacles, and inconveniences.
C. Faithful Service
1. There were many different positions of service in the military, many ranks. Some were in command, some were to follow. Some were to blow the trumpet for communication, some were to listen. Some were to guard the trumpeter or the general. Some were cooks, “go-boy’s,” armor bearers, cup bearers, supply coordinators, etc. You get the point. If someone was not there, the army suffered.
2. Illustration: Vance Havner says, “God is faithful, and He expects His people to be faithful. God’s Word
speaks of faithful servants, faithful in a few things, faithful in the least, faithful in the Lord, faithful
ministers. And all points up that day when He will say, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant.”
“What terrible times we have in our churches trying to keep people faithful in attendance and
loyalty! How we reward and picnic and coax and tantalize church members into doing things they don’t
want to do but which they would do if they loved God! The only service that counts is faithful service..
“True faith shows up in faithfulness. Not everyone can sing or preach, but all can be faithful.” Ed Stetzer writes the words of one pastor who said that his goal is that no one in their church has two jobs before everyone has one.
3. Jesus left us an example. If we don’t serve: Committees won’t function, so direction and planning suffer. The trash on the road doesn’t get picked up. The yard doesn’t get mowed. The church doesn’t get cleaned. Meals don’t get prepared. Or if these things happen, it is done by the same people. And those people run out of steam. So when we don’t serve, it strains others. Christ is worth it, people are worth it, this church is worth it, let us play the man, and find our place of service. We can help you to discern your gift, train you, and find you a place. God will bless you for it. Real men serve!
D. Sacrificial Stewardship
1. Takes a lot of money to fight a war. Just as W and Obama ($1.1 trillion). And if we are to increase, improve, and impact we must have financial resources. As you know giving has been down, just like attendance and baptisms. And the effect has been further reaching that just budget cuts. It has aided a spirit of discouragement among us. I believe that we must begin to give like we are called to give.
2. Philip 4:17, Matt 10:41, Mal 3:10-12
3. Illustration: “remember the rich young ruler,” Erika and my personal commitment
4. I realize that this issue is sensitive, so let me help. There are 1000s of verses about money, and warnings especially about our love of it. And Paul says it is to your benefit if you give because of the reward that it will bring. This is a great big vision! It is something that is worthwhile. And the amount that you give toward it, not only reflects your walk with God, but it reflects your commitment to the church and it’s vision. Are you really committed to the work/vision. Just as you can say you are, that is not the case if you don’t pray, gather, serve, give, or obey. 90-day challenge and $10 week increase. If we build, begin new ministries, increase and improve existing ones, it will take sacrifice.
E. Disciple Multiplication
1. One of the great failures of the evangelical church is that we have not made disciples, Christ-followers. Our great commission is to make disciples. This means evangelism, discipleship of new converts, growth in existing believers, and personal growth. The clearest evidence is the children and grandchildren of the most faithful generation ever are not here, many are not in church anywhere. The attrition rate of teenagers is worse.
2. 2 Tim 2:2,
3. Illustration: the Marines say, “we don’t take applications, only commitments.” Journey had 60 baptisms,
4. We must get serious about our commitment to make disciples. We can no longer simply do the status quo. And really, this has little to do with having better or deeper or more programs, and more to do with a people who are hungry to know Him and grow in Him and find others whom they can mold to be like Him. The programs and ministries themselves are not bad. This is a question of desire, will, and obedience. Anyone made a disciple this year? Have you impacted a life this year? Will you take time this year to make another disciple like you? We you go above and beyond the norm? Ready to get serious about those that God has placed around you, and make the most each and every moment for His glory.
A. Closing illustration: No Excuses video, “If you are going to pray that God make the sun stand still, you must be willing to have an all-night march to Gilgal.” –Furtick, Gene A. Getz, in his book, The Measure of a Church, asks the question, "What is the measure of maturity in the church?" And he lists what others believe are the measure of maturity:
1. An active church (involving people in meetings and programs)
2. A giving church (supporting the church and efforts financially)
3. A growing church (new people coming and staying)
4. A soul-winning church (leading unbelievers to faith and baptism)
5. A smooth-running church (efficient and orderly)
6. A missionary-minded church (supports missionaries around the world)
7. A Spirit-filled church (enthusiastic, emotional)
8. A big church (large attendance, with many programs),
B. The apostle Paul had no use for John Mark after he was uncommitted to the first mission trip, but later, after repentance and restoration, John Mark became crucial to the work in the kingdom.
C. Gonna ask for a “line in the sand” commitment next week, pray about your decision. But know that there is no way for us to accomplish our goals by simply doing what we have been doing…
Additional Notes
• Is Christ Exalted, Magnified, Honored, and Glorified?
