Untitled Sermon (2)

Introduction: 5 days ago as Mone and I were on the highway in Texas, a car came blazing behind us and, hit us in the rear end, Our whole bodies flung forward, we almost flipped as our car was swerving from the impact. but through God’s goodness, Mone got a hold of the wheel and our car. This car ended up inches away from Mone, and hit us in the front again. Her car swung across the 5-lane highway, hit the wall on the right, then slowly drifted across to the left side of the highway. Our cars were totaled. Our wheels popped off 20 feet behind us. But in God’s graciousness. Mone, my sister who was sitting in the back, and I were okay. With no hesitation, after I saw that we were ok. I got out of the car on the freeway, ran to the lady who hit us. Someone opened her car door, and she was there, shaking, weeping, and unable to respond. Her eyes were rolling back, she was bleeding, and I could feel her giving up. Instantly, I felt compelled to pray for her. So I did. I wasn’t thinking about what she did to hurt me or my family. I was thinking about making sure that I did everything in my power to make sure she had a chance to live.

You see, from the moment she hit our car, though the world seemed to be spinning, and my life and my family’s life was on the line, I knew we were going to be okay. (pause) The PEACE of God soothed my anger, removed my concern, and instead…filled my heart with urgency to extend that same peace to others.

Now don’t get me wrong, it doesn’t mean I was happy I got hit by this car or that I wasn’t sad or even angry. It just meant that God gave me the ability to respond to the situation in godliness.

Here’s the big takeaway that I want you to get this morning: God has given us the ability to have peace with others, therefore, we must daily surrender our will to His.

To bring this big idea home, I’m going to draw out three points from the life of David.

(pause)

Having peace with others is hard, it costs us our pride, control, entitlement, and desires. Yet, God asks us to be peacemakers in a world that isn’t kind to those who follow God’s will. One of the best examples of this comes to light through the life of David.

In your Bibles, 1 Samuel chapters 18-20 tell of David’s relationship with two particular individuals, King Saul, and Jonathan. Saul was the king over Israel, and Jonathan was his son. David was a little shepherd boy who was anointed by God then years later killed Goliath the giant.

Beginning of Point One:

Let’s open our bibles to the 1 Sam 18 and read starting from verse one:

6 As they were coming home, when David returned from striking down the Philistine, gthe women came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tambourines, with songs of joy, and with musical instruments.1 7 And the women hsang to one another as they celebrated,

i“Saul has struck down his thousands,

and David his ten thousands.”

8 And Saul was very angry, and this saying displeased him. He said, “They have ascribed to David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed thousands, and what more can he have but jthe kingdom?” 9 And Saul eyed David from that day on.

(pause) what can we learn from this? (pause) Discontentment with God breeds covetousness (selfish desires). (1 Sam 18)

Saul's discontentment with David's success

Saul completely lost it when David was praised to a higher degree than him. Notice how Saul still got praised from the women with tambourines. But he was upset, jealous, and annoyed that someone was “cooler” or seemed “better” than him to the public eye.

How many times have you looked at your friend’s outfits, shoes, grades, or instagram followers with jealousy? Low key, you see them thriving, looking their best, and happy, and you throw a fit because it wasn’t yours. Have you every felt like that? Have you ever been jealous of someone or wanted something that was somebody else’s? That is called “coveting.” Being covetous. How many times have you done that even today?

I’m going to let you in on a little secret, having someone else’s good gifts is never going to gift you joy. Thomas Jefferson, a US president says this, “ Comparison is the theif of joy.”

Take it from someone who has battled with always wanting more her whole life… Another person’s “stuff” and “praises” will never be enough to satisfy your soul. Remember, when we are God’s, we want to be like the deer whose thirst is quenched by living water that brings true peace with God and self. Our temporary wants will never be able to cure our yearnings to be seen, loved, and known.

There’s something about having the “-- er” factor over the people around us that makes us obsessed with ourselves. We want to know that we are “smart-er, work hard-er, and “prettier” than that person over there.

You look around at the rest of the world and decide in your own mind what the “ideal” is in the world. If I could just be as “well-spoken, as likeable, as rich, as tall, etc.. then maybe I would have what they have….”

Look, nobody’s perfect, its an illusion. Perception isn’t real.

Card with Vue Family

Comparison has really bad side affects

You’ll look for people you’re better than to feel better about yourself

You’ll always have anxiety because you’ll feel like you’ll never be enough

You’ll resent other people’s successes because it will make you feel like you’re losing

You will resent God for not giving you everything you want even though he gives you everything you need.

You will inwardly celebrate people’s failures because it will make you feel more like you’re a success

Jesus’s cross does something that comparison cannot. You cannot have peace with others if you are constantly comparing yourself to someone who has no authority over your life nor takes the responsibilities for the choices you’ve made.

This brings me to the next point

Point 2:

War within yourself causes disharmony in your relationships with others (1 Sam 19).

====== we are going to jump to the next chapter to follow up on how Saul responds when Saul gets

Saul Tries to Kill David

19 And Saul spoke to Jonathan his son and to all his servants, that they should kill David. rBut Jonathan, Saul’s son, delighted much in David. 2 And Jonathan told David, “Saul my father seeks to kill you. Therefore be on your guard in the morning. Stay in a secret place and hide yourself. 3 And I will go out and stand beside my father in the field where you are, and I will speak to my father about you. And if I learn anything I will tell you.” 4 And Jonathan spoke well of David to Saul his father and said to him, “Let not the king ssin against his servant David, because he has not sinned against you, and because his deeds have brought good to you. 5 For the took his life in his hand uand he struck down the Philistine, vand the Lord worked a great salvation for all Israel. You saw it, and rejoiced. Why then will you sin against winnocent blood by killing David without cause?” 6 And Saul listened to the voice of Jonathan. Saul swore, x“As the Lord lives, he shall not be put to death.” 7 And Jonathan called David, and Jonathan reported to him all these things. And Jonathan brought David to Saul, and he was in his presence yas before.

Analyze the internal conflict within Saul and its repercussions on his relationships

When we look deeper into Saul’s motives, what we find is someone who has disharmony within himself. He’s not happy with how people view him. He’s not content, not satisfied at how others see him. We can tell by how he handles the tambourinists attributing glory.

When we are distrusting that God will do good for us, we try to take control to obtain a “win” for ourselves.

How does Saul try to take control? He tries to kill David. Killing was a direct attack on God’s laws. Saul knows that God values life, yet, in Saul’s anger, he attempts to follow His own will and desire for his life instead of follow God’s law.

Saul is not a good king at all. He has issues with himself.

Discuss how inner turmoil can manifest as external disharmony

Question: Do you all play sports? Soccer? Football? Volleyball? Have you ever gotten to the point when your team is down and nothing seems to be going right? Like all the passes from your teammates don’t go as planned, the score is down, etc…? There usually comes a point in that game when you have the ball and decide “everyone is letting me down so I’m going to score by myself. Because you have a war inside yourself, you decide you’re gonna fight this fight on your own because it seems like everybody else is letting you down.

Highlight the importance of inner peace for fostering healthy relationships with others (point back to message #2)

Here’s the problem, when we make people our competition, or when we internalize doubt and lack of control in our lives… and project that chaos onto others as if it was their fault that things aren’t the way they’re supposed to be… what we’re really doing is blaming others for something happening inside ourselves that we don’t like.

Have you heard of the story about the snake and the sword?. The snake get’s cut by a sword while slithering around. The snake gets so upset that it uses its power tactic of wrapping around the blade in attempts to suffocate it. However, instead of squishing that sword to death, the snake dies because of his desire for vengance and power.

This brings me to my final point, read with me in 1 Samuel 20 to witness the response of Jonathan, the son of Saul

(Read Verses)

This is the third point I want to bring us to. If this is the only thing you hear this morning, this is it.

Point 3: Placing God rightly in your relationships brings harmony (1 Sam 20).

1 Sam 20:1-4 – Then David fled from Naioth min Ramah and came and said before Jonathan, “What have I done? What is my guilt? And what is my sin before your father, that he seeks my life?” 2 And he said to him, “Far from it! You shall not die. Behold, my father does nothing either great or small without disclosing it to me. And why should my father hide this from me? It is not so.” 3 But David vowed again, saying, “Your father knows well that nI have found favor in your eyes, and he thinks, ‘Do not let Jonathan know this, lest he be grieved.’ But truly, oas the Lord lives and pas your soul lives, there is but a step between me and death.” 4 Then Jonathan said to David, “Whatever you say, I will do for you.”

1 Sam 20:16-17Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, b“May3 the Lord take vengeance on David’s enemies.” 17 And Jonathan made David swear again by his love for him, cfor he loved him as he loved his own soul.

1 Sam 20:30 Then Saul’s anger was kindled against Jonathan, and he said to him, “You son of a perverse, rebellious woman, do I not know that you have chosen the son of Jesse to your own shame, and to the shame of your mother’s nakedness? 31 For as long as the son of Jesse lives on the earth, neither you nor your kingdom shall be established. Therefore send and bring him to me, for he shall surely die.” 32 Then Jonathan answered Saul his father, o“Why should he be put to death? What has he done?” 33 pBut Saul hurled his spear at him to strike him. So Jonathan knew qthat his father was determined to put David to death. 34 And Jonathan rose from the table in fierce anger and ate no food the second day of the month, for he was grieved for David, because his father had disgraced him.

42 Then Jonathan said to David, s“Go in peace, because we have sworn both of us in the name of the Lord, saying, t‘The Lord shall be between me and you, uand between my offspring and your offspring, forever.’ ” And he rose and departed, and Jonathan went into the city.7

Examine Jonathan's role in seeking harmony through his relationship with David and Saul and God

Joanathan is for david. Saul tried to kill him, Jonathan tried to save him. Jonathan wanted to bring David honor and glory. If there was anyone who should’ve been mad that David was getting the spotlight, it should’ve been Jonathan!

You know how monarchy’s work… The King’s son is usually next in line to rule. David wasn’t Saul’s son, Jonathan was. Jonathan knew that David’s escape from Saul would result in David ruling Israel one day.

In the beginning, Jonathan even handed David his garments, a clear acknowledgement that he loved David as His own brother and held control loosely.

Elaborate on how incorporating God into relationships can bring about peace

In this text, Jonathan is doing the exact opposite of Saul

At a big dinner, David's usual seat is empty. Saul, the king, notices and asks Jonathan where David is. Jonathan covers for David, saying he went to a family event.

Saul gets angry, suspecting Jonathan is helping David. He even tries to hurt Jonathan, but Jonathan escapes.

Later, David and Jonathan meet in secret. They promise to be friends forever, and David leaves in peace, knowing he has a true friend.

Explore the concept of God’s divine guidance and its positive impact on interpersonal connections

42 Then Jonathan said to David, s“Go in peace, because we have sworn both of us in the name of the Lord, saying, t‘The Lord shall be between me and you, uand between my offspring and your offspring, forever.’ ” And he rose and departed, and Jonathan went into the city.7

We all have relationships. None of them are perfect, especially our relationship with God. However, we have the ability to restore our relationships when we surrender our will to God’s will. Saul was mad because he wanted to remain King. Jonathan was glad because He wanted to honor God by honoring his relationships, even the one with his dad.

So here is what I want you to do:

One of the gifts of being in Christ is that the way the family of God works is that you don’t have to be

What kind of people is your soul attracted to? Who are the people you are closest to? What is it about them that makes you feel joy, pleasure, and fun when you’re around them? Honestly I don’t need to be around you to know the kind of person you are. I just need to see the kind of friends you choose to know what you’re like. Are you more interested in hanging out with your non-Christian friends than your pals here?

Jonathan loved David so much that he made a covenant with David. A covenant is a contract between two parties who want to help one another flourish. It’s an expression of binding commitment

One of the marks of true love is that it manifests in commitment. True love manifests in an unbroken loyalty.

….activity:

ACTIVITY INSTRUCTIONS:

You’re going to