Are you a Zebulun?

Of Zebulun, such as went forth to battle, expert in war, with all instruments of war, fifty thousand, which could keep rank: they were not of double heart.

INTRODUCTION

Well Good Morning Stigler First!! It is always a honor to come and be in service with you guys. Thank you for taking care of my Son and his family like you do!

And if you see a unusual glow around Connie today, well she is a grandmother again. Leslie and Michael have their second and last baby. His name is Conner

Show the picture of Conner

This morning I want to try to get your attention focus on the new vision that Pastor Jason has brought forth to you Connect,grow and serve.

Say this with me: Connect, Grow and Serve.

I believe that these are stepping stones to which we must do to be walking with God.

Connect, Grow and Serve are stepping stones to which we must do to be walking with God.

All professing Christians will agree in theory at least that it is our duty, those of us that bear the name of Jesus Christ to bring honor and glory to Christ in this world.

But how to do this and what God requires of us, there are so many difference opinions.

You see, many believe honoring Christ is simply joining a church, and take part in supporting all the church activities.

We would think of that as Connect, and it is very important to get involved.

But others think that just speaking to other about Christ basically witnessing to other about Christ. So just because they did some personal works than that enough.

Many think that because that give financially to the church that is all they need to do and they have done their part.

And I would say that is all good and that would fit into the grow part, that as you start growing in Christ then you start honoring Christ about witnessing, giving to God faithfully but as I said early Connect and grow are stepping stones to walking with God.

Few realize that Christ is honor as we live a holy life and we do that by walking in His revealed will.

But Samuel replied, "What is more pleasing to the LORD: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to His voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams.

As Christians, we must fully surrendered to and receive Christ Jesus as Lord.

And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow Him.

Let your roots grow down into Him, and let your lives be built on Him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.

I want you to understand that today many are being deceived by Satan and have not fully turn their life over to Christ, their hearts have not changed and they are comfortable in their life and their roots are not going down into Him.

They have not built their life on Him, and their faith is not able to grow because they are not receiving the whole truth.

Salvation is far from the wicked: for they seek not thy statutes.

Do you seek His statutes, His statutes is His Word. Do you diligently search His Word to find His commands?

If someone claims, "I know God," but doesn't obey God's commandments, that person is a liar and is not living in the truth.

But those who obey God's word truly show how completely they love Him. That is how we know we are living in Him.

Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did.

Now I want you to hold that thought as Jesus did> I am going to come back to that.

Nothing could be more plainer than this:

"So why do you keep calling Me 'Lord, Lord!' when you don't do what I say?

You see, Obedience to the Lord is not just to be glowing words from the lips but it is what Christ requires.

But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

There’s many hearers today, there’s regular hearers, reverent hearers, interested hearers, but what they hear is not incorporated in their life than they are just mere hearers of the Word of God and not doers.

Which James said they are just deceiving themselves.

Now if you will go back with me

But those who obey God's word truly show how completely they love Him. That is how we know we are living in Him.

Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did.

Now if we look really close into these scriptures then we will understand what God’s Word is telling each one of us.

If you obey God’s word then you are demonstrating your love for God, and you are living the life that He desire for you to live. And that life is one that lives like Jesus did.

How did Jesus lived?

For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give His life as a ransom for many.

Now let’s get to my text this morning:

Of Zebulun, such as went forth to battle, expert in war, with all instruments of war, fifty thousand, which could keep rank: they were not of double heart.

The men of the tribe of Zebulun were servant. We hear of them in book of Judges chapter 5.

Zebulun and Naphtali were a people that jeoparded their lives unto the death in the high places of the field.

Here in Judges chapter 5 this is where Deborah is celebrating in a song because of Israel’s victory over Jabin and Sisera and she is recounting the part that was taken by each tribe.

And Deborah said that Zebulun was people that jeoparded their lives unto death in the heat of the battle.

I believe that as we look at this tribe, Zebulun that you can find characteristics of a servant of God.

Which is what Jesus came to this earth to be and expected His followers to be the same.

Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:

But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

Phip 2:8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

Let this be your thoughts which was Jesus, look at verse 7— Jesus took upon him the form of a servant and be fashion as man.

What did Jesus do? He became obedient unto death. He was willing to die and He did.

One of the characteristics of a servant is obedient unto death.

The word of obedient means that Jesus was willing, He was not being force.

No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.

A servant of God is willing to die out to self.

Second characteristics of a servant is not of double heart.

Of Zebulun, such as went forth to battle, expert in war, with all instruments of war, fifty thousand, which could keep rank: they were not of double heart.

Whose warriors were not of a double heart.

But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.

For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.

A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

Now if we look closely at this in verse 2 thru 5 it is dealing with keep our joy even when temptation comes our way, and to have patience to work your way thru.

But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

In other words have faith and don’t turn back, don’t sit down, don’t give up. Stay loyal.

Third characteristics of a servant is they keep ranks.

Zebulon were so completely committed to their king they could keep ranks, what I mean by that is they stayed tight in their formations even under the heat of battle.

Their single devotion to their king made them able to stay together as a single unit.

Too many like to break the ranks today, 50 people who act together will do a lot better than 500 acting apart.

Unity is strength and in our effort to overthrow the kingdom of darkness it is so important that the soldiers of Christ move in rank and keep step.

I want to close with this: Do you know what portion of inheritance that Zebulun got:

The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles;

The tribe of Zebulun in the New Testament are known as the Galileans.

Did you know that out of the 12 disciples, that 11 of them were Galileans. The only one that was not was Judas.

And did you know that Galilee was a haven of ships. Galilee was a place that provide a refuge, a harbor, a place where the storm tossed ships could anchor for rest.

The land of the servant is a place were people who are messed up can come and find rest.

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.