Introduction
Our goal today is to look at the power of Christian friendship. As we get there, look at the double betrayal David suffers and how the Lord delivers him.
I. Double Betrayal, 1-13, 19-23.
A. David, unlike Saul, is acting as the king in protecting the kingdom.
1. The Philistines are making incursions all the way to the east border of Israel.
2. The Lord leads David and his men to Keilah by answering their enquiries.
3. They are successful and the Philistines go packing.
4. And when you think the citizens of Keilah were about to throw David a party, he finds out that they will actually turn him in to Saul, 12.
B. David takes his men to the wilderness of Ziph, 14.
1. Mountainous, forested region in Judea.
2. It seems that the citizens of Ziph thought that David's presence with them was the perfect opportunity to gain brownie points with Saul, 19-23.
II. Double Deliverance, 12-13, 24-29
A. By special revelation, the Lord delivers David and his men from Saul in Keilah even before they could tell on him, 12-13.
B. The Lord again delivers David by his providence, 24-29.
C. In the middle of all this struggle, Jonathan visits David and strengthens his hand in God.
III. An Oasis in the Midst of Betrayal, 14-18
Every human being was made to be in relationships with other human beings because that is part of being created in God's image. The perfect friendship present among the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit shows itself in us in the desire to have deep, meaningful friendships. Yes, the fall and our sinful natures distort this creative design in us and makes a mess of relationships, but Jesus Christ came to reconcile man to God and man to man. Besides, though distorted, God's design for us to need friends, to need relationships is still part of our very fabric.
This is true of every one in the Church of Jesus Christ. Men need other men in their lives with whom they can have deep, Christ-saturated, God-oriented friendships, so that they can strengthen each others' hand in God and exhort one another in order that none will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. Women need other women to grow in Christ.
A. This is very important because persevering to the end is a community project.
1. We believe that the perseverance of the saints is a corporate responsibility (community project).
2. The same loving Lord who said, "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me; and I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish, and no one shall snatch them out of my hand" (Jn. 10:27–28), also said, "He who endures to the end will be saved" (Mt. 24:13).
a. In other words, those who are born of God are eternally secure in the hand of Jesus.
b. And those who are born of God must endure to the end in order to be finally saved.
3. So the question arises: How has God ordained to keep his people persevering in faith to the end so that he can infallibly fulfill the promise that they are secure and that none shall be lost?
a. A crucial part of the answer to this question is that God has ordained that we relate to other believers in such a way that we can help each other fight the fight of faith successfully day in and day out until the end.
b. The biblical basis for this answer is Hebrews 3:12–14.
Heb. 3:12-14 – Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; but exhort one another daily, while it is called "Today," lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end, while it is said: "Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion."
c. God calls us to develop the kind of Christian relationships in which we help each other to hold fast to the promises of God and escape the deceitfulness of sin.
B. Be part of a cluster of Christians.
1. Are you a part of a cluster of Christian friends who have pledged themselves to help each other fight the fight of faith and protect each other from the subtle encroachments of sin?
2. If you have no such cluster of comrades in the faith, then you are neglecting one of the means appointed by God for your preservation and endurance in faith. And to neglect the means of grace is very dangerous for your soul.
C. Four lessons from Jonathan's meeting with David.
1. Everyone needs Christian camaraderie.
a. The deepest saints and the strongest leaders need Christian comrades to strengthen their hands in God.
1) Christian camaraderie is not just for the new recruits.
2) It is for every believer.
3) We never grow out of our need for the ministry of other Christians.
4) If you think you are beyond the need for daily exhortation in the fight of faith, then probably your heart has already fallen prey to the deceitfulness of sin.
b. Don't ever think that a man is so strong that he does not need to be strengthened in God.
c. And don't ever think that someone is so far above you that you can't be God's instrument to give strength.
1) Charles Spurgeon spoke for many Christian leaders when he wrote the following:
"Some years ago, I was the subject of fearful depression of spirit. Various troublous events had happened to me; I was also unwell, and my heart sank within me. Out of the depths I was forced to cry unto the Lord. Just before I went away to Mentone for rest, I suffered greatly in body, but far more in soul, for my spirit was over whelmed. Under this pressure, I preached a sermon from the words, 'My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?' I was as much qualified to preach from that text as ever I expect to be; indeed, I hope that few of my brethren could have entered so deeply into those heart-breaking words. I felt to the full of my measure the horror of a soul forsaken of God. Now that was not a desirable experience. I tremble at the bare idea of passing again through that eclipse of soul; I pray that I may never suffer in that fashion again."
2) I mention this to drive home that the greatest saints, the most valiant warriors, are not above the need to have their hands strengthened in God.
3) In fact the devil's attacks on them may make their need even greater.
2. The second lesson is that strengthening a person's hand in God involves conscious effort.
a. It is intentional – we don't just do it on the fly; we rise and go down to Horesh, 16.
b. What a difference it would make in our church if, when all of us woke in the morning, we would PLAN to strengthen someone's hand in God!
1) Jonathan did not accidentally meet David in Horesh (though that happens at times!).
2) He PLANNED to go and strengthen him.
c. A mark of Christian maturity is that we build into our lives the intention and the occasions to strengthen someone's hand in God.
1) Whose hand are you going to strengthen in God today?
2) This week?
3) Do you have a cluster of comrades committed (intentionally!) to helping each other fight the fight of faith in this way?
d. What I am really pleading for this morning is that you all form friendships FOR Jesus Christ—that you have a cluster of comrades in the faith with the mutual agreement that you will continually point each other to Jesus Christ for hope and strength.
3. The third lesson is that we are to strengthen each other in God.
a. The strength we are to give each other is strength in God, not in ourselves.
b. Verse 16 does not say that Jonathan came all that way to Horesh to strengthen David's self-confidence.
c. It says he rose and went to David at Horesh, and strengthened his hand in God.
d. This is the difference between Christian camaraderie and all other support groups and therapy groups and self-help groups.
e. The whole point of Christian camaraderie is to point each other to Christ, not man, for help and strength.
1) Do you see the paradox here?
a) I need you, you are a means by which I'll endure to the end.
b) But the only way you can help me is by doing and saying something that is going to cause me to depend more on God and not you.
2) Every Christian group that exists ought to exist to strengthen each other's hands in God and not in man.
4. Remind each other of the promises of God, 17.
a. Being such good friends, David certainly told Jonathan about Samuel's visit to his father's house and the promises in 1 Sam. 16:12
b. So, we strengthen each others' hands by reminding us of all the promises of the Gospel.
c. What would you need to hear from your friends if you were William Carey 15,000 miles from home fighting the fight of faith with one comrade surrounded by millions of unbelievers?
1) You would need something like this, the words of Samuel Pearce, a precious friend who knew how to strengthen Carey's hand in God.
2) Listen to how the promises of God saturate this letter from October 4, 1794.
"Brother, I long to stand by your side, and participate in all the vicissitudes of the attack—an attack which nothing but cowardice can make unsuccessful. Yes, the Captain of our salvation marches at our head. Sometimes he may withdraw his presence (but not his power) to try our prowess with our spiritual arms and celestial armor. O, what cannot a lively faith do for the Christian soldier! It will bring the Deliverer from the skies; it will array him as with a vesture dipped in blood; it will place him in the front of the battle, and put a new song into our mouths—'These made war with the Lamb; but the Lamb shall overcome them.' Yes, he shall—the victory is sure before we enter the field; the crown is already prepared to adorn our brows, even that crown of glory which fadeth not away, and already we have resolved what to do with it—we will lay it at the conqueror's feet, and say, 'Not to us, O Lord, not unto us, but to thy name give glory,' while all heaven unites in the chorus, 'Worthy is the Lamb.'" (Memoir, p. 66)
Conclusion & Application
We all know that men relate to each other differently than women do. And that is ok. Men's relationships often revolve around activities while women's revolve around sharing. Many attempts have been made to make men relate like women do and that doesn't work because…men are not women. At the same time the Bible teaches that deep, committed, heart-baring friendship between men are good if not essential. Yet research shows that men in general do not value friendship. Some even have the crazy idea that "real men do not need other people." We are going to call this idea the John Wayne delusion. Sadly, those who suffer from this delusion rob themselves, their wives, their children, the Church of blessings because they will not grow in Christ in the way they could have grown had they availed themselves of this God-given means of growth.
Women are also called to relationships with other Christians. And women too face challenges in establishing relationships. A few years ago I interviewed 73 women ages 9-68 regarding the struggles they faced in relating to one another. One of the things I found out with my little research was that men are way simpler in their relationships than women are. I tried then to create categories based on the answers I received and tried to analyze these categories through the lens of the Scriptures. Some of them are sinful issues, but some of them are obstacles to overcome.
1. Time
a. Only brought up by those who have families.
b. Husbands and church! We need to make sure that there is time for these relationship
c. On the other hand, time can be often an excuse for not wanting to do it, or not thinking something is important.
2. The fear of man – in this case woman. Expressed as…
a. Leaving your comfort zone to talk with them.
b. First impression issues
c. What will they think of me?
d. Self-image issues.
e. You trust the Lord Jesus Christ, so there is no need for you to fear another person.
3. Selfish-protection. Expressed as…
a. Trying to work out how the whole relationship is going to work out even before attempting a relationship.
b. I have been hurt in the past – past disappointments.
c. Vulnerability
d. Fear of rejection
e. Yet the pattern of our relationships is Jesus's relationship with his Church, which was a risky one for him.
4. Dynamics of relationships.
a. Cliques: can be real or perceived.
"How often in my life I have felt looked down upon, and pray, seriously pray that I do not make others feel that way! On one side is the one looking down the scale (or appearing to do so) while on the other is the one not wanting anything to do with those who may appear to look down upon others, even if that is not truly the case and sometimes it really is not."
b. Demands of exclusivity
c. Being ignored in favor of other friends.
d. How is this relationship going to affect my other relationships? Younger women.
e. How is my husband going to get along with this person?
5. Negativity
a. Complaining spirit.
b. Unreasonable demands
c. Contentiousness
d. Overly critical
6. Trustworthiness
a. Gossip
b. Slander
c. These are cancer to any relationship
d. Forgiveness issues - Grudges
7. Unbiblical judgments
a. Pre-judging
"I think a person can also perceive (true or not) that the other person does not 'need' them -- that they have it all together, that they have enough friends and don't have time/energy for another, etc. Maybe both sexes do it, but it seems like women are more inclined to pre-judge what another woman is like and then to pursue or dismiss a friendship based on that pre-judgment --ie: someone who is shy/quiet may be labeled aloof/cold/snob; someone talkative may be labeled gossipy/trivial."
b. Comparisons
"The biggest challenge as a woman in my relationships (both starting and maintaining) with other women is comparisons. I've had this talk with other women and know I'm not alone in this struggle. It seems I'm always comparing myself to the other person - which always tears someone down while uplifting the other (often pridefully). Some common comparisons are: prettiness, body type, godliness/spiritual life, cuteness of kids, behavior of kids, tidiness & quality of house, clothing, even relationship with others (husband & friends)."
8. Adapting to the changes of life
"For me another challenge is adapting to the changing stages of life—it is difficult to form and maintain friendships with those whose life demands are vastly different from my own. The enrichment I could offer and gain from a friendship was much different when my children were young than it is now…"
Conclusion
Listen again to the words of Samuel Pearce to William Carey:
"Brother, I long to stand by your side, and participate in all the vicissitudes of the attack—an attack which nothing but cowardice can make unsuccessful. Yes, the Captain of our salvation marches at our head. Sometimes he may withdraw his presence (but not his power) to try our prowess with our spiritual arms and celestial armor. O, what cannot a lively faith do for the Christian soldier! It will bring the Deliverer from the skies; it will array him as with a vesture dipped in blood; it will place him in the front of the battle, and put a new song into our mouths—'These made war with the Lamb; but the Lamb shall overcome them.' Yes, he shall—the victory is sure before we enter the field; the crown is already prepared to adorn our brows, even that crown of glory which fadeth not away, and already we have resolved what to do with it—we will lay it at the conqueror's feet, and say, 'Not to us, O Lord, not unto us, but to thy name give glory,' while all heaven unites in the chorus, 'Worthy is the Lamb.'"
Well, not all us have the gift to strengthen our comrades with words like that. But if you steep your mind in the Word of God and meditate on it day and night as Psalm 1 says, then you will be a fountain of living water and will strengthen the hands of many in God. The call of God to you this morning is: Come, let us strengthen each other's hands in God!
http://olympiabp.blogspot.com/2016/05/strengthen-each-others-hand-in-god-1.html
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