Today's Treasure:
"He (David) said to his men, 'The Lord forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the Lord's anointed, or lift my hand against him; for he is the anointed of the Lord' "
1 Samuel 24: 6
Okay, today's study is fabulous!!! Please, please take out your Bibles and read 1 Samuel 24. It is a beautiful story of overcoming hatred and allowing God to be in complete control of our emotions. You truly will not believe what happens when David is willing to follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit. I would go through the entire story, but I feel like God is leading me to encourage everyone to read this for themselves. Let me tell you why. I typed up this e-mail earlier. In it, I went through and explained the story. I didn't save it as a draft, and my computer just up and went blank on me. It went back to the password page. When I tried to retrieve it...it was gone. I just felt the Lord say to me that this story needs to be read by someone. So, please allow me to be obedient to my Father!!!
Beth makes a lot of amazing points in today's study. I don't want to keep saying "Beth said" and "Beth points out". So, just assume that she said anything in this study that sounds like a great point!! Trust me, it's not from me!!!
The very first paragraph says that God doesn't just decide to put us in impressive situations for no reason. He prepares us until we can be unimpressed by situations altogether. Think about that? Is that not profound!!! I can't wait until the day when I am completely unimpressed by cancer. It's just another way for my God to prove himself!!!
Read 1 Samuel 24
How many men went with Saul to look for David?
3000 chosen men
What caused David to be conscience-stricken in verse 5?
He cut off the corner of Saul's robe
Explain why David believed he should not lift a hand against Saul
Because Saul was anointed by the Lord
What evidence can you find to support the following statement: Although David assured Saul he would not harm him, he did not absolve him of wrongdoing...
Verses 11 - 12
David says, "I have not wronged you, but you are hunting me down to take my life." "...May the Lord avenge the wrongs you have done to me."
What does Saul acknowledge to David in verse 20?
"I (Saul) know that you will surely be king and Israel will be established by your hand"
Do you think David believed he could trust Saul after their encounter?
Yes, because they made an oath before God. Saul could have killed him right there, but he saw Saul's anger melt away.
There are 4 evidences that David was greatly influenced by the Holy Spirit:
1. David's conscience was immediately stricken - It is easy for us to justify doing something to someone because it doesn't compare to what was done to us by them. Wrong! We tend to view sin in relative terms. We should not measure our sin by the wickedness of others, but by the holiness of God!!!
David could have easily killed Saul and said it was in self defense. He was convicted for simply cutting the corner of his robe. Only the Holy Spirit can bring about that mercy. When my mother-in- law passed away, I struggled greatly with anger towards my father-in-law. I justified things that I did because they weren't near as bad as how he was acting. How childish is that? One night, when I prayed for cleansing of my soul, I had to go before him and ask him to forgive me...immediately. The Holy Spirit would not even allow me to go to bed. That tells you right there that it was a God thing!!!
2. David met conviction with a change in behavior - If we do not submit to the convictions in us by the Holy Spirit, we will often struggle with them. You can monitor your closeness to God by the length of time between conviction and repentance. The same Holy Spirit who anointed David with his presence also dwells in New Testament believers. As we draw nearer to God, our sensitivity to conviction and our discernment of wrongdoing will increase. If we are filled by His Spirit, conviction will be met with a change in behavior. (All from Beth)
3. David exercised great restraint - This level of restraint by David can only be supernatural. Romans 12:19 says, "Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: It is mine to avenge; I will repay" The Holy Spirit works restraint in us when we are tempted toward revenge; and if we are fully yielded to the Spirit, we will obey. A moment's revenge is not worth the cost measured by alienation from God. (All from Beth)
She encourages us to think about a time when we have possibly arrived at the opportunity to get a little justice and God wouldn't let us do it. Describe it without sharing names or bringing anyone dishonor.
4. David respected God more than he desired revenge - David withdrew from killing Saul out of respect for God. The Holy Spirit is an undeniable influence when the cause of God is more important that our own. When Christians face the opportunity to get revenge, the issue is not another's guilt or justification. The issue is the will of God. God does not require us (or David) to be a doormat. He just requires our obedience. (All from Beth)
In the home, church or workplace, has God ever called you to remain in a situation though you had lost respect for someone under whose authority God had placed you in?
Would you be willing to surrender to the power of the Holy Spirit, the Great Restrainer? Could you honor that person out of respect for God?
Write a prayer of commitment to allow the restraining work of the Holy Spirit...
If you are willing to honor a person out of respect for God, you can be certain that God will honor you.
How do the following scriptures encourage you to exercise restraint?
Ecclesiastes 3:17
"I thought in my heart, 'God will bring to judgment both the righteous and the wicked, for there will be a time for every activity, every seed' "
1 Peter 3: 9
"Do not repay evil with evil, or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing."
Remember that a momentary opportunity for revenge might not only be temptation from the evil one, but a test from God.
Have a great day!!!
I love you all...don't forget to pray for Edith and Scott
tiffany
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