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It May Save Us I) The Day Israel Lost the Ark of The Covenant A) 1 Samuel 4.1 1. Israel is defeated by the Philistines, v. 3 a. Why the defeat? Goes back to a general period of unfaithfulness to God. b. Whenever there is a problem we generally search for a solution or accept the situation. 2. Solution is in verse 3, notice the word "it" - it may save us. B) The ark of the covenant 1. A physical object established by God, described in Exodus 25.10-22 a. The mercy seat on top of the ark. b. Exodus 25.22 there God would meet and speak with them. c. Leviticus 16.2 He appears as a cloud 2. It was to be housed in the tent of meeting in the most holy of holies, Exodus 26.33 3. Inside the ark was the tablets of stone, a pot of manna, and Aaron's rod, Hebrews 9.4 C) The power of the ark 1. Notice what Moses would say, Numbers 10.35 a. We read of the victorious battles of Israel against larger foes. 2. Notice the power of the ark at the crossing of the Jordan River, Joshua 3.14-17 a. Who needs a bridge when you have the ark of the covenant? b. What enemy could stand up against the power of the ark of the covenant? D) It may save us! 1. They brought the ark of covenant to the battle field. a. Imagine this ark being carried out amongst the children of Israel. b. They were stirred up and excited because the ark was there with them. 2. They shouted, 1 Samuel 3.5 3. The Philistines were afraid, 1 Samuel 3.6,7 a. They also made an interesting observation. b. Such a thing has never happened before, v. 7 c. Perhaps this should of raised a flag in Israel. They had never done this before. Why? Because it was to be housed in the most holy of holies. 4. Israel was defeated, the ark was captured, Eli's sons were killed, v. 10. Later on Eli fell and broke his neck. E) What happened? Why the defeat? 1. There was a false premise: the ark was powerful therefore the ark would give them the victory. 2. Fact: God was the power of the ark, only when they were obedient to God would He give them the victory. 3. They made the ark the object of adoration and power and not God. 4. Can we see that? Do we see it was God meeting with them at the mercy seat that mattered? Do we see that it only when they did what God said when God protected them? II) Lessons from the Ark of the Covenant For Us Today A) People place a lot of emphasis on "Christian symbols" 1. Having a symbol somehow proves that one is pleasing to God. Crosses, fishes, Christmas trees, etc. 2. The cross only matters if are willing to be crucified with Christ, Galatians 2.20. 3. The power of the cross is only in the power of the blood that was shed for our sins. 4. We are not to worship the cross but take it up, Mark 8.34. B) People place a lot of emphasis on the Bible. 1. Carry them around, have them in their homes, etc. 2. Some people study the Bible, answer questions from the Bible. 3. In the eyes of the world, most Christians would be considered "Bible scholars." 4. The Bible does us no good if we do not apply what it says. 5. Notice the admonition to the readers of Revelation, 1.3. 6. The Bible will not save you, the words of the Bible will not save you if you do not do what it teaches. C) People place a great deal of emphasis on church buildings. 1. A lot of people associate religion to a particular building. 2. Perhaps they realize it is not the building but the people that meet in that building. 3. But they do not assemble with the people inside of that building, they do not worship, they do not work with those people, etc. 4. A building will not save you and a congregation will not save you. 5. Only as we work within the body can we please God. That includes recognizing our relationship to our fellow Christians. D) A lot of people place a great deal of emphasis on calling themselves a "Christian" 1. It is an important name, Isaiah 62.2. 2. It was the name used in Acts 11.6 a. It means a follower of Christ. b. It describes who we are and what we are doing. Conclusion: None of the things mentioned in this lesson is wrong, in fact, they were established by God. The ark of the covenant was established by God, the cross, they Bible, the church, and the name of Christian was established by God. But they will not save us without us obeying God.
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