On the 23rd of August our regional fellowship group "Hetura" (which basically means friendship in the Motuan language of Central Province, PNG) from the local Madang town United Church Congregation was invited to have a combine Sunday service with the Madang Teachers College UC students.
On behalf of the group, I led the pulpit with this message which I would like to share with you all. I spent a good deal of time preparing this message however put it into bullet-point form to make the sermon short and sharp. I do not like to share a message holding a 6 page sermon in-front of people. I'd rather share from my heart what the spirit of God has inspired in me than read a full page of sermon written by someone else.
This is the sermon as I shared in bullet-point form. I wish to expand this later on to write a proper article sometime.
Sermon Theme: Anointing follows Humility & Obedience
Bible Reading:
· 1 Samuel 9:21-27 , 10:1-2
· Daniel 10:12
· 1 Peter 5:5-6
Humility is a very important character in God’s Kingdom. There are many lessons we can learn about humility from the great men and women of God in the Bible. One not so obvious example of humility we can learn from the Bible is the story of Saul and how he became King.
1st Bible Reading reference (1 Sam 9:21-27) (10:1-2)
· Reflect on the situation/background of Israel and their plea for a king in Chp. 8
· Highlight that in Chp.8 Samuel because of old age had appointed his sons as judges for Israel but they were corrupt. Thus Israel’s cry for a King. God was not pleased and told Samuel that they were in fact rejecting Him (God) as King.
· God heard their plea and told Samuel to give them a King. v22.
Chapter 9 – What are some of the lessons we can learn from Saul?
· V1-2. In the tribe of Benjamin there was an impressive young man without equal among the Israelites – a head taller than any of the others. (Now physically you can imagine how tall Saul must have been – he was taller than the average young men of his age)
· V3-4. Now the donkeys belonging to Saul’s father Kish were lost, and Kish said to his son Saul, “Take one of the servants with you and go and look for the donkeys”.
· Realize that in those days, donkeys and mules were an asset to a family. They were used for transportation and other work that supported the family. They could have been used for marketing goods, transporting food and water, etc. Now here we see that they lost their donkeys. They lost their property, in other words, they had lost a necessity that supported the family that is why Saul’s father sent him and a servant to look for them.
· V3-5. Remember that Saul was sent on a task/mission to find donkeys with the help of one of their servants. He looked and looked everywhere possible; as the Bible describes it they searched the whole district and even went on to a neighboring district (Shaalim) as far as covering the whole entire territory of Benjamin.
· Perhaps Saul could have hesitated when he was first sent. (although the Bible doesn’t say that but like many young men he would disobeyed his father)
· But we read earlier that Saul was an impressive young man meaning he was not only tall but was an obedient and humble young man. He was obedient to his father’s words to go and look for the donkeys.
· HOW MANY OF US ARE OBEDIENT TO OUR PARENTS TO THE POINT OF GOING A DISTANCE TO LOOK FOR SOMETHING THAT WILL BENEFIT THE FAMILY OR FEED THEM?
· HOW MANY OF YOU HAVE SACRIFICED TO COME HERE JUST SO YOU CAN HAVE A BETTER FUTURE FOR YOUR FAMILY, YOUR PARENTS?
· YOU AND I CANNOT BE OBEDIENT UNLESS WE HUMBLE OURSELVES.
· V5. In verse 5, we find that Saul was concerned about his parents (especially his father). He felt that they had gone too far and was concerned that his father will start to worry about them.
· HAVE YOU EVER THOUGHT ABOUT WHAT YOUR PARENTS MIGHT BE THINKING WHILE YOU ARE AWAY? They worry a lot about you because they care for you.
· In his search for the donkeys Saul realized that he might be going too far and started to have concern for his parents and how they might feel. Have you ever felt like Saul? As young people, we need to have concern for our parents.
· V6. This verse is a prophetic message to all young people. Listen to the advice of Saul’s servant. They have been looking and looking but cannot find where the donkeys are and the servant advices Saul to seek the counsel of the men of God.
· HOW MANY OF US HAVE BEEN LOOKING BUT WE CANNOT FIND WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR? WE NEED TO SEEK GOD & HE WILL HELP US AND POINT US IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
· V15. You see God had a plan for Saul but he never knew it. All he knew was that he was looking for donkeys! GOD HAS A PLAN FOR EACH ONE OF US AND WE MIGHT JUST NOT KNOW IT BUT HE DOES! YOU MAY BE LOOKING FOR DONKEYS BUT GOD HAS DESTINED YOU TO BE A KING! YOU’RE ON YOUR WAY MY BROTHER AND SISTER. GOD HAS DESTINED YOU FOR GREATNESS! It doesn’t matter what you are doing now, when God’s calling comes upon your life you better HUMBLE YOURSELF & OBEY.
· Of course Saul was doubtful about God’s calling upon his life in V21 when he told Samuel I am from the smallest of the tribes and the least in the entire clan. Why do you say this to me? Can anything good come out of the smallest tribe and the least known family in the entire clan?? YES, A KING!!! The Bible says that God lifts up the meek and lowly; the humble in spirit.
· OUT OF THE LOWEST PLACES ON EARTH IN A FEEDING MANGER FOR THE COWS WAS OUR KING BORN!! HOW MUCH MORE BETTER CAN IT GET!
· Conclude with Daniel 10:12 and 1 Peter 5:5-6
· When we set our minds to gain understanding and to humble ourselves before the Lord He hears us and will respond to us. Daniel 10:12
· Therefore, let us listen to His words in 1 Peter 5:5-6 “Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.’
Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.
AMEN!
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