Religion Series

We continue our series of escape by looking at another area of ourselves that keeps us from experiencing the freedom Jesus’ coming and rising offer us. The last couple of weeks we spoke about escaping bad decisions and the shame/guilt that accompanies them, this week I’d like to explore how to escape the trap of a transactional relationship with God

Before I begin, I want to ask a couple of questions.

How many of those in the room know that Jesus' life, death and rising opens an opportunity for everyone to have a special relationship with God?

How many of us believe our relationship affords us the ability to go directly to God for issues?

How many of us question our relationship with God because doesn’t respond to our prayers?

<STORY of God not doing what I thought was best>

Thankfully, we have the scriptures to look through to find solutions. This morning I’d like to open to 1 Sam 4:4 to look for the clues to escape a transactional relationship with God. The background is the philistines and the Israelites' are enemies. There is a lot of history we don’t need to review at this moment but know they have squared off in a valley. On the first day, the Philistines killed over 4000 Israeli men in hand to hand combat. It's a brutal scene as both armies leave the battleground. Dead bodies, blood and scavengers. The Israeli soldiers are wondering how this could have happened. They thought “We have God on our side. We prayed. We asked for his favor. We know this is what he wants. Why?” Then someone mentions that we need help so let’s get the God in a box. The ark of covenant with its special powers. We never lose when the God box is with us. This is where we pick up the story…

4 So the people sent men to Shiloh, and they brought back the ark of the covenant of the Lord Almighty, who is enthroned between the cherubim. And Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God.

5 When the ark of the Lord’s covenant came into the camp, all Israel raised such a great shout that the ground shook. 6 Hearing the uproar, the Philistines asked, “What’s all this shouting in the Hebrew camp?”

When they learned that the ark of the Lord had come into the camp, the Philistines were afraid. “A god has come into the camp,” they said. “Oh no! Nothing like this has happened before. 8 We’re doomed! Who will deliver us from the hand of these mighty gods? They are the gods who struck the Egyptians with all kinds of plagues in the wilderness. 9 Be strong, Philistines! Be men, or you will be subject to the Hebrews, as they have been to you. Be men, and fight!”

10 So the Philistines fought, and the Israelites were defeated and every man fled to his tent. The slaughter was very great; Israel lost thirty thousand foot soldiers. 11 The ark of God was captured, and Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, died.

At this moment, the scripture seems to be leading up to a great underdog story like the movie “300” or “Braveheart” but the reality is something even worse. News reaches back home from the front. Dad upon receiving the news of his son's death and the ark taken, keels over and dies. One his son's wife goes into labor early, has a son she named him “Icabad” which means “the glory of God left us.” It’s a sad story which many readers are left wondering, Why?

Have you ever been there, seemingly you did everything religion tells you to do in situations like this: you've

Admit you need God’s help

Call on the name of God and give him your problem

Have faith

The Israelites did this. They admitted their need in God. They brought the box as evidence of their call in the name of God and gave Him the problem. They even brought the two assistant high priests to call on God on their behalf. So what gives?

Herein lies the truth. The result of good religion will always be frustration, disappointment and upset with God. Religion alway leads to the same place: an empty santa claus theology with great coffee mug quotes but no relationship.

God does not always shield you from all distresses and dangers, but it is in the loneliness, in the betrayal, in the loss He comes to you. He goes before you. He walks with you. He comforts you. He encourages.

So let’s escape religion by resetting the key in the lock of the prison cell of our own making.

Let’s set the record straight. A right understanding of God is ineffective if you don’t put your faith into practice. There is a great example a few pages back. God is reprimanding Eli because his kids were taking advantage of the people of church and dating women coming to God. Take a listen to 1 Sam 2: 30. God tells Eli: