1 Samuel chapter 12. I'm going to look at the whole chapter.
I'm not going to read the whole chapter. I would encourage you
to do that, to do so, I called a few folks about this chapter and I told
them to read the whole chapter and then look at what Tim James
said about it in his commentary. Actually, I called three young
men who are not pastors or maybe
thinking about being pastors. I thought it was that good, this
good. But there's more in here than
that. This lesson, in this whole chapter, is one in which we must
all learn as God's children, as God's servants, if indeed
we have tasted that the Lord is gracious. If He's been gracious
to us, and He has called us, we are His servant. I have just
broken this down into four I outlined four points, a faithful
servant, and we'll see this in Samuel, a faithful service, the only message a faithful servant
has, and the responsibilities or the privileges of being a
faithful servant. So there's nothing outside of
being a servant. Well, in reference to this faithful
servant, we could easily refer to three different categories
of people, I guess if you could say it that way. Isaiah 42, and I'll read this
in verse 1. Isaiah 42, 1, Behold my servant,
whom I uphold, mine elect, in whom my soul delights. I have
put my spirit upon him. He shall bring forth judgment
to the Gentiles." So this chapter, this whole chapter is about being
a servant. It could be referring to, and preeminently, Christ
must have the preeminence, we could speak about our Lord Jesus
Christ. So I'll be coming in and out
of that thought. But secondly, Titus chapter 1, And verse 1, Paul, a servant
of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ. So it could be referring
to a minister, me, or those who Bruce talked about in Romans
chapter 10, those who are called, who are sent of God. And lastly,
in Romans chapter 16, And this is just one verse, there's
a bunch of these, and you'll understand what I mean when I,
Romans chapter 16 in verse one, I commend unto you Phoebe, our
sister, which is a servant of the church. A servant of the church. So if
you're a believer here this morning, you're covered. you're hit, you're in here. Either
a minister, and that's only by gift, that's nothing to do with
me, or you're a sister, like Phoebe, or a brother, like Onesimus,
and they're all called servants. So, to everyone here this morning,
let us proceed then to our outline. A faithful servant, a faithful
service, the only message a faithful servant has, and the responsibilities
or privileges of being a faithful servant. Let me read the first
five verses of this text in chapter 12 for Samuel. And Samuel said
unto all Israel, behold, I have hearkened unto your voice in
all that you said unto me, and have made a king over you. Now
this is not David, this is Saul. And now behold, the king walketh
before you, and I am old and gray-headed, and behold, my sons
are with you, and I have walked before you from my childhood
unto this day. Behold, I am witness against
me before the Lord, and before his anointed, Whose ox have I
taken? Or whose ass have I taken? Or whom have I defrauded? Whom
have I oppressed? Or of whose hand have I received
any bribe to blind mine eyes therewith? And I will restore
it you. And the people, the congregation,
the Israelites, they said, thou hast not defrauded us, nor oppressed
us, Neither hast thou taken aught of any man's hand. And he said
unto them, the Lord is witnessed against you, and his anointed
is witnessed this day, that you have not found aught in my hand.
And they answered, he is witness. So this is a testimony of a faithful
minister. This is the testimony of a faithful
believer. This is the testimony of our
Lord Jesus Christ, who did no sin. Neither was guile found
in his mouth. So the text, and I'm not gonna
go back and forth between these three, Christ, the minister and
the believer, but suffice it to say that Christ has the preeminence
in this text and every text. So we can preach Christ in this
right here. But for our use and edification,
let us look at it as believers in Christ. But as I said, this
may be said, I hope this is said of all of us today and especially
you and myself. You and myself, we've not taken
a bribe. We've not altered the message. We've come faithfully
because as I think it's Romans, this is your reasonable service.
You know, yes, the minister has to be faithful and I have to
preach what the Lord lays on my heart and it must be Christ
in him crucified. But without you, and I know this
sometimes preachers get elevated, but without you, there's no need
for me. There's no need for me. So I can be easily replaced. And if I pray, if I am replaced
at the Lord, it would be a man who is sent of God like in Romans
10. Are we called as believers? Yes. Some are called to speak
to the church. Others are called to gather together
and edify, but all are gifted by God separately. I pray that
we may be found faithful, first of all, to our Lord, secondly,
to each other, and thirdly, to the church in service, in service. And of course, as I said, regarding
the Lord Jesus Christ, he is the only true and faithful servant.
He was always about his father's business. He was always honoring
and glorifying him daily, but also included, we are free born
in the person of Christ for his service, for his service. We
cannot be bribed or paid off by others or speak what they
want us to speak, but we seek to honor God in all things. Even
if it costs us friendships. Even if it costs us friendships. It may cost our children friendships. Are you going to do what your
kids want you to do as the head of the home? Or are you going
to do what you know is right? I mean, we saw that in James.
To him that knows to do right doesn't do it. To you it's sin.
To me it's sin. I'm not asking anything other
than what the Lord asked. to be a servant, to be faithful. You can say no, the world, you
can say no to the flesh, that's tough, because we're selfish,
we want our way. Samuel, what he is saying, Verses
1 through 5 turn with me to Acts chapter 20 is no different than
what Paul as a minister of God in the New Testament said to
his folks who were standing before him and this is the servant of
God a believer You may not be a preacher But you can speak
You can assuredly speak of the things which you've seen and
heard of the grace of God. Look at what Paul says in Acts
chapter 20, and we start in verse 17. And from Miletus he sent
to Ephesus and called the elders of the church, Paul did, and
when they were come to Paul, He said unto them, You know from
the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have
been with you at all seasons. Saying the same thing, I didn't
take a bribe, I wasn't taking money, I didn't take oxen that
weren't mine. serving the Lord with all humility
of mind and with many tears and temptations which befell me by
the line and weight of the Jews, and how I kept back nothing that
was profitable unto you, but have showed you and have taught
you publicly and from house to house, testifying both to the
Jews and the Greeks, repentance towards God and faith towards
our Lord Jesus Christ. There's the content of this message,
which we'll get to that later. And now behold, I go bound in
the spirit of Jerusalem, not knowing the things which shall
befall me there. saved the Holy Ghost, witnesses
in every city saying that bonds and afflictions abide me. But some of these things, but
none of these things, verse 24, move me, neither I count my life
dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy and
the ministry which I have received of the Lord Jesus to testify
the gospel of the grace of God. And now behold, I know that you
all among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God shall see
my face no more. Wherefore, I take you to record
this day that I am pure from the blood of all men, for I have
not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God." That's
being a faithful servant. That's being a faithful servant.
This then is every believer's true and first calling, boy,
girl, man, or woman. Are you called to I get blunt
here, maybe. Are you called to work? Yes, you are. You've got to earn
a living by the sweat of your brow. Are you called to dabble in this
and dabble in that in the world and this and that? You can. You have the freedom and we're
free men. But if it hinders the pressing and the declaration
of the gospel, let it go. But, no, let it go. Let it go. This is what we're here for.
Is to be like Samuel, a faithful servant. Secondly, we must render faithful service.
What is our service? Well, Bruce touched on it this
morning. I'll touch on it again. Matthew chapter 28. The last
four verses or last five verses verses
16 Matthew 28 and verses 16 through 20. Then the
11 disciples went away to Galilee into the mountain where Jesus
had appointed them. And when they saw him and worshiped him,
but some doubted, and Jesus came and spake unto them saying, all
power is given unto me in heaven and earth. Go ye therefore and
teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the father
and the son and the holy ghost, teaching them to observe all
things whatsoever I have commanded you and lo, I am with you always,
even unto the end of the world." That's our service. That's our
service. I told you about my sister-in-law. She's 50 plus. She doesn't know what she wants
to be when she grows up. Really? That's cute. But a believer knows
what we are to do and what we are to be. We are to be selfless. We're to be honoring Him and
speaking of Him. And I know we don't, you know,
we have the fear of man. I'm terrible about it. That's
why we printed up those cards. If you can't speak to somebody,
hand them a card. It tells them when we meet, you
know, where we're at, where our address is, our phone numbers.
It says these things. You can speak. If you can't,
invite. 1 Corinthians chapter 4. In verse 2, 1 Corinthians 4,
verse 2. Moreover, it is required in stewards,
servants, that's what we are, that a man be found, a man, a
woman, a boy or girl, if you're a servant, faithful, faithful,
be found faithful. 1 Corinthians 10, verse 31. Whether therefore you eat or
drink or whatsoever you do, do all to the glory of God. Now
this is not my commands or my recommendations, this is right
out of the scriptures. Ecclesiastes chapter 9. What is our service? Ecclesiastes
chapter 9. And verse 10. Whatsoever your hand finds to
do, do it with all thy might. For there is no work, nor device,
nor knowledge, nor wisdom in the grave, whither thou goest. Time is short. And the older
I get, you don't have to tell me. I know it is. I know it is. In Colossians chapter 3, we must
render faithful service. Colossians chapter 3 and verse
17, And whatsoever you do in word or in deed, do all in the
name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father
by Him. If I do this, I'm going to lose
friends. You sure will. But you may gain
a brother or sister. You know, we always look at the
negative, the persecutions, the trials, the tribulations, and
that's part of it. We don't want that. We don't
want that for our children. But what are we here for? Who are we here for? So we've seen what a faithful
servant is, we've seen what his service is, and thirdly, the
only message faithful servants have. Back to our text in 1 Samuel
12, verses six through 10. And Samuel said unto the people,
it is the Lord that advanced Moses and Aaron, and that brought
your fathers up out of the land of Egypt, not by their free will,
Now therefore stand still that I may reason, preach, speak with
you before the Lord of all the righteous acts of the Lord, which
he did to you and to your fathers. When Jacob was come into Egypt
and your fathers cried unto the Lord, then the Lord sent Moses
and Aaron, which brought forth your fathers out of Egypt and
made them dwell in this place. And when they had forgot the
Lord their God, He sold them into the hand of Siserac, captain
of the host of Hazar, and into the hand of the Philistines,
and into the hand of the king of Moab. And they fought against
him. And they cried unto the Lord
and said, we have sinned because we have forsaken the Lord and
have served Balaam and Atharoth, but now deliver us out of the
hand of our enemies. And we will serve thee. This
is the only message we have. And it includes the righteousness
of God. It includes the sinfulness of
ourselves. It is owning up. We own up to our sinnerhood. We take the blame. If Lord, if he should mark iniquity,
who should stand? We side with the Lord against
ourselves. Christ Himself is the message,
His way, His terms, His glory, His substitution, His ultimate
sacrifice, His means, His ways, His worth. Paul said, I'm determined
not to know anything among you save Christ and Him crucified.
I know there's times you say, Pastor, don't you take a little
more interest in what I'm doing and this and that, and I love
you all, and I mean that. But I am determined Not to know anything among you
except Christ and Him crucified. Why? I want you to be a good
student. I want you to do good in sports
if it doesn't interfere with the gospel. Plain and simple. Plain and simple. Why? Because hearing the gospel, believing
the gospel is the absolute most important thing. It's the most important thing.
It absolutely is. We are a separated people. And
when we gather together, and I'm so thankful for you all,
because so many times when you come in here, the conversation
about the world, for the most part, it stops. It doesn't filter
in here. And I am so thankful for that.
Because you go outside and you got friends and you're gonna
talk about the world, I talk about the world, talk about guitars
and tractors and all these different things. We do that, that's human
nature. But when we gather here, let us be about serving and in
the service of our Lord. And the thing is, Matt, we were
talking back there, Matt brought some things up. It's not just
a Wednesday or a Sunday. Wednesday or Sunday Christians
are not really Christians at all, to be honest with you. If
you can just serve Christ when you come in here, put your face
on, polite and everything, and then go back out in the world
and live like the world, talk like the world, then let's examine
ourselves to see if we'll be in the faith. And I'm not saying
when you go out in the world, you're going to be like you are
here, because you've got to deal with the world. You've got to
talk, not like the world. They need to see a difference. The Lord says in Exodus, there's
a mark. He put a mark between his people
and the people of the world. Did he? Yes, he did. Yes, he
did. This is the message. And I know
that there are other things in this book, but they will do us
no good apart from the grand theme of holy scriptures. And
that is, how can a just and holy God be both just and justify
the ungodly? This is the singular report Isaiah
spoke about. Who have to leave our report? He's speaking about the gospel,
as Paul saw it. All roads lead to and depart
from one keynote address. And we've talked about this before.
In the Old Testament, it's behold the Lamb. In the Gospels, where's
the Lamb? And in Revelation, I'm sorry,
in the Old Testament, where's the Lamb? In the Gospels, behold
the Lamb. In Revelation, worthy is the
Lamb. It's all about the Lamb. He's the Alpha and the Omega.
He has the keys of life and death. We preach, we tell, we witness
to folks. Done, like I put in a bulletin.
Done, we don't preach do. It's done. Christ is accomplished. Man, we preach man is totally
ruined. Look at verse 19 in our text
in 1 Samuel 12. 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. Now they realize what they did
when they were asking. God was their king and they didn't
want him. They didn't want him. Man is
totally ruined, and there's no way back to God, only by and
through the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ can sinners
be made clean. This message also includes, now
this is the reason why I went to this passage in the first
place, and it ended up expanding more than I realized. Look at verses 20, 21, and 22.
This is amazing. Now this is Samuel speaking to
the same people who just acknowledged their evil by asking for a king.
Samuel said unto the people, fear not. Why shouldn't they
fear? They're gonna have a wicked king.
He's gonna exact taxes from them. He's gonna take their kids to
be warriors. He's gonna do all this negative,
hateful stuff. Don't fear, he says, you have
done all this wickedness, yet turn not aside from following
the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart. He couldn't
say that if they hadn't been serving him before. We need to
remember that. When someone, one of us goes
astray, oh, they're lost, hold on, hold on. They couldn't have
gone astray if they hadn't been in the fold in the first place.
and turn ye not aside for then you'll go after vain things which
cannot profit nor deliver for they are vain. And that's what
happens when we go, I was reading somebody the other day, they
said when we sin, God's relationship to us does not change, our relationship
to him does. You want to know why you're afflicted,
you made a bad decision, you went out and didn't inquire of
the Lord what you should do, you just did it, and it didn't
turn out the way, you know, or maybe there was consequences,
Yeah, because you walked away. But if you're God's, he'll bring
you back. And the legalist hates this next
verse, but look at this next verse. For the Lord will not
forsake his people for his great namesake because it hath pleased
the Lord to make you his people. I think Bruce said it in Bible
class. We are loved and holy and righteous Right now. We cannot send our way out of
His love. We can't do it. And if you think
that's what I'm saying and you try to do it, you don't understand
the gospel. You don't understand the gospel. If He has you, you're His forever. You're His
forever. The message includes God's people
are his people by God's choice and God's selection and they
can never be lost. Never be lost. Fear not, peace
be with you, he says. There is therefore in Romans
now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus. This and knowing this, we'll
get our eyes off ourself and turn them back to our kinsmen
redeemer. not the threatenings of the law and not the allurements
of rewards, but preaching God's grace in Christ. When we sin, we do so against
love, knowledge, and the wounds of our best friend and our elder
brother. What do we do? We confess our sins and he's
faithful and just to forgive us. We sin more than we want
to, but we are so thankful that when we sin, we have an advocate.
Because tomorrow, today, maybe this afternoon, the old flesh
is going to be there. I want my way. I want to do what
I want to do. Lastly, this is the servant's
privilege. And I want us to direct this,
because since 20, 30 years ago, I've read this and I believe
it. Do I practice it? I don't know.
But probably one of the first walk, the first road down to
declension, spiritual declension and apostasy is lack of prayer. It's not praying, it's not being
communion with our Father. He's there 24-7. Look at verse
23. Now this is a man saying this. the man Christ Jesus, yes, the
minister, yes, if you sent of God, and you believers, all three. Moreover, as for me, insert your
name in there. Not somebody behind you or next
to you, put your name in there. God forbid that I should sin
against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you. I will teach you,
the good and right way. Only fear the Lord and serve
him in truth with all your heart and consider how great things
he had done for you. Not only are we to speak the
truth as it is in Christ and to teach the righteousness of
God, but we are to pray for one another. And first of all, first
and foremost, bless God, Christ is daily interceding on our wearied
behalf right now. But we are to emulate him and
imitate our savior. Let everyone who names the name
of Christ ought to pray petition for each dear saved sinner or
brother or sister. We who are so prone to fall and
to wander into this evil world, Therefore, pray for one another.
Pray for one another. Pray for one another. I got to thinking about this
last verse, and we saw this continually in our study of the book of James. Pray, brethren, pray, pray, pray.
Show me your faith without your works. I'll show you my works
by my faith. Pray. Pray. Don't be harsh. Don't be critical. Don't look
at that mirror and then turn around and forget what manner
of man you are. Don't show favoritism. All these things. Don't speak
evil. Pray that patience may have her perfect work. And to be honest with you, we
see it in every book of the Bible. There's not one book in this
Bible that you do not see or note Prayer. Praying for each
other. We know we're kept by our sovereign's
intercessory prayer when he prayed in Luke chapter 22 for Peter. Peter, I prayed that your faith
fail not. I prayed that you wouldn't be
sifted. Satan's trying to sift you. And Melinda and I talked
about that this morning. I'm not going to go deep into
it because there's some things that were said to me by some
other folks that I'm questioning now. But Satan could sift Peter
like Satan tried to sift Job. Wouldn't you say so? By stuff
in the world, by family, by friends, so-called friends, by money,
by things, by stuff. Get your eyes off Christ. It
doesn't matter how. Just get your eyes off Christ. But our
great propitiator, prayed that we would
not be sifted, and we will not be. In the end, we will be with
him. But secondly, we are helped and assisted by each other's
prayer, as the Holy Spirit applies them. He uses our prayer. Let's
close and look at Ephesians chapter one. We're gonna look at a couple
verses. Ephesians chapter one, verse
15 and 16. This is a minister, this is Paul,
but he's a believer, so we can put your name in, wherefore I,
put your name in there also after I heard of your faith in the
Lord Jesus and love unto all the saints. Cease not to give
thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers. Ephesians chapter three. Ephesians
chapter three, verses 14 through 19. For this cause, I bow my knees,
that's prayer, unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of
whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would
grant you according to the riches of His glory. Now just as you
can pray for me, and I can pray this exactly same thing for you. To be strengthened with might
by His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your
hearts by faith, that you, being rooted and grounded in love,
may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth,
length, depth, and height, and to know the love of Christ, which
passes knowledge, that you might be filled with all the fullness
of God. Good prayer. Pray for one another.
And in closing, Colossians chapter one. Colossians chapter one. And verse
3, we give thanks to God and the
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you. Now, each one of you, in my eyes,
has different needs, best I can tell. I'm sure, you look at me,
man, I wish he had better English. Man, I wish he would say the
words. I wish he was clear. I wish he didn't mumble. I wish
he didn't speak through his nose. You know, all these things that
I perhaps do, and I know I do some of them, because Melinda,
she lets me know. I need this too. I'm a servant. just like you. I want to be faithful
to my God just like I want you to be. I pray that these things be said
of us and therefore glorify our Heavenly Father. Oh, to be or
become by God's rich free grace servants, faithful servants of
God. Again, he's accomplished the
work. It's done. Don't try to do anything. Look
to Him. Love Him. Worship Him. Honor
Him. Glorify Him. Confess Him. Follow Him in Believer's Baptism.
And then do like the New Testament Saints. I skipped a verse which
I thought was very important. But Bruce has said this. I've
said this. Christ, when he led them forth
as far as to Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them.
And it came to pass while he blessed them, he was parted from
them and carried up into heaven. His last two verses. And they,
the servants, worshiped him, returned to Jerusalem. That's
where their jobs were. That's where their work was.
That's where their vocation was. They return to Jerusalem with
great joy. Go back to your work with great
joy. But look at this next verse. And were continually. I'm just
trying to drum up business. No, sheep are gregarious animals. They don't do well alone. And
were continually in the temple. Now that was their church back
then. This is it now. Praising and blessing God. I
still affirm and I believe, and Joe and I talked about this a
lot, Henry said, a lone sheep is only one of two. Is a sheep in danger or a lost
sheep? I don't know a third one. I thought
there was three, but then I couldn't think. Nope. So if you are a
servant, you are a sheep. We need to fold and we need one
another. It doesn't matter if you play
the piano or not. You have a gift. Ask God if you don't know what
it is, what it is. I know it's to serve in good service. God be the glory. This Lord laid
this on my heart pretty heavy. There was something Matt said
back there, but I'll talk to him privately. Good message by
Spurgeon. We need one another. Oh, how
we need one another. We're not that strong. May the
Lord honor and bless his word. Bruce, would you close this,
please?