Untitled Sermon (18)
Sermon • Submitted • Presented
0 ratings
· 1 viewNotes
Transcript
Text: 1 Samuel 14:31-32.
Intro: When we read and study the Old Testament, it is obvious that it was a very different time. That being said, that doesn't mean that there is not spiritual application that when applied by God will be the very help that we need! Although these events took place some 3000 years we see that people have not changed all that much. King Saul represents a type of carnal Christian, someone that lives according to their flesh. While, Jonathan is a type of “new man” in Christ!
In our text today, the nation of Israel is battling with the inhabitants of the land, which for us represents that daily spiritual battle that we face…
Read: vs. 24-30
So here we have King Saul, the general of God’s people, leading the army of the living God into battle and ordering them to fast… Expecting his soldiers to fight when they have no strength to do so. Didn’t he ever hear that the army travels on its stomach? Let’s consider why he gave the order...
“So that I may be avenged on mine enemies.”
It was all about Saul… His pride and arrogance led him to withhold food from the people. The very food that not only sustains life, but that strengthens the body.
Spiritually, this is a wonderful picture for us, when we are starved from the word of God.... As your pastor I am commanded,
Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.
As a pastor this is a tremendous challenge to me, not because I don’t want to to do this, but because I want to ensure that I am being a good steward to that which God has given me oversight of. To many pastors have gone astray on this… Neglecting the flock, for their own benefit… God forbid that I ever become like that, but if I do, kindly show me the door. When the time comes, and I hope that it is many, many years away, that God brings a new man to pastor this church, please, ensure that it will be a man that will make feeding the flock of God a priority!
How can a pastor ever expect them to fight the spiritual battles when they are famished? I don’t care how much education they have or how smart they are or that they have their doctorate of divinity, so they think they are smarter than everyone else… Saul likely saw himself and the most skilled, and most experience warrior, so everyone was just supposed to follow his lead. But we see his pride…
The reality is that the spiritual battle is raging all around us, and the only way we can have victory is to be sustained by the power of the word of God! Did you know that the Bible uses seven different food types to describe itself?
Milk - 1 Peter 2:2
As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
Bread - Matthew 4:4
But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
Apples - Proverbs 25:11
A word fitly spoken
Is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.
Corn - Psalm 78:24
And had rained down manna upon them to eat,
And had given them of the corn of heaven.
Strong Meat - Hebrews 5:12-14
For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
Water - Ephesians 5:26
That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
Honey - Psalm 19:9-10
The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever:
The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.
More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold:
Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.
It is a full and balanced diet! When God delivers things in sevens, it is because it is complete!
But, Jonathan did not hear his fathers oath, so he ate himself some honey, and look at what happened!
1 Sam. 14:27 “…wherefore he put forth the end of the rod that was in his hand, and dipped it in an honeycomb, and put his hand to his mouth; and his eyes were enlightened.”
Pleasant words are as an honeycomb,
Sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.
How sweet are thy words unto my taste!
Yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!
Open thou mine eyes,
That I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.
The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
So here are God’s people in a battle against the enemy, and Saul reasons like the world… You don’t need that, do it on your own… Have you ever been walking through the woods and had honey drop on the ground before you? That is the provision of God, remember what happened to Jonathan… Human reasoning says we cant’ have His word… Faith says pick it up and eat it! Human reasoning tells stories, faith preaching the word of God for the people to feast upon!
Honey gives you a boost of energy, it doesn’t spoil, it is sweet to the soul, and health to the bones… But Saul forbid the people to eat...
All of the Bible food groups are essential to the believer. Oh, but the honey is desert…
The full soul loatheth an honeycomb;
But to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.
Adoniram Judson “You are now drinking the bitter cup whose dregs I am somewhat acquainted with. And through for some time, you have been aware of its approach, I venture to say that it is far bitterer than you expected… I can assure you that months and months of heart rending anquish are before you… Yet take the bitter cup with both hands, and sit down to your repast. You will soon learn a secret, that there is sweetness at the bottom… “
There are some things that we face in life, a lot of things actually that are bitter to endure, but the honey of God’s word sweetens them! It is absolutely essential for the inner man! Don’t let anyone rob that from you! Enough processed foods, that are grown in a lab, where all the essential nutrience has been stolen away from you. Don’t rob it from yourself… Get into the book! Feast upon the spread that God has prepared for you in His word! Eat a balanced diet, and grow! Face the battles that are before you and see victory given through Him!