Real Life Radio

Jack Hibbs: We don't mean harm upon anybody. But when somebody comes in here who's had a rough go at life, we kind of hide our smile or our grin because we know that they've come to the right place. Not the building, and frankly not you or I, but they've come seeking Jesus Christ.

David J: This is Real Life. Welcome to Real Life Radio with Pastor Jack Hibbs. I'm David J. Thanking you for joining us today as we listen, learn, and are challenged by God's word, the Bible.

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From deep dives into scripture to practical messages on everyday issues, Pastor Jack's teachings help you understand the Bible in a way that's clear, it's relevant, and it's easy to apply. You're going to find sermons that address today's toughest questions with biblical insight and hope in the midst of life's challenges.

Now, whether you're new to the faith or you've been around for a long time, these messages are designed to meet you right where you're at and inspire you to grow deeper in your walk with God. So don't miss out. Visit jackhibbs.com and just start exploring the sermon library today. You're going to like it. That's jackhibbs.com, where powerful teaching is always just a click away.

David J: On today's edition of Real Life Radio, Pastor Jack continues now with his series called First Samuel and a message titled "The Two Kingdoms." Samuel of the Old Testament was the last judge of Israel and the first of her prophets.

So here in chapter 22, we'll consider how King Saul is growing increasingly paranoid and violent, causing David to find refuge in a cave. You see, King Saul and David, they're like two contrasting kingdoms. Saul with his worldly kingdom versus David's God-ordained kingdom.

Saul is the king but ruled by fear, jealousy, and spiritual darkness. David is not yet king, but he's gathered a kingdom of misfits not defined by political power, but by faith, purpose, and a divine calling. So today, Pastor Jack teaches us that there is a striking difference between sin and demonic power and God's kingdom of faith, sacrifice, and divine justice.

So Christians are called to recognize God's purpose, and that way we're able to identify with God's kingdom. Now with his message called "The Two Kingdoms," here's pastor and Bible teacher Jack Hibbs.

Jack Hibbs: Father, we ask you to bless now our time together. And Father, as we look to this pretty amazing portion of Scripture, I don't know if we'll get through one verse or all 23 verses. But Father, by your Holy Spirit, lead us and guide us as we look to this portion that is very, very challenging to us regarding what kingdom and whose kingdom are we living in. Which of the kingdoms?

Is it the kingdom of the flesh and the kingdom of ambition, the kingdom of power and of might and all of the pomp and glory of what this world would deem fantastic? Or is it the kingdom of our Lord and Savior? A humble kingdom, a kingdom that is often scorned and rejected and mocked in this world.

Father, we pray that you'd strip away the veneer in our hearts and in our minds, and Lord, now we would see by your Spirit's intervention in our lives the reality of who we are to be. And Father, if there's anybody here right now that does not know you personally, oh God, may you speak to them. We ask it, Lord, in Jesus' name. Amen.

First Samuel, chapter 22. It's a big chapter, but we'll do the best we can. Believe it or not, it's a chapter rather easy to divide up because it has a key theme to it. The theme, really through this chapter, is what kingdom or the kingdom that you're belonging to and that you need to make a choice. That you need to make a decision about what kingdom you're residing in.

Every one of us tonight are residing in a spiritual kingdom. Listen carefully, what I mean by that is this. The Bible makes it very clear that if we are not in the kingdom of God, then we're not. And you say, "Well, you know, that's okay. If I'm not, I'll just leave it kind of, I'll decide later." Well, the Bible goes on to making it very clear. If we're not in the kingdom of God and the kingdom of Christ, then we are in the kingdom of darkness, the kingdom of Satan, the kingdom of this world.

And maybe for most people they would say, "No way am I connected to Satan. There's just no way I would ever do that." But my friend, listen, one of Satan's real slick ways of getting people employed in his kingdom is by getting them to not believe in Satan and in his rule. He's got a lot of people duped like that. "Well, I don't believe in the devil." Well, okay, but Jesus does.

The Bible says he's a real enemy, and he manifests his will through people in this world and in the existence of kingdoms. If you've read the book of Daniel, that's a tremendous book because it opens you up to some very interesting truths about the spiritual realm. Number one, the spiritual realms of light and of darkness, of heaven and hell, of God and of Satan, they actually have geographical, true geographical limitations. It's quite bizarre.

But we learn from Daniel that, for example, there is an angelic angel and a demonic angel that preside over earthly kingdoms. There is the Prince of Persia, Daniel tells us about. And in that description where he, the Prince of Persia, and there's a demonic spirit that enters into his realm, there's a great war that takes place. And the angel that visits Daniel begins to tell Daniel about a spiritual demonic war that's taking place in the atmosphere that was residing over geographical political powers.

There's a prince, a spiritual prince over Egypt. There's an angel that's dispatched to Israel. Anybody know his name? Actually, there's kind of, it's kind of neat. There's one angel that's dispatched to Israel for pure warfare. Anybody know his name?

Guest (Group): Michael.

Jack Hibbs: Yeah, Michael. Michael is always found fistfighting for the defense of Israel in the angelic or demonic realm. Michael the archangel. Then there's an angel, and you know his name. He is the public relations angel. He's always found making announcements regarding Israel or regarding Jesus. What's his name?

Guest (Group): Gabriel.

Jack Hibbs: Very cool. From Scripture, we can then come to the conclusion that there is a, imagine, there's an angelic power over the United States and there's a demonic power that's been dispatched to the United States. And the Bible teaches about how there are principalities and powers where they have rankings and orders of both angelic and demonic powers.

So there's like a general fallen angel, and the head honcho of all is none other than Lucifer. But once he fell, his title became Satan or the dragon, the devil. And he is the prince or he is the king of the demonic realm. But you think about that and the powers that reside and exist in the spiritual realm, and it's very amazing.

Well, why am I bringing this up in First Samuel chapter 22? How does it apply? Because the spiritual realm manifests itself in the physical realm. You say, "Well, how's that? By some monster face? Some bump in the dark? Some little chill up your spine?" I don't think so. Not necessarily. But the Bible says that Satan's got the power to manifest his ministers in such ways that they look like messengers of righteousness.

In Acts chapter 20, don't turn there, but in Acts chapter 20, Paul the Apostle warns that Satan manifests his servants in ministries to deceive people and to lead people astray. And they look really good. In fact, you have to be super discerning with your Bible open to find one. It's very frightening.

That's why for me personally, I constantly, and I know I say this to you, but I wonder if you even believe me, I constantly default the welfare of this church to Jesus always. I constantly remind him, "God, take care of these people. I can't do it. They're yours. And the forces and the powers that are against us are too huge. But if we call upon him, we'll be okay. We're in the right spot."

Well, in First Samuel chapter 22, we see a manifestation of two kingdoms on earth. One, in your note-taking, manifested one kingdom in the life of David. Another kingdom manifested in the life of Saul. One heavenly energized, and one, remember, the spirit of God the Lord took from Saul and left him wide open to be inhabited by a what? An evil or troubling or demonic spirit.

And Saul is under that control. So First Samuel chapter 22, we'll jump in and look at some things tonight. It says David therefore departed from there and escaped to the cave of Adullam. And when his brothers, note that, mark it, circle it. When his brothers, that's his fleshly brothers, his house, his mom and dad's kids, his real blood brothers and all his father's house heard it, they went down there to him.

And everyone who was in distress, you can circle that because that's you and me. Everyone who was in debt, you can definitely circle that because that's you and me. We're Americans. And everyone who was discontented gathered to him, so he became captain over them. And there were about 400 men with him. Circle verses one and two. That is one kingdom.

That's one kingdom. David, he's the ruler. He becomes captain over 400 guys, a motley crew. What can we say about their characteristics? They're in debt. They're discontented. And they're in distress. What can God do with these kinds of guys? Well, we shall see.

Verse three says, then David went from there to Mizpah of Moab, and he said to the king of Moab, "Please let my father and my mother come here till I know what God will do for me." So he brought them before the king of Moab, and they dwelt there with him all the time that David was in the stronghold. Then the prophet Gad said to David, "Do not stay in the stronghold. Depart, go to the land of Judah." So David departed and went into the forest of Hereth.

This is the bulk of the study right here. And from chapter 22 all the way to the end of the book, this man who's been in exile, and if you remember our study, once David was driven from Saul's palace, remember? Remember the story? They were shooting, Jonathan was, the arrows. And "I'll tell you if I shoot beyond you, David, my dad's out to kill you, so run and leave." 10 years he's a fugitive.

Earlier as a young man, God had anointed David to become king of Israel someday. But what did the people of Israel choose? They chose for themselves a king. They didn't wait upon God. They wanted their own king, and they picked him. They wanted him, and they put themselves to Saul.

But God had warned them through Samuel that this man will exploit you and your children and your fields and all that you own. Remember that? It's key to kingdom life. Saul in his antics and his lack of spirituality will extract money from you. He will put taxes upon you, or he will demand things of you in the kingdom to build his own ministry or his life.

And that's exactly what Saul did. And so this kingdom he had and because of his disobedience to God, it was rent from him.

David J: You're listening to Real Life with Pastor Jack Hibbs. You know, to hear more episodes and maybe catch up in the series, just go to jackhibbs.com. That's jackhibbs.com. And for now, let's get back to our teaching. Once again, here's Pastor Jack.

Jack Hibbs: Several things I want you to realize tonight. Jotting them down, if you would. Note this, number one, the contrast. That there's a great contrast in this story. Number one, consider the men. The men of this contrast. Why?

Watch verse six. When Saul heard that David and the men who were with him had been discovered. Now Saul was staying at Gibeah under the tamarisk tree in Ramah with his spear in his hand and all his servants standing about him. Then Saul said to his servants who stood by him, "Hear now, you Benjamites. Will the son of Jesse give you all of the fields and of vineyards and make you all captains of thousands and captains of hundreds?

All of you have conspired against me, and there is no one who reveals to me that my son has made a covenant with the son of Jesse or David." This is Jonathan and David he's talking about. "And there is none of you who is sorry for me or reveals to me that my son has stirred up my servant against me to lie in wait as it is this day."

Then verse nine, then Doeg, Doeg was a dog. He was a dog. He was an ugly guy. He's a mean man. That's why the Bible says he was an Edomite. Edomites were goofy guys. They were kind of a bizarre people. Who was set over the servants of Saul, said, "I saw the son of Jesse going to Nob to Ahimelech the son of Ahitub. And he inquired of the Lord for him and gave him provisions and gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine."

Then the king sent to call Ahimelech the priest, the son of Ahitub, and all of his father's house and the priests who were at Nob, and they all came to the king. This is to King Saul. Watch what happens. And Saul said, "Hear now, son of Ahitub." And he answered, "Here I am, my lord." Then Saul said to him, "Why have you conspired against me, you and the son of Jesse, that you have given him bread and a sword and have inquired of God for him, that he should rise up against me and lie in wait as it is this day?"

So Ahimelech answered and answered the king and said, "And who among all your servants is so faithful as David?" Wasn't that true, everybody? It was so true. "Who is the king's son-in-law, who goes out at your bidding and is honorable in your house? Did I then begin to inquire of God for him? Far be it from me. Let not the king impute anything to his servant or to any in the house of my father, for your servant knew nothing of all this, little or much."

And the king said, "You shall surely die, Ahimelech, you and all your father's house." Then the king said to the guards who stood about him, "Turn and kill the priests of the Lord because their hand also is with David and because they knew when he had fled and did not tell it to me." But the servants of the king would not lift their hands to strike the priests of the Lord. And the king said to Doeg, "You turn and kill the priest."

So Doeg the Edomite turned and struck the priest and killed on that day 85 men who wore a linen ephod. Also Nob, the city of the priests, he struck with the edge of the sword, both men and women, children and nursing infants, oxen and donkeys. Oxen and donkeys and sheep with the edge of the sword.

Now, one of the sons of Ahimelech, the son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped and fled after David. And Abiathar told David that Saul had killed the Lord's priest. So David said to Abiathar, "I knew that day when Doeg the Edomite was there that he would surely tell Saul. I have caused the death of all the persons of your father's house. Stay with me, do not fear, for he who seeks my life seeks your life, but with me you shall be safe."

Some things we look at is this. Number one, the contrast. The story boils down to two people. It's Saul and it's David. Listen, two apparent kings. But one is really the king of the people, one is the Lord's king. One man now driven into exile owns nothing. Humble shepherd boy, David. He has no place to lay his head, so to speak. He's a fugitive.

He's got a band of men that come to him, 400 guys, and they have several things in common. They've all had a really rough go at life. They don't go to Saul. In fact, what is understood here in First Samuel 22 is that they fled one kingdom to come to another kingdom. Men of contrast. Not only is it true in the life of David and in the life of Saul, but those who follow these men.

Saul's men are either murderers like Doeg or they work for Saul and they may not carry out such a dastardly deed as to kill the priests of the Lord, but they don't flee from Saul either. Both are very guilty, perhaps guilty as one another. Who's more guilty? Is it Doeg? He killed the priest. Or is it Saul? He ordered it so. Or is it the guys who did nothing at all? They're all in it together.

Ministry is that way. We are in it together, no matter what kingdom you're involved in. Jesus says that if we are for him, then we are gathering together with him. If we are against Christ, then we are scattering. And the world tonight belongs to a different kingdom than you and I belong to.

Our desire is to exalt the Lord Jesus Christ. Our desire is to have people experience the forgiveness, the joy, and the love that we've come to know. We don't mean harm upon anybody. But when somebody comes in here who's had a rough go at life, we kind of hide our smile or our grin because we know that they've come to the right place. Not the building, and frankly not you or I, but they've come seeking Jesus Christ.

And with that, we kind of have a smile because we love to watch what's going to happen in their lives. They're going to go from one kingdom to a new kingdom. They're going to be converted from a Saul type of kingdom to a Jesus, to a David type of kingdom. It's an amazing thing.

The calling that God placed upon these two men. David was anointed, ordered by God through the prophet. But remember, even though that same prophet came to Saul and anointed Saul, the contrast is that Saul was the king of the people, so to speak, rather than the king of God. And so there's a contrasting king with a contrasting kingdom.

And both are at play. Both are at war. Both are energized. One by demonic powers, one by God's powers. And you would think that God's kingdom, that God's realm, would be so much more successful, so much more polished, so much more perfect to the naked eye. Well, that's not the case. Not at all.

Saul's doing everything he can to impress the world. Note this, in our story, in the text that's before us, what promise, listen, what promise does David say to 400 of this motley crew of men to get these guys to follow him? Does he say anything to get them to follow? Not a word.

He only speaks to the one young man as the priest had been slain. "Well, Saul's out to kill you. Stick with us. Stick with me. You'll be safe." But to the 400 men, what promise did he make? Did he say, "You know what? You guys in debt, are you? Ah, if you just tear off a little portion of your robe and give it to me and actually, you keep the torn-off portion and give me your robe. And you put the torn-off portion of your robe in an envelope. In 30 days you'll have a gold-plated robe." Sounds familiar.

"If you just call in and pledge that money, you'll be rich." Well, anybody could tell you that just doesn't work like that. David makes no promises. "You're in debt?" The guys show up. David apparently, according to the narrative that's before us, David didn't even ask them. It sounds like they volunteered. "Hey, we're in debt. A lot of us guys, we're in debt. Out of us 400, a bunch of us are in debt. Well, excuse me. We don't happen to be in debt, but some of us are really discontented."

Well, what about the rest of you? "We're in distress." Well, they're going to be following David soon. And all of those D's: the debt, the discontent, and distress is going to be changed around to destiny, man.

David J: Pastor and Bible teacher Jack Hibbs, here on Real Life Radio and his message called "The Two Kingdoms." Thank you for spending some time with us today. You know, this message is part of Pastor Jack's series called First Samuel.

It's a series that highlights the prophet Samuel who was called by God during one of Israel's darkest times to bring the people back to a heart of true worship. And we'll continue on the next edition of Real Life Radio.

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David J: This program is made possible by the generous contributions of you, our listeners. Visit us at jackhibbs.com. That's jackhibbs.com. Until next time, Pastor Jack and all of us here at Real Life Radio wish for you solid and steady growth in Christ and in His word. We'll see you next time here on Real Life Radio.