INTRODUCTION
This morning, were going to be looking at those intersections in our life that often affect the rest of our life.
These can be a crossroad, blind intersection, forks, Stop signs, traffic circle, or an intersection with multiple streets. Not that anyone here can relate to missing a stop sign or two.
BUT I want to ponder with you this morning - CRITICAL INTERSECTIONS OF LIFE
One such case is recorded between 1 Samuel 13:13 and I Samuel 15:22
• Well get to that in just a few minutes.
First let’s look at Characteristics of dangerous intersections:
• We'll use something we all can relate to who drive on the roads every day.
1. Every day of our lives, we are faced with crisis, decisions, or an experience’s that will affect the rest of our life.
How many have ever had a car wreck? An accident!
Often it’s that last minute split decision or perhaps indecision that make the difference.
2. Perhaps in our day-to-day life it’s a crucial time where God is dealing with us. Can anyone relate?
3. It might even be a time when - Our future is on the line.
The way we react at these dangerous intersections becomes an “indicator” of how we handle danger in other areas of our life.
At the end of life, we can usually trace the success or failure of our life back to one particular point in time.
King Solomon in his writing Ecclesiastes bounces back and forth in what life can hold and the decisions we make in it, but here is how he concludes in the 12 and last chapter
12:1 remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come and the years approach when you will say, “I find no pleasure in them”—
He then wraps it up in vs. 13-14 this way:
13 Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind.14 For God will bring every deed into judgment,
including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil
That folks is very good advice:
NO ONE ESCAPES DANGEROUS CROSSROAD. We just all handle them differently
One type is the- Wreck—is the total loss (insurance says not worth fixing) let’s pray that’s never our lot.
1. But some people fail miserably when it comes to God. Not always in career choice but eternal.
• They deny God perhaps – Simply refuse to accept his existence. Ingmar Bergman – noted atheist, son of a Lutheran minister.
• They fight God. - Friedrich Nietzsche – Noted critic of Christianity who wrote The Antichrist (book) was the son of a pastor.
• They rebel against God. - Jay Bakker – founder of LGBT-friendly Revolution Church, he is the son of televangelist Jim Bakker and evangelist and TV personality Tammy Faye Messner.
• Malcolm X – who convert to Islam. His father is described as "an outspoken Baptist minister
• They run from God. Phil Jackson – former NBA player and current NBA coach; both parents were Assemblies of God ministers. His brothers commented that Phil threw himself into sports because it was the only thing his parents would allow him to do, besides church.
• Jonas Brother’s sons of a former Assemblies of God Worship leader.
• Angela Merkel – Chancellor of Germany, chairwoman of the Christian Democratic Union (Germany), and a Lutheran pastor's daughter.
• Jessica and Ashley Simpson children of a Baptist preacher.
Demas, Paul’s 1st Century coworker made a fatal decision.
“For Demas hath forsaken me, for having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica” (II Timothy 4:10)
Demas was originally in good favor with Paul. Paul spoke well of him. “Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas greet you” (Colossians 4:14). “There salute thee Epaphras, Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas” (Philemon 24)
But for now we will talk about the one listed in I Samuel chapters 13 through 15 King Saul
One could look and see Saul’s early advantages in serving God.
Saul prophesied with the prophets. When they looked for him, he was humble, hiding in the baggage.
1. Early in his reign, he won several battles and wanted God’s blessing before battles and wanted to worship the Lord.
But then there was - Saul’s self-will. – The RED LIGHT RUNNING King.
(I Samuel 13:13).He waited seven days for Samuel and then intruded into the priest office and sacrificed to God.
Samuel told him, “Thou hast done foolishly. Thou hast not kept the commandments of the Lord”
Then there was Saul’s incomplete obedience. RUNNING STOP – How many have ever done a rolling stop?
God told him to destroy the Amalekites, but Saul saved Agag the king and the best spoils as a reward.
Samuel told him, “Wherefore then didst thou not obey the voice of the Lord, but didst fly upon the spoil, and didst evil in the sight of the Lord” (I Samuel 15:19).
What was God’s reason for judgment?
“Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice” (I Samuel 15:22).
SO LETS LOOK AT THE - Results of Saul’s wrecking his life:
a. God appointed young sixteen-year-old David to replace him.
b. The Spirit of God left Saul.
c. In its place He became a neurotic, persecute by an evil spirit, i.e. demons.
d. Vengeful/hateful: spent sixteen years chasing David, rather than fighting the Philistines.
e. Consulted with a witch for the future rather than praying to God. He tried to kill his son.
f. Eventually defeated in battle. His son is killed and he and committed suicide.
BUT THERE IS GOOD NEWS IF A PERSON IS WILLING TO HEAR IT , sadly Saul wasn’t.
The Lord is a God of the second chance. (Joel 2:25). “He will restore the years the locust hath eaten”
Second: Accident--fender bender
Peter had a fender bender – After vowing to Jesus that he would never deny Him
Luke 22:54-62
[54] Then seizing him, they led him away and took him into the house of the high priest. Peter followed at a distance. [55] But when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter sat down with them. [56] A servant girl saw him seated there in the firelight. She looked closely at him and said, "This man was with him."
[57] But he denied it. "Woman, I don't know him," he said.
[58] A little later someone else saw him and said, "You also are one of them."
"Man, I am not!" Peter replied.
[59] About an hour later another asserted, "Certainly this fellow was with him, for he is a Galilean."
[60] Peter replied, "Man, I don't know what you're talking about!" Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed. [61] The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: "Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times." [62] And he went outside and wept bitterly.
Yet because he acknowledged his failure and repented the Lord not only allowed his restoration, he honored him with the first Pentecostal sermon where 3,000 were saved.
Some decisions limit what we can do in life. We never do all we were supposed to do because of one bad decision. We have an accident, but the car never runs properly.
King David is the picture of that – Called a man after Gods own heart, as a teen slays goliath, and yet fails and falls in adultery but worse still a murderer by having Bathsheba’s husband killed.
He later is unable to be the one who builds Gods Temple
I Chron. 28:3 But God said to me, 'You are not to build a house for my Name, because you are a warrior and have shed blood.'
So what are the: Characteristics of his bad decision:
a. They are driven by our own will and not Gods
b. They are often in direct opposition to his Word or his stated will
c. They come from wrong motivation.
NOW THE Third: YIELD Crossing
Certain folks come to critical intersections in their life, and make a decision that determines the rest of their life. Let me tell you about these intersections.
1. We usually face more than one in our lifetime. Life is choice, but along the way, we are faced repeatedly with particular situations that will shape the rest of our days. Or will cause an outcome that is directly in proportion to our choice.
For those sports lovers - I will touch on a choice that was made with roughly 2 minutes left in this year’s Super bowl. A little more than 2 minutes left in the game, Atlanta was up by 8 and within field goal distance. If they kick a field goal, they are up by 11 and the game is out of reach. All they need to do is run the ball 3 times, take time off the clock, kick the field goal and they are Super Bowl champions.
But instead the coach opts to pass and the QB is sacked for a substantial loss putting them just about out of field goal range. Next play he chooses to pass again, and one of his linesmen is called for holding, a 10 yard penalty and now they are out of field goal range. New England gets the ball back and is able to score, make the 2 point conversion and go on to win in overtime. One decision.
The Decisions that alter our life one way or the other are never easy.
2. These are excruciating and extremely difficult decisions. Perhaps the best example is Jesus going to the cross. In the garden he says father if there is any other way, but concludes with never the less not my will but thy will be done.
2. There are usually some dangers regardless of what choice we make, and so we must carefully choose what direction we will go in. Often the easier or safer looking path is the wrong path.
Proverbs 14:12New King James Version (NKJV)
12 There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.
4. One thing I have learned is that we do not always understanding the eternal implications of a decision.
Abraham chose to go the route of the concubine rather than trust God and today we have a worldwide problem with Islam because of that.
Adam and Eve – had no clue the pain they would cause with a simple bite of forbidden fruit.
Cautiously:
5. We usually have to climb over a barrier to make a good decision.
1. Money.
2. Power.
3. Pride.
4. Things (possessions).
5. Sex.
WHAT ARE THE CHOICE WE MAKE OR CAN MAKE.
1. Turnaround. ( Slide God allows U TURNS)
Think about that –
Evil things that Manasseh did:
• Rebuilt high places and built altars for Baal.
• Bowed down and worshiped the stars.
• Built altars to false gods/idols and placed them in the Lord’s temple and put altars in the courtyard of the temple.
• Sacrificed his sons to the god named Molech by throwing them into a fire.
• He practiced sorcery, divination and witchcraft.
• Put a carved image in the Temple
But here is what we read in:
2 Chronicles 33:12-13New International Version (NIV)
12 In his distress he sought the favor of the Lord his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his ancestors. 13 And when he prayed to him, the Lord was moved by his entreaty and listened to his plea; so he brought him back to Jerusalem and to his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the Lord is God.
2. GOD PROVIDES - New Direction.
He gave Abraham a second chance, Jacob a second chance. Peter a second chance, Paul a second chance, and he will give to you and I a second chance IF we will stop the way we are going and let him be our GPS Gods Personal Source.
“Sometimes you must choose a new path, or you are choosing a new direction.
Young people today call it a paradigm shift. It is a new focus in life. The Apostle Paul stepped through a new door when he had to stop persecuting the church, become converted and enter the church. He had to stop preaching the Law, and begin preaching grace.
His view was forgetting what was behind, and pressing on to the mark of the High Calling found in Christ Jesus.
It takes - A Step of Faith.
When God was preparing Moses we are told in (Hebrews 11:24-27)
“By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for season; esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward. By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.”
b. And it further too the burning bush experience to keep him on course.
To the place where he would say to God in Ex. 33:15 “If thy presence do not go with me, carry us up not hence”.
HOW TO APPROACH A DANGEROUS INTERSECTION in our life?
1. With Godly Caution:
Like any crossroad you approach, look both ways (to past and future), be careful of the dangers, of things you don’t see, and what you see.
2. Know the track record. – How have others fared in this same situation?
(I Corinthians 10:6) “Whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning” (Romans 15:4). “Now these things were our examples.”
It’s easy to get off track when you are following blindly.
Illustration:
A young woman is driving in unfamiliar snow country, in a blinding whiteout storm. No chains, visibility five feet, a winding road. She remembers that her grandpa had said: “Find a snowplow and just stay right behind him. Their big snow tires will carve out a path for you; also, they have those piercing headlights.” She spots one and jumps right behind him, turning where he turns, keeping at his speed. The road is more winding than she remembers, but she gamely follows close behind. Suddenly he stops; the driver comes back to where she is parked. “Lady, what in the world are you doing? Are you with the FBI or something?” She explains her grandpa’s theory. “I hope you don’t mind if I just follow you.” He shrugs. “Suit yourself. I’m done clearing the Wal-Mart parking lot; now I’m heading over to Albertson’s. Be my guest.”
The apostle Paul said it best – Follow me as I follow Christ. Know who and what you are following.
3. Maintain a daily sensitive walk with God:
So you can understand experiences whether they are normal or epic variety.
4. Have a Spirit-led caution concerning every decision.
5. Don’t be so overcautious that you lose your freedom of ministry or you are afraid to fail, so you do nothing.
