What Causes “Mighty Men” to Follow a Great Leader?

2^nd Samuel 23: 14-17:

Recognize Marianne

Text Scripture:

14. And David was then in an hold, and the garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem.

15. And David longed, and said, Oh that one would give me drink of the water of the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate!

16. And the three mighty men brake through the host of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem, that was by the gate, and took it, and brought it to David: nevertheless he would not drink thereof, but poured it out unto the Lord.

17. And he said, Be it far from me, O Lord, that I should do this: is not this the blood of the men that went in jeopardy of their lives? therefore he would not drink it. These things did these three mighty men.

Intro:

As I began to contemplate what God would have me speak about, God placed this thought on my mind: What Causes Mighty Men to follow a Great Leader?

For any institution, the church included, to be successful, there must be a marriage of Great Leaders with Great Men forming a Great Team. (And I’m using the term: “men” in a gender-neutral manner … Great Women are required also!)

Join me tonight as I examine this great leader, David and answer the question: What makes great men follow a great leader?

The 23^rd chapter is as much about the “mighty men” who served with David, as it is about David.

So it is with any Great Leader … they realize that it is not about him … rather it is about something much bigger than them.

It’s about having the “right team.”

Not every soldier that David encountered made the list of “mighty men” … or … “David’s Team.”

*David knew that he would not attract all … but he would attract the “right team.”

§ HAVING THE “RIGHT TEAM” IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN HAVING A … “LARGE TEAM”

§ HAVING THE “RIGHT TEAM” IS MORE IMPORTANT THAT HAVING A … “WELL EQUIPPED TEAM”

§ HAVING THE “RIGHT TEAM” IS EVEN MORE IMPORTANT THAT HAVING … “THE MOST TALENTED TEAM.”

o HAVING THE “RIGHT TEAM” …

o COALESCING AROUND THE “RIGHT LEADER”

o WILL COVER ANY SHORTFALL IN TALENT, RESOURCES, OR THE SIZE OF THE TEAM!!!

• Great Leaders inspire Great Followers
• Great Followers inspire Great Leaders.

Who were these “mighty men?”

In all, there were thirty of these “mighty men” with David.

The Bible gives the exploits of three:

• One had killed 300 of the enemy with his spear
• One had stood his ground against the Philistines, when the whole Israeli army fled. As long as he could grip his sword, he kept swinging and killing the enemy.
• One caught the enemy foraging, and killed them
• They were each distinguished heroes in their own right

• Now, at this moment in our story, David has not yet been made king.
• He had been anointed by the prophet Samuel to be king, but at this moment … not even a king. But “Mighty Men” are already following him.

Now, as I thought about these “Mighty Men” the question came to my mind: What Characteristics did David possess that would cause “Mighty Men” to follow his leadership?

1: These “Mighty Men” Followed The Great Leader (David) Because They Sensed The CALLING of God Upon His Life.

A Great Leader MUST have a CALLING upon his life!

1 Samuel 16:13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah.

Anointing is preferred above education, talent, natural ability, and charm!

To have authority, you must be “under authority.”

Matthew 8: 5-10:

8:5 And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him,

6 And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented.

7 And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him.

8 The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed.

9 For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.

10 When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.

• The centurion sensed that Jesus was operating under the “authority” of Another
• The Mighty Men sensed that David was operating under the authority of Another.

ILLUSTRATION:

CALLING:

• In the eleventh century, King Henry III of Bavaria grew tired of court life and the pressures of being a monarch.
• He made application to Prior Richard at a local monastery, asking to be accepted as a contemplative and spend the rest of his life in the monastery.
• "Your Majesty," said Prior Richard, "do you understand that the pledge here is one of obedience? That will be hard because you have been a king."
• "I understand," said Henry. "The rest of my life I will be obedient to you, as Christ leads you."
• "Then I will tell you what to do," said Prior Richard. "Go back to your throne and serve faithfully in the place where God has put you."
• When King Henry died, a statement was written: "The King learned to rule by being obedient."
• When we tire of our roles and responsibilities, it helps to remember God has planted us in a certain place and told us to be a good accountant or teacher or mother or father. Christ expects us to be faithful where he puts us, and when he returns, we'll rule together with him. Steve Brown, Key Biscayne, Florida.

1: “Mighty Men” Follow Great Leaders Because They Sense The CALLING of God Upon The Leaders Life.

2: The “Mighty Men” Followed The Great Leader (David) Because He Presented a Great CAUSE To Them

A Great Leader Challenges Others with GREAT CAUSES!

1 Samuel 17:29 And David said, What have I now done? Is there not a cause?

Even as a youth, David had a way of making others see the cause.

· Listen, a little shepherd boy was able to convince the King of Israel, Saul, to let him go forth and battle Goliath.

· The king was even willing to give him his armor!

“Mighty Men” do not follow Great Leaders because the Great Leader says so …

“Mighty Men” follow Great Leaders … because the Great Leader has presented them with a “cause” worthy of their time, talents, and efforts!

Proverbs 29:18a: Where there is no vision, the people perish:

Ah, but when the leader shows the people a “Great Cause” the “Mighty Men” rally around the leader to accomplish the cause.

· If the leadership of this church isn’t presenting a vision that is bigger that your abilities, I doubt their ability to lead. OUR VISION MUST BE “GOD-SIZED!”

· What we can accomplish in our own abilities … isn’t faith!

1: “Mighty Men” Follow Great Leaders Because They Sense The CALLING of God Upon The Leaders Life.

2: “Mighty Men” Follow Great Leaders Because They: Present a Great CAUSE To Them

3: The “Mighty Men” Followed The Great Leader (David) Because They Sensed His COURAGE.

A Great Leader MUST have GREAT COURAGE!

1 Samuel 17:34 And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father's sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock:

35 And I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him.

36 Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God.

37 David said moreover, The LORD that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and the LORD be with thee.

*Great Leaders must have Great Courage!

You can’t be some sniveling “Momma’s Boy” and lead “Mighty Men.”

• Mighty Men sense weakness
• Mighty Men sense fear
• Mighty Men sense indecision
• Mighty Men sense cowardice
• Mighty Men sense a phony

And they will not follow!

It takes courage to be the leader that pleases God!

Sometimes that means:

• You gotta make the tough decision
• You have to address what is wrong, and make it right
• You gotta stand your ground when it’s just you and God!

Sometimes it means:

• You’ll face opposition
• You’ll be scorned, ridiculed, fussed at, and talked about …

But you gotta have the courage to do the right thing, stand your ground, and see it through!

1: “Mighty Men” Follow Great Leaders Because They Sense The CALLING of God Upon The Leaders Life.

2: “Mighty Men” Follow Great Leaders Because They: Present a Great CAUSE To Them

3: “Mighty Men” Follow Great Leaders Because They: Sense His COURAGE.

4: The “Mighty Men” Followed The Great Leader (David) Because They Knew His Character

A Great Leader MUST have GREAT CHARACTER

Character: Is the Core Values of which we are passionate about.

They govern every aspect of our lives … our behavior.

They were passionate about the same things David was passionate about!

ILLUSTRATIONS:

CHARACTER:

Character may be manifested in the great moments, but it is made in the small ones. 

Phillips Brooks.

Will Rogers was known for his laughter, but he also knew how to weep.

• One day he was entertaining at the Milton H. Berry Institute in Los Angeles, a hospital that specialized in rehabilitating polio victims and people with broken backs and other extreme physical handicaps.
• Of course, Rogers had everybody laughing, even patients in really bad condition;
• But then he suddenly left the platform and went to the rest room.
• Milton Berry followed him to give him a towel; and when he opened the door, he saw Will Rogers leaning against the wall, sobbing like a child.
• He closed the door, and in a few minutes, Rogers appeared back on the platform, as jovial as before.

• If you want to learn what a person is really like, ask three questions: What makes him laugh? What makes him angry? What makes him weep? Warren W. Wiersbe, The Integrity Crisis, Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1991, pp. 75-76.

Mighty Men follow Great Leaders because they have determined what causes the leader laugh, become angry, and to weep … and it is the same things that makes them laugh, angry, and weep!

Mighty Men follow Great Leaders because: THEY KNOW HIS CHARACTER AND IT MATCHES THEIR OWN!!!

1: “Mighty Men” Follow Great Leaders Because They Sense The CALLING of God Upon The Leaders Life.

2: “Mighty Men” Follow Great Leaders Because They: Present a Great CAUSE To Them

3: “Mighty Men” Follow Great Leaders Because They: Sense His COURAGE.

4: “Mighty Men” Follow Great Leaders Because They: Know His CHARACTER.

5: The “Mighty Men” Followed The Great Leader (David) Because They Witnessed His Conduct

A Great Leader MUST have GREAT CONDUCT!

• David “fleshed out” what he believed.
• His conduct matched his character
• He behaved what he believed

• Mighty Men don’t follow hypocrites!

ILLUSTRATION:

*Me … “B” in Deportment … momma … chicken pen … can’t make you smart … make you behave … chickens going everywhere!

Great Leaders “flesh out” the proper conduct!

1: “Mighty Men” Follow Great Leaders Because They Sense The CALLING of God Upon The Leaders Life.

2: “Mighty Men” Follow Great Leaders Because They: Present a Great CAUSE To Them

3: “Mighty Men” Follow Great Leaders Because They: Sense His COURAGE.

4: “Mighty Men” Follow Great Leaders Because They: Know His CHARACTER.

5: “Mighty Men” Follow Great Leaders Because They: Witnessed His CONDUCT.

6: The “Mighty Men” Followed The Great Leader (David) Because They Saw his RESTRAINT.

A Great Leader MUST show GREAT RESTRAINT!

2 Samuel 23: 16: And the three mighty men brake through the host of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem, that was by the gate, and took it, and brought it to David: nevertheless he would not drink thereof, but poured it out unto the Lord.

Great Men follow great Leaders because the leader knows how to RESTRAIN his desires!

What an act of restraint and self-control!

1: “Mighty Men” Follow Great Leaders Because They Sense The CALLING of God Upon The Leaders Life.

2: “Mighty Men” Follow Great Leaders Because They: Present a Great CAUSE To Them

3: “Mighty Men” Follow Great Leaders Because They: Sense His COURAGE.

4: “Mighty Men” Follow Great Leaders Because They: Know His CHARACTER.

5: “Mighty Men” Follow Great Leaders Because They: Witnessed His CONDUCT.

6: “Mighty Men” Follow Great Leaders Because They: See CONSTRAINT.

7: The “Mighty Men” Followed The Great Leader (David) Because They Knew His COMMITMENT.

A Great Leader MUST have GREAT COMMITMENT!

17. And he said, Be it far from me, O Lord, that I should do this: is not this the blood of the men that went in jeopardy of their lives? therefore he would not drink it. These things did these three mighty men.

What a picture of commitment!

He was so committed to his men that he would not take what they couldn’t also take!

Close:

As I go to my seat I do so by challenging you, the leadership of this church to examine your:

CALLING

CAUSE

COURAGE

CHARACTER

CONDUCT

CONSTRAINT

COMMITMENT

And when a Great Leader is blessed with the RIGHT TEAM … the sky is the limit!!

Preached: 6-13-04 @ Franklin Road Baptist in LaGrange, Georgia

Preached: 5-28-05 @ Pastor Jerome Shipman’s Pre-anniversary Banquet (New Macedonia Baptist LaGrange, Georgia)

Preached: 7-17-05 @ Sunnyside Baptist Church, recorded for radio and Internet

Preached: 10-1-05 @ Community Chapel Pine Mountain Valley, GA for Rick Lipp