MY FRIENDS, “THUS FAR THE LORD HAS HELPED US”

MY FRIENDS, “THUS FAR THE LORD HAS HELPED US”

Today let’s focus on 1 Samuel 7 (NKJV) Samuel at this time is Judge over Israel. Israel had just got the ark back from the Philistines who wanted no parts of it. They had retrieved it after defeating the Israeli army, a disastrous lesson for both sides. first Israel realize it was not the ark or an object that had the power to defeat one’s enemies and then the Philistines who thought that it had some great magical power that could be used in their behalf.

So now you have both the philistines and Israel being punish for not knowing who God is and what His capabilities are. You can understand the Philistines being complacent about who God is, they had never known God that was Israel’s responsibility to teach them about the only true God which they had failed to do, but what about God’s chosen what was there excuse. But once again we witness the grace, mercy and love of God and how far he is willing to reach and save us.

1 Samuel 7:3 (ESV) tells us Samuel said to all the house of Israel, “If you are returning to the Lord with all your heart, then put away the foreign gods and the Ashtaroth from among you and direct your heart to the Lord and serve him only, and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.” Oh what our God will do to save us no mater what we have done or how far we have drifted away from Him.

Israel had went as far as worshiping the same fake gods that they had defeated when they first entered the promise land. My friends once we make it to our final destination, there will forever be only one “King eternal, immortal, invisible, wise God, (who we will give praise) honour and glory too for ever and ever.” 1 Tim 1:17 (ESV) Then the philistines heard that Israel had gathered together and was praying to the God who they thought they had defeated once before, not knowing they had only defeated men on the battle field not God Himself.

1 Samuel 7:7-10 (ESV) tells us Now when the Philistines heard that the people of Israel had gathered at Mizpah, the lords of the Philistines went up against Israel. And when the people of Israel heard of it, they were afraid of the Philistines. And the people of Israel said to Samuel, “Do not cease to cry out to the Lord our God for us, that he may save us from the hand of the Philistines.” Samuel then offers a sacrifice to the lord.

As Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to attack Israel. But the Lord thundered with a mighty sound that day against the Philistines and threw them into confusion, and they were defeated before Israel. My friends it is such a simple thing to serve God 1 Samuel 7:12 (NKJV) then tells us “Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen, and called its name Ebenezer, saying, “THUS FAR THE LORD HAS HELPED US.”

My friends “THUS FAR THE LORD HAS HELPED US.” if you Build a good, solid and secure foundation deep in your heart, based on God’s truth in His word and at the same time completely surrender your will to the Master then God will fight all of our battles and give us what we ask. “If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” Luke 11:13 (NIV)

Isaiah says also in Isaiah 66:2 (ESV) “Has not my hand made all these things, and so they came into being?” declares the Lord. “These are the ones I look on with favor: those who are humble and contrite in spirit, and who tremble at my word.” We should strive daily to be like Jesus even after preaching all day to the masses, Jesus would leave to pray. His life was sustained by His time with His Father. So should ours be the same, as we walk daily in the path and righteousness of our Lord and Savior. God chose us to become like His Son, so that His Son would be the firstborn with many brothers and sisters (Romans 8:29)

So my friends today. Stay focused, remain faithful, love one another and endure till the end and never forget to STUDY&PRAY