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How God uses people to change lives for the better.
David and his Disciples
The Disciples before they caught David’s Spirit.
1 Samuel 22:1
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.
Who does David’s leadership anointing attract?
People just like him.
David’s background
He’s fleeing from Saul who’s determined to kill him because his family line is going to be cut of from the kingdom and David is in line to inherit the kingship instead of Jonathan, his son.
He just finishes pretending being insane in front of Achish the king of Gath because Achish’s heard about David’s reputation of killing 10’s of thousands.
The 400 “D” people
1. Distress
2. Debt
3. Discontent
The People God’s sending you may be less than desirable in your opinion, however if you have the presence of God in you perhaps God is sending them to you so you can minister life where there had been death? Hope where there had been hopelessness. Courage where there had been fear?
Norman Schwarzkopf
Was known as a man who could go into a dysfunctional army unit and turn it around. He liked the challenge and was successful in his efforts. His record somewhat speaks for itself.
When People Join their hearts with a Godly Leader like David
But what happens to the 400 “D” people if they hook up with David? They listen to him, honor him and submit to his leadership? Sometimes it’s easy to go with someone else’s plan when you’ve come to the end of your own. The 3 D’s can get you to that place.
It’s important that we embrace the 3 “D” people! Don’t turn them away because there is an excellent chance that God is in it. Perfect people might not be interested in submitting to your leadership but people who are struggling and looking for answers are more willing to recognize that they don’t know everything and need some help with life.
Let’s look one book and one chapter ahead to see what is now going on in the life of the 400 “D” people who were attracted to David.
David’s 3 “D” people became mighty!
2 Samuel 23:39
Only 37 Made the journey with David. Of the 400; 363 fell by the wayside but 37 caught the spirit that was on David and began to do the things David did. Around 9% survived David’s discipleship school.
Wouldn’t it be wonderful to have 37 mighty men though! Especially after we see what these men have done.
Let’s open our Bibles and take a look at the exploits of David’s 37 mighty men.
2 Samuel 23:8-23
Jesus and his Disciples
The Disciples before the caught Jesus Spirit.
Some of the Personality Traits of the Disciples
David and his Disciples
The Disciples before they caught David’s Spirit.
1 Samuel 22:1
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.
Who does David’s leadership anointing attract?
People just like him.
David’s background
He’s fleeing from Saul who’s determined to kill him because his family line is going to be cut of from the kingdom and David is in line to inherit the kingship instead of Jonathan, his son.
He just finishes pretending being insane in front of Achish the king of Gath because Achish’s heard about David’s reputation of killing 10’s of thousands.
The 400 “D” people
1. Distress
2. Debt
3. Discontent
The People God’s sending you may be less than desirable in your opinion, however if you have the presence of God in you perhaps God is sending them to you so you can minister life where there had been death? Hope where there had been hopelessness. Courage where there had been fear?
Norman Schwarzkopf
Was known as a man who could go into a dysfunctional army unit and turn it around. He liked the challenge and was successful in his efforts. His record somewhat speaks for itself.
When People Join their hearts with a Godly Leader like David
But what happens to the 400 “D” people if they hook up with David? They listen to him, honor him and submit to his leadership? Sometimes it’s easy to go with someone else’s plan when you’ve come to the end of your own. The 3 D’s can get you to that place.
It’s important that we embrace the 3 “D” people! Don’t turn them away because there is an excellent chance that God is in it. Perfect people might not be interested in submitting to your leadership but people who are struggling and looking for answers are more willing to recognize that they don’t know everything and need some help with life.
Let’s look one book and one chapter ahead to see what is now going on in the life of the 400 “D” people who were attracted to David.
David’s 3 “D” people became mighty!
2 Samuel 23:39
Only 37 Made the journey with David. Of the 400; 363 fell by the wayside but 37 caught the spirit that was on David and began to do the things David did. Around 9% survived David’s discipleship school.
Wouldn’t it be wonderful to have 37 mighty men though! Especially after we see what these men have done.
Let’s open our Bibles and take a look at the exploits of David’s 37 mighty men.
2 Samuel 23:8-23
Jesus and his Disciples
The Disciples before the caught Jesus Spirit.
Some of the Personality Traits of the Disciples
Some of Jesus Disciples could’ve been momma’s boys.
Matthew 20:20,21
The Sons of Thunder?
20Then the mother of Zebedee's sons came to Jesus with her sons and, kneeling down, asked a favor of him. 21"What is it you want?" he asked. She said, "Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom."
Jesus Disciples were slow to learn
Matthew 15:15,16
15Peter said, "Explain the parable to us.“ 16"Are you still so dull?" Jesus asked them.
Jesus Disciples didn’t have his Heart
Matthew 19:13Then little children were brought to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked those who brought them.
The Disciples had Political Agendas
Mark 8:33But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. "Get behind me, Satan!" he said. "You do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men."
Jesus Disciples Didn’t meet his expectations.
Luke 8:25He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm. "Where is your faith?" he asked his disciples. In fear and amazement they asked one another, "Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him."
Jesus understood the concept of fruit production
Matthew 13:23But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown."
The work Jesus Did with his disciples ultimately produced fruit! Even though Jesus didn’t see it with his Earthly eyes his disciples turned the world upside down with His teaching and the Holy Spirit equipped them to do amazing things.
What the disciples were like after they caught Jesus spirit.
Acts 17:6
6But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some other brothers before the city officials, shouting: "These men who have caused trouble all over the world have now come here,
Map of Modern Day Turkey, Greece and part of Syria
The Disciples were effectively delivering the message of the Gospel.
Acts 1:8
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
Concentric Rings of Influence
· City
· Region
· Country
· Ends of the Earth
Jesus Disciples were
· Healing the Sick
· Casting out Demons
· Raising the Dead
Sound Familiar? They were doing what Jesus was doing because they caught the spirit that was on Jesus
1. Healing
Acts 5:15 As a result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least Peter's shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by.
2. Deliverance
Acts 16:18 She kept this up for many days. Finally Paul became so troubled that he turned around and said to the spirit, "In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!" At that moment the spirit left her.
3. Raising the Dead
Acts 20:9-12
9Seated in a window was a young man named Eutychus, who was sinking into a deep sleep as Paul talked on and on. When he was sound asleep, he fell to the ground from the third story and was picked up dead. 10Paul went down, threw himself on the young man and put his arms around him. "Don't be alarmed," he said. "He's alive!" 11Then he went upstairs again and broke bread and ate. After talking until daylight, he left. 12The people took the young man home alive and were greatly comforted.
4 Levels of Discipleship
2 Timothy 2:2
2And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others.
Paul’s Teaching in a group setting, Timothy in the group.
Timothy understanding and then entrusting the same words to reliable men.
Reliable men are also qualified to teach others.
In Conclusion
However you receive people is what you get out of them.
Matthew 10:41
41Anyone who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet's reward, and anyone who receives a righteous man because he is a righteous man will receive a righteous man's reward.
If you rightly recognize and receive people for who they are you are in line to receive what they have!
If you break away in heart and miss the dimension of God the people around you are carrying you won’t receive what they’ve got.
This is one reason why the Bible tells us to Honor our Father and Mother.
Matthew 13:23But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown."
The work Jesus Did with his disciples ultimately produced fruit! Even though Jesus didn’t see it with his Earthly eyes his disciples turned the world upside down with His teaching and the Holy Spirit equipped them to do amazing things.
What the disciples were like after they caught Jesus spirit.
Acts 17:6
6But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some other brothers before the city officials, shouting: "These men who have caused trouble all over the world have now come here,
Map of Modern Day Turkey, Greece and part of Syria
The Disciples were effectively delivering the message of the Gospel.
Acts 1:8
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
Concentric Rings of Influence
· City
· Region
· Country
· Ends of the Earth
Jesus Disciples were
· Healing the Sick
· Casting out Demons
· Raising the Dead
Sound Familiar? They were doing what Jesus was doing because they caught the spirit that was on Jesus
1. Healing
Acts 5:15 As a result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least Peter's shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by.
2. Deliverance
Acts 16:18 She kept this up for many days. Finally Paul became so troubled that he turned around and said to the spirit, "In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!" At that moment the spirit left her.
3. Raising the Dead
Acts 20:9-12
9Seated in a window was a young man named Eutychus, who was sinking into a deep sleep as Paul talked on and on. When he was sound asleep, he fell to the ground from the third story and was picked up dead. 10Paul went down, threw himself on the young man and put his arms around him. "Don't be alarmed," he said. "He's alive!" 11Then he went upstairs again and broke bread and ate. After talking until daylight, he left. 12The people took the young man home alive and were greatly comforted.
4 Levels of Discipleship
2 Timothy 2:2
2And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others.
Paul’s Teaching in a group setting, Timothy in the group.
Timothy understanding and then entrusting the same words to reliable men.
Reliable men are also qualified to teach others.
In Conclusion
However you receive people is what you get out of them.
Matthew 10:41
41Anyone who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet's reward, and anyone who receives a righteous man because he is a righteous man will receive a righteous man's reward.
If you rightly recognize and receive people for who they are you are in line to receive what they have!
If you break away in heart and miss the dimension of God the people around you are carrying you won’t receive what they’ve got.
This is one reason why the Bible tells us to Honor our Father and Mother.
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