Today's gospel instalment: 07/02/2023 Sermon Title: 1. Ebenezer, 2. The Philistines have been defeated Text: 1Samuel 7 1. The gospel is simple, but has many moving parts-that is what we declare over and over. 2. God told the story of Christ in the capture of the ark-and with it the end of the Law. 3. The ark was captured by the Philistines and it got them a lot of trouble (sickness and death). 4. Atonement had to be made by something that God approved (a sinless sacrifice-trespass sacrifice carried by two cows that had never been yoked (Christ not yoked with sin, golden tumors and mice (no pestilence/no sin-a picture of the sinless Christ and on a new cart-Christ Jesus-body prepared without sin-a body not of this creation). 5. But after peace had been established Samuel gathered Israel at Mizpah and they confessed their sins to God. 6. But at the same time the Philistines had an incursion on them to attack and destroy them. Israel cried out to Samuel to intercede for them to God. 7. Samuel offered a suckling lamb as a burnt offering and the Philistines were defeated. 8. The Philistines represent the testimony of sin. Sin cannot be overcome by resolutions. It can only be defeated by the mediator of a God appointed high priest (Christ Jesus and the offering of Himself). 9. So, all of God's people say-EBENEZER-this far God has helped us. And we expounded more on this-a wonderful gospel testimony this is. And it is free.