1 samuel 12b never give up

www.rossvillechurch.com

781 Salem Road, Rossville, GA 307411

You arewelcome

StoneCreek

February 5, 2012

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Blaine Bowman and HIS Goodtime Band

This family of talented and Spirit-filled

singers and musicians will be leading worship at Gospel Baptist

Tabernacle on Sunday night,

February 12 at 6 o'clock.

You are invited to worship with us.

Come as you are; we don't dress to impress.www.rossvillechurch.com 781 Salem Road, Rossville, GA 30741

Next Sunday

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1 Samuel 12

Israel now has a king, and Samuel is retiring as their leader; he is God's Voice,

and they have rejected God as their king.

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16 Now therefore stand and see this great thing, which the Lord will do before your eyes. 17 Is it not wheat harvest today? I will call unto the Lord, and HE shall send thunder and rain; that ye may perceive and see that your wickedness is great, which ye have done in the Sight of the Lord, in asking you a king.

They weren't taking their sin

seriously.

Wakeup!

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18 So Samuel called unto the Lord; and the Lord sent thunder and rain that day: and all the people greatly feared the Lord and Samuel.

It was the time of wheat harvest -- early summer.

Rain and thunderstorms just didn't happen then.

This was a strong wake-up call.

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19 And all the people said unto Samuel, Pray for thy servants unto the Lord thy God, that we die not: for we have added unto all our sins this evil, to ask us a king.

Perpetual BackslidersThey asked Samuel to pray for them.

They should have prayed an humble prayer of repentance for themselves.

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So often a backslider will say, "Pray for me."

And of course, we do.

But, in Truth, he needs to pray for himself.

He needs to ask God to forgive him for all his sins.

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And he must turn from his sins unto God.

LIVE LIFE GOD'S WAY.

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20 And Samuel said unto the people, Fear not: (even though) ye have done all this wickedness: yet turn not aside from following the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart; 21 And turn ye not aside: for then should ye go after vain things, which cannot profit nor deliver; for they are vain. 22 For the Lord will not forsake His people for His Great Name's Sake: because it hath pleased the Lord to make you His people.

God won't disown His people.

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1 Samuel 12:20 (TLB) "Don’t be frightened," Samuel reassured them. "You have certainly done wrong, but make sure now that you worship the Lord with true enthusiasm, and that you don’t turn your back on Him in any way.

What we do matters a lot more than what we say.

True repentance includes changing one's way.

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TURN

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1 Samuel 12:21-22 (TLB) 21 Other gods can’t help you. 22 The Lord will not abandon His chosen people, for that would dishonor His Great Name. He made you a special nation for Himself -- just because He wanted to!

Whatever we put our trust in

Has become a god unto us.

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Anything of this world will let you down.

Put all your trust in the True and Living God.

Live life His Way and be blessed.

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23 Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way:

Did you realize that it's a sin against the Lord to quit

praying for our brothers and sisters?

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Whatever the situation, God is able!

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Keep plodding on.

Keep on praying.

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23b but I will teach you the good and the right way:

Ultimately, it's up to each individual whether he or she will live right and be blessed.

Not only must we keep on praying,

We must keep on teaching and setting the right example.

Or keep on living in sin until they self-destruct!

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24 Only fear the Lord, and serve Him in Truth with all your heart: for consider how great things He hath done for you.

To fear the Lord is to keep His Commandments.

Truth = steadfast; stable; sincerity

All your heart = without reservations.

Holding nothing back.

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25 But if ye shall still do wickedly, ye shall be consumed, both ye and your king.

There is a limit to God's tolerance for backsliding.

But if you're still alive, then you still have opportunity.