16 September 2007
1 Samuel 9:3-6; 17-20; 10:9 (RSV)
by
U.S. Army Chaplain (MAJ) Ken Harris
Ord Military Chapel
Seaside, CA
BIG IDEA: Every believer needs to know that there is great JOY in the HEART of GOD when someone who was LOST is FOUND.
REFERENCES: 1 Samuel 9:1-27; Matthew 6:21 (Where your treasure is there your heart is also); 1 Samuel 10:1-17; Deut. 17:15 (God has in the law undertakens for the people of Israel to choose their King); Luke 15:1-7 (Parable of the Lost Sheep); Luke 15:8-10 (Parable of the LOST COIN); These two are called twin stories; Luke 15:11-32 (Parable of the LOST SON); Genesis 42:26 (Donkeys were used for bearing burdens); Isaiah 30:6,24 (Donkeys were highly used when they were young, because they were valued for their labor; 1 Samuel 9:3 KJV And the asses of Kish Saul’s father were lost. And Kish said to Saul his son, Take now one of the servants with thee, and arise, go seek the asses;
1 Peter 5:6-7 KJV (Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you).
I. ANNOUNCE THE PERICOPE: 1 Samuel 9:3-6; 17-20; 10:9
II. READ THE PERICOPE: 1 Samuel 9:36; 17-20; 10:9
III. READ THE TEXT: 1 Samuel 10:9 (RSV): And it was so, that, when he had turned his back to go from Samuel, God gave him another heart: and all of those signs came to pass that day.
IV. PURPOSE: To motivate the hearers to affirm to others that just as the Donkeys were LOST – Saul was “LOST 2”..
V. SERMONIC THEME: “LOST 2DAY”
INTRODUCTION:
I’m not sure if you’re aware of the fact that some of God’s most intelligent creatures are DONKEYS.
In fact, Donkeys have an undeserved reputation for stubbornness. They are in fact highly social and highly intelligent animals that make great pets. While Sheep are some of God’s dumbest creatures; Donkeys are some of God’s brightest animals.
Recently, while browsing the internet, I came across an Aesop’s Fable dubbed, “The Donkey and His Purchaser”:
According to the Fable:
A MAN wished to purchase a Donkey, and agreed with its owner that he should try out the animal before he bought him. He took the Donkey home and put him in the straw-yard with his other Donkeys, upon which the new animal left all the others and at once joined the one that was most idle and the greatest eater of them all. Seeing this, the man put a halter on him and led him back to his owner. On being asked how, in so short a time, he could have made a trial of him, he answered, "I do not need a trial; I know that he will be just the same as the one he chose for his companion."
A man is known by the company he keeps.
“May I have your attention … please?
Some time ago, the Lord spoke to me, and He instructed me to make the following announcement (please listen very carefully):
“If you are in here 2DAY, you will know that the LORD is speaking directly to you if -
a. You have recently LOST someone close to you within the past 3 days.
b. You will know that the LORD is speaking directly to you … If you have LOST anything of value within the last 3 DAYS: someone you care for…, keys, money, books, phone numbers, glasses, or anything – In fact, if you have lost someone or something … Please stand in the ISLE.
c. You will know that the LORD is speaking directly to you 2DAY … If recently, within the past 3 days, you have become convinced that you have LOST parts/aspects of your marriage. Again, if you have lost someone or something or some aspect of your marriage … Please stand in the ISLE.
Now, I’m requesting that all … currently sitting on the FIRST ROW (on my right and your left …) to move back to ROW 2.
Everyone that is standing in the ISLE … should be seated on ROW 1.
*********************Take 5 Beats ********************
MOVE 1: Most of you … in attendance today … are probably already aware that … the most common biblical … use of the WORD “LOST” …
a. … Is indicative of the unsaved, …
b. … and the image of Jesus’ Parable of the LOST Sheep … may even come to mind.
c. The word LOST … is more often used in the Old Testament and the New Testament … to refer to STRAYING believers …
d. … rather than … of those who have no relationship with the LORD.
e. Likewise, 2DAY, we believe that there is great JOY in the HEART of GOD when someone who was lost is found;
f. Therefore, we contend, 2DAY, that just as Saul Father’s DONKEYS were LOST – SAUL was spiritually “LOST 2”.
g. In other words, what we have in our scripture 2DAY … is an example of the old axiom – “The Blind Looking for The Blind.”
*********************TAKE 5 BEATS*********************
MOVE 2: For you see, my brothers and my sisters, Saul and his servant had looked everywhere … they knew to look. But, they couldn’t find the DONKEYS.
a. They searched the fields – but NO DONKEYS;
b. They searched the mountains – where DONKEYS were known to look for food but still – no DONKEYS.
c. 3 Days they searched and traveled through 3 cities … and still they could not FIND the burden-bearers; … the heavy load carriers.
d. Therefore, I submit to you today … that there are 3 reasons WHY SAUL and his SERVANT … could NOT find the DONKEYS:
**********************TAKE 3 BEATS*******************
MOVE 3: The FIRST reason why … SAUL and HIS SERVANT could not find the DONKEYS … is because GOD HAD NEED OF SAUL.
a. God wanted to use SAUL to lead, protect, and defend ISAREL.
b. But, God also refuse to use SAUL in the condition that he was in.
c. For you see … SAUL was selfish and fleshly … and he was not accustomed to TRULY thinking about the well-being of anyone … or anything … else … BUT HIMSELF.
d. Therefore, … I submit to you, 2DAY, … that God had Saul’s Father DONKEYS hid from their NATURAL EYE.
e. Think about it … HOW CAN YOU LOOSE something as BIG AS DONKEYS ?
f. I mean … we’re not talking about … a diamond ear-ring; but we’re talking about BIG DONKEYS … and they couldn’t see them!
g. They couldn’t SEE THE OBVIOUS … because the OBVIOUS had been hidden by GOD …
h. For don’t you remember …
i. Some of us … in here 2DAY … have been looking for particular items that we have apparently misplaced …
j. … as a result, we looked all over the place …
k. … only to discover something else … which led us to a message that God had for us …
*******************Take 5 Beats **********************
MOVE 4: My brothers and sisters …God caused Kish (Saul’s father) to send SAUL and SAUL’s Servant on a search for his DONKEYS.
a. Now, … sometimes there are certain people and things that are in our lives, which we trust …. to carry the weight and the burdens for us.
b. We trust them so much … that our dependence upon them … CREATES a mountain between us and GOD.
c. Anything that stands between God and us - has TO COME DOWN.
D. So the FIRST reason … why SAUL and his SERVANT … could not find the DONKEYS … is because GOD had need of SAUL.
*********************Take 5 Beats*********************
MOVE 5: Now the SECOND reason why … THEY COULDN’T FIND THE DONKEYS is because … ISRAEL HAD NEED OF SAUL.
a. Sometimes we CAN’T FIND something that We’re looking for …
b. because it’s CONNECTED TO THE SOURCE … that we’re NEEDED TO HELP.
c. For you see, my brothers and sisters … IT’S NOT ABOUT US …
d. LIVING the Godly Christian life is NOT ABOUT … YOU AND ME … ONLY …
e. Because … This world that we’re LIVING IN NEEDS … OUR HELP …
f. Seaside, Marina, Salinas and Monterey CA … NEEDS … spiritual volunteers … in order for the ministry that GOD has planned to occur …
****************** TAKE 5 BEATS **********************
MOVE 6: Therefore … God has to hide things from us … TO GET US in the RIGHT place at the right time.
a. Otherwise we would never END UP where God can use us BEST!!
b. The Religious Community of Prayer Warriors (IN ISRAEL) had been seeking GOD’s HELP to end the rule of Judges … IN ORDER to provide them a KING.
c. Their FAITH IN GOD … WAS NOT WHERE IT USE TO BE … THEY NOW NEEDED A KING THAT THEY COULD SEE …
d. …OTHER NATIONS had a KING …but ISRAEL had an invisible GOD …
e. So, … THE SECOND REASON … why THEY COULDN’T FIND THE DONKEYS is because … ISRAEL had NEED OF SAUL.
*********************Take 5 Beats *******************
MOVE 7: The THIRD reason why … SAUL AND HIS SERVANT COULD NOT FIND THE DONKEYS … is because SAUL was LOST 2 ...and HE NEEDED A NEW HEART.
a. He needed an opportunity to commune with God alone;
b. He had issues that ONLY GOD could change …
c. He needed to become a CREATURE … with new habits … and new friends …
d. For you see, my brothers and sisters … there are many jobs that can be done with the old heart.
b. But in order to do God’s work … in God’s time … we have to HAVE A NEW HEART.
c. In our culture … we have a tendency to divide a human being into isolated functions, such as emotionally, mentally, physically, spiritually, and financially.
d. But, in the Hebrew Culture the Hebrew mind maintain the “unity of the person”.
e. For example, our Jewish Brothers and Sisters look at a human being as a whole and express that viewpoint through the WORD … leb –
f. … which means … the HEART IS THE CONSCIOUS SELF & THE INNER PERSON … AND EVERY FUNCTION THEREIN.
******************Take 5 Beats **********************
MOVE 8: In New Testament … Matthew … says … the thing that we treasure the most …. will become the FOCUS OF OUR LIFE … and our personality.
a. In other words – where your treasure is … there your heart will be also..
b. The Apostle Paul says (in 2 Corinthians 1:21-22) … it is God who makes both us … and you … stand firm in Christ.
c. … He anointed us.
d. … Set his seal of ownership on us, and put His Spirit in our HEARTS ..
e. … as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.
f. Then Paul says in 2 Corinthians 5:17 … that if anyone is in Christ … He is a new creature … the old has gone; and the new has come.
g. My brothers and sisters … when SAUL (with an obedient and humble heart) …
h. … had heard and received the WORDS … of GOD from the Man of God …
i. God gave HIM … a NEW HEART…
j. Likewise, when we SINCERELY … make attempts to do what God has ordained … for us to do …
k. … GOD … will meet us …. and give us a NEW HEART TOO …
********************Take 5 Beats ********************
CELEBRATION:
AND WE … like SAUL in our passage … 2DAY … will be able to say … I was once blind but now I see;
I WAS Lost 2 … but NOW … like the DONKEYS … that I had been looking for … AM FOUND …
