DAVID'S THREE MIGHTY MEN

By David J. Riggs

Intro.
   A. Text: 2 Sam. 23:8-17
   B. Consider the men Adino, Eleazar, and Shammah and what they
      did. Vs. 8-12
      1. These men were bravely fighting to deliver God's people,
         and God blessed them.
      2. There were other great men in David's army, but they did
         not attain to these first three. Vs. 19b, 23

I. WE FIGHT A DIFFERENT TYPE OF WARFARE THAN THAT FOUGHT BY THE THREE
   MIGHTY MEN.
   A. 2 Cor. 10:3-5; 1 John 4:4; 5:18-19
      1. The kind of battles we face can at times be harder than     
         those faced by the three mighty men. Prov. 16:32b
   B. We need to stand together when necessary. 
      1. The three mighty men were united in obtaining water for
         David.
      2. All members are important. 1 Cor. 12:20-27
      3. Each one needs to supply his part. Eph. 4:16
      4. We all need to work together toward our common goal. Phil.
         1:27
      5. The giant Sequoia trees of California tower as much as 300
         feet above the ground. Strangely, these giants have         
         unusually shallow root systems that reach out in all        
         directions. One will not find a giant Sequoia tree standing 
         alone because high winds would quickly uproot it. Instead,  
         they always grow in clusters. Their intertwining roots      
         provide support for one another against the storms.
         a. Let us, as members of the body of Christ, work
            together, support, and sustain one another so that we
            can weather the storms of life, and obtain heaven
            together.
   C. We need to stand alone when necessary.
      1. We must always be ready to give answer. 1 Pet. 3:15
         a. We may be required to stand alone against a troop as
            was the case with each of David's three mighty men.
         b. That troop may be our co-workers who attack the
            Lord's church and promote denominational falsehoods.
         c. That troop may be our fellow students at school.
         d. That troop may be our own family. Our own family can
            be the hardest troop to face. Matt. 10:35-36
      2. Whether we face a troop or just one, let us be brave and
         courageous soldiers of the Lord. 1 Cor. 16:13; 2 Tim. 2:3
         a. Some people might contend that religion has no place in
            the office, but a recent study proves otherwise. It might
            be to your advantage, the study concludes, if you
            profess your religious beliefs rather than keep silent
            about them. Professionals who actively expressed their
            religious beliefs were perceived to be more intelligent,
            more trustworthy, more moral, and better adjusted than
            those who did not. (From Roger Bailey and Philip
            Doriot via "Pulpit Helps") 
         b. Let us boldly speak the word of God at every
            opportunity regardless of what men might say or think.
            1 Thess. 2:2

II. THE THREE MIGHTY MEN WERE USED BY THE LORD TO BRING ABOUT GREAT  
   VICTORIES. 2 Sam. 23:20b, 12b
   A. Through God, we tread down our spiritual enemies. Psalm
      108:13
      1. Through God, we are able to quench all the fiery darts of   
         the evil one. Psalm 144:10
      2. Through God, we can mount up with wings like eagles. Isa.
         40:28-31
      3. God can give life even to dry bones. Ezek. 37:1-14
      4. Psalm 23 was written in the word of God for other purposes
         than to be read only at funerals!
         a. The Psalm encourages toward personal strength; e.g. vs.
            4.
         b. "If God is for us, who can be against us?"
   B. We should not think that our own personal battles are
      insignificant.
      1. We might think, "If only I had the opportunity to defend a
         field of beans against the Philistines! And, since I can't  
         do that, there is nothing I can do!"
      2. We should never belittle any work that the Lord has for us.
         a. Zechariah said, "For who has despised the day of small
            things?" Zech. 4:10
         b. If we are faithful in a little, we will be faithful in   
            much. Luke 16:10
         c. A lady, who was in the check-out-line behind a small
            boy, rejoiced that she could give seven cents to help a
            small boy buy some things he needed.
            (1) The small boy was bewildered because, to buy the
                things he needed, he lacked seven cents.
            (2) The lady said that it made her feel very good that
                she could help someone, even though it was in a
                very small way.
         d. Consider what Naaman's servants said to Naaman. 2
            Kings 5:13
            (1) They were saying, "Since you would have gladly
                done some extremely difficult thing, why not do
                this simple task?"
            (2) Naaman accepted their good advice. 2 Kings 5:14
      3. Let us not bury our talents in the earth, even if they might
         be small, but get out and go to work in the Lord service.   
         Matt. 25:25; 44-45

III. WE ALL ARE ENLISTED SOLDIERS IN THE ARMY OF THE LORD JESUS      
   CHRIST.
   A. The three mighty men were valiant soldiers in the army that was
      allied with David.
      1. Evidently, they knew that David had been anointed king, and
         they chose to follow him rather than evil king Saul. 1 Sam.
         23:13
      2. All believers should make sure they are enlisted in the     
         right army. 
   B. The three mighty men did their job well, and God saw fit to
      record their names, and what they did, in His permanent record
      for all men of all time.
      1. Though our names may never be in a permanent record of
         some kind here on earth, we are listed in the Lamb's book of
         Life; and, this is truly what's important.
         a. We are soldiers, let us make our stand in the Lord. Eph.
            6:10-13
         b. When we stand for the Lord, the Lord will stand with
            us. 2 Tim. 4:16-17; Heb. 13:5-6
   C. Please consider this essay written by an unknown author        
      entitled, "I Am A Soldier." We will let these be our concluding
      remarks:

      I am a soldier in the army of my God. The Lord Jesus Christ is
      my commanding officer. The Holy Bible is my code of conduct.
      Faith, prayer, and the Word are my weapons of warfare. I have
      been taught by the Holy Spirit, trained by experience, tried by
      adversity, and tested by fire. I am a volunteer in this army,  
      and I am enlisted for eternity. 

      I will either retire in this army at the end of time, or die in
      it; but I will not get out, sell out, be talked out, or pushed 

      out. I am faithful, reliable, capable, and dependable. If my   
      God needs me, I am there. If He needs me to teach a class, to  
      teach my neighbor, to help someone in need, or just to sit and 
      learn, He can use me because I am there! I am a soldier. I am  
      not a baby. I do not need to be pampered, petted, primed up,   
      pumped up, picked up, or pepped up. 

      I am a soldier. No one has to call me, remind me, write me,    
      visit me, entice me, or lure me. I am not a wimp. I am in      
      place, saluting my King, obeying His orders, praising His name,
      and building His kingdom. No one has to send me flowers, gifts,
      food, cards, candy, or give me handouts. I do not need to be   
      cuddled, cradled, cared for, or catered to. 

      I am committed. I cannot have my feelings hurt bad enough to
      turn me around. I cannot be discouraged enough to turn aside. I
      cannot lose enough to cause me to quit. When Jesus called me
      into this army, I had nothing materially. If I end up with     

      nothing, I will still come out ahead. I will win spiritually.  
      My God has supplied my needs, and will continue to supply all  
      of my needs. 

      I am more than a conqueror. I will always triumph. I can do all
      things through Christ. Devils cannot defeat me. People cannot
      disillusion me. Weather cannot weary me. Sickness cannot stop
      me. Battles cannot beat me. Money cannot buy me. Governments
      cannot silence me, and hell cannot handle me, because I'm safe 
      in my Savior. 

      I am a soldier. Even death cannot destroy me. For when my
      commander calls me from this battlefield, He will promote me,
      and then allow me to rule with Him. I am a soldier in the army,
      and I'm marching, claiming victory. I will not give up. I will 
      not turn around. I am a soldier, and I am heaven bound, and    
      here I stand! Will you stand with me as a good soldier of Jesus
      Christ?