At the height of the harvest war, David was holed up in his stronghold while the Philistines held his hometown of Bethlehem. In a moment of deep exhaustion and nostalgia, David sighed and expressed a longing from his heart: “Oh, that someone would get me a drink of water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem!” (2 Samuel 23:15).

It wasn’t a formal command. It was just a whisper of the King’s desire. Saul’s soldiers only moved when they were forced by order or driven by fear. But three of David’s mighty men heard their leader’s heart, immediately broke through the entire Philistine camp, drew the water from the well, and brought it back to him. 

David was so moved by their fierce loyalty and radical faith that he refused to drink it—instead, he poured it out as an offering to the Lord.

To completely lay down the ghost of Saul’s army, you have to move past “duty-bound” religion and enter into the radical loyalty of love. Mighty men and women of valour don’t wait for things to be easy, nor do they only act when threatened. They are driven by an intense desire to honour the King of Kings, breaking through enemy lines to bring Him what pleases His heart.

We know from the beginning of Jesus’ ministry and to this present day, Jesus’ heart and longing has been to break the power of sin and hell and bring people back into the life God wants for them. How can we work with the Spirit of Jesus to see this happen.