WEBVTT 1 00:00:01.800 --> 00:00:04.960 Ladies and gentlemen, Welcome to Sunday Service, Episode forty nine. 2 00:00:04.960 --> 00:00:06.679 I'm your host, Josh my Day. If you to know me, 3 00:00:06.679 --> 00:00:09.560 I'm a Christian rapper, devoted husband, father, and army veteran. 4 00:00:10.080 --> 00:00:11.960 Thank you so much for joining me. This is brought 5 00:00:11.960 --> 00:00:15.039 to you by Cult of Conspiracy podcast and we are 6 00:00:15.080 --> 00:00:18.679 actually on week forty nine of Sunday Service. Literally in 7 00:00:18.800 --> 00:00:22.640 three weeks time we will be will be our one 8 00:00:22.719 --> 00:00:27.760 year anniversary of starting the show, which is amazing. It's 9 00:00:27.800 --> 00:00:32.880 awesome and time flies when you're having fun, which I 10 00:00:32.880 --> 00:00:34.880 do with this show. So let's go ahead and do 11 00:00:34.920 --> 00:00:39.719 some shout outs, guys. I really appreciate you guys shouting 12 00:00:40.320 --> 00:00:45.880 giving us the comments on Spotify MDMP twenty two. Thank you, 13 00:00:46.399 --> 00:00:50.039 Catalyst Jones. What's up brother? Hopefully I could get on 14 00:00:48.920 --> 00:00:52.719 the show with you and Justin You just sent me 15 00:00:52.759 --> 00:00:58.759 the Instagram or the DM today with Justin Brown, which 16 00:00:58.920 --> 00:01:02.520 you guys probably know is premier atheist Lenz My jump 17 00:01:02.520 --> 00:01:06.280 on a show with Catalyst Shoones White Rabbit Podcast and 18 00:01:06.599 --> 00:01:08.640 we'll see what happens. We're trying to set it up now. 19 00:01:08.640 --> 00:01:11.400 But thank you for the comment, bro. I look forward 20 00:01:11.400 --> 00:01:14.200 to every Wednesday Sunday. I'm grateful that you bring us 21 00:01:14.200 --> 00:01:16.519 the word in such a digestible way. I appreciate you, 22 00:01:16.599 --> 00:01:19.200 Thank you, love this show, have a blessed week. Thank you, 23 00:01:19.239 --> 00:01:22.959 Angela Kelly and Brad Gillis, Thank you brother, God bless you, Bro. 24 00:01:23.760 --> 00:01:28.159 And then last week on Wednesday service we had Chevy 25 00:01:28.239 --> 00:01:32.079 It Kinnam went good seven comments. I appreciate you guys, 26 00:01:32.560 --> 00:01:36.159 Whiskers Right, Whiskers White. I'm so glad for you, brother 27 00:01:36.200 --> 00:01:39.120 that you're getting closer to the word being obedient. Your 28 00:01:39.159 --> 00:01:41.879 prayer life is going good. Whiskers White, I really appreciate you, brother. 29 00:01:42.159 --> 00:01:44.000 Thank you for all your comments that you've ever done, 30 00:01:44.000 --> 00:01:46.359 and thank you for this one. J Con forty four 31 00:01:46.560 --> 00:01:49.840 twenty also, I really appreciate you, brother, Thank you for 32 00:01:49.879 --> 00:01:51.599 all the comments that you've ever done, and thank you 33 00:01:51.640 --> 00:01:54.239 for this one as well. Angela Kelly, same to you, Auvey, 34 00:01:54.480 --> 00:01:57.040 thank you, same to you, Bro. You actually comment on 35 00:01:57.040 --> 00:01:59.200 my other page, and so does Whiskers White, which I 36 00:01:59.200 --> 00:02:03.359 really appreciate MDMP twenty two as well. Thank you, Mitch. 37 00:02:03.439 --> 00:02:05.959 I appreciate you. Thank you, and Josh Fashion, thank you 38 00:02:06.040 --> 00:02:09.240 so much for the comments that you guys have ever done. 39 00:02:09.439 --> 00:02:11.639 Really appreciate you. Like I said, it really helps the 40 00:02:11.680 --> 00:02:14.400 show out, pushes the show up the algorithm, and it 41 00:02:14.520 --> 00:02:17.919 shows that I'm doing my job to Jonathan and Jacob 42 00:02:18.199 --> 00:02:22.680 the Culting Conspiracy Podcast. So I appreciate it. And yeah, 43 00:02:22.719 --> 00:02:27.960 we're gonna be jumping into first Samuel seven. Okay, that's 44 00:02:27.960 --> 00:02:30.879 what we're gonna be going over today, probably seven, eight, 45 00:02:30.960 --> 00:02:33.479 and nine. That's kind of what I studied for. I 46 00:02:33.520 --> 00:02:35.439 do have some notes for ten though, just in case 47 00:02:36.879 --> 00:02:39.960 we may go to ten. We'll see. Let me just 48 00:02:40.000 --> 00:02:42.960 go ahead and share the screen for those that could 49 00:02:43.000 --> 00:02:48.520 see the screen that you go. Perfect, all right, and 50 00:02:48.599 --> 00:02:53.319 let's do a little intro before we start. First. Samuel 51 00:02:53.360 --> 00:02:57.800 seven demonstrates the transformative power of sincere repentance and prayer 52 00:02:58.479 --> 00:03:01.439 and God's faithfulness and delivering those who call on Him, 53 00:03:01.599 --> 00:03:04.520 and encourages us to discard any idols in our lives 54 00:03:04.560 --> 00:03:08.439 and realign ourselves with God's purpose. It shows the importance 55 00:03:08.439 --> 00:03:14.039 of Godly leadership in bringing about spiritual and social transformations. 56 00:03:14.560 --> 00:03:16.960 So perfect, all right, let me get to my teaching 57 00:03:17.000 --> 00:03:25.159 points here now, last chapter in chapter six, let me 58 00:03:25.199 --> 00:03:27.840 go back real quick, because there's something I want to mention. 59 00:03:29.159 --> 00:03:33.520 In chapter six there was a part here where it said, 60 00:03:37.280 --> 00:03:39.080 let me see where is it? Where is it? Where 61 00:03:39.120 --> 00:03:42.680 is it? Oh, it says this, It says this is 62 00:03:42.719 --> 00:03:47.240 a First Samuel six verse nineteen. I'm just going back 63 00:03:47.319 --> 00:03:51.000 real quick to tell you guys something. And chapter nineteen. 64 00:03:51.039 --> 00:03:52.960 When I was reading it, I was like, wow, fifty 65 00:03:53.120 --> 00:03:56.960 thousand and seventy men. Wow, it was really surprising to 66 00:03:57.000 --> 00:03:59.719 me that number. Now it says, then he struck the 67 00:03:59.719 --> 00:04:02.800 men Beth Semester, because they looked into the ark of 68 00:04:02.840 --> 00:04:05.639 the Lord, which is the ark of the covenant. He 69 00:04:05.759 --> 00:04:09.960 struck fifty thousand and seventy men of the people. Now, 70 00:04:10.039 --> 00:04:13.280 if you go to different translations, it actually will only 71 00:04:13.319 --> 00:04:23.920 say seventy men of the people because different different manuscripts 72 00:04:25.040 --> 00:04:30.319 have different have different have it different there. Some of 73 00:04:30.360 --> 00:04:33.720 it have seventy men, only some of them have fifty 74 00:04:33.800 --> 00:04:37.319 thousand and seventy men. So I just want to let 75 00:04:37.360 --> 00:04:40.040 you guys know that. So not all manuscripts said that. 76 00:04:40.360 --> 00:04:44.120 So you know, there's you know, the I think it's 77 00:04:44.160 --> 00:04:48.279 the A the what a American standard version would say 78 00:04:48.279 --> 00:04:53.000 only seventy men the ESV. Let's check that out real quick. 79 00:04:53.120 --> 00:04:59.279 Let me just see, because I was listening to because 80 00:04:59.319 --> 00:05:01.079 I was looking into that, I was like, whoa, that 81 00:05:01.160 --> 00:05:04.920 part right there just blew me away, you know, because 82 00:05:05.120 --> 00:05:10.279 it is that's first nineteen to me. It's just surprising, 83 00:05:10.319 --> 00:05:12.800 you know, just some things in the Bible surprise me, 84 00:05:13.519 --> 00:05:16.279 even me. I read it a lot, but you know, 85 00:05:16.759 --> 00:05:24.040 not everything is just comes out to me. So okay, oh, okay, yeah. 86 00:05:24.040 --> 00:05:26.920 So if you look at the NIV, the okay, this 87 00:05:26.959 --> 00:05:30.120 one says, but God struck down some of the inhabitants 88 00:05:30.120 --> 00:05:33.759 of Besha Mash, putting away seventy of them to death 89 00:05:33.800 --> 00:05:36.560 because they looked into the ark of the covenant. A 90 00:05:36.600 --> 00:05:42.959 few manuscripts, oh, it says most Hebrew manuscripts and septuagent 91 00:05:43.399 --> 00:05:47.480 say fifty thousand and seventy, but some do not. Okay, 92 00:05:47.519 --> 00:05:49.920 So I don't know, just want to let you guys 93 00:05:49.959 --> 00:05:51.759 know that. So I don't want to have, you know, 94 00:05:51.759 --> 00:05:53.480 any kind of debate about it or make the show 95 00:05:53.519 --> 00:05:55.600 about it. But I just want to let you guys 96 00:05:55.600 --> 00:05:57.920 know that some manuscripts don't say fifty thousands. Some of 97 00:05:57.920 --> 00:06:00.439 them only say seventy. But it looks like the Hugen 98 00:06:00.639 --> 00:06:04.160 and most manuscripts do say fifty thousand. So I want 99 00:06:04.199 --> 00:06:07.240 to I'll stick with it and say it all right. 100 00:06:07.360 --> 00:06:14.160 Let's go ahead and start at first, Samuel seven, Israel 101 00:06:14.199 --> 00:06:18.279 defeats the Philistines. Then the men of kirjath Jerim came 102 00:06:18.480 --> 00:06:20.879 and took the Ark of the Lord and brought it 103 00:06:20.920 --> 00:06:24.839 into the house of Abinadab on the hill, and consecrated 104 00:06:25.000 --> 00:06:27.439 Elias or his son, to keep the ark of the Lord. 105 00:06:29.879 --> 00:06:35.839 Samuel judges Israel. So it was the ark. So so 106 00:06:35.959 --> 00:06:38.920 it was that the ark remained in Kirjah Jireim a 107 00:06:39.000 --> 00:06:42.560 long time. It was there twenty years, and all the 108 00:06:42.600 --> 00:06:46.439 house of Israel laminated after the Lord. Then Samuel spoke 109 00:06:46.480 --> 00:06:48.600 to all the house of the Lord, saying, if you 110 00:06:48.680 --> 00:06:50.839 return to the Lord with all your hearts, then put 111 00:06:50.879 --> 00:06:53.959 away the foreign gods and the astoroths from among you, 112 00:06:54.360 --> 00:06:56.439 and prepare your hearts for the Lord and serve him. 113 00:06:56.480 --> 00:06:59.600 Only he will deliver you from the hands of the Philistines. 114 00:07:00.000 --> 00:07:02.079 So the children of Israel put away the bails and 115 00:07:02.079 --> 00:07:06.319 the astorosths and serve the Lord. Only. See God's grace there. 116 00:07:09.079 --> 00:07:13.839 Let's go ahead and pause. There, you guys, see that 117 00:07:13.879 --> 00:07:16.920 God has grace. You know, they were actually worshiping Bail 118 00:07:17.360 --> 00:07:21.519 and Astaroth, and God said basically said Samuel to speak 119 00:07:21.519 --> 00:07:23.680 to them and tell him, if you return to the 120 00:07:23.720 --> 00:07:27.360 Lord with all your hearts, which means repent, that's what 121 00:07:27.399 --> 00:07:30.240 it means, I mean literally a change of heart. Then 122 00:07:30.279 --> 00:07:33.759 put away the foreign gods and the astrosts among you, 123 00:07:33.839 --> 00:07:36.000 and prepare your hearts for the Lord and serve him. 124 00:07:36.079 --> 00:07:38.839 Only he will deliver you from the hand of the Philistines. 125 00:07:39.720 --> 00:07:43.560 So the children of Israel put away the bales and 126 00:07:43.600 --> 00:07:45.839 astorosts and serve the Lord onally. So that's a blessing. 127 00:07:45.920 --> 00:07:48.240 So let's go ahead and check what my notes saying. 128 00:07:48.720 --> 00:07:52.079 So the Ark of the Covenant remained in Karajurim for 129 00:07:52.120 --> 00:07:54.800 twenty years, during which all the house Is were laminated 130 00:07:55.240 --> 00:07:59.519 this period, a lamentation signifies a deep longing for God's 131 00:07:59.560 --> 00:08:02.560 presence and favor. So the Ark of the Covenant was 132 00:08:02.600 --> 00:08:05.199 gone to the Philissines and they came back. So I 133 00:08:05.240 --> 00:08:09.279 think maybe that assisted them just a little bit, right, 134 00:08:09.439 --> 00:08:11.399 So that's what it means, like a deep belonging for 135 00:08:11.480 --> 00:08:14.759 God's presence in favor. And God's presence is not going 136 00:08:14.839 --> 00:08:16.920 to be there, right. You can have the Ark of 137 00:08:16.959 --> 00:08:21.040 the Covenant there all you want, but if everybody's worshiping 138 00:08:21.120 --> 00:08:24.480 Bail and Astaroth, then God's presence will not be there. 139 00:08:24.839 --> 00:08:27.519 But what he's saying is you put away those other 140 00:08:27.560 --> 00:08:30.560 gods and idols and you worship Me only, then his 141 00:08:30.639 --> 00:08:35.559 presence will be back. And then Samuel called to repentance. 142 00:08:35.840 --> 00:08:38.200 Samuel instructs it is lies to return to the Lord 143 00:08:38.200 --> 00:08:40.639 in all their hearts and put away the foreign gods. 144 00:08:41.080 --> 00:08:45.679 True repentance involves turning away from idols and wholeheartedly seeking God. 145 00:08:46.399 --> 00:08:55.440 Amen to that, and let's go ahead and continue. And 146 00:08:55.559 --> 00:08:59.159 Samuel said, gather all Israel to miss Paul, and I 147 00:08:59.200 --> 00:09:02.080 will pray to the Lord for you. So they gathered 148 00:09:02.080 --> 00:09:04.840 together at Mizpah, drew water and poured it out from 149 00:09:04.879 --> 00:09:08.279 the before the Lord, and they fasted the day and 150 00:09:08.360 --> 00:09:10.759 said there we have sinned against the Lord. And Samuel 151 00:09:10.840 --> 00:09:15.919 judge the children of Israel at Mizpah. So Samuel, I 152 00:09:15.960 --> 00:09:17.279 think I have it in my other notes. Let me 153 00:09:17.360 --> 00:09:25.480 check it out. Samuel was a prophet, he was a 154 00:09:25.480 --> 00:09:28.919 priest and a judge over Israel. So he was like 155 00:09:29.000 --> 00:09:32.879 all three. You know, he wasn't just a judge. I mean, 156 00:09:32.919 --> 00:09:39.200 you don't see, you don't see Samson prophesy and all 157 00:09:39.240 --> 00:09:41.279 that stuff, right, He was just a judge, right, so 158 00:09:41.519 --> 00:09:45.600 a strong judge. But Samuel is a prophet, a priest, 159 00:09:45.759 --> 00:09:49.759 and a judge over Israel. So he's actually the last 160 00:09:49.840 --> 00:09:56.759 judge of Israel. So he kind of handles three different 161 00:09:56.759 --> 00:09:58.440 things at once. So that's why you kind of see 162 00:09:58.519 --> 00:10:02.840 him praying over them Sehi prophesying, and he's also judging them, right, 163 00:10:03.679 --> 00:10:05.879 So that's why it says Samuel judged the children of 164 00:10:05.919 --> 00:10:11.519 Israel at Mispah. And we'll go ahead and continue reading. 165 00:10:15.960 --> 00:10:19.039 And that is okay, that's actually not number five and six, 166 00:10:19.080 --> 00:10:20.879 so I'm gonna want to read that. So the Israelites 167 00:10:20.919 --> 00:10:23.360 gather at Mizpah, this is in my notes, where they 168 00:10:23.440 --> 00:10:28.320 confess their sins and Samuel intercedes for them. This collective 169 00:10:28.399 --> 00:10:34.879 act of humility and prayer is crucial on for national revival, right, 170 00:10:35.000 --> 00:10:37.759 So we need to have somebody that's kind of representing 171 00:10:38.240 --> 00:10:42.639 and the collective active humility of everybody kind of putting 172 00:10:42.679 --> 00:10:47.440 away all those gods and praying is crucial for national revival. Right, 173 00:10:47.519 --> 00:10:49.480 So we have that. Now, let's go ahead and go 174 00:10:49.600 --> 00:10:55.159 to first Samuel seven, verse seven. Now, when the Philistines 175 00:10:55.200 --> 00:10:58.120 heard that the children of Israel had gathered together at Mispah. 176 00:10:58.519 --> 00:11:01.679 The lords of the Philistines went up against Israel, and 177 00:11:01.720 --> 00:11:03.960 when the children of Israel heard of it, they were 178 00:11:04.000 --> 00:11:06.440 afraid of the Philistines. So the children of Israel said 179 00:11:06.440 --> 00:11:09.279 to Samuel, do not seize to cry out to the Lord, 180 00:11:09.279 --> 00:11:11.639 our God for us, that he may save us from 181 00:11:11.639 --> 00:11:15.720 the hands of the Philistines. And as you guys know, 182 00:11:16.440 --> 00:11:19.440 the Philistines were kind of ruling over them even back 183 00:11:19.480 --> 00:11:23.000 when Samson was around, you know, so it's been a 184 00:11:23.039 --> 00:11:28.279 long time, it says. And Samuel took a suckling lamb 185 00:11:28.360 --> 00:11:31.759 and offered it as a hole burnt offering to the Lord. 186 00:11:31.919 --> 00:11:35.759 Now you see, do you see any other judges offering 187 00:11:35.799 --> 00:11:39.960 stuff to the Lord? No, okay, I don't remember any 188 00:11:39.960 --> 00:11:41.639 of the judges that we read about in the Book 189 00:11:41.679 --> 00:11:45.440 of Judges offering anything to the Lord because they weren't priests, 190 00:11:45.679 --> 00:11:49.919 you see. So Samuel's different. He's a prophet, he's a priest, 191 00:11:50.159 --> 00:11:52.720 and he's also a judge. That's why you see him 192 00:11:53.120 --> 00:11:56.240 doing a whole offering to the Lord. Then Samuel cried 193 00:11:56.279 --> 00:11:59.120 out to the Lord for Israel, and the Lord answer him. 194 00:11:59.480 --> 00:12:02.600 Now Samuel was offering up the burnt offering. The Philistines 195 00:12:02.679 --> 00:12:05.720 drew near to battle against Israel. But the Lord thundered 196 00:12:05.720 --> 00:12:08.759 with a loud thundered upon the Philistines that day, and 197 00:12:08.879 --> 00:12:11.879 so confused that they were overcome before Israel. And the 198 00:12:11.919 --> 00:12:15.000 men of Israel went to Mispah and pursued the Philistines 199 00:12:15.440 --> 00:12:19.000 and drove them back as far as beth Carr. Then 200 00:12:19.080 --> 00:12:22.120 Samuel took a stone, set it up between miss Paw 201 00:12:22.200 --> 00:12:27.960 and Shin, and called save its name Ebenezer, saying, thus 202 00:12:28.000 --> 00:12:32.200 far the Lord has helped us. Amen to that. So 203 00:12:32.720 --> 00:12:36.039 as the Philistines attack, Samuel offers a burnt offering, and 204 00:12:36.120 --> 00:12:39.840 the Lord thunders against the Philistines, leading to defeat. That's 205 00:12:39.879 --> 00:12:43.879 in First Samuel seven, verses ten to eleven. God's intervention 206 00:12:44.120 --> 00:12:48.879 demonstrates his power and faithfulness to those who trust in him. 207 00:12:49.399 --> 00:12:54.279 Amen to that. And then in verse twelve, we have 208 00:12:54.399 --> 00:12:58.759 the stone of help Ebenezer. Samuel sets up a stone 209 00:12:58.799 --> 00:13:01.639 called Ebenezer, saying, thus far the Lord has helped us. 210 00:13:02.360 --> 00:13:07.039 This serves as a tangible reminder of God's past faithfulness 211 00:13:07.080 --> 00:13:10.840 and encourages trust in his future provision. Let's go ahead 212 00:13:10.879 --> 00:13:14.000 and look a little deeper into the stone of help. Ebenezer, 213 00:13:14.080 --> 00:13:18.799 a term meaning stone of help, holds significant historical, spiritual 214 00:13:18.799 --> 00:13:21.000 importance and a biblical narrative. It is a symbol of 215 00:13:21.039 --> 00:13:24.120 divine assistance and a testament of God's faithfulness to his 216 00:13:24.240 --> 00:13:28.200 people Israel. The term is primarily associated with an event 217 00:13:28.279 --> 00:13:30.639 during the time of the prophet Samuels recorded in the 218 00:13:30.679 --> 00:13:34.000 Old Testament. The account of Ebenezer is found in First 219 00:13:34.000 --> 00:13:36.840 Samuel seven. The Israelites were in a period of spiritual 220 00:13:36.879 --> 00:13:41.559 renewal repentance under the leadership of Samuel. After suffering defeat 221 00:13:41.559 --> 00:13:43.639 at the hands of the Philistines and losing the ark 222 00:13:43.679 --> 00:13:46.200 of the Covenant, the Isuelites turned back to the Lord. 223 00:13:46.240 --> 00:13:48.759 Samuel called the people to gather in Ms. Paul Or. 224 00:13:48.799 --> 00:13:55.799 They facet and confessed their sins and sought the Lord's favor. So, 225 00:13:56.440 --> 00:13:59.399 following this divine intervention, that Israelites pursued and defeated the 226 00:13:59.440 --> 00:14:04.360 Philistine and commemoration of the victory the perpetual reminder of 227 00:14:04.360 --> 00:14:07.759 God's help, Samuel set up a stone between Mispaul and Shin. 228 00:14:08.240 --> 00:14:11.000 He called that Ebenezer, saying, thus far the Lord has 229 00:14:11.039 --> 00:14:14.000 helped us. This act serves as a tangible reminder of 230 00:14:14.039 --> 00:14:20.679 God's deliverance and faithfulness and the theological implications. Ebenezer represents 231 00:14:20.679 --> 00:14:23.840 a pivotal moment in Israel's history where reliance on God 232 00:14:24.000 --> 00:14:28.480 led to victory over their enemies. It highlights the necessity 233 00:14:28.480 --> 00:14:32.519 of repentance, prayer, and faith in God's power. This account 234 00:14:32.559 --> 00:14:35.600 of Ebenezer encourages believers to erect their own stones of 235 00:14:35.639 --> 00:14:41.559 help into spiritual journey, marking moments of divine intervention and grace. Conclusion, 236 00:14:41.639 --> 00:14:44.720 the Ebenezer Stone stands as a testament to the enduring 237 00:14:44.799 --> 00:14:47.159 truth that God is present help in times of need. 238 00:14:47.639 --> 00:14:50.879 God is a present help in times of need. It 239 00:14:50.960 --> 00:14:54.080 calls believers to remember and celebrate the ways in which 240 00:14:54.120 --> 00:14:57.519 God has intervened in their lives, encouraging a postor of 241 00:14:57.559 --> 00:15:02.039 faith and reliance on His unchanging nature. It also reminds 242 00:15:02.080 --> 00:15:05.639 you not not not the the stone, but also what 243 00:15:05.679 --> 00:15:08.519 God did here. Reminds you that you might have an 244 00:15:08.519 --> 00:15:11.360 idol in your life. You know, whether it's alcohol, whether 245 00:15:11.399 --> 00:15:14.480 it's drugs, whether it's pornography, or whether I always mention 246 00:15:14.559 --> 00:15:17.080 all these different idols that we have. TV can be 247 00:15:17.120 --> 00:15:20.840 an idol, computer can be an idol. Looking up bad 248 00:15:20.879 --> 00:15:25.159 websites can be an idol. So just just so you 249 00:15:25.279 --> 00:15:28.600 know that if you repent with all your heart, then 250 00:15:28.639 --> 00:15:30.320 God is going to give you grace for you to 251 00:15:30.360 --> 00:15:31.960 be able to come back to the Lord, and the 252 00:15:31.960 --> 00:15:34.799 Lord will help you fight your battles again. But as 253 00:15:34.799 --> 00:15:37.519 you keep sinning, and then you and then you, you 254 00:15:37.559 --> 00:15:39.840 know you're praying to the Lord to help you. You 255 00:15:39.879 --> 00:15:43.480 know you when you sin, you're separating yourself from God. Right, 256 00:15:43.600 --> 00:15:46.360 So that's what's happening with the with the Israelites. They 257 00:15:46.440 --> 00:15:50.159 keep sinning, sinning, sinning, they keep backsliding, and they keep 258 00:15:50.399 --> 00:15:53.919 going with other gods and worshiping bail and and all 259 00:15:53.919 --> 00:15:58.399 these other and Asteroth right, And what happens is God 260 00:15:58.519 --> 00:16:01.360 does give them grace like he's doing now, allows them 261 00:16:01.399 --> 00:16:03.320 to repent as long as they do have a change 262 00:16:03.320 --> 00:16:05.879 of heart, which is what repentance is. It's like a 263 00:16:05.919 --> 00:16:08.200 one to eighty, you know, it's it's like doing a 264 00:16:08.240 --> 00:16:10.279 one day, like an about face in the military and 265 00:16:10.320 --> 00:16:13.159 go in the opposite direction. As long as they do that, 266 00:16:13.200 --> 00:16:16.440 He's given them grace. Right. So just something we should 267 00:16:16.440 --> 00:16:20.000 definitely appreciate that God gives us right, because if he 268 00:16:20.039 --> 00:16:23.600 didn't give us grace, we would all probably not be 269 00:16:23.639 --> 00:16:26.759 doing good at all. Right, So let's go ahead and 270 00:16:26.799 --> 00:16:31.159 go to first Samuel seven, verse thirteen. So the Philistines 271 00:16:31.159 --> 00:16:34.600 were subdued, and they do not come, and they did 272 00:16:34.639 --> 00:16:38.080 not come anymore into the territory of Israel. And the 273 00:16:38.159 --> 00:16:40.639 hand of the Lord was against the Philistines all the 274 00:16:40.720 --> 00:16:44.039 days of Samuel. Then the cities which the Philistines had 275 00:16:44.080 --> 00:16:47.559 taken over, had taken from Israel, were restored to Israel, 276 00:16:47.600 --> 00:16:50.799 from Ekron to Gath, and Israel recovered his territory from 277 00:16:50.840 --> 00:16:53.679 the hands of the Philistines. Also there was peace between 278 00:16:53.799 --> 00:16:58.120 Israel and the Amorites. Wow, interesting because the Amorites, that's 279 00:16:58.159 --> 00:17:02.320 the king of Bashan, right, so not only for the Philistines, 280 00:17:02.360 --> 00:17:07.920 but also the Amorites. So, and Samuel judged Israel all 281 00:17:07.960 --> 00:17:10.359 the days of his life, and he went from year 282 00:17:10.400 --> 00:17:13.720 to year on a circuit to Bethel, to Gielgal to 283 00:17:13.839 --> 00:17:16.720 Ms Paul and judge Israel and all those places. But 284 00:17:16.839 --> 00:17:21.200 he always returned to Rama, for his home was there 285 00:17:21.559 --> 00:17:25.200 where he judged Israel, and he built an altar to 286 00:17:25.279 --> 00:17:29.200 the Lord. Okay, so what does the lesson learn here? Well, 287 00:17:29.240 --> 00:17:33.200 the lesson is that if we would just be obedient 288 00:17:33.240 --> 00:17:35.720 to the Lord and we didn't have any idols in 289 00:17:35.759 --> 00:17:38.799 our life. He's going to assist us in these battles. 290 00:17:39.119 --> 00:17:42.079 But the further and further and further away you get 291 00:17:42.119 --> 00:17:44.319 from the Lord, then he's not going to be helping 292 00:17:44.319 --> 00:17:46.440 you with these battles, even though you're praying and praying 293 00:17:46.440 --> 00:17:49.039 and praying. That's why when you become like deep deep 294 00:17:49.079 --> 00:17:52.119 into drugs, you know, and you get to rock bottom 295 00:17:52.160 --> 00:17:54.039 and you're just like, God help me, you know, like 296 00:17:55.119 --> 00:17:57.559 you know, you say, God help me, and then someone 297 00:17:57.599 --> 00:17:59.359 offers you more, and you just keep doing it. You're 298 00:17:59.400 --> 00:18:02.079 just getting yourself further and further away from God. I've 299 00:18:02.079 --> 00:18:05.160 been there, done that. So what you have to do 300 00:18:05.200 --> 00:18:07.920 is you have to start overcoming battles yourself. Then God 301 00:18:07.960 --> 00:18:09.839 will help you, and then you kind of repent and 302 00:18:09.839 --> 00:18:11.720 then and then it's going to come right back. It's 303 00:18:11.759 --> 00:18:14.079 kind of the same thing that that Israel is dealing 304 00:18:14.079 --> 00:18:17.319 with here. They they were, they were further and further 305 00:18:17.359 --> 00:18:19.559 away from God. They kept sitning and sitning and sitting 306 00:18:19.559 --> 00:18:22.559 They're worshiping other gods. God is like far away from them. 307 00:18:22.880 --> 00:18:25.160 Even though the ark of the Covenant might have been there, 308 00:18:25.200 --> 00:18:28.240 his presence was not there. Maybe with the priests, you know, 309 00:18:28.359 --> 00:18:33.759 maybe with the with the maybe when it's actually uh 310 00:18:33.799 --> 00:18:36.440 in the tabernacle, you know, that's different, you know. But 311 00:18:37.079 --> 00:18:38.920 Israel was so far away from the Lord that he 312 00:18:39.039 --> 00:18:41.279 just was not helping them or assisting them in any way. 313 00:18:41.839 --> 00:18:45.240 But what happened They repented, and then now the Philistines 314 00:18:45.240 --> 00:18:48.039 when they drew knailigans for the for battle, the Lord 315 00:18:48.680 --> 00:18:51.680 thundered with a loud thunder, and the Philistines that day, right, 316 00:18:51.680 --> 00:18:55.359 confuse them overcame before his room. Right, So yeah, that's awesome. 317 00:18:55.599 --> 00:18:58.960 God is great. So let's go ahead and continue. Thank 318 00:18:59.000 --> 00:19:03.359 God for his grace seriously for all of us, for 319 00:19:03.440 --> 00:19:06.279 all of our sakes. Right. So all right, so now 320 00:19:06.279 --> 00:19:10.960 we're going to be in first Samuel. Nope, we're not 321 00:19:10.960 --> 00:19:12.519 gonna be there yet. What we're gonna do is we're 322 00:19:12.519 --> 00:19:18.000 gonna go over some practical applications first, so which are 323 00:19:18.000 --> 00:19:21.279 always good for us to know, practical applications for here 324 00:19:21.319 --> 00:19:25.319 would be seek God wholeheartedly. Just as the Israelites laminated, 325 00:19:27.240 --> 00:19:32.319 lamented after the Lord, we should earnestly seek His presence 326 00:19:32.400 --> 00:19:39.240 and favor in our lives. So repent for idolatry, identify 327 00:19:39.240 --> 00:19:42.319 and remove any idols or distractions that hinder your relationship 328 00:19:42.359 --> 00:19:46.799 with God, committing to serve him alone. See, that's what 329 00:19:46.839 --> 00:19:52.039 I mean. Idols. You know, drugs was a huge one 330 00:19:52.279 --> 00:19:53.960 way back in the day for me, right, it was 331 00:19:53.960 --> 00:19:55.640 like an idol. Like we'd wake up in the morning 332 00:19:55.680 --> 00:19:57.279 and all I wanted to do was get drugs. Right, 333 00:19:57.319 --> 00:20:00.680 So it was it wasn't one I at one time 334 00:20:00.920 --> 00:20:03.880 for me, you know, before I joined the military, before 335 00:20:03.880 --> 00:20:06.359 I join the army. You know, It's just it was 336 00:20:06.400 --> 00:20:08.119 something that was in my life. It was an idol. 337 00:20:08.160 --> 00:20:09.680 So I know how it is to have an idol. 338 00:20:11.240 --> 00:20:17.480 But we have to understand that there's bad idols like drugs. 339 00:20:17.519 --> 00:20:20.559 There's bad idols like drinking. There's bad hols idols like 340 00:20:20.960 --> 00:20:24.880 I like you know, pornography and all these different things. 341 00:20:25.359 --> 00:20:28.160 There can also be things that are good that are idols. 342 00:20:28.160 --> 00:20:31.160 That's the thing. Like your wife, you know, could could 343 00:20:31.200 --> 00:20:37.160 be an idol. You know, your your family, your dogs, whatever. 344 00:20:37.759 --> 00:20:40.319 And I know it sounds crazy, but yeah, it can 345 00:20:40.400 --> 00:20:44.559 become an idol. Whatever you're putting in front of God. Right, 346 00:20:44.839 --> 00:20:47.960 It's like that hinders your relationship with God. Not saying 347 00:20:48.039 --> 00:20:51.599 that that you shouldn't take care of your family. That's 348 00:20:51.599 --> 00:20:54.480 not what I'm saying. And or you shouldn't love your family. No, no, no, no. 349 00:20:54.720 --> 00:20:57.799 All I'm saying is sometimes we make excuses like, oh, 350 00:20:57.839 --> 00:21:00.480 I'm too busy, I can't read the Word to God 351 00:21:00.640 --> 00:21:03.160 because I got a family and I got kids, and 352 00:21:03.480 --> 00:21:05.359 you know, I got a newborn. I can't do this, 353 00:21:05.559 --> 00:21:07.200 you know what I mean. But what we need to 354 00:21:07.279 --> 00:21:10.160 understand is we can always set time aside. If we 355 00:21:10.200 --> 00:21:15.680 could set time aside to look at our phones, if 356 00:21:15.680 --> 00:21:18.240 we get set time aside to play Fortnite, if we 357 00:21:18.279 --> 00:21:21.599 get set our time beside to watch UFC, watch football, 358 00:21:21.640 --> 00:21:23.839 watch this, watch that we could definitely set our time 359 00:21:24.000 --> 00:21:29.440 aside to commit to serving the Lord right, commit to 360 00:21:29.519 --> 00:21:32.880 reading the Bible, commit to this. So which sounds like 361 00:21:32.920 --> 00:21:35.359 the people that are listening to the show are trying 362 00:21:35.400 --> 00:21:38.119 to make a commitment. So hey, more power to all 363 00:21:38.160 --> 00:21:39.799 of you. But yeah, just letting you guys know that 364 00:21:40.039 --> 00:21:42.079 it's a very important lesson for us all to learn, 365 00:21:42.519 --> 00:21:47.759 including me. Engage in corporate prayer, join with others in 366 00:21:47.839 --> 00:21:52.240 prayer and confession, recognizing the power of a united intercession 367 00:21:52.319 --> 00:21:56.119 for personal and communal revival. So yeah, So that basically 368 00:21:56.200 --> 00:21:59.359 means like you know, praying within a big number of people. Right, 369 00:22:00.319 --> 00:22:01.720 So if you do go to church, all of you 370 00:22:01.720 --> 00:22:05.200 guys praying together, that's that's it's it's great trust in 371 00:22:05.240 --> 00:22:09.000 God's deliverance. In times of trouble. Remember that God is 372 00:22:09.119 --> 00:22:15.720 able to intervene and bring victory over advers our adversaries. Okay, 373 00:22:15.799 --> 00:22:17.839 so in times of trouble, remember that God is able 374 00:22:17.880 --> 00:22:20.599 to intervene and bring victory over our adversaries. Yes, amen 375 00:22:20.680 --> 00:22:24.640 to that. And our biggest adversary is the evil one, right, 376 00:22:24.680 --> 00:22:28.599 the devil. Right. So God will intervene, and God probably 377 00:22:28.640 --> 00:22:31.799 does intervene at times we don't even know it. We 378 00:22:31.920 --> 00:22:34.279 never know what's going on in the spiritual world. I 379 00:22:34.319 --> 00:22:36.960 always say that, like there's stuff happening where God has 380 00:22:36.960 --> 00:22:39.200 helped you, where you didn't even know it. You could 381 00:22:39.200 --> 00:22:41.680 have been like, like, you know, this close to death 382 00:22:42.039 --> 00:22:44.839 if you're listening on the audio, I mean, you could 383 00:22:44.839 --> 00:22:46.720 be so close to death and you didn't even know it. 384 00:22:46.720 --> 00:22:49.599 And God may be intervene and helped you. And all 385 00:22:49.640 --> 00:22:52.839 these people say, well, why would God allow this to 386 00:22:52.880 --> 00:22:54.880 happen in that? Like, I bet you He's helping us 387 00:22:54.920 --> 00:22:58.400 all the time and we don't even know it. Even 388 00:22:58.440 --> 00:23:00.480 the people that talk about him, he probably helps them 389 00:23:00.480 --> 00:23:05.200 too and to keep them safe. Sometimes set up reminders 390 00:23:05.240 --> 00:23:10.000 of God's faithfulness. Establish physical or symbolic reminders of God's 391 00:23:10.079 --> 00:23:13.599 help in your life to bolster your faith during challenging times. 392 00:23:14.480 --> 00:23:20.240 So yeah, that's just basically we want to remember that 393 00:23:20.279 --> 00:23:22.480 God's helping us in our life right to help bolster 394 00:23:22.559 --> 00:23:25.400 your faith and remember the challenging times that you've had 395 00:23:25.519 --> 00:23:27.359 where God has helped you out of it. So you 396 00:23:27.400 --> 00:23:30.319 don't forget, because when you forget, then you get it 397 00:23:30.440 --> 00:23:33.279 then you start like falling back on the faith. You 398 00:23:33.359 --> 00:23:35.359 kind of forget sometimes that God helped you out of 399 00:23:35.799 --> 00:23:39.640 drinking or helped you out of alcohol or tobacco or 400 00:23:39.680 --> 00:23:42.640 whatever he helped you from, and any issues that you've 401 00:23:42.640 --> 00:23:44.960