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| | From:  SEB1625 (Original Message) | Sent: 1/5/2008 3:04 PM |
Cease Not From Following The LORD
1 Samuel 12
12-25
Text Verse 20
We like the people of Israel are nor satisfied with what we have. We always seem to wnat something different. We alsways think that the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence. So this is exactly when we get into trouble. Just never satisfied always searching and hunting, trying to please the fleshly desires to obtain something better.
So as we use the people of Israel we can see through their example that they just weren't satisfied with God being their leader even after He had delivered them from the bondage of Egypt, even after He had provided for them for forty years as they wanderd through the desert, food from Heaven, shelter from the cold at night by the pillar of fire or during the day with a cloud that kept the rays of the sun from baking them, provided water for them from the Rock that followed them and clothing that did not wear out all the days of their traveling.
So as they complained and sought something better, so they thought would be, we see that the Bible says they sinned about departing from following the LORD and serving false gods as verse 10 says, "And they cried unto the LORD and said, we have sinned because we have forsaken the LORD, and have served Baalim and Ashtaroth, but now deliver us out of the hand of our enemies ans we will serve thee." There is a progression of things that happen once we start turning away from the LORD which is the very first sign of rebellion.
Now in verse 19 the Bible says " And all the people said unto Samuel pray for thy servants unto the LORD thy God that we die not for we have added unto all our sins this eveil to ask us a king." So they recognized that they had sinned and that they had added to the sin of wanting a king instead of God and they recognized it was evil.
What do we do then when have sinned against the LORD? Do we fear for having done wickedly and if so is that fear so great that we just can't bring ourselves to ask for forgiveness? Or do we ask for forgiveness and march on for the glory of God?
Hopefully we have the insight enough to know when the Holy Spirit is convicting our hearts of whatever sin or wrong we may be caught up in. So as Samuel told the people in verse 20 " And Samuel said unto the people, Fear not: ye have done all this wickedness: yet turn not aside from following the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart."
(1) Don't let the fear you have when you sin stop you from asking forgiveness. So many just simply give up especially when they can't seem to get a handle on a particular sin that keeps haunting them. There is forgiveness when the Holy Spirit keeps pointing out a sin(s) that may be in our lives. Somehow they seem to think that God will get tired of our sinfulness even though we are not living in a habitual state of sin as an everyday way of life. If we'll be honest with ourselves there is not one single person that doesn't have something that they have a struggle with. So don't let that fear of sin overwhelm you, just ask the LORD to forgive and help you.
(2) Even for all the wickedness that may be in your life God is powerful to deliver us from any type of wickedness that may have us bound. Things that spoil you life, any adversity, andything that cause great grief, sorrow an the like. We can see the bid things such as adultry, stealing, fornication, murder, rape, incest but how about bitterness, resentment, strife, gossping, discouragement. All these things and then some are considered wickedness. We think in our culture of wickedness as things that are just so terrible that God just won't forgive but I tell you that He will forgive and He can and will deliver. So it's the little things so to speak and I can assure you they aren't so little for they will cause greater wickedness if left alone and not taken to the alter before God and dealt with.
(3) So do not just give up and turn aside form following the LORD for if you do it can get to the place where you will not only be no good to yourselves but it will affect even your wife, your children, friends, co-workers and others within the confines of the local assembly where you worship to a place where if they were watching you it can bring them also to a place of discouragement and defeat. We have a great affect on folks around us at all times. They watch to see where we go or don't go, what we say or don't say, how we react to any given situation or don't react.
Also if we decide to turn away fro the LORD He has the right to deal with us in any way He sees fitting. He can put us on the shelf so to speak and never use us again where we bring shame and reproach upon His holy name, He can see fit to use us in a smaller way than He normally would, or perhaps He will and does take us on out of this world, to tkae us to a much earlier grave than expected.
(4) Serve the LORD with all your heart and do not the fear of having failed Him at times rob you of the blessings that come with following the LORD with all ypour heart. Such blessings await those that will not let the fear of failing overtake them to the point of uselessness. Don't let satan defeat you with telling you lies such as you'll never accomplish anything, you aren't worth anything because, look at you, a failure because you can't and won't get past this area in your life or satan may tell you you're all washed up as a person, a Sunday School teacher, an Evangelist, a Pastor, a Deacon, an Elder or just a failure as a Christian. If you'll serve the LORD with your whole heart and not just a piece He will bless you spiritually, emotionally, mentally and many times with whom He choses financially amd many times He does bless all of us financially even though we may not take the time to see it but He is always on time.
So do not fear when you fail for the LORD is gracious and merciful and these are renewed each and every single day.
Evangelist,
Stephen Blan |
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