Marching Into Your Divine Destiny

Journey Into The Promised Land

1 Samuel 15:10–31 (CSB)

10 Then the word of the Lord came to Samuel, 11 “I regret that I made Saul king, for he has turned away from following me and has not carried out my instructions.” So Samuel became angry and cried out to the Lord all night.

12 Early in the morning Samuel got up to confront Saul, but it was reported to Samuel, “Saul went to Carmel where he set up a monument for himself. Then he turned around and went down to Gilgal.” 13 When Samuel came to him, Saul said, “May the Lord bless you. I have carried out the Lord’s instructions.”

14 Samuel replied, “Then what is this sound of sheep, goats, and cattle I hear?”

15 Saul answered, “The troops brought them from the Amalekites and spared the best sheep, goats, and cattle in order to offer a sacrifice to the Lord your God, but the rest we destroyed.”

16 “Stop!” exclaimed Samuel. “Let me tell you what the Lord said to me last night.”

“Tell me,” he replied.

17 Samuel continued, “Although you once considered yourself unimportant, haven’t you become the leader of the tribes of Israel? The Lord anointed you king over Israel 18 and then sent you on a mission and said, ‘Go and completely destroy the sinful Amalekites. Fight against them until you have annihilated them.’ 19 So why didn’t you obey the Lord? Why did you rush on the plunder and do what was evil in the Lord’s sight?”

20 “But I did obey the Lord!” Saul answered. “I went on the mission the Lord gave me: I brought back King Agag of Amalek, and I completely destroyed the Amalekites. 21 The troops took sheep, goats, and cattle from the plunder—the best of what was set apart for destruction—to sacrifice to the Lord your God at Gilgal.”

22 Then Samuel said:

Does the Lord take pleasure in burnt offerings and sacrifices
as much as in obeying the Lord?
Look: to obey is better than sacrifice,
to pay attention is better than the fat of rams.
23 For rebellion is like the sin of divination,
and defiance is like wickedness and idolatry.
Because you have rejected the word of the Lord,
he has rejected you as king.

24 Saul answered Samuel, “I have sinned. I have transgressed the Lord’s command and your words. Because I was afraid of the people, I obeyed them. 25 Now therefore, please forgive my sin and return with me so I can worship the Lord.”

26 Samuel replied to Saul, “I will not return with you. Because you rejected the word of the Lord, the Lord has rejected you from being king over Israel.” 27 When Samuel turned to go, Saul grabbed the corner of his robe, and it tore. 28 Samuel said to him, “The Lord has torn the kingship of Israel away from you today and has given it to your neighbor who is better than you. 29 Furthermore, the Eternal One of Israel does not lie or change his mind, for he is not man who changes his mind.”

30 Saul said, “I have sinned. Please honor me now before the elders of my people and before Israel. Come back with me so I can bow in worship to the Lord your God.” 31 Then Samuel went back, following Saul, and Saul bowed down to the Lord.

A New Generation

In the battle with the Amalekites, instead of obeying God King Saul decided to do things his way. He compromised the instructions God had given him and spared the best of the animals to offer as a sacrifice to God. But God was not pleased with his partial obedience.

This is where Satan deceives many Christians into thinking they are acceptable to God. They are submissive and obedient to God in some areas of their lives, but refuse to be obedient in other areas, and choose instead to follow their own way.

Samuel asked him, “Why did you not obey the Lord? Why did you pounce on the plunder and do evil in the eyes of the Lord?” (1 Samuel 15:19, NIV). “But I did obey the Lord,” Saul insisted (1 Samuel 15:20, NIV). He was still unable to see that he had rebelled against God by following his own will instead of fully obeying what God had told him to do.

Samuel said, “To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams. For rebellion is like 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” (1 Samuel 15:22-23, NIV).

Saul finally acknowledged his sin. He said, “I have sinned. I violated the Lord’s command and your instructions. I was afraid of the people so I gave in to them” (1 Samuel 15:24, NIV).

Saul acknowledged his sin, but did not repent. He continued to follow his self-will and was defeated. Because he rejected God, followed his self-will, and disobeyed God, King Saul forfeited his kingdom. The same thing happened to Israel the first time they came to Kadeshbarnea. They rejected God, acted in self-will, disobeyed, and forfeited their Promised Land.

King Saul rejected God and lost the kingdom. The people of Israel rejected God and lost their Promised Land . But God raised up a new generation who entered in to claim God’s promises.

God is raising up a new generation — a new breed of spiritual warriors — who are prepared for war and will cross over to claim the promises of God. You are part of that new generation. You will not turn back. You will not be denied. Even if you failed in times past, God is saying to you, “This is a new day.” This is your time to take the kingdom. This is your time to claim the promises of God.

Will you take the first step today? If so, make this simple declaration…

Make this declaration:

This is a new day! I will not turn back. I will not be denied. I will claim all the promises God has for me.

*Adapted from MCWE email – Journey Into The Promised Land by Morris Cerullo

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