Abide in Christ 04.03.08

Hello My Friend/Guest,

It is Thursday March 3, 2008 and today we are coninuing our study on the book of I Samuel. Please read Chapters 8-11 in your Bible or you can Click Here to read them. Today we will read and learn about Samuel's evil sons; Israel's demands for a king; God chooses Saul to be their king; Saul's beginning as a humble ruler, defeating the Ammonites, and delivering Jabesh-gilead. Today's message focuses on the importance of abiding in Chirst no matter how successful we become.

During the history of the judges, Samuel accomplished more as a spiritual leader than any other judge. In Israel's 400 years in the promised land, no one had served as judge, priest, and prophet, but Samuel faithfully served God in all three positions. His sons, however had no desire to fulfill the will of God. "And it came to pass, when Samuel was old, that he made his sons judges over Israel. Now the name of his firstborn was Joel; and the name of his second, Abiah: they were judges in Beersheba. And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment." (I Samuel 8:1-3).

Like Samuel, Christian parents have a responsibility to teach, guide, and discipline their children, and pray that they will have a sincere desire to be obedient to the Lord. But some godly parents have suffered great heartbreak every day because their children chose not to live for Christ according to the Word of God. Each person must decide who will be master of their lives.

Eventually, all the elders of Israel came to Samuel and said make us a king to reign over us. "And said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations." (8:5). Then Samuel anointed Saul king in Ramah as the Lord had directed him. "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" (9:15-17).

The first test of the new king came when Saul was told that Nahash, the Ammonite king, had put his army in position to attack. The Ammonites had not attacked the Israelites since Jephthah had defeated them many years before (See Judges 11:5). Responding to this current threat, Saul called together men from all the tribes of Israel to be his soldiers. Saul led the Israelites in a spectacular victory. "Therefore the men of Jabesh said, To morrow we will come out unto you, and ye shall do with us all that seemeth good unto you. 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." (11:10-13).

Saul had a good beginning, but pride and self-will soon become his way of life resulting in a succession of failures. This illustrates the temptation that often follows success, the deception of pride that inevitably leads to a self-centered life where Christ is no longer Lord of their lives. "Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works." (Matthew 16:24-27).

The assumption that we have the ability to independently make decisions as to what is best for our lives and no longer need to pray for guidance is a reminder that Jesus said without Him we are nothing and can not bear fruit. "I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you." (John 15:1-7). When we abide in Christ we are blessed and remain successful in all that we do. Even in times of difficulty we are blessed as Jesus guides us through them into greater success.

In today's message Jesus Christ is reveal through Samuel who faithfully served Israel as judge, prophet and priest. Jesus was the Prophet promised through Moses, He is our High Priest, and one day He will judge all mankind.

Today's Psalm: 91:1
"He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty."

Today's Prayer:
Dear Lord,
We want to be your faithful follower as You fulfill Your purpose in our lives. You have ordained the trials, the victories, the losses, the gains and all the paths laid out for us even before we were conceived in our mother’s womb. We put our trust in You for the days ahead and what lies before us that You will supply the needed wisdom and staying power for the challenges that are certain to come as they did for Samuel and Saul and for other believers throughout the centuries and for those in our present day. We will not fear or dread the future as we look ahead through eyes of faith. We will abide in You, putting all our trust and faith in You to see us through success in all that we do. In Jesus' name, I pray....Amen.

Have a great Thursday!
God Bless,
Christina

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