Victory Through Faith: Living Within God's Boundaries
Summary
In our journey through 1 Samuel 11, we explore the theme of living after God's own heart, focusing on the spiritual battles we face when the serpent, representing evil, draws near. The narrative of Nahash the Ammonite, whose name means "serpent," serves as a powerful metaphor for the spiritual challenges that test our faith. As believers, we are called to live within the boundaries of God's promises, yet often find ourselves tempted to stray, much like the tribes of Israel who chose to settle outside the Promised Land. This decision left them vulnerable to Nahash's attack, illustrating the dangers of living outside God's will.
The story of Jabesh Gilead's plea for help highlights the human tendency to seek worldly solutions when faced with spiritual threats. Instead of turning to God, the Israelites initially sought a covenant with Nahash, a decision that would have cost them dearly. This reflects our own struggles when we drift from God's Word and attempt to negotiate with the world, often leading to greater spiritual peril.
However, the narrative takes a turn when Saul, empowered by the Spirit of God, leads Israel to victory. This victory is a reminder that true salvation and deliverance come from the Lord. Saul's acknowledgment of God's role in their triumph underscores the importance of humility and recognizing God's hand in our successes.
As we reflect on this passage, we are reminded of the importance of returning to our spiritual "Gilgal"—a place of beginnings and renewal. For Christians, this is symbolized by Golgotha, the place of Christ's crucifixion, where ultimate victory over sin and death was achieved. In times of spiritual struggle, we are called to return to the cross, where grace and mercy abound, and where we find strength to overcome the serpent's attacks.
Key Takeaways:
1. Living Within God's Boundaries: Just as the tribes of Israel faced danger by settling outside the Promised Land, we too become vulnerable when we live outside God's will. Staying within His boundaries offers protection and guidance. [07:57]
2. The Cost of Worldly Compromises: Seeking solutions outside of God's plan often leads to greater spiritual cost. The Israelites' initial willingness to make a covenant with Nahash illustrates the dangers of compromising with the world. [12:28]
3. God's Deliverance Through His Spirit: Saul's victory over the Ammonites, empowered by the Spirit of God, reminds us that true deliverance comes from the Lord. Our strength lies in His power, not our own. [17:53]
4. Righteous Anger and Action: Saul's righteous anger, inspired by God, led to decisive action against injustice. As believers, we are called to respond to spiritual attacks with righteous indignation and faith-driven action. [20:57]
5. Returning to Our Spiritual Roots: In times of spiritual drift, we must return to our "Gilgal" or "Golgotha," the place of Christ's sacrifice. The cross is our source of renewal and strength, reminding us of the victory already won. [30:50]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[00:44] - Introduction to Living After God's Own Heart
[05:10] - The Serpent's Approach
[07:57] - The Significance of Jabesh Gilead
[12:28] - The Cost of Compromise
[15:59] - The Serpent's Price
[17:53] - Saul's Spirit-Led Response
[19:04] - God's Righteous Anger
[20:57] - The Power of Unity
[22:46] - Saul's Leadership and Humility
[27:01] - The Source of All Good Gifts
[30:50] - Returning to Our Spiritual Gilgal
[33:10] - The Call to Salvation
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide: Living After God's Own Heart
Bible Reading:
- 1 Samuel 11:1-15
- Numbers 32:39
- Joshua 4-5
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Observation Questions:
1. What was the significance of Jabesh Gilead's location in relation to the Promised Land, and how did it affect their vulnerability to Nahash's attack? [05:10]
2. How did the Israelites initially respond to Nahash's threat, and what does this reveal about their spiritual state at the time? [12:28]
3. What role did the Spirit of God play in Saul's response to the threat against Jabesh Gilead? [17:53]
4. Why did the Israelites return to Gilgal after their victory, and what historical significance does this location hold? [30:50]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the decision of the tribes to settle outside the Promised Land serve as a metaphor for living outside God's will? What are the potential consequences of such decisions? [07:57]
2. In what ways does Nahash's demand for a covenant with the Israelites illustrate the dangers of compromising with worldly powers? [15:59]
3. How does Saul's acknowledgment of God's role in their victory reflect the importance of humility and recognizing divine intervention in our successes? [27:01]
4. What does the return to Gilgal symbolize for the Israelites, and how can this be related to the Christian concept of returning to the cross? [30:50]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you felt tempted to live outside of God's boundaries. What were the consequences, and how did you find your way back? [07:57]
2. Have you ever sought worldly solutions to spiritual problems? What was the outcome, and how might you approach similar situations differently in the future? [12:28]
3. How can you cultivate a reliance on the Holy Spirit in your daily battles, much like Saul did when he was empowered to lead Israel to victory? [17:53]
4. Think of a situation where you felt righteous anger. How did you channel that anger, and what actions did you take to address the injustice? [20:57]
5. Identify your personal "Gilgal" or "Golgotha"—a place or practice that helps you return to your spiritual roots. How can you incorporate this into your life more regularly? [30:50]
6. In what ways can you ensure that you give credit to God for your successes, and how can this practice impact your spiritual growth and humility? [27:01]
7. Consider a current challenge you are facing. How can returning to the cross and remembering Christ's sacrifice provide you with strength and perspective? [30:50]
Devotional
Day 1: Living Within God's Boundaries
Living within God's boundaries provides spiritual protection and guidance. The tribes of Israel, by choosing to settle outside the Promised Land, exposed themselves to Nahash's attack, illustrating the dangers of living outside God's will. This narrative serves as a reminder that when we step outside the boundaries God has set for us, we become vulnerable to spiritual attacks and challenges. God's boundaries are not meant to restrict us but to protect and guide us in our spiritual journey. By staying within these boundaries, we align ourselves with His promises and find strength and security in His presence. [07:57]
"Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life. Put away from you crooked speech, and put devious talk far from you." (Proverbs 4:23-24, ESV)
Reflection: In what areas of your life are you tempted to step outside of God's boundaries, and how can you seek His guidance to remain within them today?
Day 2: The Cost of Worldly Compromises
Compromising with the world often leads to spiritual peril. The Israelites' initial willingness to make a covenant with Nahash highlights the dangers of seeking worldly solutions to spiritual problems. When faced with challenges, it can be tempting to rely on our own understanding or the world's wisdom, but this often leads to greater spiritual cost. Instead, we are called to trust in God's plan and seek His guidance, even when it seems difficult or counterintuitive. By doing so, we avoid the pitfalls of compromise and remain steadfast in our faith. [12:28]
"Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him." (1 John 2:15, ESV)
Reflection: Identify a recent decision where you were tempted to compromise your faith for worldly gain. How can you choose to trust in God's plan instead?
Day 3: God's Deliverance Through His Spirit
True deliverance comes from the Lord, as demonstrated by Saul's victory over the Ammonites, empowered by the Spirit of God. This story reminds us that our strength lies not in our own abilities but in God's power working through us. When we face spiritual battles, it is essential to rely on the Holy Spirit for guidance and strength. By acknowledging God's role in our successes, we cultivate humility and a deeper dependence on Him. This reliance on the Spirit is crucial for overcoming the challenges we encounter in our spiritual journey. [17:53]
"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." (Acts 1:8, ESV)
Reflection: In what areas of your life do you need to rely more on the Holy Spirit's power rather than your own strength?
Day 4: Righteous Anger and Action
Righteous anger, when inspired by God, leads to decisive action against injustice. Saul's response to Nahash's threat was driven by a righteous indignation that resulted in a Spirit-led victory. As believers, we are called to respond to spiritual attacks with faith-driven action, guided by a sense of justice and righteousness. This requires discernment to ensure our anger aligns with God's will and leads to constructive outcomes. By channeling our emotions in a way that honors God, we can effectively combat the challenges we face and promote His kingdom. [20:57]
"Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil." (Ephesians 4:26-27, ESV)
Reflection: Think of a situation where you feel righteous anger. How can you channel this emotion into positive, faith-driven action today?
Day 5: Returning to Our Spiritual Roots
In times of spiritual drift, returning to our spiritual roots provides renewal and strength. The story of Jabesh Gilead and Saul's victory reminds us of the importance of returning to our "Gilgal" or "Golgotha," the place of Christ's sacrifice. The cross is our source of renewal, where we find grace, mercy, and the strength to overcome the serpent's attacks. By regularly returning to the cross, we are reminded of the victory already won and the power available to us through Christ. This practice helps us stay grounded in our faith and aligned with God's will. [30:50]
"Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent." (Revelation 2:5, ESV)
Reflection: Reflect on your spiritual journey. What steps can you take today to return to your spiritual roots and renew your commitment to Christ?
Quotes
"So, hey, we are continuing our sermon series here at Living After God's Own Heart. Living After God's Own Heart. And today we get the opportunity to learn from God's Word how to handle ourselves as a children of God. And really, we're going to learn that. I love 1 Samuel 11. It's really cool as I started getting into it because we understand as we live after God's own heart. So you're on fire for the Lord. You want to live for Him. You want to be gospel -centered. You want to be Christ -like. All those wonderful things that the Bible teaches us. Every now and then, more so than it doesn't happen, that good old serpent comes around. And so today we're going to look at when the serpent draws near. You guys have no idea how much of a sacrifice I did for you last evening." [00:01:03] (50 seconds)
"Now, we know God has given them much more land than what they occupied and controlled. In fact, it's found out by scholarly research that Israel has never in her entire history occupied all the land that God promised her. And so that and so, you know, as we look at Israel, there's places where she was at that is occupied by her, but, you know, not to the full extent that she was supposed to govern. Manor speaking and Jabesh Gilead is on the outside of Jordan is on the east side on the outside of the Jordan River, because as as Moses and the 12 tribes of Israel were coming up to the promised land, you remember that there was two and a half tribes, if you remember reading in the book of Exodus, that wanted to stay on the outside." [00:06:41] (47 seconds)
"it would come naturally your flesh continually is at war with the holy spirit the bible tells us so the more we draw away from the word the more we draw away from the boundaries of god the more we draw away from the power of the holy spirit or you know we we tend to uh we tend to kind of say hey we're not going to let you lord over our lives here we're not going to let you speak into our lives here i'm going to do what i want in this particular manner of my life whether it's an addiction whether it's a relationship whether it's a job i don't know what it is for you there's a part of our life perhaps we say we're not going to let the holy spirit lead us in this place as soon as you make that decision as soon as you say hey i'm going to drift away from god's word on this all you are doing is inviting the world and the father of the world to speak into it and make a deal with it and they wanted to make the covenant with nahash the serpent they wanted to make the deal with and maybe in their mind these elders when when they saw the army they probably thought oh you know maybe he wants to enslave us and say you know hey we're going to serve you well" [00:14:12] (63 seconds)
"Now, Israel did come, and Israel came not by one person's orders, but by the Lord himself. We're going to see in just a moment. Salvation came by the Lord. Look with me in verse number four as we continue reading. So the messengers came to Gibeah of Saul and told the news and the hearing of the people. And all the people lifted up their voices and wept. Now there was Saul coming behind the herd from the field. I remember our last week's message. Saul really didn't want to be king." [00:16:40] (29 seconds)
"You guys can lead yourself. You'll be fine. He goes back to his farm. And Saul said, what troubles the people that they weep? He has no idea what's going on in the nation that he's supposed to rule. And they told him the words of the men of JBS. And notice with me, verse number 6, Saul did not get angry. The Bible says, then the Spirit of God came upon Saul when he heard this news, and his anger was greatly aroused." [00:17:28] (25 seconds)
"Saul was righteously angered towards the attacks of his brothers and sisters in the Lord's nation, in the Lord's chosen people. Israel at that time, and it was in favor with the will of God." [00:22:18] (14 seconds)
"Saul becomes eventually mad but one thing he starts out right is giving credit where credit was due he didn't he could have easily said oh this is great I'm really glad that you know I I did this he starts out well he says the Lord accomplished salvation he gave credit where credit's due and I'm going to tell you friends from the Old Testament to the New Testament the Bible does not change at all in the response in fact in James chapter 1 verse 17 in the New Testament the Apostle James says every good gift and every perfect gift is from above and comes down from the father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning there is nothing that could be good in your life that you did not achieve from your own self everything good from the Lord take nothing for granted and said oh look at what I've accomplished you when it comes to the Lord humility is the best key here he said well pastor I I with my own two hands and with my own two with my mind and my knowledge I was able to build this and I was able to wire that and I was able to bring up and and put all this hard work and put the money into achieving this for my family I did that the Lord didn't tell me to do this this was my own achieving great who gave you the heartbeat each and every day to get up and out of bed to work who gave you two hands so that you could work on those things who gave you a sane mind so that you could think out these things who gave you the breath to be able to uh to be able to breathe and be able to sustain yourself as you work through those things to give you energy each and every time you need to give you two eyes to be able to see and not be born blind the Lord is perfectly and abundantly good to us if we sit back and recognize it and we can do no good thing without him" [00:24:50] (115 seconds)
"Grace was shown to us, mercy was given to us, victory is attained by his death. Satan was defeated at the cross. The powers of the world were at check at the cross. The dates of hell shall not prevail against the church which is the gift of Christ from Calvary onward. Everything of our existence of our promise goes back to Dalgaltha. And when life gets challenging mayhap I'd be remind you to go back near the cross. Let's pray. But heads bowed and eyes closed." [00:31:27] (32 seconds)
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