Graham was preaching in Hastings this week so we had a guest speaker, Brian Kirik. Brian is Director of Gospel for Asia UK.
This is the final part of John’s four part study. Again he compares the life of Saul with the life of David.
Notes are below. The material is made available so that any may use it, adapt it and preach it.
Looking Out for Number Two
Recap from previous weeks:
Samuel became Judge but was not all he could have been.
We saw that the HS is essential for leadership, even in the OT.
We looked at the appointment of Saul.
Saul the Ploughman.
Two kingdom’s colliding
Do you want to be a Saul or a David?
1) The Winner is a Loser
What is The Apprentice? A television programme.
“No-nonsense, self-made millionaire, Sir Alan Sugar returns to challenge a new group of 16 aspiring tycoons, all poised to battle it out in the toughest challenge of their lives.” So, 16 business people have given up their jobs to compete in this elimination style contest for a chance to work with Alan Sugar and earn a six figure salary. Each week they’re put into two teams and given tasks and each week someone is fired from the losing team.
This show and the people on it epitomise the individualistic and materialistic culture we live I today. Listen to what some of them had to say about themselves:
“I will do absolutely anything to get what I want, I have absolutely no concern for people who are around me in the business world: peers, colleagues, contestants and their feelings.“
“Last week I was awarded an outstanding for barrister qualification, that doesn’t surprise me because outstanding is who I am.“
“I’m just pure class and elegance. No one compares to me. I don’t try to be glamorous I’m just naturally like that.“
“I always win. Yes it is a natural conclusion and one which I will achieve.“
I was actually impressed by the chap that was fired this week. Afterwards, there’s a sort of spin off show where the recently fired contestant gets to see what all the other contestants had to say about him. [They were as disparaging about him as they were flattering about themselves]. And after they had shown Simon this, they said so what do you think? And his reply really impressed me, he said: “You know I think they’re right, I was out of my depth, you have know your limitations.” He said, “I make a better number two than a number one.”
His humility reminded me of David in 1 Samuel 24. You’ll remember that David grew tired of Saul’s attempts on his life and even while his home was under guard he made a daring escape out the city with the help of his wife. David runs to the desert and there he gains command of a loyal band of 600 men who have come to him looking for protection because they were in trouble or in debt. Saul is making chase with 3000 elite soldiers. There comes a stage where Saul needs to “powder his nose” so he goes into a cave, the same cave David and his men are hiding in! While Saul’s powdering his nose David has an opportunity to kill Saul and become King (his men are egging him on) let’s look at what happened 1 Samuel 24:4-7.
David was different, this man was Spirit filled. I’m not saying that Simon off the Apprentice was Spirit filled but his attitude impressed me. As christians let’s opt for an attitude like that, like David.
David wasn’t just looking out for number one, he knew that he was a number two [at this point]. And really all of us are number twos, to God be the glory because we can never tell how much credit we deserve.
Saul appeared to be a winner but he was not.
2) The Loser is a Winner.
Let’s look at Saul as well. In contrast to David, Saul was absolutely ruthless in his desperation to hang on and be number 1. Earlier in the narrative when David escapes to Nob [this is where it all gets a bit Lord of the Rings], David gets bread and he’s given Goliath’s sword which has been kept almost as a sort of relic. But who sees all this? None other that the malevolent Doeg the Edomite (later when David has gone he reports everything he’s seen to Saul) 1 Samuel 22:11-15.
3) The Walk of a Winner.
Paradox: A seemingly absurd or self-contradictory statement or proposition that when investigated or explained may prove to be well founded or true. The Bible is not full of contradictions but it is full of paradoxes (Jesus was a servant and yet he was a King, the last will be first and the first will be last).
Please don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying that you shouldn’t be the best that you can possible be. Just be the best with the attitude that you’re always number 2 and that you are governed by a different set of laws, the laws of the Kingdom of God.
There’s even an apparent paradox in the lives of Saul and David because surely Saul was humble when he was reluctant to accept God’s offer of the leadership of Israel. No, Saul had an unhealthy low self esteem, not a healthy humility. What about David, wasn’t he a little big headed when he took on Goliath. No, David was more confident in his God than his own capabilities. But what God required of them when they were younger was not what he required of them when they were older.
1 Corinthians 13:11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me.
Please don’t think I’ve forgotten what this preaching series is about, the Holy Spirit in 1 Samuel. Primarily, I don’t want us to focus on the outward manifestations. Like all the instances of people prophesying in the Spirit but the way the Spirit is recognisable in the attitudes of the people whom He indwelt. I am a Christian who believes in a blessing which is subsequent to the initial faith decision. The Holy Spirit doesn’t necessarily dwell in you just because you believe in Jesus, it’s something you have to want. See Luke 11.
This week we see how Paul spoke of grief, distress, joy and love, all qualities of true Christian fellowship. We also look at some of Satan’s scheme’s.
Notes are below. The material is made available so that any may use it, adapt it and preach it.
Sermon 2 Corinthians 1:23 - 2:11
Grief, Restoration & Our Enemy
Introduction
We can not be sure which previous letter Paul refers to. It is now generally thought that there is a missing letter we no longer have.
Paul spoke of grief, distress, joy and love. These are the qualities of true Christian fellowship.
Satan’s Scheme’s
(a) He is our enemy.
See:
2 Corinthians 4:4
The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
1 Peter 5:8,9
Be self- controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.
(b) He has malevolent schemes.
Luke 22:31
Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat.
See 1 Corinthians 5. The church had to deal with this problem for the sake of the sinner, but also for its own sake. Paul makes the point that sin will never be a servant, it will always try to master. It will never be a tame pet, it will always bite.
Danger of leaven (sour-dough).
(c) We are meant to know a bit about his schemes.
In the context of this section he seems to be pointing to:
- Disunity
- Loss of love
- Loss of hope for the separated one
(d) We are meant to avoid being outwitted by his schemes.
Restoration and Reconciliation
Is this the man mentioned is 1 Corinthians 5? If not, that case still serves as an example as to what sort of thing Paul could be referring to.
The purpose of church discipline is always restoration.
Matthew 18:15-18 “If your brother sins against you …”
Stage 1 “…go and tell him his fault between you and him alone.”
Stage 2 “…take with you one or two more …”
Stage 3 “…tell it to the church.”
Stage 4 “…let him be to you as an unbeliever and a tax collector.”
One Voice York had another of their leaders breakfasts at the Spurriergate Centre. This time it was an opportunity to hear from their special guest Gillian Cruddas the Chief Executive of the York Tourism Bureau (now becoming “Visit York“).
See the One Voice York website for more details.
This week is a short study on 2 Corinthians 1:12-22. I also referred to the question from last week which had been left hanging.
Notes are below. The material is made available so that any may use it, adapt it and preach it.
Feedback has told us that the recording have been a bit quiet. We think we have sorted it but we welcome feedback.
Sermon 2 Corinthians 1:12-22
Yes & No
Introduction
Last week concluded with a question: Pass this comfort on? How? How do we comfort? What did Paul mean?
From an email sent to me:
The foundation for an adequate response to the rhetorical question you posed this morning is to be found in an appropriate understanding of the root meaning behind the Greek paraklesis which, as you rightly pointed out, literally means ‘to call beside’. The comfort this brings is experienced by way of a combination of encouragement and alleviation of grief. In the context of the question, there are two (possibly more) ways in which this can be achieved:
- in the simple sense of knowing that someone is genuinely concerned (fatherly, pastoral, shepherd);
- by way of personal testimony to God’s grace, having previously endured similar circumstances (sheep to sheep).
Some of my answers:
- See Romans 12:15 Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.
- Galatians 6:2 Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfil the law of Christ. (Gk = ‘buttress’).
- 1 Cor 14:3 and the definition of prophecy (”But everyone who prophesies speaks to men for their strengthening, encouragement and comfort”).
- Prayer.
This week:
“Sticks and stones can hurt my bones but words can never hurt me.” Untrue! Though we should take into account the motivation of the speaker and not be too quick to take offence.
See Proverbs 27:6
Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses.
In this opening chapter Paul has been speaking of their prayers and the comfort he has received from them in the previous verses, yet now he hints at how some of them they have also wounded him.
1) A Clear Conscience
And a life that can bear further scrutiny v14.
2) A Clear Yes and a Clear No
He had planned to visit them. He is subject to delays and unavoidable changes of of plan. However that does not mean he is dishonest or cannot be trusted. He defends his honour yet draws a distinction between himself who is imperfect and God who is entirely trustworthy. See verse 23.
We should be merciful with those who disappoint us.
What of our ‘yes’ and ‘no’? The ‘yes’ of covenant and commitment. The ‘no’ of resistance to temptation.
3) A Sufficient Empowering
It is God, verse 21. Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us …
It is the work of the Holy Spirit. Seal of ownership. Deposit and guarantee. See Ephesians 1:13,14.
And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession- to the praise of his glory.
