Heart of a Warrior - Dr. Greg Bourgond

Samuel - Part 1

Another often forgotten hero of the OT is Samuel the Prophet.  We talk about Elijah, Elisha, Daniel and Ezekiel but rarely Samuel—yet he is the only prophet mentioned by name in the heroes of te faith in Bebrews Chapter 11.

1 Samuel 3:19-21

The Lord was with Samuel as he grew up, and he let none of his words fall to the ground. And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba recognized that Samuel was attested as a prophet of the Lord. The Lord continued to appear at Shiloh, and there he revealed himself to Samuel through his word. NIV

Hebrews 11:32-34

And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets, who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. NIV

The Life Application Bible makes the following comments regarding the life and ministry of Samuel, the last and most effective of Israel’s judges.

“We often wonder about the childhoods of great people.  We have little information about the early years of most of the people mentioned in the Bible.  One delightful exception is Samuel; he came as a result of God’s answer to Hannah’s (his mother) fervent prayer for a child.  In fact, the name Samuel comes from the Hebrew expression, “heard of God.”  God shaped Samuel from the start.  Like Moses, Samuel was called to fill many different roles; judge, priest, prophet, counselor, and God’s man at a turning point in the history of Israel.  God worked through Samuel because Samuel was willing to be one thing:  God’s servant.”

“Samuel showed that those whom God finds faithful in small things will be trusted with greater things.  He grew up assisting the high priest Eli in the tabernacle until God directed him to other responsibilities.  God was able to use Samuel because he was genuinely dedicated to God.”

“Samuel moved ahead because he was listening to God’s directions.  Too often we ask God to control our lives without making us give up the goals for which we strive.  We ask God to help us to get where we want to go.  The first step in correcting this tendency is to turn over both the control and destination of our lives to Him.  The second step is to do what we already know God requires of us.  The third step is to listen for further direction from His Word—God’s map for life.”

Samuel’s Strengths and Accomplishments:

• Used by God to assist Israel’s transition from a loosely governed tribal people to a monarchy.
• Anointed the first two kings of Israel (Saul and David).
• Is listed in the Hall of Faith in Hebrews 11.

Samuel’s Weaknesses and Mistakes:

• Was unable to lead his sons into a close relationship with God.

Jonathan - Final

Three Purposes for Our Lives

John Eldridge, author of Wild at Heart, says God has created men for three purposes; a cause to die for, a challenge to embrace, and loved ones to protect.  If we run from these responsibilities we will lose our true identity—the identity God gave us before we ever came to be.

Christ is our model for manhood – He had a ‘cause’ to die for – atonement for the sins of the world, a challenge to embrace—the suffering of the cross, and love ones to protect-- the redemption of mankind. 

1       What cause, larger than yourself, are you prepared to die for?  

2       What challenge does God want you to embrace? 

3       Who has God called you to protect?

Living in accordance with who God wired (ordained, designed, created) you to be will take courage and risk.  We are told in Scripture to…

Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong. 1 Corinthians 16:13

My friend Erwin McManus says “courage is not the absence of fear; it is the absence of self.

Antarctic explorer Ernest Shackleton posted the following advertisement in 1913:

Men wanted for hazardous journey.  Small wages.  Bitter cold.  Long months of complete darkness.  Constant danger.  Safe return doubtful.  Honor and recognition in case of success. 

Who would respond to such an ad?

More than five thousand men applied for twenty-six slots.

Taking risks is a part of life.  Taking risks is a part of every man’s DNA. 

What have you risked for the sake of another lately? 

What have you risked for the sake of God’s kingdom lately?

Philippians 4:13 I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.

It is fairly easy today to sound like an expert on just about anything to day.  The Internet gives us access to data on just about any subject.  We can sound like an expert.

Politicians often make statements, declarations, proclamations and promises they rarely keep.  Each political hopeful builds his campaign on the broken promises of the politicians they hope to replace—the cycle repeats itself over and over again.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        The same can be said of many Christian leaders.  Talk is cheap as the saying goes.  Standing in stark contrast to empty rhetoric is committed action.

You see--nobody really cares what you have to say until they observe how you live.  If you live a life of courage, honor, and integrity; if your life bears testimony to what you believe and what you value; if you choose to live and act in accordance with God’s redemptive purposes—then people will notice, then they will listen to what you have to say, even if they disagree with you.

A life well lived appears extraordinary to ordinary people.  Take a risk for the kingdom, do something out of the ordinary, be courageous, be different—be a Jonathan and see what God will do!

Jonathan - Part 4

 6.      A hero after God’s heart relies on God’s guidance (vs.9-10).

 So both of them showed themselves to the Philistine outpost. "Look!" said the Philistines. "The Hebrews are crawling out of the holes they were hiding in." The men of the outpost shouted to Jonathan and his armor-bearer, "Come up to us and we'll teach you a lesson." So Jonathan said to his armor-bearer, "Climb up after me; the LORD has given them into the hand of Israel."

 7.      A hero after God’s heart engages the challenge regardless of the odds (vs.11-12).

 Jonathan climbed up, using his hands and feet, with his armor-bearer right behind him. The Philistines fell before Jonathan, and his armor-bearer followed and killed behind him. In that first attack Jonathan and his armor-bearer killed some twenty men in an area of about half an acre.

 8.      A hero after God’s heart lays it all on the line (vs.13-14).

 Then panic struck the whole army-those in the camp and field, and those in the outposts and raiding parties-and the ground shook. It was a panic sent by God. 

 9.      A hero after God’s heart knows he isn’t fighting alone (v.15).

 Hebrews 12:1-3 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

 

Jonathan - Part 3

Nine Characteristics of a Hero after God’s Heart (1 Samuel 14:1-14)

Let’s pick up the story …

One day Jonathan son of Saul said to the young man bearing his armor, "Come, let's go over to the Philistine outpost on the other side." But he did not tell his father.

1.      A hero after God’s heart takes initiative (v.1)

Saul was staying on the outskirts of Gibeah under a pomegranate tree in Migron. With him were about six hundred men, among whom was Ahijah, who was wearing an ephod. He was a son of Ichabod's brother Ahitub son of Phinehas, the son of Eli, the LORD's priest in Shiloh. No one was aware that Jonathan had left.

2.      A hero after God’s heart does not always announce his plan (vs. 2-3).

On each side of the pass that Jonathan intended to cross to reach the Philistine outpost was a cliff; one was called Bozez, and the other Seneh. One cliff stood to the north toward Micmash, the other to the south toward Geba. 

3.      A hero after God’s heart doesn’t allow circumstances to overwhelm him (vs. 4-5).

Jonathan said to his young armor-bearer, "Come, let's go over to the outpost of those uncircumcised fellows. Perhaps the LORD will act in our behalf. Nothing can hinder the LORD from saving, whether by many or by few."

4.      A hero after God’s heart trusts the outcome to God (v.6).

"Do all that you have in mind," his armor-bearer said.  "Go ahead; I am with you heart and soul." Jonathan said, "Come, then; we will cross over toward the men and let them see us.

5.      A hero after God’s heart is a risk-taker (vs. 7-8).

Neil Anderson, founder of Freedom in Christ Ministries and author of Victory Over Darkness and Bondage Breaker, speaks on the important subject of risk. 

“Risks,” says Dr. Anderson, “must be taken because the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing. The person who risks nothing does nothing, has nothing, is nothing. He may avoid suffering and sorrow, but he simply cannot learn, feel, change, grow, love . . . live. Chained by his certitudes, he is a slave; he has forfeited freedom.

What a privilege for us to be able to walk by faith in God Himself, armed with all the promises of His Word. I suppose we all desire the security of the solid tree trunk, but the fruit is out on the limb. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

The timid soul asks, "What do I stand to lose if I do it?" The fruit-bearing Christians asks, "What do I stand to lose if I don't do it?"  Real life is lived on the cutting edge.”

If they say to us, 'Wait there until we come to you,' we will stay where we are and not go up to them. But if they say, 'Come up to us,' we will climb up, because that will be our sign that the LORD has given them into our hands."

Jonathan - Part 2

In my devotions one day I read the following …

God will not take us down easy paths to conform us to Jesus. He does not lead us on a walk in the park, but toward a struggle in the garden of Gethsemane, where strong wills are subdued, and the glory of God and the welfare of others compete with our own personal plans. And we know when we get there, that He will lead us into death.

It’s a painful death, but a glorious one. The other side of it is resurrection, which God has planned all along. Our ultimate, humble obedience will lead to high exaltation. Why?

Because a lowly-then-exalted Jesus has called us.

What do heroes have in common…

1       They put their self interests aside for the sake of others.

2       They leaned into their fear and acted on their values.

3       They stepped outside of their comfort zone and took uncharacteristic risks.

4       They shunned the mantle of ‘hero’ and simply did what needed to be done.

5       They acted on their beliefs and values because it was the right thing to do.

You may not feel like a hero but there is a hero within you …

What does a hero after God’s heart look like?  We could look at Moses, Daniel, Elijah or Paul. 

Instead I would like us to look at four heroes in the Bible that have received less acclaim then these giants of the faith—two warriors and two prophets.

We can learn a lot about leadership from their example!

How about Jonathan? 

Jonathan was a close friend of David.  Although he was the rightful heir to the throne of his father Saul he recognized that David was God’s anointed.  He must decrease and David must increase.  He defended and protected David at great peril to his own life.  He challenged the Philistines and trusted God for victory against great odds. 

His courage, valor, and humility set him apart as a man after God’s heart. 

 

I'm Back...

Sorry for the long absence...

I am still reflecting on the trip to Romania and what God did there.  The messages I wrote and delivered seemed to hit the mark.  God spoke to the men.  I thought it might be helpful to you at large to read these messages in bite sizes. 

The first four messages delivered in Sibui to 39 pastors focused on four unheralded heroes of the Old Testament-- two warrriors (Jonathan and Caleb) and two prophets (Jeremiah and Samuel).  The second set of messages delivered in Cluj were entitled Fact Versus Fiction, Spiritual Archery, The Value of Values, and Steps to Freedom.  The last sermon was never delivered because the one on values reaaly resonated with the hearers.  So, I split the message, The Value of Values, into two separate messsages.

Since they seemed to have moved the men and God used them to Hi glory I thought you might like to read them (in bite sizes) over the next few weeks.

The first message was on Jonathan...Part 1

In every man there is a hero longing to emerge—a hero who will save the day; who will rise above threatening circumstances; who will be victorious against impossible odds; who will spend his life on a cause to die for, a challenge to embrace, or loved ones to protect; who will be remembered for the good he has done when God calls him home.

Every man wants to know there is purpose to his life, that he is productive in accordance with his potential, and that his life matters.

Every leader in Christ wants to expand God’s kingdom on earth, to make a difference in the world, and to further God’s redemptive purposes.

Yes – there is a hero deep inside each of you dying to get out like “Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets, who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies (Hebrews 11:32-34).”

What is a hero…

A hero is a man distinguished by exceptional courage and nobility and strength; champion: someone who fights for a cause.

A hero is someone who moves beyond fear toward battles his heart has to win, who conquers not so much with forceful bravado; but by summoning strength from within.

A hero is someone whose sense of what's right propels him as nothing else could, and when he performs beyond all his dreams; it is selflessly for other's good.

It is not within him to carry revenge, nor to boast of victories won, but to quietly face every new challenge; doing what needs to be done.

And even if fate deals him less than fair hands, he plays them with fairness of heart, for it is an inherent goodness within that sets a hero apart.  (What Is A Hero?  A Poem)

How about God’s unsung heroes; men and women who lay it all on the line everyday without notoriety or acclaim, without applause or acknowledgement, without ceremony or reward?  Such obscurity is honored by God.

Maybe God is calling you to obscurity (not drawing attention; unnoticed; unsung; inconspicuous), the brotherhood of the unheralded, the company of the unappreciated.