## Looking for a Few Good Men

## II Samuel 23:13-16

Today is Father's Day and so our focus is going to be upon the men here this morning. All of us have heard the Marine recruitment campaign slogan: Looking for a few good men. It sounds good and has been a successful slogan I am sure. But what does it mean? I know one thing that it means is that the Marines aren't for everybody. But I knew that before I heard the slogan.

The Bible uses a similar phrase to describe some individuals. God's Word talks about some 'Mighty Men'. In 2 Sam. 23, 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.

Read: v13-17

Each of these three 'Mighty Men' serve as examples to all of us today. Their faith was real. They demonstrated it time and again. The application is that we would strive to be men of great faith. That we would be 'Mighty Men'. In previous verses, David introduces us to these three notable individuals.

I. Adino: Courageous Faith. v8

A. He had the courage to stand against the odds.

B. He lift up his spear and slew eight hundred men at one time.

C. We need this kind of courageous faith.

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."

D. Adino had the faith to stand against the odds and God gave him the victory.

II. Eleazar: Committed Faith. v9-10

A. Others had gone away but he arose and smote the Philistines.

B. He fought so long and so hard that his sword clave to his hand.

C. It actually became a part of him.

D. We need to be men with this kind of committed faith...that our sword might become a part of us.

1. The Bible is our spiritual sword.

(HEB 4:12) "FOR THE WORD OF GOD IS QUICK, AND POWERFUL, AND SHARPER THAN ANY TWOEDGED SWORD, PIERCING EVEN TO THE DIVIDING ASUNDER OF SOUL AND SPIRIT, AND OF THE JOINTS AND MARROW, AND IS A DISCERNER OF THE THOUGHTS AND INTENTS OF THE HEART."

2. We need to be men who are committed, to the Bible.

3. We could have spiritual victories if we would be committed to it as was Eleazar!

4. Too many want to be quitters instead of being committed.

5. Unfortunately, many men today are looking for reasons not to be committed.

6. Many are like those of Israel who returned only to gather the spoil. v10 7. They want the blessings of commitment without making the commitment themselves.

GOD HELP US TO MEN WHOSE FAITH IS BOTH COURAGEOUS AND COMMITTED.

III. Shammah had a contending faith. v11-12

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

B. Shammah stood ready to fight for his possession.

C. The possession was just a lentil patch; a pea patch.

1. Many would have said he foolish to fight for such a worthless piece of ground.

2. What is your 'pea patch'?

a. Your faith. b. Your family. c. Your testimony.

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."

5. Jude challenges us to earnestly contend for the faith...how do we do that?

a. Be the spiritual leader in your home.

b. Be faithful to your church...get involved.

c. Be a testimony for the Lord wherever you are.

d. Don't quit!

IV. Mighty Men Put Their Faith To Work. v13-17

(JAMES 2:20) "BUT WILT THOU KNOW, O VAIN MAN, THAT FAITH WITHOUT WORKS IS DEAD?"

A. Note that there were thirty mighty men. v13

B. Only three were close enough to their king to hear his desires.

1. This was not a command

2. They did this out of love.

C. How many of us are close enough to our Lord to hear His desires?

The Marines are looking for a few good men. God is looking for some 'Mighty Men'. Men who are men of courageous faith. Men who are committed and willing to contend for what God has given them. Real men who make sure they stay close to God, and who are sensitive to His desires for their lives.

Are you a Christian? If not, come to Jesus today and find the strength to be all that God intends for you to be. Christians, are we living our faith today?