WEBVTT 00:00:08.560 --> 00:00:10.240 Good morning, good morning, good morning. 00:00:11.279 --> 00:00:13.119 So, my name is Jared Hodenstein. 00:00:13.199 --> 00:00:14.960 I'm an elder here at CBFC. 00:00:15.039 --> 00:00:18.879 It is my distinct privilege to be able to bring you the word. 00:00:19.120 --> 00:00:23.760 We are going to be in 1 Samuel chapter 10, verse 17 to 25. 00:00:23.839 --> 00:00:31.519 So if you want to open your Bibles up and get them ready, I'm calling this sermon, Finding Your Footing When Your Faith Falters. 00:00:31.679 --> 00:00:34.240 If you haven't picked that up, that's called alliteration. 00:00:34.719 --> 00:00:38.159 I have 26 years' experience being an elementary school teacher. 00:00:38.240 --> 00:00:39.600 It's how my brain is wired. 00:00:39.679 --> 00:00:42.159 So there's an alliteration spilling out. 00:00:42.560 --> 00:00:44.960 Finding your footing when your faith falters. 00:00:45.200 --> 00:00:46.799 1 Samuel chapter 10. 00:00:46.960 --> 00:00:51.920 So last week, Daniel walked us through kind of a private anointing of King Saul. 00:00:52.000 --> 00:00:57.840 And this week the verses are going to showcase a public coronation of a king. 00:00:58.159 --> 00:01:00.399 A public coronation of a king. 00:01:00.640 --> 00:01:03.520 So if you're feeling up to it, please stand. 00:01:03.679 --> 00:01:05.599 We're going to honor the reading of God's word. 00:01:06.000 --> 00:01:10.239 1 Samuel chapter 10, verse 19 to 25. 00:01:11.840 --> 00:01:13.120 Saul is proclaimed king. 00:01:13.200 --> 00:01:27.760 Now Samuel called the people together to the Lord at Mizpah, and he said to the people of Israel, Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, I brought up Israel out of Egypt, and I delivered you from the hand of the Egyptians, and from the hand of all the kingdoms that were oppressing you. 00:01:27.920 --> 00:01:36.000 But today you have rejected your God, who saves you from all your calamities and all your distresses, and you have said to him, Set a king over us. 00:01:36.079 --> 00:01:41.920 Now therefore present yourselves before before the Lord by your tribes and by your thousands. 00:01:42.159 --> 00:01:56.239 Then Samuel brought all the tribes of Israel near, and the tribe of Benjamin was taken by Lot, and he brought the tribe of Benjamin near by its clans, and the clan of the Matrites was taken by Lot, and Saul the son of Kish, was taken by Lot. 00:01:56.400 --> 00:01:59.519 But when they sought him, he could not be found. 00:01:59.680 --> 00:02:02.640 So they inquired again of the Lord, Is there a man still to come? 00:02:02.879 --> 00:02:07.200 And the Lord said, Behold, he's hidden himself among the baggage. 00:02:07.439 --> 00:02:09.520 Then they ran, and they took him from there. 00:02:09.680 --> 00:02:13.840 And when he stood among the people, he was taller than any of the people, from his shoulders upward. 00:02:14.000 --> 00:02:18.719 And Samuel said to all the people, Do you see him whom the Lord has chosen? 00:02:18.879 --> 00:02:21.039 There is none like him among all the people. 00:02:21.199 --> 00:02:24.080 And all the people shouted, Long live the king. 00:02:24.400 --> 00:02:30.719 Then Samuel told the people the rights and duties of the kingship, and he wrote them in a book and laid it up before the Lord. 00:02:30.879 --> 00:02:34.719 Then Samuel sent all the people away, each one to his own home. 00:02:35.039 --> 00:02:41.759 Saul also went to his home at Gibeah, and with him went men of valor whose hearts God had touched. 00:02:42.000 --> 00:02:46.560 But some worthless fellows said, How can this man save us? 00:02:46.800 --> 00:02:51.280 And they despised him and brought him no present, but he held his peace. 00:02:51.520 --> 00:02:53.280 You can go ahead and be seated and let's pray. 00:02:53.439 --> 00:02:55.520 Father God, we come before you right now. 00:02:55.840 --> 00:03:02.240 We set aside all distractions, anything we have going on after the service, Lord, and we just give you this time. 00:03:02.400 --> 00:03:07.120 We give you this moment, Lord God, and pray that you would speak to our hearts through your word. 00:03:07.599 --> 00:03:11.680 Holy Spirit, that you would have your way, that you would guide us into all truth. 00:03:11.840 --> 00:03:14.719 And just take control of this service, I pray. 00:03:14.879 --> 00:03:18.319 In the name of Jesus, amen and amen. 00:03:18.879 --> 00:03:23.759 So, my only background knowledge, as a teacher, I talk to kids a lot about schema. 00:03:23.919 --> 00:03:25.199 That's your background knowledge. 00:03:25.360 --> 00:03:35.199 So when I'm I'm hearing about Saul being proclaimed king, the only public coronation I'm familiar with is Lord of the Rings, return of the king. 00:03:35.439 --> 00:03:38.159 Does anybody out there a Lord of the Rings fan? 00:03:38.879 --> 00:03:39.680 Three people? 00:03:39.840 --> 00:03:43.199 So you're not gonna make this is not gonna make any sense to you. 00:03:43.439 --> 00:03:49.199 I want to kind of set the stage with what I'm expecting a public coronation to be. 00:03:49.520 --> 00:03:50.400 Here we go. 00:03:50.639 --> 00:03:52.800 This is Chat GBT, by the way. 00:03:53.039 --> 00:03:56.319 The coronation of Aragorn in Return of the King. 00:03:56.479 --> 00:04:03.759 The gleaming sun rises on the radiant city on the radiant white city of Minas Tirith, the dawning of a long-awaited morning. 00:04:04.000 --> 00:04:11.759 The black banners of war are gone, replaced by silver and sable standards that ripple in the high, clear air. 00:04:12.000 --> 00:04:26.720 Crowds fill every tier of the city, their cheers rising like birds, startled into flight as Aragorn, now crowned king, walks slowly through the courts in the gleaming chainmail and a mantle of deep green, singing. 00:04:27.120 --> 00:04:32.800 The velvet notes of his voice sing of victory through the elvish verbiage of vim and vigor. 00:04:33.040 --> 00:04:43.360 Before him stands the white tree, blooming again in fragile, hopeful white, its petals drifting softly over stone, worn by centuries of sorrow and strength. 00:04:43.519 --> 00:04:49.600 When the crown is placed upon his head, a hush falls thick and reverent. 00:04:49.759 --> 00:04:59.839 Before breaking into thunderous joy, trumpets ring from the walls, sunlight flashes against the polished armor, and even the stern faces of warriors are softened with tears. 00:05:00.079 --> 00:05:10.399 It is not merely the crowning of a king, but the healing of a kingdom, as the line of his Sildur is restored, and the age of shadow gives way to light. 00:05:11.759 --> 00:05:12.800 Okay, thank you. 00:05:12.879 --> 00:05:13.199 Yeah. 00:05:13.519 --> 00:05:14.720 I didn't write it. 00:05:15.199 --> 00:05:16.079 I didn't write it. 00:05:16.240 --> 00:05:17.120 I didn't write it. 00:05:17.360 --> 00:05:19.439 I changed a couple lines to make it my own. 00:05:19.600 --> 00:05:20.720 That's what it was. 00:05:20.959 --> 00:05:27.600 And yet when we read this public proclamation, it's the exact opposite. 00:05:28.079 --> 00:05:40.399 You have the whole chapter 10, verses 17, starting with Samuel rebuking Israel like some father chiding his teenager for making the same mistake over and over and over again. 00:05:40.560 --> 00:05:46.959 And then they cast lots for this new king, which is how God showed his will back in those times. 00:05:47.120 --> 00:05:49.920 And they picked Saul and he's not there. 00:05:50.160 --> 00:05:53.439 And God has to tell them, oh, he's he's in the baggage. 00:05:53.519 --> 00:05:58.000 So think about all these tens of thousands, maybe millions of people coming from all around. 00:05:58.160 --> 00:06:04.399 They have these big supplies and baggage, and Saul is hiding behind the bags. 00:06:04.639 --> 00:06:05.839 This is their king. 00:06:06.000 --> 00:06:06.959 He's hiding. 00:06:07.199 --> 00:06:09.759 This is not Aragorn being crowned. 00:06:09.920 --> 00:06:11.920 He's hiding behind the bags. 00:06:12.240 --> 00:06:17.360 Man, you talk about a depressing way to start this new chapter. 00:06:17.519 --> 00:06:26.079 And I think when we go back and look at these, I think we're gonna find three distinct instances of faltering faith. 00:06:26.319 --> 00:06:29.040 Three distinct instances of faltering faith. 00:06:29.199 --> 00:06:33.600 That's why I called it finding your footing when your faith falters. 00:06:33.839 --> 00:06:37.199 So here we go, verses 17 to 19. 00:06:37.600 --> 00:06:43.439 My first point is that the fog of forgetfulness can make our faith falter. 00:06:43.680 --> 00:06:47.360 The fog of forgetfulness can make our faith falter. 00:06:47.519 --> 00:06:49.199 So I'm getting older. 00:06:49.439 --> 00:06:51.360 I'm forgetting words while I'm teaching. 00:06:51.439 --> 00:06:55.360 I literally can't think of a word as I'm speaking to 10 and 11-year-olds. 00:06:55.439 --> 00:06:57.680 It's a problem that I see coming on to me. 00:06:58.319 --> 00:07:00.399 My grandmother died when she was 94. 00:07:00.560 --> 00:07:02.879 She had horrible short-term memory. 00:07:02.959 --> 00:07:04.399 It was about five years ago. 00:07:04.560 --> 00:07:06.240 And we would go over to see her. 00:07:06.399 --> 00:07:08.399 I'd take, we had eight kids. 00:07:08.639 --> 00:07:10.319 Kim was pregnant with our knife. 00:07:10.399 --> 00:07:12.160 And this is what our conversation would go like. 00:07:12.319 --> 00:07:12.959 We'd sit down. 00:07:13.120 --> 00:07:14.959 Now we bought my grandma's house. 00:07:15.120 --> 00:07:16.639 So she had six kids. 00:07:16.800 --> 00:07:17.759 We now have ten. 00:07:18.160 --> 00:07:19.439 We bought her house. 00:07:19.600 --> 00:07:21.120 Hey grandma, how's it going? 00:07:21.439 --> 00:07:26.319 She'd look at all the kids and she'd go, Oh, how many kids do you have? 00:07:26.560 --> 00:07:28.560 I said, Grandma, we have nine kids. 00:07:28.800 --> 00:07:30.000 Nine kids? 00:07:30.319 --> 00:07:31.839 Where do you put them all? 00:07:32.000 --> 00:07:34.079 I said, I they're sharing rooms. 00:07:34.160 --> 00:07:38.240 And she said, Well, what we did, we put our boys in the attic. 00:07:38.399 --> 00:07:39.360 Do you have them in the attic? 00:07:39.439 --> 00:07:41.519 I said, No, Grandma, there's no insulation. 00:07:41.759 --> 00:07:47.600 She said, Well, a lot of times I'll tell you, my boys, they just peed out the window of the attic instead of coming down. 00:07:47.759 --> 00:07:54.480 And as soon as she said the words peed out the window, she'd look at my kids and go, How many kids do you have? 00:07:54.879 --> 00:07:56.639 And I'd say, Oh, we have nine kids. 00:07:56.959 --> 00:07:59.920 Nine kids! You can ask my children. 00:08:00.079 --> 00:08:04.319 And then I would start to embellish the story and how many kids do you have? 00:08:04.480 --> 00:08:05.360 We have 20 kids. 00:08:05.519 --> 00:08:08.160 20 kids! Yeah, where do you keep them all? 00:08:08.240 --> 00:08:12.959 We keep them in the attic, and when they have to go, they pee out the window. 00:08:13.279 --> 00:08:16.480 She goes, That's exactly what my kids did. 00:08:18.959 --> 00:08:24.800 Forgetfulness is something that could be funny, but it can also be soul crushing. 00:08:24.959 --> 00:08:32.799 So I've been teaching for 26 years, and I have sometimes kids come back to see me and they're they're like adults, and I don't always remember them, but I used to have a great memory. 00:08:33.039 --> 00:08:35.120 And I had two sisters come back to visit me. 00:08:35.200 --> 00:08:39.919 Their mom brought them back, had the whole family, and I knew the older daughter. 00:08:40.080 --> 00:08:43.200 She was in college, and I'm like, Oh Hannah, how's it going? 00:08:43.279 --> 00:08:43.919 And she's like, Mr. 00:08:44.159 --> 00:08:45.200 H, you remembered me. 00:08:45.360 --> 00:08:46.639 Of course I remembered you. 00:08:46.720 --> 00:08:49.600 And then I looked at her sister and I said, Who did you have in fifth grade? 00:08:49.840 --> 00:08:51.360 And she goes, I had you. 00:08:52.240 --> 00:08:55.519 And I saw her soul crushed. 00:08:55.759 --> 00:08:59.200 And I'm like, No, the damage I've just done. 00:08:59.519 --> 00:09:03.919 I mean, and I think you've all heard the story of me forgetting our my child at church. 00:09:04.080 --> 00:09:08.399 Um if you I don't think everybody heard that story, but yes, we we did forget. 00:09:08.720 --> 00:09:09.200 I did. 00:09:09.360 --> 00:09:31.279 I forgot my son, Levi at church, was halfway home when somebody, my friend, called me to come pick him up, and I told my kids not to tell their mother, which they promptly did, and she made fun of me, and then fast forward, I don't know, months, years, we're going to church, we're all getting out of the van, and I go, Where's Levi? 00:09:31.840 --> 00:09:37.919 We actually forgot him at home a second time, and now my wife didn't feel so badly about that. 00:09:38.159 --> 00:09:46.399 Um, but can we agree that what these Israelites are forgetting is much more significant than even their child? 00:09:46.480 --> 00:09:48.720 You might say, Well, where's the forgetfulness in here? 00:09:48.879 --> 00:09:55.200 I mean, now Samuel called the people together to the Lord at Mizpah, and he's just kind of going back, look what the Lord had done. 00:09:55.279 --> 00:09:56.639 This is what you're rejecting. 00:09:56.799 --> 00:09:58.320 And I didn't get it at first either. 00:09:58.399 --> 00:10:01.600 I read it ten times before I saw Mizpah. 00:10:02.480 --> 00:10:03.279 Mizpah. 00:10:03.360 --> 00:10:04.960 I'm like, that sounds familiar. 00:10:05.200 --> 00:10:06.159 Mizpah. 00:10:06.320 --> 00:10:08.480 Now, there's a bunch of Mizpahs in the Bible. 00:10:08.559 --> 00:10:16.960 So if you were in Sunday school a few weeks ago, this is the plug for Sunday school, 9 o'clock in the fellowship hall, Sunday school, it's a party, it's good stuff, come out. 00:10:17.120 --> 00:10:26.480 But when Jacob and Laban kind of met together, Jacob was fleeing, they named this place Mizpah, kind of as like a watchtower where a boundary that they're not going to cross. 00:10:26.639 --> 00:10:28.559 This is a totally different Mizpah. 00:10:28.879 --> 00:10:32.879 To refresh your memory, 1 Samuel chapter 7. 00:10:33.039 --> 00:10:37.600 So if you flip back to chapter 7, go ahead, flip back 1 Samuel 7. 00:10:38.320 --> 00:10:42.159 This is the significance, and this is where the forgetting comes into play. 00:10:42.240 --> 00:10:44.000 And it's powerful when you see it. 00:10:44.159 --> 00:10:48.960 1 Samuel chapter 7, verse 2, to give you context of what's happening back then. 00:10:49.200 --> 00:10:57.120 From that day that the ark was lodged, that Carethgirium, a long time past, some 20 years, and all the house of Israel lamented after the Lord. 00:10:57.200 --> 00:10:59.919 So remember, they they messed up in battle. 00:11:00.159 --> 00:11:07.759 Their enemies took the ark, God saves the ark, miraculously sends it back to them, and they're kind of repenting at that point. 00:11:08.080 --> 00:11:10.000 They're like, Okay, God, we messed up. 00:11:10.080 --> 00:11:11.039 They come back to him. 00:11:11.519 --> 00:11:18.159 Samuel said to all the house of Israel, if you are returning to the Lord with all your heart, put away the foreign gods and the ashtraugh from among you. 00:11:18.320 --> 00:11:20.559 Direct your heart to the Lord and serve him only. 00:11:20.720 --> 00:11:22.799 He will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines. 00:11:22.879 --> 00:11:27.440 So the people of Israel put away their bales, their ashtraugh, and they serve the Lord only. 00:11:27.519 --> 00:11:28.399 And this is the key. 00:11:28.559 --> 00:11:32.159 Then Samuel said, Gather Israel at Mizpah. 00:11:32.320 --> 00:11:33.200 This is the scene. 00:11:33.360 --> 00:11:34.799 This is the coronation of the king. 00:11:34.879 --> 00:11:35.919 We're at Mizpah. 00:11:36.000 --> 00:11:38.320 So I want to give you the context of this coronation. 00:11:38.639 --> 00:11:41.519 Samuel had gathered all these people at Mizpah, and what does he say? 00:11:41.600 --> 00:11:44.159 He says, I will pray to the Lord for you. 00:11:44.320 --> 00:11:45.519 So they gathered where? 00:11:45.759 --> 00:11:46.639 Mizpah. 00:11:46.720 --> 00:11:50.399 And they drew water and poured it out before the Lord and fasted on that day. 00:11:50.559 --> 00:11:53.919 And they said, There, we have sinned against the Lord. 00:11:54.159 --> 00:11:56.320 Samuel judged the people at Mizpah. 00:11:56.480 --> 00:12:01.039 Now, when the Philistines heard that the people of Israel gather at Mizpah, they end up attacking. 00:12:01.200 --> 00:12:06.480 And God miraculously sends this thunderstorm to just shock the Philistines. 00:12:06.559 --> 00:12:10.799 And they win this huge monumental battle, right? 00:12:11.039 --> 00:12:13.120 And then what does Samuel do in verse 12? 00:12:13.279 --> 00:12:20.320 He takes a stone, he sets it up between Mizpah and Shen, and he called its name Ebenezer. 00:12:20.879 --> 00:12:23.840 There's a hymn I sang when I used to sing when I was a kid. 00:12:24.000 --> 00:12:25.600 Here I raise my Ebenezer. 00:12:26.000 --> 00:12:28.480 I can remember as a kid, I'm like, Ebenezer Scrooge? 00:12:28.720 --> 00:12:29.759 What is this song? 00:12:30.000 --> 00:12:31.759 What is this song talking about? 00:12:31.919 --> 00:12:34.240 And I didn't realize it's tied to this verse. 00:12:34.399 --> 00:12:38.480 When he's saying, Here I raise my Ebenezer, it's a stone of remembrance. 00:12:38.639 --> 00:12:42.480 It's a stone that you can look at and tell your kids what God has done. 00:12:42.639 --> 00:12:47.279 It's not just some pebble on a beach, it's probably this mammoth stone. 00:12:47.440 --> 00:12:50.080 This huge stone you could see from a distance. 00:12:50.320 --> 00:12:51.759 Do you get what's happening here? 00:12:51.919 --> 00:12:57.039 This is a monumental time, and they raise this Ebenezer, and they're saying, We're repenting. 00:12:57.120 --> 00:12:58.480 God is our only God. 00:12:58.720 --> 00:13:00.159 We're not going to forget that. 00:13:00.320 --> 00:13:03.600 And they put this stone there so they won't forget. 00:13:04.799 --> 00:13:07.919 And you fast forward to chapter 10. 00:13:08.399 --> 00:13:10.320 And they have forgotten. 00:13:11.360 --> 00:13:12.799 They've forgotten. 00:13:14.080 --> 00:13:18.080 If you kind of dig, it's roughly anywhere from 10 to 20 years. 00:13:18.399 --> 00:13:20.480 From chapter 7 over chapter 10. 00:13:20.879 --> 00:13:27.759 In 10 to 20 years, they forgot what God had done in their lives. 00:13:30.320 --> 00:13:33.919 I wish that were the only instance in the Bible where people have forgotten God. 00:13:34.240 --> 00:13:37.039 Deuteronomy 8, if you want to flip there. 00:13:37.440 --> 00:13:40.799 Deuteronomy chapter 8, verse 2. 00:13:42.000 --> 00:13:45.039 Actually, I'm going to start with verse 19. 00:13:46.000 --> 00:13:48.159 Actually, I'm going to start with verse 11. 00:13:49.919 --> 00:14:02.320 Verse 11 says, Take care lest you forget the Lord your God by not keeping his commandments and his rules and his statutes, which I command you today. 00:14:02.799 --> 00:14:16.480 Lest when you have eaten and are full and have built good houses and live in them, when your herds and flocks multiply, and your silver and gold is multiplied, and all that you have is multiplied, then your heart will be lifted up and you will forget the Lord your God. 00:14:16.720 --> 00:14:22.480 He's saying, Don't forget him, because when things start to go good, you're going to think that you're the reason of it. 00:14:22.639 --> 00:14:25.679 But he said, Don't forget God, because he's the one. 00:14:25.919 --> 00:14:26.720 He's the one. 00:14:26.879 --> 00:14:34.159 And we get the verse 17 Beware lest you say in your heart, My power and might, and my hand have given me this wealth. 00:14:34.320 --> 00:14:44.639 You shall remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth, that he may confirm his covenant that he swore to your fathers, as it is this day. 00:14:44.879 --> 00:14:54.240 And if you forget the Lord your God and go after other gods and serve them and worship them, I solemnly warn you today that you will surely perish. 00:14:54.639 --> 00:14:58.000 It's a pattern of forgetting God. 00:14:58.639 --> 00:15:03.440 Judges 2, verse 10, when Joshua has died, maybe you remember the story. 00:15:03.679 --> 00:15:09.279 Joshua died, the whole older generation is gone, and then a very sobering verse is said. 00:15:09.679 --> 00:15:21.360 Joshua in the old Judges 2, 10, Joshua in the older generation dies, and there arose another generation after them who did not know the Lord or the work he had done. 00:15:21.600 --> 00:15:22.960 What does that mean? 00:15:23.200 --> 00:15:29.440 It means that entire generation failed to tell their kids about the power of God. 00:15:30.720 --> 00:15:36.639 I wish this was just their problem, but when I look at it, it's a me problem. 00:15:37.120 --> 00:15:43.039 Because I'm just as guilty about forgetting what God has done in my life as they are. 00:15:43.440 --> 00:15:47.759 When I look at this, the fog of forgetfulness can make our faith falter. 00:15:47.919 --> 00:15:49.759 And then you might say, that's Old Testament. 00:15:50.080 --> 00:15:51.120 That's Old Testament, right? 00:15:51.279 --> 00:15:52.399 Well, look at the New Testament. 00:15:52.559 --> 00:15:54.559 Look at 1 Corinthians 11 24. 00:15:54.720 --> 00:15:55.919 We're gonna talk about communion. 00:15:56.000 --> 00:15:57.759 We're gonna be taking the Lord's Supper. 00:15:58.240 --> 00:16:00.720 What did Jesus say as he implemented that? 00:16:00.879 --> 00:16:02.559 1 Corinthians 11 24. 00:16:02.720 --> 00:16:07.360 And when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, This is my body which is for you. 00:16:08.000 --> 00:16:11.519 Do this in remembrance of me. 00:16:12.159 --> 00:16:17.120 In the same way he took the cup after supper, saying, This cup is a new covenant in my blood. 00:16:17.440 --> 00:16:21.519 Do this as often as you drink it in remembrance of me. 00:16:21.759 --> 00:16:27.679 Why would Jesus institute something that would allow us to remember him every time we take it? 00:16:27.840 --> 00:16:30.000 Because he knows we forget. 00:16:30.320 --> 00:16:32.000 He knows we forget. 00:16:32.159 --> 00:16:34.559 That is a powerful, sobering thing. 00:16:34.799 --> 00:16:40.320 One of the things we do in my fifth grade class is we visit a nursing home, a 10-minute walk down the street. 00:16:40.480 --> 00:16:47.919 And the first year we went there, we had the idea to get the kids to interview some of these older people, like 80s and 90s. 00:16:48.159 --> 00:16:54.399 And we thought instead of doing a research report on somebody famous, let's have them interview these people and do a research report on them. 00:16:54.799 --> 00:16:59.759 Sounded great until we realized some of the people were forgetful. 00:17:00.000 --> 00:17:03.039 So took a group over and they're interviewing and it was going great. 00:17:03.120 --> 00:17:06.960 And I saw this two groups, this just one group of girls sitting there and Josie. 00:17:07.039 --> 00:17:07.680 I'll never forget her name. 00:17:07.759 --> 00:17:09.839 She was her name's Josie, and she's in a wheelchair. 00:17:10.000 --> 00:17:12.880 And they're asking her questions, and Josie was not making sense. 00:17:13.200 --> 00:17:14.799 Josie, what how many kids do you have? 00:17:14.960 --> 00:17:16.720 She goes, I like I love cats. 00:17:17.039 --> 00:17:17.359 Okay. 00:17:18.000 --> 00:17:19.519 Josie, what's your favorite color? 00:17:19.680 --> 00:17:20.720 I love cats. 00:17:21.039 --> 00:17:21.359 Okay. 00:17:21.680 --> 00:17:23.519 I could see they were struggling, so I come over. 00:17:23.599 --> 00:17:25.039 I'm gonna help out, save the day. 00:17:25.200 --> 00:17:27.519 I said, Josie, that's an awesome bracelet. 00:17:27.680 --> 00:17:30.720 I said, which is your which is your favorite color on the bracelet? 00:17:30.799 --> 00:17:32.559 And she goes, the one that looks like a cat. 00:17:32.799 --> 00:17:34.319 Nothing looked like a cat. 00:17:34.640 --> 00:17:37.440 So in that split second, I prayed, God, you gotta help me here. 00:17:37.519 --> 00:17:39.279 I have no idea what I'm gonna do. 00:17:39.519 --> 00:17:43.759 And I saw this huge, giant diamond wedding ring. 00:17:43.839 --> 00:17:46.880 And I said, Josie, who gave you that ring? 00:17:47.279 --> 00:17:49.119 And it was like somebody threw a switch. 00:17:49.359 --> 00:17:56.160 All of a sudden she looked at me, made complete eye contact, and she goes, My husband gave me this ring. 00:17:56.400 --> 00:17:58.400 He passed away so many years ago. 00:17:58.640 --> 00:18:02.400 And I said, Josie, what was your favorite thing to do with your husband? 00:18:02.640 --> 00:18:10.079 And she would shut her eyes and she goes, Oh, he would take me dancing on the weekends, and she would start shuffling her feet. 00:18:10.160 --> 00:18:17.599 She started shuffling her feet in the wheelchair, and these tears are rolling down her screnched eyes, and I look down at the girls, and they have tears in their eyes, and I'm standing there biting my cheek. 00:18:17.680 --> 00:18:21.680 I'm like, I cannot cry in front of two 10-year-old girls in Josie. 00:18:22.079 --> 00:18:30.480 You see, this thing, this covenant, reminded Josie, even though she forgot the connection she had with her husband. 00:18:30.640 --> 00:18:37.839 And folks, we are the bride of Christ, and he didn't give us a ring, he gave us his life as a reminder. 00:18:38.000 --> 00:18:42.640 And when we take this communion, it's a reminder of what he has given for us. 00:18:42.799 --> 00:18:49.680 And dare we forget, man, we need to remember what God has done in our lives. 00:18:49.920 --> 00:18:56.400 Don't let Mizpah be a place where we forget what God has done in our lives. 00:18:57.039 --> 00:18:59.039 Of course, I would never forget the Lord. 00:18:59.200 --> 00:19:02.720 I'd never go a day or a week without opening his word. 00:19:03.599 --> 00:19:05.519 Of course I do, right? 00:19:06.640 --> 00:19:08.720 How do we have those stones in our lives? 00:19:08.799 --> 00:19:10.240 What could be those Ebenezers? 00:19:10.319 --> 00:19:13.680 Am I suggesting you go home and get a boulder and plop it in your yard? 00:19:13.920 --> 00:19:14.240 No. 00:19:14.400 --> 00:19:17.039 I think we can have Ebenezers in our lives like worship. 00:19:17.200 --> 00:19:19.200 Are we actively worshiping God? 00:19:19.440 --> 00:19:22.720 Are we participating in worship outside of this service? 00:19:23.039 --> 00:19:23.920 Do we pray? 00:19:24.079 --> 00:19:26.400 Are we in his word daily? 00:19:26.720 --> 00:19:28.799 Are we fellowshipping with other believers? 00:19:28.960 --> 00:19:30.319 Are we tithing and giving? 00:19:30.480 --> 00:19:36.880 Those are all Ebenezers we can put in our lives that remind us what God has done and is doing and is going to do. 00:19:37.039 --> 00:19:41.279 Those are all things our kids can see what God is doing in our lives. 00:19:41.440 --> 00:19:46.319 So don't let the fog of forgetfulness make your faith falter. 00:19:46.720 --> 00:19:49.759 Verses 20 to 24, we see something else happening. 00:19:50.000 --> 00:19:54.480 We realize that focusing on fear can also make our faith falter. 00:19:54.640 --> 00:19:57.599 Focusing on fear can make our faith falter. 00:19:57.839 --> 00:20:00.000 Verses 20 to 24. 00:20:00.160 --> 00:20:02.480 Samuel brought all the tribes of Israel near. 00:20:02.640 --> 00:20:04.160 They're picking Saul. 00:20:04.400 --> 00:20:07.759 Verses 22, they inquired again of the Lord, is there a man still to come? 00:20:07.920 --> 00:20:10.799 And the Lord said, Behold, he's hidden himself among the baggage. 00:20:11.039 --> 00:20:13.519 Some Bible scholars think, oh, he was just humble. 00:20:13.599 --> 00:20:15.359 He didn't want the attention, King Saul. 00:20:15.519 --> 00:20:18.799 I'm telling you, there's a pattern of fear in the life of King Saul. 00:20:18.960 --> 00:20:21.920 There's a pattern of fear in the life of King Saul. 00:20:22.079 --> 00:20:22.480 Like what? 00:20:22.640 --> 00:20:24.160 Well, 1 Samuel 15. 00:20:24.400 --> 00:20:27.440 We're not going to flip to all these things, but you can if you'd like to. 00:20:27.599 --> 00:20:31.599 1 Samuel 15, 24, Saul said that he feared the people. 00:20:31.759 --> 00:20:32.880 He used it as an excuse. 00:20:33.039 --> 00:20:34.160 I feared the people. 00:20:34.400 --> 00:20:38.559 Samuel basically told him you have to take everybody out, all the enemies kill everything. 00:20:38.720 --> 00:20:40.799 And he kind of kept the best for himself. 00:20:40.880 --> 00:20:44.160 And Samuel comes there and says, Hey, you're supposed to follow the word of God. 00:20:44.319 --> 00:20:45.359 Saul's like, I did. 00:20:45.440 --> 00:20:48.480 And then he's like, What is this bleating I hear in my ears? 00:20:48.720 --> 00:20:50.720 It's this creative way of saying you didn't. 00:20:50.880 --> 00:20:54.720 He called him out and he's like, Well, I feared the people. 00:20:55.200 --> 00:20:59.440 In 1 Samuel 17, 11, that's the Goliath chapter. 00:20:59.680 --> 00:21:03.599 It says, Saul and the whole army feared Goliath. 00:21:04.160 --> 00:21:07.039 1 Samuel 18, verse 12. 00:21:07.440 --> 00:21:08.960 Man, this is a weird chapter. 00:21:09.200 --> 00:21:11.599 It says Saul was afraid of David. 00:21:12.000 --> 00:21:18.559 And then he ends up giving his daughter, Michael, to David, and gives him this crazy quest to go on. 00:21:18.720 --> 00:21:20.640 Good luck to anybody who preaches that chapter. 00:21:20.799 --> 00:21:24.559 And David goes on this quest, and if you know it's in the chapter, you know. 00:21:24.640 --> 00:21:24.880 Alright. 00:21:24.960 --> 00:21:27.039 Some of you are paging the what's in the chapter? 00:21:27.200 --> 00:21:29.200 Okay, we're getting we're gonna get to it. 00:21:29.359 --> 00:21:35.680 Um David comes back and is successful, and the Bible said that he feared David even more. 00:21:35.839 --> 00:21:37.359 He was even more afraid of David. 00:21:37.519 --> 00:21:41.680 And then we get to 1 Samuel 28, and it's just the most pathetic scene of his fear. 00:21:41.920 --> 00:21:56.559 He's literally on his face in fear before the Philistine army because God's spirit had left him, and he's literally face down on the floor, panicked with anxiety and fear crippling him. 00:21:57.759 --> 00:21:59.759 Focusing on fear can make. 00:22:00.160 --> 00:22:01.119 Our faith falters. 00:22:01.279 --> 00:22:05.039 But see, we get something hopeful in Matthew, chapter 14, verse 30. 00:22:05.200 --> 00:22:07.200 That's when Jesus is walking on the water. 00:22:07.359 --> 00:22:08.559 We get something hopeful. 00:22:08.720 --> 00:22:13.039 So it's the disciples are in this boat in their middle of the storm, and it says they're afraid. 00:22:13.119 --> 00:22:13.440 All right. 00:22:13.519 --> 00:22:14.240 They're afraid. 00:22:14.319 --> 00:22:16.319 And Jesus comes walking on the water. 00:22:16.480 --> 00:22:18.400 Peter looks up and says, Lord, is it really you? 00:22:18.480 --> 00:22:19.519 If it's you, tell me to come to you. 00:22:19.599 --> 00:22:21.200 And Jesus is like, all right, hop on the boat. 00:22:21.279 --> 00:22:22.480 Come on, let's go, boy. 00:22:22.720 --> 00:22:26.480 And he jumps out, and the Bible's so awesome, right? 00:22:27.680 --> 00:22:36.640 Uh but when Peter saw the wind, he was afraid and he sank. 00:22:36.799 --> 00:22:38.400 Did you catch what happened there? 00:22:38.720 --> 00:22:41.039 Where did his focus change? 00:22:41.599 --> 00:22:47.119 He went from looking at Jesus to looking at the storm. 00:22:47.519 --> 00:22:55.680 And when our focus changes off of our Father to what we're going through, no matter how scary it is, your faith will falter. 00:22:56.160 --> 00:22:57.599 Your faith will falter. 00:22:57.759 --> 00:23:04.079 2 Timothy 1.7 says, God didn't give us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind. 00:23:04.400 --> 00:23:06.319 Of course we never fear, right? 00:23:06.799 --> 00:23:12.960 I'd never focus on the overwhelming circumstances of life rather than focusing on my Father and my God. 00:23:13.200 --> 00:23:14.319 We all fear. 00:23:14.559 --> 00:23:16.079 Because life is scary. 00:23:16.240 --> 00:23:20.880 We're looking at physical health issues that are so overwhelming. 00:23:21.039 --> 00:23:21.759 But you know what? 00:23:21.839 --> 00:23:23.119 My God's bigger. 00:23:23.440 --> 00:23:24.960 Your God's bigger. 00:23:25.200 --> 00:23:27.440 I don't care what we're facing in life. 00:23:27.599 --> 00:23:30.400 If we look at that thing, our faith will falter. 00:23:30.480 --> 00:23:36.799 But if we keep our eyes fixed on God, we don't have to have a faltering faith. 00:23:37.039 --> 00:23:43.440 We can learn from King Saul and say, no matter what God has called us to go through, He is with us. 00:23:43.759 --> 00:23:54.720 Whether it be money problems, kids, house, school, future, young or old, God is a God who overcomes fear. 00:23:55.759 --> 00:23:56.960 Overcomes fear. 00:23:57.200 --> 00:23:58.880 So then we get to our third point. 00:23:59.119 --> 00:24:00.720 This is the deepest one. 00:24:01.440 --> 00:24:06.720 Failing to flush a fooie attitude can make our faith falter. 00:24:06.880 --> 00:24:08.559 I teach fifth grade. 00:24:08.880 --> 00:24:13.200 Failing to flush a fooie attitude can make our faith falter. 00:24:13.359 --> 00:24:16.400 Fooie is an expression of disdain or disbelief. 00:24:16.559 --> 00:24:20.960 How many of you know exactly where in this chapter it's talking about that fooie attitude? 00:24:21.200 --> 00:24:28.240 At the very end, at the very end, but some worthless fellows said, How can this guy save us? 00:24:28.480 --> 00:24:30.799 We see that attitude of fooiness. 00:24:31.039 --> 00:24:34.000 The beginning of my school year, I'm not going to read this book, alright? 00:24:34.079 --> 00:24:37.039 I just dropped the guitar pick, so good luck with that. 00:24:38.000 --> 00:24:39.680 I read this, but I'm not reading it now. 00:24:39.839 --> 00:24:42.079 If you want to read it after service comes up, I'll read it to you. 00:24:42.720 --> 00:24:43.920 It's called Fooie. 00:24:44.160 --> 00:24:51.680 And this kid has this terrible attitude, and he misses all the amazing stuff going on in his town because his attitude just prevents him from seeing the good stuff. 00:24:51.839 --> 00:24:54.079 And I do some really weird homework assignment. 00:24:54.240 --> 00:25:01.759 The first day of school, I give kids like six sections of toilet paper, and I say, write down all the things you hate about school. 00:25:01.920 --> 00:25:03.680 I'm not going to look at it, so be honest. 00:25:03.839 --> 00:25:22.000 And they write down everything they had about school, and their homework assignment is this take it home, go into their bathroom, light a candle, put on some background music, and make a statement of faith saying that on this day I am proclaiming to flush all my negative attitudes for the rest of the school year and make this the best year of my life. 00:25:22.160 --> 00:25:23.200 And they're supposed to flush it. 00:25:23.279 --> 00:25:24.319 Half of them throw it away. 00:25:24.480 --> 00:25:26.400 Sometimes they do it, sometimes they don't. 00:25:26.559 --> 00:25:32.799 But it's a powerful thing when you realize what a negative attitude can have on your faith. 00:25:32.960 --> 00:25:34.640 If you don't think that's true, ask Harry. 00:25:34.799 --> 00:25:36.720 He taught with me, so he knows. 00:25:37.039 --> 00:25:41.759 We see a fooie attitude at the end of this chapter. 00:25:42.000 --> 00:25:43.839 And I wish it were the only experience. 00:25:43.920 --> 00:25:47.279 I wish it were the only example in the Bible of a fooie attitude, but it's not. 00:25:47.440 --> 00:25:48.640 The whole book of Jonah. 00:25:48.720 --> 00:25:49.440 Have you read it? 00:25:49.680 --> 00:25:53.119