It comes stealthily, hidden in plain sight, that feeling of self-importance, becoming big in your eyes. That was the root cause of Saul's issue, he wanted to please the people because he felt he was now big enough.
Beloved, no matter how big God raises you, never become big in your eyes. Resist the temptation of feeling that you are capable of pleasing everyone, you are not the most high. Do what God instruct you and leave the rest.
Meanwhile, Saul stayed at Gilgal, and his men were trembling with fear. Saul waited there seven days for Samuel, as Samuel had instructed him earlier, but Samuel still didn't come. Saul realized that his troops were rapidly slipping away. So he demanded..
.."Bring me the burnt offering and the peace offerings!" And Saul sacrificed the burnt offering himself.
Samuel said, "Although you were once small in your own eyes, did you not become the head of the tribes of Israel? The LORD anointed you king over Israel.
Saul replied, "I have sinned. But please honor me before the elders of my people and before Israel; come back with me, so that I may worship the LORD your God." #Saul
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The audacity, the effrontery, to cook up a lie to present to the brethen, the body of Christ. Yet Ananias and his wife thought it necessary to do that. The challenge was not the amount they gave, it was the lie.
A critical point to note beloved was Peter's response, the lie was not to man but to the Holy Spirit who resides in the believer. Each time you interact with another believer, you are interacting also with the spirit of God.
But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession. And he kept back part of the proceeds, his wife also being aware [of it,] and brought a certain part and laid [it] at the apostles' feet. But Peter said, "Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie..
The final meal for a woman and her son was about to be made and suddenly a man of God gives a word that she make for him first and then themselves. What will you advise?
The woman believed God and thus secured her family through the famine. Beloved, giving to God and his servant does not reduce you, it actually increases you and prospers you.
As she was going to get it, he called, "And bring me, please, a piece of bread." "As surely as the LORD your God lives," she replied, "I don't have any bread—only a handful of flour in a jar and a little olive oil in a jug.
A young man who was the smallest in a family that is the weakest in a tribe that is one of the smallest in Israel, you definitely can't blame him for seeing himself small. Yet, God saw a mighty man of Valour.
At the end, this small man did valiantly because he believed God's testimony of him. Beloved, don't let the world define you, refuse to be limited by the label the world gives you even if it seems logical, God's definition is the most important and he says you are blessed.
And the Angel of the LORD appeared to him, and said to him, "The LORD [is] with you, you mighty man of valor!"
The LORD turned to him and said, "Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian's hand. Am I not sending you?" "Pardon me, my lord," Gideon replied..
It is often said that wisdom is better than strength, no where is this better illustrated than with Abigail. She calmed David's anger with her wisdom and thus speared him from shedding blood and secured for herself a seat in the palace.
Beloved wisdom is the principal thing, get wisdom. And the good news is the Scriptures is able to make you wise, so dwell on it.
His name was Nabal and his wife's name was Abigail. She was an intelligent and beautiful woman, but her husband was surly and mean in his dealings—he was a Calebite.
How many times have you prayed without faith that the prayer will be answered? Zechariah also did, he prayed for a child and when the answer to the prayer came, he asked for proof no wonder he was made dumb for a while.
Other members of this geng were the brethren praying for Peter's release and when he stood at the door, they insisted he was a ghost. Let your prayers be mixed with faith.
But the angel said to him: "Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John.
Zechariah asked the angel, "How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years."
Some dream of a life of no control from God or man, where they can do as they please. Well, Israel once had that and the result was an unmitigated disaster; a tribe was almost wiped out, reduced to 600 men.
Beloved, don't deride authority especially spiritual authority, they are ordained for your good, they help to keep you safe and on the path of destiny and progress.
In those days Israel had no king; all the people did whatever seemed right in their own eyes.
On that day twenty-five thousand Benjamite swordsmen fell, all of them valiant fighters. But six hundred of them turned and fled into the wilderness to the rock of Rimmon..