God sets a standard for His called and chosen. The higher the calling, the greater the degree of obedience required. Before He uses the called to a higher realm of serving Him, He will test them deeply.
In 1 Samuel 15:3, God commanded King Saul, “Now go, attack the Amalekites and totally destroy everything that belongs to them. Do not spare them; put to death men and women, children and infants, cattle and sheep, camels and donkeys.”
However, Saul did not fully obey God. In 1 Samuel 15:9, “But Saul and the army spared Agag and the best of the sheep and cattle, the fat calves and lambs–everything that was good. These they were unwilling to destroy completely, but everything that was despised and weak they totally destroyed.”
Disobedience is evil in God’s sight. Samuel told Saul in 1 Samuel 15:19, “Why did you not obey the Lord? Why did you pounce on the plunder and do evil in the eyes of the Lord?”
Samuel further added in 1 Samuel 15:22-23, “Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, He has rejected you as king.’
Saul disobeyed because of the fear of his soldiers. He told Samuel in 1 Samuel 15:24, “I have sinned. I violated the Lord’s command and your instructions. I was afraid of the people and so I gave in to them.”
As a result of Saul’s disobedience, Samuel said to him in 1 Samuel 15:28, “The Lord has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today and has given it to one of your neighbors–to one better than you.”
God’s calling upon our life is a treasure that we must value and honour.
It takes humility to obey the voice of God and obedience is a mark of true Sonship. A man of God wrote:- “God is not pleased by religious activity. He is pleased by faithful works and our obedience to Him. When we start to fear the people leaving more than we fear God leaving, we departed from true faith.”
In my book, I shared that I gave up my luxurious fine-living, secular biz, wealth including converting my office units in the prime commercial district of Singapore and dedicating them to God due to my zeal for Him and my trust in Him.
However, God never fails and as He says in Isaiah 1:19, “If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the best from the land.” And in Matthew 6:33, “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”
This one minute sermon from Billy Graham will encourage you:-
To God be the power and glory for ever and ever. Amen!
God bless you
Paul K P Ang 洪 光 炳
Ordained Minister (California)
Arsenal of Fire Global
https://arsenaloffire.blogspot.com
Nov 25, 2020
Footnote
The ebook ‘The Arsenal of Fire’ and 烈火军火库 is available vide the link below:-
https://www.aofglobal.com/collections/all
I pray that this sharing will strengthen your faith and stir you to spread the Fire of God. If you have been blessed by the sharing of our blog articles and testimonies and desire to partner with us to spread this Fire, please consider sowing into this ministry. You may do so through the link below. We thank you for your support and prayers. God bless you!”
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