Benaiah: The Lion Chaser
Savage • Sermon • Submitted
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· 257 viewsThe Lion's of life require more than just a chase away, but a full sentence of death. If allowed to live, the Lion will most certainly come back and destroy you.
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Transcript
INTRO
INTRO
new series: Savage
leading students to live unshaken & unafraid in their faith
tonight’s story looks at both aspects of this
Student read 1 Chronicles 11:22-25
BENAIAH’S PROFILE
BENAIAH’S PROFILE
Part of King David’s Mighty Men (secret service, only 30 total)
In charge of King David’s Bodyguard (Black Ops team)
His father, Jehoiada, was the leader of the priests; the High Priest
He kills two heroes (lion-like) men of Moab
Kills an Egyptian that was 7’5” with the Egyptian’s own spear
He also killed a real lion!
This guy was the definition of a Savage!
Tonight’s Focus: when he kills a lion in a pit on a snowy day
Best Day/Worst Day
Best Day/Worst Day
Benaiah has the best and worst day of his life here
Best: he chased a lion away into a pit
Worst: now he has to kill this lion (only one of them is making it out of that pit alive)
New Car: your parents get you a new car for your 16th birthday…worst day: you fail your driver’s test.
New Video Game: you get that new video game that you’ve wanted, but your internet is out and you can’t download the rest of the game
Date w/ Crush: your crush finally asks you out only to stand you up at the date.
Benaiah found himself in a similar situation
In a pit with a wild animal that is now cornered - no wild animal likes to be cornered
Tonight so many of us are in this same situation.
FINISH THE LION
FINISH THE LION
in this story the lion represents our sins
we are okay isolating our sins, or putting them off the side in a box - but it’s a different story when we have to completely kill off the sin
5 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.
we can apologize for our sins, but often we don’t repent of them
Repent: to think differently afterwards
How long have you been struggling with lust in your life and haven’t put it to death?
How long will you continue to allow bitterness to rule your thoughts towards someone else?
How long will you allow promiscuity to be present in your life, leading others astray and filling your desires with manmade solutions.
How long will you choose to live a life of hypocrisy - asking one way in church, and opposite in the world?
one of the biggest struggles of hypocrisy, that I see, is our communication...
we say one thing, but act another way
8 But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.
12 But above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your “yes” be yes and your “no” be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation.
…the list could go on
Identify the Lion
Identify the Lion
You know what the Lion’s are in your life!
It’s time to stop just isolating them or even naming them and keeping them as pets!
TONIGHT is the time to put these Lion’s to death once and for all
GREATEST PROBLEMS ARE OFTEN OUR GREATEST OPPORTUNITIES
GREATEST PROBLEMS ARE OFTEN OUR GREATEST OPPORTUNITIES
Problem
big lion roaring
it’s snowing, there’s very little traction, it’s cold
you’re now stuck in a pit with a lion
Opportunity
the lion is cornered
you can put an end to this once and for all!
Sure, you can leave the lion, but eventually the snow will melt and the lion will emerge from the pit again!
8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
YOU WILL ALWAYS REGRET THE LIONS THAT YOU DON’T FINISH
YOU WILL ALWAYS REGRET THE LIONS THAT YOU DON’T FINISH
The enemy is like a lion on the prowl, seeking someone to devour
The lion wants to kill you - it is not there for fun
Hebrews 11:25 points out that sin is pleasurable for a season
Lust is good for a season and then it overtakes you and you lose control
Hypocrisy is enticing for a moment, the thrill of living a double life, until you are found out and everything comes crashing in
Sin will always promise you a life that it can’t deliver on
11 And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.
20 The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
CONCLUSION
CONCLUSION
Three things to remember when killing your lions
Don’t forget where you came from
Don’t forget where you came from
Benaiah’s dad was a Godly man - just because you were raised Godly doesn’t mean you punk out, it means you step up!
1 But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. 2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. 3 For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. I give Egypt as your ransom, Cush and Seba in exchange for you.
Your external circumstances can’t handle your internal power
Your external circumstances can’t handle your internal power
it was snowing outside - lions and snow don’t mix
If you have a life devoted to God and prayer is your first language (not gossip, etc), and the Spirit of God lives inside of you, then...
4 You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.
You are not trapped with a lion, the lion is trapped with YOU
You are not trapped with a lion, the lion is trapped with YOU
switching your perspective puts you in control, not your sin
How long has this lion been terrorizing you?
how many others is this lion harming?
your sin can cause harm to others
who else can you help find freedom when you’ve conquered your lion?
CHALLENGE
CHALLENGE
kill the lion, tonight, once and for all
19 Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you.
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
17 no weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed, and you shall refute every tongue that rises against you in judgment. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord and their vindication from me, declares the Lord.”
4 Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.
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