THE SWORD

 Samuel 15:10-11; 22-23

 

Then came the word of the Lord unto Samuel, saying, It repenteth me that I have set up Saul to be king: for he is turned back from following me, and hath not performed my commandments. And it grieved Samuel; and he cried unto the Lord all night.

 

And Samuel said, Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.

For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, he hath also rejected thee from being king.

 

I recently concluded a personal study in Samuel.  If Samuel were a modern day preacher, in most circles he would be deemed judgmental, inconsiderate, mean spirited, hateful, bigotted, and even condemnatory.  Here was the man of God, the prophet of God speaking too and rebuking Saul (God's anointed king), imagine that.  He dares to advise Saul that he has become a "foolish man," points out his specific sins, and proclaims God's judgment.  Just who does this Samuel think he is?  Doesn't he understand God's word forbids him from such hate speech (sarcasm of course), not to mention speaking in regards to a government official (the king).  Samuel had received his instructions from God, not from the various religious philosophies, false teachings, and theories abounding in the world and the church.  What went on behind the scenes with Samuel was not seen by the populace and those who heard, rejected, and received his message.  They did not see the tears he shed on his face before God in private.  They did not see the grief and suffering he bore within, due to the sins of Saul and the people's rebellion.  They did not seek the sleepness nights he had because of the message of God which churned  and burned within his belly.  They did not understand that God does not always provide the man of God with a soft-spoken message;  and so it is with many today.  Many are quick to pronounce judgment on preachers who dare to proclaim "the whole counsel of God."  They fail to see the tears a preacher may shed on his face before God because of what God has shown him.  They do not see the suffering and anguish within the preacher who grieves over what he sees sin accomplishing in individuals, nations, and oh yes, even the church. They fail to understand the man of God is under compulsion to proclaim what God shows him, and commands of him.  No preacher enjoys being maligned and misunderstood because he has determined to obey God, no matter what the cost may be.  Saul could have taken off Samuel's head, and Samuel knew it.  But Samuel, like any true man of God was here to appease only One, and that was the Lord his God.

The Sword

1 Samuel 13:13

"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."

 

Wow, who does this man Samuel think he is?  Does he not understand he is speaking against "the Lord's anointed king?"  What is wrong with Samuel, does he not know he is forbidden to speak out against God's government?  Of course, I'm being sarcastic with these questions, yet this is the mentality of many, if not most in the professing church today.  Many have somehow bought into the lie that government and its elected officials are off limits when it comes to the church speaking out against sin and disobedience.  Saul, the king of Israel was violationg the word of God, he had sinned against God, and he had sinned against the people of whom God put him in charge of.  Samuel, the prophet, the man of God loved Saul, and yet did not hesitate to proclaim, "you have done foolishly."  Yes Saul, "you have not kept the commands of God."  If Samuel, the man of God was permitted to point out the sins of Israel, why is the man of God in America or anywhere else in the world not permitted to speak today without being accused of being hateful, judgmental, and in violation of the word of God?  This is the foolish thinking of many in the church, and they, like Saul, act foolish when they forbid the true men of God to speak out and proclaim "what thus says the word of God."  They have no idea what they are talking about, because they have simply not spent enough time in God's word to know what it truly says.  All they know is how to quote a Scripture here and there (often out of context), and are ignorant of the character of God.  Samuel was not the only prophet, not the only man of God to speak out against those in charge of government.  Nathah the prophet spoke out against David when he sinned, Elijah spoke out against Ahab and 
Jezebel.  Jeremiah, the man of God spoke out against king Zedekiah and the entire nation for their sins, and pronounced judgment upon them.  God still calls men of God to speak out against sin in all elements of society, in marriage, in the church, and yes, in the government.  No one is exempt from the chastisment and warnings of God's word.   

THE 1010 TRUMPET

Jude 3-4

 

"Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ."

 

 

Please notice the word "ONCE" as used by Jude in this critical text of Scripture.  The "FAITH" was "ONCE" (and for all) delivered.  Herein lies the danger of those who declare that revelatory gifts are still in existence among God's people today.  These revelatory gifts were given unto men for the precise purpose of revealing and delivering "the faith ONCE delivered to the saints."  Those who would espouse the revelatory gifts as being active and in use today by men gifted of God, would suggest that revelation is still being given, that "ONCE" was not sufficient, and that God has not finished delivering the "ONCE" delivered.  John gives stern warning in Revelation that those who dare to add too, or take away from that which was "ONCE" delivered, are walking on dangerous ground.  I made a decision many years ago to reject doctrines and gifts which dared to promote "NEW REVELATION" as an improvement to that which was "ONCE DELIVERED."  Many are guilty by ignorance, and fortunately God knows the heart.  Many are guilty via a spirit of greed and avarice; of whom God will not look lightly upon in the judgment. 

 

YIELDING THE SWORD

Matthew 28:19-20

 

"Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen."

 

 

Salvation is the most important message regarding the word of God. Yes, it's of necessity that we focus upon the purpose of reaching men and women with this all important message.  Salvation is indeed the heart of the gospel!.  However, we make a serious mistake in the church when we stop with verse nineteen and refuse to do the remainder of what Jesus commands us here in verse twenty.  He states that we are to also be "Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you."  This command would include "the whole counsel of God," the entirety of God's word from Genesis to Revelation.  The demand of obedience is as important as the demand for repentance.  Much of the modern day church in America is guilty on focusing upon God's forgiveness in salvation, while rejecting, negating, and simply ignoring the demand for obedience.  If you have truly been saved, there should be some evidence in your life via acts of obedience.

SOUNDING THE TRUMPET

John 3:19

And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

 

This country is without excuse and is guilty of loving darkness, and hating the light.  The truth has been preached, taught, and proclaimed in this nation since it was founded.  She is now on the road to becoming as Sodom and Gomorrah.  The judgment she will incur will be severe indeed.  Jesus warned the cities of Chorazin and Bethsaida, "But I say unto you, that it shall be more tolerable in that day for Sodom, than for that city" (Luke 10:12).  These cities had received great light, they had seen and heard of the mighty works of God.  America has blatantly spit in the face of God, and will reap the reward she is due.  Consider the fate of Sodom, and the words of Ann Graham Lott, "if God does not judge America, He will have to apologize to Sodom and Gomorrah."