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1 Sam 18:1-16 How To Live Right

• We have been talking about David as a “man after God’s own heart” He’s a man who is living right before God.
• Hard to live righteously- its difficult- if you’re trying to live right you’re going to get pushback
• This is for CHRISTIANS- people who are trying to live for GOD- This isn’t a message for Jerks who wont submit to God in his righteousness- you need to get saved- change your attitude
• If you’re not a follower of Jesus- I want you to be- It’s the right thing to do- be saved
• 2 Corinthians 7:1 Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
• Ephesians 4:27 nor give place to the devil.
• Titus 2:12 teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age,
• Its not easy to live this way. This world wants to convince you to live for Satan and not for God

• Once you’re saved from your sin- you should want to live for God and not for your sin

• But at every turn- you’re going to find resistance- Satan doesn’t want you to live righteously
• So we read this story of David and King Saul who wants nothing more than see David Fall
• Saul had promised riches and blessings for the one who slayed Goliath, but its not happening
• So what do we do? How then must we live? How can you be a David in a land of Sauls?

• Expect attack

• Read V 8-9 V8 Saul was very angry V 9 so Saul eyed David from that day forward
• Jumping to half way through the story and then we’ll circle back- but it was how David was living that really began to anger Saul. David was righteous, victorious, honorable
• Saul couldn’t stand it- so what does he do? He attacks him.
• Here’s whats hard with sociopathic individuals- They feel justified in their anger- IM KING
• David was fully aware that living a righteous life comes at a price
• Psalm 54:3 For strangers have risen up against me, And oppressors have sought after my life; They have not set God before them. Selah
• That’s the key right there- “they have not set God before them” That’s the heart of attackers- Saul never would have attacked if he wasn’t filled with hate and jealousy- he would have rejoiced that Goliath had been destroyed and that Israel was great again- Heart for God
• What does it mean to you?
• The reward for living righteously is that others who aren’t will attack you. Expect it
• John 16:2 They will put you out of the synagogues; yes, the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers God service.
• Jesus warned his disciples that living for him would not make everyone like you

• Interestingly enough- the most pushback I get living for Christ is those who claim him!

• Living for Jesus is COSTLY. Living righteously is COSTLY. This is one of the reasons I preach how I do- I do not want to sell you this idea that choosing to follow Christ will be easy
• Its easy to be like the world, live like the world, do what the world does
• Requires no thinking or critical thought- Just absorb their media and do what they say
• But you should count it WORTHY that you come under attack for  being CHRISTIAN
• Matthew 10:22 And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved.

• Luke 6:22 Blessed are you when men hate you, And when they exclude you, And revile you, and cast out your name as evil, For the Son of Man’s sake.

• What do we do? Expect attack. Expect that people wont agree with you.
• Folks- we live in an age that agrees with sexual immorality, murder of children, mental disorders, all religions but Christianity, denigration of God and his holy word.
• Media, public education, literature, movies, music, all do not agree with the Christian way
• 1 Peter 4:12 Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you;
• And this isn’t suffering for your bad decisions- this is for living righteously for Christ
• Even People who claim to be for God will come after you V11 I will pin David to the wall
• So what do we do?

• Find a friend (jonathan and David)

• READ V 1-4
• See- Jonathan had already had a run-in with his dad back in chap 14- And the issue with Jonathan is the same as with David- love for God and Israel no matter what the cost
• Jonathan had fought the Philistines and won- he was battle tested. He was a soldier
• So here we see the love for God and Israel is the means by which they come together
• 3 Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul.
• You can go an listen to my sermon on covenants- but this is serious business.
• Proverbs 18:24 A man who has friends must himself be friendly, But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
• Jonathan and David have found a friendship even deeper than family- very close
• What David intrinsically knew was that he was going to need a close friend to make it
• Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 Two are better than one, Because they have a good reward for their labor. 10 For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, For he has no one to help him up.
• To live righteously before God- to escape the attacks of the enemy- you need a friend
• Think about it- Jonathans loyalty is to David and not to his own father.

• What does it mean to you?

• Solomon said Proverbs 13:20 He who walks with wise men will be wise, But the companion of fools will be destroyed.
• If you don’t have great friends- you are going to be destroyed- You need friends
• Some people don’t know how to make friends because they have always seen friends as a way to get something from- if I don’t need anything from you- we don’t need to be friends
• But friendship isn’t just about getting- its about companionship. Being together. Improving
• You better choose your friends correctly- Part ways with those who aren’t in Christ
• 1 Corinthians 15:33 Do not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits.”
• Proverbs 22:24-25 Make no friendship with an angry man, And with a furious man do not go, 25 Lest you learn his ways And set a snare for your soul.
• Prov 12:26 The righteous should choose his friends carefully, For the way of the wicked leads them astray.
• People say- “Jesus was a friend of sinners” and he was- but He wasn’t doing what they did- he was preaching the Gospel to them that they may be saved.
• Who are your friends that you’re going into battle with? Who are you knitting your heart to?
• Friends with jay and dan- rap game, street ministry, helping others, starting church- call me out

• Continue in Righteousness

• V14 David behaved wisely in all his ways and the Lord was with him
• David was so committed to his love for God and Israel that he wasn’t going to let even the attacks of the king to keep him from being who HE was.
• Psa 5:12 For You, O Lord, will bless the righteous; With favor You will surround him as with a shield.
• David knew- Those who walk with God will be blessed- he need not be concerned
• Psalm 32:10 Many sorrows shall be to the wicked; But he who trusts in the Lord, mercy shall surround him.
• Mercy surrounds those who continue to trust in the Lord
• Here’s what David didn’t do- He didn’t let the actions of someone else redirect what he was going to do with HIS life- he was going to continue to move towards being King
• V12 Saul was afraid of David because the Lord was with him
• Saul saw how David lived and it scared him! That’s how righteously David lived!

• What does it mean to you?

• How easily are you derailed in your life with Christ? What does it take to derail you?
• Just because others around you aren’t living right, it doesn’t mean that you get to live wrong
• You are to continue to live righteously regardless of what may be happening around you
• James 1:22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
• Live out the words of Jesus- Walk with him!
• Would it be possible to move to a place in your Christian walk where you didn’t need to be micromanaged in every area of your Christian life? I understand if you’ve been serving God less than a year- but after a while- its like- come one man- lets Go serve God
• You have to live RIGHTEOUSLY- You have to live a clean life before God- Not as the world lives- not doing what the world does- living as a SAINT of GOD.
• What you do with your time, resources and heart indicates where your heart is
• Galatians 5:16 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh
• 1 Thessalonians 4:7 For God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness.
• 1 Pet 2:11 Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul,
• 1 John 3:3 And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.