Truth Bombs
Pt. 2 - It's Moving Day
I. Introduction
Truth is talked about a lot. It has been said that truth is different for everyone. I would beg to differ. Truth is truth because it is truth across the board. That is what makes it truth. There has to be a standard of truth by which what we believe to be true is judged. We have been very clear in our declaration that the standard for a true believer is the Word. By the way . . . Just because we don't like the truth, can't handle the truth or even if truth doesn't line up with our experience/feelings that doesn't make it any less truth.
The urban dictionary defines a truth bomb as "a fact spoken in clear, easy to understand terms and without bias." So, very clearly today I want to share a truth with you.
I hate to move. It is one of my least favorite tasks. It is a combination of having to box everything up only to be immediately unboxed coupled with the disruption of the norm, not knowing where stuff is, and the ultimate dislike . . . Hanging stuff on the walls in the new place. As bad as I hate to move I want to drop a truth bomb on you this morning and declare that "It is moving day!"
II. Text
1 Samuel 16:1-3
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.”
Here is the truth bomb for today . . . Can you handle it?
(Slide 5) Move instead of Mourning
There are clearly times in Scripture when God allowed mourning over loss, but there are also times when you need to get up shake yourself off and move on.
Samuel was used by God to select and anoint the very first king of Israel. That public pointing out started a long and storied relationship with Saul However, because of Saul's pride, rebellion and sin God rips the kingdom out of Saul's hands. Now God taps Samuel to dust off the horn of oil and gives him the assignment to anoint the new kings. However, Samuel is in danger of missing the new king because of his nostalgia, memories, affection for, and emotional investment in the old king. If we are not careful, we can miss the "new" thing that God has for us simply because we are so wrapped up in the old that God finished with long ago.
We can't continue to reach for what God has rejected.
You can pour all the oil you want on Saul but God wasn't anointing him anymore. He had a newly anointed in waiting. Some of us are still pouring oil on things God will never anoint again.
(Slide 6) If we are not careful we will allow mourning to cause us to lose moments. The opportunity of a lifetime only comes in the lifetime of the opportunity.
If we are not careful we will move with our feet, but never move in our heart.
Our grief becomes a gully we can't conquer. We are in a different location physically but we have never loaded up spiritually, mentally or emotionally and so, although the scenery is different we haven't really moved.
God challenges Samuel by asking him why he is mourning when he is supposed to be moving?
I want to tell you today it is time to move instead of mourning. You have been in years of counseling it is time to move without mourning. They broke your heart and you wish for the old days . . . Move without mourning. You have endured injustice move without mourning. You have been lied on. Your dad didn't show up. Your mom missed it. Your kids chose their friends over you. Your employer made you promises they didn't keep. Your ex decided to destroy instead of just exiting quietly. It is time to move without mourning.
What are you weeping over that God is already finished with? Who keeps you bound in grief that God is through with?
Some of you are struggling to really love the spouse you have because you are so wrapped up in mourning over the one that walked away. Some of you can't really engage in this church (even though God sent you here - remember He orders our steps) simply because you keep longing for the old church that even if you went back to wouldn't be the place you thought it was. Some of you are short changing friendships simply because you long for a relationship that will never be what it was. Move without mourning or you will miss the anointed one God is pointing out and positioning now.
Notice that Samuel couldn't anoint until he moved on.
(SLIDE 7) You will not be able to release your anointing if you are parked in the past!
Perhaps the most painful and profound example of this truth bomb is found in the lowest moment of David's life.
You can read it for yourself in 2 Samuel 12. David has been confronted with the sin of adultery and murder. His mistress Bathsheba has a son but as punishment for sin the baby is sick and according to the Word of God will die. David hears the death sentence and immediately goes into prayer and fasting. In fact, Scripture says he slept on the floor and then later says he didn't sleep at all and ate nothing for 7 days. He was so distraught that when the boy died David's servants were afraid to tell him because they saw how broken he was during the boy's sickness that they feared what David's response would be when he heard about the death. However, David figures out what is happening and when he finds out the boy is in fact dead the Bible says David immediately washes his face, combs his hair, goes to the sanctuary, worships and then comes home and eats. When his servants ask why he is no longer weeping and fasting David says, "I can't bring the boy back!"
Some of us are still mourning as if something is alive that died a long time ago. Our tears won't resurrect it. Move. Our crying won't change it. Move. Our depression won't produce a do over. Move. Be on your way! Dry your eyes and pack. Wipe your face and call Uhaul! It is time to get on the road and move into the new that God has for you! No more regret. No more tears. No more stagnation. No more stuck.
Get up. Clean up. Worship up. It's moving day!
David shares insight into this concept in the 23rd Psalms when he says "though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death!" He said we walk through. We don't stop in it. Death is a part of life. Death of dreams. Death of hopes. Death of plans. Death of opportunities. Death of relationships. However, we don't set up camp at the point of death and never move on. No, we move through to find life!
When God confronts Samuel about mourning over what He had rejected Samuel goes and anoints David as the next King. However, did you know that he never sees Saul face to face again. He teaches us that we can't continue to revisit what God has rejected. You don't need to revisit the memories, the scenario, the pain. You don't need to rehash the betrayal, the brutality, the brokenness. You don't need to relive the hurt, the hate, the heartache. Move. If God has said He is through with it then, our visitation rights have been revoked!
