## What made them Mighty?

## II Samuel 23:8-12

A number of years ago we were trying to explain to the boys about their grandmas. They had a grandma Robinson, and a grandma Reynolds, but they also had a Great grandma Boyd. Ben thought on this for a while and asked the obvious question, 'What makes her so great?' We did our best to explain that it had nothing to do with what she has done, but was only a designation given to explain how she was related to them.

In our passage tonight David is near the end of his life. He is reminiscing about the past. Past battles, victories, and individuals who made a lasting impression upon him. We read of three men who are called 'mighty'. Now the question for us tonight is what made them mighty men? In this case, I believe that it is a designation given because of what these men did…not just about who they were. We read of these men who would not permit circumstances to defeat them.

These men serve as an example to each of us in our service to the Lord. Their faith was real. They demonstrated it time and again. They were devoted to their king, and proved it by more than their words; they revealed their faith by their actions. Let's consider these men this evening and be challenged by their faithfulness to their King.

What made them mighty? Read: v8-12

I. They Faced Overwhelming Odds v8.

A. Odds Of 800 To 1.

1. Most people would never try to overcome those odds.

2. Adino slew all 800 at one time for at one skirmish. He didn't ever stop to rest.

3. Adino demonstrated courageous faith to go against the odds.

B. We face great odds today.

1. We are not a majority but still a minority.

2. We need courageous faith to stand against the enemy regardless of the odds.

a. To stand against the world.

(JOHN 16:33) "THESE THINGS I HAVE SPOKEN UNTO YOU, THAT IN ME YE MIGHT HAVE PEACE. IN THE WORLD YE SHALL HAVE TRIBULATION: BUT BE OF GOOD CHEER; I HAVE OVERCOME THE WORLD."

b. To stand against the flesh

1) Our biggest hindrance is ourselves

2) Thank God. that greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world.

3) Thank God for the Holy Spirit within and the power of His Word without.

(1 COR 10:13) "THERE HATH NO TEMPTATION TAKEN YOU BUT SUCH AS IS COMMON TO MAN: BUT GOD IS FAITHFUL, WHO WILL NOT SUFFER YOU TO BE TEMPTED ABOVE THAT YE ARE ABLE; BUT WILL WITH THE TEMPTATION ALSO MAKE A WAY TO ESCAPE, THAT YE MAY BE ABLE TO BEAR IT." c. To stand against the devil

(JAMES 4:7) "SUBMIT YOURSELVES THEREFORE TO GOD. RESIST THE DEVIL, AND HE WILL FLEE FROM YOU."

C. The Odds Are Against Us In Reaching Our City For Christ.

1. What can we do to overcome the odds?

2. We can do what Adino did…stand against them.

3. Adino could have ran.

4. He could have said, "I'm not going to face this kind of odds alone."

5. But he didn't.

6. Rather the Bible says of him, "....he lift up his spear against eight hundred, whom he slew at one time."

II. They Finished The Job v9-10

A. Eleazar - His name means. "God has helped."

1. Nowhere do we find that these men were mighty because of their abilities or talents.

2. These men were mighty because they were committed to their Lord…

3. They were committed to their King.

B. Eleazar wasn't a quitter!

1. His objective was to defeat the Philistines.

2. Look at his helpers. Vs. 9, "...the men of Israel were gone away."

3. They left him alone in battle.

4. No one to help him, but God...and that was enough for him.

5. "He arose, and smote the Philistines...and the people returned after him only to spoil."

C. Eleazar Gave Us A Good Example.

1. Like Adino, he faced the odds.

2. He also finished the fight.

3. I like a finisher better than a quitter!

4. Too often we give up when it gets rough, when we ought to dig in and do the work.

5. Eleazar stood his ground against the enemy and stayed put when others ran away.

6. He grew weary, but he didn't quit.

GA 6:9 AND LET US NOT BE WEARY IN WELL DOING: FOR IN DUE SEASON WE SHALL REAP, IF WE FAINT NOT.

D. He became one with his sword.

1. "...And his hand cleave unto the sword."

2. The word "cleave" means to "cling" or to "adhere". 3

. The Word of God is our sword…it is our only offensive weapon for battle.

4. When we refuse to let go of our Sword (the Word of God) we can also be used of God to win a great battle for the Lord.

5. We need families that are so grounded and so equipped that they will not give up until the job is done.

6. We need ministry workers who will cleave to the Word of God that they might be effective in their ministries!

7. No matter what our ministry may be, if we will determine not to quit, and will cleave to His Word… we will see God do a great work.

8. "...And the Lord wrought a great victory that day."

III. They Fought the Enemy v11-12

A. Shammah Knew Who His Enemies Were.

1. Throughout the Scripture we are admonished to know who the enemy is.

2. We are to be watchful for him and to understand the way he attacks.

3. Shammah recognized the enemy; the Philistines were a constant source of trouble to God's people and God's work.

B. He Focused On The Enemy. "He slew the Philistines."

1. He did not focus on the mistakes of others, just as before it seemed the people fled and left him alone to fight.

2. But he didn't waste time focusing on their failures, and shortcomings.

3. Someone has said that we are the only army that shoots its wounded.

4. All too often that is the case.

5. We focus too much attention on one another, when we need to recognize the enemy and stand against him.

1PE 5:8 BE SOBER, BE VIGILANT; BECAUSE YOUR ADVERSARY THE DEVIL, AS A ROARING LION, WALKETH ABOUT, SEEKING WHOM HE MAY DEVOUR:

C. Once again, the Lord wrought a great victory!

1. The people fled from their possessions because the enemy was about to attack.

2. But Shammah stood ready to fight for what the Lord had given him.

3. We need to be ready to defend what God has given us.

4. Our battle is spiritual not physical.

(EPH 6:12-13) "FOR WE WRESTLE NOT AGAINST FLESH AND BLOOD, BUT AGAINST PRINCIPALITIES, AGAINST POWERS, AGAINST THE RULERS OF THE DARKNESS OF THIS WORLD, AGAINST SPIRITUAL WICKEDNESS IN HIGH PLACES. {13} WHEREFORE TAKE UNTO YOU THE WHOLE ARMOUR OF GOD, THAT YE MAY BE ABLE TO WITHSTAND IN THE EVIL DAY, AND HAVING DONE ALL, TO STAND."

IV. They Sought to Please Their King. v13-17

NOTE: REMEMBER DAVID IS REFLECTING ON THE PAST, AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT REALLY STANDS OUT IN HIS MIND. IT IS A WONDERFUL ILLUSTRATION OF THESE THREE MEN'S GREAT LOVE FOR THEIR KING.

A. Note that there were thirty mighty men. v13

1. Thirty men who held this designation because of their faithfulness and courage.

2. But our focus tonight has been upon these three, and these verses explain why.

3. Remember David was reflecting on the past and his thoughts turn to an event that took place during a time when the Philistines were in control of Bethlehem (the city of David).

B. David audibly expressed his desire to drink from the well of Bethlehem again.

1. This was not a command; maybe David wasn't even aware that anyone had heard him.

2. These men heard and were motivated to act upon what they had heard.

3. They were willing to give of themselves in order to fulfil the desire of their king.

4. David was overwhelmed with their action, and used the water as an offering unto the Lord.

5. But it was something that he would never forget!

What made them mighty?

- They Faced Overwhelming Odds
- They Finished The Job
- They Fought the Enemy
- They Sought to Please Their King.