Slide#1
Introduction: READ I Sam.16:1-13.
Pray…
This was a very difficult time for Samuel…Israel the country he served and loved for many years had rejected his leadership because he had grown old.
On top of that his friend…King Saul was guilty of disobeying God’s clear commandments…lying about things he had done…and because of these sins…he had forfeited his throne.
And even though he was still in office he was unfit to lead the nation.
Due to this disobedience by King Saul…Samuel had broken fellowship with him and was saddened because of it.
I know that in our lives…when things don’t seem to be going the way we feel they should… we often find ourselves mourning...kinda feeling sorry for ourselves.
But I also know that in life… even when things are not going the way we like… there are times that we need to act…and for Samuel…this was one of those times.
God had chosen him to anoint the new king over Israel. And this is where we pick up today from our reading.
From reading I Samuel 16:1-13 we learn how a little Sheppard boy… whose job as insignificant as it seemed… was soon to become one of the most famous Kings in the history of Israel…
But where there is usually good happening …there is also bad…along with soon to be one of the most famous kings…he was also soon to be one of the most pursued.
For the future King… it all begins in I Samuel 16 when the prophet Samuel obeys Gods command...
*God directs Samuel to invite Jesse’s family to his home to help him choose and anoint the next king of Israel.
(Going thru all Jesses likely sons (gold’s gym body…READ vs. 11…David)
David is chosen and anointed king over Israel in vs. 13.
This is where Saul’s jealously begins.
Not only does the bible tell us that David was an attractive man…who could also play a mean harp…but also remember that David was also the only one brave enough to go up against the Philistine giant named Goliath.
David’s fame begins to spread like wildfire throughout the Kingdom…and this does nothing but fuel king Saul’s anger.
This is where you step into the picture today…
When a person becomes obedient and changes their lifestyle by serving God.
(Just like David…they often find themselves behind enemy lines)
Obedience and Pride DO NOT MIX
*Read I Sam 18:5-9 (Jealously continues to build) *A Philistine woman brags on David *David is forced to run and live in caves… *King Saul Spends the next 6 Years chasing down David with jealousy and anger.
When a person surrenders to Christ they automatically become one of God’s soldiers (Like King David) and they then find themselves Behind Enemy Lines.
And it is important that you do just as a soldier does when they find themselves stranded Behind Enemy Lines…Go into survival mode.
When you are caught Behind Enemy Lines there are three main things you must do:
Slide #2
The first thing a Christian must do when behind enemy lines is:
I. Seek Out Provisions
The first provision they must seek out is their map:
Slide #3
God is your map
Just like any soldier trapped behind enemy lines…their first thought is protection.
When we are being pursued by the enemy…God must become our GPS helping to guide us to safety.
I was talking with Jonathon Liggett last Sunday about how God protects His soldiers.
Many times throughout my personal life I now see how God protected me from serious injury and death.
Why is that? Because He still has work for me to do.
How many of you here this morning can think of a familiar time that God was protecting you?
Everything that happens to us in life… happens for a reason. And we need to not just mark it off as an accident.
God is still in the business of protecting his soldiers…
When Behind Enemy Lines seeking out provisions… Not only do we most importantly need to find God …once you do… you also need to wrap yourself His armor of protection.
Slide #4
Armor
Eph. 6:11 tells us to “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil”.
For the Christian it’s just a matter of time until the devil begins to target you…
But as long as you are wrapped with God’s armor… the devil cannot and will not be able to penetrate you as his target.
For David it wasn’t just a sling and a stone that protected him…it was God’s armor…(Explain… Philistine Giant Goliath)
Just as important as Finding God… and wearing His armor. When we find ourselves Behind Enemy Lines we also need to seek out some source of shelter:
Slide #5
Our shelter today is…the
Church
Just like King David sought out shelter in the caves when Saul was seeking to kill him.
The church is our place for comfort and protection from the world...
The Church and its people are a place that people can count on when our lives seem to be upside down.
In Psalms 143:9 David himself prays… “Deliver me, O LORD, from my enemies;
In You I take shelter.”
David knew that whenever He was in troubling times of distress he could find shelter in God.
He knew the importance of letting God carry him thru the times when he was most venerable.
One of the most important things that a soldier knows that he must have for survival… when Behind Enemy Lines is his weapon.
Slide # 6
For Christians our weapon is our:
Bible
We can use the Bible as our manual for survival.
II Tim. 3:16 says “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,”
There is not one thing we will face in our daily battles that God’s word will not guide us thru.
King David’s relationship with God is what kept him alive daily as Saul was seeking to destroy him.
Before every battle David fought and won… he first went to God in prayer and counsel.
It is vital that you are reading God’s word daily and praying… when you are…He will show you how to survive in the wilderness.
(God…His Armor…The Church…The Bible) all 4 are vital to the survival of the Christian who is trapped behind enemy lines.
Besides first seeking out the necessary provisions the second thing a soldier must do is:
Slide #7
II. Always Be Prepared for Attacks
Christians must know who our Advocates are.
I John 2:1 “My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous.”
It’s important to have your friends near when battles arise.
Just like King David and his 300 mighty men…we too must surround ourselves with the people who are like minded, ready to fight with us at a words notice.
Shiela and I are constantly reminding our kids that the best friends you will have are not necessarily going to be from your high school years.
Rather they will be from the relationships you build in Church… ministering side by side in the trenches of life.
Just as important as knowing who our Advocates are…we cannot forget who our adversary is…
In the culture we live in there is also an adversary who would like nothing more than to see us fall.
Slide # 8
Peter reminds us of this in I Peter 5:8 when he says “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.”
Never underestimate the power of your adversary.
There’s a reason that God talks about him so much in the bible…
Satan hates God…he hates Christians…and if you have accepted Christ as your personal Savior…HE HATES YOU!
The third thing a Christian must do when behind enemy lines is:
Incorporate one of the marine’s famous sayings in their daily lives.
Slide #9 Never Leave A Man Behind
This is done by daily…
A) Seeking out the lost
B) Minister to the needy
C) Living a Godly life
We all go thru many different types of changes in our lives.
Here at VP…Changes are happening…New Families are joining…People are being saved…People are being baptized.
Growth means there are babes in Christ…and this is where our training must come into play.
Satan knows that you are more venerable now than ever and he wants you to lose not only your hope and trust… but your faith in God.
But this is exactly why God has given you this family.
A strong army is built… by people investing in people…And by investing in God
When each one of us does our part not only is God pleased with our obedience…
We also make our enemy the devil loose his stronghold on the people who need to hear who Jesus is.
I hope and pray on the day we all stand in front of God Himself…He’ll smile and say weren’t you from Vista Pointe Church in Hobbs New Mexico.
You sure made a difference in many people’s lives as you ministered to my people.
I’m so looking forward to going to heaven…aren’t you?
But in all honesty…there’s a part of me that isn’t.
Seeing the people that God placed next to me in battle.
And I never got out of my foxhole to tell them about Jesus.
SLIDE #10
Please Stand with me.
It all begins here today with you.
Do you have a personal relationship with Him? If not…why not today.
I leave you with this verse today: “The Lord does not see as a man sees; man looks at the outward appearance but the Lord looks at the heart.” I Sam. 16:7
