Do we need to do most of what God says?

Success in Battle

Saul was commanded by God to go and kill Amalek and everything he had, including all the animals (1 Samuel 15:3). Saul gathered an army together and set up an ambush in the city of Amalek (15:4, 5). Saul defeated the Amalekites, but there was a problem.

Disobedience

"Saul and his people spared Agag (king of the Amalekites) and the best of the sheep, the oxen, the fatlings, the lambs, and all that was good, and were not willing to destroy them utterly; but everything despised and worthless, that they utterly destroyed" (15:9).

Regret

Because Saul had disobeyed, God regretted making him King. The Lord said to Samuel, "I reget that I have made Saul king, for he has turned back from following Me and has not carried out My commands" (15:11). We then see Saul lie to Samuel by telling him that he has carried out the commandments of the Lord (15:13). Samuel asked him what the bleating of the sheep was he heard. Saul tried to blame the people for taking the animals in Amalek. Samuel said "The Lord sent you on a mission and said, Go and utterly destroy the sinners, the Amalekites, and fight against them until they are exterminated. Why then did you not obey the voice of the Lord, but rushed upon the spoil and did what was evil in the sight of the Lord" (15:18, 19).

The Outcome

Samuel said, "For rebellion is as the sin of divination, and insubordination is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, He has also rejected you from being king" (15:23).

What we can learn

It seemed so harmless didn't it. After all Saul carried out what he was told. He went in and destroyed most everything. In fact he did destroy everything that was bad. Saul tried to make this argument in verse 20. He told Samuel "I did obey the voice of God." It appears in his mind because he did most everything God said that he was obeying God. We do this today. Many of us may believe that because we do most everything God says, we are in a right relationship with Him. We are horribly mistaking if we believe this. We must not take portions of God's word and leave the rest. We must do all that God has laid in His word for us to follow.

The results of Disobedience

The results are simple. If we do most but not all we are told, we may be like Saul. Because he kept some of the spoil he was told not to, God rejected him as king. He didn't follow the commands of God fully. If we don't follow the commands of God fully, God may reject us on the day of judgment. I encourage you to study God's commandment in His holy word. When Jesus returns we don't want to be thinking we have done all that we were commanded but then realize we have only done part of what was commanded. Study the word!

Do We Flirt or Flee

Tempt the Dog

Jim loved to tease the dog next door. He would go into his back yard and throw sticks at the pit bull. The pit bull had a hatred for Jim. He would try to get through the fence that was between them. Jim was confident he could not get over the fence. He was right but he flirted a little too much.

What Happens When You Flirt With Danger

One morning as Jim went out the door the dog ran full speed at him. The pit bull hit the fence and bounced off it. Jim laughed and picked up a stick at through it toward the dog. As Jim went about his business in his yard the pit bull growled from the other side of the fence. Jim wasn't satisfied with the stick throwing. He approached the fence provoking the dog. Jim was against the fence when all the sudden the dog leaped into the air and grabbed Jim by the arm. Jim yelled in pain as the pit bull drove his teeth deeper into his forearm.

Do You Flirt

Has anything like this ever happened to you? Do you ever flirt with danger? Every time we do something that lures us to sin we are flirting. The question is why do we do it? Why do we flirt with sin. Why do we put ourselves in situations that make it harder to resist the devil? James 4:7 says, "Resist the devil and he will flee from you."

Why Do We Flirt

If I have a problem with lust, should I look at the latest Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue? That is like provoking that pit bull to bite. If you already have a problem with lust don't flirt but flee. Stay away from the magazines. If you are tempted to view pornography do you get on the internet where you know the temptation will increase? Do you turn on the TV late at night when you know no one is watching? Why flirt with sin? Flee from it. Don't allow yourself to be tempted beyond what you already are.

Flee

The fact is many of us flirt with sin. If we stay away from the fence we can't get bit. If we continue to go near the fence then we will continue to get bit. Flee from sin. If that means keep the television off, then do it. If that means stay away from the bar, then do it. If that means get rid a friend who is a bad influence, then do it. Do not continue to flirt. Life is hard enough. Do not make it harder to resist temptation. "Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double minded" (James 4:8). If we flirt with temptation we are not resisting the devil but drawing closer to him. This brings us further away from God. Flee sin!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Will you be prepared when Jesus comes?

Preparation

When I lived in the small town of Hayden (CO) I did not worry too much if I forgot to lock the door. The reason was because there was not much crime in that area. Now that I live in Denver (CO) I try to make sure I check all the doors and windows before I go to sleep. The reason is because I know there is the danger of someone breaking in to our home. I want to make sure my family is protected and it is critical to make sure the house is prepared before I go to bed. There are people out there looking for an easy way to get in someones home. There motive may be to steal valuable items or to harm someone. That is why we make sure our house is prepared before we go to bed at night.

When Does The Thief Come

If we know when the thief is coming we will be prepared when he comes. The problem is we don't know when he is coming so we must prepare always if we want to be safe. The apostle Paul addresses the church in Thessalonica concerning this same issue (1 Thessalonians 5). Paul wrote to the Christians there telling them there was no need for him to address the issue of when Jesus was returning (5:1). Paul said "For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night." Jesus also talked about his coming in Matthew 24:36. Jesus was speaking of the second coming when he said "But of that day no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My father only." Jesus also said, "Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect (Matthew 24:44).

Prepare Your Life As You Do Your Home

The point is there are going to be many unprepared on that day Jesus returns. He is going to come as a thief comes at night. We go through and make sure our house is secure and prepared to keep the thief out. How many of us make sure our life is right with God before we go to sleep. If we are not prepared to meet our Lord when he comes it will be too late. Paul goes on to talk about those who say peace and safety, then sudden destruction comes upon them (1 Thessalonians 4:3). Why? Because they were not prepared to meet the Lord. This was the group who lives day by day and never thinks about preparing for the Lord's return. They think everything is alright. They say peace and safety and then sudden destruction comes upon them as a women in Labor. Paul is saying that it will be that sudden. If you have ever been with a women who is in labor you understand this. Not only does it happen quickly but there is no stopping it. These days a doctor is able to stop labor but in the Bible days this was not the case.

Have You Prepared

When Jesus returns will you be prepared? It is clear we don't know when that day is but it will be at an hour we do not expect. It will happen in the same manner as a thief breaks into a home. As the women in labor cannot escape the labor pains neither can we escape judgment. It is going to happen. We will all have to give an account for the way we lived our lives. If Jesus came right now would you be prepared to meet Him?

What We Must Do

We must prepare today. How do we do this? We go to the bible and it tells us how we prepare. Peter was preaching his first sermon on the day of Pentecost. There were huge crowds there and after he told them of Jesus and what he did for them they asked what they must do? Peter responded by saying "Repent, and let everyone of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit" (Acts 2:38). For those of you who have already followed this command, you must examine your life as well. Make sure you are right with God before you go to sleep. Always be ready, prepare as if a thief were coming tonight. Remember thieves come during the day as well. Make sure you are never unprepared. Maybe you want to be prepared but you don't know how. I would love to study God's word with you. If you would like to study please contact me.

Email: an10fred@yahoo.com

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Are you prepared to meet Jesus?

Are you prepared to meet Jesus?

In Paul's letter to the church in Thessalonica there were those who were uniformed (1 Thess 4:13). They were uniformed about those who had died that were Christians. It seems they had thought that those who had died were not going to get the same reward that those alive would receive when Jesus returned (4:14). Paul tells the church there that those alive when Christ returns will not precede those who have died in Christ (4:15). "For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the arch angel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first" (4:16). We must realize that it is the Lord Himself who will descend from heaven. He is not going to send someone else but it will be Jesus Christ Himself. On this day every eye will see him (Revelation 1:7). This means there will not be anyone in this world who doesn't know what is happening.
Paul goes on to tell the brethren that the dead in Christ will rise first. They will receive the same spiritual gifts as those who are alive at the time Christ returns (1 Thess 4:16). Paul comforts the brethren by telling them these things. He goes on to say after the dead rise (the faithful Christians) those who are alive will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet their Lord and will always be with him (4:17). Therefore comfort one another with these words (4:18).
My question is can we comfort one another with these words. Do we take this serious? Are we uninformed like the church in Thessalonica was? We must realize that this is serious, there is no escaping judgment. It is going to happen and we must be ready. If we are not we will not get to spend eternity with our Lord. In fact those who are not ready will spend eternity where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth. We do not want to be unprepared when the Lord comes. Take this serious, turn to God's word and it will tell you how to prepare to meet the Lord.

My next blog post will be on 1 Thessalonians chapter five. Paul deals with when Jesus will return and how we prepare for his coming.

What is Kerusso

The word kerusso is the Greek word for I preach or I proclaim. Peter says in Acts 10:42, "And He ordered us to preach (kerusso) to the people, and solemnly to testify that this is the One who has been appointed by God as Judge of the living and the dead." Peter said he was ordered by God to preach because all will be judged. Those who have passed before us and we will be judged. I take this very seriously and I preach the Gospel.