1 Samuel 13:15-14:52; Leader or Lord

Introduction

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On May 13, 1931 Jimmy was born in the small town of Crete Indiana. His mother said that as a young boy, Jimmy didn’t want to play the regular childhood games. He wanted to play preacher with his friends and neighborhood kids.

During the 50’s and 60’s, Jimmy became a popular preacher. He began to preach against segregation and the equality of all people. His popularity caused him to leave Indiana and move to California. He wanted to bring the Bible’s message of equality to a larger audience.

Due to his powerful preaching, unique personality, and controversy surrounding him after a local journalist ran a story of Jim’s former members, Jim decided it would be best for his ministry to move once again. This time, Jim would take his devoted followers not just out of the state, but out of the country. Jim Jones would move his People’s Temple to Jonestown in Guyana.

After hearing of drug use, forced labor, poor living conditions, and practices for mass suicide, California Congressman Leo Ryan visited Jonestown. The majority of the people put on a facade. But there were some members that went with Congressman Ryan to the airstrip. As their plane was on the runway, the tractor that transported the members of Jonestown blocked the airplane. The armed guards at Jonestown killed Congressman Ryan and shot others.

After the murder of the Congressman, Jim Jones gathered the people of Jonestown. 900 men, women, and children either took or were forced to take the poisoned koolaid. This man was once a charismatic leader that wanted to preach equality. He became a man so full of himself that he began to call himself God. He even had his followers call him God. This is how a man could go from being a leader to making himself Lord.

Need:

We need to know our place. We are called to be leaders. We lead others to the Lord but we are not the Lord!

Topic:

Leadership

Referent:

1 Samuel 13:15-14:52

Organization:

Read 1 Samuel 14:1-7 then we will pray.

Leader

Lord

Sermon in a sentence:

I will be a leader not the Lord.

Jonathan the Leader (13:15-14:23)

13:22 - Jonathan and his father are the only two that have real military weapons.

14:2 - Jonathan doesn’t wait around under some shade, he goes out to fight against God’s enemies.

14:6, 10, 12 - Jonathan does not want the glory! He knows it is God that wins battles.

14:7 - Jonathan’s bravery encouraged his armor bearer to go with him heart and soul. (1 Sam 18:1)

Jonathan lead his shield bearer to move by faith in God. He showed the armor bearer how God can bless the obedience of just two men! (1 Sam 14:23)

Men, we must be leaders. Strong masculine leaders ready to take on the changes of this world. We should also recognize that we can’t fight alone! First, we need the power of God. We have the 2nd person of the Trinity in us!

We should be leading others into greater faithfulness and greater workers that the Lord Jesus has prepared for us.

Saul was content to not seek the wisdom of the Lord as long as things were ok for him. Do you ever neglect to pray about something because you know God will answer you? Should I reconcile with that person? Should I share the gospel with my neighbor. Should I invite that person to church?

Saul the Lord (14:24-52)

v. 24 - Saul lays an oath on the people and curses them if they eat from the land that God himself had given to the people. (Genesis 2:15-16)

Saul wanted his enemies killed even if it killed his soldiers.

v. 25 - God provides his people with a land flowing with honey. It also is like the manna that was on the face of the land. It tasted like honey. Exodus 16:31.

vs. 31-34 - The people were so faint because of Saul’s curse. He then rightfully is concerned about their sin and build his first alter to the Lord. (What about an alter after Nahash? Or Jonathan’s first victory?)

Jonathan’s action led to God’s glory and God’s blessings for his people. Saul put himself in the position of the LORD. This made God’s people fall into sin instead of lead them to holiness.

We are not God! Anytime we put ourselves in that position, we will lead ourselves and others into sin. We are going to put a weight on others that they simply should not and cannot bear!

vs. 36-46 - Saul finally seeks God’s will. He is so concerned about his victory that he is willing to destroy his men and even his own son! It’s crazy that Saul was worried about the animals but not is own son.

vs. 47-52 - We see the dynasty of Saul. These characters are going to pop up in the rest of the book. But we also see Saul’s desire to attach himself to strong and valiant men. Its like he wants to be around those that can bring him glory. This is also going to set the stage for the next warrior- king: David.

Application

How will you lead and how will you follow?

Conclusion

As humans, we are never truly alone. We are all influenced by those before us, around us, and we influence those after us. Jim Jones was no exception. There was a man that was instrumental in Jones’ rise to fame. William Branham.