"Building a Church Through Outreach"
Come Out, Come Out, Wherever You Are…
ELCOG 6/3/07
Text: 1 Sam. 13:5-7
This morning I want us to take a look into a couple of chapters in 1 Samuel and see how fear destroys lives. Leading up to these set of verses we find the army if Israel in a constant war with Philistia. King Saul had not long been appointed king. He was on a campaign to defeat Israel’s enemies. In verse 3 Jonathan attacked and defeated the garrison of Philistines. The news began to spread that Israel was in revolt and the hatred of the Philistines grew to an all time high against the children of Isreal. The Philistine’s army mustered up about 30,000 chariots, 6,000 horsemen and there appeared to be as many ground warriors as there were grains of sand. This army looked too big for Israel's army so fear gripped there hearts.
Verse 6 in the New Living translation reads, "When the men of Israel saw the vast number of enemy troops, they lost their nerve entirely and tried to hide in caves, holes, rocks, tombs, and cisterns."
This army was facing a problem that seemed impossible for them to handle. They were facing an army that was too big for them. They were too mighty. But the children of Isreal forgot one thing. They had one troop that the philistines did not have: God. In chapter 12 they had received a great promise from the prophet Samuel that if they continue to serve the lord that all would be well.
But now there is a visible problem. The smell of the burning animal sacrifice is out of the air and the sight of the enemy is all around. Fear grips their heart and in their mind the only thing to do was to hide. Jump in a hole, an empty grave or behind a rock. HIDE! The enemy is too big. If I hide my face, I will be safe. Fear put a confident army in the rock pit.
Some of you this morning are in the same position. You can no longer smell the anointing oil that was upon your forehead last Sunday and the feel of victory is out of your spirit and now fear is gripping your heart. You have walked out of your tent and spotted an enemy that is much bigger than you. You have spotted an enemy that is larger than life and you feel like the only option is to hide. You have jumped into a hole or behind a rock. For some reason the only safe place for you right now seems to be a hiding place.
Fear is gripping your heart. Beware fear will destroy your life:
1 John 4:18
18There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
Prov. 29:25
25The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe.
Luke 21:26
26Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.
Fear binds you. He causes you to hide in graves. It makes you forget that God is still in control.
Fear causes you to make bad decisions.
**Back to 1 Sam. 13:7b-14
Saul was gripped with fear, his men were hiding and he decided to make a sacrifice to the Lord. He made a decision that destroyed his kingdom. It was one of several steps in disobedience that led to Saul becoming a miserable man. His fear led him to disobedience.
Are you at the place of disobedience in your life because of fear? Have you strayed away because of the fear of the enemy? Have you forsaken your trust in God because you didn’t think you could handle the situation that was placed in your life? Has the enemy caused you to become impatient and caused you to get ahead of God’s plan in your life?
"COME OUT, COME OUT WHEREVER YOU ARE"
Where are you hiding? Come out before you disobey God. Come out before you forget that God is on control. Come out before you give up and run away. Come out! God is your God and he has everything in control. Come out, come out, wherever you are!
Heb. 13:6
6So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.
2 Tim. 1:7
7For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
Rom. 8:15
15For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
Psa. 118:6
6 The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?
Psa. 118:7
7 The LORD taketh my part with them that help me: therefore shall I see my desire upon them that hate me.
Psa. 118:8
8 It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.
Psa. 118:9
9 It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in princes.
**Back to 1 Sam. 14:6-10, 12-15, 20-23
There has been a battle cry from the enemy, "Come Out and fight with us" Here this cry, and remember that the Lord is on your side. You will not be defeated. Your enemy can be destroyed with just you and your God. Watch God turn your fear into His victory. You are not defeated yet, get up and charge the enemy. It doesn’t matter that you are fighting alone; you can still set God in motion. Jonathon set God’s power in motion by stepping out of fear and into battle. God will do the rest if you will just take the first step. Climb the rock and draw the sword and set the battle in motion and watch God turn the enemy on itself. You are His child and you need to come out of hiding and fight the devil. ‘Come out, come out, wherever you are!" Get out of hiding and fight your battle. The victory is yours!
1 John 5:4
4For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
1 John 5:5
5Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?
1 Cor. 15:57
57But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Come out and fight. Stop your running. Stop disobeying God and come out and fight. God has given you the victory. You are the victor. You may be out numbered, but God is on your side. Come out! You are about to win the battle! Confusion is turning on itself and you are going to win! "Come out, come out wherever you are!"