Repeated Failure< ?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>

1 Samuel 13:5-15, 15:1-9

The first time King Saul failed was when he began to focus in the strength of his army. The second time he failed, it started with his army. In his first failure, Samuel required of Saul to wait for him in carrying out burnt offerings and peace offerings before going to war against the Philistines. Saul waited but he could not wait long enough before he carried out the offerings himself. 1 Samuel < ?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>13:11, ÒAnd Samuel said, ÔWhat have you done?Õ Saul said, ÔWhen I saw that the people were scattered from me, and that you did not come within the days appointed, and that the Philistines gathered together at Micmash.ÕÓ So he took the law into his own hands and did what was not supposed to be done by him. One will think Saul learned from the first mistake, but Saul did not, instead he went into a repeated failure. He was to go and attack the Amalekites by GodÕs command. After receiving the command from Samuel, the first thing he did was to turn again to the army.  1 Samuel 15:4, ÒSo Saul gathered the people together and numbered them in Telaim, two hundred thousand foot soldiers and ten thousand men of Judah.Ó Saul always looked to the army. Saul wanted to make sure he could carry out the command with what he had instead of what God can do through him. He was concerned in the numbers, but God does not operate by numbers but by act of obedience. If he had gone by virtue of the lesson learned from the first experience, God would not have regretted His calling of Saul. Saul probably acted without purpose, but before God, there is no excuse. It is possible to get into a repeated mistake but the result is always failure. Repeated failure is a careless mistake and it can be extremely costly. Today, ask God to deliver you from careless mistakes.

Tolerating Sin< ?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>

Ezekiel 9

What is funny to worldly people has now also become funny to the people with the word of God. Abomination is no longer an ugly sight to the church anymore. Just as the word is condoning abominations, GodÕs temple is also playing a part by not crying over all kinds of abominations. As a < ?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>temple of God, you cry over by extending a loud and clear sound of rejection, by distancing yourself or by calling on God to touch the heart of the people with abomination. Once among the children of God, abomination was reigning and God responded, Ezekiel 9:4, ÒAnd the LORD said to him, ÔGo through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and cry over all the abominations that are done within it.ÕÓ God knows that action speaks louder than words. What you condone you are also done in it. As a temple of God, you cannot be quiet with wrong doings; it will be an indication of you accepting it. God recognized those that are not quiet against abomination then, and He will still do the same today and tomorrow. To those who did not sigh or cry against abominations, there was no mark but judgment, Ezekiel 9:5, ÒTo others He said in my hearing, ÔGo after him through the city and kill; do not let your eye spare, nor have any pity. Utterly slay old and young men, maidens and little children and women; but do not come near anyone on whom is the mark; and begin at My sanctuary. So they began with the elders who were before the temple.Ó The judgment of God respects only the obedient, it will not fail; it will only take GodÕs timing for it to be manifested. Ask God for the grace not to be a part or be the one that tolerates sin.

His Love Boat< ?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>

Philippians 4

You can refuse to be drawn away from God. Idolatry will draw you away from God if you do not refuse idolatry. Anything that you go after and whatever it is that is taking you away from serving Him is an idol. When you begin to want another personÕs possession, things that do not belong to you, you are being gradually drawn away. Being drawn away will not become clear to the person that is being drawn until that person has drowned in the sea of lust. Colossians 3:5, ÒTherefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness which is idolatry. Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience.Ó You do not have to be a part of the wrath of God if you choose not to; God will enable you. However, the choice is yours, God has given His love and it is left for you to enter His love boat of salvation. When you are drawn away by idolatry, you have forsaken God. It is evil to forsake God. Jeremiah 2:13, ÒFor my people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, And hewn themselves cisterns-broken cisterns that can hold no water.Ó Draw yourself away from idolatry. What you do not have now you can have it at His appointed time. Do not make yourself a victim of the evil one. God will not fail you, God shall supply your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus (Philippians < ?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>4:19)

Great Things< ?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>

Psalm 126

It has been a long time that you have been in an unwanted situation. At every turn help was not there. Help was hiding and help was not visible. Your closest ones when all was well and good have shut you up in the closet of no remembrance. Where your presence has been well received have become a place where backs have been turned onto you. It is not happening only among your unbelieving friends, but also among the ones that you fellowship with, the ones that claim the faith with you. In your turning right, left, back and forward you have been feeling lonely. God is taking you through training. Keep your focus on God and do what you know is best according to His word. Be content with whatever God brings your way. If you will be honest with yourself, despite your situation, He has always supplied your need. 1 Timothy 6:6-7, ÒNow godliness with contentment is a great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and its certain we can carry nothing out.Ó Hold to the word of God that you know. The word of God is comfort, it heals and it sooths souls. All the tears will soon turn into laughter and when that happens, it will be like a dream. Psalm 126:1-2, ÒWhen the LORD brought back the captivity of < ?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>Zion, we were like those who dream. Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing. Then they said among the nations, the LORD has done great things for them.Ó God is on the throne for you. Do not lose focus, in His goodness and mercy; He will do great things for you in the name of Jesus.

Vessel< ?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>

Jeremiah 18:1-11

God wanted Jeremiah to know how man is like in His hand, so He sent Him to a potterÕs house. Jeremiah 18:2, ÒArise and go down to the potterÕs house and there I will cause you to hear My words.Ó While at the potterÕs house, Jeremiah saw that the vessel at the potterÕs hand was marred and the potter made it over into a better vessel that was more pleasing to him. As Jeremiah was observing, the word of God went to him Jeremiah 18:6, ÒO house of < ?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>Israel, can I not do with you as this potter?Õ Says the LORD. ÔLook, as the clay is in the potterÕs hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel!ÕÓ The same God of Israel is the same God that we serve. Just as this applies to the children of Israel, so it is to all the creation on the face of this earth. When there is a hard lump in clay, it will ruin the vessel as it spins on the potterÕs wheel. Consider yourself in the potterÕs hand and think if there is any lump in you that you know. There might also be some lump in you that you do not know. For you to be right in the hand of the potter, for you to become a vessel that God wants to display for His glory and honor, ask Him to take away everything that is representing lump in your life. The Lord said ask and it shall be given, ask Him to knock off the lump of pride, deception, fornication, manipulation so you will be a vessel of honor to the glory of His holy name.