I SAMUEL

This morning, I finished up I Samuel.  Here are a few truths to share: 1) DO YOU PERCEIVE?  1 Samuel 12:17  "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."   Sometimes, in love, God brings discipline into our lives.  His goal is to correct and instruct us.  The problem is that many times we do not perceive that God is dealing with us.  We look at things as "just happening" to us.  We think "our luck is bad".  We don't analyze what is going on in our lives, to draw a spiritual connection.  Everything that comes into our lives has a reason.  So, when something befalls us, we should first of all look at our lives and see what lesson God wants to teach us, or what area of our lives God wants to correct us.  If having done that, we see nothing, then we can discern that God is using the trial to teach us patience and dependence upon Him.  So, when a trial or hardships come your way...... try to perceive what God is correcting, or teaching us! 2) WHAT GOD CAN DO- God can transform us!  He takes David in I Samuel 16:11 who is the youngest and the keeper of the sheep.  Fills him with his spirit in verse 13, from the day he is anointed King forward in his life, and then transforms him into a man of renown.  1 Samuel 16:18  "Then answered one of the servants, and said, Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, that is cunning in playing, and a mighty valiant man, and a man of war, and prudent in matters, and a comely person, and the LORD is with him."   Now God can and does do the same things in our lives.  As we seek to follow the LORD, then God blesses and transforms us into something special for Him.  Not so special we take any credit, but special in that we can humbly serve Him and be effective for the cause of Jesus Christ. 3) SPIRITUAL INFLUENCE- In I Samuel 19, we have a picture of spiritual influence.  In verse 18, David and Samuel (the priest) went to dwell in Naioth.  Saul sent messengers to take David captive, but when they arrived, the spirit of the LORD came upon them and they prophesied.  So, Saul sent more... and in verse 21, they prophesied.  So, the third time, Saul sent messengers to take David and..... they too prophesied!  Now, Saul has to look into this himself, and 1 Samuel 19:23  "And he went thither to Naioth in Ramah: and the Spirit of God was upon him also, and he went on, and prophesied, until he came to Naioth in Ramah."   Now, here is the thought:  David was filled with God's Spirit when he was anointed as a child, and Samuel was filled with God's Spirit as a priest since the early days he served Eli.  When others got around them as they worshiped God.... they could not help but be affected.  How wonderful it would be if everyone who got around us loved Jesus more because of our influence!   Oh to have spiritual influence in a spiritually darkened world!  Lord, please use us!  Love you today Lord, and want your Will above everything.  May Your Presence grace my day and let me be continually aware of You and let you reign in my every thought and action.  I hope to reflect Your glory through my simple life.  Love you Lord!  Have a blessed day!   Pastor Mike Mutchler