Quote from Forum Archives on October 6, 2003, 1:17 pm

Posted by: jpeters <jpeters@...>

TO SERMON SEEDS FOR OCTOBER 6, 2003

 

TO SUBSCRIBE - Send a blank e-mail to: sermonseeds-subscribe@welovegod.org

 

TO UNSUBSCRIBE - Send a blank e-mail to: sermonseeds-unsubscribe@welovegod.org

 

******************************************************************

 

PASTOR MAIL is a mailing list for male pastors.  The purpose of the list is to share sermons, outlines, illustrations and prayer requests.  To subscribe send a blank email to pastormail-subscribe@associate.com

 

MOUNT UNION ECHOES is a mailing list that includes a full text sermon from Pastor Jack Peters.  To subscribe send a blank email to mountunionechoes-subscribe@welovegod.org

 

***********************************************************************

1 Samuel 14 etc.

THE FORGOTTEN FACE OF A SECOND BANANA

Forgotten Faces - #3 of 10

 

Down through the years there have been many “side kicks”, #2 men, or “second bananas”.  These are the helpers to people who usually grab the headlines, so to speak.

 

How were some of these famous teams of a famous man and a second banana? Can you think of some of these?

 

Batman and Robin

Roy Rodgers and Pat Brady, or Gabby Hayes

Sherlock Holms and Watson

Yogi Bear and Boobo

The Green Hornet and Kato

The Lone Ranger and Tonto

Paul and Silas, or Barnabas

Peter and Andrew

 

Very often in the movies or cartoons, a second banana has been viewed as somewhat of a fool.  But in other cases the second banana was really quite competent, even though he or she did not have the primary role.

 

As we return to our study of “Forgotten Faces” this evening we come to the story of a man who ended up being “second banana” to a very famous king.  In fact if this man’s father had not messed up, this man would have become King of Israel himself, and would have been very competent as such.

 

There is nothing wrong with being a “second banana” when our lives are yielded to God.  We need only serve where he puts us.  As someone has said, we are to “bloom where we are planted”. Psalm 47:4, Psalm 75:6-7

 

 

The Second Banana I’m thinking about tonight is Jonathan.

Who was Jonathan?  

He was the son of King Saul.

He was the good friend of David.

He would have been king if his father, had not disqualified himself from being king. 1 Samuel 15:28

 

1 Samuel 15:28 - And Samuel said unto him, The Lord hath rent the kingdom of Israel from thee this day, and hath given it to a neighbour of thine, that is better than thou.

Tonight we look at the life of Jonathan, who ended up being second banana or playing second fiddle to David.  This did not discourage him, he simply lived his life pleasing God. He accepted God’s plan for his life.

 

JONATHAN’S COURAGE

 

Israel was in sad shape at this time.

The Philistines were making inroads into Israeli territory.

Saul had foolishly acted and tried to do the priest’s job of offering sacrifices.

Saul had been told that he was disqualified from being king and that he would lose the kingdom.

Many Israelites were hiding in fear in caves for fear of the Philistines.

There were no swords available except for those that belonged to Saul and Jonathan. With all these negative things happening, Saul appears to have paralyzed with fear and indecision.

 

14:1 – Jonathan with just an armor bearer decided to go the nearest stronghold of the Philistines, called Mich-mash. Meanwhile, his father did nothing. 

 

14:6 – Here we see a statement both of courage and of faith.  Jonathan had courage because Jonathan had faith. He realized that there was no limitation on the Lord when it came to numbers.  He could deliver using few or many.

 

Too often Christians are like Saul who fail to act because they are outnumbered.

We need to be more like Jonathan, who realized “that God plus one man equals a majority.”

 

Jonathan’s faith and courage were not blind faith or courage.

God had promised victories along this line if Israel would follow the Lord. Leviticus 26:7-8

 

There are times when we lack courage.

More often than not it is because we lack faith.

How do we build faith?  Romans 10:17 

 

14:8-10 – If the soldiers invited them up, they would be confident that God was in it.

   

14:11-12 – The soldiers thought they had discovered a couple of scared Jewish soldiers. They playfully invited them up to them.  Jonathan took this as a sign of victory.

 

Vss. 13-15 – Not only were 20 Philistines slain, but this caused confusion or panic among the Philistines.  And God added an earth quake as well.

 

By the time Saul arrived to see what was going on, the soldiers were fighting amongst themselves, and Jews who had defected to the Philistines realigned with Israel, and those in hiding came out to fight. (Vss. 20-23)

 

JONATHAN’S COMPANION

 

We need to move ahead past two very significant events.

First we move past the anointing of David as the new king.

Although he had not yet begun to reign, he was designated by God as Saul’s successor.

 

Second, we move past the story of David and Goliath.

Israel was in fear of the great giant.

David was used of God to defeat Goliath with a slingshot and a God-guided stone.

 

The death of Goliath led to another Israeli victory over the Philistines and made David a national hero.

 

I venture to say that you can tell the character of a man or woman by their friends.  Men and women of character make their closest friends men and women of character.

 

18:1- Immediately after the defeat of Goliath, Jonathan’s soul was knit with the soul of David.

 

Both men were courageous.

Both men loved the Lord God of Israel.

Both men were men of faith.

 

Although there was a difference in their ages, Jonathan probably being significantly older, there was no difference in their zeal for God.

 

In his love for David, Jonathan displayed a quality that is to be present among church leaders. He was a lover of good men. Titus 1:7-8

 

You and I should also be lovers of good men and women and spending time with them developing our mutual faith. Hebrews 10:24-25

 

18:2-3 – Jonathan and David made a covenant of friendship. They would look after each other and each other’s families, especially if one should die first.  Notice the depth of Jonathan’s love. He loved

David as much as he loved himself.

   

18:4 – What was Jonathan’s position in the court?

            He was the crown prince.

            In all likelihood he wore clothes fitting to the office.

            Can it be that Jonathan, in giving his very clothes to David, is acknowledging that it was

            David, not he, that would be the next king of Israel?

 

Here is a friend who was willing to let another friend go ahead of him.  Good friends, good companions, are not selfish.  One of the qualities of love is that it is not selfish.

 

JONATHAN’S COOPERATION

 

A good second banana knows how to cooperate, especially with his superior partner.  The events in Israel’s court certainly made it necessary for David to have Jonathan’s cooperation.  David got that cooperation because they were friends.

 

18:6-12 – Saul became David’s enemy.  It’s important to note that David never became Saul’s enemy.  David did not retaliate.

 

There are two events that I want us to look at to see the cooperation between Jonathan and David.

 

19:1- 3 – When Jonathan got wind of the fact that David was targeted by his father to be killed, he first warned David.

 

Praise God for friends who cooperate by warning us.

In this case Jonathan was warning David of possible danger.

It is important that we follow the example of Jonathan.

There are times when our friends need to be warned of danger.

 

Cooperating with David, Jonathan didn’t stop at warning.

He also intervened for David.

 

19:4-7 - There are times when you and I need someone to speak in our behalf as Jonathan did for David.  There are times when you and I need to defend someone who is absent, and to speak in behalf of them.

 

Sometimes someone will say something totally false about a person.  I need to speak up and defend the person who is not there.

Sometimes someone needs to say a word in defense of someone who has accidentally hurt someone else’s feelings.

Sometimes it takes a third person to make peace.

Matthew 5:9 - Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

 

Although Jonathan cooperated with David and was his peace maker, Saul quickly reverted back to his antagonism against David.   

 

In 1 Samuel 20 there is another story of Jonathan’s cooperation with David.

 

In this case Jonathan acted as a spy to see if Saul wanted to kill David.  It became evident that this was indeed the case. Jonathan warned his friend and David was able to flee.

 

I am impressed that through all of this, Jonathan was cooperating with David, because Jonathan was concerned about David’s best interests.  May we do the same thing.

 

Philippians 2:4 - Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.

 

JONATHAN’S COMMUNICATION   

 

There are times when we need encouragement.

We get down.  We get depressed. We get in need of a good word.

 

Proverbs 12:25 (N.A.S.B.) – Anxiety in the heart of a man weighs it down, but a good word makes it glad.

 

David was being pursued by Saul relentlessly.

He needed encouragement.

It was Jonathan who delivered that encouragement.

 

23:14-18 – The key thought in this passage is Vs. 16.

 

1 Samuel 23:16 - And Jonathan Saul's son arose, and went to David into the wood, and strengthened his hand in God.

 

So how do we strengthen our friends hands in God?

We pray with them.

We share Scriptures.

We remind them of God’s promises.

We remind them of God’s faithfulness.

We encourage them.

 

The best thing we can do for our friends is to communicate encouragement.

 

You probably know the end of the story.

Saul and Jonathan are killed in battle.

David becomes king.

But David never forgot the man who could have been king, but became a second banana.

2 Samuel 1:26

 

 

*****************************************************************

1 Chronicles 4:10

WANTING GOD’S BEST

 

1 Chronicles 4:10 - And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me!And God granted him that which he requested.

 

JABEZ WANTED GOD’S BLESSING - Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed

JABEZ WANTED GOD’S INFLUENCE - and enlarge my coast

JABEZ WANTED GOD’S POWER - and that thine hand might be with me

JABEZ WANTED GOD’S PROTECTION - and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me!

 

*******************************************************************

Psalm 104:33-34

PRAISE

 

Psalm 104:33-34 - I will sing unto the Lord as long as I live: I will sing praise to my God while I have my being. My meditation of him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the Lord.

 

THE DIRECTION OF PRAISE - I will sing unto the Lord… I will sing praise to my God

THE DURATION OF PRAISE - as long as I live… while I have my being  

THE DISCRETION OF PRAISE - My meditation of him shall be sweet

THE DECISION TO PRAISE - I will be glad in the Lord.

 

********************************************************************

Luke 5:1-11

A FISH STORY

 

"A fish story" is usually a highly exaggerated story about fishing or some other topic.  We've all heard about "The big one that got away".  Our text tells us a "Fish Story" that is absolutely true and that transformed the lives of those who witnessed it.

 

CAPTAIN OF THE SHIP Vss. 1-4

COMPLIANCE BY THE CREW Vs. 5

CATCH OF THE DAY Vss. 6-7

CHANGE IN SIMON (AND THE OTHERS) Vss. 8-11

 

Sermon Seeds A25

 

********************************************************************

Acts 18:24-28

DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH

 

The expression "Diamond in the rough" refers to a person who has much potential, but it has not yet been developed. Some folks with great potential never develop, while others do. Apollos was one who did.

 

POTENTIAL GREATNESS - Vss. 24-26A

Apollos was preaching effectively. He had the potential to be greatly used. The trouble was that Apollos didn't know the whole story. He only knew about the Baptist of John, which was a Baptism of repentance. He didn't to know the full story about the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

PERFECTED UNDERSTANDING - Vs. 26

Acquila and Priscilla took Apollos aside and trained him in the things of God.

This is what we need to do for those who have undeveloped potential. We are to train them!

 

POWERFUL MINISTRY - Vss. 27-28

Apollos went on to be a great preacher for the Lord.

 

Sermon Seeds C47

 

********************************************************************

1 Corinthians 11:23-34

WORSHIP AT THE TABLE

 

In a sense, today we are having a “gratitude lunch”.  We are remembering what Jesus did for us on the cross by celebrating the Lord’s Table. 

 

I  want to talk to you about “Worship Around the Table”, the Lord’s Table.  It is so easy for us to take our once a month Communion service as just a little “tack on” to the end of the service.  But if our whole lives are to be an act of worship, based on Romans 12:1-2, then our participation at the Communion Table should also be an act of worship. We should never take the Lord’s Table lightly.

 

I direct your attention to 1 Corinthians 11:23-34.  Here we find the most complete explanation of the Lord’s Table in the Scriptures.  Based on this Scripture, I am inviting you to Worship at the Table, which we will do in a few minutes.  This morning we invite you to see that:

 

WORSHIP AT THE TABLE IS THOUGHTFUL - Vss. 23-25

 

Worship involves memory.

When we remember what the Lord has done for us that is when we are ready to worship.

Psalm 143:5, Philippians 4:8

 

Paul begins his discussion of the Lord’s Table by jogging the memories of the Corinthians.     

1 Corinthians 11:23 - For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread:

 

What Paul was sharing he had received directly from the Lord.  What Paul was sharing, he had previously shared with the Corinthians.  He was getting them to think about things which they had previously been taught.   

   

Paul tells them a remarkable thing.  The night Jesus was betrayed, which was also the night of Jesus being arrested, was also the night that Jesus in a quiet Passover dinner, instituted a commemorative service for His church.

 

Twice during this little service, Jesus tells his disciples “Do this in remembrance of me.”

 

Worship at the Lord’s Table is to be thoughtful. 

Our thoughts are to be centered on the Lord Jesus.

 

1 Corinthians 11:24 - And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you :this do in remembrance of me.

 

Jesus took unleavened bread and broke it.

He distributed that bread and said Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: 

 

Did Jesus literally mean that the bread was literally His body? No.

When Jesus said “I am the door”, He didn’t mean that literally either.

Jesus meant that bread was symbolic for His body.

And we are take that bread in remembrance of Him.

So as we pass the bread and hold the bread in our hands, let’s think about the body of Jesus.

 

Jesus’ body was given of us.

2 Corinthians 5:21 - For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

 

Jesus body was broken for us.

Not a bone was broken in his body.

But the suffering in his body was of the highest intensity.

 

And on the cross He bore the punishment for the sins of the entire world. Isaiah 53:3-6

 

Yes, we are to worship by remembering the broken body when the bread is passed. But there’s more!

 

1 Corinthians 11:25 - After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.

 

The cup when it is passed reminds us of the shed blood.

It is Jesus’ shed blood that secures for us a new covenant or agreement with God.  For all who put their faith in Christ and in His shed blood have eternal life!   

   

Because we are unrighteous sinners someone has to pay for our sins.

Jesus chose to die for our sins.  Therefore anyone who chooses to trust Christ as Savior has forgiveness and eternal life. Romans 5:1,9

 

So when we worship at the Lord’s Table we are to be thoughtful.  We are to be thinking on what Jesus has done for us.  We are to be remembering Him.   

 

WORSHIP AT THE TABLE IS A TESTIMONY – Vs. 26

 

1 Corinthians 11:26 - For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.

 

If I called up most of you during the week and announced to you that I wanted you to preach this Sunday, you’d panic, especially if you thought I was serious.

 

But let me tell you, if you partake of the bread and the cup this morning, you are preaching.  And you are preaching the greatest message anybody could possibly preach.

 

The word “show” in 1 Corinthians 11:26 means to proclaim.

When we proclaim we preach.

When you take of the bread you are preaching your own faith in the broken body of Christ for you.

When you take of the cup you are preaching your own faith in the shed blood of Christ for you.

By taking of the bread and the cup you are a testimony to all who can see you.  You are preaching your faith to them!

 

Therefore it is very important that what you are professing by your actions is actually true in your life.  The only person taking communion should be the person who has put his or her faith in Christ as Savior. Otherwise you are a hypocrite!

 

It’s bad enough to not know Christ as Savior! John 3:36

It’s bad enough to not know Christ as Savior, but its worse to act like you’re saved by taking Communion.

Make sure that your heart matches your testimony.  And if you are not sure of your salvation, pass up the bread and cup until you are sure.

 

I want you to see something else in verse 26.

1 Corinthians 11:26 - For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.

 

We not only testify to the death and burial of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we testify to His resurrection and the fact that He is coming again.  Not only do we look backward to the cross, but we look forward to His coming for us. Philippians 3:20

 

 

WORSHIP AT THE TABLE IS TRANSPARENT – Vss. 27-28

 

1 Corinthians 11:27 - Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.

 

Now let’s get one thing straight.

There is not one person in the world who is worthy of the Lord Jesus.

There is not one person in the world who is worthy of the broken body and the shed blood.

Isaiah 64:6

 

We are not worthy. That’s why Jesus had to die of us.

When Paul talks about being unworthy here, he means to partake of the bread and the cup in an unworthy manner.

 

It is to participate in the Lord’s Table and not forgiving other people.

It is to participate in the Lord’s Table and have your mind a million miles away in daydreams.

It is to participate in the Lord’s Table and to have unconfessed sin in your life.

When we come to the Lord’s Table, God wants us to be transparent.

 

1 Corinthians 11:28 - But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.

 

Before you participate in the Lord’s Table, the Lord wants you to examine yourself for sin and confess it.    Psalm 32:5, 1 John 1:9

 

There are two requirements for taking communion. First, you must know Jesus as you Savior.  Second, you are to confess all known sin. You are to be transparent, honest with God about your failures as a Christian.   

   

WORSHIP AT THE TABLE IS A TRIAL – Vss. 29-24

 

Because all Christians sin, there is a sort of a trial at each communion service.

When there is a trial there is a judge.

We are told here that there are two possible judges.

 

First of all, and most preferable, we are to be our own judges.

 

1 Corinthians 11:31 - For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.

If we are transparent before God, we will judge ourselves.

That is what God prefers.

 

The other possible judge is God himself.

We are warned in 1 Corinthians 11:29, For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.

 

We are inviting God’s judgment when we eat and drink in an unworthy manner.  And indeed, many of the Corinthians had been judged.

1 Corinthians 11:30 - For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.

 

Not all sickness is due to specific sin, but some of it is.

When we take the Lord’s Table lightly, we can become, weak, sickly and even asleep, that is dead.  God will take saints home prematurely when they abuse the Lord’s Table.   

 

Why does God judge us this way?

1 Corinthians 11:32 - But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.

 

God will go to great lengths to wake up his sinning children, and even take them home to Him early if they insist on being disobedient.   

   

So the Lord’s Table is a time of worship.  

WORSHIP AT THE TABLE IS THOUGHTFUL - Vss. 23-25

WORSHIP AT THE TABLE IS A TESTIMONY – Vs. 26

WORSHIP AT THE TABLE IS TRANSPARENT – Vss. 27-28

WORSHIP AT THE TABLE IS A TRIAL – Vss. 29-24

 

 

******************************************************************

Hebrews 3:12-13, 18-19

AN UNBELIEVING HEART

 

Hebrews 3:12-13 - Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. [13] But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.

 

Hebrews 3:18-19 - And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not? [19] So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.

 

AN UNBELIEVING HEART IS AN EVIL HEART – Vs. 12

AN UNBELIEVING HEART IS A DEPARTING HEART – Vs. 12

AN UNBELIEVING HEART IS A HARDENED HEART – Vs. 13

AN UNBELIEVING HEART IS A RESTLESS HEART – Vss. 18-19

 

*********************************************************************

HAVE THESE SERMON SEEDS BLESSED YOU? THEN, PLEASE PASS THEM ALONG!

 

ABOUT SERMON SEEDS:

 

Sermon Seeds is a weekly e-mailing of free brief sermon outlines from Pastor Jack Peters. These outlines are meant to help other pastors and Bible Teachers in their own preparations.

 

These outlines are only "seeds". They are not sermons ready for you to preach. Feel free to improve on these outlines anyway the Lord leads you.

 

TO SUBSCRIBE - Send a blank e-mail to: sermonseeds-subscribe@welovegod.org

 

TO UNSUBSCRIBE - Send a blank e-mail to: sermonseeds-unsubscribe@welovegod.org

 

PLEASE VISIT OUR WEB SITE!

www.sermonseeds.org is the location for the Sermon Seeds Archives. You will find most of the outlines from these e-mail editions, plus links to other helpful web pages. Be sure to sign the guest book, and tell me a little about yourself.

 

JACK’S EMAIL ADDRESS – jpeters@alltel.net

 

TALK TO JACK THROUGH INSTANT MESSAGING

I welcome live correspondence with those on the Sermon Seeds list. To put me on your "buddy list" here is the information you need.

 

AOL AIM – JackPeters1947

MSN (Microsoft) - johnwpeters@hotmail.com

 

VISIT OUR WEBSITE - http://www.sermonseeds.org

This ministry has grown over the years because people like you have told others about Sermon Seeds.  Always feel free to forward the weekly Sermon Seeds email to those who you think might be interested in these outlines. Also, please share our website address with others as well. Thank you for your support.