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Dailies September 2020 |
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10/23/2020 Daily Devotions: by Christina Farris 3 Now Samuel was dead, and all Israel had lamented him, and buried him in Ramah, even in his own city. And Saul had put away those that had familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land. 4 And the Philistines gathered themselves together, and came and pitched in Shunem: and Saul gathered all Israel together, and they pitched in Gilboa. 5 And when Saul saw the host of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart greatly trembled. 6 And when Saul enquired of the LORD, the LORD answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets. 7 Then said Saul unto his servants, Seek me a woman that hath a familiar spirit, that I may go to her, and enquire of her. And his servants said to him, Behold, there is a woman that hath a familiar spirit at Endor. 8 And Saul disguised himself, and put on other raiment, and he went, and two men with him, and they came to the woman by night: and he said, I pray thee, divine unto me by the familiar spirit, and bring me him up, whom I shall name unto thee. 9 And the woman said unto him, Behold, thou knowest what Saul hath done, how he hath cut off those that have familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land: wherefore then layest thou a snare for my life, to cause me to die? 10 And Saul sware to her by the LORD, saying, As the LORD liveth, there shall no punishment happen to thee for this thing. 11 Then said the woman, Whom shall I bring up unto thee? And he said, Bring me up Samuel. 12 And when the woman saw Samuel, she cried with a loud voice: and the woman spake to Saul, saying, Why hast thou deceived me? for thou art Saul. 13 And the king said unto her, Be not afraid: for what sawest thou? And the woman said unto Saul, I saw gods ascending out of the earth. 14 And he said unto her, What form is he of? And she said, An old man cometh up; and he is covered with a mantle. And Saul perceived that it was Samuel, and he stooped with his face to the ground, and bowed himself. 15 And Samuel said to Saul, Why hast thou disquieted me, to bring me up? And Saul answered, I am sore distressed; for the Philistines make war against me, and God is departed from me, and answereth me no more, neither by prophets, nor by dreams: therefore I have called thee, that thou mayest make known unto me what I shall do. 16 Then said Samuel, Wherefore then dost thou ask of me, seeing the LORD is departed from thee, and is become thine enemy? 17 And the LORD hath done to him, as he spake by me: for the LORD hath rent the kingdom out of thine hand, and given it to thy neighbour, even to David: 18 Because thou obeyedst not the voice of the LORD, nor executedst his fierce wrath upon Amalek, therefore hath the LORD done this thing unto thee this day. 19 Moreover the LORD will also deliver Israel with thee into the hand of the Philistines: and to morrow shalt thou and thy sons be with me: the LORD also shall deliver the host of Israel into the hand of the Philistines. 20 Then Saul fell straightway all along on the earth, and was sore afraid, because of the words of Samuel: and there was no strength in him; for he had eaten no bread all the day, nor all the night. 21 And the woman came unto Saul, and saw that he was sore troubled, and said unto him, Behold, thine handmaid hath obeyed thy voice, and I have put my life in my hand, and have hearkened unto thy words which thou spakest unto me. 22 Now therefore, I pray thee, hearken thou also unto the voice of thine handmaid, and let me set a morsel of bread before thee; and eat, that thou mayest have strength, when thou goest on thy way. 23 But he refused, and said, I will not eat. But his servants, together with the woman, compelled him; and he hearkened unto their voice. So he arose from the earth, and sat upon the bed. 24 And the woman had a fat calf in the house; and she hasted, and killed it, and took flour, and kneaded it, and did bake unleavened bread thereof: 25 And she brought it before Saul, and before his servants; and they did eat. Then they rose up, and went away that night. Why is the story of the witch of Endor so important to the story telling of the prophecy of Saul's death. My life is stranger then fiction sometimes, but there people one will meet of different faiths, some good and some pure evil. Yet I live in a rather small community. I wonder sometimes how big is the land of Israel that they went so far to destroy the witches from the land only to have one still remaining in a place called Endor. Here something you have to understand we live in a nation of freedom of religion. What that entails is all have rights, now with that said, what rights do churches and individuals have, they have the right to say no to other religion being taught in their church or organization. Should people of different religions be refused food, clothing, shelter, and the ability to shop and work, probably not, by our freedoms. Does it mean our nation protects these people rights, yes it does. Our nation more like Rome then Israel in that regard. Saul practiced the law of the Old Testament in enforcing the death of all witches, sorcers and so forth. Now the witch had been hiding but apparently not so well hidden that even one of Saul's own servants knew where one witch still remained. He had asked God, he had asked the prophets and he even prayed with no response from God. What does Saul do but seek the devil in regards to seeking out a witch to conjure up the Prophet Samuel. Though Samuel was dead, the witch had no trouble raising him up from the dead and allowing Saul to speak to him. Yet the witch was more horrified to find that king who order her to be killed, was now seeking her help and promising her protection if she helped him. Do we turn from God the moment he does not respond the way we want him too. Do we turn from God because we did not get an answer. Saul had sinned and God had left him and now with Samuel gone too, I do not doubt that Saul did not feel abandoned, but there were other prophets of God to consult and wait for a response, he could repent and seek God still with patience. He was not willing wait, the war was in front of him and instead of trusting in God or the those that knew God personally to respond, he got in a hurry and turned away from God completely and sought the very one that God had forbidden him to seek and that was first a witch to conjure up Samuel. Samuel would tell Saul that tomorrow he be with him. Now realize this does not mean Saul would be in heaven, but would be at least in the ground, where Samuel spirit came up out of to denote Saul's death. The act of disobedience would cost King Saul his life and the life of his son Jonathan. They both would die in war. Does one understand what is to seek the dead, to seek spirits' of both God's people and even the enemy, it not of God. Yet God allows this story to illustrate how sin will cost one his eternal life. Anyone reading a horrorscope, or using ouji boards are seeking destruction of their own soul. The strange thing is most never realize it, because it just a game to many. It is the same thing one finds in the christians church when one is seeking the prophetic ministers for prophesy in one's life. The road becomes not of God. This was the road of Saul, seeking the prophet and not God. There nothing wrong asking for prayer concerning open doors in one's life, another when one expects someone to have the solution to it as far as foretelling the door that will open. I remember running into a woman that was telling how she long to do work in her church so she went seeking her minister for the task. The minister gave her the job of doing fund raising for the church. Now if anyone knows there nothing wrong with raising money when a church is small and poor, but there another thing about fundraising, when the church itself could be supported by working families within the church. How does one fundraise by bringing people in or begging for money and bake sales? Truth bake sales might be faster way to raise money, but it is not the way to build a church. A church can built with Bible study, outreach and so forth. The church needs to be built on the principals of God through Christ Jesus. If you believe God will supply all one's needs according to his will and purpose why is other means being sought. Faith is something that we can not play a game with. We are either take it on faith that God will supply and meet the need for his church or we destroy the church with the want of fancy curtains, fancy media sources and so forth. Now it never means no one works to help supply the need. Even Peter had to work for taxes by taking a coin out a fish's mouth. What it means is to build on the things of God first and for most. Faith can not be built on another religion and still apply to faith in God. Saul destroyed his own faith when he sought another means of communication through the witch of Endor. Hard work will bring tithe in but also, but it is supply from God's people by godly rules, bake sale, the garage sale is supply of new food or old junk no longer needed for sale, but still useable. It wasted space in a home collecting dust and used for the church. Or is something good that is no longer needed that is given to someone in need or sold for money to supply in other ways the needs of the church. Saul built his life on what he wanted to hear and not on the things of God. He built on the good prophesy of Samuel that always spoke well of him, until it inconvience him to obey God's word. Saul even thought he had the authority as king to perform sacrifices that only the prophet could perform. He was even out of the will of God when it came to worship that had caused his separation from God in the first place. Saul disobedience and his enability to wait on God's timing. He constantly wanted the answer before God was ready to supply it. If we are in tuned to God we will wait on his supply His supply is his word of hope and promise. HIs supply will be granted if we obey him. All will be safe if we build the ark, and enter in at his beckoning. Yet only eight believed the preacher Noah. Noah had a hundred year wait. Waiting on God is hard, but knowing his provision is always on time and never late. Senator McConnely may seek to delay another stimulus package, but it only to whose advantage the republicans of his party to get rid of President Trump or to House Speaker Nancy Pelois democratic. They try to time things to their advantage and not the people advantage. Many people without work have sought suicide because they run out of hope. I do not know but I know God supplies. There is always hope found in Christ Jesus. Do not give up, seek God and wait on his timing, not yours. Do the best you can with what you have and know God will do his part. Not easy words to live by, but when we rely not on our own understanding of things and rely on God's understanding he will provide. I know this to be true, of God's supply. I seen God supply in storms in my life that in truth were to hard to handle at times, but God always came through. One meal missed is not a life time of meals. God's people will rejoice at what God is doing. Hold to faith and those around that fail to, don't let it bother you, unless you refused to obey God when it came to supplying a friend in need. God's people will over come if they rest there hope in him. Start a pot of stone soup and see if that pot is not filled. Dear Heavenly Father help those in need this very hour to know your word will supply their need, give them that piece of mind in the storm. Let your people be reminded of your saving grace. Help people to look only to you. In Jesus precious name, Amen. Continual Scripture Study: Proverbs 3:1-10 KJV1 My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments: 2 For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee. 3 Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart: 4 So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man. 5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. 7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil. 8 It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones. 9 Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: 10 So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.
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