Warfare 1 Samuel 16:14-23

Once, while I was in the Washington, D.C., area holding a gospel meeting, I had the privilege of going through the International Spy Museum near Chinatown.   Having an avid interest in both military history and the former Soviet Union, I was thrilled at the opportunity.

Although the museum displays how ancient the espionage game is, the greater part of the exhibits covers just the last 100 years.  There is a whole section of the museum devoted to espionage during the Cold War.  This period of intense espionage developed it's own “ten commandments” of spying (some say there are forty or more).  The museum itself published ten of these so-called "Moscow Rules."

Some of these rules include:  “assume nothing,” “don’t look back,” “there is no limit to a human being’s ability to rationalize the truth,” “maintain a natural pace,” “…if it feels wrong, it is wrong….”

Former CIA operative Jonna Mendez, as well as countless others, is quick to say that these rules are used by agents around the globe today.  Many of these rules boil down to trusting instincts.

-God raises up leaders to guide us into the warfare of worship

I. Worshippers are at War vv. 14-17

In this morning’s passage, we find Saul, King of Israel in a difficult moment

As a result of his own disobedience, the kingdom has been taken away from him. Unbeknownst to him, God has ordered David to be anointed as the next king of Israel.

The immediate issue, though, is spiritual.

The Spirit of the Lord has departed from Saul

Now, he is tormented by a “harmful” spirit from the Lord

It seems that God will not leave Saul alone in his disobedience; he cannot have any kind of meaningful peace apart from God

There is a battle that is going on and it is a battle for Saul

There is an enemy that rages and all of Saul’s flesh and personal disobedience are pulling him away from God

Meanwhile, God is fighting (even through a harmful spirit) to make Saul aware of his predicament and to pull him back to God

This is the battle that all of us are taking part in.

There is a battle for your heart’s affection and your mind’s attention

You will find your greatest joy, your healing, and your hope as you settle your life in the glory of God

However, it is a fight, a battle against:

Temptation to sin

Self-centered thinking

Distraction

We are at war, and worship is our weapon!

750 Engaging Illustrations for Preachers, Teachers and Writers 679: Spiritual Warfare

The waters off Natal province in South Africa are shark-infested, writes Hugh Dellios in the Chicago Tribune. To maintain the tourist trade in the area, the Natal Shark Board has tried many different solutions. They have attempted using various odors as shark repellents, without success. They tried piping in sounds, such as that of the shark’s archenemy the killer whale, without success. In earlier days they encircled bathing beaches with steel cages, or called in the navy to drop depth charges. Finally in the 1950s they stretched long nets around the circumference of the beach. That kept the sharks out but also accidentally caught and killed a large number of other marine life.

Now it appears the Natal Shark Board has a better solution. They have developed and patented what they call the Protective Ocean Device (POD). The POD puts out electrical impulses that irritate the shark’s nose, which is sensitive to muscle movements in nearby fish and ultrasensitive to electrical currents. The new device, says writer Hugh Dellios, “will surround its owner with a low-level electric pulse that annoys the shark and persuades it that it isn’t bearing down on a seal or other favorite taste-treat.”

And so it is now possible with technology to drive away sharks.

II. Worshippers Need Warriors vv. 16-18

There is good news, however. God raises up warriors to help us in this battle

Saul’s men recognize his great need: someone to usher him into the presence of God

We might recognize David as one of the first worship pastors

He uses a tool, music, to lead Saul to God to experience hope and healing

What are the characteristics of this worship warrior:

He is a shepherd, knowing how to guide and care for others

He is skilled at his task, a good musician

He is a man of valor. He is brave

He is a man of war. He recognizes the stakes of this issue of spiritual warfare

He is prudent in speech. He understands the value of words that either distract people from God or attract them to Him.

He is a man of good presence. He has a confidence to lead.

The Lord is with him. This is the most critical piece of the entire puzzle.

I think that we need to understand the value of worship leaders

They are not primarily performers and their worth is not primarily found in their gifts and talents

However, when God equips a man with spiritual gifts, practical talents, and the characteristics of a leader, He will do mighty things through that man by His Spirit

Yesterday, I had the honor of being present at the funeral for Suzanne’s Uncle Bobby. Of course, I only knew him in that context, a family member, a friend, a part of our community. However, I was reminded that there was another side of him that I didn’t know. He was a warrior, a veteran of the Vietnam War. On display alongside his casket, the family placed his uniform and a collection of his medals, including the Purple Heart awarded for the wounds he received in battle. Looking at the picture of a young soldier in a foreign land, I was reminded of the value of a warrior. They make all the difference. We need worship warriors to lead us into spiritual warfare now!

III. Worshippers are Made Well vv. 19-23

David comes to Saul and a beautiful thing happens:

David enters Saul’s service and finds favor there

He is raised to the position of armor-bearer; he is close and trusted associate to Saul, not just an itinerant musician

Through David, Saul finds peace with God. When David plays, Saul is refreshed and the torment ceases. Saul is made well again

Where there is worship of the holy God, there is healing and hope!

I think we need to take a moment to pause though and consider the son of Jesse

David gives us a picture here of a hope that will be fulfilled later:

He is a Bethlehemite, from the house of Judah

He is a shepherd, who makes it His business to care for the sheep

He is the anointed King, yet he humbly serves the one who has fallen into sin

He makes it possible for Saul to enter the presence of God

Everything that we hope for in David is fulfilled in Jesus, the Son of David

He is the Lion from the Tribe of Judah, born in Bethlehem

He is the Good Shepherd; He lays down His life for the sheep

He is the Servant King; He did not come to be served, but to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many

He is the Way; He makes it possible for us to enter the presence of God

We have a confident hope as we seek God in worship, a confidence that comes from Christ

Hebrews 10:19–25

[19] Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, [20] by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, [21] and since we have a great priest over the house of God, [22] let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. [23] Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. [24] And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, [25] not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. (ESV)