Sermon
What the “H” is going on?
1 Samuel 16:1-13
1Now the LORD said to Samuel, “How long will you grieve over Saul, since I have rejected him from being king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and go; I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have selected a king for Myself among his sons.” 2But Samuel said, “How can I go? When Saul hears of it, he will kill me.” And the LORD said, “Take a heifer with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the LORD.’ 3“You shall invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do; and you shall anoint for Me the one whom I designate to you.” 4So Samuel did what the LORD said, and came to Bethlehem. And the elders of the city came trembling to meet him and said, “Do you come in peace?” 5He said, “In peace; I have come to sacrifice to the LORD. Consecrate yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice.” He also consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.
6When they entered, he looked at Eliab and thought, “Surely the LORD’S anointed is before Him.” 7But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” 8Then Jesse called Abinadab and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, “The LORD has not chosen this one either.” 9Next Jesse made Shammah pass by. And he said, “The LORD has not chosen this one either.” 10Thus Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel. But Samuel said to Jesse, “The LORD has not chosen these.” 11And Samuel said to Jesse, “Are these all the children?” And he said, “There remains yet the youngest, and behold, he is tending the sheep.” Then Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and bring him; for we will not sit down until he comes here.”
12So he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, with beautiful eyes and a handsome appearance. And the LORD said, “Arise, anoint him; for this is he.” 13Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon David from that day forward. And Samuel arose and went to Ramah.
Samuel had a hard task—He needed God’s HELP. When we do not think it is possible, God intervenes with an idea or a person, etc. to show us the way. Samuel as God’s prophet had to obey God in anointing another besides Saul to be king of Israel. Samuel knew this was a dangerous task since if King Saul found out, he would send out the order to kill Samuel. Samuel’s help came as he listened to God (maybe not audibly-but in his spirit) Who told Samuel to take a sacrifice with him to Jesse’s town-Bethlehem, and ask all (especially Jesse and his family) to join him in sacrifice to God. Within this context Samuel then could anoint the chosen one as the new king without too much suspicion. (This turned out to be David-who was not even the second or third choice, but not even the last choice according to his father Jesse, since David was still tending sheep while his 7 brothers were brought before Samuel). David was not even thought good enough to come in with the rest of the family! Yet this is who God chose to become the next king! You may be the outcast as David seemed to be, yet you may be the one called to bring the next great revival or the healing to someone who is “incurable.” Have faith in what God can do—not in the skills you presently have. Notice David did not become king for quite some time. Many years in fact. Also he was a wanted man—a man with a price on his head, and Saul would gladly have killed if God wasa not on David’s side. David had much to learn about leadership, hardship, responsibility, and also how to take constructive criticism from those closest to him.
Head—Samuel thought that Eliab (God is father) was the ONE. He matched the description of a wealthy, successful person. He was tall, good-looking, a Saul-like individual. Someone you (literally) had to look up to. Yet God said this is not the one. Sometimes our head gets in the way when God is speaking to us. My ways are not your ways nor my thoughts your thoughts.(Is. 55:8) [all of Is. 55 is good]
Prov 14:12 There is a way that seems right to a man,
But its end is the way of death. NKJV
HEART—people look at outward appearance, “but the Lord looks at the heart.”(Sam 16:7) They may say, “Look at that person, they must be somebody special,” because of the car they drive, the clothes they wear, or the house they live in. (Live in-not own-they are probably too far in debt trying to make payments on it!). OR we may look at someone and say that person is a nobody, because they lack the things of the world that others deem valuable. (What are some things that people see as valuable?) What are the things God says are valuable?
Looks can be deceiving, as in the case of Eliab. Samuel went through all seven sons brought before him-his choices were used up! Until he asked, “Is there another?” And along comes David. We may think we know the right way to go or that our way is best. But Then when God says no to us, we keep on going to the next thing and the next and the next. Until we run out of choices, or we run out of money, we run out of health, run out of people to turn to- or go through. Why? Because we keep going our own way, still thinking we have the answer.
But then, we ask, “Is there another way, another place to go, another choice I must make?” And God appears to us and gives us the answer. We may think we have followed God in all things, like Samuel the prophet, the seer, the man of God. Yet we run into a dead end with nothing to do, no where to go and no resources, no people, no relationships. God says there is another…another way, another person, another job, etc. Here comes our “David”-a new job, a new friend, a new situation. And we receive HOPE.
HOPE—When you believe in something positive, it gives you a new outlook on life. Romans 5:1-5
Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. NKJV (Putting your hope in something positive does give you a new outlook, but only true HOPE in Christ Jesus brings eternal reward and salvation.)
This hope is not just wishful thinking like we sometimes think. It is not I hope this or that happens and cross my fingers and if I am lucky something, good will happen. But it is a knowing in your heart, in your spirit that you have found the right way. This comes when you have sought God with all your heart and soul, and mind and strength. James 4:7-10 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up. NKJV
The hope that I am talking about comes from God himself. It comes when we “get serious” with the Lord and humble ourselves before Him. It comes from spending time with Him and getting your direction from Him. This hope comes when the TV goes off, the family is in bed, on a sabbatical from work (whatever it takes) and you are alone with God. I have been there and can say sometimes I have failed, but I keep seeking again the will of God in my life. He does answer when we seek Him with all our heart, soul, mind and spirit (all that is in us). When you do this, then you will find hope and purpose for your life. The world wants to tell you that you are only an accident, a product of random chance, that we came from a mindless evolutionary process with no meaning. God says He knows you and he saw you and formed you when you were in your mother’s womb. (Ps 139:13-18 13 For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb. 14 I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well. 15 My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. 16 Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them.
17 How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them! 18 If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand; When I awake, I am still with You. NKJV
HEALTH—If you have hope and purpose, you will have a sense of belonging (you will feel a part of something bigger than yourself) and you will feel that sense of purpose. You will become strengthened in mind and body. I have seen people with no purpose in life wither away! But if they become involved in a cause, or find a job or a new job, something bigger than they are, they come alive! They begin to take their focus off themselves and put it toward other things. They begin to flourish. Health is not just physical, but spiritual, mental, emotional as well. As you put you mind and energy toward God and to worthy causes you will find yourself becoming more and more refreshed and revitalized. You will want to take better care of yourself physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. If you have not already, you may ask Jesus Christ into your heart and life right now, ask for forgiveness of sins and for him to be the Lord and Savior of your life. You are now on a path to become holy, set apart from sin and set apart to God for His purpose.
HOLY—IF you love someone you want to please them. The opposite of love is indifference (not caring, not having any interest)! God tells us to be holy as he is holy. Obedience is better than sacrifice. God says if we love Him we will keep his commands. Love Him, serve Him and others, and keep ourselves pure and spotless from the world. Again, holy means to be pure, set apart to do the will of our heavenly Father. We will not be indifferent, but we will care about the things of God and want to please Him and put God FIRST in our lives.
1 John 3:1-3 Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. 2 Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. 3 And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure. NKJV So, it is NOT God’s job to purify us. Yes, He forgives us and washes us from sin when we ask Him into our lives to save us from a life without Him in eternity. But we must keep ourselves clean and pure. As babies our parents bathed us and fed us and took care of us and taught us to do those things on our own until we grew up and could take care of ourselves. God also will clean us up when we fall, He will help us when we make bad choices, but as we mature in Him, we must learn to be responsible for our actions and purify ourselves. We turn from sin, we walk (or run) from that temptation that will get us dirty after Christ has washed us. We can now be truly blessed: happy, full of joy, favored by God.
HAPPY—Blessed. Happiness is a state of being, not just an emotion. When we are saved and know Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord of our lives, we are favored by God. We have His blessing upon our lives and we then see new meaning and restoration come to our lives. Psalm 1 tells us, blessed is the one who delights in the Lord, and meditates on His word, and everything s/he does shall prosper.
Yet if one does not know God nor His salvation through Christ that one will perish (Psalm 1:6). That person will spend eternity without God. This is . . .→
HELL—if we do not have God then the alternative is eternity without Him. John 3:14-21. 14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
18 “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. 21 But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.”
Rev. 21:8 “…But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”
I do not want any to go to Hell, and neither does God. …
2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief.
GNKJV Jn 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. NKJV od wants us to be with Him in Heaven
HEAVEN—again Jesus said the He is the way, the Truth and the Life. That He came that we may have life and have it abundantly.
Rev 21:1-7 Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. 2 Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. 4 And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”
5 Then He who sat on the throne said,”Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.”
6 And He said to me,”It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. 7 He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. …” NKJV
Let us make sure of our salvation. I want all to be going to Heaven!
HOW shall I obtain this new life? How can I know I am forgiven and going to Heaven? How can I know Jesus as my Savior and Lord of my life?
If you want to make Jesus the Lord and Savior of your life. I am including a prayer to help you as you begin your new life in Christ.
Dear God, I know that I am a sinner and I ask for your forgiveness. I believe Jesus died for my sins and I now accept your offer of eternal life in Christ. I will follow Jesus as my Savior and try to obey Him in all that I do as I am led by your Holy Spirit Who now lives within me. Cleanse me from sin and help me as I walk this new life in You. Thank you for my new life. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
HOSANNA!!!!!!! And HALLELUJAH!!!!!!!
If you have prayed this prayer, I believe you have been born again and on your way to an exciting new life with Jesus. It may not always be easy and in some ways and areas downright hard. But don’t give up! Get into a Bible believing church and grow in God’s grace, love and mercy. God inhabits the praises of His people. (Habitate another “H” word!) Start attending and join a church this Sunday and fellowship with other believers who will help you grow in your faith. God bless you in your walk with Him!
Frank Nemec