THE SURRENDERED HEART

• Series Recap: “Response: Our Interactions with God”
• “Follow” - “I’m Valued” - “My Anguish”- “My Worship” - “I Acknowledge” - “My Obedience” - “I’m Listening” - “To His Glory”- “My Surrender”
• Quote - Saint Augustine: “To my God, a heart of flame; to my fellow men, a heart of love; to myself, a heart of steel.”
• Watchman Nee: cracked cookie analogy

OTHER IDOLS DO NOT COMPARE

• Philistines (5:1): economic migrants?
• Dagon (5:2): fish god / mermaid? Ark not a magic fetish
• 6:19 "Who can stand in the presence of the LORD, this holy God?”
• 2Cor 6:16; 1Thess.1:9

DEFIANCE DRAWS DISCIPLINE (GOD’S HEAVY HAND)

• 5:6 “The LORD’s hand was heavy upon the people…” (also 5:7,11f; 6:5,9)
• Honour God rather than harden hearts (6:5f)
• Honour God with our body – bought back (1Cor.6:20), created (Rev.4:11)

UNSWERVING ATTRACTION: DON’T LET A COW SHOW YOU UP

• Philistine leaders design test to prove whether God or chance responsible (6:9)
• Cows kept on the road (6:12) – Seek first God’s Kingdom (Mt.6:33)
• what might God be waiting to accomplish in YOUR life?

SACRIFICE SIGNALS SURRENDER TO GOD NOT IDOLS

• “the people of Beth Shemesh offered burnt offerings and made sacrifices to the LORD.” (6:15)
• 1Jn 5:21 “Dear children, keep yourselves from idols”
• Prevalent idols today: Heb. 13:4 sex, 13:5 money, 13:7&17 autonomy

DEER, DEER

• Are you mistakenly choosing to haul the wrong load, and leave what’s most important behind?