Watch What You Ask For

**fennywest** Tue 27 Apr 2010, 2:37 pm

1Sa:12:21: And turn ye not aside: for then should ye go after vain things, which cannot profit nor deliver; for they are vain.

1Sa:12:22: For the LORD will not forsake his people for his great name's sake: because it hath pleased the LORD to make you his people.

1Sa:12:23: Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way:

1Sa:12:24: Only fear the LORD, and serve him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great things he hath done for you.

1Sa:12:25: But if ye shall still do wickedly, ye shall be consumed, both ye and your king.

Lessons

1. God is sovereign

He is King, He is Lord; He is the First and the Last. He takes first place.

2. We are not of the world and should not follow the world or lust after the world.

3. Following the world will lead us into sin and obviously away from God.

4. God uses men on the ground to keep our feet on the ground.

These are His prophets or pastors. As we obey them, we obey God. They are supposed to give us godly examples to follow.

This was the role of Samuel in this passage.

5. When we reject God’s constituted authority, we reject God’s authority as is the case here.

6. There is a difference between God’s perfect will and God’s permissive will.

The children of Israel wanted a king and although God granted them their wish, it was not His perfect will for them. It brings to mind Rom1:12

‘ be not conformed to the world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind that you may know what is that good, acceptable and perfect will. Notice the good, acceptable and perfect will. God wants the perfect, not just the acceptable or good. God wants the best of the land but not just the good of the land.

7. We may settle for the good or the acceptable but He wants the best for us.

8. Closely related to this thought is the fact that we need to be careful of what we ask for.

‘As and you will receive seek and you will find, knock and the door will be opened’

Often we may seek or ask for things that could become snares to us. That is why we need to be mindful of what we ask for. That is why we need to renew our mind such that we are asking according to His perfect will. Israel asked for a king but it was not according to God’s perfect will. They got what they wanted but he led them astray; led them into sin.

Samson wanted a foreign woman. That was the beginning of his fall. Solomon followed foreign women and ended up worshiping their gods. Ahab married Jezebel and he ended up worshipping Baal. Sacrificing to God is a good thing but obeying God is better that such a sacrifice. Saul was rebuked and lost his kingdom for putting sacrifice to God (a front) before obedience.

9. We are God’s special people (1Pet.2:9)

10. God is merciful

For the LORD will not forsake his people for his great name's sake: because it hath pleased the LORD to make you his people.

Our salvation does not depend on our ability to keep ourselves. It depends on His mercy. (1John5:20, Heb.13:5)We are weak, frail, stiff-necked, as we can see from the story of the Israelites. They are a picture of us.

We are saved because of the love and compassion of the Lord.

Nevertheless we cannot continue in sin that grace should continue to cover us. ( Rom6:2)God expects us to yield to His Spirit so that we can be transformed, thinking His thoughts and acting Christ like , being the light of the world, the salt of the earth and the City on the hill that He called us.

11. Not interceding for others is a sin.
1Sa:12:23: Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you:

We called to stand in the gap for our family, our church, our nation, the world-wide church- not gossip about them we need to shoulder their burden like Nehemiah, praying, ‘We have sinned, we have done wickedly…’ We need to intercede like Moses did for Israel, Like Jesus and the Holy Spirit do for us.

12. . The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. We need to follow the Lord whole-heartedly like Joshua and Caleb. They were the only two amongst those who came out of Egypt who entered the Promised Land because they followed the Lord with all their heart. We too must do the same to enter our promised land. If we don’t the consequences are dire and obvious.

1Sa:12:24: Only fear the LORD, and serve him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great things he hath done for you.

1Sa:12:25: But if ye shall still do wickedly, ye shall be consumed, both ye and your king

Let us pray

Heavenly Father, we thank you for your word that is spirit and life, sharper than any two-edged sword, powerful, medicine to our bodies, light to our path for the regeneration and renewal of our minds.

We pray that we will be wise to desire and crave for that which is Your perfect will, not just that which is good or permissible. May we realise that we are peculiar people, a holy people and not follow the world. May we whole-heartedly follow You like Joshua and Caleb as to enter our Promised Land.

Prompt us, Lord, to pray and intercede for our family, church, nation, friends, and for Your plans and purposes like Moses.

We thank You for Your Spirit and Your keeping power, in Jesus name.

**Waqar Daniel** Tue 27 Apr 2010, 7:44 pm

Nice article, keep it up and God bless you for sharing so much on this site.

Watch What You Ask For

Watch What You Ask For

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