And the men of Kirjathjearim came, and fetched up the ark of the LORD, and brought it into the house of Abinadab in the hill, and sanctified Eleazar his son to keep the ark of the LORD. And it came to pass, while the ark abode in Kirjathjearim, that the time was long; for it was twenty years: and all the house of Israel lamented after the LORD. And Samuel spake unto all the house of Israel, saying, If ye do return unto the LORD with all your hearts, then put away the strange gods and Ashtaroth from among you, and prepare your hearts unto the LORD, and serve him only: and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.
(1 Samuel 7:1-3)
(1 Samuel 7:1-3)
Today's Morsel: I'm sure you've heard the quote, "We have met the enemy and it is us." Often, we become our own worst enemy. We beat up ourselves for our mistakes and falsely accuse others, when it's our own fault. No, the devil didn't make you do it, you did it all on your own. Paul said, "Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand. Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents. Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer" (1 Corinthians 10:6-10). Israel found themselves in trouble and being defeated for failure to obey God's commandment and word. They chose to do things their own way. They were murmuring and complaining against Moses and the prophets, and God called them a stiff necked people. They were without the presence of the Lord for 20 years. I don't know about you, but I can't go a day without being in His presence. They lost their divine protection and safety net to their enemy because of their disobedience. So Samuel warned them that in order for them to get the presence of God back into their midst, they needed to prepare themselves in order for Him to return. He told them, "If ye do return unto the LORD with all your hearts, then put away the strange gods and Ashtaroth from among you, and prepare your hearts unto the LORD, and serve him only: and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines." Friend, if you want God to deliver you, then you are going to have to make some preparations. And it begins with a changed heart and a changed mind to serve Him and Him only.
Sing: Falling in love with Jesus! Falling in love with Jesus! Falling in love with Jesus! Is the best thing I've ever, ever done.
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