6th September 2023

6th September 2023


Pray (ACts)


Read - 1 Samuel 12:6-19


Message Alan Burke 


Wee question for you, how faithful are you? I’m not talking about being a faithful friend, or a faithful spouse but a faithful child of God? As we pick up in this next section from v6-19 Samuel brings to mind the people history, he reminds them of the ultimately reality, that God has been faithful even when they were faithless. What Samuel does here is important, the recalling to their minds their own history which is our history as the church, from the time from the beginning of the book of Exodus through the time of the Judges, even to how they had rejected God’s rule and looked for a king that they now have was all for a purposes. 


The picture laid out couldn’t be clearer, the pattern is one that had been repeated time and time again. God’s faithfulness and the people were faithlessness. How the people were quick to forget all that the Lord had done for them, they were quick to go after what their sinful hearts desired and time and time again they had went astray and got into trouble. Then they cried out to the Lord God and he answered. For He remembered the covenant that he had made with their forefathers, he remembered his faithfulness and he provided them deliverance. Samuel is saying all of this to act as a reminder, and as a warning to them about their future. They have been given an earthly king, Saul has brought them victory over their enemies the Ammonites, they might assume that God would give them victory after victory no matter what but here Samuel wants them to reflect on the past because what is required is their faithfulness to their faithful God. It is what God requires of his people throughout the ages, to be faithful to our faithful God, our covenant keeping God.


Although I’m sure we can all think of times in our own lives when we cried out to God for help because of the consequences of our sinful actions, only going back when we have been brought face to face with the reality of sin. We all need reminded of what we are like, of who we are and who God is, that while we are faithless God is faithful. Even though Samuel said all this as a warning to the people it also is a reminder that it is never the case the the Lord will not hear our cries for help, if we know God, if we turn to him and repent for the Grace of Christ is sufficient, he will help us in our weakness. What ever it may be the Lord will hear us and forgive us. Let us choose to be people who look to him at all times not only when we are in times of trouble. If you are burdened with the weight of sin, past or present, turn to him, his grace is sufficient through the blood of the Lord Jesus, don’t hold on to that guilt in your life. 


It may be many years after the time of Samuel but his reminder to the people to keep God at the centre of their lives, that he was the king over every area of their lives is just applicable to us. We must recognise the true king in our lives, and it should impact every area of our relationships, our work life, home life, everything. God is not a tyrant, he’s not going to force you to obedience but there is a reason why he has given his moral law, given us his word as the only rule to direct us how we may Glorify and enjoy him, because it is for our best, it is how we are to live, it’s not to spoil our fun, but to help us to live life to the fullest, to help us to flourish.


Pray (acTS)


Sing


WSC
Q37 What benefits do believers receive from Christ at death?
The souls of believers are at their death made perfect in holiness, (Heb. 12:23) and do immediately pass into glory; (2 Cor. 5:1,6,8, Phil. 1:23, Luke 23:43) and their bodies, being still united to Christ, (1 Thess. 4:14) do rest in their graves, (Isa. 57:2) till the resurrection. (Job 19:26–27)
​