Sermons

22/7/2018                                                          Effective Leadership                                                    1 Samuel 7:1-17

A trivia question. Which Old Testament man has the dubious privilege of being mentioned in songs sung by Elvis Presley, Tom Jones and Neil Sedaka? Answer: Samson. The man with the hair problem. A flawed man used by God as a saviour of Israel. One of many revealed in the book of Judges. After the death of the godly leader Joshua. A period of Israel’s history with a cycle of rebellion against God; crying out to God for help; raising up of a saviour, Deborah, Gideon, Samson included; rescue and peace. Then rebellion again, the cycle repeated. Judges concludes with the foreboding words. ‘In those days Israel had no king: everyone did as they saw fit.’ Today, beginning at ch7, we begin a series from I Samuel. A book revealing God’s response to the leadership crisis Israel faces. If you have a long memory and been around awhile you might remember I preached on the first 6 chapters in 2012. They are worth rereading. Ch1-3 tells the story of God’s response: the birth and growth of Samuel. Ch4-6 tells of God’s dealing with Israel and their corrupt leaders. Using their Philistine enemies as instruments of judgement. The horror of Israel’s judgement seen in the capture of the ark of the LORD. A gold plated wooden box containing the 2 stone tablets on which the 10 commandments are written.  Symbolising God’s covenant commitment to Israel and his glorious presence with them. The Philistines also experience judgement: the heavy hand of the LORD while they had the ark. So they sent it back to Israel. To a place called Beth Shemesh. They too experienced the heavy hand of the LORD. ‘Then

the men of Beth-Shemesh said, “Who is able to stand before the LORD, this holy God? And to whom shall he go up away from us?” 6:20 (ESV). We take up the story in ch7. The people of Beth Shemesh don’t deal with the problem they have with God. Instead, they move this troublesome God to another town. There, God is respected as the ark of the Lord is guarded by one properly set aside for the task. Twenty years pass before the narrator tells us ‘…and all the house of Israel lamented after the LORD.’ 7:2 (ESV) Implied by this lament. Another cycle of spiritual failure despite the LORD’S presence. Ignoring the LORD, disregarding the covenant, adopting Canaanite gods, facing renewed threats from the Philistines. Without any hint, Samuel suddenly appears in the story. Absent but not inactive over the previous 20 year period. One senses this is his time. What unfolds is a mighty act of the gracious God of Israel. Through the effective leadership of his godly servant Samuel. Bringing people back to God. As one writer described it, by speaking the gospel according to Samuel. His gospel elements: returning, putting away, heart commitment, promise of deliverance. So Samuel said to all the Israelites, “If you are returning to the Lord with all your hearts, then rid yourselves of the foreign gods and the Ashtoreths and commit yourselves to the Lord and serve him only, and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.” So the Israelites put away their Baals and Ashtoreths, and served the Lord only. v3-4 It is not enough for the Israelites to be sorry for ignoring God. Repentance is necessary. Turning away from false gods of whatever shape. Fully committing to following and serving the Lord God. At a high point in Israel’s history, this is what Israel did under Samuel’s effective leadership. Sisters and brothers, this is the unchanging gospel. Spoken throughout the Old Testament, from the lips of Jesus, taught and handed down by the apostles. Effective leaders in God’s church will preach that uncharging gospel and live by it. V5-12 fleshes out what is summarized already. The narrator brings three things to our attention. Samuel intercedes for the Israelites (v5). Doing what they are unable to do for themselves. Effectively pray. Repentant Israel, unlike unrepentant Israel, seeks the LORD for their rescue. Instead of fighting the Philistines in their own strength as they did in the past (v8). The LORD answers with the resounding defeat of the Philistines (v10). God delivering his people. Acting positively toward Israel for the first time since, back in ch1, he answered Hannah’s prayer and Samuel is born. In v13-17 the narrator tells of the depth of Israel’s restoration and peace. A gift of God flowing because Israel is at peace with God. In right relationship with God. Led by a righteous, effective leader. ‘Samuel continued as Israel’s leader all the days of his life.’ v15 Brothers and sisters, Samuel is the leader Israel needed. Raised up by God by his miraculous birth. A leader to bring them back to God. In his grace and mercy God gives the world a leader greater than Samuel. The Lord Jesus Christ. ‘For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.’ John 3:16 ^‘For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit.’ 1 Peter 3:18 By his death and resurrection, Jesus brings us back to God. Interceding for us, leading us in righteousness and into righteousness of life. The restoration and peace Israel experienced under Samuel’s leadership a shadow of the experience of every believer. Justified, sanctified, forgiven, set free. Have you returned to the Lord in repentance, wholehearted trust in Jesus and in submission to him as King? Praise God for all he has done for us in the effective leadership of Jesus Christ. Sisters and brothers, in light of the growing spiritual failure in the western church. In light of the deepening departure from apostolic faith the church needs effective leaders like Samuel. Men and women dedicated to bringing people back to God by teaching and sharing the unchanging gospel. By leading people into single-minded allegiance to the Lordship of Jesus. Right now in New Zealand, four Anglican churches in the capital Christchurch are preparing to move out of their church buildings and meet somewhere else. Led by effective leaders committed to bringing people back to God by preaching the gospel and teaching the apostolic faith.  Their denomination, the Anglican Church in New Zealand, moving away from authentic Christian faith, embracing false teaching, including a redefinition of marriage. Brothers and sisters you have a role in ensuring effective leadership in God’s church. Pray that your church leaders will be effective leaders in the mould of Samuel. In the character of Christ. Pray for our new Bishop. For me, Simon and Pam. For your Wardens and Parish Council. Pray that Northern Beaches Anglicans will always have effective leaders. Be an effective leader. Each of you exercises leadership. In your families, peer group, community groups. Wherever you meaningfully engage with other people. Where are your present and future opportunities to influence and shape others? To bring people back to God. To model and lead people into a righteousness of life. Ask God to give you a passion for the lost. A wisdom and boldness to speak God’s words into the lives of others. (Give relevant examples at this point) One of the personal blessings of God in my life is the gift of effective leaders. Men and women who love Jesus and his word, who keep bringing me back to God. Who are still doing that. Thanks be to God for Jesus. Thanks be to God for Samuel. Thanks be to God for the effective leaders who bring us back to God. We are God’s gift to others for this time, in this place so others may declare, thanks be to God.