Summary.
- Trace the beginning of earthly king's rule over Isreal.
- Reason: Samuel's two child were not godly and wanted to be like other nations who have a earthly king to lead them.
- Warning given by God.
- That the earthly king will keep taking their possessions and they will become his slaves.
1st Samuel 8: 18 "When that day comes, you will cry out for relief from the king you have chosen, and the Lord will not answer you in that day."
ok, so what did the speaker talked about.
He talked about the rejection of God by the Isrealites. That they did not fixed their eyes on God but on Samuel's sons and saw that they were not up to standard.
Hebrews 12:2 "Lets fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."
So lets fix our eyes on God, on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith. Not on humans who 'represent' how God is like.
The speaker talks about Isreal's rejection of God and acknowledging of Satan's world system. That despite God's warning still insist on their decision to have a earthly king.
The speaker brings down to a level of personal development, in areas that we reject others. He gave the example of parents 'killing' their children's spirit when they do not take their words or ideas or plans seriously. Rejecting them even before the child can further elaborate and explain themselves. It is important to treat children with love and not put them down. Though their plans or ideas may seem ridiculous, parents should not just dismiss it but make time to explain and get them to understand as well. And also to prevent a vicious cycle through generation.
Current parents teach their children in a negative way, the children grows up and teaches their children in the same negative way.
In another aspect, the area of social development.
We can reject people by abusive authority, distrusting people, being undemonstrative and refusal to accept responsibility.
The way we think as well. We need to cope with the mind that think nothing is good. This prolong dwelling on it will bring forth 'mental illness'.
The speaker then goes on to say that rejection is Satan's world system. It kills and destroys.
VS God's way, which is to have life abundantly. God is love.
We have to put love in place.
The speaker uses each letter of the word LOVE to state a point.
1. Look to the cross.
That Jesus died for us so that we may live. We should always fix our eyes on Jesus as said in Hebrews 12:2
2. Obey
The greatest command is to love God by keeping his commands.
Matthew 22:36-38 says, "'Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?' Jesus replied: 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment.'"
You ask, "How important is obedience to God?" In the gospel of John, obedience to God is underscored time and time again. John 14:15 says, "If you love me, you will obey what I command."
John 14:15 " If you love me, you will obey what I command."
Show me a man who is not under authority, I'll show you the devil.
Love is sincere, from the heart. We serve and not expect things in return.
Matthew 22: 39-40 "And the second is like it: 'love your neighbour as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."
3. Value of self-worth.
Psalms 24:1 "The earth is the Lord's and everything in it, the world and all who live in it; for he founded it upon the seas and established it upon the waters."
That includes us. We were/are deliberately created and given life by the author of life himself. It is not that God created 'life' and that this now 'reproduces' of it's own accord, rather every sigle thing that exists has been deliberately and minutely created by God himself.
We are created by God. Not only that, we are created in his image.
Genesis 1:27 " So God creted man in his own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created him."
We need to value our self-worth. The moment you reject yourself, how do others receive you?
Our identity and value is not define by our jobs or achievements.
Tie it to God. We are God's children, created in his image.
4. Empowerment in the Holy Spirit.
Acts 4: 32-35 "All the believers were in one heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had. With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all. There were no needy persons among them. Fot from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need."
I think writing this down, I too need to write something else.
Matthew 6: 1-4 " "Be careful not to do your 'acts of righteousness' before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. "So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let yourlefy hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you."
ok. That's about all the notes I wrote down during sermon yesterday.
Love stands for..
Look to the cross
Obey
Value of self-worth
Empowerment in the Holy Spirit
Love is the opposite of rejection.
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