Gods Perfect Way...and you will like!

A Lousy Idea

1 Samuel 8:1–22 NLT

As Samuel grew old, he appointed his sons to be judges over Israel. Joel and Abijah, his oldest sons, held court in Beersheba. But they were not like their father, for they were greedy for money. They accepted bribes and perverted justice. Finally, all the elders of Israel met at Ramah to discuss the matter with Samuel. “Look,” they told him, “you are now old, and your sons are not like you. Give us a king to judge us like all the other nations have.” Samuel was displeased with their request and went to the Lord for guidance. “Do everything they say to you,” the Lord replied, “for they are rejecting me, not you. They don’t want me to be their king any longer. Ever since I brought them from Egypt they have continually abandoned me and followed other gods. And now they are giving you the same treatment. Do as they ask, but solemnly warn them about the way a king will reign over them.” So Samuel passed on the Lord’s warning to the people who were asking him for a king. “This is how a king will reign over you,” Samuel said. “The king will draft your sons and assign them to his chariots and his charioteers, making them run before his chariots. Some will be generals and captains in his army, some will be forced to plow in his fields and harvest his crops, and some will make his weapons and chariot equipment. The king will take your daughters from you and force them to cook and bake and make perfumes for him. He will take away the best of your fields and vineyards and olive groves and give them to his own officials. He will take a tenth of your grain and your grape harvest and distribute it among his officers and attendants. He will take your male and female slaves and demand the finest of your cattle and donkeys for his own use. He will demand a tenth of your flocks, and you will be his slaves. When that day comes, you will beg for relief from this king you are demanding, but then the Lord will not help you.” But the people refused to listen to Samuel’s warning. “Even so, we still want a king,” they said. “We want to be like the nations around us. Our king will judge us and lead us into battle.” So Samuel repeated to the Lord what the people had said, and the Lord replied, “Do as they say, and give them a king.” Then Samuel agreed and sent the people home.

I Samuel 8:1-22

God used the Prophet Samuel to as His voice to the children of Israel, God’s people.

Show slide of the Prophet Samuel

The children of Israel went to Samuel whenever they wanted to inquire with God about concerns, direction, guidance, or needs they had.

They asked Samuel for God to give them a King to rule over them. God knew this was a bad idea and that it would cause destruction for the them, but He allowed it to happen because that is what they wanted.

This was a lousy Idea

The Children of Israel were the first group of people to ever have a King over them instead of God.

They rejected God as there King because they wanted to be like other people. What they did not realize is when they made this choice they were also rejecting themselves. They were rejecting there very nature.

This decision has created havoc still today.

This was not Gods original plan for man.

Gods plan was bigger than a King

Imagine with me a place where everyone knew who they were, they took responsibility for themselves, they supported one another, they never tried to fight with one another over position. People had a confidence in who they were.

Government would only need to rule on laws on that go against the nature of man.

The world would be a different place.

This what we call self-governing.

Self-governing happens when people all understand that we are leaders of ourselves. We are not called to lead others.

The Children of Israel lost sight of who they were, so they did what everyone else was doing.

Romans 12:1–2 NLT

And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

Romans 12:2 NLT

Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

The children of Israel were copying the behaviors of other places rather than Gods.

You are a Leader!

God made you to be a leader and it all begins with leading yourself.

Where do we start?

Submit Yourself to THE King of kings

The children of Israel rejected God as King

Take Responsibility for Yourself

What do you need to know?

What are you called to do?

Where do I get what I need?

Listen to yourself.

What am I saying?

How do I act?

Who is my Source?