Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Aubrey to teach this week!
I am grateful for everyone who is always willing to teach for me. This week Aubrey has graciously agree to teach. Please make every effort to be there Sunday to support Aubrey.
Sunday School Lesson 10.19.2008
Love Dare Moment
Love Fights Fair
Like it or not, conflict in marriage is inevitable.
Today’s thought is not how to drive all conflict out of the marriage, but learning to deal with conflicts in such a way that you come out healthier on the other side.
The deepest, most heartbreaking damage you’ll ever do to your marriage will most likely occur in the thick of conflict. That’s because that is when your pride is strongest. Your anger is hottest. Your’re the most selfish and judgmental. You make the worst decisions.
Love can step in and change things. Love reminds you that your marriage is too valuable to allow it to self-destruct, your love for your spouse is more important than whatever your’re fighting about. It reminds you that conflict can actually be turned around for good. Married couples who learn to work through conflict tend to be closer, more trusting, more intimate, and enjoy a much deeper connection afterwards.
But how? the wisest way is to learn to fight clean by establishing healthy rules of engagement. These rules help you “stay in bounds” when the action heats up.
There are two types of boundaries for dealing with conflict: “we” boundaries and “me” boundaries
“WE” boundaries are rules you both agree on beforehand, rules that apply during any fight or altercation. And each of you has the right to gently but directly enforce them if these rules are violated. these could include:
We will never mention divorce
We will not bring up old, unrelated items from the past
We will never fight in public or in front of our children
We will call a “time out” if conflict escalates to a damaging level
We will never touch one another in a harmful way.
We will never go to bed angry with one another
Failure is not an option. Whatever it takes, we will work this out.
“Me” Boundaries are rules you personally practice on your own. Here are some examples
I will listen first before speaking. “Everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger” James 1:19
I will deal with my own issues up-front “Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye Matt: 7:3
I will speak gently and keep my voice down. A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger Proverbs 15:1
Cultivate Godly Friendships
1 Samuel 18:1-23:18
Introduction
How many close friends do you have?
How many close godly friends do you have? How would you define this?
relationship based on relationship with Christ
deep friendship- grows deeper each day because each one makes an effort to BE A FRIEND
lasting friendship- good times but especially through the tough times
praying friendship- pray for them and with them
accountable friendship- hold each other accountable
Bible study
Church attendance
Service
Marriage
Parent
If you don’t have a friend like that, why don’t you?
If you want to have a close godly friend, you have to be a godly friend.
Friendship just like marriages, must be cultivated and maintained if they are expected to grow.
Today we will look at the friendship and David and Jonathan. They are a good model for what a true godly friendship is all about.
And as we look at this model I want us to think about some of our friendships.
First, your spouse. They should be your VERY BEST FRIEND
Next your next best friend. Are you being the friend that you need to be?
Commit to Friends
1 Sam 18:1-4
18:1 After David had finished talking with Saul, Jonathan became one in spirit with David, and he loved him as himself. 2 From that day Saul kept David with him and did not let him return to his father's house. 3 And Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself. 4 Jonathan took off the robe he was wearing and gave it to David, along with his tunic, and even his sword, his bow and his belt.
Notes
David and Jonathan hit it off right off the bat. Why?
They shared a common perspective on life
Both capable and courageous soldiers.
Both had strong faith in the Lord.
Both understood their bravery was the consequence of trusting the Lord.
Both won tremendous victories over superior foes.
Godly friends usually develop due to each other relationship to Christ and sharing this common bond.
More wonderful when it is because they had been led to the Lord by you!!!
But what about my friends who are not Christians?
We need to show godly love and friendship to them.
Also needs to be understood that this needs to be the foundation of all friendship.
Make clear you want to be a friend, just will not participate in ungodly activities with love humility,grace, etc. Set godly limits to your friendship- goal is to draw them closer to God- NOT TO LET THEM DRAW YOU AWAY!!!!
Jonathan made a commitment to this friendship
He shows us how we are to treat our friends
He loved David as much as he loved himself.
He made a covenant with David. A commitment to be his friend.
He gave him something of value to him.
He gave his robe. He gave his military tunic, his sword,his bow, his belt.
How committed are you to your friends?
Do you have that kind of love for your friends? That agape love?
Have you told them of your commitment to be there friend.
What value to you place on your friendship?
Is it costly to you?
At this point, I don’t believe Jonathan knew that David would be the next king.
He just wanted David to have something that meant a lot to him.
But if he already knew, this is even a greater show of love for his friend.
Jonathan was the heir to the throne by birthright.
But if he knew that God had anointed David to be the next king, instead of being jealous, he graciously and humbly yielded to God’s choice and chose to be his friend and support him EVEN IF IT MEANT HE LOSES THE THRONE. THAT IS A CHRISTIAN FRIEND
Defend Friends
1 Sam 19:1-7
19:1 Saul told his son Jonathan and all the attendants to kill David. But Jonathan was very fond of David 2 and warned him, "My father Saul is looking for a chance to kill you. Be on your guard tomorrow morning; go into hiding and stay there. 3 I will go out and stand with my father in the field where you are. I'll speak to him about you and will tell you what I find out."
4 Jonathan spoke well of David to Saul his father and said to him, "Let not the king do wrong to his servant David; he has not wronged you, and what he has done has benefited you greatly. 5 He took his life in his hands when he killed the Philistine. The LORD won a great victory for all Israel, and you saw it and were glad. Why then would you do wrong to an innocent man like David by killing him for no reason?"
6 Saul listened to Jonathan and took this oath: "As surely as the LORD lives, David will not be put to death."
7 So Jonathan called David and told him the whole conversation. He brought him to Saul, and David was with Saul as before.
Notes
Saul became jealous of David’s success and feared that he would overtake the throne.
He tried to kill him while he was playing the harp, throwing a spear at him twice.
Saul then tried to have David killed by sending him to battle, but David was victorious every time because the Lord was with him.
David was even successful enough that Saul had to agree to let David marry his daughter. Now he wanted his son-in-law killed!!!
Jonathan now finds out that his father wants David killed.
He shows what kind of friend he is to David.
Warn David of the plot and advises him to hide.
Goes to his father and confronts him.
We cannot overestimate the courage it took for Jonathan to go to his father the KING and confront him.
Told his father he would be sinning by having David killed
Told him David had done nothing wrong
In fact, he had been a asset.
You would be spilling innocent blood!
Saul listened and temporarily changed his mind. Why?
Because David’s friend stood up for him and defended him.
Do you stand up for your friends when others seek to gossip about them?
It is easier to say nothing and go along with the crowd than to defend a friend in a hostile group.
Defending your friend can be costly, but the boldness of our loyalty reveals the strength of our character.
Help Friends
1 Sam 20:1-13
20:1 Then David fled from Naioth at Ramah and went to Jonathan and asked, "What have I done? What is my crime? How have I wronged your father, that he is trying to take my life?"
2 "Never!" Jonathan replied. "You are not going to die! Look, my father doesn't do anything, great or small, without confiding in me. Why would he hide this from me? It's not so!"
3 But David took an oath and said, "Your father knows very well that I have found favor in your eyes, and he has said to himself, 'Jonathan must not know this or he will be grieved.' Yet as surely as the LORD lives and as you live, there is only a step between me and death."
4 Jonathan said to David, "Whatever you want me to do, I'll do for you."
Notes
David confronts Jonathan that his father is trying to kill him again.
He lets his friend know he is in trouble.
Jonathan lets David know he is ready to help his friend.
"Whatever you want me to do, I'll do do for you."
A close godly friend is ready to help a friend when they are in trouble.
They are willing to do "whatever".
That "whatever" can be costly.
Do we have a friend that we would be willing to do "whatever" for.
Encourage Friends
1 Sam 23:16-18
16 And Saul's son Jonathan went to David at Horesh and helped him find strength in God. 17 "Don't be afraid," he said. "My father Saul will not lay a hand on you. You will be king over Israel, and I will be second to you. Even my father Saul knows this." 18 The two of them made a covenant before the LORD. Then Jonathan went home, but David remained at Horesh.
Notes
David is now in exile.
Everywhere he goes, he is always looking over his shoulder knowing that Saul is after him trying to kill him.
He has put his family and friends in jeopardy.
He went to Nob and received food from the priest only to see Saul kill the entire village for assisting David.
He was getting discouraged.
Jonathan came and found his friend.
He encouraged him.
The Bible said he helped him find strength in God.
That's what friends do.
We encourage each other.
We point others to Christ who is our strength.
Closing.
How many close godly friends do you have?
Would you like to have some close godly friends like David and Jonathan was?
Remember, to have godly friends, you need to be a godly friend!
Godly friends are committed.
Godly friends show God's love to one another.
Godly friends defend each other.
Godly friends help one another.
Godly friends encourage one another.
May we be godly friends to each other.
Love Fights Fair
Like it or not, conflict in marriage is inevitable.
Today’s thought is not how to drive all conflict out of the marriage, but learning to deal with conflicts in such a way that you come out healthier on the other side.
The deepest, most heartbreaking damage you’ll ever do to your marriage will most likely occur in the thick of conflict. That’s because that is when your pride is strongest. Your anger is hottest. Your’re the most selfish and judgmental. You make the worst decisions.
Love can step in and change things. Love reminds you that your marriage is too valuable to allow it to self-destruct, your love for your spouse is more important than whatever your’re fighting about. It reminds you that conflict can actually be turned around for good. Married couples who learn to work through conflict tend to be closer, more trusting, more intimate, and enjoy a much deeper connection afterwards.
But how? the wisest way is to learn to fight clean by establishing healthy rules of engagement. These rules help you “stay in bounds” when the action heats up.
There are two types of boundaries for dealing with conflict: “we” boundaries and “me” boundaries
“WE” boundaries are rules you both agree on beforehand, rules that apply during any fight or altercation. And each of you has the right to gently but directly enforce them if these rules are violated. these could include:
We will never mention divorce
We will not bring up old, unrelated items from the past
We will never fight in public or in front of our children
We will call a “time out” if conflict escalates to a damaging level
We will never touch one another in a harmful way.
We will never go to bed angry with one another
Failure is not an option. Whatever it takes, we will work this out.
“Me” Boundaries are rules you personally practice on your own. Here are some examples
I will listen first before speaking. “Everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger” James 1:19
I will deal with my own issues up-front “Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye Matt: 7:3
I will speak gently and keep my voice down. A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger Proverbs 15:1
Cultivate Godly Friendships
1 Samuel 18:1-23:18
Introduction
How many close friends do you have?
How many close godly friends do you have? How would you define this?
relationship based on relationship with Christ
deep friendship- grows deeper each day because each one makes an effort to BE A FRIEND
lasting friendship- good times but especially through the tough times
praying friendship- pray for them and with them
accountable friendship- hold each other accountable
Bible study
Church attendance
Service
Marriage
Parent
If you don’t have a friend like that, why don’t you?
If you want to have a close godly friend, you have to be a godly friend.
Friendship just like marriages, must be cultivated and maintained if they are expected to grow.
Today we will look at the friendship and David and Jonathan. They are a good model for what a true godly friendship is all about.
And as we look at this model I want us to think about some of our friendships.
First, your spouse. They should be your VERY BEST FRIEND
Next your next best friend. Are you being the friend that you need to be?
Commit to Friends
1 Sam 18:1-4
18:1 After David had finished talking with Saul, Jonathan became one in spirit with David, and he loved him as himself. 2 From that day Saul kept David with him and did not let him return to his father's house. 3 And Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself. 4 Jonathan took off the robe he was wearing and gave it to David, along with his tunic, and even his sword, his bow and his belt.
Notes
David and Jonathan hit it off right off the bat. Why?
They shared a common perspective on life
Both capable and courageous soldiers.
Both had strong faith in the Lord.
Both understood their bravery was the consequence of trusting the Lord.
Both won tremendous victories over superior foes.
Godly friends usually develop due to each other relationship to Christ and sharing this common bond.
More wonderful when it is because they had been led to the Lord by you!!!
But what about my friends who are not Christians?
We need to show godly love and friendship to them.
Also needs to be understood that this needs to be the foundation of all friendship.
Make clear you want to be a friend, just will not participate in ungodly activities with love humility,grace, etc. Set godly limits to your friendship- goal is to draw them closer to God- NOT TO LET THEM DRAW YOU AWAY!!!!
Jonathan made a commitment to this friendship
He shows us how we are to treat our friends
He loved David as much as he loved himself.
He made a covenant with David. A commitment to be his friend.
He gave him something of value to him.
He gave his robe. He gave his military tunic, his sword,his bow, his belt.
How committed are you to your friends?
Do you have that kind of love for your friends? That agape love?
Have you told them of your commitment to be there friend.
What value to you place on your friendship?
Is it costly to you?
At this point, I don’t believe Jonathan knew that David would be the next king.
He just wanted David to have something that meant a lot to him.
But if he already knew, this is even a greater show of love for his friend.
Jonathan was the heir to the throne by birthright.
But if he knew that God had anointed David to be the next king, instead of being jealous, he graciously and humbly yielded to God’s choice and chose to be his friend and support him EVEN IF IT MEANT HE LOSES THE THRONE. THAT IS A CHRISTIAN FRIEND
Defend Friends
1 Sam 19:1-7
19:1 Saul told his son Jonathan and all the attendants to kill David. But Jonathan was very fond of David 2 and warned him, "My father Saul is looking for a chance to kill you. Be on your guard tomorrow morning; go into hiding and stay there. 3 I will go out and stand with my father in the field where you are. I'll speak to him about you and will tell you what I find out."
4 Jonathan spoke well of David to Saul his father and said to him, "Let not the king do wrong to his servant David; he has not wronged you, and what he has done has benefited you greatly. 5 He took his life in his hands when he killed the Philistine. The LORD won a great victory for all Israel, and you saw it and were glad. Why then would you do wrong to an innocent man like David by killing him for no reason?"
6 Saul listened to Jonathan and took this oath: "As surely as the LORD lives, David will not be put to death."
7 So Jonathan called David and told him the whole conversation. He brought him to Saul, and David was with Saul as before.
Notes
Saul became jealous of David’s success and feared that he would overtake the throne.
He tried to kill him while he was playing the harp, throwing a spear at him twice.
Saul then tried to have David killed by sending him to battle, but David was victorious every time because the Lord was with him.
David was even successful enough that Saul had to agree to let David marry his daughter. Now he wanted his son-in-law killed!!!
Jonathan now finds out that his father wants David killed.
He shows what kind of friend he is to David.
Warn David of the plot and advises him to hide.
Goes to his father and confronts him.
We cannot overestimate the courage it took for Jonathan to go to his father the KING and confront him.
Told his father he would be sinning by having David killed
Told him David had done nothing wrong
In fact, he had been a asset.
You would be spilling innocent blood!
Saul listened and temporarily changed his mind. Why?
Because David’s friend stood up for him and defended him.
Do you stand up for your friends when others seek to gossip about them?
It is easier to say nothing and go along with the crowd than to defend a friend in a hostile group.
Defending your friend can be costly, but the boldness of our loyalty reveals the strength of our character.
Help Friends
1 Sam 20:1-13
20:1 Then David fled from Naioth at Ramah and went to Jonathan and asked, "What have I done? What is my crime? How have I wronged your father, that he is trying to take my life?"
2 "Never!" Jonathan replied. "You are not going to die! Look, my father doesn't do anything, great or small, without confiding in me. Why would he hide this from me? It's not so!"
3 But David took an oath and said, "Your father knows very well that I have found favor in your eyes, and he has said to himself, 'Jonathan must not know this or he will be grieved.' Yet as surely as the LORD lives and as you live, there is only a step between me and death."
4 Jonathan said to David, "Whatever you want me to do, I'll do for you."
Notes
David confronts Jonathan that his father is trying to kill him again.
He lets his friend know he is in trouble.
Jonathan lets David know he is ready to help his friend.
"Whatever you want me to do, I'll do do for you."
A close godly friend is ready to help a friend when they are in trouble.
They are willing to do "whatever".
That "whatever" can be costly.
Do we have a friend that we would be willing to do "whatever" for.
Encourage Friends
1 Sam 23:16-18
16 And Saul's son Jonathan went to David at Horesh and helped him find strength in God. 17 "Don't be afraid," he said. "My father Saul will not lay a hand on you. You will be king over Israel, and I will be second to you. Even my father Saul knows this." 18 The two of them made a covenant before the LORD. Then Jonathan went home, but David remained at Horesh.
Notes
David is now in exile.
Everywhere he goes, he is always looking over his shoulder knowing that Saul is after him trying to kill him.
He has put his family and friends in jeopardy.
He went to Nob and received food from the priest only to see Saul kill the entire village for assisting David.
He was getting discouraged.
Jonathan came and found his friend.
He encouraged him.
The Bible said he helped him find strength in God.
That's what friends do.
We encourage each other.
We point others to Christ who is our strength.
Closing.
How many close godly friends do you have?
Would you like to have some close godly friends like David and Jonathan was?
Remember, to have godly friends, you need to be a godly friend!
Godly friends are committed.
Godly friends show God's love to one another.
Godly friends defend each other.
Godly friends help one another.
Godly friends encourage one another.
May we be godly friends to each other.
Sunday School Lesson 10.12.2008
Sorry for the delay. Computer glitches.
Love Dare Moment
—The Heart with two Rooms
—First Room- the Appreciation Room
—Its where you go when you encounter positive and encouraging things about your spouse
—On the walls are written kind words and phrases describing the good attributes of your spouse.
—When you go into this room, your appreciation for your spouse begins to increase and the more grateful you are for your spouse.
—Spent a lot of time in this room early in your relationship- maybe not quite as much now
—There is another room- the Depreciation Room
—On its walls are things that bother and irritate you about your spouse.
—These things were placed there out of frustration, hurt feeling, and the disappointment of unmet expectations.
—If you stay in this room long enough, you get depressed and start expressing things like “ My spouse can be a jerk” or “I think I married the wrong person”
—People fall out of love in this room
—Spending time in the Depreciation Room kills marriages.
—It begins the moment you walk in the door, and your care for them lessens with every second you are in there.
—You may say “But these things are true!”
—Yes, but so are the things in the Appreciation Room.
—Unfortunately, we tend to downplay our own negative attributes while putting our spouse’s failures under a magnifying glass
—Love knows about the Depreciation Room.
—Love does not live in denial that it exists.
—BUT, love chooses not to live there.
—We can’t keep running to this room and lingering there after every frustrating event.
—Love chooses to believe the best about people.
—And when our worst hopes are proven true, love makes every effort to deal with them and move forward.
—As much as possible, love focuses on the positive
—Maybe its time we start thinking differently
—Its time we let love lead our thoughts and our focus.
—The only reason we should glance in the door of the Depreciation Room is to know how to pray for our spouse.
—And the only reason we should ever go in this room is to write “COVERED IN LOVE” in huge letters across the walls.
—We must develop the habit of reining in our negative thoughts and focusing on the positive attributes of your spouse.
—This is a crucial step as we learn to lead our hearts to truly love our spouses.
—It is a decision that we make, whether they deserve it or not.
—Embrace God's Perspective
—1 Samuel 16:1- 17:58
—Introduction
—Today marks a transition in 1 Samuel. The focus leaves King Saul and turns toward David.
—We will see his anointing by Samuel as well as his encounter with Goliath.
—Today’s lesson in entitled “Embrace God’s Perspective” and we will see that from Samuel as well as David.
—1 Sam 16:1
—16:1 The LORD said to Samuel, "How long will you mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and be on your way; I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem. I have chosen one of his sons to be king."
—NIV
—I think we can all relate to Samuel.
—He is depressed and deeply disappointed.
—He must feel like his life is a failure.
—The people of Israel had rejected him as their leader because he was to old.
—They didn’t want his sons to rule because they accepted bribes.
—And now God had rejected Saul as their king because of his disobedience, a man Samuel had anointed and was the spiritual mentor to
—Saul must have felt he was a failure as a father, a spiritual leader, and as a mentor to the new king.
—We all will have disappointments.
—Sometimes they are due to our own failures or due to other people letting us down.
—Sometimes it is due to things beyond our control. (Examples)
—Stock market crash
—Natural disasters- Katrina
—Lose your job due to slow down in economy
—Samuel let this disappointment effect his service to God.
—He just sat around and mourned and did nothing.
—God had a answer for Samuel as well as us.
—Eccl 3:1-8
—There is a time for everything,
—and a season for every activity under heaven:
—2 a time to be born and a time to die,
—a time to plant and a time to uproot,
—3 a time to kill and a time to heal,
—a time to tear down and a time to build,
—4 a time to weep and a time to laugh,
—a time to mourn and a time to dance,
—5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
—a time to embrace and a time to refrain,
—6 a time to search and a time to give up,
—a time to keep and a time to throw away,
—7 a time to tear and a time to mend,
—a time to be silent and a time to speak,
—8 a time to love and a time to hate,
—a time for war and a time for peace.
—NIV
—There is a time to mourn.
—But now its time to act. Its time to move on.
—We cannot allow ourselves to let our circumstances, failures, etc effect our relationship with God and service to Him
—God said, “How long are you going to mourn”
—“Its time to anoint a new king!” GO
—The big question becomes: from whose perspective are we looking at things?
—From our perspective, things are terrible, I am a failure.
—From God’s perspective. I am GOD. I am in total control of everything that happens. Nothings happens that catches me off guard. I have a plan that includes you.
—Rom 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
—Application
—We all have disappointments and failures
—We have to keep our eyes on Jesus.
—One of the best ways to get through difficult times is to serve the Lord.
—That’s what God prescribed for Samuel
—So should we.
—1 Sam 16:2-7
—2 But Samuel said, "How can I go? Saul will hear about it and kill me."
—The LORD said, "Take a heifer with you and say, 'I have come to sacrifice to the LORD.' 3 Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what to do. You are to anoint for me the one I indicate."
—4 Samuel did what the LORD said. When he arrived at Bethlehem, the elders of the town trembled when they met him. They asked, "Do you come in peace?"
—5 Samuel replied, "Yes, in peace; I have come to sacrifice to the LORD. Consecrate yourselves and come to the sacrifice with me." Then he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.
—6 When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and thought, "Surely the LORD's anointed stands here before the LORD."
—7 But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."
—Note that God made all the plans for Samuel.
—He told him what he wanted him to do
—He had a plan not to raise suspicion by King Saul
—He told Samuel “You are to anoint for Me the one I INDICATE TO YOU”
—When God calls us to service, he will lead us and guide us and supply our every need.
—Samuel made the mistake that we all make.
—We judge people by their outward appearance.
—He assumed Eliab would be the next king
—He was the first-born
—He was tall and handsome like Saul
—But God had rejected him. Why?
—His heart was not right!
—Application of these verses are enormous.
—How many times have we judged someone based only on our perspective, i.e looks, dress, external things
—Picking your spouse
—Hiring employees
—Hiring Staff positions at church
—Deciding who your kids will date
—Point is a lot of times we make mistakes because we use the wrong criteria for making decisions.
—We cannot look at someone’s heart.
—We should not allow ourselves to make decisions without getting God’s perspective.
—He knows best!!!
—1 Sam 16:11-13
—11 So he asked Jesse, "Are these all the sons you have?"
—"There is still the youngest," Jesse answered, "but he is tending the sheep."
—Samuel said, "Send for him; we will not sit down until he arrives."
—12 So he sent and had him brought in. He was ruddy, with a fine appearance and handsome features.
—Then the LORD said, "Rise and anoint him; he is the one."
—13 So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the LORD came upon David in power. Samuel then went to Ramah.
—Samuel learned his lesson
—He let all the sons pass before him and waited on the Lord. The Lord didn’t pick any of them.
—I’m not sure what I would have done at this point.
—Samuel showed faith.
—He knew God was going to anoint one of Jesse’s sons as the new king
—He knew that there had to be another son.
—Jesse felt that David was too young to be considered.
—Again judging people by outward characteristics- age.
—As the songs says, when others see a shepherd boy, God may see a king.
—God selects David and Samuel anoints him.
—The Spirit took control of David from that day forward.
—Once again the application is strong.
—God uses the weak, the young, the unpopular for his purposes.
—Why do you think that?
—Because they more completely understand the importance of depending on God for everything versus their own strength.
—Why do you think that David is described as having beautiful eyes and a healthy, handsome appearance when God had just said that he looks at the heart?
—David and Goliath
—Chapter 17 tells the very familiar story.
—With the theme of today’s lesson on looking at things from God’s perspective, lets quickly look at this story in this light.
—From the Israelites perspective, Goliath was unbeatable. He was over nine feet tall and was very intimidating in both his appearance and his words.
—Why did David have a different opinion about Goliath?
—David had a close relationship to God
—He had seen God deliver him out of hostile situations before- bears and lions. He knew God was faithful.
—He had learn to trust God in every situation.
—From our perspective, we may be facing giants in our lives. They are unbeatable.
—But we have to look at them from God’s perspective.
—He is faithful.
—That giant that may be in our life right now may have been placed there by God to see if you will trust Him to deliver you.
—Remember, when we are weak, he is strong
—2 Cor 12:8-10
— 9 But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak , then I am strong.
—NIV
Love Dare Moment
—The Heart with two Rooms
—First Room- the Appreciation Room
—Its where you go when you encounter positive and encouraging things about your spouse
—On the walls are written kind words and phrases describing the good attributes of your spouse.
—When you go into this room, your appreciation for your spouse begins to increase and the more grateful you are for your spouse.
—Spent a lot of time in this room early in your relationship- maybe not quite as much now
—There is another room- the Depreciation Room
—On its walls are things that bother and irritate you about your spouse.
—These things were placed there out of frustration, hurt feeling, and the disappointment of unmet expectations.
—If you stay in this room long enough, you get depressed and start expressing things like “ My spouse can be a jerk” or “I think I married the wrong person”
—People fall out of love in this room
—Spending time in the Depreciation Room kills marriages.
—It begins the moment you walk in the door, and your care for them lessens with every second you are in there.
—You may say “But these things are true!”
—Yes, but so are the things in the Appreciation Room.
—Unfortunately, we tend to downplay our own negative attributes while putting our spouse’s failures under a magnifying glass
—Love knows about the Depreciation Room.
—Love does not live in denial that it exists.
—BUT, love chooses not to live there.
—We can’t keep running to this room and lingering there after every frustrating event.
—Love chooses to believe the best about people.
—And when our worst hopes are proven true, love makes every effort to deal with them and move forward.
—As much as possible, love focuses on the positive
—Maybe its time we start thinking differently
—Its time we let love lead our thoughts and our focus.
—The only reason we should glance in the door of the Depreciation Room is to know how to pray for our spouse.
—And the only reason we should ever go in this room is to write “COVERED IN LOVE” in huge letters across the walls.
—We must develop the habit of reining in our negative thoughts and focusing on the positive attributes of your spouse.
—This is a crucial step as we learn to lead our hearts to truly love our spouses.
—It is a decision that we make, whether they deserve it or not.
—Embrace God's Perspective
—1 Samuel 16:1- 17:58
—Introduction
—Today marks a transition in 1 Samuel. The focus leaves King Saul and turns toward David.
—We will see his anointing by Samuel as well as his encounter with Goliath.
—Today’s lesson in entitled “Embrace God’s Perspective” and we will see that from Samuel as well as David.
—1 Sam 16:1
—16:1 The LORD said to Samuel, "How long will you mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and be on your way; I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem. I have chosen one of his sons to be king."
—NIV
—I think we can all relate to Samuel.
—He is depressed and deeply disappointed.
—He must feel like his life is a failure.
—The people of Israel had rejected him as their leader because he was to old.
—They didn’t want his sons to rule because they accepted bribes.
—And now God had rejected Saul as their king because of his disobedience, a man Samuel had anointed and was the spiritual mentor to
—Saul must have felt he was a failure as a father, a spiritual leader, and as a mentor to the new king.
—We all will have disappointments.
—Sometimes they are due to our own failures or due to other people letting us down.
—Sometimes it is due to things beyond our control. (Examples)
—Stock market crash
—Natural disasters- Katrina
—Lose your job due to slow down in economy
—Samuel let this disappointment effect his service to God.
—He just sat around and mourned and did nothing.
—God had a answer for Samuel as well as us.
—Eccl 3:1-8
—There is a time for everything,
—and a season for every activity under heaven:
—2 a time to be born and a time to die,
—a time to plant and a time to uproot,
—3 a time to kill and a time to heal,
—a time to tear down and a time to build,
—4 a time to weep and a time to laugh,
—a time to mourn and a time to dance,
—5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
—a time to embrace and a time to refrain,
—6 a time to search and a time to give up,
—a time to keep and a time to throw away,
—7 a time to tear and a time to mend,
—a time to be silent and a time to speak,
—8 a time to love and a time to hate,
—a time for war and a time for peace.
—NIV
—There is a time to mourn.
—But now its time to act. Its time to move on.
—We cannot allow ourselves to let our circumstances, failures, etc effect our relationship with God and service to Him
—God said, “How long are you going to mourn”
—“Its time to anoint a new king!” GO
—The big question becomes: from whose perspective are we looking at things?
—From our perspective, things are terrible, I am a failure.
—From God’s perspective. I am GOD. I am in total control of everything that happens. Nothings happens that catches me off guard. I have a plan that includes you.
—Rom 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
—Application
—We all have disappointments and failures
—We have to keep our eyes on Jesus.
—One of the best ways to get through difficult times is to serve the Lord.
—That’s what God prescribed for Samuel
—So should we.
—1 Sam 16:2-7
—2 But Samuel said, "How can I go? Saul will hear about it and kill me."
—The LORD said, "Take a heifer with you and say, 'I have come to sacrifice to the LORD.' 3 Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what to do. You are to anoint for me the one I indicate."
—4 Samuel did what the LORD said. When he arrived at Bethlehem, the elders of the town trembled when they met him. They asked, "Do you come in peace?"
—5 Samuel replied, "Yes, in peace; I have come to sacrifice to the LORD. Consecrate yourselves and come to the sacrifice with me." Then he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.
—6 When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and thought, "Surely the LORD's anointed stands here before the LORD."
—7 But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."
—Note that God made all the plans for Samuel.
—He told him what he wanted him to do
—He had a plan not to raise suspicion by King Saul
—He told Samuel “You are to anoint for Me the one I INDICATE TO YOU”
—When God calls us to service, he will lead us and guide us and supply our every need.
—Samuel made the mistake that we all make.
—We judge people by their outward appearance.
—He assumed Eliab would be the next king
—He was the first-born
—He was tall and handsome like Saul
—But God had rejected him. Why?
—His heart was not right!
—Application of these verses are enormous.
—How many times have we judged someone based only on our perspective, i.e looks, dress, external things
—Picking your spouse
—Hiring employees
—Hiring Staff positions at church
—Deciding who your kids will date
—Point is a lot of times we make mistakes because we use the wrong criteria for making decisions.
—We cannot look at someone’s heart.
—We should not allow ourselves to make decisions without getting God’s perspective.
—He knows best!!!
—1 Sam 16:11-13
—11 So he asked Jesse, "Are these all the sons you have?"
—"There is still the youngest," Jesse answered, "but he is tending the sheep."
—Samuel said, "Send for him; we will not sit down until he arrives."
—12 So he sent and had him brought in. He was ruddy, with a fine appearance and handsome features.
—Then the LORD said, "Rise and anoint him; he is the one."
—13 So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the LORD came upon David in power. Samuel then went to Ramah.
—Samuel learned his lesson
—He let all the sons pass before him and waited on the Lord. The Lord didn’t pick any of them.
—I’m not sure what I would have done at this point.
—Samuel showed faith.
—He knew God was going to anoint one of Jesse’s sons as the new king
—He knew that there had to be another son.
—Jesse felt that David was too young to be considered.
—Again judging people by outward characteristics- age.
—As the songs says, when others see a shepherd boy, God may see a king.
—God selects David and Samuel anoints him.
—The Spirit took control of David from that day forward.
—Once again the application is strong.
—God uses the weak, the young, the unpopular for his purposes.
—Why do you think that?
—Because they more completely understand the importance of depending on God for everything versus their own strength.
—Why do you think that David is described as having beautiful eyes and a healthy, handsome appearance when God had just said that he looks at the heart?
—David and Goliath
—Chapter 17 tells the very familiar story.
—With the theme of today’s lesson on looking at things from God’s perspective, lets quickly look at this story in this light.
—From the Israelites perspective, Goliath was unbeatable. He was over nine feet tall and was very intimidating in both his appearance and his words.
—Why did David have a different opinion about Goliath?
—David had a close relationship to God
—He had seen God deliver him out of hostile situations before- bears and lions. He knew God was faithful.
—He had learn to trust God in every situation.
—From our perspective, we may be facing giants in our lives. They are unbeatable.
—But we have to look at them from God’s perspective.
—He is faithful.
—That giant that may be in our life right now may have been placed there by God to see if you will trust Him to deliver you.
—Remember, when we are weak, he is strong
—2 Cor 12:8-10
— 9 But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak , then I am strong.
—NIV
Sunday, October 5, 2008
Fall Social !!!!
This year's fall social will be Friday, October 31. The Linton's have graciously volunteered their farm for this event. Highlights include a hayride, bonfire, good food, and lots more. Please go ahead and put this on your calendar. We will get you more information about the time and what to bring later.
P.S. Be sure and let the kids dress up for this event if they would like!!
Terry and Kim
P.S. Be sure and let the kids dress up for this event if they would like!!
Terry and Kim
Sunday School Lesson 10.5.2009
Love Dare Moment
Love is patient
Love is kind
Love Dare says that love is built on two pillars that best define what it is. Those pillars are patience and kindness.
Patience is one area I need a lot of help with.
For me, it is not a natural response.
When I choose to be patient, I respond in a positive way to a negative situation.
I am slow to anger.
Rather than being restless and demanding, love helps me settle down and begin extending mercy to those around me.
Truth is, I don’t like being around myself when I am impatient. It usually causes me to overreact in angry, foolish and regrettable ways.
Patience helps us give our spouse permission to be human.
I need more patience.
Kindness is love in action.
If patience is how love reacts in order to minimize a negative circumstance, kindness is how love acts to maximize a positive circumstance.
Four parts of kindness
Gentleness- sensitive, tender
Helpfulness- meet the needs of the moment
Willingness- agreeable
Initiative- thinks ahead, first to greet, smile, serve, forgive- don’t wait for your spouse to be kind first
Carry Out God-Given Instructions
1 Samuel 13:1-15:35
Introduction
True or false- Most people give little thought to pleasing God or to basing their actions on the principles and commands in God’s word.
Most adults, including a lot of Christians adhere to a form of situational ethics whereby they act based on what “feels right” or what “everyone else is doing”
Other Christians desire to please God but struggle to obey Him.
The struggle becomes even greater when we are in a stressful situation or when obedience puts in a uncomfortable situation.
God expects us to obey Him boldly and fully.
Today we are looking at the life of King Saul in his early years.
We will see him as we ourselves tend to be.
There will be moments when he wants to do the right thing and serve God and be obedient.
But Saul fails to be the king God was looking for.
Saul, as we will we see, starts out right, but is not fully obedient.
Hopefully we will see what caused Saul to be disobedient and use it to help us to avoid making the same bad decisions.
1 Sam 13:2-14
2 Saul chose three thousand men from Israel; two thousand were with him at Micmash and in the hill country of Bethel, and a thousand were with Jonathan at Gibeah in Benjamin. The rest of the men he sent back to their homes.
3 Jonathan attacked the Philistine outpost at Geba, and the Philistines heard about it. Then Saul had the trumpet blown throughout the land and said, "Let the Hebrews hear!" 4 So all Israel heard the news: "Saul has attacked the Philistine outpost, and now Israel has become a stench to the Philistines." And the people were summoned to join Saul at Gilgal.
5 The Philistines assembled to fight Israel, with three thousand chariots, six thousand charioteers, and soldiers as numerous as the sand on the seashore. They went up and camped at Micmash, east of Beth Aven. 6 When the men of Israel saw that their situation was critical and that their army was hard pressed, they hid in caves and thickets, among the rocks, and in pits and cisterns. 7 Some Hebrews even crossed the Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead.
Saul remained at Gilgal, and all the troops with him were quaking with fear.
8 He waited seven days, the time set by Samuel; but Samuel did not come to Gilgal, and Saul's men began to scatter. 9 So he said, "Bring me the burnt offering and the fellowship offerings." And Saul offered up the burnt offering. 10 Just as he finished making the offering, Samuel arrived, and Saul went out to greet him.
11 "What have you done?" asked Samuel.
Saul replied, "When I saw that the men were scattering, and that you did not come at the set time, and that the Philistines were assembling at Micmash, 12 I thought, 'Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, and I have not sought the LORD's favor.' So I felt compelled to offer the burnt offering."
13 "You acted foolishly," Samuel said. "You have not kept the command the LORD your God gave you; if you had, he would have established your kingdom over Israel for all time. 14 But now your kingdom will not endure; the LORD has sought out a man after his own heart and appointed him leader of his people, because you have not kept the LORD's command."
If you remember two weeks ago, the Israelites defeated the Philistines under the leadership of Samuel.
Even though the Philistines greatly outnumbered them and were advancing toward them, Samuel offered a sacrifice to the Lord and prayed for their deliverance.
God heard Samuel prayers and defeated the Philistines.
The hostilities between the two nations rose up again when Jonathan, Saul’s son, attacked a Philistine outpost.
The Philistines had a impressive army.
Overwhelming numerical superiority.
Soldiers as numerous as the sand on the seashore
They gathered forces preparing to attack Israel in retaliation.
What was the Israelite soldiers response?
They ran, hid in caves and thickets.
Crossed the river.
The ones that didn’t run were quaking with fear.
Things were desperate for King Saul.
Samuel had instructed Saul to go to Gilgal and wait seven days.
Samuel would then offer a sacrifice and give him further instructions from God
Was Saul obedient?
Yes, initially.
Do you think Saul intended to be obedient to God totally?
Yes.
What happened?
Saul let fear and impatience get the best of him
Every day he waited, more and more soldiers ran away.
Every day he waited, more and more Philistines mobilized.
The situation was hopeless from his perspective.
Was Samuel late?
No, he showed up right when he said he would on the seventh day.
What did Saul do that was so wrong?
He wanted God’s blessing and help in the battle.
He had done everything God had said to do up to this point.
He was disobedient to God.
God told him to WAIT until Samuel arrived for further instructions.
NEVER instructed him to offer sacrifices.
Reserved only for the priest.
He knew better.
Look at his response when challenged by Samuel.
Its everyone else’s fault.
You were late.
The soldiers deserted me.
The Philistines were about to attack.
We need that sacrifice!!!
I forced myself to do it!!!!
What about us?
Its easy to trust God and follow His commands when things are going right. (easy to show patience and kindness when there is no conflict)
But when things start going bad beyond our control, trusting God becomes more difficult.
Last week it was easy for Saul to be victorious with 300,000 men. Little harder this week with 600 men!
We have to be on our guard or these fearful, chaotic situations will cloud our judgment and prompt us to make foolish decisions and disobey God’s commands.
Saul’s foolish decision was based on the fact that He didn’t understand God.
He was more worried about the consequence of not sacrificing more than he trusted in the God to who the sacrifice was given.
Saul placed his faith in the ritual to get God’s blessing versus being obedient to the God of the ritual.
Samuel talks about this in chapter 15.
1 Sam 15:1-9
15:1 Samuel said to Saul, "I am the one the LORD sent to anoint you king over his people Israel; so listen now to the message from the LORD. 2 This is what the LORD Almighty says: 'I will punish the Amalekites for what they did to Israel when they waylaid them as they came up from Egypt. 3 Now go, attack the Amalekites and totally destroy everything that belongs to them. Do not spare them; put to death men and women, children and infants, cattle and sheep, camels and donkeys.'"
4 So Saul summoned the men and mustered them at Telaim — two hundred thousand foot soldiers and ten thousand men from Judah. 5 Saul went to the city of Amalek and set an ambush in the ravine. 6 Then he said to the Kenites, "Go away, leave the Amalekites so that I do not destroy you along with them; for you showed kindness to all the Israelites when they came up out of Egypt." So the Kenites moved away from the Amalekites.
7 Then Saul attacked the Amalekites all the way from Havilah to Shur, to the east of Egypt. 8 He took Agag king of the Amalekites alive, and all his people he totally destroyed with the sword. 9 But Saul and the army spared Agag and the best of the sheep and cattle, the fat calves and lambs — everything that was good. These they were unwilling to destroy completely, but everything that was despised and weak they totally destroyed.
God delivered the Israelites from the Philistines due to the faith of Saul’s son Jonathan.
Now Samuel has instructed Saul to attack and completely destroy the Amalekites.
They were under the judgment of God for attacking the Israelites as they left Egypt and headed to the promise land.
Is Saul obedient?
Partially
What did Saul do?
First, he spared Agag, the king.
He spared the best of the animals and of everything else
If God calls something condemned and commands it to be destroyed, how is it the best?
He gladly destroyed the worthless, undesirable things.
Do you think Saul planned on fully obeying the Lord when he went into battle?
Yes
So what happened?
Saul redefined obedience.
Saul was happy to be obedience when it was suitable to him.
It didn’t make any sense for him to destroy something that they could use for other purposes.
They were greedy.
Saul was obedient to God in almost every area.
Saul either lied to Samuel about the purpose of keeping the livestock, or rationalized a reason for keeping it (we will use them for sacrifices!)
It didn’t make sense to Saul to destroy perfectly good livestock. He didn’t see the harm.
God is not calling us to go out and completely destroy a people.
He is calling us to do something even harder.
Col 3:5
5 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.
We are to completely destroy (put to death) anything that is within that is worldly.
But you say, that is so extreme.
That doesn’t make any sense.
People believe we can select the portions of God’s instructions that they will carry out.
We believe God should appreciate what little we do.
A lot of us call doing part of what God wants is obedience
God expects us to be obedient.
He expects us to be fully obedient.
He defines obedience – not us.
1 Sam 15:20-23
20 "But I did obey the LORD," Saul said. "I went on the mission the LORD assigned me. I completely destroyed the Amalekites and brought back Agag their king. 21 The soldiers took sheep and cattle from the plunder, the best of what was devoted to God, in order to sacrifice them to the LORD your God at Gilgal."
22 But Samuel replied:
"Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices
as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD?
To obey is better than sacrifice,
and to heed is better than the fat of rams.
23 For rebellion is like the sin of divination,
and arrogance like the evil of idolatry.
Because you have rejected the word of the LORD,
he has rejected you as king."
Saul was still trying to justify his disobedience.
Samuel reminds Saul and us that God is much more interested in obedience than he is rituals.
What is the analogy today?
Church attendance, tithing, serving for show or out of obligation- mean very little if done for the wrong motives or you are living in sin.
Carrying out worship practices can never substitute for carrying out Gods’ commands.
Conclusion
Can you identify with Saul today?
I sure can.
I make mistakes and disobey God all the time.
I certainly do it more when I am in a stressful situation or scared.
I am probably worse than Saul about redefining obedience when it is convenient for me.
Then I go to church on Sunday, look spiritual, and think that everything is OK.
God help us.
Love is patient
Love is kind
Love Dare says that love is built on two pillars that best define what it is. Those pillars are patience and kindness.
Patience is one area I need a lot of help with.
For me, it is not a natural response.
When I choose to be patient, I respond in a positive way to a negative situation.
I am slow to anger.
Rather than being restless and demanding, love helps me settle down and begin extending mercy to those around me.
Truth is, I don’t like being around myself when I am impatient. It usually causes me to overreact in angry, foolish and regrettable ways.
Patience helps us give our spouse permission to be human.
I need more patience.
Kindness is love in action.
If patience is how love reacts in order to minimize a negative circumstance, kindness is how love acts to maximize a positive circumstance.
Four parts of kindness
Gentleness- sensitive, tender
Helpfulness- meet the needs of the moment
Willingness- agreeable
Initiative- thinks ahead, first to greet, smile, serve, forgive- don’t wait for your spouse to be kind first
Carry Out God-Given Instructions
1 Samuel 13:1-15:35
Introduction
True or false- Most people give little thought to pleasing God or to basing their actions on the principles and commands in God’s word.
Most adults, including a lot of Christians adhere to a form of situational ethics whereby they act based on what “feels right” or what “everyone else is doing”
Other Christians desire to please God but struggle to obey Him.
The struggle becomes even greater when we are in a stressful situation or when obedience puts in a uncomfortable situation.
God expects us to obey Him boldly and fully.
Today we are looking at the life of King Saul in his early years.
We will see him as we ourselves tend to be.
There will be moments when he wants to do the right thing and serve God and be obedient.
But Saul fails to be the king God was looking for.
Saul, as we will we see, starts out right, but is not fully obedient.
Hopefully we will see what caused Saul to be disobedient and use it to help us to avoid making the same bad decisions.
1 Sam 13:2-14
2 Saul chose three thousand men from Israel; two thousand were with him at Micmash and in the hill country of Bethel, and a thousand were with Jonathan at Gibeah in Benjamin. The rest of the men he sent back to their homes.
3 Jonathan attacked the Philistine outpost at Geba, and the Philistines heard about it. Then Saul had the trumpet blown throughout the land and said, "Let the Hebrews hear!" 4 So all Israel heard the news: "Saul has attacked the Philistine outpost, and now Israel has become a stench to the Philistines." And the people were summoned to join Saul at Gilgal.
5 The Philistines assembled to fight Israel, with three thousand chariots, six thousand charioteers, and soldiers as numerous as the sand on the seashore. They went up and camped at Micmash, east of Beth Aven. 6 When the men of Israel saw that their situation was critical and that their army was hard pressed, they hid in caves and thickets, among the rocks, and in pits and cisterns. 7 Some Hebrews even crossed the Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead.
Saul remained at Gilgal, and all the troops with him were quaking with fear.
8 He waited seven days, the time set by Samuel; but Samuel did not come to Gilgal, and Saul's men began to scatter. 9 So he said, "Bring me the burnt offering and the fellowship offerings." And Saul offered up the burnt offering. 10 Just as he finished making the offering, Samuel arrived, and Saul went out to greet him.
11 "What have you done?" asked Samuel.
Saul replied, "When I saw that the men were scattering, and that you did not come at the set time, and that the Philistines were assembling at Micmash, 12 I thought, 'Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, and I have not sought the LORD's favor.' So I felt compelled to offer the burnt offering."
13 "You acted foolishly," Samuel said. "You have not kept the command the LORD your God gave you; if you had, he would have established your kingdom over Israel for all time. 14 But now your kingdom will not endure; the LORD has sought out a man after his own heart and appointed him leader of his people, because you have not kept the LORD's command."
If you remember two weeks ago, the Israelites defeated the Philistines under the leadership of Samuel.
Even though the Philistines greatly outnumbered them and were advancing toward them, Samuel offered a sacrifice to the Lord and prayed for their deliverance.
God heard Samuel prayers and defeated the Philistines.
The hostilities between the two nations rose up again when Jonathan, Saul’s son, attacked a Philistine outpost.
The Philistines had a impressive army.
Overwhelming numerical superiority.
Soldiers as numerous as the sand on the seashore
They gathered forces preparing to attack Israel in retaliation.
What was the Israelite soldiers response?
They ran, hid in caves and thickets.
Crossed the river.
The ones that didn’t run were quaking with fear.
Things were desperate for King Saul.
Samuel had instructed Saul to go to Gilgal and wait seven days.
Samuel would then offer a sacrifice and give him further instructions from God
Was Saul obedient?
Yes, initially.
Do you think Saul intended to be obedient to God totally?
Yes.
What happened?
Saul let fear and impatience get the best of him
Every day he waited, more and more soldiers ran away.
Every day he waited, more and more Philistines mobilized.
The situation was hopeless from his perspective.
Was Samuel late?
No, he showed up right when he said he would on the seventh day.
What did Saul do that was so wrong?
He wanted God’s blessing and help in the battle.
He had done everything God had said to do up to this point.
He was disobedient to God.
God told him to WAIT until Samuel arrived for further instructions.
NEVER instructed him to offer sacrifices.
Reserved only for the priest.
He knew better.
Look at his response when challenged by Samuel.
Its everyone else’s fault.
You were late.
The soldiers deserted me.
The Philistines were about to attack.
We need that sacrifice!!!
I forced myself to do it!!!!
What about us?
Its easy to trust God and follow His commands when things are going right. (easy to show patience and kindness when there is no conflict)
But when things start going bad beyond our control, trusting God becomes more difficult.
Last week it was easy for Saul to be victorious with 300,000 men. Little harder this week with 600 men!
We have to be on our guard or these fearful, chaotic situations will cloud our judgment and prompt us to make foolish decisions and disobey God’s commands.
Saul’s foolish decision was based on the fact that He didn’t understand God.
He was more worried about the consequence of not sacrificing more than he trusted in the God to who the sacrifice was given.
Saul placed his faith in the ritual to get God’s blessing versus being obedient to the God of the ritual.
Samuel talks about this in chapter 15.
1 Sam 15:1-9
15:1 Samuel said to Saul, "I am the one the LORD sent to anoint you king over his people Israel; so listen now to the message from the LORD. 2 This is what the LORD Almighty says: 'I will punish the Amalekites for what they did to Israel when they waylaid them as they came up from Egypt. 3 Now go, attack the Amalekites and totally destroy everything that belongs to them. Do not spare them; put to death men and women, children and infants, cattle and sheep, camels and donkeys.'"
4 So Saul summoned the men and mustered them at Telaim — two hundred thousand foot soldiers and ten thousand men from Judah. 5 Saul went to the city of Amalek and set an ambush in the ravine. 6 Then he said to the Kenites, "Go away, leave the Amalekites so that I do not destroy you along with them; for you showed kindness to all the Israelites when they came up out of Egypt." So the Kenites moved away from the Amalekites.
7 Then Saul attacked the Amalekites all the way from Havilah to Shur, to the east of Egypt. 8 He took Agag king of the Amalekites alive, and all his people he totally destroyed with the sword. 9 But Saul and the army spared Agag and the best of the sheep and cattle, the fat calves and lambs — everything that was good. These they were unwilling to destroy completely, but everything that was despised and weak they totally destroyed.
God delivered the Israelites from the Philistines due to the faith of Saul’s son Jonathan.
Now Samuel has instructed Saul to attack and completely destroy the Amalekites.
They were under the judgment of God for attacking the Israelites as they left Egypt and headed to the promise land.
Is Saul obedient?
Partially
What did Saul do?
First, he spared Agag, the king.
He spared the best of the animals and of everything else
If God calls something condemned and commands it to be destroyed, how is it the best?
He gladly destroyed the worthless, undesirable things.
Do you think Saul planned on fully obeying the Lord when he went into battle?
Yes
So what happened?
Saul redefined obedience.
Saul was happy to be obedience when it was suitable to him.
It didn’t make any sense for him to destroy something that they could use for other purposes.
They were greedy.
Saul was obedient to God in almost every area.
Saul either lied to Samuel about the purpose of keeping the livestock, or rationalized a reason for keeping it (we will use them for sacrifices!)
It didn’t make sense to Saul to destroy perfectly good livestock. He didn’t see the harm.
God is not calling us to go out and completely destroy a people.
He is calling us to do something even harder.
Col 3:5
5 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.
We are to completely destroy (put to death) anything that is within that is worldly.
But you say, that is so extreme.
That doesn’t make any sense.
People believe we can select the portions of God’s instructions that they will carry out.
We believe God should appreciate what little we do.
A lot of us call doing part of what God wants is obedience
God expects us to be obedient.
He expects us to be fully obedient.
He defines obedience – not us.
1 Sam 15:20-23
20 "But I did obey the LORD," Saul said. "I went on the mission the LORD assigned me. I completely destroyed the Amalekites and brought back Agag their king. 21 The soldiers took sheep and cattle from the plunder, the best of what was devoted to God, in order to sacrifice them to the LORD your God at Gilgal."
22 But Samuel replied:
"Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices
as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD?
To obey is better than sacrifice,
and to heed is better than the fat of rams.
23 For rebellion is like the sin of divination,
and arrogance like the evil of idolatry.
Because you have rejected the word of the LORD,
he has rejected you as king."
Saul was still trying to justify his disobedience.
Samuel reminds Saul and us that God is much more interested in obedience than he is rituals.
What is the analogy today?
Church attendance, tithing, serving for show or out of obligation- mean very little if done for the wrong motives or you are living in sin.
Carrying out worship practices can never substitute for carrying out Gods’ commands.
Conclusion
Can you identify with Saul today?
I sure can.
I make mistakes and disobey God all the time.
I certainly do it more when I am in a stressful situation or scared.
I am probably worse than Saul about redefining obedience when it is convenient for me.
Then I go to church on Sunday, look spiritual, and think that everything is OK.
God help us.
Friday, September 26, 2008
Fireproof
Today, the movie Fireproof opens up in theaters around the area. I encourage everyone to make a special effort to go see the movie as a couple.
Part of the movie is a book called the "Love Dare"- a forty day "dare" to learn to love your spouse unconditionally.
I bought the book today and encourage everyone to do the same. I am planning on beginning my journey Monday. I will have a "Love Dare" segment to begin the lesson each week for the forty days.
Looking forward to seeing everyone next Sunday. Please make every effort to be there Sunday and support Tim.
TW
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Sunday School Lesson 9.21.2008
Here is the lesson. Hope everyone has a good week.
Tim will be teaching next week. Make plans to be there and support him.
TW
Trusting in the Lord Alone
1 Samuel 4:1- 7:17
Introduction
Where do you put your trust?
Finances?
Retirements Plans?
Not a good idea after this week.
Our country and its military?
Your doctors?
Your medicines?
If you were to ask us, all of us would say God?
Where do most people put their trust?
Themselves!!!!
Hopefully we all know where we should put our trust.
Question is why don’t we?
Hasn’t He proven Himself trustworthy?
1 Sam 4:1
4:1 And Samuel's word came to all Israel.
Now the Israelites went out to fight against the Philistines. The Israelites camped at Ebenezer, and the Philistines at Aphek. 2 The Philistines deployed their forces to meet Israel, and as the battle spread, Israel was defeated by the Philistines, who killed about four thousand of them on the battlefield. 3 When the soldiers returned to camp, the elders of Israel asked, "Why did the LORD bring defeat upon us today before the Philistines? Let us bring the ark of the LORD's covenant from Shiloh, so that it may go with us and save us from the hand of our enemies."
4 So the people sent men to Shiloh, and they brought back the ark of the covenant of the LORD Almighty, who is enthroned between the cherubim. And Eli's two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God.
5 When the ark of the LORD's covenant came into the camp, all Israel raised such a great shout that the ground shook. 6 Hearing the uproar, the Philistines asked, "What's all this shouting in the Hebrew camp?"
NIV
First study question-
Why did they get the ark?
To help them against their enemy.
What were they hoping would happen?
Just like with Joshua, they were hoping the ark would destroy their enemies.
Was their plan successful?
No
Why or why not?
They were practicing idolatry. Placing their faith in the ark versus in God.
In fact, when they brought the ark, it made the Philistines fight harder and the loss was even greater.
Are we ever guilty of wanting God to get us out of a mess, but not interested in changing our lives
God is not a 911 service.
Symbols of God such as the cross or a church have no power in of themselves.
1 Sam 4:6-9
When they learned that the ark of the LORD had come into the camp, 7 the Philistines were afraid. "A god has come into the camp," they said. "We're in trouble! Nothing like this has happened before. 8 Woe to us! Who will deliver us from the hand of these mighty gods? They are the gods who struck the Egyptians with all kinds of plagues in the desert. 9 Be strong, Philistines! Be men, or you will be subject to the Hebrews, as they have been to you. Be men, and fight!"
10 So the Philistines fought, and the Israelites were defeated and every man fled to his tent. The slaughter was very great; Israel lost thirty thousand foot soldiers. 11 The ark of God was captured, and Eli's two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, died.
NIV
1 Sam 4:19-22
19 His daughter-in-law, the wife of Phinehas, was pregnant and near the time of delivery. When she heard the news that the ark of God had been captured and that her father-in-law and her husband were dead, she went into labor and gave birth, but was overcome by her labor pains. 20 As she was dying, the women attending her said, "Don't despair; you have given birth to a son." But she did not respond or pay any attention.
21 She named the boy Ichabod, saying, "The glory has departed from Israel"-because of the capture of the ark of God and the deaths of her father-in-law and her husband. 22 She said, "The glory has departed from Israel, for the ark of God has been captured."
NIV
Study Question –
What was significant about Eli’s grandson name?
Ichabod- means the glory has departed.
Has God’s glory left our country?
Has God’s glory left our church, our families, etc
1 Sam 5:1-5
5:1 After the Philistines had captured the ark of God, they took it from Ebenezer to Ashdod. 2 Then they carried the ark into Dagon's temple and set it beside Dagon. 3 When the people of Ashdod rose early the next day, there was Dagon, fallen on his face on the ground before the ark of the LORD! They took Dagon and put him back in his place. 4 But the following morning when they rose, there was Dagon, fallen on his face on the ground before the ark of the LORD! His head and hands had been broken off and were lying on the threshold; only his body remained. 5 That is why to this day neither the priests of Dagon nor any others who enter Dagon's temple at Ashdod step on the threshold.
6 The LORD's hand was heavy upon the people of Ashdod and its vicinity; he brought devastation upon them and afflicted them with tumors. 7 When the men of Ashdod saw what was happening, they said, "The ark of the god of Israel must not stay here with us, because his hand is heavy upon us and upon Dagon our god." 8 So they called together all the rulers of the Philistines and asked them, "What shall we do with the ark of the god of Israel?"
NIV
Study Question
What happened to the ark with the Philistines?
God doesn’t need our help to defend His name
1 Sam 6:7-9
7 "Now then, get a new cart ready, with two cows that have calved and have never been yoked. Hitch the cows to the cart, but take their calves away and pen them up. 8 Take the ark of the LORD and put it on the cart, and in a chest beside it put the gold objects you are sending back to him as a guilt offering. Send it on its way, 9 but keep watching it. If it goes up to its own territory, toward Beth Shemesh, then the LORD has brought this great disaster on us. But if it does not, then we will know that it was not his hand that struck us and that it happened to us by chance."
NIV
Study Question
What test did the Philistines come up with to see if the ark was the source of all their problems?
Once again, God doesn’t need our help to “rescue” Him.
1 Sam 6:10-12
10 So they did this. They took two such cows and hitched them to the cart and penned up their calves. 11 They placed the ark of the LORD on the cart and along with it the chest containing the gold rats and the models of the tumors. 12 Then the cows went straight up toward Beth Shemesh, keeping on the road and lowing all the way; they did not turn to the right or to the left. The rulers of the Philistines followed them as far as the border of Beth Shemesh.
NIV
1 Sam 6:19-20
19 But God struck down some of the men of Beth Shemesh, putting seventy of them to death because they had looked into the ark of the LORD. The people mourned because of the heavy blow the LORD had dealt them, 20 and the men of Beth Shemesh asked, "Who can stand in the presence of the LORD, this holy God? To whom will the ark go up from here?"
NIV
Study Question
What happened to some of the Israelites who recovered the ark? They were killed for opening up to ark.
What can we learn about the holiness of God from these verses?
What about us? How casually do we take God?
One form of idolatry is to worship God for what we want Him to be instead of who He is.
He is a holy, all-powerful God who rules from heaven.
1 Sam 7:1-4
7:1 So the men of Kiriath Jearim came and took up the ark of the LORD. They took it to Abinadab's house on the hill and consecrated Eleazar his son to guard the ark of the LORD.
2 It was a long time, twenty years in all, that the ark remained at Kiriath Jearim, and all the people of Israel mourned and sought after the LORD. 3 And Samuel said to the whole house of Israel, "If you are returning to the LORD with all your hearts, then rid yourselves of the foreign gods and the Ashtoreths and commit yourselves to the LORD and serve him only, and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines." 4 So the Israelites put away their Baals and Ashtoreths, and served the LORD only.
NIV
Study Question
What was Samuel’s instructions to the people who sought after God?
Notice his instructions were to the people who were searching after God.
Notice they were searching after God before the Philistines attacked.
The people were ready to hear what Samuel had to say.
They had tried other “gods” and they had failed.
First, they had to get rid of all the idols they had made and worshipped.
What idols do you have right now?
Are you ready to REALLY get rid of them?
Second, they had to dedicate themselves to the Lord.
They had to make a firm commitment of their hearts to follow and obey the Lord
Are we ready to make a serious commitment to follow and obey the Lord and HIM ONLY
Third, they were to worship God only.
When was the last time you worshipped God?
Why are you here today? What are your motives for being here?
Bring my kids to church
S0cial club?
Why are you at Fairview? Are you here for what the church can do for you OR it is because this is where God has called you to SERVE.
1 Sam 7:5-6
5 Then Samuel said, "Assemble all Israel at Mizpah and I will intercede with the LORD for you." 6 When they had assembled at Mizpah, they drew water and poured it out before the LORD. On that day they fasted and there they confessed, "We have sinned against the LORD." And Samuel was leader of Israel at Mizpah.
NIV
Study Question
What was significant about the people pouring water out before the Lord?
Several thoughts
Water was scare. It was a precious and limited commodity.
When the people poured it out, they were signifying their trust in the Lord my demonstrating their belief He would provide for them.
The Lord’s help was more important than life-giving water
Second thought.
Water that is poured out upon parched ground an never be retrieved, so the people vowed by this symbolic act that they would never “take back” the vows they had made before the Lord
Major point. The people were serious about the commitment they made.
1 Sam 7:7-9
7 When the Philistines heard that Israel had assembled at Mizpah, the rulers of the Philistines came up to attack them. And when the Israelites heard of it, they were afraid because of the Philistines. 8 They said to Samuel, "Do not stop crying out to the LORD our God for us, that he may rescue us from the hand of the Philistines." 9 Then Samuel took a suckling lamb and offered it up as a whole burnt offering to the LORD. He cried out to the LORD on Israel's behalf, and the LORD answered him.
10 While Samuel was sacrificing the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to engage Israel in battle. But that day the LORD thundered with loud thunder against the Philistines and threw them into such a panic that they were routed before the Israelites. 11 The men of Israel rushed out of Mizpah and pursued the Philistines, slaughtering them along the way to a point below Beth Car.
12 Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, saying, "Thus far has the LORD helped us." 13 So the Philistines were subdued and did not invade Israelite territory again.
Throughout Samuel's lifetime, the hand of the LORD was against the Philistines. 14 The towns from Ekron to Gath that the Philistines had captured from Israel were restored to her, and Israel delivered the neighboring territory from the power of the Philistines. And there was peace between Israel and the Amorites.
NIV
Study Question
What was the difference this time when the Philistines approached? Who did they put their trust in?
Notice the first time they wanted the ark to go with them. God, I want you with me as I fight against the enemy
This time they let God do the fighting. God, I cannot win this battle unless you do it. See the difference?
What does the hymn “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing” have to do with these verses?
“Here I raise my Ebenezer” is in the second verse of the hymn
Ebenezer means a stone of help. It was a reminder to the Israelites to place their trust in the God of the ark, not in the ark of God.
Do we have any symbols to remind us where we are to place our trust?
Closing
Where do you put your trust?
Not just in crisis, but day by day
How serious are you about seeking the Lord
Lets be a people who trust God for everything and trust Him alone!
Tim will be teaching next week. Make plans to be there and support him.
TW
Trusting in the Lord Alone
1 Samuel 4:1- 7:17
Introduction
Where do you put your trust?
Finances?
Retirements Plans?
Not a good idea after this week.
Our country and its military?
Your doctors?
Your medicines?
If you were to ask us, all of us would say God?
Where do most people put their trust?
Themselves!!!!
Hopefully we all know where we should put our trust.
Question is why don’t we?
Hasn’t He proven Himself trustworthy?
1 Sam 4:1
4:1 And Samuel's word came to all Israel.
Now the Israelites went out to fight against the Philistines. The Israelites camped at Ebenezer, and the Philistines at Aphek. 2 The Philistines deployed their forces to meet Israel, and as the battle spread, Israel was defeated by the Philistines, who killed about four thousand of them on the battlefield. 3 When the soldiers returned to camp, the elders of Israel asked, "Why did the LORD bring defeat upon us today before the Philistines? Let us bring the ark of the LORD's covenant from Shiloh, so that it may go with us and save us from the hand of our enemies."
4 So the people sent men to Shiloh, and they brought back the ark of the covenant of the LORD Almighty, who is enthroned between the cherubim. And Eli's two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God.
5 When the ark of the LORD's covenant came into the camp, all Israel raised such a great shout that the ground shook. 6 Hearing the uproar, the Philistines asked, "What's all this shouting in the Hebrew camp?"
NIV
First study question-
Why did they get the ark?
To help them against their enemy.
What were they hoping would happen?
Just like with Joshua, they were hoping the ark would destroy their enemies.
Was their plan successful?
No
Why or why not?
They were practicing idolatry. Placing their faith in the ark versus in God.
In fact, when they brought the ark, it made the Philistines fight harder and the loss was even greater.
Are we ever guilty of wanting God to get us out of a mess, but not interested in changing our lives
God is not a 911 service.
Symbols of God such as the cross or a church have no power in of themselves.
1 Sam 4:6-9
When they learned that the ark of the LORD had come into the camp, 7 the Philistines were afraid. "A god has come into the camp," they said. "We're in trouble! Nothing like this has happened before. 8 Woe to us! Who will deliver us from the hand of these mighty gods? They are the gods who struck the Egyptians with all kinds of plagues in the desert. 9 Be strong, Philistines! Be men, or you will be subject to the Hebrews, as they have been to you. Be men, and fight!"
10 So the Philistines fought, and the Israelites were defeated and every man fled to his tent. The slaughter was very great; Israel lost thirty thousand foot soldiers. 11 The ark of God was captured, and Eli's two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, died.
NIV
1 Sam 4:19-22
19 His daughter-in-law, the wife of Phinehas, was pregnant and near the time of delivery. When she heard the news that the ark of God had been captured and that her father-in-law and her husband were dead, she went into labor and gave birth, but was overcome by her labor pains. 20 As she was dying, the women attending her said, "Don't despair; you have given birth to a son." But she did not respond or pay any attention.
21 She named the boy Ichabod, saying, "The glory has departed from Israel"-because of the capture of the ark of God and the deaths of her father-in-law and her husband. 22 She said, "The glory has departed from Israel, for the ark of God has been captured."
NIV
Study Question –
What was significant about Eli’s grandson name?
Ichabod- means the glory has departed.
Has God’s glory left our country?
Has God’s glory left our church, our families, etc
1 Sam 5:1-5
5:1 After the Philistines had captured the ark of God, they took it from Ebenezer to Ashdod. 2 Then they carried the ark into Dagon's temple and set it beside Dagon. 3 When the people of Ashdod rose early the next day, there was Dagon, fallen on his face on the ground before the ark of the LORD! They took Dagon and put him back in his place. 4 But the following morning when they rose, there was Dagon, fallen on his face on the ground before the ark of the LORD! His head and hands had been broken off and were lying on the threshold; only his body remained. 5 That is why to this day neither the priests of Dagon nor any others who enter Dagon's temple at Ashdod step on the threshold.
6 The LORD's hand was heavy upon the people of Ashdod and its vicinity; he brought devastation upon them and afflicted them with tumors. 7 When the men of Ashdod saw what was happening, they said, "The ark of the god of Israel must not stay here with us, because his hand is heavy upon us and upon Dagon our god." 8 So they called together all the rulers of the Philistines and asked them, "What shall we do with the ark of the god of Israel?"
NIV
Study Question
What happened to the ark with the Philistines?
God doesn’t need our help to defend His name
1 Sam 6:7-9
7 "Now then, get a new cart ready, with two cows that have calved and have never been yoked. Hitch the cows to the cart, but take their calves away and pen them up. 8 Take the ark of the LORD and put it on the cart, and in a chest beside it put the gold objects you are sending back to him as a guilt offering. Send it on its way, 9 but keep watching it. If it goes up to its own territory, toward Beth Shemesh, then the LORD has brought this great disaster on us. But if it does not, then we will know that it was not his hand that struck us and that it happened to us by chance."
NIV
Study Question
What test did the Philistines come up with to see if the ark was the source of all their problems?
Once again, God doesn’t need our help to “rescue” Him.
1 Sam 6:10-12
10 So they did this. They took two such cows and hitched them to the cart and penned up their calves. 11 They placed the ark of the LORD on the cart and along with it the chest containing the gold rats and the models of the tumors. 12 Then the cows went straight up toward Beth Shemesh, keeping on the road and lowing all the way; they did not turn to the right or to the left. The rulers of the Philistines followed them as far as the border of Beth Shemesh.
NIV
1 Sam 6:19-20
19 But God struck down some of the men of Beth Shemesh, putting seventy of them to death because they had looked into the ark of the LORD. The people mourned because of the heavy blow the LORD had dealt them, 20 and the men of Beth Shemesh asked, "Who can stand in the presence of the LORD, this holy God? To whom will the ark go up from here?"
NIV
Study Question
What happened to some of the Israelites who recovered the ark? They were killed for opening up to ark.
What can we learn about the holiness of God from these verses?
What about us? How casually do we take God?
One form of idolatry is to worship God for what we want Him to be instead of who He is.
He is a holy, all-powerful God who rules from heaven.
1 Sam 7:1-4
7:1 So the men of Kiriath Jearim came and took up the ark of the LORD. They took it to Abinadab's house on the hill and consecrated Eleazar his son to guard the ark of the LORD.
2 It was a long time, twenty years in all, that the ark remained at Kiriath Jearim, and all the people of Israel mourned and sought after the LORD. 3 And Samuel said to the whole house of Israel, "If you are returning to the LORD with all your hearts, then rid yourselves of the foreign gods and the Ashtoreths and commit yourselves to the LORD and serve him only, and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines." 4 So the Israelites put away their Baals and Ashtoreths, and served the LORD only.
NIV
Study Question
What was Samuel’s instructions to the people who sought after God?
Notice his instructions were to the people who were searching after God.
Notice they were searching after God before the Philistines attacked.
The people were ready to hear what Samuel had to say.
They had tried other “gods” and they had failed.
First, they had to get rid of all the idols they had made and worshipped.
What idols do you have right now?
Are you ready to REALLY get rid of them?
Second, they had to dedicate themselves to the Lord.
They had to make a firm commitment of their hearts to follow and obey the Lord
Are we ready to make a serious commitment to follow and obey the Lord and HIM ONLY
Third, they were to worship God only.
When was the last time you worshipped God?
Why are you here today? What are your motives for being here?
Bring my kids to church
S0cial club?
Why are you at Fairview? Are you here for what the church can do for you OR it is because this is where God has called you to SERVE.
1 Sam 7:5-6
5 Then Samuel said, "Assemble all Israel at Mizpah and I will intercede with the LORD for you." 6 When they had assembled at Mizpah, they drew water and poured it out before the LORD. On that day they fasted and there they confessed, "We have sinned against the LORD." And Samuel was leader of Israel at Mizpah.
NIV
Study Question
What was significant about the people pouring water out before the Lord?
Several thoughts
Water was scare. It was a precious and limited commodity.
When the people poured it out, they were signifying their trust in the Lord my demonstrating their belief He would provide for them.
The Lord’s help was more important than life-giving water
Second thought.
Water that is poured out upon parched ground an never be retrieved, so the people vowed by this symbolic act that they would never “take back” the vows they had made before the Lord
Major point. The people were serious about the commitment they made.
1 Sam 7:7-9
7 When the Philistines heard that Israel had assembled at Mizpah, the rulers of the Philistines came up to attack them. And when the Israelites heard of it, they were afraid because of the Philistines. 8 They said to Samuel, "Do not stop crying out to the LORD our God for us, that he may rescue us from the hand of the Philistines." 9 Then Samuel took a suckling lamb and offered it up as a whole burnt offering to the LORD. He cried out to the LORD on Israel's behalf, and the LORD answered him.
10 While Samuel was sacrificing the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to engage Israel in battle. But that day the LORD thundered with loud thunder against the Philistines and threw them into such a panic that they were routed before the Israelites. 11 The men of Israel rushed out of Mizpah and pursued the Philistines, slaughtering them along the way to a point below Beth Car.
12 Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, saying, "Thus far has the LORD helped us." 13 So the Philistines were subdued and did not invade Israelite territory again.
Throughout Samuel's lifetime, the hand of the LORD was against the Philistines. 14 The towns from Ekron to Gath that the Philistines had captured from Israel were restored to her, and Israel delivered the neighboring territory from the power of the Philistines. And there was peace between Israel and the Amorites.
NIV
Study Question
What was the difference this time when the Philistines approached? Who did they put their trust in?
Notice the first time they wanted the ark to go with them. God, I want you with me as I fight against the enemy
This time they let God do the fighting. God, I cannot win this battle unless you do it. See the difference?
What does the hymn “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing” have to do with these verses?
“Here I raise my Ebenezer” is in the second verse of the hymn
Ebenezer means a stone of help. It was a reminder to the Israelites to place their trust in the God of the ark, not in the ark of God.
Do we have any symbols to remind us where we are to place our trust?
Closing
Where do you put your trust?
Not just in crisis, but day by day
How serious are you about seeking the Lord
Lets be a people who trust God for everything and trust Him alone!
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