April 11, 2021 – I'm Following Jesus

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: Sunday, April 11, 2021
Chapters: I Samuel 12-14
Message: Rights To The Kingdom

Hello My Friend,

You know, God is so merciful and even considers those who are ignorant to His Word as lost souls who just do not know any better. Those who know His Word and yet come up with these awful beliefs, teaching them to the people trusting them, had better repent, and quickly, or else, they will regret it when they are standing before Jesus and He tells them, “Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire,” [Matthew 25:41]. So many people make the huge mistake of thinking that they can make up their own version of God and He will accept them. And let me tell you, these are people who know the truth, they lived it, grew up in the church, and know very well the consequences of changing His Word. And Jesus knows exactly who and what they are, [Matthew 15:8-9 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. 9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.]

One may think that they are doing someone a favor by teaching them how much God loves them and that Jesus died for them, but if they are not teaching them why Jesus died for them, then they are doing more harm than good. And they may be teaching them morals, but what good is morals if they do not understand that they are sinners, that hell is real, and that is where they will go because of their sin if they do not believe in the Gospel. The worldly believers of God want all the perks that come with salvation, yet want what the world has also and it does not work that way. When the Israelites came to Samuel and demanded a king like the other nations, it was God that granted their request, but that request would come with a clause, God’s Law supersedes mans law. God had chosen Saul to be their king, it was now official, Samuel gathers the people together, and presents Saul to them, and he was not happy at all. He reminds them of all that God had done for them since leaving Egypt, how many times they turned on Him, and yet He still delivered them whenever they cried out to Him.

[1 Samuel 12:7,10,13,16-18 Now therefore stand still, that I may reason with you before the LORD of all the righteous acts of the LORD, which he did to you and to your fathers. 10 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, and we will serve thee. 13 Now therefore behold the king whom ye have chosen, and whom ye have desired! and, behold, the LORD hath set a king over you. 16 Now therefore stand and see this great thing, which the LORD will do before your eyes. 17 Is it not wheat harvest to day? I will call unto the LORD, and he shall send thunder and rain; that ye may perceive and see that your wickedness is great, which ye have done in the sight of the LORD, in asking you a king. 18 So Samuel called unto the LORD; and the LORD sent thunder and rain that day: and all the people greatly feared the LORD and Samuel.]

[that ye may perceive and see that your wickedness is great,] So why what this considered wickedness? They were putting trust in a man to save them rather than God. Just look at what our nation is going through right now because they demanded a king over God, although we have president instead of a king, we are quickly falling under dictatorship. God sent the thunder and rain during the time of the year when it does not rain. This was done to convince them that their sin was in asking for an earthly king to save them, and it did too. And it worked too, they begged Samuel to pray for them.

[1 Samuel 12:19-25 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 evil, to ask us a king. 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; 21 And turn ye not aside: for then should ye go after vain things, which cannot profit nor deliver; for they are vain. 22 For the LORD will not forsake his people for his great name’s sake: because it hath pleased the LORD to make you his people. 23 Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way: 24 Only fear the LORD, and serve him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great things he hath done for you. 25 But if ye shall still do wickedly, ye shall be consumed, both ye and your king.]

[because it hath pleased the LORD to make you his people.] Since God loves us, He wants the best for us, and if we obey His Law, then He will take care of us, everything from our freedom to prosperity is given to us from God Himself. No, saved, born again Christian can ever say that God has not taken care of their every need, it is only when we go against God that our needs are not met, [James 4:2-3 Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. 3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.]

[that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you:] We may not like it, but we need to continually pray for country, the president, vice president, Congress, hopefully, something will sink in and they will do the right thing. For two years, Saul had it good, there was no fighting, he had a son named, Jonathan, he was the head of the army of their tribe, Jonathan attacked a camp where the Philistines were stationed, it was then that Saul boasted about it. When the Philistines hear the noise, they gathered a huge army together in retaliation.

[1 Samuel 13:1-4,7 Saul reigned one year; and when he had reigned two years over Israel, 2 Saul chose him three thousand men of Israel; whereof two thousand were with Saul in Michmash and in mount Bethel, and a thousand were with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin: and the rest of the people he sent every man to his tent. 3 And Jonathan smote the garrison of the Philistines that was in Geba, and the Philistines heard of it. And Saul blew the trumpet throughout all the land, saying, Let the Hebrews hear. 4 And all Israel heard say that Saul had smitten a garrison of the Philistines, and that Israel also was had in abomination with the Philistines. And the people were called together after Saul to Gilgal. 7 And some of the Hebrews went over Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead. As for Saul, he was yet in Gilgal, and all the people followed him trembling.]

[and a thousand were with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin:] Jonathan was the only godly son that Saul had, he was even more godlier than Saul, and Saul was about to mess thing up for not only himself, but his entire family. He was supposed to wait for Samuel so he could find out from God what he should do, instead he took things into His own hands, built an altar and offered sacrifices to God.

[1 Samuel 13:9-13 And Saul said, Bring hither a burnt offering to me, and peace offerings. And he offered the burnt offering. 10 And it came to pass, that as soon as he had made an end of offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came; and Saul went out to meet him, that he might salute him. 11 And Samuel said, What hast thou done? And Saul said, Because I saw that the people were scattered from me, and that thou camest not within the days appointed, and that the Philistines gathered themselves together at Michmash; 12 Therefore said I, The Philistines will come down now upon me to Gilgal, and I have not made supplication unto the LORD: I forced myself therefore, and offered a burnt offering. 13 And Samuel said to Saul, Thou hast done foolishly: thou hast not kept the commandment of the LORD thy God, which he commanded thee: for now would the LORD have established thy kingdom upon Israel for ever.]

[for now would the LORD have established thy kingdom upon Israel for ever.] There a millions of people dying, standing before Jesus, getting a huge awakening by discovering that they have lost their right into His kingdom forever and are cast into hell they second they discover that. It does no good to pray or give sacrifices to God if we do not do it the right way, [Luke 13:26-28 Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets. 27 But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity. 28 There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out.]

God has an abundance of grace in that no matter how many times we mess up He is forgiving, right there ready and willing to accept our confession and move on. However, if we continue to disobey, without one morsel of guilt that what we have done was wrong, He will keep tabs. Saul just lost the kingdom, it was now going be taken from him and given to someone else. Now, we learn more about Johnathan, led by God, with only his armorbearer, they broke into the Philistine camp, and killed twenty men.

[1 Samuel 14:12-16,20,23 And the men of the garrison answered Jonathan and his armourbearer, and said, Come up to us, and we will shew you a thing. And Jonathan said unto his armourbearer, Come up after me: for the LORD hath delivered them into the hand of Israel. 13 And Jonathan climbed up upon his hands and upon his feet, and his armourbearer after him: and they fell before Jonathan; and his armourbearer slew after him. 14 And that first slaughter, which Jonathan and his armourbearer made, was about twenty men, within as it were an half acre of land, which a yoke of oxen might plow. 15 And there was trembling in the host, in the field, and among all the people: the garrison, and the spoilers, they also trembled, and the earth quaked: so it was a very great trembling. 16 And the watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin looked; and, behold, the multitude melted away, and they went on beating down one another. 20 And Saul and all the people that were with him assembled themselves, and they came to the battle: and, behold, every man’s sword was against his fellow, and there was a very great discomfiture. 23 So the LORD saved Israel that day: and the battle passed over unto Bethaven.]

[every man’s sword was against his fellow,] This is another one of those instances where they were killing themselves. Saul hearing all the commotion, sent his men in and made another mistake. This time, ordering all of Israel to fast from eating or drinking anything during the battle, including the army, if anyone ate they would be put to death. Since Jonathan was actually focused on defeating them, not knowing this, ate some honey and encourages fellow soldiers to do so also.

[1 Samuel 14:24,27,29,32 And the men of Israel were distressed that day: for Saul had adjured the people, saying, Cursed be the man that eateth any food until evening, that I may be avenged on mine enemies. So none of the people tasted any food. 27 But Jonathan heard not when his father charged the people with the oath: wherefore he put forth the end of the rod that was in his hand, and dipped it in an honeycomb, and put his hand to his mouth; and his eyes were enlightened. 29 Then said Jonathan, My father hath troubled the land: see, I pray you, how mine eyes have been enlightened, because I tasted a little of this honey. 32 And the people flew upon the spoil, and took sheep, and oxen, and calves, and slew them on the ground: and the people did eat them with the blood.]

[And the people flew upon the spoil,] The people were literally starving and turned into savages. Now, all Saul had to do was repent and ask God to forgive him and I am sure God would have changed things for him, instead he takes things into his own hands and gets captured, along with Jonathan. Saul was willing to kill his own son for doing what was right than admit he made a bad decision in how he handled everything.

[1 Samuel 14:38–39,41-45 And Saul said, Draw ye near hither, all the chief of the people: and know and see wherein this sin hath been this day. 39 For, as the LORD liveth, which saveth Israel, though it be in Jonathan my son, he shall surely die. But there was not a man among all the people that answered him. 41 Therefore Saul said unto the LORD God of Israel, Give a perfect lot. And Saul and Jonathan were taken: but the people escaped. 42 And Saul said, Cast lots between me and Jonathan my son. And Jonathan was taken. 43 Then Saul said to Jonathan, Tell me what thou hast done. And Jonathan told him, and said, I did but taste a little honey with the end of the rod that was in mine hand, and, lo, I must die. 44 And Saul answered, God do so and more also: for thou shalt surely die, Jonathan. 45 And the people said unto Saul, Shall Jonathan die, who hath wrought this great salvation in Israel? God forbid: as the LORD liveth, there shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground; for he hath wrought with God this day. So the people rescued Jonathan, that he died not.]

[there shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground;] Does this sound familiar to you? I believe Jesus said something similar to His believers, [Luke 21:15-18 For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist. 16 And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death. 17 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake. 18 But there shall not an hair of your head perish.] God has much to show us, and give us, we must realize that He is also a just God and will give and take as He sees our faithfulness and willingness to follow His will. Are we always going to be in His will? No. Will He take things from us when we are not? Yes. However, He is still faithful, and will never go back on His promise to give us eternal life through our faith in His Son, [John 10:28-29 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.]

The worst feeling you will ever get is discovering that you have sinned against God. It is a fact that all sin is going against God, but when you actually realize what you did impacted your relationship with Him it makes you feel down right shameful. We cannot run and hide from God, we cannot ignore Him and act like nothing happened, all we can do is confess our sin and go back to doing things His way, [Revelation 2:2-5 I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: 3 And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name’s sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted. 4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. 5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.]

Jesus Christ Magnified: [1 Samuel 12:22 For the LORD will not forsake his people for his great name’s sake: because it hath pleased the LORD to make you his people.]

Today’s Prayer: God, Thank You for Your mercy and grace, and for the liberty You have given me when I accepted Your Son as my Saviour. You know that I want to live my life as You would have me, if you were to evaluate me right now I know You will find a willing heart, but I also know there are some things that I need to work on. There are no excuses for disobeying Your commands, especially when I learn of something You do not approve of. Lord, Keep my heart tender and open to You, reveal to me anything that I need to repent of, and forgive me of my sins. Give me Your power to withstand the evils of the world, let me not put my trust in man, rather in You, my God and my King. Lead me and guide me, help me to improve on my weaknesses and train me how to increase my skills to serve You with all my heart, mind, and soul. I ask these things in Your name, Jesus. Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,

Christina

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