I'm Following Jesus – Page 1485 – Mark 8:34 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.

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: Saturday, April 11, 2020
Chapters: I Samuel 12-14
Message: Only One Acceptable Sacrifice

Hello My Friend,

“Low in the grave He lay, Jesus my Savior! Waiting the coming day, Jesus my Lord! Up from the grave He arose, With a mighty triumph o’er His foes. He arose a Victor from the dark domain, And He lives forever with His saints to reign. He arose! He arose! Hallelujah! Christ arose!” Amen! As we observe this weekend, let us not forget that even though Christ died on the cross, HE AROSE! And why did He raise from the dead when His death was really all that was necessary? To give His believers victory over death as well. When Christ arose, He declared to all believers that, even death cannot separate one soul who truly believes in Him. “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” – Romans 8:38-39.

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. Now, that Israel got the king they requested, Samuel stresses the importance of their still obeying God’s rules.

“Now therefore behold the king whom ye have chosen, and whom ye have desired! and, behold, the LORD hath set a king over you. If ye will fear the LORD, and serve him, and obey his voice, and not rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then shall both ye and also the king that reigneth over you continue following the LORD your God: But if ye will not obey the voice of the LORD, but rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then shall the hand of the LORD be against you, as it was against your fathers. Now therefore stand and see this great thing, which the LORD will do before your eyes. 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. 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.” – I Samuel 12:13-18.

“and all the people greatly feared the LORD and Samuel.” That was all it took for the people to see that they erred in wanting an earthly king to reign over them. Yes, gives us leaders to assist in the safety of our country and to make sure that all citizens are being treated fairly and have the same opportunities. When our forefathers created the constitution and laws of the land, they actually did so according to Scripture. And when laws are formed, we must obey them, unless they goes against God’s Word. Of course, once the ungodly got into office they changed the laws, but God’s law always trumps mans law. The law may allow people of the same sex to marry, that still does not change God’s law, that it is an abomination. No authority can force us to go against Scripture. When the people realized their err, they asked Samuel to pray for them.

“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. 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; And turn ye not aside: for then should ye go after vain things, which cannot profit nor deliver; for they are vain. 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. 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: Only fear the LORD, and serve him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great things he hath done for you.” – I Samuel 12:19-24.

“for we have added unto all our sins this evil,” Was it evil or a sin to ask for an earthly king? Yes. They were saying that they no longer trusted God to take care of them, but the king. And what is going to happen when the king does not give them what they want? They will revolt, or even worse, try to kill him, and some will succeed. And do you think that God does not test our leaders? Oh, He does. God was about to test Saul. 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.

“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. 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. And the Philistines gathered themselves together to fight with Israel, thirty thousand chariots, and six thousand horsemen, and people as the sand which is on the sea shore in multitude: and they came up, and pitched in Michmash, eastward from Bethaven. When the men of Israel saw that they were in a strait, (for the people were distressed,) then the people did hide themselves in caves, and in thickets, and in rocks, and in high places, and in pits. 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 he tarried seven days, according to the set time that Samuel had appointed: but Samuel came not to Gilgal; and the people were scattered from him.” – I Samuel 13:2-3,5-8.

“Let the Hebrews hear.” People wonder why the president does not announce everything going on in the safety of our country, and this is why. If they go around boasting about everything they are doing to prepare for an attack, then the enemy will know about it. There is always an enemy in our own country ready to spill the beans, and that will always lead to casualties, but when a leader is the one who does it, then, that is treason. Now, the Israelites, scattered out of fear, including Saul. Saul calls for Samuel to seek counsel from God, but when he delayed in coming Saul took matters into his own hands, making things even worse.

“And Saul said, Bring hither a burnt offering to me, and peace offerings. And he offered the burnt offering. 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. 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. But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the LORD hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the LORD hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the LORD commanded thee.” – I Samuel 13:9-10,13-14.

“But now thy kingdom shall not continue:” What did Saul do that caused God to remove not only him from being king, but his family all together? Only a high priest was allowed to offer sacrifices. Remember, we cannot go to God on our own, we need an intercessor. Today, Jesus is our intercessor. “Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.” – Romans 8:34.

Now, we learn more about Johnathan, led by God, with only his armorbearer, they broke into the Philistine camp, and killed twenty men. Saul hearing all the commotion, sent his men in and made another mistake.

“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. 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. And Saul said unto Ahiah, Bring hither the ark of God. For the ark of God was at that time with the children of Israel. 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. Moreover the Hebrews that were with the Philistines before that time, which went up with them into the camp from the country round about, even they also turned to be with the Israelites that were with Saul and Jonathan. Likewise all the men of Israel which had hid themselves in mount Ephraim, when they heard that the Philistines fled, even they also followed hard after them in the battle. So the LORD saved Israel that day: and the battle passed over unto Bethaven.” – I Samuel 14:13-14,18,20-23.

“Bring hither the ark of God.” Saul did the same thing that the others did when they thought God’s power came from the ark. Of course, at this point, God had already renounced him, and taken the crown from his family. Saul was not the reason why Israel was saved that day, Jonathan was and his faith. “and the battle passed over unto Bethaven.” This battle was not over, this time, Saul ordered all of Israel to fast from eating or drinking anything during the battle, including the army, if anyone ate he would be put to death. Saul’s son Jonathan, not knowing the order ate some honey and encourages fellow soldiers to do so also, but this caused a huge problem because the people were so hungry that they turned into savages.

“Then they told Saul, saying, Behold, the people sin against the LORD, in that they eat with the blood. And he said, Ye have transgressed: roll a great stone unto me this day. And Saul said, Disperse yourselves among the people, and say unto them, Bring me hither every man his ox, and every man his sheep, and slay them here, and eat; and sin not against the LORD in eating with the blood. And all the people brought every man his ox with him that night, and slew them there. And Saul built an altar unto the LORD: the same was the first altar that he built unto the LORD. And Saul said, Let us go down after the Philistines by night, and spoil them until the morning light, and let us not leave a man of them. And they said, Do whatsoever seemeth good unto thee. Then said the priest, Let us draw near hither unto God. And Saul asked counsel of God, Shall I go down after the Philistines? wilt thou deliver them into the hand of Israel? But he answered him not that day.” – I Samuel 14:33-37.

“And Saul built an altar unto the LORD:” Once again, Saul tries to get God’s attention by building an altar and offering a sacrifice to Him. Again, only a high priest was allowed to do this. And on top of that, he actually thought it was the people who sinned that was a fault and if he offered an offering God would forgive them. He was completely oblivious to the fact that he sinned as well. If we want God to accept our offering we must admit we are a sinner. It is not enough to believe that Jesus died on the cross to save us, we must receive Him also, that means admitting we personally have sinned against God. You know, God does not want to see anyone end up in hell, He rather see the lowest person on earth be saved than see them burning it torment for eternity, but that is a choice up to each individual. “Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:” – Romans 3:22-24.

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, open my heart, reveal to me anything that I need to repent of, and forgive me of my sins, Give me Your power, 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 love You, and pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,

Christina

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