StandingFirm

They have lost their identity as children of God. As a result they are weighed down in their iniquities. Their iniquities were different from the iniquities that weigh us down but the application is evident. I can claim to be a Christian but in my heart am I truly a follower of Jesus Christ? Are my iniquities weighing me down? Verses 18 to 20 provide the solution to our sin problem. Isa 1:18-20 NKJV (18) "Come now, and let us reason together," Says the LORD, "Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool. (19) If you are willing and obedient, You shall eat the good of the land; (20) But if you refuse and rebel, You shall be devoured by the sword"; For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.

1Sa 16:3 And invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do. And you shall anoint for me him whom I declare to you." 1Sa 16:4 Samuel did what the LORD commanded and came to Bethlehem. The elders of the city came to meet him trembling and said, "Do you come peaceably?" 1Sa 16:5 And he said, "Peaceably; I have come to sacrifice to the LORD. Consecrate yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice." And he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice. 1Sa 16:6 When they came, he looked on Eliab and thought, "Surely the LORD's anointed is before him." 1Sa 16:7 But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart." 1Sa 16:8 Then Jesse called Abinadab and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, "Neither has the LORD chosen this one." 1Sa 16:9 Then Jesse made Shammah pass by. And he said, "Neither has the LORD chosen this one." 1Sa 16:10 And Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel. And Samuel said to Jesse, "The LORD has not chosen these." 1Sa 16:11 Then Samuel said to Jesse, "Are all your sons here?" And he said, "There remains yet the youngest, but behold, he is keeping the sheep." And Samuel said to Jesse, "Send and get him, for we will not sit down till he comes here." 1Sa 16:12 And he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy and had beautiful eyes and was handsome. And the LORD said, "Arise, anoint him, for this is he." 　 How does this story teach us the importance of listening carefully to God's voice. --- It is important that we carefully listen to God's voice and obey him precisely as He has said. 　 What is our instinctive way of discerning? --- We tend to try to fit God's word into our way of thinking, our experiences and culture. 　 How is God teaching us to discern? --- God is teaching us to discern according to his word alone. We need to fit our experiences and culture into the Word, not the Word into our experiences and culture. 　 How do we learn to listen to the Spirit? --- Through careful listening and fervent prayer.

1Sa 15:22 And Samuel said, "Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams. 1Sa 15:23 For rebellion is as the sin of divination, and presumption is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, he has also rejected you from being king." What is rebellion? Rebellion is going my own way instead of the way that God has directed me. In what way is rebellion as bad as witchcraft or occult practices? Rebellion is as bad as witchcraft in that they both result in separation from God. What does rebellion have to do with arrogance? Rebellion is standing in oppostion against God. It is being arrogant towards God. What can we do when we find rebellion against God in our hearts? We need to repent and turn around and run back into the arms of God. What happens if we do nothing? If we do nothing, we are separated from God and miss out on what God intends for us in this life and in the life to com.