WHO DAT!? - Benaiah the Lion Slayer

We started a new series!!!

No, it's not actually about football.  Although the name was chosen in the spirit of all the wonderful New Orleans fans we've got hanging around.   

This series, rather, is a tribute to all the lesser known...or typically unknown altogether...characters of the Bible.  We all know the stories of David, Abraham, Paul, Noah, and Mary.  But what about Benaiah, Josiah, Bezaleel, Ehud, or Baalam?  

I believe that every story in the Bible, down to the most minor detail, is important to our understanding of God and our place in His mission.  Over the next six weeks, the kids and leadership at Jacobs Well will be exploring the stories of a few forgotten Biblical characters.  

It all started with Benaiah.

Many of you are now racking your brain in an attempt to draw information pertaining to this name from the recesses of your brain where you store all the Biblical knowledge.  

I found it easier to concede and simply ask, "Who dat?"  

This kids figured it out pretty quickly...

Let me tell you about Benaiah.  

Benaiah was one of King David's top 30 warriors.  Tucked away in 2 Samuel 23:20, there are a few short sentences about him.  "And Benaiah, the son of Jehoiada, was a valiant man of Kabzeel, a doer of great deeds.  He struck down two ariels of Moab.  He also went down and struck down a lion in a pit on a day when snow had fallen."

With that, we have to ask a few questions:

• What made this Benaiah guy so great?   There had to be many other men who could have accomplished the same task.  
• Why was he so impressive to David?   It isn't as if the king had few warriors to choose from. 
• And why did God see to it that he was mentioned in the Bible?  What are we supposed to gain from his story?

I think it all comes down to the reality of the risk he took and the significance of that one single act.

Lions are scary animals.  They're strong, fast, and smart.  And they typically don't play nice with others.   I envision Benaiah sitting at base camp, awaiting some orders from Kind David.  He gets word of a lion terrorizing people and livestock in the city.  They can't have that.  A lion, allowed to run free in their fields, could ruin everything.  It could destroy their livelihood, damage their property, and harm their people.  Most people would run from the problem.  Pack up and move away or hole up until it was safe to come out.  But not Benaiah.  He set his mind to destroying the lion.  

He dug a pit (in the snow remember), maybe placed a nice juicy steak at the bottom, waited for the lion to come, and ssssslllliiiipp!  Gotcha!  The lion was trapped below ground feet below the ground, where he could no longer cause problems for the city.

Benaiah's lions didn't quite look like this, but I couldn't help myself.  Our kids make precious little lions! 

Back to the story...because that isn't where it stops.  Benaiah could not simply leave the threat contained beneath the surface.  No.  He had to destroy it.  The conditions were less than ideal.  Jumping in that pit with the lion was a life or death decision.  The fallen snow was a complication.  Not exactly what Benaiah had planned for his day, I'm sure.  The opportunity was seized, Benaiah dealt with his lion, and he was rewarded with many honors by the King.  

It is easy to make a correlation between this story and what we encounter in our own lives.  Now maybe we don't have lions roaming around in our neighborhoods, harassing our house pets.  (I know I don't at least.) But we do encounter less-than-ideal situations that threaten our comfort, security, livelihood, or character.  Often, it is easy to simply walk away from these.  While this isn't necessarily wrong and may not result in destruction (Benaiah had the situation handled as soon as the lion fell into the pit), walking away also does not result in growth.  We must chase our lions and deal with them appropriately no matter the cost.  When we step out in faith to do so, God receives glory and we are rewarded.  

Our kids practiced chasing down lions.  Check it out!  What you will see is a team of lions (the seated children and our lovely balloon holder, Andrea) cheering against team Benaiah (Sebastian and his teammates who are heard but not seen).  Despite the silliness of the activity, the kids were able to understand the significance of who really comes out victorious in the end.

I really like Sebastian's style here.  Makes me think back to volleyball days.  Coach O always used to say, "Sacrifice your body for the ball!" I think you've got that down Sebastian!  Just like Benaiah, you were willing to take a risk to do what you were supposed to do.

In his book In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day (which I conveniently had sitting collecting dust on my bookshelf thanks to Steve Ward), author Mark Batterson pulls apart this seemingly insignificant passage from scripture.  He sums it up perfectly in this way:

"God is in the business of strategically positioning us in the right place at the right time.  But the right place often seems like the wrong place, and the right time often seems like the  wrong time...Our calling is much higher than simply running away from what threatens us.  We're called to chase lions -- look for opportunities in our problems and obstacles, and take risks to reach for God's best."

Until next week, I encourage each of you to seize the opportunities presented to you.  Chase your lions!

C.

The Sword of the Spirit

"Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.  After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.  And the tempter came and said to him, "If you are the son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread."  But he answered, "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.'" 

Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, 'He will command his angels concerning you,' and 'On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.'"

Jesus said to him, "Again it is written, 'You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.'"

Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory.  And he said to him, "All these I will give to you, if you will fall down and worship me." Then Jesus said to him, "Be gone, Satan! For it is written, 'You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.'"

Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and were ministering to him. 

Think about this passage.  Jesus, the holy Son of God, who spoke many of the words recorded in the New Testament, returned to ancient scriptures when tempted by Satan.  Would his own words of response to the devil have been foolish or unwise?  Of course not.  Would they have worked to convey his point?  Likely so.  

But the truth is that there is power in the holy scriptures, and Jesus recognized that.  There is power in the transmission of the Word from one to another.  And power to defeat evil and cast out demons through His Word spoken.   

I know what you're thinking..."Jesus was the Son of God.  He knew His dad's old sayings by heart.  He probably could recite them in his sleep."  

It's like me knowing that my dad answers the phone, "Well hello there!" only when a close relative is on the other line.  I've only observed him doing so for the last 25 years of my life.  

Or like the grandkids mimicking Pa's numerous sayings because we're each heard them a million times..."Six one way, half dozen the other." "I eat anything that doesn't eat me first." "Dumber than a box of rocks." "Glad you got to see me."

In fact, it's much like the way that many of us quote a favorite movie or TV show.  I can't count the number of times I have heard Ross from Friends or Jim Carrey or Sai from Duck Dynasty quoted by my friends and relatives.  We didn't learn those sayings without spending substantial time watching them perform.  And the list goes on...but I digress

The point here is that it took rehearsal, repetition, and time for these sayings to stick in our minds.  We did not passively pick them up.  It took even more time for us to understand when to appropriately insert them into conversation to maximum effect.   It required relationship and intimacy with those who spoke them, an understanding of their character, intention, and humor.  So it was with Jesus and Satan in the wilderness and so it is with us.  Jesus didn't inherently know the scriptures.  He was relentlessly dedicated to learning them.  Many times the Bible mentions Jesus retreating to a quiet place to pray and meditate on the scriptures.  This was how he kept his relationship with the Father strong and active.  His father spoke to him through the scriptures and Jesus responded with prayer and praise.

Near the end of the Armor of God passage from Ephesians 6, Paul indicates the importance of the Word in our battle against sin.  With the inclusion of this piece of armor, he is switching gears a little.  To this point, all components discussed have been defensive.  They serve to guard us from the enemy.  This last and final piece - "the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God" - is for offense.  

In Hebrews 4:12, it says "For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword." 

It serves to help us fight back against the forces of darkness.  To cut through the lies of the devil and to discern what is the true will of God.

I hope I'm not getting redundant here, but it is important to note that any good swordsman does not become skilled at yielding a sword without practice.  Similarly, we do not become skilled at using the Word of God to further the Kingdom without that same amount of practice.  I encourage each of you this week to dive into the scriptures with the intention of seeing them lived out through your thoughts, words, and actions. 

Mother Nature gave us a break from the heat so we took a break from the water activities.  Check out what we used to learn this week's lesson below.  The kids loved popping balloons to reveal truths regarding statements written on balloons.  (I found the most perfect little cocktail swords to help illustrate the lesson!)  

For those of you interested, I have included a list of statements and related Bible verses at the bottom of this post.  

Keeping with the balloon theme (which wasn't originally intentional, I promise), we ended the night with a balloon sword war. 

 Many of our swords didn't want to stay together, so we got resourceful and used this as an opportunity to review last week's topic - the helmet of salvation.  Aren't they so cute?

Until next week.  Kenbe pawòl.  Keep faith. 

C. 

Reveal the Truth Balloon Activity: 

For this activity, a statement was written on each balloon that represented a true or false idea about our lives as Christians.  Inside the balloon was a slip of paper on which was written a scripture that addressed the topic.  One by one, the children were invited to select a balloon and read the statement to the class.  The class then voted on whether or not it was true or false.  After each child had cast his or her vote, the balloon was popped and the scriptural reference read.  Below is a complete list of statements and scripture references used during the lesson.  

If you don’t get caught, stealing is okay.

FALSE: “Do not steal.” (Exodus 20:15)

God only loves you when you do everything right.

FALSE: “God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, He sent Jesus to die for us.” (Romans 5:8)

You need to be popular and have lots of toys to be happy. 

FALSE: “God has put more joy in my heart than others have when they receive lots of money and possessions.” (Psalm 4:7)

God doesn’t care what you do with your life.

FALSE: “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord.  Plans to give you a hope and a future.”

Kids can’t make a difference in the world.

FALSE: “Do not let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for other believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity.” (1 Timothy 4:12)

God is far away and hidden from us.

FALSE: “You will find me when you seek me with your whole heart.” (Jeremiah 29:13)

God does not hear us when we pray.

FALSE: “I love the Lord, for he hears my voice; he hears my prayers.” (Psalm 116:1)

It’s okay to disobey my mom.  She isn’t the boss of me.

FALSE: “Honor your mother and father.” (Exodus 20:12)

God has a big book where he records all the bad things we do.

FALSE: “Love [God] does not keep track of the sins of others.” (1 Corinthians 13:6)

It’s okay to swear and curse.

FALSE: “Stop all your dirty talk.  Say the right thing at the right time and help others by what you say.” (Ephesians 4:29)

Always worry about yourself before worrying about others. 

FALSE: “Consider others more important than yourselves.” (Philippians 2:3)

We are much weaker than the Devil.

FALSE: “The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet.” (Romans 16:20)

Love is the most important thing in the world.

TRUE: “Now these three remain – faith, hope, and love – but the greatest of these is love.” (1 Corinthians 13:13)

We can do anything when we have God on our side.

TRUE: “For nothing is impossible with God.” (Luke 1:37)

God will never break a promise He makes to you.

TRUE: “He [God] is the faithful God who keeps his covenant for a thousand generations and lavishes his unfailing love on those who love Him and obey His commands.” (Deuteronomy 7:9)

It is our responsibility to love other people.

TRUE: “Love your neighbor as you love yourself.” (Leviticus 19:18)

We are never left alone. 

TRUE: “He will not leave you nor forsake you.”

There is only one true God.  All our worship should go to Him. 

TRUE: “You shall have no other Gods before me.” (Exodus 20)

You Are Saved!

Joe is a hard-working employee at a local shipping warehouse.  Despite years of service, his paychecks still barely serve to pay the bills.  Last week, the boss man called him into his office.  "Joe," he began, "You've been working for me for a lot of years and have come to earn my trust.  I've got a a chance to bring in a bit of extra income on the side, but I need these transactions to fly below the administrative radar.  I've asked you in here to ask if you'd head up these shipments, because I need someone I can trust.  This could mean a promotion, Joe.  Isn't that what you've been wanting?"  It would help relieve some of the financial stress at home, and it's about time Joe be considered for a better position.  What should he do?

Little brother walks in the door crying after his little league game.  It typically takes a lot to rustle his feathers.  "What's up, pal?" you inquire.  "A boy on my football team was picking on me.  He called me a loser and then pushed me up against the fence and hit when I tried to take my place in line."  It's infuriating that anyone would think of touching your brother in a malicious way!  What do you tell him?

Your professor has had a bad day.  He rushes into class, straight out of a meeting with the higher ups.  Although you don't know it at the time, today's been a really rough day for him.  You raise your hand to ask for details regarding an upcoming assignment, unprepared for what will come next.  "Did you even read the syllabus?" he asks.  "You are never going to make it anywhere asking questions like that.  I think it's time to consider another career path...maybe school isn't for you."  You did read the syllabus.  Did you misunderstand something basic?  This has been a tough semester for you.  Maybe you're really not cut out for this stuff.  But it's what you've always felt called to do.  What's the next step for you?

How we respond to attacks like this are dependent upon what we believe about what Jesus has done for us.  The Devil aims to defeat each and every one of us by challenging our belief in the final victory we have in Jesus.  In our passage from Ephesians 6, Paul urges us to "take the helmet of salvation" (v. 17). 

It has been proposed that Paul chose to illustrate the importance of our salvation with a helmet, as the helmet protects the head and consequently, the brain as well.  When we fill our minds with the reality of our imminent victory in Christ, we are able to ignore advances by the enemy that aim to destroy our hope and assurance in our skills, acceptance, or personalities.

Charles Hodge, a 19th Century Presbyterian theologian, wrote: "That which adorns and protects the Christian, which enables him to hold up his head with confidence and joy, is the fact that he is saved."

So maybe Joe will never be the richest man on the block.  Maybe he will continue to stand by while others, who are far less qualified, get promoted.  Bypassing this opportunity may cost him his job, but it is the right thing to do in Jesus' eyes.  And ultimately, the money and status won't matter.  Joe has been saved and has a seat reserved for him right beside the most successful leader of the cosmos.

Your first response may be to urge your brother to stand up for himself - not to let anyone push him around like that.  On second thought, however, you realize that a more peaceful response shows greater strength that fighting back.  "Buddy, you say, you have been saved by the most wonderful person in the whole world, Jesus Christ.  He's always fighting for you.  You have no need to fight for yourself.  You are not a loser.  In fact, when Jesus comes back, we will all stand together in victory over all the mean and hurtful people of the world."  

And maybe you won't complete this course at the top of your class.   Maybe you won't get the best letter of recommendation or be the top hire.  But you have been saved by the creator of the universe, and His approval is much more valuable than than of any professor's.  As long as you are following the Lord's leading, your next step can't be wrong.

The kids learned this lesson (albeit a much abbreviated version) this weekend through another WATER ACTIVITY!!!  (No relief yet from this heat, so I figure why not keep 'em coming!?).  When we don our helmets of salvation, we are reminded that we are saved.  Our minds fill with the truth that we cannot be beaten and we become more confident, joyful, and bold in our Spirit-led endeavors.  Check out the pictures below.  The kids can be seen filling their team's mind (the bucket) with the belief that they are saved (the water).  Maybe a bit disconnected, but they seemed to get the gist.

Next week, the sword of the Spirit - our offensive strategy.  Stay tuned!

How Strong is YOUR Shield?

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.  Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.  For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.  Therefore, take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.  Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.  In all circumstances, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. 

(Ephesians 6:10-17)

At the beginning of our Armor of God series, I placed a poster of a construction board boy at the front of the room.  He was wearing nothing but his skivvies.   

"Let's pretend there's a war going on.  Do ya'll think this guy is ready for battle?" I asked the class.  

The response was unanimous, a ringing "No way!"

"Well, what is missing?" I probed further. 

Aside from a few wise cracks about how I had forgotten to draw him a face and how he had no hair, the responses were right on.  "He is naked!" "He'll get killed instantly." "Where is his gun?" "He's tiny!" 

After reading the passage from Galatians, we discussed the reality of war in our world today.  Of course, we mentioned the very real physical wars going on - Syria, Libya, southern - but more than that, we talked about spiritual warfare.  The devil is constantly fighting to pull our attention and affection away from our God.  His weapons are often less tangible than those used in physical warfare but far more deadly.  How can we fight his attacks?  How do they come?  

In this passage from Ephesians, Paul uses the armor of a Roman soldier to convey the nature and make-up of God's armor.  While I was gone, Miss Audrey did a wonderful job of teaching on the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, and the shoes of the Gospel of peace.  (A big thank you to her and all the other volunteers for taking care of everything while I was out fundraising! Ya'll are the best!)

This week, it was all about the shield of faith.  Why does Paul use a shield for faith, you may wonder?  Well, to answer that question, we must first look at what faith is.  Hebrews 11:1 says, "Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not yet seen." Faith is the trust that God will do what He has promised to do.  It is a belief in God's omnipotence even when He is not fully visible to us.  

Satan continually attempts to introduce doubt and fear into our lives.  He preys on our weaknesses and criticizes our actions.  When we respond in faith, these attempts are rendered completely ineffective.  Our faith reminds us that no matter the circumstance, no matter the obstacle or difficulty, the Lord will reign victorious.   

So why the shield?  Don't the other pieces of armor protect us too?  

Yes.  However, the shield is the first line of defense.  Without it, the soldier takes a beating.  A shield moves to cover our weakness.  It is effective even when the soldier does not anticipate the blow, when he does not see the arrow flying in His direction.  Faith moves to compensate for our weaknesses and to cover what we cannot foresee, as a shield protects the soldier from unexpected attacks and acts to supplement his lack of strength.  When we lack faith, the attack penetrates our protective covering and we take the hit.  

To illustrate the effect that our faith can have on our defense, the Brewer ladies were chosen to take up three different shields representing three different levels of faith:

Marleigh's shield, a tennis racket, represented a "hole-y" (not to be confused with holy) faith.  A person with this kind of faith trusts God in some ways but not in others.  They may believe that God loves them but not believe that He will protect them from harm or that He has a plan for their life and will bring it to fulfillment.

Bella's shield, a paper plate, represented a weak and superficial faith.  This kind of faith may appear to be strong when everything is going well; however, when faced with challenges, it breaks down and the person falls to Satan's attacks.  

Lily chose for her shield, a large, dirty garbage can lid.  This represented a strong, enduring faith - one that had stood the test of time.  A person with this type of faith trusts that God is in control no matter the situation and turns to Him in times of trouble.  

Check out these photos to see how each one held up to the enemy's attacks. 

Don't worry, ya'll!  Lily didn't stay dry for long.  After wrapping up with a short recap and prayer, an all-out kid vs. volunteer water balloon fight ensued.  No one was safe from that battle.  And on a 95 degree day, who would want to be?  

It's always a splash at Kids Community!  

Until next week, stay cool everyone.  And remember that the Lord will keep you, no matter the circumstances.