Amazing Short Prayer – 2 Samuel 15

¹³ A messenger soon arrived in Jerusalem to tell David, “All Israel has joined Absalom in a conspiracy against you!” ¹⁴ “Then we must flee at once, or it will be too late!” David urged his men. “Hurry! If we get out of the city before Absalom arrives, both we and the city of Jerusalem will be spared from disaster.” ¹⁵ “We are with you” his advisers replied. “Do what you think is best.”…. ³⁰ David walked up the road to the Mount of Olives, weeping as he went. His head was covered and his feet were bare as a sign of mourning. And the people who were with him covered their heads and wept as they climbed the hill. ³¹ When someone told David that his adviser Ahithophel was now backing Absalom, David prayed, “O Lord, let Ahithophel give Absalom foolish advice!”

In life sometimes we get confronted with rebellious individuals who walk “with” us but “against” us.  Back home we refer to people like this, as “they chew you but don’t swallow you”; meaning they do not really like you or care for you but they talk to you or deal with you as an essential for whatever reason. Maybe you work in the same office, go to the same church or school, maybe eat at the same table, but just in opposite spots, we come across individuals like this on a daily bases; they’re found commonly everywhere! Now the way THEY react to us, IS NOT our responsibility; our responsibility is the way WE act towards them, for WE are Christ’s Ambassadors!

In today’s account, David had to deal with someone like this. His name was Ahithophel, and I found several interesting facts about this Ahithophel[1]; his name meant “brother of foolishness”.  He was a privy councilor of David[2], whose wisdom was highly esteemed, though his name had an exactly opposite signification. He was originally one of David's most intimate and valued friends, but upon the defection and rebellion of Absalom, he espoused the cause of that prince, and became one of David's bitterest enemies. 

Among other details I found that Ahithophel was Bathsheba’s[3] grandfather[4] which can bring to mind that probably because David killed her husband Uriah the way he did, maybe he had some unforgiveness and bitterness against David and that lead him to betray him the way he did.  After several “wrong advices” Absalom decided to disregard  Ahithophel, and in chapter seventeen we seen a  disappointed Ahithophel, and foreseeing the issue of the rebellion, Ahithophel committed suicide by hanging himself.[5]

The way David prayed for Ahithophel is what we’ll look into because it doesn’t cease to amaze me every time I read how God worked for HIS glory as He answered David’s prayer.  He didn’t ask for the Lord to kill him or to do away with him, no! He only asked that the “professional” advice this man would be giving to his opponents would benefit David instead of them. So I thought, that’s kind of clever; now if you think twice, this mirrors what happened with Joseph and his brothers; when his brother’s wanted to get rid of him they threw Joseph in an empty cistern to “die” but GOD used that to transform and blessed Joseph’s life.[6] 

Although I have not come across where it says that Joseph prayed for God to take care of his brothers, God Himself used what the devil meant for bad, to bless Joseph.  In David’s situation, he just prayed for that to happened, and it did!

In other words, when we encounter people who want to harm us, we just have to trust that God, WHO IS the GOD WE SERVE, (if in fact we have accepted HIM as our Savior, and are living for HIM), He can and will use whatever comes against us for our own good. There’s no objection or regulation that says we do not have to pray since we already know HE IS for us, and not against us; on the contrary is always good to pray. 

And that’s what in this case David did.  Although David was broken and hurt because of this conspiracy, he’d been betrayed; but he humbled, and prayed for the Lord to lead this ringleader (Ahithophel), to give a wrong advice to Absalom and his people so they would fall into their own trap.  In other words, David was asking God, that whatever the enemy would throw at them God would take care of it, and would use it to bless them instead.

So the next time, you feel betrayed like David did, before you ask God to intervene for you, make sure your heart and relationship with HIM is in order; for “we know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does His will, He hears him”[7]

Ask Him to forgive you of your sins, recognize HE sent JESUS to die for those sins in the cross and accept HIS gift by allowing HIM to come into your heart and receive HIM as your Savior & Master. Then freely and confidently you can pray like David: “O Lord, I pray, turn the counsel of _____ into foolishness!” because in red letter, we read: “And whatever you ask for in prayer, believing, you will receive.”[8]

Remember you are God’s Masterpiece, and GOD is for you, HE has GREAT plans for you, and HE IS NOT against you!  Stay rooted in HIS word, praying with thanksgiving in your heart, fellowship with the body of Christ, and DO NOT fall in the habit of isolating yourself from church, as a members of the body of Christ we are interconnected, and that’s for our benefit.  Join a church if you haven’t yet, and enjoy growing in maturity and spending time in the presence of our Creator, there’s no better way to be that at our Father’s feet.

God bless you all; I’m praying for you. Inbox me if you need additional info or to find a church close by you.

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[1] http://biblehub.com/topical/a/ahithophel.htm

[2] Smith's Bible Dictionary - http://biblehub.com/topical/a/ahithophel.htm

[3] The woman David fell for after seeing her bathing. -  2^nd Samuel 11

[4] 2^nd Samuel 23:34, 11:3

[5] 2^nd Samuel 17:23

[6] Genesis 50:20

[7] John 9:31 NKJV

[8] Matthew 21:22 AMP

The RAPE case – 2 Samuel 13

³ But Amnon had a very crafty friend—his cousin Jonadab. He was the son of David’s brother Shimea.^[a] 4 One day Jonadab said to Amnon, “What’s the trouble? Why should the son of a king look so dejected morning after morning?” So Amnon told him, “I am in love with Tamar, my brother Absalom’s sister.” ⁵ “Well,” Jonadab said, “I’ll tell you what to do. Go back to bed and pretend you are ill. When your father comes to see you, ask him to let Tamar come and prepare some food for you. Tell him you’ll feel better if she prepares it as you watch and feeds you with her own hands.” ⁶ So Amnon lay down and pretended to be sick. And when the king came to see him, Amnon asked him, “Please let my sister Tamar come and cook my favorite dish^[b] as I watch. Then I can eat it from her own hands.” ⁷ So David agreed and sent Tamar to Amnon’s house to prepare some food for him. ⁸ When Tamar arrived at Amnon’s house, she went to the place where he was lying down so he could watch her mix some dough. Then she baked his favorite dish for him. ⁹ But when she set the serving tray before him, he refused to eat. “Everyone get out of here,” Amnon told his servants. So they all left. ¹⁰ Then he said to Tamar, “Now bring the food into my bedroom and feed it to me here.” So Tamar took his favorite dish to him. ¹¹ But as she was feeding him, he grabbed her and demanded, “Come to bed with me, my darling sister.” ¹² “No, my brother!” she cried. “Don’t be foolish! Don’t do this to me! Such wicked things aren’t done in Israel. ¹³ Where could I go in my shame? And you would be called one of the greatest fools in Israel. Please, just speak to the king about it, and he will let you marry me.” ¹⁴ But Amnon wouldn’t listen to her, and since he was stronger than she was, he raped her. ¹⁵ Then suddenly Amnon’s love turned to hate, and he hated her even more than he had loved her. “Get out of here!” he snarled at her. ¹⁶ “No, no!” Tamar cried. “Sending me away now is worse than what you’ve already done to me.” But Amnon wouldn’t listen to her. ¹⁷ He shouted for his servant and demanded, “Throw this woman out, and lock the door behind her!” ¹⁸ So the servant put her out and locked the door behind her. She was wearing a long, beautiful robe,^[c]as was the custom in those days for the king’s virgin daughters. ¹⁹ But now Tamar tore her robe and put ashes on her head. And then, with her face in her hands, she went away crying. ²⁰ Her brother Absalom saw her and asked, “Is it true that Amnon has been with you? Well, my sister, keep quiet for now, since he’s your brother. Don’t you worry about it.” So Tamar lived as a desolate woman in her brother Absalom’s house. ²¹ When King David heard what had happened, he was very angry.^[d] 22 And though Absalom never spoke to Amnon about this, he hated Amnon deeply because of what he had done to his sister.”

This account is one of those that people who does not commonly reads The Bible get shocked to know a situation like this has been included in “such a holy book”.  Mostly because these people see the Bible as a “history” book, or a “decoration” piece, and NOT as THE book which will guide those who choose to make it a part of their lives, to live the life God had intended for us to have, filled with testimonies to prepare us all for what’s coming ahead, and giving us the promise of the blessed hope we all need.

Today this study revolves not towards the woman who suffered this terrible calamity; but the teaching is directed to those that battle the temptation the aggressor faced and failed to correctly address it.

Amnon was David’s eldest son with his wife, Ahinoam.   Absalom and Tamar, were also David’s children, but with another wife, Maacah.  So Amnon, Tamar’s half-brother, had a very crafty friend, who after listening Amnon’s desperation love story of desiring intimacy with the half-sister unsuccessfully, decided to counsel Amnon.  Right here’s the first three red flags!

1.       If your desires are for something that is not legal, get your eyes off of it, and flee from temptation.

2.  Watch out who you share your personal thoughts; by sharing those your basically asking for counseling or at least that’s the perception.

3.      The counselor/advisor unless is God, is another imperfect human just like us, with fears, insecurities and frustrations like ours, and therefore not necessarily will lead you right; cause you’re never sure the stage that person is in, on the counseling day. BE CAREFUL!

The attribute used Amnon’s friend, have you heard it before, is the same one used to describe the serpent at the Garden of Eden[1].  Would you really be opened to share your disappointments and your story with someone like this? Wrong company corrupts good character[2]… watch out!!! Well, the proof is in the suggestion itself, what did Jonadab suggested his cousin/friend to do? – to trick the father, AND the half-sister in order to get the “impossible”.  My friend who reads this, a person who encourages you to do something illegal to obtain what you want, IS NOT A FRIEND; even if that “friend” is a family member.

“The lie worked!” I’m sure Amnon might have thought; because the father and the half-sister, fell into it.  King David, the father, sent Tamar the daughter in, she prepared the food for the “sick”, and even fed him; then afterwards, he took advantage, and raped her.  This was a costly lie, because it back fired Amnon, as soon as the act was done, that “love” he had for Tamar, immediately transform into hate, and eventually cost Amnon his life[3].

This tragic ending is no different than what happens to those that choose to obtain their wishes and desires the illegal way.  Next time, you’re being tempted to do anything that is against the law, THINK TWICE, whatever is illegal, IT’S NOT WORTH IT!

Follow GOD and HIS way, although is not easy to walk this Christian walk, HE PROMISE HE WILL NOT LEAVE YOU ALONE[4], and it will always be harder to walk without Christ.  HE has PROMISED us to that when we walk with HIM, when we are weak [in human strength], then we are strong [truly able, truly powerful, truly drawing from God’s strength].[5] 

“Therefore let us [with privilege] approach the throne of grace [that is, the throne of God’s gracious favor] with confidence and without fear, so that we may receive mercy [for our failures] and find [His amazing] grace to help in time of need [an appropriate blessing, coming just at the right moment].”[6]

I pray in the name of JESUS, that you recognize that although temptation will come,  “No temptation   [regardless of its source] has overtaken or enticed you that is not common to human experience [nor is any temptation unusual or beyond human resistance]; but God is faithful [to His word—He is compassionate and trustworthy], and He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability [to resist], but along with the temptation He [has in the past and is now and] will [always] provide the way out as well, so that you will be able to endure it [without yielding, and will overcome temptation with joy].[7]

I pray you choose to live a life in the presence of God, who will preserve and protect you beyond any human guidance. If you do not know GOD, I pray you realize HE, the Creator of heavens and the earth always existed, “In the beginning God (Elohim) created [by forming from nothing] the heavens and the earth”[8]. After sin entered the world by Adam and Eve[9], GOD has been wanting to reconciled mankind with HIM.  GOD provided a perfect lamb, HIS SON – JESUS, to die for our sins[10].  HE IS THE GIFT, and in order for us to establish a relationship with HIM, we just have to recognize, and accept this Gift, and in attitude of thanksgiving for this Gift, choose to live for HIM.   I also pray that after you ask HIM to come into your heart and become the Master of your life, you inbox me a quick note, sharing with me your good news, and for the glory of God I pray, in JESUS name, AMEN!!!

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[1] Genesis 3:1

[2] 1 Corinthians 15:33New Living Translation (NLT)

[3] 2^nd Samuel 13:33

[4] Hebrews 13:5 AMP

[5] 2^nd Corinthians 12:10Amplified Bible (AMP)

[6] Hebrews 4:16 AMP

[7] 1 Corinthians 10:13 AMP

[8] Genesis 1:1

[9] Genesis 3

[10] John 3:16 

Are you Chosen to be…? – 1 Chronicles 15

“ ² Then David said, “No one may carry the ark of God but the Levites, for the Lord has chosen them to carry the ark of God and to minister before Him forever.”….  ¹⁴ So the priests and the Levites sanctified themselves to bring up the ark of the Lord God of Israel.¹⁵ And the children of the Levites bore the ark of God on their shoulders, by its poles, as Moses had commanded according to the word of the Lord. ¹⁶ Then David spoke to the leaders of the Levites to appoint their brethren to be the singers accompanied by instruments of music, stringed instruments, harps, and cymbals, by raising the voice with resounding joy. ¹⁷ So the Levites appointed Heman … and Jeiel, the gatekeepers; ¹⁹ the singers, Heman, Asaph, and Ethan, were to sound the cymbals of bronze; ²⁰ Zechariah, Aziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Maaseiah, and Benaiah, with strings according to Alamoth;²¹ Mattithiah, Elipheleh, Mikneiah, Obed-Edom, Jeiel, and Azaziah, to direct with harps on the Sheminith; ²² Chenaniah, leader of the Levites, was instructor in charge of the music, because he wasskillful; ²³ Berechiah and Elkanah were doorkeepers for the ark; ²⁴ Shebaniah, Joshaphat, Nethanel, Amasai, Zechariah, Benaiah, and Eliezer, the priests, were to blow the trumpets before the ark of God; and Obed-Edom and Jehiah, doorkeepers for the ark.”

Let me tell you, it’s a privilege to be chosen, and for YOU, my friend, I got news: 

YOU’VE BEEN CHOSEN too! 

The question is do you KNOW what you’ve been chosen for? In the body of Christ that David was leading some had been called to specific jobs.  Have you been called…?

• ·         To carry the Ark of the Lord?
• ·         To serve Him forever?
• ·         As choir members?
• ·         As singers and musicians?
• ·         To sound the bronze cymbals?
• ·         To play with strings?
• ·         To play the harps?
• ·         To play the lyres?
• ·         As a choir leader?
• ·         As doorkeepers?
• ·         To guard the Ark?
• ·         To blow the trumpets?
• ·         To march in front of the Ark?

You are YOU! A unique individual with features that altogether form who you are, God’s Masterpiece![1] Even if you have a twin when you were born, although that would be the closest person who looks like you, you are you and that twin is another unique person as well, and both are special in each separate way.

In one body, there are many members, and each member has its own function; “¹⁴ For in fact the body is not one member but many. ¹⁵ If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? ¹⁶ And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? ¹⁷ If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling? ¹⁸ But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased. ¹⁹ And if they were all one member, where would the body be? ²⁰ But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. ²¹ And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.”²² No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary.”[2]

You might not been called to be a full time preacher, and that’s ok too; we all have been called but not all to do the same job! Some have been called to preach but there are others that had been called to care for the house where the Word will be preached. And in that house were the Word is preached, the same thing happens, some had been called to work in the sound system, others to care for the service rooms, yet others care of the outdoors of the house. Within there are some that had been called to gather the tithes collected from the people of God, and yet others to manage those finances. See there’s room for everyone in the house of God; the key is to realize that those things you like to do, and you’re good at, those are your skills, given by God.  And because was God who’ve given them to you, might as well in your appreciation to HIM choose to use those skills to bless and build up the body of Christ.

Once you discover what you’re “good” at, and you like to do, understand that this might not be the ONLY THING forever you’ll get to do, because thru these skills God can prepare you, for your future assignment. Maybe months or years from now, as you develop those skills, the Lord allows you to sharpen or acquire others that will take you to another level in the ministry He has for you.  Use your skills daily as a stepping stone, to reach higher in HIM, not to surpass others and let your pride grow, but to show your love and dedication as your act of worship to God for what the He had given you!  Whatever you’ve been called to do, that’s what you need to aim your efforts to make it better for the glory of HIM who gave it to you!

Nobody knows you better than yourself; to find what your skills are, make a list of those things you like to do.  From that list, number those you enjoy the most by the greatest down.  And then ask the Lord to give you a chance, to use those HE wants, within the body of Christ; and be prepared, because only God knows if you’re ready for the next church service, you’ll be called in.

I pray for the glory of God in the name of JESUS, for a greater understanding of the gifts and talents HE placed inside of you, and for new ministry opportunities for your life as an act of worship to HIM who made you, in JESUS name, AMEN!!!

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[1] Ephesians 2:10 NLT

[2] 1^st Corinthians 12 NKJV

Useful Dynamic II – 2 Samuel 5

¹⁷ When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king of Israel, they mobilized all their forces to capture him. But David was told they were coming, so he went into the stronghold. ¹⁸ The Philistines arrived and spread out across the valley of Rephaim. ¹⁹ So David asked THE LORD, “Should I go out to fight the Philistines? Will you hand them over to me?” The Lord replied to David, “Yes, go ahead. I will certainly hand them over to you.” ²⁰ So David went to Baal-perazim and defeated the Philistines there. “The Lord did it!” David exclaimed. “He burst through my enemies like a raging flood!” So he named that place Baal-perazim (which means “the Lord who bursts through”). ²¹ The Philistines had abandoned their idols there, so David and his men confiscated them. ²² But after a while the Philistines returned and again spread out across the valley of Rephaim. ²³ And again David asked THE LORD what to do. “Do not attack them straight on,” the Lord replied. “Instead, circle around behind and attack them near the poplar^[f] trees. ²⁴ When you hear a sound like marching feet in the tops of the poplar trees, be on the alert! That will be the signal that the Lord is moving ahead of you to strike down the Philistine army.” ²⁵ So David did what the Lord commanded, and he struck down the Philistines all the way from Gibeon to Gezer.”

As you can see this is the second of the “dynamic” called Conversation between a great warrior, David and our heavenly Father. The first one was written just about a week ago, on April 16, 2016.

 

This is another conversation between David and God, but the difference on this conversation is that it is not a simple conversation of a “yes and no”; the Lord revealed a strategy for David to follow.  And unless David would have followed the plan to the t, things wouldn’t result in the way God planned. 

There are Three important STEPS to follow and TWO important FACTS in David’s story:

1. Keep the conversation open – it’s essential your conversation with the Lord does not stop; for no reason; you’ll always have better chance to succeed when you count with HIM that without Him.
2. Listen carefully – after you prayed, and talked to the Lord, wait quietly, while HE speaks; because HE WILL say something to you.  If for some reason you do not hear HIM simply ask Him to direct you to a book of the Bible, then ask Him for a chapter, and then read the given Scripture over and over until you get the message He’s trying to tell you.
3. Stick to the plan – When you get the message, follow it to the t; if HE says move, you move, if HE says stay, you stay; and if you’re not sure about the road to take, ask for a confirmation thru the elimination process, this might not be necessary by then but just in case.

A      The Lord have given us all some gifts to be used for HIS glory.  We do not need to hustle to customize a strategy if that wasn’t God’s gift to you; if you know HE did not gave you the ability to, just ASK HIM! HE will provide you with the RIGHT one!

B        When you do as HE wants you to, victory is assured! Be sure to follow just as HE says to!

If God did it for David, who was an imperfect human who made many and costly mistakes, but was in LOVE with the Lord, and humbly would come to God not only for worship but to ask HIS guidance; HE will surely do it for you too! Humbly ask HIM to forgive you of your sins, accept HIM as your Savior and Master of your life, and everything you say and do, filter it thru the Lord, guaranteed, your life will NOT be the same!

I pray for the Lord to reveal to you about your gifts, and about the way to use those gifts for HIS glory.  I pray you try it, and do not give up!  For the glory of God I pray in JESUS name, AMEN!!!

Don’t be an INSTIGATOR! - 2 Samuel 2

 ¹² One day Abner (son of Ner, the commander of Saul’s army) led Ishbosheth’s (Saul’s son) troops from Mahanaim to Gibeon. ¹³ About the same time, Joab son of Zeruiah led David’s troops out and met them at the pool of Gibeon. The two groups sat down there, facing each other from opposite sides of the pool. ¹⁴ Then Abner suggested to Joab, “Let’s have a few of our warriors fight hand to hand here in front of us.” “All right,” Joab agreed. ¹⁵ So twelve men were chosen to fight from each side—twelve men of Benjamin representing Ishbosheth son of Saul, and twelve representing David. ¹⁶ Each one grabbed his opponent by the hair and thrust his sword into the other’s side so that all of them died. So this place at Gibeon has been known ever since as the Field of Swords. ¹⁷ A fierce battle followed that day, and Abner and the men of Israel were defeated by the forces of David. ¹⁸ Joab, Abishai, and Asahel—the three sons of Zeruiah—were among David’s forces that day. Asahel could run like a gazelle, ¹⁹ and he began chasing Abner. He pursued him relentlessly, not stopping for anything…. ²¹ “Go fight someone else!”… But Asahel kept right on chasing Abner. ²² Again Abner shouted to him, “Get away from here! I don’t want to kill you. How could I ever face your brother Joab again?” ²³ But Asahel refused to turn back, so Abner thrust the butt end of his spear through Asahel’s stomach, and the spear came out through his back….  ²⁴ When Joab and Abishai found out what had happened, they set out after Abner. The sun was just going down as they arrived at the hill of Ammah near Giah, along the road to the wilderness of Gibeon. ²⁵ Abner’s troops from the tribe of Benjamin regrouped there at the top of the hill to take a stand. ²⁶ Abner shouted down to Joab, “Must we always be killing each other? Don’t you realize that bitterness is the only result? When will you call off your men from chasing their Israelite brothers?” ²⁷ Then Joab said, “God only knows what would have happened if you hadn’t spoken…”

Just as an orange seed will produce oranges, violence seeds will produce more violence with added elements like hatred and bitterness! Please choose to plan seeds of love, peace and compassion for the love of God and the sake of our future generations!!!

Today…. anywhere the tv shows a fight somewhere, we see people who get out their phones and records it; kind of like a celebration, instead of appeasing the situation. Please remember this story and think twice!!!

This war between Israel and Judah started right then, when two “ringleaders” decided to put up a “show”, an “entertainment” for everyone[1]. Must likely, there were some who celebrated, “…yeepeee a show!”, “…this must be fun!” But the truth is that these two leaders became instigators, just to have entertainment.  And this entertainment caused the beginning of a long war between these two ring leaders which at the end of that period Saul’s dynasty became weaker while David’s grew stronger.[2]  We all know that still today, right in the Middle East they’re still in battle, and only God knows if the genealogical records are found of all of these who are still fighting today, they might find that these two names will come to the conversation. Unbelievable!!! Can you imagine?

We MUST be careful, the things we do or suggest others to do, just to entertain.  We do not want to become instigators ourselves otherwise we could be planting the same seeds Saul and David’s dynasties planted.  And if we do that, let this battle be a testimony of what our lives could become; and it all started as a “sport”.  And thinking about the word sport, we all know sports are not bad, but sometimes those sport fans become aggressive, and we’ve heard the things that had happened when two hardcore fans get in a confrontation.  Sometimes the confrontation happens even among those who are competing! And this could be bad, really, really bad! So in regard to sports fans, be careful, not to go too overboard, to the point it gets you in hot waters with the Lord.  Remember the consequences could be long lasting or even life-long. People, families, entire towns get affected, and eventually impacting negatively  generation after generation of these families with bitterness, anger, arrogance and pride.  Do we really want this?

I pray  the Lord continue to be with us as we grow older and in a deeper communion with HIM, and help us realize when we are tempted to do or encourage someone to do something that could bring long lasting repercussions.  I pray for HIM to let us see the long list of people that will be negatively impacted if we choose to proceed in a predetermined way and to give us a willing heart to act and speak accord to His Word.  So if we are in doubt, we choose to stop and not to proceed.  And I pray for the glory of God in JESUS name, AMEN!!!

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[1] 2 Samuel 2:14

[2] 2 Samuel 3:1

When you can’t hear The Lord, then what? – 1st Samuel 28

^{“ 4} The Philistines set up their camp at Shunem, and Saul gathered all the army of Israel and camped at Gilboa. ⁵ When Saul saw the vast Philistine army, he became frantic with fear. ⁶ He asked the Lord what he should do, but the Lord refused to answer him, either by dreams or by sacred lots^[a] or by the prophets. ⁷ Saul then said to his advisers, “Find a woman who is a medium, so I can go and ask her what to do.” His advisers replied, “There is a medium at Endor.” ⁸ So Saul disguised himself by wearing ordinary clothing instead of his royal robes. Then he went to the woman’s home at night, accompanied by two of his men. “I have to talk to a man who has died,” he said. “Will you call up his spirit for me?”

⁹ “Are you trying to get me killed?” the woman demanded. “You know that Saul has outlawed all the mediums and all who consult the spirits of the dead. Why are you setting a trap for me?”… “^15b Because I am in deep trouble,” Saul replied. “The Philistines are at war with me, and God has left me and won’t reply by prophets or dreams. So I have called for you to tell me what to do.” ¹⁶ But Samuel replied, “Why ask me, since the Lord has left you and has become your enemy? ¹⁷ The Lord has done just as he said he would. He has torn the kingdom from you and given it to your rival, David.¹⁸ The Lord has done this to you today because you refused to carry out his fierce anger against the Amalekites.”

 “The Spirit of the LORD had departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD tormented him”[1] and on this chapter he was desperate to hear from our heavenly Father without an answer, his desperation pushed him to do even worst.  This is why is essential, that we recommit our lives to the Lord continually! Like a daily routine, talk to the Lord, confess to Him your sins, show HIM your love, ask Him about your things, and read His word, DAILY!!!! Because it’s really easy to fall in the trap of not confessing and leaving crumbs of hurt, disappointments and issues laying around today; then if today’s get together with the leftovers from yesterday, and from the day before, that’s a big clump, altogether they can transform in a root of bitterness, and that my friend, it’s no good!

Another thing that happens is that the pressure of those roots creates a build up, and with time it when it can be held no more, it will explode, somewhere, somehow and the results can be catastrophic! In this case, he had “the greatest” (not) idea, he decided to consult a Medium! Can you believe that???! I mean time after time, the Lord had express His disapprove for worshiping other than HIM, and this guy chooses to consult one!?  Really?!

Some of us today, don’t exactly go to a Medium but may get on the phone with sister ----, and sister ----, or brother -----, and then each of those give us their opinions, in spite of their experiences and disappointments in life; sometimes their failures, and all of those opinions differ one from the other one. Then at the end we get more confused and troubled than what we were at the beginning and more tangled than a spaghetti plate. All BECAUSE we didn’t want to wait upon the Lord!

When we do not hear from God two things are happening, 1) God is telling us to wait for whatever we’re asking; and 2) there’s an unconfessed sin on our side.  Sometimes we humans, DO NOT LIKE TO WAIT, and we rather do something else in the meantime, or work ourselves in, to acquire that which we are looking for.

Unfortunately, when GOD says wait, NO MATTER how hard you try, is NOT going to come in. It’s like when we disobey the principle of tithing, no matter how much you work to try to stay afloat it seems like it’s never enough; the car breaks down, the A/C stops working, the washing machines gets stuck, and the money do not last. On the other hand when you, in faith, start tithing first, sometimes is unexplainable how the Lord makes it happened; you pay all your bills, and HE stretches it to cover what needs to be covered with the other ninety percent of your income; and the blessings go overboard, to the point you can even go out to eat an ice cream, which you hadn’t been able before when you had three jobs.   Is like when a recipe has an ingredient that we do not have instead of thinking “maybe today is not the day for me to do this”; we just tend to find a substitute for that one thing we need. And the result, well it might not be exactly as if we would have waited, that’s for sure!

The second thing that could be preventing the Lord from answering your petition is an uncircumcised heart; in other words, if there’s an unconfessed sin in your life that HE’s trying to get you to see it. This is a hard pill to swallow, because no one likes to be confronted; it just feels uncomfortable! But the truth is the sooner we confront it and deal with it, the better for us it will be.  For this one, we have to separate from everything and everyone so our minds get unplugged and we need to have a deep conversation with our heavenly Father. 

So, the next time you get tempted to try to make it on your own because GOD is “not answering” your petition, please DON’T!!!!  BE DETERMINED to go before GOD first, make sure your heart is clean and HE doesn’t have anything against you; then worship HIM in the hall while the door opens! It’s always the best thing than pushing ourselves in; and if you still doubtful, ask a confirmation about your options, one by one, at the end, you will get GOD’s choice, and that, my friend, is the right on!!! Do not doubt it!

As we take time for this time of separation, “in our prayer closet”, we can start by worshiping HIM for whom HE is, for the time HE’s giving us to separate from everyone just to talk with Him, for life, for His love, forgiveness, and mercy and for the coming answer to our questions. We can sing our favorite worship song, we can pray Psalm 119, is just a time of worship. Then we can humbly ask for a revelation of the things that might be hindering us from hearing HIS voice, and getting Him to answer us; those things that aren’t pleasing to Him, which we have to confess. Believe me, buckle up, because HE WILL TELL you! And do not be surprise because you’ve worship and now are calling HIM to confess, and HE LOOOOOOOOOOOOVES THAT!

After you’ve done this, with thanksgiving in your heart, worship HIM by doing what HE has placed in your heart to do.  By the time you finish, who know if what you’ve been asking for and been waiting for so long is in queue to happened after you get out of your prayer closet; outside the door! Try it!

I pray in the name of JESUS for a great revelation in your life.  I pray you make time today, to get in your “prayer closet” in that intimate place where you can undress your heart to the Lord to seek HIS face for direction in your life. I pray for the Lord to bless you and make your cup overrun for you to bless those around you and testify to the world what the LORD had done for you, and I pray for HIS glory, in JESUS name, AMEN!!!

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[1] 1^st Samuel 16:14

Identifying the Lord’s anointed around us – 1st Samuel 26

“ ² So Saul took 3,000 of Israel’s elite troops and went to hunt him (David) down in the wilderness of Ziph. ³ Saul camped along the road beside the hill of Hakilah, near Jeshimon, where David was hiding. When David learned that Saul had come after him into the wilderness, ⁴ he sent out spies to verify the report of Saul’s arrival. ⁵ David slipped over to Saul’s camp one night to look around…. ⁷ So David and Abishai went right into Saul’s camp and found him asleep, with his spear stuck in the ground beside his head. Abner and the soldiers were lying asleep around him. ⁸ “God has surely handed your enemy over to you this time!” Abishai whispered to David. “Let me pin him to the ground with one thrust of the spear; I won’t need to strike twice!” ⁹ “No!” David said. “Don’t kill him. For who can remain innocent after attacking the Lord’s anointed one? ¹⁰ Surely the Lord will strike Saul down someday, or he will die of old age or in battle. ¹¹ The Lord forbid that I should kill the one he has anointed! But take his spear and that jug of water beside his head, and then let’s get out of here!” ¹² So David took the spear and jug of water that were near Saul’s head. Then he and Abishai got away without anyone seeing them or even waking up, because the Lord had put Saul’s men into a deep sleep. ¹³ David climbed the hill opposite the camp until he was at a safe distance. ¹⁴ Then he shouted down to the soldiers and to Abner son of Ner, “Wake up, Abner!” “Who is it?” Abner demanded. ¹⁵ “Well, Abner, you’re a great man, aren’t you?” David taunted. “Where in all Israel is there anyone as mighty? So why haven’t you guarded your master the king when someone came to kill him? ¹⁶ This isn’t good at all! I swear by the Lord that you and your men deserve to die, because you failed to protect your master, the Lord’s anointed! Look around! Where are the king’s spear and the jug of water that were beside his head?” ¹⁷ Saul recognized David’s voice and called out, “Is that you, my son David?” And David replied, “Yes, my lord the king. ¹⁸ Why are you chasing me? What have I done? What is my crime? ¹⁹ But now let my lord the king listen to his servant. If the Lord has stirred you up against me, then let him accept my offering. But if this is simply a human scheme, then may those involved be cursed by the Lord. For they have driven me from my home, so I can no longer live among the Lord’s people, and they have said, ‘Go, worship pagan gods.’ ²⁰ Must I die on foreign soil, far from the presence of the Lord? Why has the king of Israel come out to search for a single flea? Why does he hunt me down like a partridge on the mountains?” ²¹ Then Saul confessed, “I have sinned. Come back home, my son, and I will no longer try to harm you, for you valued my life today. I have been a fool and very, very wrong.” ²² “Here is your spear, O king,” David replied. “Let one of your young men come over and get  it. 23 The Lord gives his own reward for doing good and for being loyal, and I refused to kill you even when the Lord placed you in my power, for you are the Lord’s anointed one. ²⁴ Now may the Lord value my life, even as I have valued yours today. May he rescue me from all my troubles.”

In this case it was Saul, the first king of Israel; he was anointed by God thru Samuel hands to do a job as a king including a very important assignment straight from God:  “Now go and completely destroy the entire Amalekite nation—men, women, children, babies, cattle, sheep, goats, camels, and donkeys.”[1] When Saul didn’t follow the given assignment “to the t”, Samuel was very troubled! And the Lord said to Samuel, “You have mourned long enough for Saul. I have rejected him as king of Israel, so fill your flask with olive oil and go to Bethlehem. Find a man named Jesse who lives there, for I have selected one of his sons to be my king.”[2] This was David; he first came as a skilled musician to play the harp to calm down King Saul as he had become depressed and fearful[3].  Then David was who faced the philistines and against all odds, kill their giant, Goliath with a slingshot.[4] And to make the long story short and to top these King Saul’s son became David’s closest friend and ever since, Saul became very jealous of David. And although King Saul was committed to get rid of David, and David knew it, David was committed NOT to disrespect the Lord by hurting whom HE had anointed as king. Opportunities arose several times to kill him, but still David’s faithfulness towards God was impressive and commendable, and it paid for he was esteemed and known all over which played a key role when he became the king.

Do you know there are people around you that had been anointed by GOD, just like David, to bring transformation in your life?  If we think about it, ever since we’re born those we’ve encountered have had a divine purpose in our lives.  The simple fact we are alive, means there was an appointed person who received us, who fed us, cared for us, dressed us, took us to school, or home schooled us, etc, etc, etc. Then as we grow older, sometimes we forget that STILL God sends to us anointed people to help us, lead us, and continue to care.  Even as we age, there are people that GOD is preparing right now, and some are already prepared to give us the needed help at that point of life when we might not be able to take care of ourselves. All because of His love and mercy for us, HIS people!

Today I want to encourage you to pray for your neighbors because from the youngest one to the oldest one around you, they’ve been sent with a purpose for your life.  And when you see them as an anointed person sent by GOD to bring you to maturity in life, you will think twice before you say or do something that you might regret later on. I have to say, that some will be to teach you that their type of personality has to be avoided in life, hopefully this would be a short assignment, but that’s a lesson on its own. Others are for you to look up to, so you can follow God thru their faithfulness to HIM, these could be a long assignment; I myself had been on this particular assignment for almost 20 years and there’s no telling when it will end; though it seems to be coming in the near future.

I also want to remind you, that you yourself have been the anointed one to bless that neighbor around  you, to teach, care and love them, as well, and maybe even at a time to be that thorn in the flesh for someone to learn something because we aren’t exempt. God created us all even the planets and the animals with a purpose! “³ By faith [that is, with an inherent trust and enduring confidence in the power, wisdom and goodness of God] we understand that the worlds (universe, ages) were framed and created [formed, put in order, and equipped for their intended purpose] by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible.”  

Keeping that in mind, I have to say that mine, yours and our neighbor’s assignment could be temporary, so we do not want to leave for tomorrow what we ought to do today, for tomorrow could be too late!  If you have questions about any of your neighbors, PRAY, in HIS mercy, the Lord will hear you and answer what you need to know about a particular neighbor.

Is important to recognize that in order for God to hear our prayer, we MUST have a relationship with Him, His word reminds us that unconfessed sins separates us from Him and HE will not hear us when we pray: “…your wickedness has separated you from your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear.”[5]  In other words, we ought to clean our books (life) by confessing our sins to God, believing that HE sent Jesus to die for our sins, and accepting HIM as our Savior and Master of our lives. Afterwards, He says: “Call to Me and I will answer you, and tell you [and even show you] great and mighty things, [things which have been confined and hidden], which you do not know and understand and cannot distinguish.”[6]

My prayer for you is that you commit or recommit your life to the Lord, and start living for HIM today as it would be your last day on earth, working with eagerness to do what HE has called you to do as the anointed man or woman of God that you are! And I pray for the glory of God, in JESUS name, AMEN!!!

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[1] 1^st Samuel 15:3

[2] 1^st Samuel 16:1

[3] 1^st Samuel 16:14-19, 23

[4] 1^st Samuel 17:32-50

[5] Isaiah 59:2 Amplified Bible - AMP

[6] Jeremiah 33:3 AMP