In or out- 1 Sam 14:15-23
- The philistines are a continual perpetual enemy against Israel. They serve false Gods, they attack Israel. They need to be destroyed and removed from the land that belongs to Israel.
- We are not Israel Thousands of Years ago fighting against the philistines- but we are in a Battle in this day and age. There are things that we must fight for and against as Christians
- Here’s a few
- We must fight against false Gospels- 2 Tim 4:4, 1 Tim 6:3, Gal 1:6, Gal 1:8,
- Jesus said- Matthew 24:24 For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.
- What is the true Gospel? 2 Corinthians 5:21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
- God did it all in Christ Jesus forgiving our sin, we must repent (turn from sin towards Christ) to receive forgiveness. This does not take anything from Christ, but I must grab the rope.
- We must fight for the true Gospel of HIS grace 100% HIM not of US, not FOR US. For HIM
- We must fight against false teachers– 2 Tim 4:3, Rom 16:17, 2 Peter 2:1,
- Jesus said- Mathew 7:15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. 16 You will know them by their fruits.
- They teach a Crossless Christianity that requires nothing, costs nothing and does nothing
- We had a SIN problem that needed to be fixed and ONLY through Christ and his BLOOD
- We must fight against SIN Rom 6:12, Eph 4:22, Rom 13:14
- Romans 8:13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
- Sin is a destroyer! It wants to destroy you, your life, your walk, your future in Christ
- things that we need to fight for- Our families, our friends, our church, our witness, our lives
- You’re either in the Battle or you’re not- GET IN THE BATTLE
- 2 Corinthians 10:5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,
- In this story- in the Battle that Israel is in with the Phlistines we see three different types of people- actually four-
- The HOLD BACK-
- V 20 Then Saul and all the people who were with him assembled, and they went to the battle; and indeed every man’s sword was against his neighbor, and there was very great confusion.
- Saul eventually goes into the battle with the philistines, but he was more than comfortable with waiting to see what was going to happen- more than engaging in the fight
- 2 And Saul was sitting in the outskirts of Gibeah under a pomegranate tree which is in Migron. The people who were with him were about six hundred men.
- They didn’t enter into the battle until the odds were in their favor- They saw the earthquake God was causing- they saw jonathan winning in battle- and figured- Now we’ll do it!
- Psalm 119:60 I made haste, and did not delay To keep Your commandments.
- This is the exact opposite of David- David didn’t delay to do what God had asked him to do.
- Saul on the other hand- sees the Battle of the philistines and he and 600 hold back-
- A leader shows initiative. A leader leads. A leader steps up. (maj tom- LEAD please)
- Who wants to follow a leader who doesn’t get in there with the troops?
- Who has ever heard of Simon Bolivar Buckner Jr.? Father was a confederate General in the Civil war, he fought in WWI and was 3 star General in WWII. Died in Okinawa from enemy fire
- Why? He was with his soldiers. They are in a war- he’s in a war. Not sitting in some office in DC.
- What does it mean to you?
- Are you guilty of being a HOLD BACK? Not just in your spiritual life, but life in general?
- Men- have you relegated the responsibilities in your home because you’re holding back?
- Have you not properly disciplined your kids? Focused on your finances and marriage?
- Have you been an attender of this church, or member who hasn’t started serving yet?
- James 4:17 Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.
- rarely does someone struggle with WHAT to do- its just DOING IT.
- You’re caught in the analysis paralysis. Worried about what will happen, what someone will say, if you’ll be rejected, if you wont be able to be successful
- Protip- everyone is scared and worried. We just do it anyway. We push back from our innate feelings of worthlessness and fear and choose to just do it
- Matthew 7:24 “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock:
- Christianity is a DOING. Seeing what needs to be done and doing it.
- SELL OUTS
- 21 Moreover the Hebrews who were with the Philistines before that time, who went up with them into the camp from the surrounding country, they also joined the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan.
- Think about that- there were Hebrews who had taken up residence with the enemy because of the fear of losing to them
- To them- it was easier to just join up with the enemy than it was to fight them- the just joined!
- A common term for this is to ‘sell out’. You can’t fight the battle- so you join the enemy
- Spiritually- these are the people who say ‘I’m going to Hell and party with the Devil”
- Doesn’t work that way- but to them- fighting for righteousness seems like too much
- Joshua 24:15 READ
- What does it mean to you?
- Who’s side are you on? Are you fully on the side of Jesus or with the world?
- You must decide who’s team that you’re on- this half hearted I’m not sure where I stand type of following Jesus isn’t what God intended.
- Listen- I understand people think I sound like a broken record- but the people who are all in are encouraged by it- the half steppers want to go full and the other side needs to come over
- James 4:4Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
- Who do you want to be a friend of? Who do you want to align yourself with?
- Had a chance to coach basketball a few years ago- girl on our team cheering for other team
- Matthew 6:24 “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. WHO IS YOUR MASTER?
- 1 John 2:15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
- HIDE OUTS
- 22 Likewise all the men of Israel who had hidden in the mountains of Ephraim, when they heard that the Philistines fled, they also followed hard after them in the battle.
- This here is the last group. The Hide OUTS. Yes- they eventually came and took part in the battle, but again, it wasn’t until victory was assured
- I get it. War is Hell. Who wants to fight and die? No one.
- Psalm 144:1 Blessed be the Lord my Rock, Who trains my hands for war, And my fingers for battle—
- But a Soldiers job is to fight and the heart of all Israelites should be to defend their land and fight their adversaries
- They shouldn’t have been hiding out. They should have been in the fight. Hiding is not fighting.
- UCMJ- Running, Cowardly conduct, throwing down your arms, Hiding- punishable by death.
- What does it mean to you
- We are in a spiritual war- God needs soldiers and you can’t be a hide out- Get in the fight!
- Jeremiah 23:23-24 “Am I a God near at hand,” says the Lord, “And not a God afar off? 24 Can anyone hide himself in secret places, So I shall not see him?” says the Lord; “Do I not fill heaven and earth?” says the Lord.
- You can’t hide from God! You can’t hide from your duty! If you’re hiding out- God knows!
- Proverbs 15:3 The eyes of the Lord are in every place, Keeping watch on the evil and the good.
- Be a in!
- V1 “Come, let us go over to the Philistines’ 8 let us cross over to these men, For the Lord has delivered them into our hand, 13 And Jonathan climbed up on his hands and knees 14 That first slaughter which Jonathan and his armorbearer made was about twenty men
- He’s in the fight! He’s showing courage! He’s Showing leadership! Come let us go!
- Jonathan wasn’t found by Saul because he was in the fight! No hold back, sell out, or hiding.
- He was willing to do what it takes to fight the philistines to advance Israel
- What does it mean to you?
- Will you be a jonathan? Will you be used by God to accomplish his will? Are you IN?
- 1 Timothy 6:12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
- You’re not in physical fight, you’re in a spiritual fight and God NEEDS YOU to ENGAGE
- But you CANT engage if you aren’t on the God team- Laying hold of Eternal life
- This isn’t your strength, its God strength in YOU- you must give your life to Jesus live for HIM
- Its really not you anyway- It’s the LORD that will do it- but YOU got to be in the fight
- 23 So the Lord saved Israel that day, and the battle shifted to Beth Aven.
