But ye [are] a chosen race, a kingly priesthood, a holy nation, a people for a possession, that ye might set forth the excellencies of him who has called you out of darkness to his wonderful light; 1Peter 2:9
Preface
Today’s blog post is a loving reminder from the prophet Samuel and apostle Paul concerning the importance for those who are “Called-out” of darkness into His marvelous light, to continue to persevere during these most difficult and trying times.
We are not to ever disown The Lord our God for any reason, nor cause, for our greatness comes to us by remaining faithful in one’s calling and commission in the Kingdom of God. Nevertheless, during these evilest days, each of us who is within the Body of Christ will be tested for our loyalty and our spiritual integrity.
The Greatest Ancient Sage
Arguably one of the most venerable ancient sages of all time is the prophet, Samuel. What a very unique man was Samuel. He was a miracle child, he was from the tribe of Levi, which makes him a priest. He was a Nazarite from birth, who would later anoint the two Kings of Israel.
Samuel was the last judge and the first of the prophets who called on the Name of God and He answered Him. [Psalm 99:6] Samuel is a figure who, in the narratives of the Hebrew Bible, plays a key role in the transition from the period of the biblical judges to the institution of a kingdom under Saul, and again in the transition from Saul to David.
Samuel’s wisdom is still very relative today for American’s who live in a democratic government as opposed to a theocracy and or as in the case of Samuel’s time, a monarchy under Saul and later David.
It goes without noting, that the manner in which God now deals with His people [both Jewish and non-Jewish] is revolutionary in that as indicated in the 1 Peter 2:9, God does not dwell in temples, mosques, or churches.
He lives inside living sanctuaries that now constitute a royal priesthood after the order of Melchizedek [Hebrews 7] who now is The Messiah and Lord over all things.
I draw deeply on Samuel’s words that were spoken to the Nation just after the people elected Saul as their King who would lead their army. I strongly believe that we who are alive today here in America would be forever wise to reexamine our own spiritual and national alliances that perhaps have compromise our unique calling as the people of God.
For example, let say hypothetically, each follower of The Messiah in America, was commanded by God, to renounce their American citizenship and all of its rights and liberties so that God would promise to be their provider.
Also, all of the civil laws that rule our Nation are not to apply to those who are called out. Each follower would have to adhere to the spiritual and moral laws of The Kingdom of God and each is not to submit to anyone but their Head, which is The Master.
Would you be obedient or would you be disobedient by compromising while synthesizing only those rights, liberties, laws that grant you privileged and advance over others in our life?
Below are my personal re-speaking and modern-day interpretation of Samuel’s conversation that he had with the people of God after the Nation chose Saul to rule over them. Instead of retelling the story, I will list some of the spiritual lessons that I gleaned from this 1 Samuel chapter.
Instead of thinking of the Nation of Israel as the story is retold, I would like to challenge the reader to be very reflective on America during its present condition Nationally and internationally.
I also encourage you to think not of the prophet Samuel, but the void of the prophetic voice that is missing in America at present, and the dire need to sound the alarm within the Body of Christ toward rededication to our heavenly calling and commission of our Faith.
1 Samuel 12:20
The Rebuke
The prophet said unto the people, do not lack courage, it is you who have done all of this evil. The results of which are in association with a collective mental disregard for justice, righteousness, truth, honor, and virtue.
Such wickedness is the cause of your guilt and fear, in that your evil is in your very thoughts and in your living to the extent of grave sinfulness and criminality.
The Commendation
The truth of the matter is only in God’s Kingdom is there Grace and Mercy! When confronted and convicted of any evil doing, a child of God should not despair, never lose all hope.
We are to constantly turn to the Lord, worshiping Him in all ways; words, actions, and spiritual disciplines. Only in one’s faithful and sincere service unto the Lord, one can expect that things will go well with them in due season.
Where ever we find ourselves, we should never turn aside from our love and daily communion with The Father. Only by His hand, can His rescued heirs be delivered from the many false and vain things that draw us away from our First Love.
For all other things that we desire and lust after that does not come from God, will only leave our souls empty, useless and wasteful. The Lord God has sworn to make us a people for Himself.
Thus for His sake and unto Himself, for it is because of His honor and glory, that He will not forsake His own people by suffering them to ruin before a godless and secular evil generation.
We should never deny Him, so that He also, will not deny Us!
We are never to deceive ourselves into thinking that anything good or worthwhile is within any of us. None of which has moved God to make us His own people no, it was His own sovereign good will and pleasure that we are all benefactors of His free grace and favor that we are in covenant with Him.
Our Heavenly Father commands that we have and maintain a healthy tremendous love and respect toward Him at all times while finding delight in pleasing and serving Him in His Kingdom.
We should never forget of all the wonderful things that He has done on our behalf, while never losing sight that we still must engage in the spiritual battle with this very present and evil generation.
We have been empowered by unmerited favor from our Master. He taught, demonstrated and live, so is it, with each of His faithful followers. We are commissioned to continue the fight that The Master battles through us, against evil, the world systems and the evil one, Satan.
Be Faithful and Courageous– The voice and the passion of Paul
2 Timothy 2:12-13
The greatest challenge we now face is the faithfulness of service as a follower of The Master. We are called to please God and not ourselves, or men nor the current trends and customs of this world.
If we are faithless, He remains Faithful…,
Those who are called into The Messiah and are commissioned to labor within “The Vineyard,” will often-times experience great hardship and sufferings in this current life. The so-called rewards for one’s faithful service will be somewhat delayed until the end of this age.
We should never lose sight of the very essence of The Anointed One from on High, for The Messiah is the very seed of David and the Son of Man that the prophets spoke of. He as the Son of Man suffered just as we all must [yet He was without sin]. As He is, such is it with His faithful followers.
For our current generation of faithful servants, our abilities and accomplishments of service in the Kingdom of God are made possible because of the Master’s death which entitled our reconciliation, atonement, and satisfaction for our sinfulness as people without hope, a future, and promise.
The risen Lord now acts as our very High Priest in the Heavens, making intercessions before The Father as His saints continue with His battle between God’s Kingdom and Satan’s. We now are called to be forever faithful and courageous in our spiritual warfare.
As soldiers, we have been taught through the example of our Master, to learn to die for His sake, as well as the soul-spiritual transformation of the Gospel Message of the Kingdom of God. As followers, we are called to truly be like Him, being conformed into the fellowship of His suffering so that it may be to our account, that we are to be dead within Him.
As many of us who are and will be crucified with The Messiah, are likewise, buried in Him, only to experience various aspects now of His resurrection now in service, and in our eventual physical death.
Yet while we still live, we are now forever justified in living and serving Him as our King and representative in all affairs that are pertaining to the God’s Kingdom of Heaven.
How is it that by being in The Messiah as His children and heirs, we likewise share in His suffering in order that we may experience the delight in His Glory! [noted in Roman 8:17]
Thus as we are called by Grace into the image and the likeness of our Master, we who are faithful will suffer shame, pain, heartache, loss, punishment, sickness and physical death for His namesake.
Closing sentiments:
As Samuel first stated to the Nation of Israel, the very same encouragement holds true to the People of God today, do not lack courage, and not to worry, those whom the Lord has made His Own, will forever reign with Him throughout all situations.
He has promised to be with us until the very end of this generation. It is a greater blessed assurance that He resides within our very hearts and not buildings that are made by hands of sinful mankind!
Thanks to God the Father that we truly are His royal priesthood while abiding in The Master as the called-out ones reigning with Him in His Kingdom now and forever more. Amen.