1. How Big is your God ? Tony Watkins Feb 2010

2. 2 Corinthians 6 (The Message) 11-13 Dear, dear Corinthians, I can't tell you how much I long for you to enter this wide-open, spacious life. We didn't fence you in. The smallness you feel comes from within you. Your lives aren't small, but you're living them in a small way. I'm speaking as plainly as I can and with great affection. Open up your lives. Live openly and expansively! 14-18 Don't become partners with those who reject God. How can you make a partnership out of right and wrong? That's not partnership; that's war. Is light best friends with dark? Does Christ go strolling with the Devil? Do trust and mistrust hold hands? Who would think of setting up pagan idols in God's holy Temple? But that is exactly what we are, each of us a temple in whom God lives. God himself put it this way:

3. 2 Corinthians 6 (The Message) 11-13 Dear, dear Corinthians, I can't tell you how much I long for you to enter this wide-open, spacious life. We didn't fence you in. The smallness you feel comes from within you. Your lives aren't small, but you're living them in a small way. I'm speaking as plainly as I can and with great affection. Open up your lives. Live openly and expansively! 14-18 Don't become partners with those who reject God. How can you make a partnership out of right and wrong? That's not partnership; that's war. Is light best friends with dark? Does Christ go strolling with the Devil? Do trust and mistrust hold hands? Who would think of setting up pagan idols in God's holy Temple? But that is exactly what we are, each of us a temple in whom God lives. God himself put it this way:

4. Little bit of History Creation – Flood 1600 4300 -2700 - Egypt 650 400 2050-1650 Exodus/ Judges 400 Kings 500 1250 - 750 Kings - Christ 500 750 - 0

5. Little bit of History The Books of Samuel – Covers the 500 ish years from “Judges” to the Exile – About 3000 yrs after Adam, 1250 yrs before Christ Four great characters – Hannah – Samuel – Saul – David Creation – Flood 1600 4300 -2700 - Egypt 650 400 2050-1650 Exodus/ Judges 400 Kings 500 1250 - 750 Kings - Christ 500 750 - 0

6. Little bit of History Hannah – Wife of Elkanah – Other Wife Peninnah had children she did not Very Sad on Trips to Shiloh – Called out to God, Eli blessed her Promised first born to service of God – God heard her pray Samuel left in Eli’s care Creation – Flood 1600 4300 -2700 - Egypt 650 400 2050-1650 Exodus/ Judges 400 Kings 500 1250 - 750 Kings - Christ 500 750 - 0

7. Little bit of History Samuel – Grew up under Eli – God SPOKE to Samuel - blessed of God – Prophet & Judge of Israel all his life ~ 110 yrs Anointed Saul Told Saul he had lost his anointing – Anointed David Creation – Flood 1600 4300 -2700 - Egypt 650 400 2050-1650 Exodus/ Judges 400 Kings 500 1250 - 750 Kings - Christ 500 750 - 0

8. Little bit of History Saul – Anointed by God as King – Started humble, walked in Gods ways, mighty warrior victories – but a short reign as king 12 or 22 years – Had the kingdom torn from him 1 Samuel 15 20-23 – Very troubled spirit – Died in battle at the hands of his enemies Creation – Flood 1600 4300 -2700 - Egypt 650 400 2050-1650 Exodus/ Judges 400 Kings 500 1250 - 750 Kings - Christ 500 750 - 0

9. Little bit of History David – Heart for God all his life – Took Gods leading to his battles, mad Israel strong – Reigned 40 years Nearly dethroned by his son Absolom – Rich character of the Bible Adultery with Bathsheba, Murdered Uriah Even late in life David did not Always trust God - Sensis Creation – Flood 1600 4300 -2700 - Egypt 650 400 2050-1650 Exodus/ Judges 400 Kings 500 1250 - 750 Kings - Christ 500 750 - 0

10. Saul defended himself. "What are you talking about? I did obey G OD. I did the job G OD set for me. I brought in King Agag and destroyed the Amalekites under the terms of the holy ban. So the soldiers saved back a few choice sheep and cattle from the holy ban for sacrifice to G OD at Gilgal— what's wrong with that?" 22-23 Then Samuel said, Do you think all G OD wants are sacrifices— empty rituals just for show? He wants you to listen to him! Plain listening is the thing, not staging a lavish religious production. Not doing what G OD tells you is far worse than fooling around in the occult. Getting self-important around G OD is far worse than making deals with your dead ancestors. Because you said No to G OD 's command, he says No to your kingship. (1 Samuel 15)

11. WE make our lives small WE tend to just see our interaction with God as a God Given salvation – full stop We tend to be unsure how to take the next step We tend to not even be sure what that looks, feels or should be like As Peterson says – If we want life other than mere Biology we must deal with God – no alternative. Paul said it was a Trust issue – Trust and miss-trust cannot be patners

12. How Big is your God God has saved us – he has dealt with us Have WE dealt with God? Have we got a clear picture of how big a life God wants for us. Do we know life is about change – Changing to what God wants FOR us