Obey Exactly
Have you ever modified God’s instructions? You know, you sorta obeyed what He said for you to do. You kinda did what He said. You did what God said…for the most part. Or maybe you did it, but you put your little spin on it because you thought this was gonna be even better than what He said do.
This morning Holy Spirit showed me Saul’s disobedience in 1 Samuel and I found myself repenting during most of our conversation this morning.
So the Lord had told Saul to destroy the Amalekites and everything related to them because of what they had done to God’s people. Saul destroyed most of them. He kept their king alive. And his troops kept some of the best animals from the plunder. But see the Lord had given Saul instructions to go and COMPLETELY DESTROY THE SINFUL AMALEKITES. In 1 Samuel 15:18, the Lord specifically said fight against them until you have annihilated them. Well, if the King of the Amalekites is still alive and you also got some of the Amalekites best animals now as part of your plunder of war, you didn’t obey exactly did ya Saul?
That’s the quick version of the story but head over to 1 Samuel and read it for yourself. The verses that really stood out for me though were the conversation between Samuel and Saul in 1 Samuel 15:22-24:
22 But Samuel answered,
“What pleases the Lord more:
burnt offerings and sacrifices
or obedience to his voice?
·It is better to obey [Obedience is better] than ·to sacrifice [sacrifice].
·It is better to listen to God than to offer [Submission/Heeding is better than] the fat of ·sheep [rams].
23 ·Disobedience [Rebellion] is as bad as the sin of ·sorcery [witchcraft; divination].
·Pride [Stubbornness; Arrogance; Presumption; Insubordination] is as bad as ·the sin of worshiping idols [idolatry].
You have rejected the Lord’s ·command [word].
Now he rejects you as king.”24 Then Saul said to Samuel, “I have sinned. I ·didn’t obey [broke; violated; transgressed] the Lord’s commands and your ·words [instructions]. I was afraid of the people, and I ·did what they said [listened to their voice].
35 And Samuel never saw Saul again ·the rest of his life [L until the day of his death], but he ·was sad [mourned; grieved] for Saul. And the Lord ·was very sorry [regretted] he had made Saul king of Israel.
— 1 Samuel 15:22-24, 35 Expanded Bible
Like I said, I started repenting right then after I read this story.
I prayed: Lord, I don’t want you to ever have to regret the calling you placed on my life. Lord please forgive me for not obeying you exactly. Please Lord show me where I may have disobeyed. Lord reveal to me how I disobeyed so I won’t do that again. I repent for disobeying your instructions. Lord please forgive me for being more afraid of people and allowing that fear to cause me to disobey you.
Holy Spirit said: Don’t fear people or what they say more than you fear Me, your God.
As I read more on this story in the study notes of my Tony Evans Study Bible, Dr. Evans made some great points that I want to share with you. He said you can’t honor God by defying Him. You can’t glorify the King by rejecting His Kingdom Agenda.
Dr. Evans also said no one sins in a vacuum. Our disobedience affects God, and it affects the people in our lives!
This morning was one of those corrective conversations. It was one where I believe the Lord was compassionate to forgive me for my past disobedience, but also wanted me to know going forward that I am to obey Him exactly. Whatever He asks me to do, I am not to modify His instructions at all.
Today, be encouraged not to be like Saul. Let’s obey God exactly! If God says stop, stop. If God says let them go, let them go. If God says write, write. If God says speak, speak. If God says move, move. If God says stay, stay.
No matter what God say…we must obey…exactly!
P.S. I just love my Conversations With God! Don’t you?
P.S. #2 Don’t forget to grab your signed copy of The 1 Hour Prayer Challenge Book & Journal
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SALVATION PRAYER
If you don’t know Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior and you’re not a believer, but you have a desire to be, all you have to do is openly confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead (Romans 10:9). When you pray that prayer, you are saved. Get connected with a good, bible-based church in your community, stay connected to other believers, and start having daily conversations through prayer with God every single day. Welcome to your new life with Jesus Christ!!!
ASSIGNMENTS
What did Holy Spirit say to you in your conversation with Him this morning? (Be sure to write it all down).
Have you ever modified God’s instructions to be more to your liking? (Hint: Repent)
Record yourself reading the Word of God on video or audio and watch how God will use your own voice to give you revelation and build your faith (keeping this assignment on here for a while).
Grab your copy (and a copy for a friend) of the new book: The 1 Hour Prayer Challenge: How You Can Transform Your Spiritual Life in 10 minute Increments.
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