It's About Time to Fight Effectively

1 Sam. 7:1-15 It's About Time to Fight Effectively Sermon Outline for September 18, 2011 by Pastor Dennis

Intro - Luke 13 and 9/11; Ps. 18:31-40; 144:1,2

1. Lamenting our state - 2b And all the house of Israel lamented after the LORD.

2. Putting away our idols and recommitting ourselves to total service to Yahweh
   3 Then Samuel spoke to all the house of Israel, saying, “If you return to the LORD with all your hearts, then put away the foreign gods and the Ashtoreths from among you, and prepare your hearts for the LORD, and serve Him only; and He will deliver you from the hand of the Philistines.”4 So the children of Israel put away the Baals and the Ashtoreths, and served the LORD only.

3. Publicly acknowledging our sins
   5 And Samuel said, “Gather all Israel to Mizpah, and I will pray to the LORD for you.”6 So they gathered together at Mizpah, drew water, and poured it out before the LORD. And they fasted that day, and said there, “We have sinned against the LORD.” And Samuel judged the children of Israel at Mizpah.

4. Turning to God for deliverance in our fear
   7 Now when the Philistines heard that the children of Israel had gathered together at Mizpah, the lords of the Philistines went up against Israel. And when the children of Israel heard of it, they were afraid of the Philistines.8 So the children of Israel said to Samuel, “Do not cease to cry out to the LORD our God for us, that He may save us from the hand of the Philistines.”

5. Engaging in liturgical warfare.
   9 And Samuel took a suckling lamb and offered it as a whole burnt offering to the LORD. Then Samuel cried out to the LORD for Israel, and the LORD answered him.