Ice breaker

• Divide the congregation into four groups!

• 1st: when you heard the word “Tao” the group will sing “maalaala mo kaya”

• 2nd: when you heard the word “bulkan” the group will shout “boom”.

• 3rd: when you heard the word “bird” the group will sing in unison “tweet tweet”

• 4th: when you heard the word “Ginoo” the group will shout in unison “God is good”

Story• Usa ka adlaw, adunay usa ka Tao nga naghigda sa usa

ka kahoy nga naa nahimutang sa ubos sa usa ka bukid nga adunay Bulkan. Nakita sa Tao ang tanang binuhat sa Ginoo, mga Langgam nga naglupad lupad ibabaw sa mga kakahuyan. Kini nga tao, naghunahuna unsa kamaayo ang Ginoo. Ug sa dihang ningbuto ang Bulkan, ang mga Langgam, ug ang Tao naningkamot nga mahilayo niadtong dapita, busa ang Tao ningdagan ug kusog. Apan ang Bulkan ningbuga ug daghang lava, ug ang ubang Langgam wala na igkita apan ang Ginoo giluwas niya ang Tao, gikan sa pagbuto sa Bulkan.

I Samuel 5:1-7 NkjvThen the Philistines took the ark of God and

brought it from Ebenezer to Ashdod. 2 when the Philistine took the ark of God. They brought it into the house of Dagon and set it by Dagon. 3 and when the people of Ashdod arose early in the morning, there was Dagon, fallen on its face to the earth before the ark of the Lord. And they took Dagon and set in its place again. 4 and when they arose early the next morning, there was Dagon, fallen on its face to the ground before the ark of the Lord. The head of Dagon and both the palm of its hands were broken off on the threshold; only Dagon's torso was left of it.

5 therefore neither the priests of Dagon nor any who come into Dagon’s house tread on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod to this day. 6 but the hand of the Lord was heavy on the people of Ashdod, and he ravaged them and struck them with tumor both Ashdod and its territory. 7 and when the men of Ashdod saw how it was, they said “the ark of the God of Israel must not remain with us, for his hands is harsh against us and to Dagon our god”.

Cebuano Version

• Ug ang mga Filistihanon nakaagaw sa arka sa Dios ug ilang gidala kini gikan sa ebenezer ngadto sa Asdod. 2 ug ang mga Filistihanon nagkuha sa arka sa Dios, ug nagdala niini ngadto sa balay ni Dagon, ug gibutang kini tupad kang Dagon. 3 ug sa diha nga ang taga Asdod namangon pagkasayo pagkaugma, ania karon, si Dagon napaumod sa yuta sa atubangan sa arka sa Ginoo. Ug ilang gikuha si Dagon ug gipahiluna sa iyang dapit pag- usab.

• 4 ug sa diha nga sila namangon pagkaugma sa buntag, ania karon, si dagon napukan nga ang iyang nawong nahiumod sa yuta sa atubangan sa Arka sa Dios. Ug ang ulo ni Dagon ug ang duha ka palad sa iyang mga kamot napahamutang nga nangaputol sa ibabaw sa lusaranan; ang tuod ni Dagon mao ray nahibilin kaniya. 5 busa bisan ang mga pari ni Dagon, ni kinsa nga musulod sa balay ni Dagon magatunob sa lusaranan ni Dagon sa Asdod hangtod niining mga adlawa.

• 6 apan ang kamot sa Dios mabug-at sa mga taga Asdod, ug ilang gilaglag sila, ug gihampak sila sa mga hubag, bisan ang Asdod ug ang utlanan niini. 7 ug sa diha nga ang mga tawo sa Asdod nakakita nga mao kini, sila ming-ingon, “ang Arka sa Dios sa Israel dili magapabilin uban kanato; kay ang iyang kamot maoy kasakit sa ibabaw kanato ug kang Dagon nga atong Dios.

• Today, is the last Sunday of the month of March and our emphasis for this month is success. We already discussed many biblical characters who experience success like king Solomon, Thomas, the Queen of Sheba and Many more.

• My heart desires this morning, that all of us might believe that our Heavenly father is non stop/ never exhausted of helping his children to achieve their goals in life.

Introduction

Theme: The Portraits of the Lifestyle of the Israelites and

of the Philistine!

Portraits- Picture out, give in details.

Life style means- the way the people live (Faith and

practices).

The three important things!

• A: Success• Why and what was their methods for their

success?• B: Failures

• Is it true, that even though you are successful, you might experience failures?

• C: Beliefs• From this text, do you think their belief and

practices helps them to experience success?

The Success

Success of the Philistines

• A: they defeated the army of the Israelites in the battle for two consecutive times. (David- Philistine Versus Goliath Israelites)

• B: they kill the leader of the Israelites, the sons of Priest Eli.

• C: they captured the ark of the covenant. ( The Ark of the covenant is compared now a days as of flags or banner)

Success of the Israelites

• A: they were now in the promise land.• B: they were bless in their spiritual life.– They have a priest as their spiritual mentor.– They have the law of Moses!– They have the ark of the covenant!– They have a permanent place, as far as worship service

is concern which is Shiloh.• C: They were victorious in their previous battles.• D: they were stable (land, Security, weapons,

experience, Beliefs)

You can’t reach success without crises. • ILLUSTRATION

• Walt Disney- many company reject him as he applied for work yet he never stop until he finally creates the Mickey mouse and Cinderella. (Disney land, Walt Disney movie)

• Oprah Winfrey- she suffer for discrimination because of her race yet she never stop (famous, rich females in the world in 2013 survey)

• Michael Jordan- many discrimination that he can’t win his team the Chicago balls. He said

• “I’ve missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I’ve been trusted to take the game winning shot and

missed. I’ve failed over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.

The failures

The failures of the Philistines

They put the ark of the covenant to the temple of their god which is Dagon. • V 2 when the Philistine took the ark of God. They

brought it into the house of Dagon and set it by Dagon.

• 3 and when the people of Ashdod arose early in the morning, there was Dagon, fallen on its face to the earth before the ark of the Lord. And they took Dagon and set in its place again. 4 and when they arose early the next morning, there was Dagon, fallen on its face to the ground before the ark of the Lord. The head of Dagon and both the palm of its hands were broken off on the threshold; only Dagon's torso was left of it.

The failures of the Israelites

• They allowed that there lives will be ruled by their wicked leaders. – They have all the means in order for them to live a

life pleasing to God. – God give them victory from the time of Joshua,

they knew what will happened if they go the battle then they were not ready in their spiritual life. (Ex.. Time of Joshua when Achan Sin)

Illustration

• What will happen to the sheep if there shepherd is bad?

• What will happened if the….!• A: pilot without knowledge on physics?• B: Engineer without knowledge in

Mathematics?• C: Doctor without knowledge on medicine?

• They will kill you?

The Beliefs

The Philistine

• They believe on Dagon. Their god made by gold and silver.– When they captured the ark of the covenant, they

put it on their temple. Their god whose name was Dagon fallen down two times and his hands was destroyed.

– They thought that there is no higher than Dagon. Yet God of heaven destroyed and defeat it.

The Israelites

• They thought within their mind, when the ark of the covenant will be on their tent they will not be defeated.

– This belief was not from their heart.

What lessons we can learn from them?

• A: you can’t reach success without crises. – Your faith will be tested! (the ark of the covenant was captured)– Your emotion will be tested (defeated in the war)– Your physical will be tested (their leaders was died in the battles)

• B: grab every opportunity when God will visit us.– The ark of the covenant reach on the territory of the Philistine.

• C: when we fail, do not turn away from God. Instead, repent and be willing to start again. – The Philistine never asked forgiveness instead they pushed away

the ark of covenant from them V7.

• This presentation was made by

• Rev. Juanito D. Samillano Jr.

• Resident Pastor of Christian Community Church.

• Gredu, Panabo City, Philippines!