Fortress Friend - Father's Day 2019

Today, you know, my message is pretty pointed straight forward,

but yet I've got this stirring up emotions happening on the

inside of me. I can't articulate exactly why

that is, but it just comes up with this message.

And maybe it's because I realized that in the body of

Christ, there's a level of friendship that is rarely

attained to because of the inability to understand

Covenant, but I prayed today we begin to get into a journey

where it opens us up in our spirit, renews our mind and we

find ourselves being connected, a little deeper than just I

attend anchor, Faith Church, You know, I subtitle this message

Kingdom loyalty. And today we're not filming this

because we didn't film Mother's Day, you know, and even though

they were going to do, it said know, if we're not going to put

Mother's Day Out, We're not gonna put Father's Day out if we

want to do that, we'll do it next year.

So this is in-house teaching. What do I mean by?

That is sometimes, you know, just because you can say

something beyond your house, doesn't mean that you should and

not, everybody can handle things that go outside.

Sometimes Jesus said, even to his disciples, there's many more

things I love to say to you, but you're not.

At able to Bear, which means there were some things.

He said to his disciples, he didn't even say to the public.

In fact, he said to you, it's been granted to know the

mysteries of the kingdom of God to them.

It's not. And so sometimes there's just

some things that we need to say. I happen to know what the men

have heard here. So I'm going to say this if

you're a man today and you're a father and you're a first-time

guest with us, I don't know what your background is and teaching

I don't know what you've heard from other churches.

I don't know if you've even been to a church but I do know what

the men of heard here. And so I'm speaking to them.

Now, you can include yourself and you can grow and and, and

draw from it. But I'll say some things that

they will literally know what I'm talking about because

they've experienced some stuff. We've walked through some things

and they have some things in their spirit that the Holy Ghost

will say, remember these things, remember those things.

Now, the Mighty Man, 318. They have this thing instead of

saying, amen. If there's something that's

really awesome, they do this one, two, three and say, Yes,

together in unison, it doesn't always happen here in Anchorage

a church, but when it does, it's pretty significant, amen.

And so, I don't know how often will do it today, but I just

asked you to jump in with us. Amen.

So I would subtitle this Kingdom loyalty.

I always subtitle my messages that way.

I know. Subject I've ministered on and

when you look up the word loyalty it just means the state

of being loyal. So you have to look up loyal and

loyal means this. It means on swerving in

Allegiance. Unswerving in Allegiance.

And there's this thing about loyalty that just isn't there.

A few subjects in the word of God, that we're just not getting

and it's a Miss within the church.

Body honor is one, not a whole lot of Honor going around in our

culture today lost a lot of Honor.

In fact, it is the first promise, you get the 10

commandments if you read them three, the first three are

dealing with God himself when he Starts to talk outside him.

He begins to deal with family and the word.

He uses first is honor. We've lost honor in the homes

and we've lost honor in the church.

Think we lost honoring the church first and as a result of

that, it trickled out into the family.

Honors a big deal, honors. God still looks to God uses

people who walk in on her, the loyalties huge to because

loyalty is uhn-uhn swerving in allegiance, that means there's

something happening. Even though conditions

surrounding it are always favorable.

There's always something there, that helps things remind people

of Something I'm committed to and we're going to see this

today. When we discover, who are

Fortress, friend is in Proverbs 18:24.

Proverbs 18:24

It says this a man who has friends must himself be

friendly, new King James version, but there is a friend

who sticks closer than a brother.

Let me Define a couple of terms at the latter part of the

scripture and then we'll go back to the scripture itself.

The word stick means this or sticks means to cleave or

adhere. We're having a hard time.

Time today with people cleaving and adhering or staying

committed. We could say it that way.

In fact, most of us don't want any type of commitment, you

know, we don't, we would love to get into things that don't

require full commitment so much. So that whole businesses have

changed, you don't even have to commit in your cell phone bill

anymore, you know, you you're not in contract.

So there's this whole or that, you know, you're better off so

to speak and, you know, we find this you No in relationships, we

find this with work. You know we find this there was

generations of people before us that they would stay with the

same company and they would stay committed and loyal to it even

if other opportunities were somewhere else today man, we

basically go wherever it Best Suits us.

And that happens even in the church.

Well, there's plenty of churches here so you can go find another

one. But if you actually read

scripture, you're not the one who's supposed to be looking for

it. Bible is very clear if you read

it. First Corinthians 12:18.

1 Corinthians 12:18

And God, places you in the body, where pleases him?

Hallelujah. We'll go on, let's go on.

So, it's to cleave it here. You got to ask her, you got some

stick to it. This, I mean, that's not a word,

but I'm just using it, right? You gotta stick to something, no

matter what you, you can't come off the next where we want to

look at his brother. What's it mean to be a brother?

I mean, obviously we say brother, typically we think of a

relative immediately, a natural. Someone that is born of that

particular bloodline family. That's who that is, you know,

and you could say family. But it also means this It means

Kinsman. It means of the same tribe, it

means of the same people. It also could mean friend, in

fact, in its literal sense, it means Lover.

Now, let's not love her. The way we Define lover today

you hear the word lover, you think it's sexual, you know,

lovers, not always sexual and in this context is obviously not

sexual. This lover means Covenant It

means I'm willing to lay down my life for you.

I'm willing to lay everything about me down to help pick up

your cause and to do it with you for you.

There's a love that a friend can have that's this way.

And I'll show you from the words of Jesus here in a moment but

this scripture can be a little misleading.

When you just read the new King James, and if you don't break it

down in its original language, it kind of looks like you know,

bottom line. Line is, if you're going to have

friends, you got to be friendly. So, if a person has a lot of

friends than they must be a friendly person, you know, we're

kind of obsessed with friends today.

It's why we have Facebook. How many friends do you have?

This is why you have Instagram. How many followers do you have?

Why everybody wants somebody to follow them?

So while we have the teenagers have Snapchat, right?

Why because they want to be in to have friends and then if they

don't have for a long then get rid of them to and have to stuff

their showing shows up show and leaves and don't want your

parents to know what's going. On in first place, the world is

creating an app so that your teenagers can get away with

Rebellion. Okay.

Then they got other apps so that ain't put all their apps in

other apps so that you don't know.

And you think you've got access, you don't have no access.

That's a whole. Another sermon will preach one

day on effective parenting. You're not effective parent

because you give your child a smartphone because they're not

smart enough to use it in or mature enough to handle it.

I'm just going to be honest with you.

You know, now every teenagers mad at me, but that's okay, I

don't care why. Because, I know, see when I was

young, I could, if I was going to watch pornography, I had our

look at how to go to the store, and it was behind the counter.

And you had to actually present, some kind of ID that said you

were old enough today, teenagers are making their own pornography

They don't have to go anywhere, they are the product and sending

it to their friends and you gave your child a phone because you

want to stay connected. Then give them a flip phone.

They just about being connected just about they can call you

when they need you. I mean you did fall apart

because you couldn't call your mommy.

Immediately pairs give an elementary age kids smartphone.

Seriously, they can't handle the stuff that's there and the

World's pushing it. They get it by accident.

They're watching their little SpongeBob SquarePants on YouTube

TV and when that episodes done on the side is something else.

What is that? Okay.

Let's stay on subject. Somebody need to hear that this

morning. So, a friend is also included

here when it comes to a brother. So there's this friend that

sticks closer who stays committed connected, because

it's not about natural birth. It's about Covenant.

So, let's read this in a few other passages of scripture

called. We need to recognize that when

King the new King James and the King James is talking about,

just being friendly. It's not just really being

friendly as kind of misleading, actually, because it has a

little more context. The message says that this way

friends come and go friends, come friends go.

But a true friend sticks by you like family.

Now, all of a sudden the definition of these friends, you

know, the friends, he's showing themselves, friendly really the

context, the new King James should would be at his that.

You can try to be friends to everybody, but Not everybody is

going to be your friend. And sometimes you'll compromise

your life for the sake of keeping a friend.

In fact, the majority, all of us let's just be honest.

All of us have failed God In following him fully because we

compromised because of a friend. We were more concerned about

what our friend felt like let's brings us on into the next

translation. It says it this way there are

friends who pretend to be friends.

But there's still a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

So just because you have people on Facebook, you have over

1,000, friends are more, doesn't mean they're your friends.

In fact, my wife we had this little joke with each other.

If one of my high school you know, friends like something.

They'll say oh your friend, like I said, they're not my friend.

They are an acquaintance. There's somebody I knew when I

was in high school but they're not my friend because they never

call me. They never check in on me.

They don't show up at church to hear me preach.

They don't ask me out for dinner.

They don't want anything. Thing to do in my life, they're

just following my pictures. What kind of friends that, you

know, so many people are empowered by this and how many

people are depressed by this. Then all the sudden, so and so

didn't like it. but I thought you were my Another translation

says that this way, one who has unreliable friends soon comes to

ruin. Well what makes them unreliable

because there's pretend friends. Do they got?

You back until they don't have you back until the situation

happens that no longer they're not your friend.

Hallelujah. Another translation says this

way, one with many friends may be harmed, okay?

I don't want to have a friend now because some of my friends

are harm me, we didn't say enemy.

In fact, the King David wrote the songs and he said, man, I am

distressed in my heart, I'm paraphrasing obviously he said,

man, I'm I'm broken up on the inside, he said, now, if it had

been my enemy, I could have handled this.

But it was someone who went with me in the house of the Lord.

Who betrayed me one that I thought was my friend.

I mean I've been betrayed by a friend.

Yeah. We all have right?

But the question is what kind of friend were we to them?

And what kind of friend were they to us?

We got to find this friend who sticks closer than a brother.

Last translation, New Living Translation, says this way,

there are friends who destroy each other but a real fent

friend sticks closer than a brother.

I like, what the message says, it says, but a true friend

sticks to Sticks by you like family.

Ali, you know, you start talking about, someone's family, you

start meddling, you know. I you know, I can talk about my

brother, I can't talk about my mom and I'm talking about my

daddy, but you ain't going to talk about them ever been around

some of those people before. Oh yeah, that tell you straight

up, you know, they'll be dog and their kin folk out then all of a

sudden you're not yet are real stupid.

Don't you talk about my brother like that?

I mean I was just agreeing with what you said, only I can say

that. Now, why did they draw a line

there? Because blood to them goes

further than your the hit their relationship with you.

Yet the Bible tells us that you can have a relationship with

someone that is not blood related, meaning naturally in

the family, but yet, they can be more connected to you in family

than natural ones. Are you with me?

Well, Jesus lets us know this takes place.

Turn over to John chapter 15. Listen, all of us have had

John 15 · chapter mention

friends. JoJo has friends, if you read

the book of Job, he had some friends.

They showed up when all hell broke loose covers loosen his

life, he lost his all in all of his livestock, all of his

possessions, his kids died and they showed up and sat down with

him and he was quiet and morning, ripped his clothes, you

know, trying to figure things out and they're sitting around

after about 24 hours of quiet. They begin, he began to talk and

say, man, I don't understand why this happened.

I don't recognize while this took place.

I don't get why God did this to me and it all of his friends.

Say you've sinned bro, start accusing him of sin, all of a

sudden turned on him said you there's no way all this would

happen. If you don't have a sin in your

life, in the fact that you won't admit, it means that you're in

Pride and I mean those three friends railed him for chapters.

They had a little buddy as well. That showed up, he was young, he

wouldn't say anything but in the He's like I can't restrain it

anymore. I'm tired of joke talking so he

just laid into him. God eventually showed up said

all. Y'all are liars.

Shut up. Then talk to job about a few

things and then job prayed for his friends because they were

off is like, you go have to let Joe pray for you.

I mean, I don't want a friend like that it's just sitting

around waiting for me to blow it so they can jump on me for

everything. I had done.

Come on. How many Believers are up in

here? You know, you got some people.

You've been talking to, you've been witnessing to, you've been

telling about Jesus and they're like, your friend and use called

him your friend and they're, they're nice to you, but the

minute, you blow it. They're going to pounce on you

and begin to say si and I Christianity.

That Jesus stuff in it. Well, where was their

friendship? They just waiting for you to

fail. What kind of friend is that?

You know, the prodigal son, had friends, dad.

I wish you were already in the grave.

I want my inheritance now son. Here's your inheritance.

Turn it, you can go, I'm not gonna make you stay.

So he takes off and on and he says, hey, I got my inheritance

and all of his friends says, woo.

Let's go. And man, did they go?

They had a party and his friends were there.

Well, guess what? He ran out of money.

And he had no friend to go to no friends have man.

We've been partying with you for the last 6 months man.

Well you've ran out, that's okay.

Come over and stay here with me. No, they'd be like bro you on

your own next thing you know, this guy is in a pigpen wanting

to eat what the pigs eat. Where's his friends at all?

Sure. Why you have a job and you're

being promoted in? You're going around?

Yeah, everybody loves you but the minute you know that runs

out. See there's some friends man.

Some people are around you at work just because they're using

you to get to the next place or they want you to get promoted so

you can bring them along because it ain't about you, it's just

always about them. Now we got to find a friend that

sticks closer than a brother What does this friend look like?

John chapter 15 verse 12 through 17?

John 15:12–17

It says, this is my commandment that you love one.

Another just as I have loved you, man, so there's the

condition. This is how we love each other.

I said, this is how we love each other.

I said, this is how we love each other.

How did Jesus loved us? He said this while you were yet,

sinners I die for you. I first loved you, you didn't

love me. Amen.

That means you don't love somebody on conditions.

You just love them. Now, what does that mean?

That's not acceptance, because love will.

Let somebody go down the road just like the father of the

prodigal son. He could have said, Son.

Don't do it man. Don't go.

No, I'm not. No, I'm not giving you seen here

and she can't handle it. Son.

You're not doing it. You can't do it.

I'm not doing it. You're not doing it.

Yeah. No.

He said here go. You don't want to be here with

me. Then you can go.

You know, Dad didn't do, didn't go running down that didn't go

check in on him, they didn't go bail him out the pig, son

enough, Seattle, you should listen to me.

Come on. Let me tell you here, you need

some money, you need some more money, you need some more money,

you need some more money. Love, didn't do that.

Love stayed home. Love said I'm here and you can

come back and I'll take care of you. because when he's in pixel

off, he says, My dad treats his servants better than I'm being

treated right now. Now, I've blown it.

I'm a disgrace man. I shouldn't even be called a son

but I know my dad's a good man and I'll just go back and serve

him. I mean, I would much rather be

one of his servants. Then do what I'm doing now.

And said he came to his senses, he got up and started heading

out and dad was on the front porch, with expectation, man,

sooner or later, my son's got to realize that it's better to be

home. Home.

And there he comes over the hill and dad didn't wait for him to

come say I told you so no he ran to him.

Embracing gave him a hug and his son was like, Dad.

Listen, I'm not worthy to be called your son.

I just want to be a servant. He said, nonsense.

Obviously he repented he realized his lifestyle was

wrong. He realized his thinking was

wrong and then that repentance, he put a robe on him.

Gave him a ring, gave him Authority.

Kill the fatted cow and had a party and said, my son was lost

and now he's found. Hallelujah.

Amen. But that only came because he

let him get to the place of pig slop.

Seal of a, let people get to the place of pig, slop for the sake

of repentance. So when I say love, I'm not

talking about acceptance, I'm talking about getting people to

the place of repentance so that they can genuinely be restored.

Love will do that. And soul of God said I loved

you. I've given myself for you.

You didn't love me. I did what I was supposed to do

to give you an opportunity. Now, it's on you.

I said it's on you and Jesus does done, everything is laid

on. You, you're the one who decides

whether to come to the Lord or not.

It's on you. There's no longer on Jesus, he's

paid the price. All you got to do is come But if

you don't come it's on you and lover, let you stay where you're

at even though loves provide it for you, not to be there.

Come on. Are you with me?

So he's saying now you've got to love this way.

Know how to love to bring provision and give opportunities

for people to come and receive that love.

Then he goes on and says that this way greater love has no one

than this then one who lay down his life for his friend.

What's that mean? We starting to move into what a

fortress friend is? That is somebody who's saying,

listen, I'm going to lay my life down for you.

I'm gonna take up your cause I'm gonna take care of what's

important to you. I'm going to help you out.

I'm not gonna pursue me. I'm gonna pursue you as if you

were me. This is what he means by that he

goes on and says this way you are my friends.

If say yes come on turn to a neighbor say yes, now Jesus is

defining. What a friend is and this is

where we get in trouble. Believers try to Define God's

terms is God who has the right to Define them.

So don't tell me what a friend is, unless it lines up with the

word you can sing it. I Am A Friend Of God.

I'm a friend of God. I'm a friend of God.

I Am A Friend Of God. He calls me friend.

It's old song, right? They meant that her to have you

heard that before. Okay, good.

I want a great rendition but that's why I don't sing all the

worship team now, Pastor Marcus was here.

I'd sound way better. Seriously, you need to know, you

get connected people to make you sound better.

And I know when I sing with Pastor Marcus, I sound better

all the time. Seriously, you can go solo, you

want to, and they give you the x's and be like, you're gone,

man. You're horrible, get out of

here, but I mean, Pastor Marcus do a duet, it'd be like, dang,

they pretty good. Hallelujah, you need to get

around people to make you look better.

Make you sound better, that's what I'm saying.

So here, he Says, you are my friends condition.

If you do what I command you. So if you're not doing what

Jesus says, you're not his friend.

All right, I'll come over here a little bit further.

We're not filming today so I can get all.

I get off the platform today. Only get stay on it because the

lighting, listen, you are not a friend, if you're not doing what

he says, I don't care if she's home.

Jesus, friends, you're not. You can't be his friend outside

his condition. He lays it out, you if he says

you are my friends, if you do what I command no longer do I

call you slaves for a slave, does not know what his master is

doing. So what he says is I'm going to

reveal things to you said, go on to the next verse, so you're no

longer slaves, you're going to move into friendship status.

Why? Because he's not withholding

information, he's communicating he said, but I have called you

friends for all things, which I have heard from my father.

I have made known to you. You he says, you didn't choose

me, but I chose you and appointed you that you would go

and bear fruit and that your fruit would remain.

So that whatever you ask of the father in my name, he will give

you this. I command you.

Now, this is not a suggestion. So if you're going to be Jesus

friend, then you got to do what he says that you love one

another, why did he know this? Because he knew this if you

gonna become a friend that sticks closer than a brother,

then you gonna get around some people that are family but not

family, their family spirit Sleep.

But they're not family naturally and spiritual families can blow

it. It's amazing.

We go have a big family reunions with a bunch of people that we

don't hardly have any relationship with.

We all wear the same t-shirts, we eat around the same table and

man we will be to get each other's back.

But yet we know, they ain't no good, ain't living right day,

doing nothing good. That's family.

That's my family. And we like so full of pride in

it. And you know that and you're

like forgiving them. Well you know, that's just, you

know, how they are, you know how they are.

You know how they are. But in you get around a brother

in Christ that makes a mistake and we're like, who are you and

got him off. This is why Jesus and I command

you love them because you're going to go around and start

talking natural family over spiritual family. so he defines

friends, friends are those who keep my word then later on in

the same chapter, or not the same chapter, but in another

chapter where we at what chapters is Matthew 12 verse 46,

Matthew 12:46

then he defines family not only, does he find friend, he defines

family, Ready while he was still speaking to the crowds to hold

his mother. And his brothers, were standing

outside seeking to speak to him, who's looking for him.

His mother and his who. What are they?

They're Brothers right there. Family, someone said to him,

behold your mother and your brothers are standing outside

spit seeking to speak with you. But Jesus say, but Jesus say,

but Jesus, who's talking who's Talking, who's talking Jesus Is

God, he's the second person of the godhead.

He is the Son of God, and God is not a man that he should lie.

So, Jesus Christ doesn't lie. So what he's about to say is

truth, But Jesus answered the one who was telling him and

said, so in essence, it's like Kenny over here saying hey

Pastor Earle your wife, you know, are your mom's here and

your sisters here. They're looking to speak to you

and I go Kenny. Who is my mother and my mom's

right outside the door. Now, my mom be like, what did he

say? Because I know how your mom's

think. I mean, what would you do if

your child won't him says, who's my mom?

Who's your mama boy child please?

I'll slap you right now. That's it.

I'm your mom. Do you feel that?

I'm your mom, right? I'm your mama.

I brought you into this world. Yeah, see y'all?

Got that down? Only had to finish it.

Mama's, y'all use that all the time.

I take you out. I take you out.

You need a little Hit Cha please up.

Right? I Jesus did this.

I'm surprised. She didn't go grab him by the

ears. A bull you coming with me right

now. She didn't do that though.

Did she know know? But look at Jesus answering

said, who is my mother? And who are my brothers and

stretching out his hands towards his?

Not converts. But those who are enlisted as

pupils. These are people who are studies

of the word. Who said, man, I'm giving my

life to you, I want to know your ways, and I want to do it your

way. He said, behold my mother and my

brothers for whoever. For whoever now he's, he's

defining why he can call you family.

For whoever does the will of my father, who is in heaven.

He is Do you see this for whoever that's not the pastor's?

That's not the prophets, that's not the apostles outside.

The Evangelist that's not the teachers.

It's not the five full minutes. That's whoever for whoever does

the will of my father who is in heaven, he is my brother and

sister and mother. Wow, what a powerful statement

so we see in Proverbs that there's a brother that sticks

close. There's a friend that sticks

closer than a brother someone who is in a covenant love

relationship with someone even though naturally they're not

related at all. And then Jesus lets us know.

You can be my friend even though Mama Mary didn't bring bring you

into the world. Jesus had some brothers that

came from Mama married, but there were plenty in the room.

Did it go from? Mama Mary and he says them.

No. Listen, you can be in my family,

too. All you got to do is do the will

of my dad and you'll show yourself a friend to me when you

do what I say. He defines these things.

Now there's an example in the word of God of this Fortress

friendship, meaning someone that is fully rely upon that's going

to cleave and stick to them. No matter what say, no matter

what, it's very important, very important because the church

should have these types of relationships in them.

Anchor. Faith Church has gone beyond

just ministering. The truth message that if you

accept Jesus as your savior that he died on the cross and Rose

from the grave for you, paid the price for your sins.

That when you acknowledge that you'll be born again.

And when you die, you'll be present with him.

That is a true statement and most Believers limit their

existence and relationship to God.

In In that sphere. We've gone to additional truths

that our family, grew Beyond me, just being right with a personal

savior that not only do I have this relationship, but I have

this relationship and this relationship commanded me to

have this one. Which means it isn't about him

being in my address. It's about him being through me

to effect. All kinds of addresses.

My assignment. And your assignment is not just

to get one person to get them to God, get him to God, get him to

God, get her to God. All I do.

I'm just trying to get you there.

Trying to get you there. No, I introduced you to him

because we need to get connected.

God wanted his family to manifest in the Earth.

If it was just about you knowing Jesus alone, then he went to

command us to like each other. Kenny I don't like you at all,

but I'm just glad you're going to heaven, right?

I could say that. Right, I mean hey I'm we do this

in our own natural. Dad did love you more mom, shh.

But yeah we're family. We put up with each other even

though we don't like each other. Okay, I'll go over here spawn

but you're only upset at me right now because I'm talking

about your family. That's all I understand, but I

am talking about your family, the one that you don't

acknowledge enough, it's called a spiritual family.

No, I'm more concerned. I'm not just concerned about

Kenny knowing our dad, but I want to know my brother.

I want to know him. Because Dad commanded me through

the son Jesus, that this is my brother and I'm the love him.

now, how do I know he's my brother because he's doing the

will of the father Hallelujah. So we see an example of this

take place through the life of two gentlemen, in the word of

God. One was named David and the

other is Jonathan. And we come on the scene, I'm

going to read a few passages of scripture just to bring us into

perspective here. I think I'm just going to for

the sake of time. I'm this service I want to read

a few first and then explain them.

Okay? So this relationship between

Jonathan and David happens around the death of Goliath.

So let's bring it into perspective here.

So King saw is been made king of Israel, only because the whole

nation has rejected, God himself, as being King, First

1 Samuel 8 · chapter mention

Samuel, chapter 8 and so he's put an anointing on a man, that

obviously is not done a very good job with that anointing.

In fact, he's actually rebelled against God and God's pull the

anointing off of him in return, evil spirits, coming tormenting.

So God now is like, I'm going to get a different king.

That's one after my own heart. I gave them the king, the people

want. Now I'm going to put it in place

of king that's after my heart. He's not a person pleaser.

He's a god pleaser. And he went looking for one and

found one out in the field. All he was was just watching a

bunch of sheep, but man, he had a heart after God, so Samuel

goes looking for him bouncing of God and goes into the man's

house and they wait till he comes.

He's out of the field and anoints him is King.

The guy has the anointing of King on him, although he's a

lad. Well, King Saul's having issues

in the, in the, you know, Castle because he's having being

tormented by this evil spirit. And so someone suggests that

they bring somebody in who can play music and soothing, well,

apparently, David have had a reputation of being a great

musician. So they pulled him in off the

field and he would play a harp. And when he would play and sing,

the spirit would leave, and Kingwood and King Saul would be

at peace. Now you think King Saul know who

this guy is? But he doesn't he has no

recollection of the guy playing. This guy shows up on the

battlefield. Why?

Because he'll only go to the king's Palace when the evil

spirits, tormenting Saul. And when that was done, he

brought peace. He'd go back home and take care

of the flops with Dad. He happens to be taken care of

the flocks and death. Says listen.

Some of your brothers are going to war and so I need you to go

take them some provision and find out how everything is

going. Well, he shows up and he's

talking, he's looking for his brothers and gets about where

they're at and he overhears the conversation because Glide shows

up and begins to talk the armies of God Israel.

And David when he hears this is like what in the world's going

on. Right?

And he makes this statement who is this uncircumcised Philistine

that toss the armies of God? Then he comes to find out that

if you kill this guy that he'll get the marry one of the Kings

Daughters that he'll have a place with the King and that his

family, I mean, his whole leg lineage family, lineage will no

longer have to pay tax to the king.

And he's like, seriously, that's why, is somebody not doing this?

Well, when his oldest brother, here's this the one who was

overlooked for King first, When the prophet Samuel came in and

says, that must be the king. And he says, Nope, son.

That's not the king. Because I am not a man.

I don't look at the outward appearance.

I look at the heart, go to the next So, the oldest brother, the

natural brother says, I know your heart going back home.

You little Shepherd. Boy.

You have no part to play here. In fact was rude to him King.

David's, like David at the time, but he is King, but he's not

acting King. As far as in a position, he's

like, I said, you know what? If I said to you, I just asked

him a question and I said shut up, don't talk to me.

Guess back to King Saul King, Saul shows up.

And David begins to look at me says, don't let your heart be

troubled. King, Saul, no problem.

This giant be no different than the line in the bear.

I've killed because against God, he's nothing.

King Saul was like bro. You just a little youth, man.

He's been a warrior since his youth.

He'll eat you up and throw you. Spit you out and all that.

He said man, I've killed The Lion and the bear, that's no

problem. King Saul's like wow.

Okay yeah here's my armor. Go do a man.

Nobody else is going to do it. He's like I can't use all this

stuff. I'm not tested.

I'll just go out with what I have.

Now what we don't know is someone's in the room.

And it's the king son. His name's Jonathan here in all

this David Goes Down And he does exactly what he said he'd do to

the jot. He kills it cuts his head off,

then goes and takes care of the army.

And then coming back, he has the giant sword and his head and

presents it before the king. And he's talking to the king and

in the room as his son, Jonathan, the heir to the throne

And when this takes place, it says here in first Samuel

1 Samuel 18 · chapter mention

chapter 18 it says. Now it came about when he had

finished speaking to solve that is sold that the soul of

Jonathan was knit to the soul, soul of David, and Jonathan

loved him as himself. Notice how did he loved him as

himself, not sexually. He loved him as himself.

Which means whatever I would want done for me.

I'm going to do for this guy. Saul took him that day and then

I let him return to his father's house.

Then Jonathan made a covenant made a what made a covenant with

David because he loved him as himself.

Jonathan stripped himself of his robe that was on him and gave to

David with his armor, including his sword and his bow and his

belt in essence. He said, I have the right to the

throne I give it to you. Wow. in essence, if I was King,

then I would be over your family.

I want you to take my place and be over my family.

Just take care of my family, like I would take care of yours.

They entered into Covenant. In essence, they had each

other's back, we jump to the next chapter.

So on Samuel first name, your 19 1 through 3.

It says, and soil salt old, Jonathan, his son, and all his

servants to put David to death King, Saul had a problem with

David. Why?

Because he's winning wars. And he gets a more accurately

than sawdust and he's like, man, he's gonna take my kingdom from

me. So he becomes possessed

possessive and basically want to kill the guy.

He wants to kill the guy first because I don't want to lose my

kingship. So Jonathan told David Saul.

My father is seeking to put you to death now.

Therefore, please be on your guard in the morning and saying

the secret place and hide yourself.

I will go out and stand beside my father in the field where you

are. And I will speak to my father

about you. If I find anything, then I would

tell you in essence. He's like, look.

I know my dad's mad, but I'm gonna go to your defense.

What a friend? He didn't say well Dad's upset

Families, First? Father Knows Best better, killed

David. Forget all that Covenant stuff.

I mean, I thought it was good, I mean the guy was a champion but

apparently he's like pulling the kingdom to himself.

I don't know about this guy. Now he didn't take the words of

his dad, he stayed a friend by the next chapter.

We see because we understand that he does convince his dad to

not do this thing. That what value that David had

and he kept him from killing him that day.

But King Saul gets it in his mind.

Again, got to kill the god, this time, he decides, I'm not going

to tell my son. So then in the next chapter of

the first four verses David, he flees and says to came and said

to Jonathan, what about Don, what is my iniquity?

What is my sin before your father?

That he's seeking my life and then Jonathan says, listen, Far

far from it, you shall not die. Behold my father does not does

nothing either great or small without disclosing it to me.

So why should why should my father hide?

This thing for me it is not. So in essence, you talking bad

about my daddy? My daddy told me that you lying

right now. Now you understand where he

could go but where does Jonathan go because he's a fortress

friend. He says this yet.

David bowed again saying your father knows, well that if I

have found favor in your sight he has said do not let Jonathan

know this. Or he will be grieved.

But truly as the Lord lives and as my soul lives, this there is

hardly a step between me and death.

Then Jonathan said to David whatever you say this all do.

Wow, here's a guy that didn't say, you did you talking about

about my dad? Now listen, I went.

Listen, you kill Goliath, okay. And I pledged myself to you,

because I saw God's hand on your life, I realize you were great

delivering. You could do great things.

And then, you know, when my dad who obviously was having a bad

day wanted to kill you, I stood in your defense now, but Dad has

never told me that he's going to kill you ever again.

And now you tell him I mean my dad's doing it.

Now you take it a little too far.

I mean, you ain't even part of the family.

Okay, great. I don't know why.

So quiet, unless you just love your natural family so much, and

is struggling where we're going right now.

Let's get this. I mean this guy could have

totally gotten sideways. You called my dad a lot.

We ain't friends no more. Know what did Jesus say?

If you're my friend You do what? I say, Jonathan in a different,

Covenant new. The ones that are right with God

and do, what does What God Says? And David's been doing what God

says in my daddy's not. So I'd have to believe that Dave

has more right about my dad being a liar.

Because David has been following God, David has been pursuing

righteousness and I've seen my daddy not do, right?

So I'm not going to pick my natural daddy over this Covenant

friendship. I have that is proven itself to

follow God. My natural family is not going

to stick closer to me than this Covenant friend.

That's not in my bloodline, but they've done more from me and

have proven themselves more with God than my dad has.

So I'm just glad to conclude maybe David's right about this

deal. I'll find out.

What do you want to do? He said, man, do this for me,

tell him that I want to go to see my family and Bethlehem and

if your dad gets mad that I'm not there at the table, then

you'll know he wants to kill me. But if he does it, then I'm

wrong. So we go on down into the 27th

chapter and it says about the second day, Davis place was

empty and Saul said to Jonathan. Why has the son of Jesse not

come to the mill either yesterday or today.

Jonathan answer said, David earnestly ask sleeve for me to

go to Bethlehem and then he gives the conditions of why he

wanted to leave verse 30, then Saul's anger burned against

Jonathan. And he said you son of a

perverse rebellious woman. Do I not, did I not?

No. Do I not know that you are

choosing the son of Jesse to your own shame into the shame of

your mother's nakedness for as long as the son of Jesse lives

on the earth? Neither you nor your kingdom

will be established. Therefore now sinned and bring

him to me. He must surely die.

In essence, he saying, son? I'm your dad.

Now, listen, you have aligned yourself with the wrong guy.

I'm family son and this guy is only out for our destruction.

Ian, he's not what he says, he is, he's not what he thinks he

is, he's not doing, you know, you're buying a lost, son.

If you want your kingdom to be established, then we got to get

rid of this died. Now you send for him and let's

kill him once. And for all son, you're going to

be powerful. You're going to be influential

my gosh, man. I've got, God has given me this

Kingdom to hand it to you and you are siding with somebody

ain't even blood. Oh, I'm preaching.

Your family. Your family.

We hear this all the time, are we?

We naturally in the bloodline but my family is with the Lord.

Listen to me, fathers. Listen to me, fathers.

There's a family bigger than the one that you came out of.

There's a responsibility God's trying to get you to.

Through the life of Jonathan and David and then to bring

blessings to your life if you'll begin to walk in it.

But Jonathan, third verse 32 answer saw and said to him, why

should he be put to death? What's he done in essence?

Give me the reason you got to justify it.

You've got to give what is his literal crime?

And then saw his dad hurled his Spirit him to strike him down.

So Jonathan knew that his father had decided to put David to

death and Jonathan arose, from the table and fierce anger and

did not eat food on the second day of the, new moon for his

greed over David because his father had dis honored him, he

was more upset of what his dad did to his friend.

Then what his dad accused his friend of doing to him to his

own father. He recognized this guy loves

God. He follows God.

And I'm connected to a follower of God more than anybody.

So he has to let him know that there's a problem.

And we pick this up, the ladder verse chapter of the first time

he was 20, he has this little arrow thing that he said he

would do. Just to let him know because

David never went to Bethlehem. You understand?

He's been hiding the whole time. They said when the latter gone,

David arose from the south side and fell on his face to the

ground and bow three times and they kissed each other and wept

together, but David wept. The more Jonathan said to David

going safety. In as much as we have sworn to

each other, and the day of the Lord, in the name of the Lord

saying the Lord will be between me and you and between my

descendants and your descendants.

Forever. Then he arose and departed.

While Jonathan went into the city from this point, David

didn't stay in Israel. In fact, he went on over into

the camp of the Philistines pledge his allegiance to another

king there. And then when they went out to

battle against Israel, David was going to go with them but the

other kings of the Philistine said, man, we ain't taking this

guy. He's killed too many of our

people. He could turn on us and battle,

so they wouldn't let him go. So as he went back home, his

family and all the men that were with him, their families were

taken, and he ended up having to go over and Conquer another

place. Very low moment David's life,

not only has been rejected from his own Nation but his own men

want to kill him, but he had does delivered his people and

get everybody back alive and they're recovered the battle.

He was going to go in with them is the battle that King Saul and

Jonathan both DA. They don't make it.

Jonathan kept his responsibility to the kingdom.

He still served with his father. But he had a friend that sticks

closer than a brother. David Jonathan new.

If I do what I'm supposed to do, someone will take care of my

family and second Samuel chapter one, we pick up the the account

of when David finds out that both saw and Jonathan have died

in battle. He's very distraught about it

that when he hears it, he rips his clothes and he cries out for

both men. Even his enemy.

He cries out for his enemy Saul and he laments over his brother,

Jonathan and the 26 verse 8, he said I'm distressed for you my

brother Jonathan. You have been very pleasant to

me. Your love, for me, was more

wonderful than the love of women and there are people who take

this out of context and they try to prove.

This is why that Jonathan and David had, you know, a wrong

type of sexual relationship. That's not a true statement what

this literally means because if you understand the Covenant that

Jonathan told him, and I've already read it to you, he said

go in peace. But remember the Covenant we

made before the name of the Lord.

That you would get my back and I would get yours.

But not only each other's our children and not only our

children, but our children's children forever in essence.

Jonathan says, I can do my part in the earth and when I go, if I

should go first, David will take care of my family.

See in this day and age in the day and age of this riding women

could not be responsible solely for their families.

It was the man. And so David new doesn't matter

how many wives I had how much pleasure I've had with women.

I need a man that if I went down in battle with the Philistines,

against the Philistines, or I went down and battle somewhere,

I would know this Jonathan will take care of my wives and take

care of my kids. That I got a brother that sticks

closer, our friend that sticks closer than a brother because my

brother don't care for me. Already wrote me off.

When I went down to see Goliath, ain't none of them care for me.

Like I care for them. I need somebody that won't look

at me as just natural blood. I need somebody that a stick

with me, no matter what. I need somebody that when I

speak they will. Don't see me as the little guy

that ran around the house with a snotty nose and pooping his

pants. But somebody has risen up and

done something for God. Jesus himself had a problem in

his own. Family said, a prophet is not

without honor, except in his hometown, they said in that.

Jesus didn't we see his brothers?

Did he grow up with us? Oh my gosh.

And they disdained him, although he had the voice of authority.

Yes, sometimes we gotta find somebody outside of our natural.

I've seen moms and dads, discredit, the voice of their

Children. When they're speaking the words

of God, because they only remember them as the ones they

wiped. And they miss a Divine

appointment at a visitation parents.

I warn you if you're training up your child, in the way they

should go and they begin to speak to you from the word of

God, do not disdain it or push it aside.

Because they'll find somebody that they get Covenant with.

That they can believe that somebody would take care of my

family with I'm gone. And second Samuel chapter 9.

2 Samuel 9 · chapter mention

David Gets established on the throne.

In all the tribes. And the thought came and David

said, is there yet anyone left in the house of Saul that I may

show kindness for Jonathan's sake.

I got to find his family. They're like mine.

I may have kids that are out there that I got to take care

of. Go search, the land and find.

Why did David do this? Because the minute, Israel said,

we want to have a man king like other kings, which means they

watch the models of King, man, kingdoms and Main kingdoms.

Have this model. When a king rose up, and he had

children had multiple boys. The first son was always the one

to the crown but we always have sibling rivalry as his old as

Cain and Abel and usually what would happen is one of the other

Sons would rise up and kill the rest of the Sun so that they can

be the only rightful ruler. So on the day, the David takes

the kingdom because Saul and Jonathan have died.

The helpers of the house. Grab Johnathan's son.

Mushy bleep theft and snatches him up and runs with him but

drops him. He becomes Lane.

Why? Because there's trying to save

his life, they're thinking the Dave is going to kill all of

Saul's and ancestors are all of his descendants so that he can

rightfully take the crown though.

He had it by God himself. They didn't know that he had a

covenant with Jonathan and they didn't have to move the boy at

all. When he comes back, he says, is

there anybody? Can you imagine?

Here's this guy been off for all these years and David says,

bring him here and all he's probably thinking coming in.

Now, I know what he's thinking because of how David address

him. They said the king knows you're

alive. The king knows, I'm alive.

Yep. And he's asked for you.

Until his mind, he thinks he's going to kill me.

Because I am an heir to the throne.

I am the son of Jonathan. The son of Saul and so he shows

up. But by then we see on the 7th,

verse of the same chapter, what David says to him, because he's

a fortress friend. He David said unto him do not

fear in essence, take no thought of what you're thinking.

For I will surely show kindness to you for the sake of your

father. Jonathan in essence.

He said son, I loved your dad. He was closer to me than my own

family. And we made covenants, son.

You don't have to be afraid of me.

You're like my only child. I promise you that I take care

of you and so that's what I'm going to do.

He said, I'll restore to you all the land of your grandfather

saw. And you shall eat at my table

regularly. In closing.

You can identify Fortress friend in your life, you know how you

can identify Fortress friend in your life.

It's because a fortress friend is the one who treats all your

family as their own. They're not just in it with you.

I have friends but they're in it for me.

They like me. They identify with me.

They don't have identified with my kids.

You can see it through every sector of society, every sector

of society, anyone who's risen to any type of great influence,

the children are subject. Of scrutiny true knives required

to have to live in the shadow and the shoes of their parents.

And many people rally around these.

Great actors and actresses around these great businessmen

around these great politicians around these.

Great sport, sport athletes around these great Educators

around these great, doctors and medical science.

And then they look back at their kids with this thing.

Because it was never about the family was only about me and you

and when you're gone then it's all gone.

I've seen it firsthand but not to the level of the example.

I'll give you today of a man by the name of Kenneth E Hagin.

Who Faithfully serve God, and in Texas, heard the Lord say, go

teach my people faith, and every year, he would go after he left

the pastor, at begin to travel around the United States began

to minister of the word and be away from his son and his

daughter, his wife, and pours, life into the call, and we'll

drive over 12 sometimes, 20 hours all night, just to go

through. See his family for breakfast,

only have to get The road and leave again.

Only to have his son, get an answer, the call to Ministry.

We're with his wives, father, only to get assigned back to his

father, that in 1973 is dead. Would be prophesying in a

particular meeting and saved from here.

We're going to raise up a bible school.

And the Holy Ghost tells the son, by the name of Kenneth W

Hagin. That's why you're here.

So we get the teacher in the Apostle of the Prophet who went

around the nation. Preaching P teaching people

faith. And hundreds of thousands of

people flock to him. They wrote so many books that

came out of his ministry and people just flocked all over the

place. But then the sun had a different

assignment, to be an apostle and a starter of a school and set in

a closet at best, a closet and wrote the curriculum for what

now is a school that's gone global He would have a son by

the name of Craig, who would follow around with his

grandfather and go to the different Crusades.

But in 2003, September, Kenneth W.

Hagin dies are re Hagen dies. And the vision he left two

thirds of those who followed him left the ministry.

Because they couldn't see the sun doing it.

They abandoned. Even those who hold credentials

for the organization. Since I've moved into a position

of influence, are asking the question.

What will happen after Pastor Hagen goes?

Can Craig and Denise. Take it.

That's not the question. The question is are you a

fortress friend for this same man?

Kenneth W. Hey will you Kenneth E Hagin?

The grandfather? When he first started?

Ministry went to some country churches, in Texas, they gave

him an opportunity to come preach and Through the Years God

prospered him and through the years, that Country Church State

a country church, then one day the pastor died and left his

wife alone with no retirement. No.

McKenna fee, Hagen, remember those Force years?

And because he was a fortress friend to those Ministries and

state connected with them. Because year after year, they

would bring him in year. After year, the salary they used

to have on staff. When the wife left the church,

he paid that lady salary still, I know a five families, he did

that for because he said, I'm not here just with you.

If you go, I'll take care of of your family.

How do I know if you're closer than a brother to me?

How do you look at my children? I have never put on airs that

Sean glistened, Chase glisten or Briana.

Fouchet would take this ministry.

I've never put that pressure on them because I'm not God, I'm

Not Jesus Christ, the head of the church, I can't make that

it's not their Ministry to take. Pastor Mike, and Angie could

take this as easy as anyone else Pastor Mark, and Ashleigh could

come back from Valdosta. Take this, as any as easy as

anyone else? Sure.

If the Lord needed me to go somewhere, But if my wife and I,

and it won't happen, but I'm using that as an example.

But if my wife and I were heading over to another country

and we went down, what would be my kids?

Well, baby, discarding, the throne, He piled because they

warned me or would I have a friend that sticks closer than a

brother someone to say? Don't you worry?

If you were ever to leave the planet before, I don't worry

about Sean, Chase, breathe. Anna, Todd, Alyssa Brittany.

Gavin a sure. Logan, Isley, London, Luna and

Scotland to come. Don't worry because faster you

pour it into my life. And you've proven a friend.

It's amazing how quick people get offended when my kids

sometimes could you handle it? If Chase got up here, started

preaching today. If you can't, you're not my

friend because as I Champion your kids to do the will of God,

I would hope you Champion mind as I pour my life into your kids

to see them become something great.

I would pray to you and give children the same example

because this thing up of a friend that sticks closer than a

brother Say it. When I held you saw him arms

man. I was there with you.

Stay with you and that guy I didn't hurt you to solder left.

I never left your family, my family, we together, we

connected. I'm going to church, Rises to

the community. That the ones who do the will of

God is first family. I'm tell you right now, our

extended family have the greatest opportunity to repent.

Get right with God kingdom, family, first, love my kids,

enough to say, I love you. Maybe that's not the right

direction, but I'm Champion. You love my grandkids enough to

say, hey, I'm believing in you, your son.

An awesome. Because if you love me, then you

gotta go beyond me. And if I love you, Kenny, I'll

go beyond you, I'll go to your kids.

Now, the ones that are coming, the ones that are coming from

them later on as long as we're together because that's what

family does and I'll bring you to the word and you kids to the

word, to give them an opportunity to be all that God

has called them to be. Be some of you in this house,

you know, your children have done wrong, they have failed and

I help restore them. Did cast them to decide to kick

them, to the curb, gave them the word, love them.

And in most cases, restored them to positions.

Because their family. You may not have glisten on your

license, but we all have children of God.