Stay With the Stuff - 6/7/26 - Meadows Baptist Church - Pastor Charlie Branch

Welcome to the podcast of Meadows

Baptist Church of Walnut Cove, North

Carolina. We're so glad you joined us

today. If you enjoy today's message, be

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with your friends. Now, let's join

Pastor Charlie Branch with a word from

God.

>> All right. Where you think we're going?

Amen.

>> 1st Samuel chapter 30. Amen. 1st Samuel

chapter 30. And uh couldn't get away

from it. Amen. I'm thankful that I asked

that nobody said somewhere outside the

Bible. Amen. So um it is in the

scriptures. So praise the Lord for that.

Amen. You find your place if you would

stand tonight. 1st Samuel chapter 30.

And uh I'm actually going to skip a text

tonight. And the reason I'm doing that

is I don't know if preacher will be

listening to this, but he's got a

message on this text and he might preach

it here in a month or two and so I'm

going to skip it. Amen. Let him preach

it. But uh I'm going to jump down to

that and I'm going to preach another one

of his messages. No, I'm just kidding. U

but uh anyway, I'm just going to preach

what God put on my heart and uh been

looking at this text today and just felt

like this is where God would have us to

be this evening. Um, I want you to

notice with me in 1st Samuel 30 and

verse number 9 where we'll begin reading

1st Samuel 30 and verse number N. The

Bible says, "So David went, he and the

600 men that were with him and came to

the brook bear where those that were

left behind stayed, but David pursued.

He and 400 men for 200 abodeed behind

which were so faint that they could not

go over the brook bear." Now turn over

with me in verse number 21.

Verse number 21.

The Bible says, "And David came to the

200 men which were so faint that they

could not follow David whom they had

made also to abide at the brook Beore.

And they went forth to meet David and to

meet the people that were with him. And

when David came near to the people, he

saluted them. Then answered all the

wicked men and men of Balile of those

that went with David and said, "Because

they went not with us, we will not give

them ought of the spoil that we have

recovered, save to every man his wife

and his children, that they may lead

them away and depart." Then said David,

"Ye shall not do so, my brethren, with

that which the Lord hath given us, who

hath preserved us, and delivered the

company that came against us into our

hand. For who will hearken unto you in

this matter? But as his part is that

goeth down to the battle, so shall his

part be that carth by the stuff? They

shall part alike. Father, I ask you

humbly this evening one more time, God,

on this side of heaven, Lord, we've

come, Lord, to seek your face and to

hear from your word. And God, I ask

tonight, Lord, as you've designated me

the spokesperson for this hour, I pray,

God, that you would help us, give us

liberty, remove the flesh from us, fill

us with thy spirit, God, any hindrance,

God, I pray that would stand in the way

of the word of God, having free course

and reign in this service, I pray you'd

remove it. Lord, I pray, Lord, that you

would guard my lips. Lord, help me to

say nothing that I ought not say and

everything that I ought to say for your

glory and honor. And Lord, I pray you'd

open our eyes that we may behold

wondrous things in thy law and help us

to receive with meekness the engrafted

word tonight. Lord, we love you. Thank

you for loving us, God. We ask all of

this in Jesus name. And for his sake we

pray. Amen. And amen.

>> 1st Samuel 30. We've been in it for just

a few services here at the church. And I

was thinking today, I really wanted to

go somewhere else. This is where the

Lord brought me back to tonight. And

this little phrase is often jumped off

the page to me every time that I have

studied this scripture. In verse 24,

notice what your Bible says. David says

to these men, "Who will hearken unto you

in this matter?" But as his part is that

goeth down to the battle, so shall his

part be that territh by the stuff. They

shall part alike. And I want to preach

for a little while on that subject there

in the middle of verse number 24 on

staying by the stuff. Staying by the

stuff. Now when I think about my life,

when I think about the church and the

ministry that God has given to this

church here at Meadows, I'm reminded

that there is a great struggle. And you

say, "Well, what is that struggle?"

Well, it's the struggle of the flesh.

And we've dealt with that in depth up to

this point. And I want don't want to try

I want to try not to elaborate too much

on that point tonight, but you realize

things get heavy at times.

>> You're right.

>> Amen. Things get burdensome and and

really it's because we're in the flesh.

Many times it may not be directly the

flesh that causes us to be heavy, but it

is the result of the effects of the

flesh in our life. And when I consider

this text, I want you to note some

things by way of introduction that get

us to this point. The Bible tells us

that David here is journeying. Of

course, they are going from Ziglag in

the text to go down to the camp uh of

the Amalachites to get back their wives

and their children in this text. And the

Bible says that after God had answered

his prayer in verse number eight, in

verse number nine that David left. And

in the text, the Bible says that when

they left there, they came to a brook

Bisau. And that's just a few miles away

from where they left in this text and uh

particularly where we looked at there in

Ziglag. And the Bible says in verse 10

or verse 9 that they came to this brook

Beau where those that were left behind

stayed. And so already there's a group

of people here that are being left

behind. Let me say this to you. They're

not being left behind but by their own

choice. And I'll say more about that in

just a minute. But notice verse number

10. The Bible says that David pursued a

heap and 400 men for 200 abodeed behind

which were so faint that they could not

go over the brook Bor. And so the

preface of this story is this is that

David is going to fight against the

Amalachites. And as he is going to fight

with them, two of his six 200 of his 600

men in the text have gotten weak. They

have become faint. And you say,

"Preacher, well why is that?" Well, I

would say there's several reasons in the

text tonight why these men have become

faint. I would say number one, the trip

by itself is enough for these men to be

faint. You say, "What do you mean?"

Well, the text reveals to us in verse

number one of chapter 30 that David and

his men have come to Ziglag. Well, they

have left uh Ziglag. They had left from

up in Jezrael. Really, they had left

from Aphek according to chapter 29 and

verse number one. And what that reveals

to us is that these boys have been

traveling three miles or or 20 miles a

day for three days. They've come 60

miles and marching formation, infantry

formation with David. In the text, they

didn't have horses. And so they're

traveling on foot. In this text in verse

number 30, the Bible says that they have

or chapter 30 and verse number one, they

have come to Ziglag and they discover

that Ziglag is destroyed. And so they

depart from Ziglag again to go another

20 or so odd miles down to where these

men are k are pitched here at the border

of Egypt. And you say, "What are you

saying?" Well, if you Let me just put it

this way. For you and I today, if we

were to travel 20 miles a day on foot

and do it for three days, I don't know

that there's somebody in here that would

not be faint after that. Amen. And we

are used to our nice automobiles. And

somebody say, "Praise God for that."

Amen. But I would say the trip by itself

was enough to make them faint. But I

would say this, not only the trip, but

you know that's not the only thing

that's happened to them in this text.

You think not just about the trip, but

think about the trouble that they have

come in contact with. For the chapter

before us literally just tells us that

these men come back to Ziglag where

their wives and where their children and

where their inheritance was supposed to

be and found that it was all burned with

fire and that the wives and children

were taken away. And so the trouble in

itself would be enough to make a man

faint. But if that's not enough, I would

say this, not just the trip and not just

the trouble, but I think the tears. I

think if anything would make these men

faint, I think it would be the tears. I

don't know about you, but if you've ever

cried a whole lot, you'll realize that

crying takes a lot of energy. Amen. And

there ain't a doubt in my mind that

these boys are weak. These boys are

feeble. These boys are faint because of

their trial, because of their tears, and

because of their trip. They have come to

a point where they just cannot go any

further.

And here's what you'll find. We've all

been there.

>> You're right.

>> And if you ain't, buckle up.

>> Amen. Because your day is just right

around the corner. And you say,

"Preacher, does that mean that these

boys were less of soldiers?" I I report

to you tonight, no, that is not the case

this evening. I want to give you some

truths tonight concerning this matter of

staying by the stuff. And the Bible

tells us some gives us some emphasis

here in the text. Verse 17, David is

smiting the Amalachites. He smites them

from twilight even until the evening of

the next day. And so he is smiting them.

He is saving his wives and children. In

verse number 18 and 19, the Bible says

that they recovered everything, their

wives, all the children. And not only

that, out of the smiting, he was able to

save his own, but he also spoiled the

goods that the Amalachites had brought

back. Notice verse number 20. And David

took all the flocks and the herds which

they drove before those other cattle and

said, "This is David's spo." And so

David got over abundance and what he had

already gotten back. And man, I'm

thankful that God can bless him that way

in this day and time. Amen. He is able

for us to recover all, but he's also

able to give us some new things. Amen.

That we didn't have before. Amen. But I

notice in this text, the Bible says that

after the battle, David has come to

these 200 men in verse 21, which were so

faint that they could not follow David.

And so, I want you to highlight number

one, when I think about staying by the

stuff. These boys stayed by the stuff in

spite of their faintness.

>> Right?

>> And if you're going to stay by the stuff

tonight, you're going to have to stay by

the stuff in spite of being faint. Now I

what I'm realizing in this day and time

is this is a condition that many of us

all know know all too well. We become

faint in the battle for the Lord. Maybe

we're not physically drained, but

spiritually and mentally we have become

drained by the battle. We have become

drained by the fight that we are

enlisted in. And I notice the Bible

tells us here in the text number one of

the condition that this faintness speaks

of. Look what verse 21 says. And David

came to the 200 men which were so faint,

notice that they were so faint, notice

what your Bible says, that they could

not follow David. You say, "Preacher,

what does that entail?" Well, it simply

means that their strength had decayed.

>> They had no ability to go any farther.

You see, there was a battle that was yet

to come. And what this reveals to us is

that their condition, they would been

more of a liability than they would have

been an aid in this battle. And you say,

"Preacher, what does that mean for us in

the spiritual realm?" Well, you

understand the things of life that

things happen. This flesh decays and

with that flesh decaying, your mind is

made out of flesh as well. And there's

times, amen, when you get to a point

where you are a liability. And you say,

"Preacher, that's terrible that you

would say such a thing like that." Well,

you ever been around somebody that's got

dementia?

>> All right. And this is no fault of their

own. Let me tell you what that brings

about. The demons of hell will arrest

people's minds that get in that place.

And they'll say and do things and be

things that they would never have been

before. All right?

>> But what this reveals to me in this text

is there's an opportunity. You say,

"Preacher, what's that opportunity?"

Well, let me say this. The work of God's

never done.

>> Amen.

>> Notice what the Bible says. They were so

faint that they could not follow David.

And this is what I feel like I've missed

many times when I study this text. It is

the crutch of crutch crux of this

scripture in verse 21. The Bible says

they could not follow David in verse 21.

You say, "Preacher, well the emphasis is

there that they quit following in in our

sense spiritually. They just wasn't able

to follow Jesus anymore." Well, that's

not the truth. Because notice what the

next verse, next phrase says in the

verse. They could not follow David

because they were so faint. Look at

this. Whom they had made also to abide

at the brook bear. You know what? I'm

thankful Jesus is not a bad master.

>> I'm thankful he's not a cruel

taskmaster. I'm thankful he's not a

wicked beat you over the head with truth

until you either get right or get out

kind of individual. Amen. Jesus is

merciful. Jesus is gracious. Amen. And

what I notice in this text is David

represents it to us very well. David

knew their condition better than they

did.

>> You say, "Preacher, what do you mean?"

These boys wasn't willing to quit. Amen.

But David looked at him and and saw that

they just were not physically able to go

any further. And out of that, you know

what happens in the text? The Bible says

that they made them, notice that they

made them stay by the stuff at the brook

Bore. Now, what does you say, preacher,

what does that mean? You know what that

word bes means? That brook, that brook

that flew by right there, right just

north of Egypt, that word bes means to

cheer up

>> or cheerful. These boys have cried a lot

of tears.

>> Amen.

>> These boys have made a long trip,

>> right?

>> These boys have had a whole lot of

trouble. And you know what? I don't

believe according to the text that they

were ready to quit. I just believe David

looked at him and says they can't go

anymore.

>> And let me say this to you. You better

thank God for the days in your life when

Jesus, hey friend, he's all knowing.

He's omnisient. Amen. He's aware of your

life. You better thank God for the days

when he divinely orchestrates, a time of

rest, a time of refreshing, a time of

revival for you to get in. Amen. And I'm

thankful, friend, cuz if you know me,

and I know SOME OF YOU, WE'RE NOT GOING

TO QUIT. AMEN. We're just going to keep

on going till we just burn up or blow

up. Amen. BUT LET ME SAY THIS. I'm

thankful for the days that God Almighty

just sits down and says, "Son, I know

you've been laboring real hard. I KNOW

YOU'VE BEEN GOING AFTER IT REAL HARD,

AND I THANK YOU FOR THAT. But you know,

IT'S GOOD WHEN HE SAYS JUST come apart.

>> AMEN. IT'S GOOD WHEN HE SAYS JUST SIT

DOWN FOR A LITTLE WHILE. CUZ YOU KNOW

WHAT? HE KNOWS WHAT I NEED BETTER THAN I

know what I need. Amen. AND HE TOLD THEM

BOYS, "ALL RIGHT, BOYS, HEY, WE GOT TO

GO ON TO THE BATTLE, but you just sit

here and rest a while."

>> Amen.

>> Amen. Hey, friend. I don't know about

you, but that helps me. Amen. There's

been a whole lot of days when I've been

on the sideline, and it's by the will of

God. It wasn't by my own choosing, but I

was on the sideline because God had to

sit me down, to let me rest, to let me

recoup, to let me get my focus

realigned. And let ME SAY THIS, IT'S

THEM places sometimes when you get down

there by the brook and he just wants to

cheer you up. AMEN. YOU SAY, "PREACHER,

HOW CAN YOU VERIFY THAT?" WELL, YOU

REMEMBER what Jesus told them disciples

in the New Testament after they'd been

working miracles and preaching the

gospel of the kingdom and all of the

wonderful things that God had endued

them with power to do. YOU REMEMBER WHAT

JESUS TOLD THEM? HE SAID, "COME YE

YOURSELVES APART into a desert place."

What'd he say? And rest a while.

>> You remember what he said after that? He

said, "For they had so they had not they

didn't have enough leisure to eat. There

were so many people coming and going."

You know what the most spiritual thing

you can do sometimes is rest. You're

>> right.

>> And David pulls them apart. He made them

to abide. Notice that at the brook

beast. This is a command. You see, they

didn't just stop on David and say, "All

right, we're going to sit down." No,

they David had to tell them, "Look,

boys, you can't go no more."

>> Right?

>> You give out. I can see it. You're wore

out. You give out. Amen. You need a time

of rest.

Notice the text. The Bible tells us that

their condition led to this command of

David. But I'm thankful that after the b

after the battle, the Bible says in

verse 21 at the brute bes they went

forth to meet David. Notice that David

is coming back. But you know what? When

they see David coming, they don't wait

for him to get there.

>> You're right.

>> Amen. You say, "Preacher, what does that

tell you?" Well, they would have went

with David if he'd led him. Amen. But

they was ready for David when he come

back. Amen. Let me say this to you,

child of God. God, Jesus may have you

sitting out for just a time right now.

He may have you sitting on the sideline.

You say, "Preacher, I don't like it."

Well, you need to realize he's got you

there for a reason. He's got you there

for a purpose. Amen. And he's got your

best interest in mind. And here's what

you're going to find. There's going to

be a day that he comes back. Amen. And

he's going to have something for you to

do again. And it's time for you to get

up and go meet him. Amen. You say,

"Preacher, what does that emphasize?"

Well, I think it goes a little further

than that. You realize that in this life

some of us all we'll ever do is just

stay by the stuff. But friend, you know

there's coming a day when Jesus is going

to come back and he's going to split

that eastern sky wide open. And all of

US THAT'S JUST STAYED BY THE STUFF IN

SPITE OF OUR FAINTNESS. HE'S GOING TO

OPEN up that EASTERN SKY AND HE'S GOING

TO COME BACK AND WE'RE GOING TO GO UP to

meet him. Amen. And you know what?

Forever and EVER AND EVER WE'LL SERVE

HIM AND WE'LL NEVER BE FAINT over there.

Amen.

>> Amen.

They did not allow their faintness to

keep them from carrying by the stuff. I

thought about this. You know what? You

know, and it's and let me say this. Your

faintness in in this in the ministry

that God has given you, faintness in the

work of God, that's not going to deter

you from the gifts that God gives you

unless you allow it to.

>> Amen. You see, it's okay to be faint,

but you can't get faint and fail.

>> You're right. Amen. You can't quit.

Amen. These boys didn't quit. God just

simply gave them a minute of breath.

Amen. Notice this in the text. You see,

not only the faintness, but notice the

foes that are mentioned in the text. You

say, "Preacher, what do you mean foes?"

Well, notice verse 22. The Bible says

that after David has come here, they've

come to meet David. These 200, they've

come near. David salutes them. He asks

them how they're doing. In other words,

verse 22, notice this. Then answered all

the wicked men and men of Balile of

those that went with David and said,

"Because they went not with us, we will

not give them all to the spoil that we

have recovered, save to every man his

wife and his children, that they may

lead them away and depart." And isn't it

interesting that among the 600 men of

David, there's even people in that 600

group that's wicked people. You say,

"What do you mean?" Why don't you notice

first of all the description of these

folks? You say, "How are they foes?"

Well, they're opposing the men that

stayed by the stuff. You're

>> right.

>> They are in direct opposition to those

that had went uh they had been commanded

by David. Don't miss that. They had been

commanded by David to stay there by the

stuff. And God describes them this way.

Number one, they're wicked men. Number

two, they're men of bal. You know what

that means? That word bal means useless.

>> You say, "Preacher, but they went to the

battle." But God said they're useless.

>> That's right. You know what?

>> I'd rather sit on the sidelines.

>> Yes, sir.

>> Because God told me to

>> than go to a fight and be useless in it.

You're

>> right.

>> Did y'all hear what I just said?

>> That ain't just That ain't good cuz I

said it. That's just good. Amen.

>> Listen to this. Their description,

they're wicked men. They're men of bal.

Notice out of their description, notice

the decision that they've made. You know

what men that are useless do? They just

decide things are going to happen a

certain way.

>> You're right.

>> Look what the text says. They just make

decisions for everybody else. Then

answered all the wicked men and men of

bal of those that went with David and

said, "Because they went not with us, we

will not give them all to the spoil."

Notice this, that we have recovered.

Man, that pride is just oozing out.

Amen. Man, we've worked so hard for this

and we're going to go out there and

we're going to come back here and and

they're going to take everything that

we've worked so hard to earn. They ain't

been doing nothing but sitting around

over here. You know what? That ain't the

way God works.

>> Right.

>> Amen. You say, "Preacher, how is that? I

work hard." Let me ask you something.

When's the last time you went like the

Apostle Paul every day of the week, all

day long, preaching the gospel to every

person that you've ever seen? And do you

know that the same reward he's got is

going to be the same reward you get?

>> You're right.

>> Amen. Let me say this to you. We are

falling very short.

>> Yes, sir.

>> Amen. friend. I'm saying when it comes

to the battle, I don't even know if

we're playing with play school toys in

this day and time.

>> I'm just being real with you.

>> When it comes to the cause of Christ, we

really got to step it up. Well, let me

say this to you. The emphasis in this

text is on their decision. They just

decide they've not asked David. David is

coming here and greeting them. And the

jealousy is rising up in their heart

because they're looking at all these

boys that's rested up and relaxed.

that's been hanging out around the stuff

and they're coming back with sweat and

blood all over them. Amen. Carrying all

this spoil back from where they came

from and no doubt in my mind they come

over there and drop it down just can't

hardly even walk and all these guys has

had bass down there in the brook be

sore. You get the image I'm trying to

give. Amen. They're refreshed and

they're sustained. Amen. And they look

at these guys and say THEY AIN'T GOING

TO HAVE NONE of our stuff.

>> But it's like I've told you before.

>> Come on. what you got and what I got

ain't really ours anyway.

>> Look what the Bible says. The Bible says

in verse number 22, he said, "We'll not

give them all of the spoil that we have

recovered saved to every man his wife

and his children that they may lead them

away and depart." In other words, what

they're saying is we'll give them what

belongs to them, but nothing else.

>> You're right.

>> You know what? That ain't a Christian

mindset,

>> right?

>> Cuz you know what? They don't nothing

belong to us.

>> You're right.

>> You know what? Jesus gave us salvation

and we had we had no rights to it. Amen.

>> Notice this their description, their

decision. But then you notice that David

was the same. He was the same king over

those that were that were faint as he is

over these foes in the text. Look what

the Bible said in verse 23. Then said

David, aren't you thankful for the time

that Jesus has spoke up?

>> Amen.

>> Amen. And the accusations and the and

and the uh what's the word I'm looking

for? The anger of men. Verse 23, David

speaks up, "Ye shall not do so, my

brethren, with that which the Lord hath

given us, who hath preserved us and

delivered the company that came against

us into your hand." You see, these boys,

they were there by the stuff. They they

had foes. They were faint. But let me

say this, their father was the same to

them.

>> Amen.

>> Verse 23, David said, he said, "My

brethren," what does that mean? He's

calling them by the family name,

>> right? which with that you shall not do

so my brethren with that which the Lord

God Almighty hath given unto us who hath

preserved us. What did the father did

for do for them? Well, he gave them

provision. It's a gift. Notice that the

Lord hath given us who hath preserved

us. There was protection and delivered

the company that came against us into

our hand. The power of God rested on

these boys.

>> Right?

>> And David said, "You're not going to do

it that way." Why is that? Because David

had given them other boys a command just

like he had given the 400.

>> You're right.

>> You see the difference in your life and

mine is this. We have to do what God

tells us.

>> Amen.

>> And you know what? For some people

that's that's going to the jungles of

Africa and preaching the gospel. For

some people that's like Miss Margaret

Stringer. Amen. That was here during

missions conference last year and she

spent her whole life over there. I can't

even remember the name of that place

where she was at over there. Some of

y'all probably know. But she spent her

whole life over there. with those people

that didn't even have a language, learn

their language, and that's her calling.

>> But you know what? God's called some of

you to be faithful at the workplace and

be a witness and a light. And you say,

"Preacher, is that any less work?" No,

it's not.

>> Right?

>> Because it's what God told you to do.

>> Amen.

>> You see, it doesn't matter. It doesn't

matter where you are. It matters what

you're doing.

>> Amen.

>> And as long as what you're doing is what

God said. You say, "How does that come

into this?" Well, notice this. Verse 24,

and I'll be done. David says in the

text, "For who will hearken unto you in

this matter?" Boy, aren't you thankful

that there ain't nobody that's going to

listen to certain people? I'll say this.

I'm thankful that God don't operate by

my standards.

>> Amen.

>> Amen. Because you know what? Nobody get

a blessing. And I wouldn't either if it

operated by my standards. You're

>> right.

>> Amen. You say, "How is that?" Don't act

like you're that way either. I Why just

bless everybody? Don't you You got

somebody in the back of your mind. Amen.

right now that you think I I wouldn't

bless them if it was in my power to do

so and it was written on my hand that I

needed to. Amen.

>> Amen.

>> I'm being real tonight. You're

>> right.

>> But God don't work that way.

>> Right.

>> Notice the text. David said, "For who

will hearken unto you in this matter?

Who's going to listen to you? We've got

victory."

>> Notice this. But as his part is that

goeth down to the battle, so shall his

part be that territh by the stuff, they

shall part alike. David says this. He

said, "Whether you fought or whether you

was just faithful,"

>> Amen.

>> He said, "The fruit's the same."

>> You're right. Right.

>> Amen.

>> I don't know about you,

that's about the most encouraging thing

I've ever heard in my life.

>> You're right.

>> Cuz you know what I feel like most days?

I feel like I'm just tearing by the

stuff.

>> Amen.

>> I feel like all I'm doing is so small.

>> You're right.

>> I feel like it matters so little. But

then God speaks to me and says, "Son,

you just remember you're doing what I

told you to."

>> Amen.

>> I'm saying at the end of the day, I'm

living for the audience of one. I'm

living for the approval. Amen. And the

applause OF ONE AND HIS NAME IS JESUS.

AMEN. AND DAVID SAYS IT DON'T MATTER HOW

MUCH YOU FIGHT. HE SAID THEM BOYS THAT

WERE JUST FAITHFUL WHEN THEY COULD NOT

GO ANYMORE. YOU SAY, "PREACHER, BUT THEY

DIDN'T FIGHT THE BATTLE." WELL, LET me

remind you. Amen. These boys had

traveled with David probably 50 or 60

miles. They had fought in battles BEFORE

THIS. AND I'M NOT TRYING to tell you

that you're exempt from the battle

tonight. You realize that we're all

going to be in the battle AT SOME POINT.

BUT THERE ARE DAYS AND THERE ARE TIMES

WHEN WE JUST NEED TO STEP BACK WHEN WE

JUST NEED TO ALLOW GOD TO GIVE US A

PERIOD OF REST. AMEN. AND FOR THAT TIME,

IF IT'S IN OBEDIENCE TO GOD, IT HAS THE

SAME REWARD AS IT DOES FOR THE MAN

THAT'S STANDING ON THE FRONT LINES OF

THE BATTLE.

>> Because it's what the king said do.

>> Amen.

>> It's what the king said do.

>> And the fruit's the same. You say,

"Preacher, what does it mean?" Well, you

see these boys terried by the stuff

because they were faint. They tried by

the stuff in spite of their foes. They

tried by the stuff in light of their

father. God, you if you're going to stay

by the stuff, God's going to have to be

your motivation.

>> You're right.

>> Cuz you know, I thought about this. You

remember, you remember what Dave got

David in this po in this predicament

anyway?

Was because he forgot to leave some

people behind.

>> You're right.

>> David was too busy with the world. I

can't get my mind off of that. Every

message I preach, David was too

preoccupied with the Philistines. He

left his family vulnerable.

>> You're right.

>> And so, you know what? This time he

said, "Well, these boys can't go. They

need to stay behind."

>> Amen.

>> You know what he's doing? He's

protecting.

>> He didn't want them to lose any more

ground. And I noticed this out of this

text, we revealed that there's also a

future for this. Notice verse 25. And it

was so from that day forward that he

made it a statute and an ordinance for

Israel unto this day. You know, all the

David the battles that David fought. You

just think about that with me. for the

rest of 2 Samuel the the king books

David in this text really for the for

Samuel's days this this book especially

all the battles that David fought you

know what this did it proved that the

spoil would be fair through every battle

>> you're right

>> you say preacher what is that well in

the application sense it carries over to

us

>> you're right

>> say how is that well do you realize that

the thief on the cross

>> is going live in the same heaven.

>> You're right.

>> He's in the same presence of God right

now.

>> You're right.

>> That the Apostle Paul is in.

>> Amen.

>> He's going to live in the same city.

>> He's going to have the same type of

body.

>> He's going to have the same blessings,

the same privileges. You say, "Preacher,

he won't have all the crowns, but he's

living in the same place.

>> He's going to see the same person."

>> Jesus is going to be his God the same

way that he's the Apostle Paul's God.

What I'm saying is the Bible says they

shall part alike. You ought to rejoice

tonight if you're saved by the grace of

God that you've got a place in heaven.

Amen. You've got a home there. You got a

heaven. Amen. And that heaven is heaven

because Jesus is there. And you'll lay

your eyes on him. And you'll see him.

Amen. The same way that John and Peter

and James and Paul did. You will view

him. Amen. You'll be close to him.

You'll know him. YOU'LL HAVE ALL THE

SAME BLESSINGS BECAUSE GOD SAID THEY

SHALL PART. AMEN. AMEN.

>> You know what I want to do?

>> I just want to stay by the stuff.

>> Amen.

>> If that's all God wants me to do is take

up set up my stay in the pull pit at

Meadows Baptist Church and preach until

my last day, whether there's a house

full or a handful, I'LL STAND MY POST.

I'LL GUARD MY PLACE. AMEN. AND STAND

THERE FAITHFULLY AND STICK BY THE STUFF.

AMEN. YOU SAY, "PREACHER, WHAT IS THE

STUFF?" WELL, THERE IS SOME

NON-NEGOTIABLES THAT'S BEEN GIVEN OVER

TO US. HEY FRIEND, WE GOT A BLESSED

BIBLE THAT'S BEEN PRESERVED FOR YOU AND

I. AND I PLAN ON STAYING WITH IT. AMEN.

I PLAN ON PREACHING IT. I PLAN ON LIVING

IT. I PLAN ON PRAYING IT. AMEN. AND

BEING OBEDIENT TO WHAT GOD SAYS IN MY

LIFE. IF THE REST OF MY LIFE, IF I NEVER

SEE ANOTHER SOUL SAVED, IF I'LL NEVER

FIGHT ON ANOTHER BATTLE OR PREACH

ANOTHER MEETING FRIEND, I'M CONVINCED.

I'M SURE TONIGHT THAT GOD HAS HIS WILL

FOR ME. HE HAS A PLACE FOR ME TO SERVE.

AND REGARDLESS OF WHAT THE WORLD SAYS OR

HOW EVEN I FEEL, HE KNOWS WHAT'S BEST

FOR ME. AND FRIEND, HE KNOWS WHEN I'LL

BE READY FOR THE NEXT BATTLE OR IF

THERE'LL EVER BE ANOTHER BATTLE. I'M

SAYING, FRIEND, I JUST CHOOSE. I JUST

CHOOSE TO LISTEN TO WHAT GOD SAYS. AMEN.

>> Because I know if I JUST DO WHAT HE

SAYS, HE SAID THEY SHALL PART. AND ONE

OF THESE DAYS WHEN I STEP ON THAT SUNNY

BANKS OF SWEET DELIVERANCE, I'LL HAVE A

REWARD. I'LL HAVE HONOR. I'LL HAVE

RICHES. I'LL HAVE BLESSING AND GLORY

WITH HIM BECAUSE I JUST DID WHAT HE

ASKED ME TO DO. AMEN.

>> BLESS HIS NAME.

>> AMEN.

>> BOY, don't that help you tonight. AIN'T

IT GOOD TO BE SAVED? AMEN. AIN'T IT GOOD

TO KNOW HIM? PRAISE GOD. AIN'T IT GOOD

TO BE HIS CHILDREN? HALLELUJAH. HE'S

FAIR. HE IS FAIR. HE'S MORE THAN FAIR.

HE IS BLESSED. AMEN. HALLELUJAH.

>> AMEN. He only gives good gifts. That's

>> right.

>> Hallelujah. Bless his name. I want to

tell you this tonight. Just stay by the

stuff.

>> Amen.

>> Just stay with it.

>> Right.

>> He's always going to have his men

fighting.

>> Yeah.

>> But I'll tell you this,

it's those little ladies,

>> come on.

>> That go to the prayer closet.

>> Come on. day in and day out,

>> right?

>> That are just believing the same way and

living the same way and praying the same

prayer for the same people each and

every day, whoever God brings in their

life and being faithful, just staying by

the stuff and living it out. Amen. It's

those people that empower the people on

the front line. You remember in Moses

day when Aaron and her held up his arms,

they p they prevailed in battle, but as

soon as his arms fell down, you know

what happened? They began to lose. I'm

saying, FRIEND, WE JUST NEED SOME

PEOPLE. WE JUST NEED SOME SAINTS OF GOD,

YOUNG AND OLD ALIKE, TO JUST STAY BY THE

STUFF. JUST LIVE IT OUT. JUST BE REAL

AND BE HOLY and be righteous. AMEN. AND

QUIT WORRYING WHAT OTHER PEOPLE THINK

ABOUT WHAT YOU'RE DOING. AMEN.

>> DON'T WORRY ABOUT WHAT YOU LOOK LIKE.

DON'T WORRY ABOUT YOUR FUTURE. DON'T

WORRY ABOUT WHAT IT SOUNDS LIKE. MAN,

I'M JUST GOING TO PREACH TILL I GET

DONE. AMEN. I'M SAYING, FRIEND, JUST DO

WHAT GOD SAYS IN SPITE OF EVERYTHING AND

EVERYBODY ELSE.

>> Just stay with it, child of God.

>> Just stay with it. You're

>> right.

>> There's a reward at the end of the way.

>> Amen.

>> The king is watching.

>> Other people are going to tell you to go

on, but when he says sit down, you

better sit down. When he says rest a

while, you better rest. But let me

remind you when HE SAYS GET UP, YOU

BETTER GET UP AND GO ON FOR THE GLORY OF

GOD BECAUSE YOU HAVE ONE COMMANDER. YOU

HAVE ONE GENERAL. YOU HAVE ONE MAN. AND

THAT MAN IS CHRIST JESUS, THE MEDIATOR

BETWEEN GOD AND MAN. AND HE IS GOING TO

GIVE YOU THE instruction for your life.

>> I can rejoice

knowing that if I'll just do what he

says.

>> Amen.

If I'll just stay by the stuff, that's

what he wants.

It may not be glorious.

It may not be glamorous.

It may not be noticed by men. It may be

silent. And it may even bring ridicule

of those who call themselves brethren.

But you know what? David said it this

way. The Bible said it by inspiration.

He called those men that went to the

battle with them men of bile.

You know what? Many times the people

that are on the front stage,

>> come on.

>> Seeming to get the most done really know

nothing about,

>> come on,

>> what's really going on.

>> Amen.

>> You say, "How do you know that?" Well,

I've been around some old mountain

preachers and their wives that have

pastored 20, 30, 40, 50 people for 30

and 40 years, and they got God all over

them,

>> right?

>> And they love God and their church, and

they love their family, and they've done

their best to raise them, right? Most

people don't even know who they are or

even where they're at for that matter.

But God has blessed their life because

they've just been faithful. No, they

don't have a TV ministry. And no, they

don't have a big big following in this

world or a name and light somewhere, but

God has blessed their life and sustained

them through every season, through every

struggle, through every sickness. And

God, I believe, is pleased with those

people

>> more so, even more so,

>> than those who are on the forefront

seemingly getting the most done.

>> You believe that tonight?

>> Let me ask you this. Do you want to stay

with it?

>> Amen.

>> Just do what he says.

>> That's right.

>> Just do what he says.

>> Every head bowed and every eye closed

tonight.

I tell you this, child of God, it'll be

the best decision you ever make

because

just like in this text, it's the only

decision that has a future. You know, I

wonder what it would have been if those

200 men would have came along and went

and fought anyway.

You reckon they'd have had victory?

200 men that were liabilities, not able

to go.

Let me say this.

You should never let it discourage you

to know that you can't do the things you

once did.

>> What you should let it do is encourage

you to do the things that you can.

>> Yes.

>> Oh, I hope you hear that.

>> Just because you can't do the things

that you once did, don't let it keep you

from doing what you can.

>> Yes.

>> Pray. Seek God. serve him because it may

be what you're doing now is the greatest

accomplishment of your life.

>> You're right.

>> It may be the prayers that you're

praying them sunset years, children. It

may be the prayers that you're praying

right now before you've got a position

to fill in a church or even a job or a

family. It may be the prayers you're

praying right now that God is going to

use to set up the rest of your life.

You've got to know this.

>> You just have to obey him because you

don't know what's ahead. That's

>> right. He'll tell you what's ahead. As

she begins to play tonight, this altar's

open.

You want to stay by the stuff tonight.

I don't know about you, but I do.

>> I want to stay with it for the glory of

God. At the end of the day, everything

else is going to fall through.

>> It's going to burn up.

But I'm reminded of this.

David said, "Thou part alike."

Child of God, don't forget that.

Do not forget that.

You say, "Preacher, what I'm doing so

small,

but in the eyes of God, if you're doing

what he told you to do, it's the biggest

thing you can be involved in."

Father,

Lord, I pray tonight,

Lord, for each heart that's here.

God, I pray you'd help us all to

let our one motive for service

be your commands,

be your hand on our life.

be your approval.

God, I want nothing more, Lord, than you

to be approved,

to be pleased with what I'm doing.

Thank you for putting me in the

ministry.

God, I pray for these people here

tonight.

Lord, I know they want to serve you.

And God, I pray you'd bless them for it.

Lord, help them to realize, Father, that

you have a plan for their life. It's

bigger than they can fathom.

And Lord, I pray you would touch them

tonight.

Help us all to be obedient to the word

of God.

These are praying this evening. Just

another verse.

There is no greater life than serving

Jesus.

There's nothing greater you can be

involved in.

There's no greater cause.

You can give a man a meal. You can give

a man a garment, but until you reveal to

him the cross,

that garment will just clothe him to

hell. That meal will just fill him up on

his way to hell for a moment.

But if you'll give him the cross,

then he'll learn how to do those things

himself.

>> Then he'll learn how to provide for his

family. When once he would let him

starve,

>> he'll learn how to keep himself when

once he didn't care for his body because

now he's saved. His body is the temple

of the Holy Ghost of God. And the Holy

Ghost won't live in a mass hole. He'll

clean himself up.

You can look up this way this evening.

Boy, don't you just appreciate the

presence of the Lord?

>> Amen.

>> And uh I wouldn't trade it for anything.

I wouldn't trade it for anything. And uh

boy, he's so good.

>> Right. Right.

>> He is so good. And uh

Just hang with it. Amen.

>> Amen.

>> Amen. We'll be dismissed in a word of

prayer.

All hearts are free this evening.

Be dismissed in a word of prayer. And uh

pray for the juniors this week.

>> And uh I love this. That blesses me.

Amen.

>> And the young people sitting up here. I

love all of it. It's great. Amen.

>> Amen.

>> And uh

>> let's just go for God. Amen. Amen.

>> He's our purpose.

He's the only reason we live.

>> You're right.

>> Oh, if we'd remember that.

>> That's right.

>> We're not here for any other reason,

>> right?

>> Than to do what he wants us to do.

>> Amen.

>> I tell you what, church will take on a

whole new meaning when you realize that.

That's

>> right.

>> The only reason you're here is to serve

him. Amen.

>> Amen. I appreciate you. We'll be

dismissed in a word of prayer and then

you'll be at liberty to go tonight.

Thank you for being here. Pray for the

juniors this week. Be here 7:00 in the

morning. Uh get ready, loaded up.

They'll pull out 7:30. We love each one

of you. And uh thank you for joining our

service today. We'd love it if you join

us in person the next time you are able

at Meadows Baptist Church. Our physical

address is 2988 Stewart Road in Walnut

Cove, North Carolina. Our service times

are Sunday school at 10:00 a.m., Sunday

morning worship at 11:00 a.m., Sunday

evening worship at 6:00 p.m., and

Wednesday evening Bible study at 700

p.m. For more information, visit us at

meadowsbaptisturch.com.

Thanks again for tuning in.