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Message Notes:

1 And the word of Samuel came to all Israel. Now Israel went out to battle against the Philistines. They encamped at Ebenezer, and the Philistines encamped at Aphek. 2 The Philistines drew up in line against Israel, and when the battle spread, Israel was defeated before the Philistines, who killed about four thousand men on the field of battle. 3 And when the people came to the camp, the elders of Israel said, “Why has the Lord defeated us today before the Philistines? Let us bring the ark of the covenant of the Lord here from Shiloh, that it may come among us and save us from the power of our enemies.” 4 So the people sent to Shiloh and brought from there the ark of the covenant of the Lord of hosts, who is enthroned on the cherubim. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God. - 1 Samuel 4v1-4 (ESV)

Characters of this story:

Eli - the high priest at the time

Samuel - newly called prophet to Israel

Hophni & Phinehas - corrupt sons of the priest

Eli’s daughter in law - wife of Phinehas

The Philistine Army - fear pushed them to fight

12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. 14 If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.

— 1 Peter 4v12-14 (ESV)

Lessons from this story:

1. POSTURE IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN PERFORMANCE

10 So the Philistines fought, and Israel was defeated, and they fled, every man to his home. And there was a very great slaughter, for thirty thousand foot soldiers of Israel fell. 11 And the ark of God was captured, and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, died. – 1 Samuel 4v10-11 (ESV)

THE BIBLE IS THE MANUAL, JESUS IS THE MODEL

58 For they provoked him to anger with their high places; they moved him to jealousy with their idols. 59 When God heard, he was full of wrath, and he utterly rejected Israel. 60 He forsook his dwelling at Shiloh, the tent where he dwelt among mankind, 61 and delivered his power to captivity, his glory to the hand of the foe. — Psalm 78v58-61 (ESV)

2. (SOME) DISTRACTIONS LEAD TO DEATH

1 Samuel 4v15-18 (ESV)

Daniel 7v25 (ESV)

2 Corinthians 4v4 (NIV)

3. MOMENTS DON’T HAVE TO STOP MOMENTUM

1 Samuel 4v19-20 (ESV)

Samuel 4v21-22 (ESV)

Ephesians 2v4-7 (ESV)

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Message Notes:

1 Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the Lord in the presence of Eli. And the word of the Lord was rare in those days; there was no frequent vision. 2 At that time Eli, whose eyesight had begun to grow dim so that he could not see, was lying down in his own place. 3 The lamp of God had not yet gone out, (3am or 4am) and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was. 4 Then the Lord called Samuel, and he said, “Here I am!” 5 and ran to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call; lie down again.” So he went and lay down. 6 And the Lord called again, “Samuel!” and Samuel arose and went to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” But he said, “I did not call, my son; lie down again.” 7 Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, and the word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him. — 1 Samuel 3v1-7 (ESV)

Beware of anything that competes with loyalty to Jesus Christ. The greatest competitor of devotion to Jesus is service for Him. . . . The one aim of the call of God is the satisfaction of God, not a call to do something for Him. — Oswald Chambers

Types of Calling:

8 And the Lord called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” Then Eli perceived that the Lord was calling the boy. 9 Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down, and if he calls you, you shall say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant hears.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place. — 1 Samuel 3v8-9 (ESV)

You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. – John 15v16 (ESV)

Matthew 4v18-22 (ESV)

Reasons Why We Neglect The Call:

What’s in Jesus’ call?

1. THE OPPORTUNITY

And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. – Matthew 4v19 (ESV)

28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. – Matthew 11v28-30 (ESV)

2. THE OBJECTIVE

Matthew 4v19 (ESV)

Spiritual formation is not an option! The inescapable conclusion is that life itself is a process of spiritual development. The only choice we have is whether that growth moves us toward wholeness in Christ or toward an increasingly dehumanized and destructive mode of being. – Robert Mullholland Jr.

Isaiah 43v1 (ESV)

Isaiah 64v8 (NLT)

3. THE OUTCOME

Matthew 4v19 (ESV)

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Message Notes:

1 Then the king (Josiah) sent, and all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem were gathered to him. 2 And the king went up to the house of the Lord, and with him all the men of Judah and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem and the priests and the prophets, all the people, both small and great. And he read in their hearing all the words of the Book of the Covenant that had been found in the house of the Lord. 3 And the king stood by the pillar and made a covenant before the Lord, to walk after the Lord and to keep his commandments and his testimonies and his statutes with all his heart and all his soul, to perform the words of this covenant that were written in this book. And all the people joined in the covenant. – 2 Kings 23v1-4 (ESV)

IDOLATRY - seeking eternal security and meaning in someone or something other than God

4 Their idols are silver and gold, the work of human hands. 5 They have mouths, but do not speak; eyes, but do not see. 6 They have ears, but do not hear; noses, but do not smell. 7 They have hands, but do not feel; feet, but do not walk; and they do not make a sound in their throat. 8 Those who make them become like them, so do all who trust in them. — Psalm 115v1-8 (ESV)

This week’s idol: CHEMOSH

Woe to you, O Moab! You are undone, O people of Chemosh! He has made his sons fugitives, and his daughters captives, to an Amorite king, Sihon. – Numbers 21v29 (ESV)

Then Moab shall be ashamed of Chemosh, as the house of Israel was ashamed of Bethel, their confidence. – Jeremiah 48v13 (ESV)

On a hill east of Jerusalem, Solomon built a high place for Chemosh the detestable god of Moab, and for Molek the detestable god of the Ammonites. – 1 Kings 11v7 (NIV)

Chemosh – Moabite god (Numbers 21, Jeremiah 48)  involved human sacrifice

For when Solomon was old his wives turned away his heart after other gods, and his heart was not wholly true to the Lord his God, as was the heart of David his father. — 1 Kings 11v4 (ESV)

KEY: Solomon built a sanctuary for Chemosh for political gain

12 He pulled down the altars the kings of Judah had erected on the roof near the upper room of Ahaz, and the altars Manasseh had built in the two courts of the temple of the Lord. He removed them from there, smashed them to pieces and threw the rubble into the Kidron Valley.

13 The king also desecrated the high places that were east of Jerusalem on the south of the Hill of Corruption—the ones Solomon king of Israel had built for Ashtoreth the vile goddess of the Sidonians, for Chemosh the vile god of Moab, and for Molek the detestable god of the people of Ammon.

14 Josiah smashed the sacred stones and cut down the Asherah poles and covered the sites with human bones. – 2 Kings 23v12-14 (NIV)

3 Things The Gospel Offers:

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Message Notes:

6 For thus says the Lord of hosts: Yet once more, in a little while, I will shake the heavens and the earth and the sea and the dry land. 7 And I will shake all nations, so that the treasures of all nations shall come in, and I will fill this house with glory, says the Lord of hosts. 8 The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, declares the Lord of hosts. 9 The latter glory of this house shall be greater than the former, says the Lord of hosts. And in this place I will give peace, declares the Lord of hosts.’” — Haggai 2v6-9 (ESV)

no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him - 2 Corinthians 2v9 (ESV)

3 Then the word of the Lord came by the hand of Haggai the prophet, 4 “Is it a time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, while this house lies in ruins? — Haggai 1v3-4 (ESV)

5 Now, therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider your ways. 6 You have sown much, and harvested little. You eat, but you never have enough; you drink, but you never have your fill. You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm. And he who earns wages does so to put them into a bag with holes. — Haggai 1v5-6 (ESV)

“CONSIDER”

שׂוּםלֵבָב (śûm lēḇāḇ) - to put in order, in your inner man

what we see:

1) A House of God’s glory

And I will shake all nations, so that the treasures of all nations shall come in, and I will fill this house with glory, says the Lord of hosts. - Haggai 2v7 (ESV)

Saturday Prayer (9am main sanctuary)

One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple. — Psalm 27v4 (ESV)

For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble; he will conceal me under the cover of his tent; he will lift me high upon a rock. — Psalm 27v5 (ESV)

2) Leaders after God’s glory

24 Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; 27 in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. 28 And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches.” — ‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭11‬:‭24‬-‭28‬ (‭ESV‬‬)

Year 2 goal: train and equip elders

And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me, and I will offer in his tent sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing and make melody to the Lord. — Psalm 27v6 (ESV)

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Message Notes:

20 So Ahab sent to all the people of Israel and gathered the prophets together at Mount Carmel. 21 And Elijah came near to all the people and said, “How long will you go limping between two different opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him.” And the people did not answer him a word. 22 Then Elijah said to the people, “I, even I only, am left a prophet of the Lord, but Baal's prophets are 450 men. 23 Let two bulls be given to us, and let them choose one bull for themselves and cut it in pieces and lay it on the wood, but put no fire to it. And I will prepare the other bull and lay it on the wood and put no fire to it. 24 And you call upon the name of your god, and I will call upon the name of the Lord, and the God who answers by fire, he is God.” And all the people answered, “It is well spoken.” 25 Then Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, “Choose for yourselves one bull and prepare it first, for you are many, and call upon the name of your god, but put no fire to it.” 26 And they took the bull that was given them, and they prepared it and called upon the name of Baal from morning until noon, saying, “O Baal, answer us!” But there was no voice, and no one answered. And they limped around the altar that they had made. 27 And at noon Elijah mocked them, saying, “Cry aloud, for he is a god. Either he is musing, or he is relieving himself, or he is on a journey, or perhaps he is asleep and must be awakened.” 28 And they cried aloud and cut themselves after their custom with swords and lances, until the blood gushed out upon them. 29 And as midday passed, they raved on until the time of the offering of the oblation, but there was no voice. No one answered; no one paid attention. — 1 Kings 18v20-29 (ESV)

IDOLATRY - seeking security and meaning in someone or something other than God

1 But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. 2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, 4 treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. – 2 Timothy 3v1-5 (ESV)

Baal - the chief Canaanite god

The Baal Counterfeit

HOW TO FIGHT BACK:

1) REPAIR THE ALTAR

1 Kings 18v30-32 (ESV)

2) CUT THE BULL

1 Kings 18v33-35 (ESV)

3) RESTORE THE REASON

1 Kings 18v37-39 (ESV)

4) TAKE YOUR AUTHORITY

1 Kings 18v40 (ESV)

a time to kill and a time to heal,

a time to tear down and a time to build, — Ecclesiastes 3v3 (ESV)

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Message Notes:

1 King Solomon, however, loved many foreign women besides Pharaoh’s daughter—Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians and Hittites. 2 They were from nations about which the Lord had told the Israelites, “You must not intermarry with them, because they will surely turn your hearts after their gods.” Nevertheless, Solomon held fast to them in love. 3 He had seven hundred wives of royal birth and three hundred concubines, and his wives led him astray. 4 As Solomon grew old, his wives turned his heart after other gods, and his heart was not fully devoted to the Lord his God, as the heart of David his father had been. 5 He followed Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, and Molek the detestable god of the Ammonites. 6 So Solomon did evil in the eyes of the Lord; he did not follow the Lord completely, as David his father had done. -- 1 Kings 11v1-6

IDOLATRY - seeking security and meaning in someone or something other than God

Ashtoreth / Ashtaroth (plural) - the goddess of fertility, maternity, motherhood, sex.

Why do people run to idols?

How to seek Him when you’re desperate:

1) Remind yourself truths, read your bible

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. -- Psalm 119:05

I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. -- Psalm 119:11

2) Confront your emotions

He had seven hundred wives of royal birth and three hundred concubines, and his wives led him astray. -- 1 Kings 11v3

3) Commit to community

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Message Notes:

1 Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness! 2 Why should the nations say, “Where is their God?” 3 Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases. 4 Their idols are silver and gold, the work of human hands. 5 They have mouths, but do not speak; eyes, but do not see. 6 They have ears, but do not hear; noses, but do not smell. 7 They have hands, but do not feel; feet, but do not walk; and they do not make a sound in their throat. 8 Those who make them become like them, so do all who trust in them. — Psalm 115v1-8 (ESV)

IDOLATRY - seeking security and meaning in someone or something other than God

1 But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. 2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, 4 treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. – 2 Timothy 3v1-5 (ESV)

When anything in life is an absolute requirement for your happiness and self-worth, it is essentially an 'idol,' something you are actually worshiping. – Tim Keller

Idols and false gods of the OT.

Parts of True Repentance:

1) Contrition - the natural pride and self-sufficiency has been completely humbled by the consciousness of guilt

15 O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise. 16  For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; you will not be pleased with a burnt offering. 17  The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. – Psalm 51v15-17 (ESV)

2) Confession - the secret is over and verbally we reveal to someone else what we’ve done

Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. – James 5v16 (ESV)

3) Satisfaction - action that makes amends and changes behavior

if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land. — 2 Chronciles 7v14 (ESV)

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Message Notes:

51 And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them. And his mother treasured up all these things in her heart. 52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man. — Luke 2v51-52 (ESV)

Luke 2 recap

And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man. — Luke 2v52 (ESV)

INCREASE - advance, proceed or lengthen out by hammer (as a smith forges metal)

5 You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.6 Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. 7 Instead, he gave up his divine privileges he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. – Philippians 2v5-7 (NLT)

And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man. — Luke 2v52 (ESV)

2023 - THE YEAR OF INCREASE

2 “Enlarge the place of your tent, and let the curtains of your habitations be stretched out; do not hold back; lengthen your cords and strengthen your stakes. 3 For you will spread abroad to the right and to the left, and your offspring will possess the nations and will people the desolate cities. – Isaiah 54v2-3 (ESV)

The year of increase:

1. Increase in our faith comes from decreasing our flesh

17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. — Galatians 5v17-18 (NKJV)

Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety. – Proverbs 11v14 (ESV)

John 3v25-28 (ESV)

WITH THE BLESSING OF INCREASE COMES THE PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY TO DECREASE

He must increase, but I must decrease. — John 3v30 (ESV)

2. Increase in our family comes from decreasing our distractions

Luke 2v43-45 (ESV)

Distractions:

After three days they found him in the temple… – Luke 2v46 (ESV)

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Message Notes:

25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. 27 And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, 28 he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said, 29 “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; 30 for my eyes have seen your salvation 31 that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, 32 a light for r evelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.” 33 And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him. 34 And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed 35 (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.” – Luke 2v25-35 (ESV)

For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy – Revelation 19v10 (ESV)

4 aged, OT saints

Christmas means not just hope for the world, despite all its unending problems, but hope for you and me, despite all our unending failings. – Tim Keller

Simeon says…

Simeon’s Testimony…

1. He waited

And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ.  – Luke 2v26 (ESV)

Long lay the world in sin and error pining

'Til he appears and the soul felt its worth

A thrill of hope the weary soul rejoices

For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn

The Law and the Prophets were until John; since then the good news of the kingdom of God is preached, and everyone forces his way into it. – Luke 16:16 (ESV)

2. He worshiped

27 And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, 28 he took him up in his arms and blessed God – Luke 2v27-28 (ESV)

Christmas is not about a holiday to celebrate

It’s about a King who deserves worship

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Message Notes:

21 And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb. 22 And when the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”) 24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.” – Luke 2v21-24 (ESV)

What does the blood of Jesus do?

1) Resolves a Debt

13 And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, 14 by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. – Colossians 2v13-14 (ESV)

2) Cleanses us from sin

5 This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. – 1 John 1v5-7 (ESV)

3)  Gives access

12 remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. – Ephesians 2v12-13 (ESV)