How a Nation Backslides, Part 2

Greetings friends and new listeners and welcome to the sound of faith. I'm shower not thanking you for joining us today because we know Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. Today's message is a strong word of the Lord given to me during our nation's political division and unrest. Many claim that since God is sovereign. His will is always done, but that lays at his feet all the ills and injustices of the world it means when good Kings rain. It's his will and when evil ones are in power that is will to, but is it or does he give people the desire of their hearts gain a perspective and how and nation backsides moving away from the voice of God hold you place in Great just go back to chapter 3 will and will read a little bit here chapter 3 verse one and the child Samuel ministered unto the Lord before Eli and the word of the Lord was precious in those days there was no open vision. I don't want you to think that meat is so precious. We love God's word bull. I love you know it means. It was rare was worse. There were no open vision and God is going to take this little boy and he's going to see that he's supposed to go and tell Eli the high priest.

Look at verse 11. This verse always gets to me.

And the Lord said to Samuel, behold, I will do a thing in Israel at which both the ears of everyone that hears it shall tingle. That means that what I'm about to say this word I'm about to deliver is going to be so people's ears going to be on fire. Amen. Verse 12 in that day I will perform against Eli all things which I have spoken concerning his house and when I began.

I will also make an end.

There will be no repented and change in mind here, for I have told him that I will judge his house for her for the wedding which he now he hopes because his sons made themselves vile and raise this, he didn't commit the sins. Nobody was crooked or corrupt or sinful you did you you did not you just let them get away with it and I don't think it's any different than today.

Churches allow people on the platform allow the played music. The organ the drums, the minister of music on the choir that are actively committing fornication. Homosexuality, amen. All but they need their minister of music.

I mean we can do without. What would we do if we didn't have an organist when we just would have to look the other wagon leaving with God.

That's the attitude of many churches today. Amen. God said, I will judge that house and so young.

Samuel had to deliver this hair-raising year burning prophecy to Eli and when Eli heard it, he knew that he knew it was the word of the Lord. Verse 19 and Samuel grew in the Lord was with him and he did let none of his words fall to the ground and all Israel from Dan even to Beersheba, knew it that Samuel was established to be a prophet of the Lord. And so we see Samuel gift was so extraordinary that not one single prophecy he ever gave fell to the ground. What a powerful testimony, but when he was old.

His sons were just as wicked as he lies and so they were not able to step in the prophets shoes and the people of Israel used this as an excuse to come to Samuel and say Samuel you've been a wonderful prophet but you're wrong now and your sons are wicked so we want to King didn't think I could raise up another prophet, but you see, they wanted a king, and this was going to move them further away from the voice of God. They wanted to replace the spiritual leadership of the priest and the prophet for an earthly king. You know they wanted to be reread.

Like other nations, and when you want to be like the world and you want to hear what the world is saying to do what the world is doing. You don't want to hear the voice of God you hear his voice to correct you.

He may reprove you and rebuke you and if you don't want to do so, you prophet of God to speak to you this meal from a man or woman of God.

Amen my king has no name from God to speak to God. None. Kings didn't have that. So what's going to be the new protocol. If they get a king.

Now when a prophet of God gets the word of the Lord. He has to go to the king and tell the king what God said and depending on the condition of the king's heart. He will decide whether or not the word be spoken to the people. If he doesn't like it. He might say you're not speaking that we see in the Bible where one can put a prophet in jail because he pronounced judgment on we know what said about the properties and one in the comic never says anything good about me. Amen. And it's humorous but at the same time it's not. And so now the king is the one with the authority and so he can decide were not going let this prophecy, get out there. It's a rebuke.

People want to move away from the voice of conviction and that's how it is in churches today.

People want to go when there's no conviction for carnality they want to go where the flesh is coddled. Amen they got word you really want to hear word of the Lord like I'm giving you today. They don't want to hear from a real servant or handmaid of the Lord know they don't because they don't want to hear it and they're going to go where it's pleasing to their flesh and they don't have to hear about sin.

They're moving away from the voice of the Lord there hearing the voice of men who preach a soft soap gospel.

You know what the prophet Amos said he said the time will come when there'll be a famine in the land for the hearing of the words of the Lord for the hearing of the words of the Lord God does have some servants that are telling it like it is. He has them out there. Amen they may not be the most popular ones on television, but he's not them real and they won't sell out for filthy lucre like it's two people 202,000 or 20,000 want to tell it like it is. Amen. But not everybody is going to go where they are inherent in receiving. I feel kinda bad for Samuel. What this remarkable man of God would serve faithfully, his whole life and now the people are telling him know we want to King. He probably felt like that he had failed. But basically God said to him, Samuel. They have not rejected you.

Dave rejected me.

After all that I've done with all the wonders and miracles that I performed. They forsaken me. Amen. And I want to say that to any two ministers that may hear this at some time in the future and maybe you get discouraged sometimes and that you feel like the people don't want to hear you and you get\welcome to the club. Amen. But I want you understand are not rejecting your ministry per se. That's not what's going on.

They don't want to hear it because they don't want to do right and they're moving farther away from the voice of God, God said about Israel what they did in Psalm 106. 15 and he gave them their request, but sent leanness to their soul again, thinking they wanted but it started them on a downward spiral and God even told Samuel he said Samuel warned them that when they have a king there baby things they are not happy about that king is going to take their sons and their daughters. He's going to put their boys in the Army he's going take their daughters for his servants. He's going to exact attendance of all their property. All other animals. He's going to take all of these thinking dividends. Officers and give it servants amen and outlets look at Samuel chapter 8. Real quick. In verse 18 and you shall cry out in that day because of your king which you have chosen and the Lord will not hear you when that day. Nevertheless, the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel.

And they said no, but we will have a king over us, that we also may be like all the nations, and that our king may judge us and go out before us and fight our battles. My God, the date you look for a man to fight your battles. You are in big trouble. Amen. How many times were the odds of the battle so ridiculous mean this is time to time during the judges think about Gideon with 300 going up over 100,000 people so God chose a king that he knew they would be thrilled with his name was Saul from the tribe of Benjamin outwardly. He wasn't pressed said amen. Oh, he was very impressive. He was head and shoulders above all the people he was tall and built. He had charisma but he had a heart that would turn deceitful you know charisma can override corruption in the day would come that he would turn away from the voice of the Lord. We see it today in the pulpits. The popular preachers are the ones with all the charisma.

Amen. God loves you. He loves everybody and if you trying to put them on the spot and asked about what about sin what about sin, the answer will be. We just loves everybody.

We love everybody to Jesus, and we leave the rest alone. They don't preach New Testament correction and because of that the Holy Spirit can convict get off a prefix for a minute, what about politicians so charismatic speak peace, peace and unity while they're standing on the bloodied ground of millions of murdered babies cry out, and I say to you God, why man able your brother's blood cries out to be modern man's blood.

How much lower are the priorities of 60 million babies create. Don't forget that, created in God's image, crying out to God. Amen.

Babies who now can be aborted up to the moment of birth. You know, we thought it was terrible. 1973 when they could be aborted that in the 1990s were like. Now they have late-term abortion before you could do it after six months, but now you can do it, but now like even to the point of birth, and if the baby happens to survive the abortion they let it die in pain or killing yeah I know it's heavy and you know what Christians though input these politicians in in some cases they do it because there ministers stand in the pulpit and tell them to.

Amen I do believe that at some point their conscience.

I know it's true because I've had people try to argue with with me. They tried to make the abortion thing.

Not that terrible compared to this or that or the other. Amen. God said it's an abomination. I have to believe that their conscience had to bother them at some point, knowing that it's an abomination, but like these Israelites they think we don't care just give us our king John arcane I believe God will judge for this. I do he said in Leviticus the 20 chapter, verses two and three that those who committed child sacrifice profaned his holy name is holy name and he would set his face against that. He said, and the people shall stone them to death. Now that's part one. Here's part two in verse four he said, and the people of the land do in any way hi there, I from those who give their seed sacrifice and not kill him. I will set my face against that man and against his family and cut them off. What is that mean that means that God will judge those who stood by and didn't protest and let it happen. I am not please don't misunderstand, I am not proposing that people should be killing people. I'm not saying that I'm just showing you how God sees it. Amen.

God says if you stand by and don't open your mouth is a Scripture from Proverbs 31, eight that says open your mouth for those who have no voice, who were appointed unto destruction who were appointed how they appointed under the structured appointment on the calendar for that mother to have an abortion were to stand against it seatbelts. This is not about a person personal sins. This is not about a man or woman's personal sin. This is about the national sin of abortion that is an abomination to God that he says profaned his name and it will bring judgment on the nation and so will homosexuality and same-sex marriage. There abomination to God. They were legally put in motion by the Supreme Court of the United States of America. You understand this, their national sin when they legalize these two things that they may not one person amen. As I said before, presence, and present, but this is that God will judge. So God gives them. Saul to look at him. He's everything that they could have ever dreamed of.

Let's look at Chapter 1213 now therefore behold, the king, whom you have chosen and whom you have desired, and behold, the Lord had set a king over you know if you will fear the Lord and serve him and obey his voice and not rebel against the commandment of the Lord then shouted both you and also the king that reigns over you continue following the Lord your God. Now in my Bible after the word desired in verse 13 theirs in! Can I tell you how rare it is to see it!

In the Bible God can be said all and there's no estimation point can be say something joyfully exalting! He can be laying down the line milks like that here. There is one all my God is making a point he is making it very clear. This is a king that you desire to hurt you see this is your well will Samuel speaking is will and not God's will. Amen. He said if you will fear the Lord and will serve and obey him. Okay you want your King you.now make sure that you obey the Lord and follow his commandments, and that if you'll do this, then both you and your king will continue to follow the Lord you see Phelps. This was Plan B. This was not God's plan. Hey, he wanted the priesthood and the prophet ministry to continue.

Amen. Let's drop down to verse 15 but if you will not obey the voice of the Lord, but rebel against the commandment of the Lord, then shall the hand of the Lord be against you as it was against your father's now there are speaking about those who fell in the wilderness, their father still in the wilderness right anybody of the age of 20, was not able to go in. So is you've got to realize, just like you saw your father's your parents fall in the wilderness, you will to drop down verse 25 but if you shall still do wickedly. You shall be consumed both you and your king, you know, I really think this went right over their heads.

The part about you will be consumed both you and your king because were consumed means to be destroyed. So God said this is not a perfect plan, but you are my people, and I'm going to be true to my covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. So you got your king now. If your king will be godly and will continue to obey me, and you will serve me you will be that peculiar treasure that I called you to be. But if you rebel you and your king will be destroyed. Did you know that in the last until years king Saul disobeyed the word of the Lord. He was only obedient to the word Samuel brought to him from God for two short years, and then he got a big head, a God filled with pride and he overtook his boundaries. He overstepped his boundaries as king, and he stepped into the office of prophet and priest and did not have any conviction about it. He was never called to be a prophet, and he certainly was not called to be a priest because he was not of the tribe of Levi. He was of the tribe of Benjamin. And not only that, but Samuel is alive and well. He's God's prophet. Now Samuel had given him specific instructions you know it was there protocol that before they went out to battle all the Army would come together and the prophet would offer up a sacrifice to God, and they would pray to God for victory and for his age and for his help in battle.

Amen.

And so Samuel said, I have things to do.

I cannot be there for seven days. So do until I come way until I come to offer up the sacrifice by seven days went by and Samuel was late getting there, and Saul got antsy and instead of obeying the commandment of the Lord. He took it upon himself to offer up the sacrifice. When I was a scary thing to do, but he wasn't scared. He lost his fear of God.

He had lost his reverence for God and holy things and so when Samuel came and saw what happens and what have you done and saw blade paintball. He said well you were late and the people were getting restless and they were scattering around. I knew I had to do something to listen to his words. I force myself I force myself to offer the sacrifice. I mean, he was the king what was any decay.

He was the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces right. He should've stood up and said were going away were going to wait on the servant of God were going away for him to come. Don't be discouraged. God's prophet is on the way and when you get here. He'll tell us what we should do verse 13 and Samuel said to Saul you have done foolishly. You have done initially that you have not kept the commandment of the Lord your God, which he commanded you for now with the Lord and established your kingdom upon Israel for ever. Don't let this wash over you get what God was saying again. His intention was for them not to have a king but he gave them one put a new plan in place that is all right. This is the new protocol.

Plan B if the kings obedient. I will establish his house forever, but Saul stand. Look at verse 14.

But now your kingdom shall not continue. The Lord is thought him a man after his own heart. And the Lord has commanded him to be captain over his people because you have not kept that which the Lord commanded you. God is now going to plan C you see that. But don't worry about God. He's got plenty of plans he can work all things together for good.

So God essentially said I have my man waiting in the shadows and he's a man after my own heart. Amen.

Another words he someone who will obey my word and do what I tell him to do but see one Saul cross this threshold of rebelling against the word of the Lord. He continued to rebel. After that later on, a little further down. Samuel gave him another instruction because God did not yank Saul off the throne. The moment we just read this here. He did yank them off because David wasn't ready to be king, so I didn't want you to think that that was it. Okay you're over with now. He still was king but he never turned around and got right with God.

Therefore, you only got worse and so in another situation they were going to go out against the Amalekites very wicked people who did child sacrifice and so Samuel told Saul when you go to battle the Lord says you are not despair anyone spare no one listen to this job even spare their animals don't even spare their cattle. That's what he told him amen. But when they had the battle all spared their king a gag and the best of the animals. Amen.

Let's look at chapter 15 verse 11 the word of the Lord came to Samuel and he said it repents me that I have set up Saul to be king returned back from following me and has not performed my commandments and agreed Samuel and he cried all night unto the Lord. So then in the morning Samuel came to meet Saul verse 13 and start looking to sell insulted an end BU of the Lord.

I have performed upon some of the Lord.

What a liar. How deceived. Amen.

But then something happened.

Samuel heard the bleating of sheep, and he said what is this bleating of sheep in my ears and Saul repeated the same thing although it was the people they wanted to keep the best of the animals that they could sacrifice them to God and then Samuel rebuked him and persisted to blame the people and then the famous words that we all know Samuel delivered chapter 15 verses 24 and 25. Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as obeying the voice of the Lord. But behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams and now Saul says to Samuel, I have sinned, I transgressed the commandment of the Lord. He says, but I did it because I feared the people and obeyed their voice. Now listen to this. Now therefore, I pray you pardon my sin and turn again with me that I may worship the Lord, you know what's going on here. Saul says well really I listen to the people I was afraid not listen to them, but you know what does it really matter walk with me come alongside them yes go out there in front of the people and worship the Lord and they'll see were still good.

So I'm still good with God, how deceived, amen. Let's just pretend go out there and put a show on let's pretend like everything is all right with me if you come out there with me they'll think well everything is okay.

Amen. Verse 26 and Samuel answered, I will not return with you, for you have rejected the word of the Lord and the Lord has rejected you from being king over Israel and you want to know the tragic epitaph of Saul's life. Look at verse 35 and Samuel came no more to see Saul until the day of his death. Nevertheless Samuel Moran for Saul and the Lord repented that he had made Saul king over Israel.

What is this mean it means Saul never got another word of the Lord from God.

I never saw Samuel again and it means that now he had moved so far away from the voice of the Lord.

He could no longer hear moving farther away from the voice of the Lord is how my nation backsides when you don't want to hear the word of the Lord, you're on your way to backsliding. Amen. So we never saw him again and from that point on Saul went into a tailspin of paranoia and violent behavior. He was tormented night and day in day and night by demon spirits. Then he became so insanely jealous of her.

David, because he heard that he's going to be the next king he tried to kill him.

21 times. Even though David never ever did in any wrong didn't even show him the slightest disrespect always called him my father, my king Saul was so tormented by demon spirits. The only one they could give them a little respite was when David came and played. Amen. What a clarifying word of the Lord how a nation backsides moving away from the voice of God is God's will always done on the earth is so why did Jesus say to pray that I will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Many claim that since God is sovereign and in control. His will is always done. Thus, when good men rule. It's his will and when evil men will that's his will to.

But the Bible says otherwise. God never intended his chosen people Israel to have a king. They were to be a kingdom of priests and God was there. King, but as they moved away from the voice of God at Sinai, they eventually insisted on a king there king turned out to be a rebel, a backsliding Israel Moving away from the voice of God until she went into captivity and her beloved city and Temple were destroyed America to is moving away from the voice of the Lord, choosing leaders that spurn the Bible and celebrate abortion and same-sex marriage which God calls abominations.

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