Sermon Central
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The Ultimatum: No Other Choice!
Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Oct 6, 2023 (message contributor)
Summary: Jabesh Gilead was in big trouble. They had bypass God and played with sin. The enemy Nahash gives them the option: the sword or gouge your right eye out and limit your vision? Saul strengthens their hands and strengthens his kingdom.
NO OTHER CHOICE? THE ULTIMATUM… WE CAN’T WIN?
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com (YouTube: Wade Hughes)
Matthew 16:24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
*Surrender: cease from resistance, to give up, lose hope, defeated, not expect better, no expectations of better, let go, no ability to fix, to abandon, resign, no more struggle, to give in.
SPIRITUAL CHICKENS? HEAR A LITTLE HISTORY OF HOW WE GOT HERE:
God’s people refused to humble themselves. The city of Jabesh Gilead refused to confess and repent… SO THE SINS GOT ISRAEL IN DEEP TROUBLE. Compromise and sin had lowered God’s words effectiveness and DISCOURAGEMENT was spawned in a sin-filled, careless life style. SIN SLOWLY DRAINED ALL THE VICTORY OUT OF THE CAMP OF GOD.
Jabesh was a little city in Gilead. GILEAD was the home of the tribe of GAD AND ½ tribe of Manasseh. GILEAD was a land of rich pastures, good fresh running water and good trees. The people of Jabesh were in big trouble. There was an enemy just east of Gilead, THE AMMONITES.
NAHASH WAS AN EVIL ENEMY AND HIS DESIRE WAS TO HUMILIATE GOD’S PEOPLE. NAHASH IS AN AGENT OF THE ENEMY’S OF GOD… THE DEAL MUST BE TOTAL SURRENDER. THERE IS A CALL: JUST LET US SERVE THE ENEMY… SATAN DESIRES TO HUMILIATE GOD’S PEOPLE AND BRING REPROACH TO THE CHURCH. Nahash is a type.
THE ENEMY IS CAMPED ALL AROUND US. WE ARE UNDER SIEGE, CUT OFF… WE ARE WILLING TO SURRENDER AND MAKE A COVENANT WITH EVIL… WE WILL SERVE YOU… WE ACCEPT YOUR CONDITIONS AND TERMS OF SURRENDER…
SURRENDER WITHOUT A FIGHT? THE BATTLE IS TOO STRONG FOR US… THE LESSON OF THE ELDERS OF GILEAD OFFER TO SURRENDER… THEY HAVE ALLOWED SIN, SO WE WILL MAKE A COVENANT WITH THE DEVIL? WE ARE UNTESTED.
THE JABESH-GILEAD PEOPLE SOUGHT TERMS TO SURRENDER TO THE ENEMY… NAHASH OF AMMON OFFERS A DEAL…
DIE BY THE SWORD… OR LET US PUT GOUGED OUT EVERY PERSONS RIGHT EYE. . This is more than to disqualify the warriors… THIS IS A TOTAL REPROACH ON ISRAEL. GILEAD FEELS THEY CANNOT FIGHT… SURRENDER OR BE CONQUERED…
BY SURRENDERING TO NAHASH (MEANS SERPENT) WE WILL FOREVER LIMIT OUR VISION AND WILL NEVER BE BATTLE READY. WE CAN’T WIN: I DON’T WANT TO FIGHT… I THINK IT BEST TO JUST SURRENDER… JABESH GILEAD ARE LOSERS.
1 Samuel 11:1 Then Nahash the Ammonite came up, and encamped against Jabeshgilead: and all the men of Jabesh said unto Nahash, Make a covenant with us, and we will serve thee. 2 And Nahash the Ammonite answered them, on this condition will I make a covenant with you, that I may thrust out all your right eyes, and lay it for a reproach upon all Israel. 3 And the elders of Jabesh said unto him, Give us seven days' respite, that we may send messengers unto all the coasts of Israel: and then, if there be no man to save us, we will come out to thee.
The people of Jabesh were in big trouble. They had a strong enemy just east of Gilead, THE AMMONITES. Will we make a treaty with the enemy. NAHASH IS WILLING TO WAIT SEVEN DAYS BECAUSE HE THINKS THAT NO ONE CAN SAVE FROM HIS POWER… (DON’T FORGET THE GOD FACTOR.)
THIS IS ABOUT MORE THAN YOUR RIGHT EYE. THIS IS ABOUT GIVING UP. THERE IS A CRY FOR DIVINE HELP. THE FEAR OF GOD COMES DOWN… SAUL KNOWS THIS IS MORE THAN HIS BATTLE, THIS BATTLE IS FOR GOD AND ISRAEL.
1 Samuel 11:6 And the Spirit of God came upon Saul when he heard those tidings, and his anger was kindled greatly.
7 And he took a yoke of oxen, and hewed them in pieces, and sent them throughout all the coasts of Israel by the hands of messengers, saying, Whosoever cometh not forth after Saul and after Samuel, so shall it be done unto his oxen. And the fear of the LORD fell on the people, and they came out with one consent. 8 And when he numbered them in Bezek, the children of Israel were three hundred thousand, and the men of Judah thirty thousand.
SAUL CUTS AN OX UP AND SENDS THE PIECE TO GOD’S PEOPLE. WE MUST REFUSE TO ACCEPT DEATH AND LOSING OUR VISION. WE MUST GET OVER THIS TOTAL SURRENDER. QUIT SAYING WE CAN’T WINI THEY ARE REALLY SAYING: WE
DON’T WANT TO FIGHT… WE THINK IT BEST TO JUST SURRENDER…
WE CAN’T AFFORD TO SURRENDER. WE MUST TRUST GOD AND GOD’S PEOPLE. THE BATTLE PLAN MAKES 3 GROUPS TO VICTORY… GOD USES SAUL TO ESTABLISH THE RETURN TO GOD… TO JABESH AND STRENGTHEN SAUL’S THRONE.
