Mistaken in our approach to Christ

Sermon notes from Sunday morning 15 June 2014

1 Samuel 4 verses 1 – 11

This was I suppose for Israel a tremendously dark day for them and it was going to get darker as the hours rolled by.  The battle with the Philistines intensified moment by moment so much so that Israel met with defeat at their hands.  There were certain mistakes Israel made in going out against the Philistine army.  In the same sense we make the same mistakes when we approach the gospel of Christ.  “And the word of Samuel came to all Israel. Now Israel went out against the Philistines to battle …”  Most commentators agree that this first phrase is tied in with the chapter before.  Was it because of Samuel’s word they were defeated – no it is because they wouldn’t listen to God’s word.

Here was a nation mistaken by their own abilities.  No doubt the Philistines came against Israel.  They invaded the land and Israel stood up for themselves.  They went out to meet the enemy with their own ability.  I’m sure they had their own battle plans, a strategy worked out together.  Soldiers to the forefront and to the rear.  It was something similar to Gideon when called out to deliver Israel.  The men following after him amounted to 32,000.  Could see this volume of people coming after him, thought it was very good then God stepped in and said “there are too many, don’t want them to be able to say it was us that won the battle.”  The gift of God is salvation through grace applied by faith “not of works less any man should boast.”  Gideon’s army was reduced to 300.  Many sitting in gospel services are depending upon their own ability to get them into heaven.  They feel content in their own strength.  The Israelites thought they could do battle against the Philistines but how wrong they were.  Remember the battle of Jericho.  Jericho was a city with great walls, guarded and protected.  Joshua came with the arm of Israel and without a shot being fired the walls ell flat and they went in to take the city for themselves.  The nation of Israel began to think how they did it in their own strength.  How they took that city by themselves.  Ai was only a little city.  The people said to Joshua “there is no point in sending up a whole army, let a few go up and take the city.”  Never for one moment did they seek after God of heaven.  They suffered a tremendous loss as a result.  They depended on their own ability and lost the battle that day.  There is a greater loss in that soul of yours.  Jesus said “fear not them which kill the body but are not able to kill the soul but rather ear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell” Matthew 10 verse 28.  Maybe you are trusting in your own ability to make your way to heaven.  Whenever Jesus spoke to those knocking on heaven’s door they were just too late, they had received every opportunity but spurned them time and time again.  The voice of heaven came from within.  “Why should I open this door and let you in?”  I’m sure there are good men standing at that door.  “We should be in heaven because we have preached in your name, have done so many good deeds in your name.”  The answer comes back from the Lord “I never knew you.” (Matthew 7 verse 22)  It is possible to be a good preacher, to eat and drink at the Lord’s table yet not be saved.  The most important thing is to face the fact that you are not saved.  You have not been saved by God’s mercy.  You are not on your way to heaven and home.  Am I trying in my own ability to get to heaven?

Here was a nation mistaken by their own argument.  “When the people were come into the camp, the elders of Israel said, Wherefore hath the Lord smitten us to day.”  In other words “why did the Lord allow this to happen, allow this defeat to come to Israel.”  Why? Because they did not seek God.  The argument was now finished and they said “Let us fetch the ark of the covenant of the Lord out of Shiloh unto us, that, when it cometh among us, it may save us out of the hand of our enemies.”  They were content with the symbol of God’s presence rather than the presence of God himself.  Isaiah speaking on the same thing said “Seek ye the LORD while He may be found, call to Him while He is near.” (Isaiah 55 verse 6)  He may not always be near but he can be found because he is near.  He has promised to be in such a place as this – where men and women are gathered together in His name. (Matthew 18 verse 20)  That is a promise from God himself.  The people felt that if they had the ark of the covenant with them everything would be alright.  They were looking for the symbol only.  Remember when the children of Israel were bitten by the snakes in the camp?  The Lord told them to take a brazen serpent and lift it up.  When anyone looked to it they would be healed.  Similarly when people look to Christ as their own and personal Saviour can be saved.  Many today though would rather have the symbols than the person.  Are you going for the symbol that cannot save?  “Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11 verse 28)

Here was a nation mistaken by their action.  They went up to the house of the Lord, in to the holy place and the ark of the covenant was taken out and brought to the camp.  They thought it would deliver them.  In Joshua 7 we read of the defeat of Ai, that little city the people thought would be defeated easily.  Joshua after that defeat had to get before the ark of covenant and cry out to the God of heaven.  God came to him and told him to get up as there was sin in the camp that had to be dealt with.  Here were a people mistaken in their action.  They should have repented of their actions, come back to covenant relationship with God.  You must come to repentance and faith in the Lord.  Have you begun that journey?  Was there a moment you repented of your sin, you came and fell before the Lord, took him as Saviour and Lord?  “If any man be in Christ he is a new creature.” (1 Corinthians 5 verse 17)  Here was a people mistaken in their action.  They blamed God.  They never repented.  In verse 5 we read they shouted before God.  They had confidence in their own ability.  Their whole faith was placed on the ark of the covenant.  How much do you put faith in symbolism? Many parents put their faith in the ritual of baptism, communion just to get them into heaven.  Many people have sat at the Lord’s communion table and believe that that is their salvation.  How mistaken they are.  The apostle Paul clung to his religion “concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.” (Philippians 3 verse 6)  It however never opened heaven’s door to him.

Here was a nation mistaken about their authority.  The people felt that once the ark of the covenant was before them they had authority to do what they wanted.  There were people in Peter and John’s day who questioned the healing of the lame man in Acts 3.  Peter pointed them to Christ who had made the man walk again.  Christ is the only name that can take away your sins and open heaven’s door.  Authority is not in a church.  “There is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” (Acts 4 verse 12)  One day “every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2 verse 11)  We have nothing to offer Christ but can only trust him entirely.

Here was a nation mistaken in their answer.  The people of Israel felt that if the ark of the covenant was taken into battle with them it would deliver them.  30,000 men died that day because of that one mistake.  Wouldn’t it be awful to make that same mistake?  To think that you are on your way to heaven and home only to hear the awful words “I never knew you”.  Will you come to Christ, trust him as your Saviour and Lord or will you make the same mistakes Israel made facing the enemy before them so long ago?  We have an enemy right now before us – Satan himself and one day there will be an even greater enemy – death itself.