God's power and presence

SERMON STARTER

          In the traditional churches of my childhood the call to worship was a boring liturgical routine of blandness and familiarity. The choir generally intoned the expected “Gloria Patri.”

“Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, World without end.

Amen, Amen.”

There would generally be a soprano with a wide vibrato on the front row of the choir screeching out the high notes, slightly off key. As a child the call to worship was a call to sixty minutes that seemed to last on and on.

          In today's youth-oriented churches Calls to Worship usually involve upbeat songs and the whole audience standing to welcome the corporate Presence of God in the Assembly of the Saints. The music is directed to God and not to the audience. Instead of a choir, the worship team leads the audience in declarations of praise and thanksgiving upward to God. The Call to Worship is a call to meet God in His Presence and call upon His name.

          What about meeting God on His terms today? You may not meet Him on an altar between two candles. You may find His Presence and Power on a Cross between two thieves. When the actual Power and Presence of God occurs in today's worship services, it's more accidental than intentional. I meet God today outside the formal Sunday morning worship environment.

I meet Him. . .

1) When I give into the lives of others

2) When I love people who have treated me unjustly

3) When I connect with lonely people wherever I find them

4) Do an act of kindness for someone who cannot pay me back

5) Listen to someone's distress without fixing them

6) When I take a deep breath and thank God for a new day

My sermon explores the Power and Presence of God. . .

Agape,

Pastor Phil  <><<

 

October 28, 2018 - Sheepfold Ministries

Pastor Phil Roland

GOD'S POWER AND PRESENCE

1 Samuel 4:1-11;  5:1-4

"Most of contemporary Christianity hasn’t a clue about worshipping in the actual presence of God, or hearing His Voice or knowing Him personally.  His Presence, His Power and Relationship are our reward."          Pastor Phil

 

The Ark of the Covenant 

ANOINTING - Sacred Presence of Jesus - "Mashiach" - Anointed One

According to various texts within the Hebrew Bible, it also contained Aaron's rod and a pot of manna. Hebrews 9:4 describes: "The ark of the covenant [was] covered on all sides with gold, in which was a golden jar holding the manna, and Aaron's rod which budded, and the tables of the covenant."

 

The Idol Dagon

Dagon was the fish-god of Philistia.  The upper part of Dagon was a man or woman, and the lower part of the idol was carved like a fish (mermaid).  Dagon was just a merman or mermaid; only, of course, there was no pretense of his being alive. 

 

Two Ways to Come into the Power and Presence of God. . .

I.   THE COMFORTABLE  ENCOUNTER - 1 Samuel 4:1-11

4 So the people sent to Shiloh, that they might bring from there the ark of the covenant of the LORD of hosts, who dwells between the cherubim. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God.

          A. The Comfortable God in a Box

                    1. Israel had their Mush God in a box

                    2. They were worshipping the BOX, and not the God of the Box

                    3. The Ark / Box became their Idol

                    4. They had "Handle on God"

                    5. Magical thinking - God was their obligated bell hop

                    6. God Presence was automatically with the sacred box

          B. Ark Description - Ex. 25:10-22

                    1. They were to follow the Exact Pattern / instructions

                    2. The Ark was only to be a reminder of where they were FROM

          C. The Ark of God was captured (4:11, 17)

                    11 Also the ark of God was captured; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and

               Phinehas, died.

                    1. There Was A Purpose In The Ark Being Taken Away

                    2. God allowed the Ark to be captured so they would trust in                                   the God of the Ark

                    3. God taught them that His presence was not the same as the                               Ark itself (4:3). 

THE POWER AND PRESENCE OF GOD, cont. p.2

 

                    4. They were not to trust the Ark of God but in the God of the                           Ark

          D. Still prefer Meeting God on our terms - Matt. 15:8,9; Isaiah 29:13

                    8 'These people draw near to Me with their mouth, And honor Me with their                      lips, But their heart is far from Me. 9 And in vain they worship Me,                                  Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.' "

                    1. Figure out the formula for writing your own ticket with God

                    2. Organize the right liturgy, sing the right songs, pray the                                right prayers, say the right words. . .God is obligated to                                show up. . .Right?

          B. Too many churches observe a Comfortable Service of Memoriam

                    1. Eulogy for a dead god

                    2. Obsessed with the backward look: Jesus on the Cross

                    3. Wrongly feel they have God on a leash

          C. The Comfortable Encounter ends in Death - Prov. 14:12

                    12 There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.

                    1. Nazi Insignia, "Gott Mit Uns" - God with Us

                              a. Presumes on God's Presence and Power

                              b. God is supposed to rubber stamp everything we do

                    2. Real God is Spirit - John 4:24

                                        24 God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit                                  and truth."

                    3. God is a person who keeps his covenants - Psalm 111:5 NIV                     5 He provides food for those who fear him; he remembers his

                          covenant forever.

                    4. Man does not keep his covenants - Mark 14:37b

                    “Could you not keep watch for one hour?”

                    5. We are habitual Covenant-Breakers

                    7. We take Him for granted putting Him in a box

 

The Second Way to Come into the Power and Presence of God. . .

II. THE UNCOMFORTABLE ENCOUNTER - 1 Samuel 5:1-4

1 Then the Philistines took the ark of God and brought it from Ebenezer to Ashdod. 2 When the Philistines took the ark of God, they brought it into the temple of Dagon and set it by Dagon. 3 And when the people of Ashdod arose early in the morning, there was Dagon, fallen on its face to the earth before the ark of the LORD. So they took Dagon and set it in its place again.
4 And when they arose early the next morning, there was Dagon, fallen on its face to the ground before the ark of the LORD. The head of Dagon and both the palms of its hands were broken off on the threshold; only Dagon's torso was left of it. 5 Therefore neither the priests of Dagon nor any who come into Dagon's house tread on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod to this day.

 

          A. WARRING GODS -

                    1. Dagon - The Philistine “Fish-god”

THE POWER AND PRESENCE OF GOD, cont. p.3

 

                    2. Jehovah - The Jewish “Ya-way”

          B. KINGDOM PRINCIPLE: “Everything falls before Ya-way”

                    1. The Presence of the Ark terrified the Philistines - 1 Sam. 4:7

                                        7 So the Philistines were afraid, for they said, "God has come into

                          the camp!" And they said, "Woe to us! For such a thing has never

                          happened before.  
2. Principle: Nothing is preferred before Him! - Ex. 20:5

                    “You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the lord                                    your God am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of                                  the fathers to the third and fourth generation of them that hate Me."

                    3. Everything devised by man’s head/hands is cut-off!

                        4 And when they arose early the next morning, there was Dagon,

                          fallen on its face to the ground before the ark of the LORD. The

                          head of Dagon and both the palms of its hands were broken off on

                          the threshold; only Dagon's torso was left of it.   1 Samuel 5:4

          C.  The Uncomfortable Encounter Ends in Life - 1 John 5:12

12 He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does

               not have life. 13 These things I have written to you who believe in the

               name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life,

               and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.

                    1. The Uncomfortable Encounter ends in Life

                    2. However,  it  ends in Death to Self, Flesh, Devil

          2. It leads to Life to the Spirit - Romans 8:2

“. . .through Jesus Christ, the law of the spirit of life set me free from     the law of sin and death.”

 

 

 

 

NOTHING WILL STAND BEFORE OUR GOD

 

 

 

 

 

 

GOD'S POWER AND PRESENCE

1 Samuel 4:1-11 (NKJV)
1 And the word of Samuel came to all Israel. Now Israel went out to battle against the Philistines, and encamped beside Ebenezer; and the Philistines encamped in Aphek.
2 Then the Philistines put themselves in battle array against Israel. And when they joined battle, Israel was defeated by the Philistines, who killed about four thousand men of the army in the field.
3 And when the people had come into the camp, the elders of Israel said, "Why has the LORD defeated us today before the Philistines? Let us bring the ark of the covenant of the LORD from Shiloh to us, that when it comes among us it may save us from the hand of our enemies."
4 So the people sent to Shiloh, that they might bring from there the ark of the covenant of the LORD of hosts, who dwells between the cherubim. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God.
5 And when the ark of the covenant of the LORD came into the camp, all Israel shouted so loudly that the earth shook.
6 Now when the Philistines heard the noise of the shout, they said, "What does the sound of this great shout in the camp of the Hebrews mean?" Then they understood that the ark of the LORD had come into the camp.
7 So the Philistines were afraid, for they said, "God has come into the camp!" And they said, "Woe to us! For such a thing has never happened before.
8 Woe to us! Who will deliver us from the hand of these mighty gods? These are the gods who struck the Egyptians with all the plagues in the wilderness.
9 Be strong and conduct yourselves like men, you Philistines, that you do not become servants of the Hebrews, as they have been to you. Conduct yourselves like men, and fight!"
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.

 

1 Samuel 5:1-5 (NKJV)
1 Then the Philistines took the ark of God and brought it from Ebenezer to Ashdod.
2 When the Philistines took the ark of God, they brought it into the temple of Dagon and set it by Dagon.
3 And when the people of Ashdod arose early in the morning, there was Dagon, fallen on its face to the earth before the ark of the LORD. So they took Dagon and set it in its place again.
4 And when they arose early the next morning, there was Dagon, fallen on its face to the ground before the ark of the LORD. The head of Dagon and both the palms of its hands were broken off on the threshold; only Dagon's torso was left of it.
5 Therefore neither the priests of Dagon nor any who come into Dagon's house tread on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod to this day.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ARK OF THE COVENANT, #1, 2018-10.jpg

 

 

 

DAGON, #1, 2018-10.jpg

 

 

 

 

 

Tension between Me being in control of the worship experience

Or, God being in control. . .

Eg. Ole Anthony, founder of Trinity Foundation interview with Demos Shakarian, founder of the Full Gospel Businessmen's Fellowship International. . .

What's God doing in your life, Ole?

"He's messing up my life just like He does every day."