King James Bible Study – “And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” – Mark 8:34
Date: Wednesday, April 10, 2019
Chapters: I Samuel 8-11
Message: But I Have Chosen You
Hello My Friend,
I was at a Bible study last night and we were discussing how much of a toil it takes on the Christian to stand by their faith in God. If you studied history to the time of the early church you would discover the sad reality of so many people who were persecuted and even martyred for their faith. Today, more Christians are losing their lives for their faith since the early church, but you will never hear that on social or mainstream media because they are the very people attacking Christianity. Faithful Christians often wonder why we are facing so many trials and tribulations, well, this is why, you belong to Jesus. “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. These things I command you, that ye love one another. If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.” – John 15:16-20.
“but I have chosen you out of the world,” Last week my boss called me, and told me I had to stop everything I was doing, drive to the stores of my choice, and convince two of them to host an event, and if one store did not accept, keep going until I get two committed. Well, I decided to let God lead me, and low and behold, the first two stores agreed, and placed an order as well. Needless to say, my boss, and my bosses boss was excited, so excited that he called me yesterday morning and told me they added two more dates. Of all the people in the world we have no idea why we are chosen for the positions we hold, but let me tell you, God knows why, and everything you do and go through is what gives you the experience to handle the next task. Samuel was the last judge of Israel, he was getting old and tried handing the reins down to his two sons, but they were corrupt so, the elders came together and demanded Samuel give them a king who would rule over them.
“But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the LORD. And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them. According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even unto this day, wherewith they have forsaken me, and served other gods, so do they also unto thee. Now therefore hearken unto their voice: howbeit yet protest solemnly unto them, and shew them the manner of the king that shall reign over them. Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, Nay; but we will have a king over us; That we also may be like all the nations; and that our king may judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles. And Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he rehearsed them in the ears of the LORD. And the LORD said to Samuel, Hearken unto their voice, and make them a king. And Samuel said unto the men of Israel, Go ye every man unto his city.” – I Samuel 8:6-9,19-22.
“That we also may be like all the nations;” The world has no problem with Christians until they disagree with them, if you do not like one thing they support they turn on you quickly. Let me tell you, a true Christian is chosen by Christ to be a leader, they will stand out, and will not let the world make them ashamed to proclaim the truths of Christ. Quite frankly, there are way too many Christians living like the world, and this is why we suffer as a nation. And while God allows us to have a worldly judge to guide us, do not think for one second that He does not play a part in who is elected. Israel wanted and king, and God granted their request, but He was going to choose him, and He chose a godly, very tall, and the least qualified man, a Benjamite named Saul.
“Now there was a man of Benjamin, whose name was Kish, the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Bechorath, the son of Aphiah, a Benjamite, a mighty man of power. And he had a son, whose name was Saul, a choice young man, and a goodly: and there was not among the children of Israel a goodlier person than he: from his shoulders and upward he was higher than any of the people. Now the LORD had told Samuel in his ear a day before Saul came, saying, To morrow about this time I will send thee a man out of the land of Benjamin, and thou shalt anoint him to be captain over my people Israel, that he may save my people out of the hand of the Philistines: for I have looked upon my people, because their cry is come unto me. And when Samuel saw Saul, the LORD said unto him, Behold the man whom I spake to thee of! this same shall reign over my people.” – I Samuel 9:1-2,15-17.
“for I have looked upon my people,” Remember what happened to the Benjamites? They were the tribe who nearly went extinct because of the civil war? God never chooses the qualified He qualifies the chosen, and more often than you think, they are the last people you would think of. Here I am, and introvert, and if I had my way I would be working behind a desk all day, and now I have to not only talk to people I have to talk to the store manager, talk about unqualified. There is a difference between a chosen seed and a chosen people of God, a chosen seed is God’s promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Israel) to make a heritage through them. A chosen people are God’s promise to those who put their faith and trust in Him as their Saviour, namely. Not all of Israel are God’s people, only those who choose Him are chosen to be His people. “Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel: Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called. That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.” – Romans 9:6-8.
“Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect.” The world can care less what God has to say let alone who He chooses to rule over them, they are the first to cry about equality, and yet the first to reject those who have anything to do with God. Samuel anointed Saul as king, and he received more than title as king that day, he received the Spirit of God, and while some welcomed him as king, the majority did not, and even criticized him.
“Then Samuel took a vial of oil, and poured it upon his head, and kissed him, and said, Is it not because the LORD hath anointed thee to be captain over his inheritance? And the Spirit of the LORD will come upon thee, and thou shalt prophesy with them, and shalt be turned into another man. And it was so, that when he had turned his back to go from Samuel, God gave him another heart: and all those signs came to pass that day. And Samuel called the people together unto the LORD to Mizpeh; And said unto the children of Israel, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I brought up Israel out of Egypt, and delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of all kingdoms, and of them that oppressed you: And ye have this day rejected your God, who himself saved you out of all your adversities and your tribulations; and ye have said unto him, Nay, but set a king over us. Now therefore present yourselves before the LORD by your tribes, and by your thousands. And Samuel said to all the people, See ye him whom the LORD hath chosen, that there is none like him among all the people? And all the people shouted, and said, God save the king. But the children of Belial said, How shall this man save us? And they despised him, and brought him no presents. But he held his peace.” – I Samuel 10:1,6,9,17-19,24,27.
“How shall this man save us?” Man puts their trust in man to save them, and let me tell you, they are the first to reject man also. There is nothing more exciting and scary than when you become anointed by the blood of Christ, and receive the Spirit of God in you. Do yous see how God gave him a new heart? This heart was full of the Holy Spirit, and fully accepted Him. Saul was pretty scared to stand before the congregation, in fact, he went back home and started working on the farm again. While there, Ammon rebelled and wanted to start a nation of their own, with a price, and war was about to take place. However, with Saul’s new heart he was able to communicate with God, and be the king He anointed him to be.
“And the Spirit of God came upon Saul when he heard those tidings, and his anger was kindled greatly. And he took a yoke of oxen, and hewed them in pieces, and sent them throughout all the coasts of Israel by the hands of messengers, saying, Whosoever cometh not forth after Saul and after Samuel, so shall it be done unto his oxen. And the fear of the LORD fell on the people, and they came out with one consent. And it was so on the morrow, that Saul put the people in three companies; and they came into the midst of the host in the morning watch, and slew the Ammonites until the heat of the day: and it came to pass, that they which remained were scattered, so that two of them were not left together. And the people said unto Samuel, Who is he that said, Shall Saul reign over us? bring the men, that we may put them to death. And Saul said, There shall not a man be put to death this day: for to day the LORD hath wrought salvation in Israel. Then said Samuel to the people, Come, and let us go to Gilgal, and renew the kingdom there. And all the people went to Gilgal; and there they made Saul king before the LORD in Gilgal; and there they sacrificed sacrifices of peace offerings before the LORD; and there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly.” – I Samuel 11:6-7,11-15.
“for to day the LORD hath wrought salvation in Israel.” The second we receive Jesus as our Saviour we are saved from death, the second death that is, that is unless He returns in our lifetime and we are raptured out of here. One day our true King will stand before His throne and judge each and every one of us, we who are saved, are the minority, the elect, the few, who honor and respect Him as our King today. When the world comes to an end and everyone is scrambling, we will be carried to safety to await our new and permanent home. “And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.” – Revelation 21:1-3. Praise God!
Jesus Christ Magnified: “Then Samuel took a vial of oil, and poured it upon his head, and kissed him, and said, Is it not because the LORD hath anointed thee to be captain over his inheritance?” – I Samuel 10:1.
Today’s Prayer: God, Thank You for the freewill to decide how I believe and what I want to do with my life and thank You for changing my heart, You saw something in me before I was even born, and knew I would find Your Son. You watched over me, protected me through my crazy pursuits, and yet was willing to accept me as I am once I was ready to fully accept Your Son. Then once I did, You anointed me with Your Spirit, gave me a new heart, and chose me to serve You wherever I am, even in the world. Lord, since You know my heart better than I do, reveal to me anything that hardens it in letting me be completely submissive to You. Give me Your power, strength, mercy, and grace to live in Your will, open my heart completely to let You rule every area of my life. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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