May 12
1 Sam 12:1-13:23 | PS 108:1-13 | Prov 15:4 | John 7:1-30
In America, though we have all faced personal trials and tribulations, we have not faced persecution the way our brothers and sisters have experienced it in places like the Middle East, Africa, China, and many other nations which are hostile to the gospel message. Over and over again in Scripture we read the command, "Fear not!" or "Do not be afraid!" The importance of this cannot be overstated, because with fear often comes compromise. We never know when we will confront danger personally or in our walk with God. For that reason we must remain steadfast in His Word, the entirety of His Word. We need to not only intellectually believe in Him, but must trust Him completely. We need to rest on the fullness of His promises realizing that eternity is as real as the ground we now walk in. When things suddenly come upon us, we need to secure ourselves in Him and not waver.
We read the quick reversal of King Saul's walk in faith as he faced an army who completely out manned his army and as his own army was starting to flee from him in 1 Samuel 13:7-10, "...Meanwhile, Saul stayed at Gilgal, and his men were trembling with fear. Saul waited there seven days for Samuel, as Samuel had instructed him earlier, but Samuel still didn’t come. Saul realized that his troops were rapidly slipping away. So he demanded, “Bring me the burnt offering and the peace offerings!” And Saul sacrificed the burnt offering himself. Just as Saul was finishing with the burnt offering, Samuel arrived. Saul went out to meet and welcome him, but Samuel said, “What is this you have done?”" King Saul was well aware that he had no right to perform the sacrifice, yet in fear he chose to compromise and do that which he should not have. In Jesus we see perfection in timing and in everything else. Jesus' brothers did not believe in Him and taunted Him as we read in John 7:2-5, "But soon it was time for the Jewish Festival of Shelters, and Jesus’ brothers said to him, “Leave here and go to Judea, where your followers can see your miracles! You can’t become famous if you hide like this! If you can do such wonderful things, show yourself to the world!” For even his brothers didn’t believe in him" Jesus then went to Jerusalem in the midst of many who wanted to kill Him, but exhibited no fear, trusting and knowing that His time had not yet come.
Fear stops us from moving forward in our faith, as we see those who believed in Jesus but failed to utter a word in John 7:13, "But no one had the courage to speak favorably about him in public, for they were afraid of getting in trouble with the Jewish leaders." Samuel warned the people that there would be consequences, either one fears the Lord or follows something or someone else and fears them, as we read in 1 Samuel 12:14-15, "Now if you fear and worship the Lord and listen to his voice, and if you do not rebel against the Lord’s commands, then both you and your king will show that you recognize the Lord as your God. But if you rebel against the Lord’s commands and refuse to listen to him, then his hand will be as heavy upon you as it was upon your ancestors." So, decide this day whom you will fear, God or others; God or situations, God or world chaos. His promises are true, but you can only know them if you invest time in knowing Him through the entirety of His Word.
Messages from Pastor Lloyd Pulley: