BEWARE THE ENEMY IS EVERYWHERE

PROCLAMATION

“So, the priest gave him the consecrated bread … Now one of Saul’s servants was there that day … he was Doeg, the Edomite, Saul’s chief shepherd.”  “But Doeg, the Edomite, … said ‘I saw the son of Jesse come to Ahimelech son of Ahitub at Nob … he also gave him provisions …’”  1 Samuel 21:7 and 22:9-10 (NIV)

EXPLANATION

After Jonathan was convinced that his father, King Saul, really wanted to kill David, (1 Samuel 20:33) he went to the field where David was hiding (1 Samuel 20:35) and the two of them talked and cried. (1 Samuel 20:41-42)  Then David left Ramah and went to Nob to meet with Ahimelech, the priest. (1 Samuel 21:1)  But one of King Saul’s men, Doeg the chief herdsman, was in Nob (1 Samuel 21:7) and he saw David meeting with Ahimelech.  He reported this to Saul (1 Samuel 22:9) who had all the priests and their families, herds and flocks killed because they had aided David. (1 Samuel 22:16-19)  David knew that Doeg would tell Saul that he saw him, which is why he left Nob and went to Gath, (1 Samuel 21:10) but he did not expect that Saul would kill everyone in the city. (1 Samuel 22:22)

APPLICATION

The priests were killed because they would not help the enemy kill an innocent man.  When we as believers take a stand to help or protect the innocent, it is quite likely that we will also be attacked.  Doing the right thing by helping others will not make us popular with the people, in fact, it will probably make us very unpopular.  That is why when we take a stand for that which is right, we need to put on the whole armor of God and pray in order to withstand the attacks that will surely come at us. (Ephesians 6:11-18)  Beware, the enemy is everywhere.

NARROW IS THE WAY THAT LEADS TO ETERNAL LIFE

Proclamation:

“Someone asked Him, ‘Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?’  He said to them, ‘Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and not be able to.  Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading,’ ‘Sir, open the door for us.’ But He will answer, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from.’  Then you will say, ‘We ate and drank with You, and You taught in our streets.’  But He will reply, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from.  Away from Me, all you evildoers!’  …”  Luke 13:23-30 (NIV)

Explanation:

These are the words of Jesus, The Christ, as recorded by Luke, the physician, under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  Luke began this chapter by quoting the warning which Jesus gave to the people to repent or parish. (Luke 13:1-5)  Then Jesus told them the parable of the fig tree. (Luke 13:6-9)  Afterwards, Jesus healed a crippled woman on the Sabbath in the synagogue and again angered the Pharisees and the teachers of the law. (Luke 13:10-17)  Later, in response to the question asked by someone in the crowd that was following Him as He headed towards Jerusalem, Jesus replied, make sure that you enter through the narrow door.  He said, wide is the gate and broad is the well-travelled road that leads to destruction.  But small is the gate and narrow is the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. (Matthew 7:13-14)  Everyone in the crowd following Jesus was not a believer.

Application:

Unfortunately, not everyone who attends church worship services are saved believers.  Some people are in the crowd for other reasons.  When the time comes, they will be told to depart from Him because He does not know them.  Actually, He knows their hearts and knows that they are evil doers and workers of iniquity. (Luke 13:27)  There will be some people in heaven who we will be surprised to see, and there will be others who we expected to see who will not be there. (Luke 13:28)  Let us repent, confess, and believe, (Romans 10:9) and make sure that our names are written in the book of life. (Revelation 20:15)