Becoming: Living in the Process of God’s Making

Sermon #1: At the Bottom – 1 Samuel 16

     I like to tell my high school seniors to enjoy being at the top, because they will soon return to the bottom and be freshmen once again. If my count is right, I have started at the bottom at least eight times in my life. This is about seven times more that I would have chosen. However, in starting at the bottom, I was able to lay a foundation as God moved me along. To be very honest, I am not sure if I’ve ever reached the top of anything.

     I think that we would agree that starting anything is a challenge. We start new jobs, educational endeavors, and seasons of life. At times the hardest starts in life follow major disappointment. It may seem easier to just sit in disappointment, but start again we must. So, if we are starting a fresh venture, or recovering from a disappointment, may we not neglect the making of a good start. In 1 Samuel, we see how to start at the bottom because at the bottom is the foundation.

     Beginning in the first three verses of the chapter, we see that Samuel had to move on from his grief and into what God had next. Two things come to mind when I read this text. The first is how God speaks in the past tense concerning Samuel’s future. He does this because from His perspective it was finished. I also think of the words of Sue Monk Kidd in her book When the Heart Waits when she states, “When the heart weeps for what it has lost, the spirit laughs for what it has found.” When we start at the bottom, God is already at the top.

    Pressing forward in the text (v. 4-10), we learn that Samuel had to move through what God had not chosen in order to find what He had. As he did so, Samuel had to trade his view for God’s. God does not look at people and situations as man does. As we do the same thing, understanding that moving through what God has not chosen may bring you to the end of what you know. This, though challenging, gets us to the starting point that begins our journey to peace.

     As God was guiding Samuel through this process, Samuel found that God had chosen what he and others had least expected (11-13).  Concerning these verses, Charles Spurgeon once wrote, “Sincerity makes the very least person to be of more value than the most talented hypocrite” Adding to this thought are the words of Old Testament scholar Walter Brueggemann. “He describes three stages in the life of our faith. Our faith begins with a focus on security, counting on God to provide for us emotionally, physically, and spiritually. Inevitably, God shocks us with some unexpected turn of events, whether a death, a health problem, or a national crisis. Our faith becomes painfully disoriented. Finally, though once it seems as if trust in God has been shattered, faith can be reoriented often in surprising ways” (Kandiah, 2017). 

     The last section of this chapter displays the truth that, even though anointed to be king, David served in lower places (v.14-23). With David as our example, we are encouraged to start where God starts us. This may be a low place or a place moving out of major disappointment and hardship. However, we can’t miss what we are to become by focusing on what we think we should be. As God moves you forward, just start where you. From God’s perspective, your victory is a done deal.

Reference:

Kandiah, K. (2017). When God does the unexpected. Christianity Today, 61(2), 52-55.

God's Tolerance: Part 3 "Rebellious Presumption" 1 Samuel 13-15

     As a leader, I believe that I must earn your respect. I don’t think I deserve it because of my title or education. One of the ways that I attempt to earn respect is by being consistent to what I value and require of those around me. Being too stringent or too lenient will cause the respect level to diminish. If it diminished too much, God may make a change. Two things that God simply does not tolerate for very long are presumptuous and rebellious leaders.
     We understand why God would not wish to tolerate these, because we can’t stand them either. There is a certain relief when a presumptuous leader is removed. The whole organization takes a collective deep breath and pours out a sigh of relief. What becomes sad is when an otherwise good leader has their success turn into arrogance and rebellion. I think we all understand why humility and godly obedience is a prerequisite to being used by God. As I say this, I can’t help but think to myself of the leaders that I know who battle this. May we learn the needed lessons before we are removed. So, whatever role you play, may you understand that rebellion and presumption will be the cause of us loosing what we should be (1 Samuel 15:22-23). 

     The context of this statement in 1 Samuel (Chapters 13-14) is complicated and multi-layered.  

The people feared by the threat of the Philistines under the leadership of Saul (13:1-7). Saul failed to wait for Samuel and made the offering himself. This was an act of disobedience that disqualified him from leadership (13:8-23). Though Saul was a failed leader, God saved the Israelites from the Philistines through the hand of his son Jonathan (14:1-23). Because of this, Saul made a rash vow and it almost cost him his son’s life (14:24-46). Finally, Saul disobeyed the Lord’s commands and keep what he was supposed to destroy (5:1-34).

     From this context, 1 Samuel 15:22-23 make a bit more sense and help us understand two very important truths. First, many rebel by holding onto what they are to destroy. Saul’s rebellion was holding the spoils of war for himself which God told him to destroy. Here the words of Jerry Bridges come through. “Rebellion can be both obvious transgressions or in acts if decency. It is then appropriate to ask, what has God told us to destroy? One possible answer is found in 2 Cor. 10:5 where Paul writes, “5 We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,”

     Secondly, we can understand that God removes the presumptuous because presumption is one’s attempt to worship himself. Saul’s presumption was that he could do what only Samuel was called to do. One ways to fight against this very common human instinct is to pray for protection. Notice have the Psalmist prays in Psalm 36:11. Here he prays, “let not the foot of arrogance come upon me, nor the hand of the wicked drive me away.

     In conclusion, there is a personal challenge to which we may respond. We must destroy the seeds of presumption and rebellion. These may differ from person to person, but what we have in common is the need to safeguard ourselves by destroying them. Failure to do so is the equivalent of asking God to tolerate what will remove us from being our best and having a faithful relationship with God. We cannot ask God to tolerate what removes us from being our best.  

God’s Tolerance Part 2: “Less than Best” 1 Samuel 11-12

     I like it when God is tolerant of me, but when He is tolerant of you I must also like it.  Though there is a bit of humor in that statement, it is a hard truth that must be examined within my own heart. This hard truth births a closer look at God’s tolerance of me that causes me to take responsibility for the condition of my life. I must remember, whatever God is tolerating is creating a life setting in which I must be faithful.

     We all appreciate and benefit from God being tolerant, but when He is tolerant of those around us we must also be appreciative.  All this creates a life setting that requires flexibility and faithfulness. In this light, the challenge for both the Christian and those who do not believe in Him becomes to faithfully live in circumstances caused by sin. To examine this idea, we can turn to 1 Samuel 11-12.

     One of the first things we discover here is the possibility of a life setting formed by rejecting God’s best (1 Samuel 11) In this text God reveals the existence of justified an unjustified violence. In this setting, there is regret and blame because of the chosen leader. Somehow this chapter seems very familiar to our own. God tolerated their desire for a king and it has brought everything God said it would. Now there is regret. Regret is the outcome of living in less than God’s best.

     Moving to Chapter 12, we observe several ideas about living faithfully in a setting less than God’s best. These ideas are found in Samuel’s farewell address he makes to the Israelites. Each of these ideas are presented here in a short fashion and may better be understood by a slow reading of the text. First, keep a clear conscience before God and others (12:1-5) and remembering God’s ability to deliver (12:6-11). Next living in less than God’s best may provide us with a new sense of obedience (12:12-15) and appreciation for His mercy (12:16-18). Though living in less than God’s best means that we are guilty, we can renew our commitment to live in service from your whole heart (12:19-20). This will bring about the need to refrain from seeking fulfillment through empty things (12:21), moving us into an appreciation of God’s faithfulness to rebellious people and willingness to call us His own (12:22). Finally, we can display humble, and faithful leadership (V.23-25).  
     Being that living in less than Gods best is part of living in a broken world that each of His followers are challenged to live faithfully. Faithfully living in circumstances caused by sin is achieved through forgiveness (Luke 17:1-6).  As each respond to these challenges according to their own family and church roles, may they not sin against God by ceasing to pray and teach truth (12:23).

God's Tolerance: Part 1 - Tolerance is Not Permission

     As a person living in this world, I must be tolerant of certain things that I believe to be wrong or at least less than best. I simply cannot function as an individual by speaking out or being argumentative with everyone with whom I disagree. However, does that mean that I need to agree with or accept to be right those things that I believe to be wrong?

      As a Christian, I feel like I am being asked to tell people living in rebellion against God that they are ok and that my opinions may not be true for them. This issue has caused me to begin a tolerant pursuit of truth. This means that I am committing to being respectful to those that disagree with me while I seek to learn truth. Being that I am fully convinced in the existence and resurrection of Jesus; my pursuit starts with Him and those who recorded His teachings. This includes the historic events caused by His life and beliefs of those who followed Him. Though my pursuit begins there, it also includes the many other academic disciplines present today.

     As we come here today, each of us hold certain beliefs. Those beliefs are often challenged by changing life situations or new information. What I am hoping, is that we all are looking to base our lives on truth and not mere opinion. As a Christian pastor, my desire is to help you understand truth about God. I am not going to hound you in every area of your life that I think needs growth. That’s God’s job. However, I do want to share with you that God is tolerant, but that does not mean that He is permissive. To help us with this, consider the words of Pastor Jonathan Parnell as he states, “Now, as political and newsy as it may seem, the main thing to understand about tolerance is this: It is profoundly theological. Yes, tolerance is defensible based on mere reason, and no, you don't have to be a Christian to practice it — or even a theist. But the firmest ground for why we would bother being tolerant goes back to God.” (Pastor Jonathan Parnell http://www.desiringgod.org/articles/no-one-is-more-tolerant-than-god)
     The main thought of this message is the idea that God’s tolerance is not permission. Though it is not permission, it is full of grace and mercy in the hope of repentance. It is not rude or condescending, and it never says the one in rebellion is unloved. One Old Testament story reveals how God was tolerant of Israel’s rejection of Him when asking for a king in 1 Samuel 8-10. Here we can discover two truths about God’s tolerance. When thinking these through, remember that tolerance means that those in disagreement are not hostile or harmful to each other.

     In 1 Samuel Chapter 8 we read of Israel’s desire for a king. They were suffering at the hands of the Philistines and believed the answer was a king to deliver them. In Chapter 9, God was tolerant of Israel’s rejection and allowed Samuel to choose Saul as King. Pay close attention to verses 15-18 and you will notice two important truths. First, God remained faithful to hear their prayers for deliverance. Second, God remained faithful to restrain them.

     Moving to Chapter 10, we discover that God was tolerant of Israel’s rejection and worked in the heart of the leader they had chosen over Him. One surprising merciful act was the fact that the Spirit of the Lord turned the heart of Saul and allowed him to prophecy in verses 6-9. Following this, the people celebrated God’s tolerance perhaps thinking that they were right all along. They may, like many of us today, saw God’s merciful tolerance as permission to remain in rebellion free of its consequences. A simple reading of the rest of the story told in 1 Samuel reveals that our rebellion always has negative consequences in the end.

     This truth leads us to a New Testament thought. God’s tolerance is not to be mistaken for a lack of justice and judgment. To grasp this idea let’s quickly consider the words of 2 Peter 3:1-13. The first thought here is that those who misunderstand God’s tolerance forget about His past judgments. Also, seen here is the overall goal of God’s tolerance that in turn should be ours. The goal of God’s tolerance is that those in error would repent. This becomes very serious because God’s tolerance will end. Therefore, we are to live in holiness and godliness.

     Because of the seriousness of the topic and the place of tolerance in our world today we should be on a tolerant pursuit of truth. I would hope that even those who are not following Christ desire to live in truth. Living in lies is counterproductive to a life most desire to live. Finally, we at Yucaipa Church of the Nazarene are to be tolerant for the same reasons God is tolerant. May God help us be tolerant in the hope of repentance and true unity beneath His truth.