1 Samuel 2:27-33

Message #2 in the “Honor Series,” February 26, 2012

Rev. Jeremy Stopford, Retired Pastor,

TODAY’S “SPECIAL: “Car keys, a senior moment”

Several days ago as I left a meeting at our church, I desperately gave myself a personal TSA pat down. I was looking for my keys. They were not in my pockets. A quick search in the meeting room revealed nothing. Suddenly I realized, I must have left them in the car.

Frantically I headed for the parking lot. My wife, Diane, has scolded me many times for leaving the keys in the ignition. My theory is the ignition is the best place not to lose them. Her theory is that the car will be stolen. As I burst through the doors of the church, I came to a terrifying conclusion. Her theory was right. The parking lot was empty. I immediately called the police. I gave them my location, confessed that I had left my keys in the car, and that it had been stolen.

Then I made the most difficult call of all, “Honey,” I stammered. I always call her “honey” in times like these. “I left my keys in the car, and it has been stolen.”

There was a period of silence. I thought the call had been dropped, but then I heard Diane’s voice, “Ken,” she barked, “I dropped you off!”

Now it was my time to be silent. Embarrassed, I said, “Well, come and get me.”

Diane retorted, “I will, as soon as I convince this policeman I have not stolen your car!”

INTRODUCTION

Today’s message is an appropriate follow-up to last Sunday’s message on “HONORING God”. Last week we learned that God wants to be honored at every age – especially as we grow older and seemingly more frail. We learned that God wants to be honored in our daily lives and our worship.

In reading through the Old Testament this past week – at a clip of 30 chapters a day in order to get done a college class before we go to Florida next month- I was amazed at a couple of verses which fit in with the second part of the verse. “Those who despise Me” – or “dishonor” God. Is it possible for we who love God to dishonor Him? God invites us to a spiritual self-examination. PRAYER

27 Then a man of God came to Eli and said to him, “Thus says the Lord: ‘Did I not clearly reveal Myself to the house of your father when they were in Egypt in Pharaoh’s house? 28 Did I not choose him out of all the tribes of Israel to be My priest, to offer upon My altar, to burn incense, and to wear an ephod before Me? And did I not give to the house of your father all the offerings of the children of Israel made by fire? 29 Why do you kick at My sacrifice and My offering which I have commanded in My dwelling place, and honor your sons more than Me, to make yourselves fat with the best of all the offerings of Israel My people?’ 30 Therefore the Lord God of Israel says: ‘I said indeed that your house and the house of your father would walk before Me forever.’ But now the Lord says: ‘Far be it from Me; for those who honor Me I will honor, and THOSE WHO DESPITE ME SHALL BE LIGHTLY ESTEEMED 31 Behold, the days are coming that I will cut off your arm and the arm of your father’s house, so that there will not be an old man in your house. 32 And you will see an enemy in My dwelling place, despite all the good which God does for Israel. And there shall not be an old man in your house forever. 33 But any of your men whom I do not cut off from My altar shall consume your eyes and grieve your heart. And all the descendants of your house shall die in the flower of their age. (1 Samuel 2:27-33)

I. THE WORLD’S CULTURE – reaping what you sow

DID YOU KNOW THESE FACTS? Death is certain but the Bible speaks about untimely death! It is written. “Be not deceived; God is not mocked for whatsoever a man sow, that shall

he also reap..” (Galatians 6:7)

Here are some men and women who mocked God (from an email received February 2012):

(1) John Lennon—During his interview with an American magazine, he said: ‘Christianity will end, it will disappear. I do not have to argue about that… I am certain. Jesus was ok, but his subjects were too simple, today we are more famous than Him’ (1966). Lennon, after saying that the Beatles were more famous than Jesus Christ, was shot six times.

(2) The man who built the Titanic—After the construction of Titanic, a reporter asked him how safe the Titanic would be. With an ironic tone he said:’Not even God can sink it’ The result: I think you all know what happened to the Titanic

(3) Marilyn Monroe (Actress)—She was visited by Billy Graham during a presentation of a show. He said the Spirit of God had sent him to preach to her. After hearing what the Preacher had to say, she said: ‘I don’t need your Jesus’. A week later, she was found dead in her apartment.

(4) Bon Scott (Singer)—The ex-vocalist of the AC/DC. On one of his 1979 songs he sang:

‘Don’t stop me; I’m going down all the way, down the highway to hell’. On the 19th of February 1980, Bon Scott was found dead, he had been choked by his own vomit.

(5) Campinas (in 2005)—In Campinas, Brazil, a group of friends, drunk, went to pick up a friend… The mother accompanied her to the car and was so worried about the drunkenness of her friends she said to the daughter who was already seated in the car, “My Daughter, Go With God And May He Protect You.” She responded: “Only If He (God) Travels In The Trunk, Cause Inside Here…..It’s Already Full.” Hours later, news came that they had been involved in a fatal accident, everyone had died. The car could not be recognized what type of car it had been, but surprisingly, the trunk was intact. The police said there was no way the trunk could have remained intact. To their surprise, inside the trunk was a crate of eggs, none was broken.

(6) Christine Hewitt (Jamaican Journalist and entertainer) —She said the Bible (Word of God) was the worst book ever written. In June 2006 she was found burnt beyond recognition in her motor vehicle.

2. THE CHRISTIAN’S CHALLENGE

The Bible gives us several glances at those who struggled with this question: “in this incidence, will I honor or dishonor God?”:

The challenge of PRIDE

“But when he [Uzziah the King of Judah] was strong HIS HEART WAS LIFTED UP, to his destruction, for he transgressed against the Lord his God by entering the temple of the Lord to burn incense on the altar of incense. 17So Azariah the priest went in after him, and with him were eighty priests of the Lord—valiant men. 18And they withstood King Uzziah, and said to him, “It is not for you, Uzziah, to burn incense to the Lord, but for the priests, the sons of Aaron, who are consecrated to burn incense. Get out of the sanctuary, for you have trespassed! You shall have no honor from the Lord God.” 19 Then Uzziah became furious; and he had a censer in his hand to burn incense. And while he was angry with the priests, leprosy broke out on his forehead, before the priests in the house of the Lord, beside the incense altar. 20And Azariah the chief priest and all the priests looked at him, and there, on his forehead, he was leprous; so they thrust him out of that place. Indeed he also hurried to get out, because the Lord had struck him. 21 King Uzziah was a leper until the day of his death” (2 Chron. 26:16-21a).

What can happen when being in the forefront is more important than being honoring to God?

The challenge of OBEDIENCE

“Now the Lord said to Moses: “Go up into this Mount Abarim, and see the land which I have given to the children of Israel. 13And when you have seen it, you also shall [a]be gathered to your people, as Aaron your brother was gathered. 14For in the Wilderness of Zin, during the strife of the congregation, you rebelled against My command to hallow Me at the waters before their eyes” (Num. 27:12-13).

Notice the progression:

Ex. 17:6: “STRIKE the rock”

Num. 20:8: “SPEAK to the rock”

1 Cor. 10:4-6: CHRIST is the ROCK !!!

Most theologians believe that “striking the rock” represents the crucifying of our Savior. The second time the Israelites needed water, they were told by God “SPEAK” to the rock because Jesus was already crucified, as it were, and He did not need to be crucified again! “SPEAK”ing is a symbol of rich fellowship, not of crucifixion. Moses and Aaron did not get it.

We want to finish well; Moses did not.

The challenge to TRUST & REMEMBER

“They refused to obey, and they were not mindful of Your wonders that You did among them. But they hardened their necks, And in their rebellion, they appointed a leader to return to their bondage” (Nehemiah 9:17a).

We need to ask ourselves constantly, “are we better off now than when we were before we came to the cross?” See 1 Cor. 6:9-11 – do you want to return to “Egypt”?

CONCLUSION: How NOT to DISHONOR God

Remember HIS Word:

“For all those things My hand has made,

And all those things exist,”

Says the Lord.

But on this one will I look:

On him who is poor and of a contrite spirit,

And who trembles at My word.”

(Isaiah 66:2)

Remember HIS Name:

“Let Your name be kept holy”

(Luke 11:2, God’s Word version)

Remember HIS purpose, His delight:

“that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory.”

(Ephesians 1:12)

“So Haman came in, and the king asked him, ‘What shall be done for the man whom the king delights to honor?’ Now Haman thought in his heart, ‘Whom would the king delight to honor more than ME?’”

(Esther 6:6)

CLOSE IN PRAYER

“HONOR” SERIES, Message #1

Originally preached February 12, 2012

Rev. Jeremy Stopford, Retired Pastor

Today’s “Special”: “Ethel“

An elderly man lay in a hospital, with his wife of 55 years sitting at his bedside. “Is that you, Ethel, at my side again?” he whispered.

“Yes, dear,” she answered.

He softly said to her, “Remember years ago when I was in the Veteran’s Hospital? You were with me then. You were with me when we lost everything in a fire. And Ethel, when we were poor—you stuck with me then too.” The man sighed and said, “I tell you, Ethel, you are bad luck!”

INTRODUCTION

Today’s passage has a 5 letter word that we may use a lot, but may be surprised that it’s original intent, it’s highest purpose, is to be used in reference to God.

To “honor” means to give the highest respect. We call judges, “Your Honor” as a means of respect. To place high. To give the place that only they deserve. To honor.

Israel needed to learn what it means. We need to learn how to apply it to our lives.

PRAYER

I Samuel 2:27: Then a man of God came to Eli and said to him, “Thus says the Lord: ‘Did I not clearly reveal Myself to the house of your father when they were in Egypt in Pharaoh’s house? 28 Did I not choose him out of all the tribes of Israel to be My priest, to offer upon My altar, to burn incense, and to wear an ephod before Me? And did I not give to the house of your father all the offerings of the children of Israel made by fire? 29 Why do you kick at My sacrifice and My offering which I have commanded in My dwelling place, and HONOR your sons more than Me, to make yourselves fat with the best of all the offerings of Israel My people?’ 30 Therefore the Lord God of Israel says: ‘I said indeed that your house and the house of your father would walk before Me forever.’ But now the Lord says: ‘Far be it from Me; for those who HONOR Me I will HONOR, and those who despise Me shall be lightly esteemed. 31 Behold, the days are coming that I will cut off your arm and the arm of your father’s house, so that there will not be an old man in your house. 32 And you will see an enemy in My dwelling place, despite all the good which God does for Israel. And there shall not be an old man in your house forever. 33 But any of your men whom I do not cut off from My altar shall consume your eyes and grieve your heart. And all the descendants of your house shall die in the flower of their age” (1 Samuel 2:27-33).

IT’S A FAMILY THING

a. The encouraged heritage of Aaron, vs. 27,28

b. The disgraced heritage of Eli, vs. 29-31a

c. The potential to age “gracefully”, vs. 31b-33

Gen. 21:7: “(Sarah) borne him a son in his old age.”

Gen. 24:1: “(Abraham)..old, well advanced in age, the Lord had blessed Abe)… in all things”

Gen. 25:8: “(Abe) breathed his last and died in a good old age, full of years…”

Gen. 37:3: “Israel loved Joseph…because he was the son of his old age.”

2 Sam. 19:32: “Barzillai…aged man, eighty years old, he had provided the king with supplies.”

1 Kings 15:23: “Asa…in the time of his old age he was diseased in his feet.”

Ps. 92:13,14: “Those who are planted in the house of the Lord…shall still bear fruit in old age…”

How about us?

II. IT’S AN HONOR THING, vs. 29-30

1. Who did Eli honor more than God? His sons!
2. Who will God honor if we honor Him? Us!

c. How does God like to be honored?

* By honoring our parents (Ex. 20:12)

• By honoring the presence of the gray headed (Lev. 19:32)
• By honoring God with our possessions and our increase (Prov. 3:9,10)
• By exalting wisdom (Prov. 4:8)
• By regarding a rebuke (Prov. 13:18)
• By having mercy on the needy (Prov. 14:31)
• By the testing of our faith (1 Pet. 1:7)

* By our singing (Ps. 66:2)

* By our worship (Rev. 5:12, 13)

* By our seeing Him in the sanctuary (Ps. 96:6)

* By extolling Him Who is clothed with HONOR (Ps.. 104:1)

* By our worship of the Lord Jesus (Hebrews 2:9)

CONCLUDING ILLUSTRATION:

Eric Liddell, 1924 Olympic champion in Paris. Eric, representing Great Britain, was training for the Olympics in the 100 meter dash. When he was advised that his heats would be on Sunday at the Olympics, he withdrew even though he was the favored to win. He said, “that is the Lord’s Day – I will rest on His day.” He was ridiculed greatly throughout the world, much less his nation, for that stand. He was invited to compete in the 400 meter dash, an event for which he had never competed. Just before the race, a friend handed him a note. It read in part, “The Old Book says, ‘those who HONOR Me, I will HONOR.”

Eric ran like the wind, came in first place, setting a world record.

He later was martyred as a missionary to China.

CLOSE IN PRAYER

“JESUS SAID, ‘I AM THE LIFE’” (John 14:6)

SERIES: THE WAY, THE TRUTH, THE LIFE

Originally preached June 1, 2014

By Rev. Jeremy Stopford, Retired Pastor

“Jesus said…, ‘I AM the Way, the Truth, and the Life; No one comes to the Father but by Me'” (John 3:16).

TODAY’S “SPECIAL: “Fun answering machine messages”

~ I can’t answer the phone now because I have amnesia and I feel stupid talking to people I don’t remember. I’d appreciate it if you could help me out by leaving my name and telling me something about myself. Thanks.

~ Hi. I’m probably around, but I’m just avoiding someone I don’t like. Leave me a message, and if I don’t call back, it’s you.

~ This is not voicemail. This is a telepathic thought-recording device. After the tone, think about your name, your reason for calling, and a number where I can reach you, and I’ll think about returning your call.

~ Roses are red, Violets are cheap, Leave your message After the beep.

INTRODUCTION

We are in the 3rd and final week of a series on the verse, John 14:6. First, Jesus said “I am THE way”. Perhaps the word “the” needs to be underscored – as the only other way, according to Scripture, is the “way of death”. Jesus is “the” way which leads to life, righteousness, faithfulness, wisdom, insight, holiness, peace, love, and truth!

Last week, we discussed Jesus being “the truth.” From the gospel of John, we learned that He is the eternal Savior Who bases His mission on the truth of the Living Word, and He encourages growth through the truth, the written Word of God.

This week we are looking at “I am the life.” And it shouldn’t surprise us that Scripture will once again help us to learn what this means, and how God intends to apply this to our life.

AND it shouldn’t surprise us that the Scriptural use of “the life” encompasses every part of the seasons of life.

PRAYER

I. PREVIOUS (before salvation)

“Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived” (Colossians 3:5-7).

This is a description of the life you once lived – it was the lifestyle of before you knew Jesus.

This was a lifestyle that God doesn’t want us to live anymore – the old lifestyle should not be the new lifestyle.

HOWEVER, the baggage is not lost when we find Jesus. So God says “put it off” – God can’t do that, nobody else can do that; we must do that for ourselves.

And when we focus on the new, the new will become our new lifestyle

II. PERSONAL (faith in a personal God)

“That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us” (1 John 1:1-2).

The life appeared. True faith is a faith in a Person, NOT in a church, a religion, a religious system.

We’ve seen it for ourselves. It is personal. The only ones who know that you have true faith is you – and God.

“The life” appears when we examine the evidence and trust what we have explored for ourselves

III. PRESENT (NOW!)

“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20)

Two guidelines:

#1 This is described as “the real life” (Living Bible) – some of us remember the 60’s, and those who were stoned out of their mind saying, “this is really living, man”. In contrast to what the world has to offer, the Christian life is real life!

#2 “The life you see me living is not “mine”” (The Message) The Owner of this life, today’s life, is not me. The Owner is the Lord Jesus. And the battle line of this life is over Who is the owner at this moment – Him, or me?

IV. PROSPECT (future!)

“Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25-26).

Because of this future hope, we live today with a present hope based on that future hope. Got it? And Who is the One Who has accomplished that? The Lord Jesus, our Hope!

CONCLUSION

PRACTICAL (local body that shares the life)

“During this time some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. One of them, named Agabus, stood up and through the Spirit predicted that a severe famine would spread over the entire Roman world. (This happened during the reign of Claudius.) The disciples, as each one was able, decided to provide help for the brothers and sisters living in Judea” (Acts 11:27-29).

ILLUSTRATION: The story of The Hedgehogs

It was the coldest winter ever. Many animals died because of the cold.

The hedgehogs, realizing the situation, decided to group together to keep warm. This way they covered and protected themselves; but the quills of each one wounded their closest companions.

After awhile, they decided to distance themselves one from the other and they began to die, alone and frozen. So they had to make a choice: either accept the quills of their companions or disappear from the earth.

Wisely, they decided to go back to being together. They learned to live with the little wounds caused by the close relationship with their companions in order to receive the heat that came from the others. This way they were able to survive!

“The best relationship is not the one that brings together perfect people, but when each individual learns to live with the imperfections of others an can admire the other person’s good qualities.” — Author unknown

This is called Body Life, a term coined by Pastor Ray Stedman back in the 1970’s. When the local body of believers does what God calls it to do, and cares for one another, and sees every person and every need as God’s assignment, then it is living THE LIFE that God intends us to live!

APPLICATION:

There is often a tender thread, an almost invisible “fine line” where people are trying to determine where they belong. Where do you fit in in this “body life”? Do you know that you are vitally needed? AND that you are vitally needed in this local body life?

CLOSE IN PRAYER

INTRODUCTION

Last week, we discussed Jesus being “the way”. Scripture indicates that there are TWO ways known in the world: the first is the many other ways to God – and ultimately they are all on the “way of death.” That’s pretty simple when you think about it. All cults. All non-religions. All nice people. They are all on the way of death.

The SECOND way is the ONLY true way – the way of the Lord! It encompasses the way of life, righteousness, faithfulness, wisdom, insight, holiness, peace, love, and truth! Are you SURE you are on the way of the Lord? Aren’t you glad you are? Don’t you wish everyone would be?

TODAY we are going to look at the phrase, “the Truth”. The Lord Jesus said, “I AM the truth”. The phrase “I AM” which introduces it is a phrase marking eternity. It is identifying Himself with the God of eternity Who said to Moses, “I AM has sent you”. The God Who sent Moses, and the Lord Jesus, are One and the Same! He is eternally “the truth”.

The phrase “the truth” is found 88 times in our NIV. The first time is in Genesis 42:16 where Joseph was encountering his brothers in Egypt with “the truth”. The last usage is in 3 John 1:12 where John tells us that Demetrius is a man of “the truth”. [could John say that of us? That’s a good testimony!’].

But I found it interesting that the phrase is used 9 times in the gospel of John, 5 times in chapter 8 alone! Using only the gospel of John as our foundation, we will find that “the truth” is involved in EVERY part of the life of the believer.

Open in Prayer

Follow along in your Bibles in the Gospel of John:

THE HEART OF THE SAVIOR (John 18:33-38)

Pilate therefore said to Him, “Are You a king then?” Jesus answered, “You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.”

Pilate said to Him, “What is truth?” (John 18:37-38a)

He knew that “the truth” was His mission, and the dividing line separating all from God!

II. THE HEART OF SALVATION (John 3:16-21)

But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.” John 3:21

v. 16 “one and only”. When “begotten” is referring to humans = “child of the one who gave me life”; but when referring to Jesus, it is an expression of eternal Sonship!

vs. 18-21 how we respond to “the truth” is the basis of our salvation. The foundation of faith is this Book!

III. THE HEART OF SANCTIFICATION (John 17:14-19)

As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world.And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth. John 17:18-19

If you were to define your mission, your one purpose in life, what would you say it is? Verse 18 is Jesus’ purpose for us.

In order to accomplish that, He prays for us concerning 2 things:

#1 our focus: not of this world

#2 our help: the Word enables us to live in accordance with God’s home and purposes

IV. THE HEART OF THE BELIEVER’S STATEMENT OF FAITH (John 19:34-36)

And he who has seen has testified, and his testimony is true;

and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you may believe John 19:35

The foundation of OUR faith is the fact that there were those before us who based their testimony on “the truth”.

Now we are to live by “the truth” as giving evidence to the death, burial, and resurrection of our Savior and the change He can make in our hearts and in our lives.

John understood that – do we?

CONCL USION

• Jesus mission: the truth
• Our help: the truth
• Salvation’s purpose: the truth
• Our heart: the truth

Got it?

CLOSE IN PRAYER