Taught 2/28/09 – Saturday Evening

2 Kings 13:20-21 Then Elisha died, and they buried him. And the raiding bands from Moab invaded the land in the spring of the year. So it was, as they were burying a man, that suddenly they spied a band of raiders; and they put the man in the tomb of Elisha; and when the man was let down and touched the bones of Elisha, he revived and stood on his feet.

Elisha received a double portion of the anointing that Elijah had, and even in his bones there was enough power to raise the dead. 

2 Kings 1:10-14 So Elijah answered and said to the captain of fifty, “If I am a man of God, then let fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty men.” And fire came down from heaven and consumed him and his fifty. Then he sent to him another captain of fifty with his fifty men. And he answered and said to him: “Man of God, thus has the king said, ‘Come down quickly!’” So Elijah answered and said to them, “If I am a man of God, let fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty men.” And the fire of God came down from heaven and consumed him and his fifty.
Again, he sent a third captain of fifty with his fifty men. And the third captain of fifty went up, and came and fell on his knees before Elijah, and pleaded with him, and said to him: “Man of God, please let my life and the life of these fifty servants of yours be precious in your sight. Look, fire has come down from heaven and burned up the first two captains of fifties with their fifties. But let my life now be precious in your sight.”

Elisha was given a double portion for a specific reason.  It costs us when we want the power of God to work through us.

1 Kings 18 – Talks about Elijah and the priests of Baal, and how Elijah showed them that the power of God is far greater than their gods, and the priests are killed.  Jezebel hears about this and she threatens Elijah’s life.  Even after his great victory, fear enters his heart. He runs and hides, depressed.

Pastor Steve told us that you can be righteous and still suffer with things.  For example, Katherine Kuhlman used to fear that no one would show up for her meetings. She sought God, depended on God, and did not take pride in herself. 

God told Elijah to anoint Elisha. 1 Kings 19:16  … And Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel Meholah you shall anoint as prophet in your place.

Elijah tested Elisha, but knew that God had plans for Elisha.

1 Kings 19:19 So he departed from there, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he was with the twelfth. Then Elijah passed by him and threw his mantle on him.

Elisha was a farmer, and had a hunger for God in his heart, if not he would not have made it in the secular world, and to be picked by God.  God calls people who are workers who have a hunger for God.   They work things through in their spirit. 

To get a double anointing you need the principles and keys of the Spirit. 

Elijah went up to Elisha and threw his cloak over him – that is symbolic of the power of God.   Elijah threw it on Elisha while Elisha was working the fields.  Farmers are not wimps, they are straightforward.  At first Elisha wanted to go and say good bye to his family, but Elijah was not going to wait. 

One touch of the Holy Ghost changes us forever.  We have a hunger in our heart and a desire for God.

1 Kings 19:20-21 And he left the oxen and ran after Elijah, and said, “Please let me kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow you.” And he said to him, “Go back again, for what have I done to you?”  So Elisha turned back from him, and took a yoke of oxen and slaughtered them and boiled their flesh, using the oxen’s equipment, and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he arose and followed Elijah, and became his servant.

Elisha kissed his parents and burnt his bridges, by slaughtering his farm animals and then followed Elijah, becoming his servant.

When we give up everything for God, God gives back abundantly.

Luke 5:3-4 Then He got into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, and asked him to put out a little from the land. And He sat down and taught the multitudes from the boat.
When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.”

Jesus preached from Simon’s boat, in effect borrowing is boat, then after he finished speaking Jesus had Simon launch out into the water where Simon and his friends had a huge catch, one that required other boats to come out and help pull in.  They had no catch the night before, but chose to obey Jesus and drop the nets for a catch.

Peter realized who Jesus was and then said, Luke 5:8-11 When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!” For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish which they had taken;  and so also were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid. From now on you will catch men.”  So when they had brought their boats to land, they forsook all and followed Him.

Peter and James and John left everything and followed Jesus.  They had an encounter with the Holy Ghost’s power.  They burnt their bridges and pressed on following Jesus.

Elijah and Elisha travel together for some time, with Elisha as a servant.  First you need to spend years serving in ministry, you don’t just get an anointing by choosing to follow.  Pastor Steve served as a youth pastor, then served in the fastest growing church in the nation.  He told us that he served as if he were directly under Jesus.

Pastor Steve told us that some of us need to grow up and expect to serve, not just be catered to.  The Cross of Jesus cleanses us.  We are to forget what is behind and press into what is on ahead.  We want to grow to be more like Jesus, showing more love, sometimes tough love – love and discipline.  We want to be good disciples, with accountability.  We need to be disciples in the church and outside of the church, why limit the church to four walls?

Then Pastor Steve told us about when Elijah knew he was going to no longer be on earth, and he told Elisha, and Elisha wanted a double portion.  Elijah led Elisha on a circuit to help him grow spiritually.

2 Kings 2:1 And it came to pass, when the LORD was about to take up Elijah into heaven by a whirlwind, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal.

First of all, notice that Elijah was going to go up in a whirlwind, not a chariot of fire.  First Elijah brought Elisha to GILGAL, this was the place of circumcision.  Romans 2:29 but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God

This is a circumcision not only of the flesh, but of our hearts.  God will test us and put us in a place of trial to see if our heart is right with God.  Will we derail or will we respond and pick God’s way?   Our trials are like body building, as we keep exercising our faith and obedience muscles we grow stronger in the Lord.  So often our blessings come with a test – a spiritual circumcision.

The next place Elijah brought Elisha was BETHEL 2 Kings 2:2 Then Elijah said to Elisha, “Stay here, please, for the LORD has sent me on to Bethel.” But Elisha said, “As the LORD lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you!” So they went down to Bethel.

Even though Elijah wanted to convince Elisha to remain at Gilgal, Elisha chose to stick close to Elijah, not leaving him and traveled to BETHEL.  Bethel means house of God, service for God.  It is revelation knowledge of where God is taking you and a joy to serve in the ministry, growing in Christ.  Operating in the fruits and gifts of the Spirit, having a servant heart.

2 Kings 2:4 Then Elijah said to him, “Elisha, stay here, please, for the LORD has sent me on to Jericho.”

They then traveled to JERICHO, Elisha would not leave Elijah.  Jericho means FRAGRANCE, the power of God and the prophets growing – humility, ministry, being recognized by the leadership.  You are anointed in the midst of brothers, just like David was anointed in the midst of his brothers, or else nothing will open up to you.  When the power of God hits you, you are a somebody.  People seek you because of the power of God.  Your attitude does not change, you are to WORSHIP GOD.  Keep HUMBLE and more will be attracted to the Power of God.  Even when things are going well in our lives there are still periods of testing (sometimes testing comes especially when things are going good).

2 Kings 2:6 JORDAN Then Elijah said to him, “Stay here, please, for the LORD has sent me on to the Jordan.”

Elisha made up his mind that he would not leave Elijah even though the school of the prophets was encouraging him to do that, and Elijah was also telling him to remain.  When you leave Jericho you descend to the Jordan – to descend is seen in life as confronting the enemy, facing your giants, and bringing them down.   It also means facing your fears and stepping out and living for God.  Often when we make that choice it comes with persecution.  We need to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, not fixed on the enemy.  Walk in our Spirit, Who will help us to get rid of the dirt and the flesh, so that we can be better at helping people.

When we see men and women of God struggling with sin, we need to just love them for who they are, and help them get back to God.

There were 50 skeptical prophets following along reminding Elisha that the master was going to leave him.  Sometimes the enemy can use prophesy and truth as a weapon against us.  We need to not pay attention to things that detract us from God’s purpose for us, keep our eyes fixed on Jesus. 

Proverbs 24:16 For a righteous man may fall seven times and rise again, but the wicked shall fall by calamity.

2 Kings 2:9 And so it was, when they had crossed over, that Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask! What may I do for you, before I am taken away from you?” Elisha said, “Please let a double portion of your spirit be upon me.”

Elisha crossed over with Elijah, the 50 skeptical prophets watched at a distance.  Elisha wanted a double portion.

2 Kings 2:10-11 So he said, “You have asked a hard thing. Nevertheless, if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you; but if not, it shall not be so.” Then it happened, as they continued on and talked, that suddenly a chariot of fire appeared with horses of fire, and separated the two of them; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.

Pastor Smith had us look at this passage to see that Elijah did not go up in a chariot of fire, but in the whirlwind.  The chariots of fire was part of Elisha’s double portion. 

2 Kings 6:17 And Elisha prayed, and said, “LORD, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.” Then the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.

The chariots of fire stayed with Elisha.  When Elijah went up in the whirlwind, Elisha received the cloak (mantle) and the chariots.

2 Kings 2:12 And Elisha saw it, and he cried out, “My father, my father, the chariot of Israel and its horsemen!” So he saw him no more. And he took hold of his own clothes and tore them into two pieces.

Elisha saw him, and discarded his old clothes to receive the new.

2 Kings 2:13 He also took up the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and went back and stood by the bank of the Jordan.

Elisha received Elijah’s mantle.

2 Kings 2:15-15 Then he took the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and struck the water, and said, “Where is the LORD God of Elijah?” And when he also had struck the water, it was divided this way and that; and Elisha crossed over.  Now when the sons of the prophets who were from Jericho saw him, they said, “The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha.” And they came to meet him, and bowed to the ground before him.

When they saw Elisha do what Elijah did, they knew that Elisha was a prophet.  He kept his heart right, and was alert when most people are asleep. 

When God gives you something, He expects you to use it, to cross over your Spiritual River using your Spiritual mantle. Pass from the flesh into the Spirit by faith.  Live in the Spirit and cross your spiritual river, flow with God and build your capacity in the Spirit.  You need to get this from your head to your heart.  Out of your belly will flow rivers of living water.

***

Double Anointing by Pastor Steve Smith

Pastor Steve Smith has moved here to be part of the Kingston Fire move of the Holy Spirit.  For more information on this here are the links:

Pastor Don began this Bible study by telling us that self examination is fundamental to spiritual survival. If we lose ourselves by focusing on examining other people we become subject to other’s opinions and then compare ourselves to them but without looking in a mirror.  We have to look at our own self.

Righteous people examining the righteousness of others thinking that if they find something wrong with the other person that that makes us better than them.  What they should do is walk in love.  Instead of asking why did that other person not talk to me, ask yourself who did you speak with?  Why didn’t they hug me?  Ask yourself how many people did you reach out and hug?  In our church we have a 10 foot rule where we should speak and greet people within 10 feet of you, because everybody needs to have a friendly greeting and words of love.

We put up a wall and expect others to climb over it, criticizing the ones who don’t make the effort to climb over our wall and get to us.

The book of Hebrews is talking to the church.

Hebrews 12:14-17 Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled; lest there be any fornicator or profane person like Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his birthright. For you know that afterward, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought it diligently with tears.

We are to pursue peace with ALL – EVERYBODY – not some, not a few, not those you like but with ALL PEOPLE.  Never assume that people are out to get you, even if they don’t like you, pursue peace with them.  You may not like them, or they may not like you but we are still to pursue peace. Everybody does not have our cultural framework.  When people come into the Body of Christ, everyone does not have the same framework.  We have Roman Catholics, Black Baptists, White protestants, and many other cultural groups, and they do not always come to us on our terms.  When people come to our churches often visitors want: 1. to be invisible and 2. to have the church meet their needs. 

How do we pursue peace with people with no understanding of where they are coming from?  You have to drop your stuff, and not let your past drag you from doing what God wants you to do.  But we also have to realize that NOT EVERYBODY WANTS PEACE.

Verse 14 tells us ALL PEOPLE.  We are to pursue peace with all people, and HOLINESS.  There are two levels of holiness. 1. sanctification of faith.  Faith in Christ has cleansed us by the Blood of the Lamb. We are holy, but our external self may still be unclean until we learn more how to line up with God’s will for our lives.  2. by works of holiness.  God is Holy by both standards and He wants us to be holy by both standards.  Faith without works is dead.  When people see our works, they also see our faith.  But we do not earn salvation by works, but when we are saved and walking in God’s will our works will show that to others.

We begin with holiness through Christ and begin to work our way to the 2nd type of holiness.

It is to be holiness even in little things. If someone is talking about another person on the phone (gossiping) the brother or sister should say let’s pray about so and so, or I don’t want to discuss this person without them being present.  Holiness shows in our deeds and actions.  We are to walk in love, not spread doubt and discouragement. Pastor Don also says that it is a good prayer to say, without naming names, pray with me so that I can get a better understanding of the situation.

Romans 14:17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

Righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

It may feel good in the physical and seem to build your self esteem to put a person down or gossip, but you will notice that if you do that your peace and joy are gone for the Holy Spirit is not pleased when you do things like that.  You complain about a person and how terrible what they are doing is, and the Holy Spirit reminds you that you’ve also done that.

When you do things that are not pleasing to the Holy Spirit first righteousness leaves, then your peace leaves, and then you are not happy anymore for your joy has left.  The Holy Spirit gets quiet.  He does not abandon you, but will quietly wait until you come to your senses, until you pull out your mirror and check yourself in light of the truth of God.

Hebrews 12:14  Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.

Holiness, sanctification and works.  We have faith and belief in the Lord Jesus Christ, and we have righteousness by faith, not by works.  Yet, as we grow in Christ, we are working on ourselves to begin to change ourselves to be more like Christ.  The Holy Spirit works on us to begin the process of growing closer to Christ.  We find that things stand in the way of our maturity, subtle things.  We don’t want to come to the House of the Lord carrying things that are not right in God’s eyes.  When we have faith our works will show it – but we do not get saved by works. 

The thief on the cross acknowledged Jesus is Lord.  He had been a thief and was dying, having no chance to do works to gain heaven – yet Jesus promised him that he would be with Him that day in Paradise. The other thief rejected Jesus and would not be saved.  Salvation comes not from works but from faith and believing in our hearts that Jesus is Lord.

We can be instantly saved, but not all are instantly redeemed or delivered, it sometimes takes time to get over the damages we have in our lives.  It took time for us to get to where we are and it can (although not always) take time to get beyond the damages. 

There is stuff that we have to let go of so that we can pick up something from heaven.  When our hands are full we can’t work in the fullness of Christ, to walk in His way, and learn what He has for us.  If our hands are full of old baggage it blocks us from doing Christ’s best for our lives.

We have to face facts, Pastor Don is not talking about living in a fantasy world where nothing is wrong.  Yes, we have hurts.  Pastor Don shared about his father wound, where his dad was so busy with his ministry that he did not have time to be a good father to Pastor Don.  At some point, Pastor Don had to go and talk to his father about that lack of presence, and the end result was that his dad was able to admit he wasn’t there for Pastor Don as a father, but he could be there now for Pastor Don as a friend.  The relationship was healed, and Pastor Don was able to let go of that old stuff and move forward.  We can’t keep carrying our past.

Pastor Don wanted to be able to lead people to the Lord and to help them know about God the Father.  With the father issues in his past, it blocked him from being as effective in this.  He didn’t know how to be a dad – neither his father or his grandfather were good role models.  Cynthia, Pastor Don’s wife, had a great father and Cynthia was able to help Pastor Don learn what the things were that a good father did so that he could be those for his sons.

Pastor Don then told us that we have to let stuff go or our works will always be tainted, and we will end up carrying all kinds of stupid baggage.  And then we end up bound by our sins and expectations that cause sadness and cause us to doubt our walk. 

He then shared that in counseling so often people come in with excuses for people who have hurt them so much, for example:  they didn’t have the ability, they did the best they could, they were unable to do it.  That is a crock, the people had the ability to reach out and ask for help and chose not to do it, ending up then being a poor parent or person in the life of the one being counseled. Yes, a person may have had impaired ability to be a good parent, but they could have corrected that if they were motivated enough to change. 

A dad that tells their child that they are stupid, damaged goods, needs to gain help, and you do not need to buy what they spoke over you.  You need to come to terms that your parent was a rotten parent and you have to get yourself well.  Put the blame where it belongs, get the blame off of your shoulders.   It is impossible for you to get well carrying their blame. Forgive and move on.

God had a system in place of extended families – so that parents could go to elders for help.  Technology has destroyed those close family ties and now there can be 3,000 miles or more between family members.  People need the older generations to help raise their children.  There is a big difference between making a phone call and having help in person.

To be holy we have to let go of some stuff to free us to do God’s work.

Hebrews 12:15 looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled.

We have Grace, the favor of God, to empower us to do exploits for His Glory.  Look for God in our day to day.  He wants us to receive the truth that God really loves us and because He loves us, He gives us stuff, abilities, opportunities, blessings.  He transforms tragedy and tough times to blessings, as we give Him glory.  Stuff we don’t like in our lives, we later realize was a blessing.  How do we move in the Grace of God? We need to make sure that roots of bitterness do not spring up. We need to dig up those roots and not allow them to raise their heads, the root must die.  Don’t fertilize the roots of bitterness. 

Anything that we are unhappy about, disappointed in we do not have to receive and create a root of bitterness.  Starve it to death, if we feed it it encourages the bitterness to grow, and we want to outgrow those roots of bitterness.

People are hungry for God, and many people claim they have a word from the Lord.   We need to realize that the Lord always sends a spiritual herald – Gabriel announced to Zacharias about the birth of his son John the Baptist, who would proclaim the coming of the Messiah. Zacharias was versed in the scriptures and would have known the time of the Messiah’s coming.  Jesus would rebuke the priests and scribes because they knew the time of his coming and did not heed it.  God will not do anything unannounced.  When we know God and we know God’s Word, we are not surprised by what God is doing. And when someone brings a “word from the Lord” we can discern if it is from God or not according to what we know about God and about His Word.  We need to discern, for not everyone claiming to have a Word from God has such a Word, some Words from God come from roots of bitterness and seek to destroy the truth of God.

The root of bitterness comes through a spirit of rebelion. The root grows sort of like crabgrass, interlocking roots that are very hard to dig out, but if you miss a root it grows back.

King Saul is an example of a root of bitterness.  So often roots of bitterness erupt when a person becomes a spiritual giant overnight, and has not had the training or has not paid their dues, and then they chop down one root and it springs up another way.  Roots of bitterness cause us to become defiled, unclean.

Hebrews 12:16 lest there be any fornicator or profane person like Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his birthright.

Remember the story of Jacob and Esau – for glitter he gave up the glory.

Hebrews 12:17 For you know that afterward, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, through he sought it diligently with tears.

What Esau wanted was the wealth that he sold out to Jacob for a bowl of lentils, but now he regretted giving up the land, the wells, the livestock, etc.  But that was not the real blessing that Esau rejected, he rejected being yielded to God, and the relationship that Isaac and Abraham had with God.

Pastor Don pointed out that sorrow is not repentance.  You can be sorrowful that you sinned or you made a mistake and got caught, but that is not repenting.   Judas Iscariot was sorrowful, but did not repent.

2 Corinthians 7:10 For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted, but the sorrow of the world produces death.

If God said to Esau, I forgive you and will save you, but you won’t get the material blessings, Esau would not have accepted that.  It was a heart issue.  He did not say, whatever I forfeited because of sin, I accept.  If we truly repent, God can bless us beyond blessing. 

Someone read Psalm 15 Lord, who may abide in Your tabernacle? Who may dwell in Your holy hill? He who walks uprightly, and works righteousness, and speaks the truth in his heart. He who does not backbite with his tongue, nor does evil to his neighbor, nor does he take up a reproach against a friend. In whose eyes a vile person is despised, but he honors those who fear the LORD; He who swears to his own hurt and does not change. He who does not put out his money at usury, or des he take a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things shall never be moved.

Pastor Don concluded by telling us that to be right means even if it costs you something, do it.

Praying your day is blessed!!!

Heather

Last night was a stellar Bible study.  There are Bible studies and then there are Bible Studies.  This was a Bible study!  I typed up my notes instantly because I did not want to miss a single point.  It blessed so many in attendance that I just know it will bless you.  I know this is a long post, but there was no way to break it apart without destroying the flow of the Holy Spirit in the teaching.

Pastor Don (Pastor Don Moore, Living Word Chapel, West Hurley, New York) pointed out that many people say when a person is suffering, “all things work together for good.”  But that is taking a passage out of context.  God is not thrilled when you are hurting so that He can turn something into good – God will not arrange a period of suffering so that He can turn it to good, but God can take our suffering and turn it to good.  Pastor Don took us to this passage and we looked at it in depth.

He said that a good Bible student will ask several questions of any passage of scripture.  Who is speaking?  Who is he speaking to?  And what is he speaking about. 

Romans 8:26  Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us^b]’>? And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

Jesus tells us not to worry.  We are children of God, and He gives us all our blessings.  He gives us our needs, but not necessarily all our desires, for He has our best interests at heart and some of what we desire is not in our best interest.

Salvation is a saving deliverance, a preservation from destruction.  There will be judgement, just like there was for Noah’s flood.  No one can inherit salvation, each person chooses to accept the gift of salvation individually.  As we grow in faith we reap the benefit of faith and get exactly what we are speaking.

Saved is defined as being saved from enemies, sin, delivered from slavery, health, preservation of life, freedom from physical infirmities, and in general all kinds of deliverance.  Saved from sin. Final and complete deliverance from all causes including death.

Thus salvation cannot be linked to the initiation of redemption – salvation is ongoing.  It is tri-fold – three in one – body, soul, spirit.  God is a trinity, and salvation is also triune.

There is initial salvation, when we say “yes” to God’s offer, perpetual salvation - living, moving and ongoing, and eternal salvation – no end to it.

That’s the kind of God we serve. Why, with such a loving God, do we find ourselves living in worry under a spirit of fear?

We should have the audacity to say, “I don’t know how, but I know God will make a way.  He didn’t bring me this far to leave me.  God is sovereign.”

Callin talked a bit about his past and told us that when the love of God did not provoke him to do right, the fear of God did.  Solomon prayed, give me an understanding heart.

Whoever says, “Yes, Lord,” represents one with an understanding heart, and God is a rewarder of faith.  Look at Jacob, Abraham.  God knows humanity, and when we are making a wrong decision, and God can remedy our mistakes. 

Then Callin shared from Dake’s Bible reasons not to worry. (Heather’s comment, Dake’s Bible gives wonderful lists.)

8 Reasons why we should not worry listed in margin near Matthew 6.

1 Life is more than meat
2. Body more than rainment
3. Men greater than materials
4. Men greater than fowls whom God feeds without their labor.
5. Worry cannot change the body
6. Men better than plants that do not worry about clothing
7. God’s providence is over all creation, not only birds and plants that never buy, sell, manufacture or labor.
8. Worry is useless and sinful and must not be tolerated.

QUIT WORRYING BECAUSE IT IS
1. Sinful and produces fear
2. A disease of the mind causing other ills in the body.
3. Borrowing trouble that cannot be paid back
4. Brooding over what may not happen.  We can find ourselves in Job’s situation, that what Job feared came upon him.  Our faith will be tested on occasion but God will work it out towards good.With a test of faith, we pray until we see what we are praying for manifested. Doubt and unbelief can prevent what we are believing for in faith from occurring.
5. Creating trouble, misery, death
6. A burden borrowed from tomorrow and others who should carry it.  Sometimes we take another’s cause and carry it.  If we do that it can be because doing that keeps us from looking at ourselves and the problems we should be dealing with in our lives.  Israel did not move in the wilderness until God moved the pillar of fire or the cloud.  It helped them to “be still and know that He was God.”  We are dependent on God, and that means that we need to wait and get a leading from God about what we should be doing and involved in. Ask God about your associates, activities and actions.  Ask God to show us what to do.
7. Weight that kills prematurely
8. Mental and physical suicide
9. A grave-digger that has no sympathy
10. A needless and wastes time and effort that should be spent on worthwhile things
11. A robber of faith, peace, and trust in a never-failing heavenly Father
12. A stumbling block to others
13 A disgrace to God and should never be indulged in by Christians
14. Anxiety over what is nothing today and less tomorrow, in view of faith
15. Anticipating troubles which seldom come to those who trust God
16 Torment over something that will likely be a blessing if it comes.
17. Living like an orphan without an heavenly Father
18. A crime against God, man, nature, and better judgment
19. Mental cruelty to self and others
20. Foolish, for whatever is going to happen cannot be stopped by worry; and if it doesn’t happen there is nothing to worry about, should adversities actually come, one may still be victorious by trusting in God.

Psalm 37 tells us to not worry, not fret. 

Numbers 14 reminds us how we will have what we say.  The Israelites, all those over the age of 20, ended up dying in the wilderness, except Joshua and Caleb who told the truth of God.

In the Bible we see Jesus and the Salvation of God manifested from Genesis to Revelation.  We also see that without faith it is impossible to please God.  We are reminded not to worry and to not be like the Israelites.

Numbers 14:26-28  And the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying,  “How long shall I bear with this evil congregation who complain against Me? I have heard the complaints which the children of Israel make against Me. Say to them, ‘As I live,’ says the LORD, ‘just as you have spoken in My hearing, so I will do to you:

God kept His promise.  We closed the Bible study with this wonderful promise from God in Joshua.

Joshua 1:8-9 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”

Oh, I pray that your day is blessed and that you trust in Him and do not worry.

Heather

Callin talked about how the New Testament is the Old Testament contained, and the Old Testament is the New Testament contained.  The New Testament epistles give us principles to live by and a declaration of how to deal with anything we encounter in the world.  The Old Testament gives us action packed stories that teach and illustrate the New Testament principles. 

In Ephesians we are taught to put on the whole armor of God. The Old Testament shows us people who met the adversary in the flesh and did not put on the armor, also those who fought God’s way.

Numbers 13:1-3 (Callin used the NIV text for his teaching)  The LORD said to Moses, “Send some men to explore the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the Israelites. From each ancestral tribe send one of its leaders.”  So at the LORD’s command Moses sent them out from the Desert of Paran. All of them were leaders of the Israelites.

Then Numbers 13 lists the people from the 12 tribes of Israel, the heads of the tribes.  Moses instructed each tribe to send one of it’s leaders to investigate the promised land.  Years before this incident, God had called Abraham and gave Abraham and his descendants the land.  Now the nation Israel was at a crossroads where they could take a hold of the promise, of the land filled with milk and honey.

In our lives, we too find ourselves at the CROSSROADS.

The name Joshua – means Salvation
Jesus – means Savior.

The root of this name means:  The Lord is Salvation. Salvation is promised to us but we are not to take it for granted unless we understand what salvation is.  So often we use it as a cliche, but salvation is validated through behavior and actions of those who are saved.

Joshua is a type and figure of the New Testament.  Jesus empowers us, anoints us with power and authority.  We are called to enter our “promised lands.”  In the Old Testament we see that not all went into the land to subdue it.  They made it to the boundary of the Promised Land, but did not take the promise.  They did not control their thoughts and fears. Disbelief of God’s promise caused them to reject His promise. 

Hebrews 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

We need to diligently seek God, and realize that in our lives on earth there will always be an adversary.  The Israelites faced many “ITES”.  The enemy was in the earth and was robbing the Children of Israel of their promise.  We are not to give place to the devil through worry, fear, anger, or reacting, functioning and living in the flesh.   Walk in the power and authority that God gives us.

Have the faith of Abraham.  We are to believe in spite of the fact that we do not see it, believe in spite of the odds. 

The Israelites had evidence of the Promised Land’s provision.

Numbers 13:16-25 These are the names of the men Moses sent to explore the land. (Moses gave Hoshea son of Nun the name Joshua.) When Moses sent them to explore Canaan, he said, “Go up through the Negev and on into the hill country. See what the land is like and whether the people who live there are strong or weak, few or many.  What kind of land do they live in? Is it good or bad? What kind of towns do they live in? Are they unwalled or fortified? How is the soil? Is it fertile or poor? Are there trees on it or not? Do your best to bring back some of the fruit of the land.” (It was the season for the first ripe grapes.) So they went up and explored the land from the Desert of Zin as far as Rehob, toward Lebo ^b]’>they cut off a branch bearing a single cluster of grapes. Two of them carried it on a pole between them, along with some pomegranates and figs. That place was called the Valley of Eshcol because of the cluster of cluster of grapes the Israelites cut off there. At the end of forty days they returned from exploring the land grapes the Israelites cut off there.  

Forty days they explored and they came back with proof that there was enough for the comfort of the people. This showed the validity of what was prophesied, and proved God’s Word.  What happened next determined whether the people succeeded or failed.

Numbers 13:26-33 They came back to Moses and Aaron and the whole Israelite community at Kadesh in the Desert of Paran. There they reported to them and to the whole assembly and showed them the fruit of the land. They gave Moses this account: “We went into the land to which you sent us, and it does flow with milk and honey! Here is its fruit. But the people who live there are powerful, and the cities are fortified and very large. We even saw descendants of Anak there. The Amalekites live in the Negev; the Hittites, Jebusites and Amorites live in the hill country; and the Canaanites live near the sea and along the Jordan.” Then Caleb silenced the people before Moses and said, “We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it.” But the men who had gone up with him said, “We can’t attack those people; they are stronger than we are.” And they spread among the Israelites a bad report about the land they had explored. They said, “The land we explored devours those living in it. All the people we saw there are of great size. We saw the Nephilim there (the descendants of Anak come from the Nephilim). We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them.”

The people responded with fear and divisive comments.  This lack of faith in God speaks volumes into our character and the character of the Israelites.  We need to pray that we do not fall into the rebelion that Israel exhibited, pray that our hearts do not get hardened.  Just like the Israelites, we have all seen miraculous things and yet we revert back to lack of faith and disbelief when faced with a challenge or trial.  They said in the above passage that the land devoured the people living in it, for the people were of great size and we were like grasshoppers in our own eyes.  Yet, they forgot that in God’s eyes the problem was not huge, they had seen the miracles God had already performed, and did not believe that God could bring them safely in the land. 

Callin reminded us that faith without works is dead, and that God permits the tests in our lives to help us achieve growth and maturity.  These challenges help our character to develop so that we are prepared to handle His blessing.  We are to be obedient to God’s will.  Where we miss it is when we focus on our problem and not on God. 

In the above passage they could have had a good report – the land produced enormous fruit, taking two people to carry a bunch of grapes!  The people stopped, took their eyes off of the promise and looked at the enemies, the Nephalim.  They believed the negative report and began to act in doubt, unbelief and fear. We need to start believing what God says about the situation, not our circumstances. 

Amos 2:9 “I destroyed the Amorite before them, though he was tall as the cedars and strong as the oaks. I destroyed his fruit above and his roots below. “

God had a perfect plan, and would have destroyed the enemy before the Israelites, but they chose to believe the evidence of their eyes instead of the truth of God.  God kept the people in the promised land, letting the people know that he wanted the people to take land that was cultivated and that the residents of the land kept the wild animals out.  It was to protect the land for the people that the nephalim were permitted to stay. 

Jesus wondered if He would find faith in the world when He came again.  God is just and until the right time, He will not usurp satan’s authority on the earth.  We need to choose whom we will believe, God or satan.  If we choose satan we permit him to have authority in our lives, rather than speaking the truth of God to our circumstances.

When the Israelites finally do get into the promised land, they don’t even have to fight for the land – God sent swarms of bees.  God delights in taking the unfathomly impossible and showing His glory.

1 Corinthians 10:1-4 For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers, that our forefathers were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea. They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. They all ate the same spiritual food and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ. Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them; their bodies were scattered over the desert.

They feared dying by going into the promised land, yet their bones were scattered all over the desert for only two made it into the promised land – Joshua and Caleb, the rest died in the wilderness.  They did not repent.  Jesus is in the Old Testament, even though there is no specific mention of Jesus Christ.  The people were led by a pillar of fire and a cloud – and we have seen in the New Testament Jesus coming in the clouds and his feet as pillars of fire.

We need to confess and repent of our doubts and unbelief, and make sure to forgive our brother 70 X 7.

Numbers 14:26-28 The LORD said to Moses and Aaron: “How long will this wicked community grumble against me? I have heard the complaints of these grumbling Israelites. So tell them, ‘As surely as I live, declares the LORD, I will do to you the very things I heard you say:

Notice, the people were constantly grumbling against God whenever they faced a challenge – telling Moses why had he brought them in the wilderness, so that they could die.  Well they kept saying that and finally God tells them they will have what they said, and they did die in the wilderness.

We need to watch what words come out of our mouths, and our thoughts.  So often we speak words out of habit, not thinking about what we say, but we often find that we have what we say.  We want to be speaking the truth of God, not our circumstances.  God has prosperity and advantages to offer us, yet we walk off in the pattern that we are familiar with, instead of stepping into the Promised land that He has for us. We spend time grumbling and complaining and whining.

Romans 14:23 But the man who has doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin.

Whatever we do that is not of faith is sin.

I am going to continue this Bible study tomorrow, for there is a lot more and I do not want to make this post too huge.

Praying your day is blessed.

Heather

I am going to miss the book of Hebrews for we are getting close to the end of the book, only one more chapter after this one, sigh. Yet I do have faith that, since we have fantastic Bible studies, that the next study will be just as awesome.  There is nothing boring about the Word of God.  Yet, it has been wonderful savoring the verses in Hebrews and seeking their meaning.

Hebrews 12:22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels,

Pastor Don told us that we need to read scripture for what it says.  He talked about the fact that what is called Mt. Sinai in Israel is not the real Mt. Sinai – for it does not match the description in scripture.  Given there were twelve tribes of Israel camped at the base of Mt. Sinai, the one currently labeled that does not have enough land to camp over a million people in the valley.   Also, the mountain is not blackened as the scriptures would have indicated.  Pastor Don things that there is a mountain in Arabia that fits the description better, but the Arabs have put a fence around that mountain and won’t let the Jews near it, for fear of what archeological evidence could be unearthed.

Pastor Don told us that in the last days God will reveal errors and clarify things.  It is the same way with other sites in Israel, there are great debates about which is the real Garden Tomb, the real site for the manger, etc.  The truth will set people free.

In verse 22 (see above) this is talking about a spiritual Mount Zion.  You can see a natural event and call it a miracle, or you can see a miracle and call it a natural event.  What we need to do is see the truth in the event.

God is not in the business of trying to make us happy all the time.  All the events in our lives have a supernatural facet to them.  God will use the events in our lives to guide us, and when we take a look in the Spirit, we can begin to identify the spiritual facet of our experience.  That helps us to understand why God permits certain things to happen. 

Pastor Don used himself as an example – at one point he had an incurable lung disease and was told to put his house in order.  Yet, Pastor Don turned to God and was healed, and the end result of dealing with this disease and getting healed from it gave him a healing ministry. 

Pastor Don then told us, “Worshipping at the wrong mountain will weaken our faith.”  When there are no archeological evidence or historical facts, it is a prescription for deception.  It cannot strengthen a person’s faith.  We have to know what we are receiving from, be careful what we eat (physically and spiritually).  Remember, a little poison each day over a period of time will kill us.

When challenged, we can defend the truth.  Seeing the reality is powerful. 

Many people are mistaught concerning the foundations of faith. Words can be used by people to distort the truth. Faith is not based on magic or the unknown.

Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Faith is a SUBSTANCE -of things hoped for, and EVIDENCE of things not seen.

Should we be hoping for something not recognizable with no basis in reality?  NO!  God will never ask you to follow Christ without giving evidence.  Based on the listed information, we have faith.  Even though we have not seen, we’ve heard something.  Is your spirit tangible?  No, not in the physical, but our spirit is real. 

Hope is real.  We may not be able to touch it physically, we can be touched by the evidence of hopes met in healing, prosperity, etc.  Knowledge of this happening builds our faith, and that faith is built on the reality that I know that I know that I know. 

Do we get there out of physical and experiential evidence – no.  God gives us testimony of what we put our faith in.

Romans 1:18-19  For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them.

We do not want to suppress the truth – Jesus is the Truth, the Life, and this Truth gives hope, faith and life.

Romans 1:20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse,

Invisible attributes are CLEARLY SEEN.  How?  Even though you cannot see God, you can see His creation, his power, and the Godhead, through creation.  There is no excuse to not believe God.  God is not asking us to believe without something that we can see – His creation.

When Jesus showed up in Galilee, he had two disciples follow him – James and John.  They did not blindly follow an unknown man.  James and John were disciples of John the Baptizer.  When Jesus came and was baptized, John told the disciples that Jesus was the Lamb of God.  The disciples, decided to follow Jesus when Jesus told them to follow Him, and part of their decision was because of what they learned from John the Baptist. 

God will not call anyone without facts.  John tells Andrew, and they go to the seashore of Galilee, and enter a fishing village. Jesus is at the village and something begins to happen.

Matthew 4:12 Now when Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, He departed to Galilee.

Jesus began to fulfill the prophesies of Isaiah. He went around Galilee preaching and teaching and then came upon Simon Peter and Andrew. Matthew 4:18-20 And Jesus, walking by the Sea of Galilee, saw two brothers, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. Then He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” They immediately left their nets and followed Him

They followed him, but Matthew does not show the whole backstory of why they chose to follow Jesus.

Matthew 4:23 And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people.

There are four gospels, each taught from a different point of view, but they show that Jesus did what He taught. If you just read Matthew’s description you think that the disciples just blindly followd Him. Jesus did not just walk up to a disciple and say, “Follow me” and the disciple just followed Him blindly. Matthew did not record enough information. So we looked at the same passage in the other Gospels.

Mark 1:14-15  Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom

King Saul is hanging out with the prophets.  God’s purpose is to change him into another man.  He doesn’t want this handsome, tall guy with no character.  He doesn’t want him back.  He wants him to get in the presence of the prophets, and be changed.  [bring it on]  Something different.  He should be different.  Same demon can’t be beating on you 20 years.  What’s wrong with you?… You need, you need to come to church, every… you need to be in church more, till something gets down in you and says, “I reject that.”  [amen]  Well, praise God.  Moving right along.  Hey, we have a destiny with this thing…

He got a touch though, look at verse 10.  He did get a touch.  “When they came there to the hill, there was a group of prophets to meet him; then the Spirit of God came upon him, and he prophesied among them.”  Lord have mercy.  “And it happened, when all who knew him formerly saw that he indeed prophesied among the prophets, that the people said to one another...”  Come on, let’s read it, “What is this that has come upon the son of Kish?  Is Saul also among the prophets?”  Lord, have mercy.  Is he among the prophets?  Well, glory be to God.  He’s getting his touch.  But, Lord have mercy, he couldn’t hold onto it. 

Look at verse 12.  “Then a man from there answered and said, “But who is their father?” Therefore it became a proverb: “Is Saul also among the prophets?”  Fortunately, the answer to that question over time becomes “no”.  And the reason was he fell to these four things.  Write ‘em down.  I would like to say, “Get the tape.”  But we didn’t record Thursday night.  So, anyway, write ‘em down. 

The first is what?  Somebody that was there, Thursday.  What was the first one?  [pride]  Pride!… Pride!… Pride! … Pride! … Alright.  The reason is pride is because that is the, that is the sin that satan runs with the most, runs with the best.  Drives us by our pride.  It’s wonderful to be recognized but when you’re doing it to be recognized, you’re ready for the fall.  [amen] 

Look at chapter 12, verse 14, … Chapter 12, verse 14, “If you fear the Lord, and serve Him and obey His voice, and do not rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then both you and the king who reigns over you will continue following the LORD your God. However, if you do not obey the voice of the LORD, but rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then the hand of the LORD will be against you, as it was against your fathers.” 

Now look, everybody look up here, get this.  Listen.  I’m gonna preach the love of Jesus till we all are in love with Jesus, [yes].  God is love.  Can you say that?  [God is love]  God is love.  But because He is love, He is also judgment.  [amen, yep] You don’t believe that, try and raise your kids with only an attitude of love and no discipline, and no judgment, and see what you get.  [That's right] … Well, let’s read it now, see you all.  My oh my, man see we need to understand something.  We need to know how to deal with evil in our midst.  [yes]  Alright?  Now let’s see where’s he do it, now … I’m skipping all over the place here, but we got to do that. 

OK, go to Chapter 13… In Chapter 13 the battle with the Philistines is starting to get mounted here. And things are beginning to get to a place where, where King Saul, he’s beginning, his pride is beginning to manifest.  Alright?  In verse 6, they’re going to fight the Philistines, everybody got that?  “When the men of Israel saw that they were in danger (for the people were distressed), then the people hid in caves, in thickets, in rocks, in holes, and in pits.”  Are they afraid?  [yes]  I would say they’re afraid.  “And some of the Hebrews crossed over the Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead.  As for Saul, he was still in Gilgal, and all the people followed him…” how?  [trembling]  They were what?  [trembling]  They’re afraid. The people are afraid. Saul’s afraid.  Everybody’s afraid.  Verse 9.  “So Saul said,” watch this now, watch this carefully “Bring a burnt offering and peace offerings here to me.”  And he offered the burnt offering.  Now it happened, as soon as he had finished presenting the burnt offering, that Samuel came…” Who’s the priest?  [Samuel]  Who’s the prophet? [Samuel]  What is Saul?  [King]  The king.  Wait a minute, pride will cause you to attempt to step into an office that God has not blessed you with.  Pride will cause you to take on something that God has not given you.  Pride will cause you to think, “I’m all that.”  So Saul is thinking, “Hey, I’m all that….God put me in this office, God loves me so much… I could do that.”  But why?  What’s his motivation?  Pride.  He is afraid. He is afraid for the people.  And so he does it on his own. … [right]  OK?  Write this down.  Write this down. 

After pride will come disobedience… Pride will lead you to disobedience.  The reason is, because you’re putting yourself in God’s place.  Your pride lifts you up and then you begin making decisions and making assumptions that are not given to you… You know, pride will cause disobedience.  We have to realize that with our kids.  When the 16 year old wants to stand in your face and shout you down, because you won’t give him the car, you need to realize something.  They’re lifted up in pride and their pride is resulting in disobedience.  [amen]  Now you can go, “I love you, I love you, I love you. (sniff, sniff)  Here, here’s the keys to the car and here’s a credit card to go with it.”  [yeah]  … Well, there’s some preachers that want you to do that. They want to tell you that there’s no punishment, there’s no justice.  There’s no, God’s not gonna take you to task for what you do.  That he’s just going to give you the keys to the car and the credit card and say, “Go kill yourself.” 

I ministered to a lady yesterday.  She did that with her daughter.  She just kept, the daughter wrecked three cars.  Destroyed three cars.  And the mother is now responsible to pay, you know because when they repossess the car, after you crash it, you still have to pay what you owe on it.  [right]  Come on, somebody.  Anybody here?  Huh?  [yep]  Right.  So, pride will lead to what?  [disobedience]  Disobedience.  Now, what is the motive stuck up in here?  After awhile, here’s what happens.  When pride begins to really take control, and disobedience begins to manifest, a person is motivated by fear.  And there’s two types of fear.  There’s your fear and then there’s the fear of the people.  Write it down.  Your fear and fear of the people is the third one. 

We put the people in the place of God.  We begin to let them motivate us because our pride and our disobedience we figure we can do whatever we can do.  We do what we want to do.  People, and fear of the people…So, let’s see what happens then.  In verse 11, “And Samuel said, What have you done?”  And the answer is.  “When I saw that the people were scattered from me,…”  Cause see, the people are afraid so they’re running away.  He says, “…and that you did not come within the days appointed,…”  Well wait a minute, what’s he doing now?  [Blaming]  What’s he doing?  Write down the fourth one.  When you fear the people, and you have fear stuck in yourself, you’ll develop a religious spirit… He’s developed a religious spirit now, and what has he done?  He has decided that he is a spiritual leader, and therefore, he is in position to judge the other spiritual leader.  [whew, uh oh] 

When you’re around people, when you’re around people that are telling you what Pastor Don ought to do…. [oooh]  You’d better address them.  And address them quickly… What are you talking about?  What are you talking about?  You’d better be careful.  Only God knows what I ought to be doing.  [amen]  You know what you think I ought to be doing, and you’d better be careful how you traffic it because what’s that song?  I love that song, Beth Midler did?  “God’s watching you.”  How is it? Come on.  He’s up in Heaven.  God’s watching you.  [God is watching.. from a distance]  God is watching us.  God is watching us.  God is watching us, but there ain’t no distance.  [laughter] 

What do you mean, from a distance?  He’s watchin’ you up close.  [yeah, laughter]  What are you talking?  God is watching from a distance.  If this is you…here’s God.  [laughter] … [amen]…God is checking you out up close.  From a distance… You born again, filled with the Spirit, and now God is far in the distance.  You know, you hoping He’s missing some stuff. 

Now, the spirit of religion, will cause you to bring criticism and begin to give direction to spiritual people that have been placed in authority over you.  [come on, bring it on]  … My goodness.  You start coming up with spiritual solutions and you haven’t even solved your own.  You know.  If someone’s in authority over you in this church,  you just be obedient.  I don’t care if it’s the usher board, the singers, the dancers, the praisers.  If someone’s, if I placed them in authority over you, you do as you’re told.  [amen]  Until the Lord what?  Removes them or raises you up.  [amen]  Cause bad stuffs gonna happen to  you if you challenge ‘em, wham.  Did you see that?  [I saw it]  That thing is still going…  [laughter]  Boom, it just hit the ground.  You gotta be careful. 

King Saul gets lifted up in pride, he becomes disobedient, he gets the fear of the people, and his own fear tangled up and now all of a sudden he’s religious.  He’s religious enough to tell the prophet and the priest what he ought to be doing, and it’s his fault.  What he’d take to blame himself?  He’d say, “It’s your fault.  You were seven days late gettin’ here.  You were late.  You should have, you should have been here.  And since you weren’t here, I had to take over myself.”  [laughter]  Lord have mercy. 

That’s what the devil did.  He said to Adam, he convinced Adam and Eve, you know, “Well, what did God say?  And you know, I should be God and take over,”  and they just lined up with it. 

Alright, let’s look at another quick example here.  And so what happens, look at verse 12 again.  He says, “…”The Philistines will now come down on me at Gilgal…”  Is that true?  No, we don’t know.  That’s a  spiritual thing.  It’s a spirit.  It’s a religious spirit when you start assuming what’s going to happen.  You’ve been playing God.  You’re going to assume what’s going to happen.  You don’t know what’s going to happen.  Only God knows what’s really going to happen.  [right] 

We’re all gonna be broke…One guy says, well the antichrist is coming.  He’s going to take over the whole world… well, he ain’t going to take over the saints that are in the world.  [well, well]  Yeah, we’ll be in Heaven but there will be other people down here that’s left to deal deal with him.  And they’ll be saved, born again, he won’t have authority over them.  Amen. 

So he says, “…Therefore …”   look at the second half.  “….Therefore…”  he draws a spiritual conclusion, “…Therefore I felt compelled, and offered a burnt offering.”  Pfhew. (chuckles)  I forced myself to do it.  I had to do the religious thing.  [laughter]  You know, I had to do the religious thing.  You know what I mean?  Praise God.  Moving right along.  So we got four things.  We got pride, disobedience, fear of man, fear of the people which is all the same thing – the spirit of fear, and then it causes us to have a religious spirit.  But now, look what happens to this guy. 

Verse 14.  I’m sorry, verse 13.  “And Samuel said to Saul, “You have done foolishly.  You have not kept the commandment of the LORD your God, which He commanded you.  For now the LORD would have established your kingdom over Israel forever.”  Would have been forever.  And he says, verse 14, “But now your kingdom shall not continue. The LORD has sought for Himself a man after His own heart, and the LORD has commanded him to be commander over His people, because you have not kept what the LORD commanded you.” 

And what did he not keep?  He didn’t keep his pride in order.  He didn’t stay humble…He began to become disobedient, doing it his way.  He got filled with fear.  Afraid of the people.  Sometimes we’re afraid of people’s theological viewpoint.  I don’t understand that.  You know, the Jews had something that us Gentiles just need to figure out.  It was ok to argue and debate on religious matters.  And we have this thing, don’t discuss religion, sex, or politics.  And as a result, our nation is in, is in the pit. Because we won’t discuss sex, religion and politics.  And on all three of those, we are in a mess.  [oh, yes] 

You know, our kids are out fornicating, running around and everything.  Because why?  We didn’t discuss it with them…  You need to discuss, when you say you have some hard discussions.  You know, politics.  We won’t talk about politics because I may offend you.  And now the devil is using that, and that’s a theological position.  That we will not talk about anything if it has the potential to offend anyone.  [amen]  We need to get offended.  When we’re in error we need somebody in our face saying, “That’s not so.”  [amen]  We don’t need to be afraid of people.  [yeah, amen] 

We’ve created monsters in our midst because we won’t challenge people.  We won’t say to them, defend this in the Name of the Lord, give me line upon line, line upon line.  Show me because the Spirit and the Word must agree.  [amen]  Turn on the TV and you get some of these, answer them.  Write them back.  Force them to defend their position.  Let’s not take this thing laying down.  We’ll be, we’ll be ankle deep first in error, and then we’ll be knee deep in error, then we’ll be choking on this stuff.  The homosexual community now is trying to shove it down your throat, that if you offend them, you’re homophobic.  You’re a homophobic and some kind of prejudicial person.  Listen, because we don’t agree with your lifestyle doesn’t mean that we can’t love you.  We can walk in love with you.  But because we want to discuss it, let’s get it out on the table and talk about it.  [amen]  I’m not afraid of you.  [amen]  I’m not looking to offend you.  I’m looking to state my case and present my position.  And you should be able to be willing to do the same. 

You people on your jobs, stop hiding behind the coffee machine.  Stop it!  Get out in front of the coffee machine.  Tell them where you’re going on Sunday… Don’t be afraid to tell them.  Yeah, I go to church, I’m a believer.  Because why?  The key that opens Heaven to you, is the battle that you fight against persecution, and the cross of Jesus Christ.  [amen]  … You know, well I don’t want to offend them… [chuckling] 

Samuel is not afraid to offend Saul.  [amen]  He said, “Buddy, guess what, you’re lifted up in pride.  You’ve been disobedient to God and God has what?  It’s all being taken away from you.”  Hallelujah.  Someone say Hallelujah.  [Hallelujah]  And then as a result, you went and got a religious spirit and now God can’t even use you.  [wow]  Well, glory be to God. 

For those of you who want to continue with this study, please just read chapters 14, 15, and 16.  And see the outcome.  Eventually Saul is going to not only take himself down, he’s going to take his children down, and he’s going to take the armor bearers and the people closest to him, and he’s going to as a result of that, end up at the end of the story, surrounded by the enemy who wants to kill him, after he visited religious spirit caused him not to go to God, but to go to the witch of Endor.  [hallelujah] 

Come on, we’ve got some witches of Endor in the body of Christ.  And we need to stop going to them.  Hallelujah.   [amen]  Yeah, cause see there’s some people in the church, weave a web of deception and confusion.  You know, the part I love of the story of the witch of Endor, when she figured it out.  When she finally, when she got into the spirit realm, she said, “Oh, you’re King Saul.”  [yes]  … She figured him out.  She said, “Oh, you’re King Saul and you’ve come to trap me.”  You know, the sucker came to trap himself.  [yeah, laughter]  He came to trap himself. 

So, anyway, trust me.  These four things will take a believer down.  These four things.  So, if we’re diligent about looking for them, we can find the opposite.  The opposite of pride, of course, is humility.  [right]  Just be humble.  Have a contrite heart.  Be quick to say, “I was wrong, forgive me.”  Be quick to be humble.  Stay humble.  Be proud of the position and office that God has put you in and let God raise you up.  He’ll take you when you’re ready to go and then you won’t fall.  [thank you Lord]  You won’t fall when God places you there.  Hold you there.  But if you allow pride to come in, you’ll take yourself down.  Come on, say somebody, [amen] 

And then disobedience.  Come on…we’re not stupid.  We know not to touch the unclean thing.  It’s been a bad day, let’s get high.  Let’s get down, plowed out drunk.  Let’s smoke some of that, snort some of that.  Let’s do some of this and that.  Because why, I deserve it.  You deserve it.  You had a rough day.  Just trash yourself.  You’ll feel better if you trash yourself.  [laughter]  Oh child of God, listen to the voice that is within you that says, “I don’t think so.”  [laughter]  “Think so.”  Just the question, stay in the question.  I’m not sure.  I don’t think that’s a good idea.  That does come with ramifications, and I don’t… stay in the question.  Then you can be obedient.  It’s easy.  Okay?  Come on, I preached that we all grow and get better.  See I’m, I’m preaching so that I get better.  I’m getting better already.  [amen]  Cause why?  It’s the second time I heard this.  So, pride…I got to stay what?  [humble]  Disobedient, no I’ve got to stay in the moment and the question in the moment and be obedient.  Got to be obedient.  Obedient.  Third, no fear.  Don’t let people’s fear drive you.  Don’t let your own fear, then get hooked up with it.  Fear.  Come on say it, “I shall not fear.”  [I shall not fear]  God has not given me a spirit of fear.  [God has not given me a spirit of fear]  but of what?  [power]  Power.  Love [love] and what?  [a sound mind]  A sound mind.  A sound mind.  [amen] A sound mind.  And then the other one, stay humble in your own eyes and don’t be getting all religious…