Covenant 1/24/2021

Morning, we're continuing our series entitled forerunners of the faith. And we're looking at the story of the first king of Israel whose name was King Saul. It's a challenging study this morning as we go through the character of a of a man who was called by God to a position and yet through his fear and and concern about what other Stodden where there's might do to him lost his way and ultimately ended in a life of of a faithless sniss and there's a lot of subtle truths in the story of saw that will look at today and I would encourage you to follow along in your Bible if you've got it before you Last week we saw the end of the. Of the judges with the arrival of of Samuel on the scene. We were told that the word of the Lord was rare in those days and then people did what was right in their own eyes and yet God raised up Samuel that final judge that final Prophet that final priest to leave them through a period of transition. Will Daniel did a great job and in his leadership. He he drew is real back to return their hearts to the Lord as you recall last week as they camped around mid spine recommitted their hearts to him and yet attacked by the Philistines in that very moment. God demonstrated his love and grace for them once again and said redeem them from the hand of their enemies. Time went on in in in Samuel Grew Older and tragically his son's Lykke Li and Eli's Sons before him proved Wayward. They were not godly man, and they did not lead in Godly ways and to the people of Israel through concerned during the. Of the judges Israel with entirely Reliant upon the grace and mercy of God to raise up a new leader in the face of the political and battling challenges that they face from the surrounding cultures. I think that the Israelites grew a little bit tired of waiting for forgotten and constantly wondering who got my raise up and so is Samuel came into old age and his sons demonstratively demonstrated themselves to be less than faithful to the people of Israel approached Samuel and asked for a king. We find this exchange and 1st Samuel chapter 8 verse 2 and following is what we read when Samuel became old he made his son's judges over Israel verse 3 get his sons did not walk in his ways but turned aside after gain. They took bribes and perverted Justice did all the Elders of Israel gather together and end came to Samuel A trauma and said to him behold you are old and your son's do not walk in your ways. Now a point for us a king to judge us like all the other nations. But the thing displeased Samuel when they said give us a king to judge us and Samuel prayed to the Lord and the Lord said to Samuel obey the voice of the people in all they have said to you for they have not rejected you but they have rejected me from being there God. And being King over them according to all the Deeds that they have done from the day. I brought them up out of Egypt even to this date for shaking me and serving other gods. So they are also doing to you now then obey their voice only you shall solemnly warn them and show them the ways of the king who shall reign over them as you can imagine. This was a difficult exchange first, of course Samuel took it personally that they had demonstrated a failure in leadership at no point in the history of Israel and Israel risen up and requested a king over against the judge that the Lord had appointed in so Samuel took it personally, but is he brought the request of the people before the Lord the Lord made it very clear. Sandal. They're not rejecting you or your leadership, but they are rejecting me. As king over them of the people of Israel it was God who brought them out of Egypt based upon his promise to Abraham and Isaac and Jacob brought them out of Egypt by A Great and Mighty hand. He destroyed and devastated the greatest king Pharaoh rained on the earth in that day. And he delivered his people. He was there God he was their King and he dwelt in their midst in a powerful and palpable way. He led them through the Wilderness to the promised land after one generation fell to the Wade side for faithfulness. He raised up a second generation who entered in and and claimed the land that God had promised to their forefathers and he govern them his Tabernacle was present still there in the promised land in Shiloh as we saw last week first led by Priesthood of Eli and now being led seems by Samuel in this point or perhaps it another high priest but lead prophetically by Samuel and yet the people realized it depending upon the Lord for leadership was a difficult way as each one of these judges passed away. They never knew who the next one would be or what he might look like and so they began to cry out for a king at the Philistines had as the amalekites had as the other nations had they wanted to put their trust and faith in one line so that when the sons of the king would succeed him if they would have stable government and perhaps even expand the boundaries of Israel in much more powerful and demonstrable ways. And so Israel rejected the Lord is the king. on that day a decision would have devastating consequences and it might surprise you to realize that this was not God's intent for Israel. Of King David in his heart for the Lord and think how great it was a great blessing kingship was and get it began here in waywardness and to the Lord charge Samuel to warn the people about what they were asking for we find the conversation there in in in in first Samuel chapter 8 verse 10 So so now the voice only you shall only worn them and show them the ways in the king who shall reign over them verse 10 told all the words of the lord of the people who were asking for a king from him. He said these will be the ways of the king who will reign over you. He will take your sons and appoint them to his chariots and to be his Horseman into run before his Chariot animal point for himself commanders of thousands and commanders the 50s some to plow his ground and his Harvest and to make his Implements of War and the equipment of his chair. He will take your daughters to be perfumers and cooks and Bakers. He will take the best of your fields and Vineyards and Olive Orchards and give them to his servants. He will take the 10th of your grain and of your Vineyards and give it to his officers into his servants. He will take your male servants and female servants into the best of your young man in your Donkeys and put them to his work. He will take the 10th of your flocks and shout and you shall be his slaves. And in that day. You will cry out because of your king you have chosen for yourselves. But the Lord will not answer you in that day.

This is the Lord's assessment of what the kingship will do in the life of his people. He had intended to rain over them for their betterment that they might learn to more fully trusting him what Greater King. Could you have over your nation than the King of Kings and the Lord God Almighty what Greater King than one who you can turn to in any crisis personal or political Mighty or force in the one that's led by the king the commander of the Lord's armies as we saw there outside the walls of Jericho when Joshua entered into the promised land and met the commander of the Lord's army, even Jesus Christ himself, and if the people turn their back on the kingship of the Lord God Almighty and they wanted to put their trust in a man and he made it plain that this man would take advantage of them. Even today we recognize so often as we look at government leaders that they are often in it for their best interest. I don't think there's been a season in my own personal life that I've seen more plainly over the course of the past several years of the way in which government leaders of both parties kind of distort the truth and leverage that the conflict of the people that they leave for their own betterment and for their own gain and this would fall not simply on Israel in their near history, but it would affect the lives of Sons and Daughters of this generation who were making this terrible request and it even despite the warning that Samuel provided to them you see in verse 19 the answer that the people provide But the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel and they said no but there shall be a king over us that we may also be like all the nations or King made judges and go out before us and fight our battles, but do you think fought the Battle of Israel for them Lord it and yet they didn't want to put their trust in the Lord any longer. They wanted to put their trust in a man and the balance of this story. The story of the first king of Israel is a story why you don't put your trust in men, especially when you have the opportunity to put your trust and faith in the Lord alone. SRA reading verse 21 when Samuel had heard all the words of the people. He repeated them in the ears of the Lord and the Lord said this damn you'll obey their voice and make them a king. Daniel been said to the men of Israel go every man to his City and the narrative shifts in chapter 9 to the beginning of the story of the first king of Israel. Now, that's an auspicious beginning to this office. Don't you think it's an auspicious beginning to do the story of the men who would come and great succession leading ultimately to the the deportation of the Exile of Israel from their very land hundreds of years later. But this is where that Story begins and the narrative shifts and in chapter 9 of 1st Samuel to a man of Benjamin we continue to read There was a man of Benjamin whose name was Kish. The son of a b l cent of it is our our son of a son of a fire a benjamite a man of wealth And he had a son whose name was Saul. A handsome young man. There was not a man among the people of Israel more handsome than he from his shoulders upwards. He was taller than any of the people that's might be where we get our expression Head and Shoulders Above the Rest. Got the donkey's of Kish Saul's father were lost. So kiss that do it's all his son. Take one of the young men with you and arise go and look for the donkeys and he passed the Hill Country of every a man pass to the land of kush Alicia, but they did not find them and they pass through the land of Charlene, but they were not there. They passed in land of Benjamin, but did not find them. When it came to the land of Zeus all said to his servant who was with him come let us go back less my father cease to care about the donkeys and become anxious about us, but he said to him behold Master. There is a man of God in this city and he is a man who is Helmut honor all that. He says comes true. So now let us go there perhaps he can tell us the way we should go so they went to the city where the man of God was out the man of God of whom they're speaking is Samuel and the service is aware of who Samuel was it's somewhat surprising that saw this not aware of who Samuel is and it takes his servant to suggest that they go to the man of God with their problems now, honestly this seems to me to betray and it sends the kind of superstitiousness that the Israelites seem to practice at the Battle you remember last week that they think we're losing to the Philistines and they went and grabbed the r Brought it to the battle lines and then were defeated and the Ark was taken away. It seems like for many and Israel in this day. Not only did they do what was right in their own eyes, but they almost view the Lord as some kind of a Talisman as some kind of a superstitious a playing card that they could pull out of the deck and use it when they needed it. So when your donkeys are lost go find the prophet of God, maybe he can tell you where the donkeys are when the dog gets out and you can't find him to maybe call the prophet of God maybe he knows and and yet even saw couldn't come up with that idea. It was his servant they did in and pointed him to the city. Bruce V. When they came to the land of Zeus all said to his servant for the first fourteen as they were entering the city they saw Samuel coming out toward them on his way up to the high place. I want to stop in and think a little bit about the events that take place here. There's something that you read about and we've read about it numerous times in our study about the way in which the Lord acts the power that he has the oversight that he gives in the life of his people and in the life of the world that if you read too quickly through these narratives you may miss. What do we already know? We know that the people of God have cried out for a king against God's wishes, but he relents and allows them to have one to see the shortcomings of a man is King and hopefully maybe I'm assuming in his mouth to point them back to the King of Kings and the Lord of lords. The one who would truly come to rain not simply as a man but is the god may even the Messiah the King Jesus the Christ. We we know that God's plan for them is it is is in effect and it's beginning to to block forward and yet so has no idea about these things. His father sends him out into a far-off land to do what to find the lost donkeys. He goes from one County to the next County to the next County into there for five counties away from where they live to the point that solves concerned that his father will be more worried about them than for the animals. Until then all the sudden disturbances one set of going back. Let's go ask the prophet. None of this has anything to do with the kingship in their mind. They know nothing of what God's plan is. It doesn't even seem it's all is aware of who Samuel is let alone about the acts of God behind the scenes and it here behind these events the Sovereign God, is it worth? So it might be accidental that the donkeys were lost as far as stall or even his father Kish were concerned. It was no accident in the Lord's plans. He controls every little thing in our lives everything in this world. There's not a single Maverick molecule and all them existence outside of his Sovereign purpose and plan even the ways that a donkey goes on a road or not outside of the Sovereign purposes of God. And so here these animals bring salt and a servant just outside the city of Samuel for this very event God is Sovereign over all things his purposes come to pass and ways that we simply cannot comprehend. And so we read here in verse 15 Samuel had come down out of the city and seen Saul and his servant here and here's what we read and burst 15th. Now the day before Saul came. The Lord had revealed to Samuel tomorrow about this time. I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin and you shall annoyed him to be Prince Over My People Israel. He shall save my people from the hand of the Philistines for I've seen my people because their cry has come to me. So if we were having a study if you're in a class here, I asked you the question, who is it that selected Saul as king over Israel. Would you say Samuel or would you say the Lord? If I asked you who who who who got themselves selected to be king. Would you say that it's stall with great machinations figured out how to manipulate the situation such that Samuel would selective that certainly is not the case. This is the Sovereign work of the Lord interesting the enough even to bring about purposes that he's told his people are not the best for him. Either. Purposes. They were out of his plan. They were purposes that he would use to point them back to himself in this season of rebellion, but it was the Lord's hand upon this situation is not the hand of a man. And so here we continue verse 17 when Samuel saw saw the Lord sent to him. Here is the man of whom I spoke to you. He it is who shall restrain my people install approach Samuel in the gate and said tell me where is the The House of the Seer? Salt doesn't even know that he's standing before Samuel at this point is Samuel answer install. I Am The Seer go up before me to the high place for today. You shall eat with me and in the morning. I will let you go and we'll tell you all that is on your mind. Ask for your donkeys that were lost three days ago. Do not set your mind on them for they have been found. Now wait a minute, but I don't know if I missed a sentence hearing. Skip did but did did did did did Saul tell Samuel that he had lost the donkey's at least it doesn't seem to be the case from this section. It seems that in this way. The Lord is conveying to us all in that moment that there is a work of God at hand. Turn this all would have thought to himself. How does this man know what we've been doing for the past several days and we begin to wonder about what was taking place. And the next thing that Saul says Samuel is even more shocking the language in the text is a little bit hard to understand what its meaning seemed not to be missed by Saul in that moment as for you and your donkey is that we lost three days to do not set your mind on them for they have been found and here's the next statement and for whom is all that is desirable in Israel. Is it not for you and for all of your father's house? Call answered. Am I not a benjamite from the least of the tribes of Israel and is not my clan the humblest of all the clans of The Tribe of Benjamin why they have you spoken to me in this way and you might think to yourself like I do when I first read this what way did he just speak to him? Cuz I couldn't understand anything of what Saul said to Samuel for whom is all that is desirable in Israel. Is it not for you and for your father's house? That's the way in which Samuel was telling stall all that is of Israel is yours. You will be the one who has command over all of it that whereas I wasn't able to pick that up the first time I read that exchange it seems that's all did because what is his response. How can you say something like that to me? I am the least of my father's house since my father's Clan is the least of the clans of our tribe in our tribe is the least of all of the tribes of Israel. So how could it be that? I would be the one who would command the nation and have all the desirable things at my fingertips. And Samuel took Saul and his young man and brought them into the hall and gave them a place at the head of those who had been invited who are about 30 persons.

Samuel was going up to sacrifice and it brought great leaders there in the area to this sacrifice and preparation for what God had for told him that bit that the one who God would annoy is king would be present at that feast and 2 Samuel provides saw with the the the the special portion of that sacrificial meal and he sets this young man at the head of the table of all those who were present. I'm sure in the moment as you probably would have felt the same way that's tall is trying to process what's going on. All he was doing was looking for lost dogs in the Lost donkeys. And that's all he was planning to do. He was just the son of his father who did with his father said and yet here he's being told by the greatest prophet in land that God will give him the nation. Can only imagine what stall saw as far as he sat at that Feast as he sat in the position of Honor between all these men as he heard Saul predict the past with perfect certitude and proclaim a future that's all could not have imagined what the meal is ended and install it is invited by Samuel to stay overnight in this house. He sleeps on the roof of Daniel's house and then in the morning Samuel calls to stall As he prepares to leave and any pulls him alongside to tell him something plainly. First Daniel 927 the next morning said they were going down to the outskirts of the city as Samuel was about to depart. I'm sorry. It's always about to depart Daniel said this all how old is sherbet to pass on before us and we need passed on stop hear yourself for a while that I may make known to you the word of God. The servant depart send us all remains and Samuel comes and speaks to him in chapter 10 of 1st Samuel Ben Samuel took a flask of oil and pour it on his head and kissed him instead. Have not the Lord anointed you to be Prince over his people Israel. And you shall reign over the people of the Lord and you will save them from the hand of the surrounding enemies. Can you imagine an event like that? If you put yourself in the shoes of Saul as you go out to find the lost animals? You come back is the one who the greatest prophet in the recent history of Israel has anointed on behalf of the Lord to be the king over his people.

It so it seems as a as an offer of encouragement. Put the stall in that moment that the Lord provides a few more confirmations. He knows our frame he knows how we think he knows that foresaw. This would have been mind-boggling. It doesn't seem it's always a remarkable man apart from his being handsome and taller than everyone else that was around. The Lord would know that salt would wrestle with what was being said and find it hard to believe and certainly off the God and set before him would be great. Probably greater than this young man could bear until it's the Lord provides a few more signs for salt along the way and so Samuel gives him some of the signs to corroborate what he has told young solve. This shall be the sign to you. But the Lord has anointed you to be Prince over his heritage. Ascend hotel Salt when you depart for me today, you will need two men by Rachel's Tomb in the territory of Benjamin and zelzah and it will say to you the donkey's that you went to see car found and now your father has ceased to care about the donkeys and is anxious about you saying what should I do about my son then you shall go on from there farther and come to the Oak of taybor Freeman going up to God at Bethel will meet you there one caring for young goat another carrying three loaves of bread and another carrying a skin of wine. They will greet you and give you two loaves of bread which you shall accept from that hand from their hands after that. You shall come to give me at Elohim where there is a Garrison of the Philistines and there as soon as you come to the city, you will meet a group of prophets coming down from the high place with harp tambourine flute and lyre a prophesying and the spirit of the Lord will Rush upon you and you will prophesy with them and be turned into another man. That when these signs meet you do what your hand finds to do for God is with you.

What do you think happened next? As soon as Samuel told Saul these things that these three events would take place in the specific places in these specific ways. Did Samuel do next year and back to his house and he picked up his cell phone, right? And he called these guys and you better go meet this guy cuz I just pulled in this thing and it didn't work like that back then did it. So, why do you think it is that the Lord provides Samuel with these three signs? To confirm for him to call that God had placed on his life as though never confirmed anything like that with you and your life and then answer might be no. It might be yes, you know, there's been times in my life. Not very many when the Lord has spoken and it in a certain way and and then confirm his word and in ways that were out of my control and what they allowed me to do is to be greatly certain that it was the Lord who is directing me in this way. Not my own machinations. It's not always easy to discern the will of God in our lives clean and we who have the Holy Spirit within us all did not at this time. We speared wasn't given until after Christ ascend to the heavens and sent the spirit from the father to us as one of the great gifts of our Salvation the deposit of our Salvation because of what he did on the cross. So here salt is seeking to understand to discern God's will is given Signs of confirmation that he might not doubt and they come to pass just as Samuel told stole and it was interesting is assault response provided in first Samuel chapter 10 verse 14. These are after all these events have taken place. These are after the signs have been fulfilled just as Samuel told Saul look what we're reading in 1014. Saul's uncle said to him apparently saw has not returned home for this great trip and the donkeys have been found. I'm sure his uncle did a great job. So I'll find the donkeys weather dude found the doggies and brought him back. What were you doing for? The last 4 days? I mean, I'm sure that conversation went right. So, where did you go? He said this eat the doggies and we saw they were not to be found. We went to Samuel and Saul is uncle said please tell me what Samuel said to you. Install send to his uncle he said that I would be the king of Israel. But I'm sorry I misread that install setting his uncle he told us plainly that the donkeys have been found. . Right? What about the matter of the kingdom of which Samuel had spoken? He did not tell him anything.

That's not a foil to Samuel not to tell his uncle what took place but it is interesting how that contrast with what we read about Samuel as a young boy. Do you remember Samuel do you wear when he'll I went to Samuel remember the temple? The Lord is calling you when you hear his voice to say Lord your servant is listening number the next day when young Samuel woke up and Eli went to Samuel and what did he lie? Say to Samuel tell me what the Lord told you and don't hold a single word back from me. And what did he lie do in that moment. He told I'm sorry. What did Samuel do that moment. He told exactly what the Lord had told him that there was a curse upon his house and that God would bring judgment upon E Line upon his family line. Do you remember that? How transparent and honest Samuel was with the word of the Lord and then we read that they never for single day in his life in San you let a single one of the word of the Lord drop to the ground. Notice here when it's Uncle comes to him and says, what did the prophet tell you what did the Lord tell you in that exchange? Obviously Samuel a famous prophet in the in the history of is real. What was Saul's response the donkeys have been found and certainly was not the significant part of that conversation and you get a glimpse even now at this early point that that that's all we'll be a man who is afraid of what others think and what they say he's not certain he certainly not certain and in by certain. I honestly I mean he doesn't have faith in what God is called them to do. He doesn't have faith in The God Who has called him. We'll see time and time again assault fear of others and what they will say and what they will do but underneath that fear is not simply a fear of others or uncertainty of the Lord, but it's a lack of faith in what God has already proclaimed. Was there any a doubt that the Lord had anointed Saul to be king over Israel at that point there was not and the Lord and confirm that time and time and time again to salt as you return to home. Certainly. This was still time. Was processing these things will be the glimpse into the uncertainty and even the burgeoning facelessness installs wife.

Well, the story continues eventually when salt has had some more time to process these things Samuel calls together the people of Israel to announce. So all this king before then we read the story in first Samuel 1017. Spell Samuel call the people together to the Lord admits Puffs you remember from last week that that's where they re committed themselves to the Lord and the Philistines attack them if you remember the story from last week, and he said to the people of Israel. Says the Lord the god of Israel. I brought up Israel out of Egypt and I delivered you from the hand of the Egyptians and from the hand of all the kingdoms that were oppressing you. But today you have rejected your God who saves us from all your calamities and your distresses and you have said to him set a king over us. That's the biblical assessment of the kingship at this point. Now therefore present yourselves before the Lord by your tribes and buy your thousands. But this point is real is in the millions hundreds of thousands make up the people of Israel are already over a million. If they came out of Egypt, they would be even greater at this point. He brings all of Israel together at MIT spa and their representatives stand before Samuel and he's going to tell them who God has anointed to be their king and the way that he's going to do that is not by saying I spoke to a man named Saul who the Lord brought to me a week ago who I anointed as king over he's not going to do it. That way he's going to use lots and he's going to cast those lot to demonstrate to the people of Israel that this is God's will The Israelites were committed to the true that the lord of the governed sovereignty even the way that the Lofts turned out and you probably hurt her to Blooming Stone in the foo meme stone that the high priest add attached to his breastplate those can be removed and they can be cast as lot to demonstrate The Sovereign will of God. They weren't simply casting the dice. They did not believe it was random chance bait. They believe that it was The Sovereign work of God because God had told them that he would work that way in certain circumstances. And so in this very important decision God's going to demonstrate to them that there's no political Intrigue taking place. The king who will be selected will be by God's Sovereign hand and soap Samuel pass the law sin verse 20 Samuel rot. All the tribes of Israel near in the tribes of Benjamin was taken by lot. And it's the 12 tribes he cast a lot and The Tribe of Benjamin is ultimately the one that is chosen. Then he brought the Tribe of Benjamin near by its Clans the different families that make up the Tribe of Benjamin the Lost Tribe of Benjamin and the clan of the match Rights was taken by lot and it out of the clan of the match rights. He brings the families of the match right plan for root any cast lots again and saw the son of Kish was taken by law. Which of these families will not this family or that is going to beaches family. Ok Google which of his sons how many sons do you have dished or get a cash slots with the sun? OK it's not decent. It's based on stall and then he turns to Safeway. Where is this one that the Lord has chosen as king of Israel? And it's fascinating little moment here in verse 21. This is what we read. The son of Kish Saul was taken by life, but when they sought him he could not be found. Listen Samuel already told saw that he was the anointed of the Lord got a demonstrated that conclusively and decisively in 3 miraculous ways on his return home. He'd given him time to process that affect the spirit of Lord. He rushed upon him as the prophets came down the mountain and his heart had been changed. We're told that he left. So on that day, I'm sorry Samuel on that day and get here on the day in which he is to be anointed. He is nowhere to be found. The inquired again of the Lord he's so he's so nowhere to be found that they're shouting his name. They're looking for him everywhere. They cannot find him. So they inquire of the Lord again. Is there a man still to come another word is he not here yet? And the Lord said behold? He has hidden himself among the baggage. Then they ran and took him from there and what he stood among the people he was taller than any of the people from his shoulders upwards and Daniel said to all the people that you see him. The Lord has chosen. There is none like him in NM. It's all the people and all the people shouted long live the king. This is the beginning of the kingship and Israel. Interesting story, don't you think? Did God ever called you to do something? Either personally or that General called that falls upon us as Believers in the Lord to take the good news of the Gospel into the nation's maybe not to the nation's he's called you but to your neighborhood, it's a call. It's an anointing. We're filled with the holy spirit all authority on Heaven and Earth has been given to me. Jesus said as he appeared before his disciples and so I charged right High commission you I command you to go into the nation's then to tell them who I am. And holy spirit has fallen upon us as Believers anointing us with not just head out word anointing. But with the very spirit of God that dwells within us by which we call Abba Father the one who redeemed us. He's empowered us for that mission and yet the question is that the Lord ever called you to do something that you've been afraid to do. Are you hiding in the baggage even today? In your Workforce in your workplace in your neighborhood in your family, whether immediate or extended they are there moments where the Lord's voice needs to be heard where uncle or a child would say what what did the Lord say to you and you were talking about donkeys instead of talking about the one who rode a donkey into a city and laid down his life for all men and for all women who he would. The Lord called you to do what he's charged you and you alone to do the do it with shrink. And you might say to me what we've not seen great miracles to confirm what the Lord's called me to do. I was never going someplace and met people who he prophetically told me would be there beforehand, you know, the sign that we live out our ministry and Mission under as Believers, you know, what sign we that has demonstrated conclusively that God who he is claimed to be the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It's one thing for a prophet to come down from the city and the dance and sing with him for a moment. It's another thing for two men to bring some wine skins that you get to enjoy Four Season. It's another thing for donkeys to be found for us. It's the resurrection of the Son of God from the dead and his Ascension into heaven where he sits at the right hand of the father. That is the sign that confirms the anointing in the sense that the presence of the holy spirit in our life and the call upon us that Great Commission to proclaim the gospel in the world in which we live a world in which men do what is right in their own eyes, but they have no King but themselves It will be no greater season for courageous Believers in recent our nation to live than this one. The one that's ahead and the culture shifts and changes quite often. You may be the only voice of the Lord in the place that he has placed you and I speak not of some fanciful prophetic voice that tells you to do strange and idiosyncratic things. I tell you about prophetic voice that proclaims that Jesus Christ is Lord. If there's a God in the heavens who Reigns over the events of the earth even to the most minoot of the tail that his purposes and plans might come about and the good news is this The message that you take with courage and with faith is a message of good news and great. Joy for all the people. Because it is a a messenger true salvation it in a world that knows no salvation. It's a message of a of a god-given promise in world that has so many broken and false promises. It's a message from the King of Kings and the Lord of lords to a world to people who are ruled by fiefdoms by men and women who claim kingship when they have no true Authority or no ability to bring about their promises. And so I encourage that that we would study this story and see the life of this man saw land and take hard as Believers not to end up as he did. Next week as we finish up his story. We're going to see that at the beginning of of Shaw's kingly role here. Amidst the baggage doesn't turn out much better is he ends up in the end ultimately calling upon a witch to provide him a future and a plan in the face of abandoning. Who and what God has called him to be. Let's close our time this morning in a word of Prayer. gracious and holy God

We're not that different than song. You've spoken words to us and price that we cannot. belief are there Wonder? We look at our hearts Lord, and we recognize the sinfulness in the waywardness. Even now is those who have been redeemed we continue to wrestle with our sinful nature. And yet every day were confronted with the promise of the Gospel that we have been redeemed.

That we are not your enemies, but that we are your sons and daughters. That we are not simply Rebels atolls with you, but that we have been reconciled to you. That we've been charged to carry out a great Mission alongside of you empowered by you to share the good news of the kingdom. Of a man would have Jesus Christ the lord until we pray. Oh Lord today as our society bends towards its own ways that you would give us the strength and courage. That we would learn to look to you as our king of kings and look Beyond with the kings of this world and even the citizens of this world might say that we might not fear them but we might love them enough speak the truth graciously and in love no matter the personal cost. We're so grateful Lord that we do not do this. Blindly. It's not a blind leap of faith for the promises that we read. What is the faith that has been founded upon the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ? There is no greater sign that we know that confirms what you have done. What you will do in the person of your son the King of Kings and the Lord of lords. We thank you for your word. We thank you for your promises. And we thank you for your encouragement to be the men and women that you and your Holy Spirit have anointed and called us to be Lord. Give us strength give us courage and give us faith. Play all these things in Jesus name amen, but stand together to saying are closing song.