THE WALLS OF LIBERTY
SERMON STARTER
FREEDOM ISN’T FREE. Liberty is purchased by the blood of precious lives that are willingly laid down to preserve freedom in our country and across the world. The lessons of ancient Israel remind us that liberty is preserved by both godly leaders and godly men and women who are willing to live holy and pure lives.
James 5:16 (NKJV)
16 Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.
Sanctification, setting yourself apart for a holy God and His purposes, is a constant process throughout your lifetime. Too many people who claim the name of Christ have taken the easy road of influence by the popular culture. Today’s Christians have allowed their values to be shaped by popular media and liberal non-thinkers. It’s easier to let others do our thinking for us, than to make godly choices.
This sermon explores our need to go beyond prayer to holy and righteous living as we “stand in the gap” of intercession before a just God who will surely visit this reprobate, tower-of-Babel nation of ours with His judgment. No wonder the Islamic Jehadies call us the "Great Satan."
Liberty comes with walls or limits. Liberty is defined by restraining walls. Our founding fathers understood these walls and firmly placed their foundation on the principles of God's Word. I am free as long as I honor God and his conditions He places upon me. I am free as long as I do not trample the rights of others. . . See I Samuel 3 and 4
July 5, 2015 - Sheepfold Ministries
Pastor Phil Roland
THE WALLS OF LIBERTY
1 Samuel 3 and 1 Samuel 4
“In ancient cultures the future of any city is only as secure as its walls. The same applies to a nation and its boundaries. God’s Word is our standard and our walls. We are only as secure as a people who reside within the limits of God’s Word.” Pastor Phil Roland
30 As He spoke these words, many believed in Him. 31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." John 8:30-32 (NKJV)
HEBREW - שמיטה - She-me-ta - Accent on last syllable
"To Release," or "To Set Free"
Deuteronomy 15:1-2 (NKJV)
1 "At the end of every seven years you shall grant a release of debts.
2 And this is the form of the release: Every creditor who has lent anything to his neighbor shall release it; he shall not require it of his neighbor or his brother, because it is called the LORD'S release.
10 And you shall consecrate the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout all the land to all its inhabitants. It shall be a Jubilee for you; and each of you shall return to his possession, and each of you shall return to his family. Leviticus 25:10 (NKJV)
America is in for a great “shaking,” says Jonathan Cahn, author of the New York Times best-sellers “The Harbinger” and “The Mystery of the Shemitah.” The Shemitah year began on Sept. 25, 2014, and will hit its climax on Sept. 13, 2015.
The House of Eli brought down Israel’s walls:
I. ELI WAS WARNED BY GOD HIMSELF - 1 Samuel 3:11-14
11 Then the LORD said to Samuel: "Behold, I will do something in Israel at which both ears of everyone who hears it will tingle. 12 In that day I will perform against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house, from beginning to end. 13 For I have told him that I will judge his house forever for the iniquity which he knows, because his sons made themselves vile, and he did not restrain them. 14 And therefore I have sworn to the house of Eli that the iniquity of Eli's house shall not be atoned for by sacrifice or offering forever."
A. God Spoke to Young Samuel Because Eli was Spiritually Deaf
1. Eli's Personal Life Disqualified Him From The Lord’s Service
2. He Refused to Discipline His Sons = "Vile," "Contemptable"
THE WALLS OF LIBERTY, cont., p.2
B. The Judgment Against Eli Also Came Against The Nation 1. The Sins of One Brings Judgment to Many - Romans 5:12
12 Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned-- NIV
a. New England Primer
b. "Through Adam's fall, we sinned all"
2. The Ark of the Covenant was God's Footstool
2 Then King David rose to his feet and said, "Hear me, my brethren
and my people: I had it in my heart to build a house of rest for the
ark of the covenant of the LORD, and for the footstool of our God,
and had made preparations to build it.
a. It symbolized His Presence
b. It carried His Anointing and Power
C. David decided to bring the Ark of the Covenant home- 2 Sam. 6:6,7
6 And when they came to Nachon's threshing floor, Uzzah put out his hand to the ark of God and took hold of it, for the oxen stumbled. 7 Then the
anger of the LORD was aroused against Uzzah, and God struck him there
for his error; and he died there by the ark of God.
1. God had already given His instructions concerning the Ark
15 And when Aaron and his sons have finished covering the
sanctuary and all the furnishings of the sanctuary, when the camp
is set to go, then the sons of Kohath shall come to carry them; but
they shall not touch any holy thing, lest they die. These are the
things in the tabernacle of meeting which the sons of Kohath are to
carry. Numbers 4:15 NKJV
2. Even though David was King, he was accountable to God
3. God's Word is Sharper than a 2-Edged Sword - Heb. 4:12
12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any
two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit,
and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and
intents of the heart.
4. God's Word will not be trivialized or ignored - Isaiah 55:11
11 So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not
return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall
prosper in the thing for which I sent it.
D. David was warned through God's Word
1. We have the same written warnings
2. We cannot take God's Place, nor can we do His job
3. Eli's entire house came down in a day by NOT heeding God
4. The same could happen to us by ignoring God's warnings
II. GOD’S JUDGMENT CAME IN A SINGLE DAY - 1 Sam. 4:10-11
10 So the Philistines fought, and Israel was defeated, and every man fled to his tent. There was a very great slaughter, and there fell of Israel thirty thousand foot soldiers. 11 Also the ark of God was captured; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, died.
THE WALLS OF LIBERTY, cont., p.3
A. Israel was Defeated by her Enemies - 1 Samuel 4:10
1. The Ark of the Lord Was Captured - 1 Samuel 4:11a
2. Eli’s Two Sons Killed in Battle - 1 Samuel 4:11a
B. The Old Priest Eli Heard the News and Died - 1 Samuel 4:18
1. His Daughter-In-Law Died in Childbirth - 1 Samuel 4:20
2. Named Her Child, “Ichabod” “The Glory Has Departed”
III. OUR NATION MUST SET HERSELF APART - 1 Samuel 1:28
28 Therefore I also have lent him to the LORD; as long as he lives he shall be lent to the LORD." So they worshiped the LORD there.
A. Samuel was Set Apart From Birth for the Lord
1. His Mother Hannah made a Nazarite Vow
a. Separate himself wholly to the Lord
b. Separate himself from wine and strong drink
c. Never cut his hair or shave his head
d. Separate himself from Death, Corpses
2. Samuel and Sampson were bound by the Nazarite Vow
a. Both had vows made before their birth
b.
B. “Holy” - “Sanctified”- Set Apart for Holy Purposes
1. Prayer Alone is not the Answer
2. We Must SANCTIFY OURSELVES - 1 Tim. 2:8; James 5:16
8 I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy
hands, without wrath and doubting;
a. We must stand in the Gap - Ezekiel 22:30
30 So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall,
and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I
should not destroy it; but I found no one.
b. Fervent Prayer plus Righteousness - James 5:16b
16 Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one
another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent
prayer of a righteous man avails much.
IV. OUR WALLS HAVE BEEN BREACHED - Eccles. 10:8
He who digs a pit will fall into it, And whoever breaks through a wall will be bitten by a serpent.
A. God's Word is our nation's Standards and Walls
1. A Wall both Defines and Limits a Room
2. We are safe within the walls
3. When the walls are breached, safety is breached as well
4. Serpents may enter as well
B. Our Leaders Are Responsible and We Are Responsible
“If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their
