How to Finish Well – 4 Lessons

I’m going to wind up our journey with David this week with the death of King Saul. We all know the rest of David’s story and how his life ended. We’ve learned many truths and many lessons through this weeks-long journey.

Pastor Justin’s sermon was titled How to Finish Well. The Scripture this week is from 1 Samuel, chapters 28 and 31. As Justin pointed out, David’s and Saul’s lives were intertwined. With Saul’s death, David would finally ascend to the throne as king.

Before his death, even though he had previously banished all mediums (fortune tellers), Saul disguised himself and went to inquire of the medium of En-dor. Saul asked her to bring forth Samuel who was dead, as he had questions for him. When Samuel appeared, the medium screamed. She knew she didn’t have that power and was terrified of Who had conjured up his spirit. We know it was God who brought forth Samuel to show Saul and the medium Who had the power. Go read the story in chapter 28.

Justin pointed out four lessons to be learned from Saul’s life. Saul died at the hands of the Philistines, and so did his sons, including David’s beloved friend, Jonathan.  How to Finish Well - 4 Lessons @DDuPreeWilliams #ListenandBelieve #DependandRepent #Writing Share on X

LESSON 1 – DON’T STOP LISTENING

Saul had listened to God when he was younger, but pride had gotten in the way, and he stopped listening God. That is what took him to the medium. If we follow Saul’s lead, we will stop reading our Bibles and no longer tune into how God communicates with us through His Word. Justin pointed out that we shouldn’t just go to God when we need something, but to praise Him daily. If we find ourselves not listening to His voice above all others, we need to get back into His Word and open our hearts and minds to receive His message for us. It’s in there.

LESSON 2 – DON’T STOP BELIEVING

Saul had turned away from God. He didn’t believe He could help him. Saul’s main problem was not that God didn’t hear Saul, but Saul didn’t hear God. If Saul had kept his faith in God, if he’d never doubted Him, Saul’s life could have been totally different. Because Saul didn’t believe, it led him to the sin of seeking help from an outside source who was totally powerless, the medium. Bottom line is—we simply cannot make it through life’s toughest times without God. And Saul was up against a fierce enemy, the least of which was himself.

LESSON 3 – DON’T STOP DEPENDING

We humans have this tendency to try to fix things ourselves. John 15:5 ESV says, I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. We need to turn to God for everything. I told a much-loved family member this week not to try to fix a situation (which cannot be done), but to trust God as He already knows how it is going to turn out, anyway. Just wait. Pray. Get into His Word.

LESSON 4 – DON’T STOP REPENTING

Justin reminded us that we need to repent daily. When I was a girl, I remember hearing a sermon in which we were told to ask God to make us aware of sins we had no knowledge of so that we could repent. I was old enough to know what that meant. I’ve normally prayed to be forgiven of the sins of which I am aware, and of those I am unaware. It’s those little things we often forget about. That wayward thought, or that idle word. Guilty!

Justin said unrepentant sin stops our prayers. Isaiah 59:1-2 speaks to this. Repentance releases the transforming power of Christ in our lives. When we turn our eyes upon Jesus, we can see God’s grace. He spoke of Martin Luther’s opinions about unrepentant sin. Google that and read it. Very interesting.

One of our favorite preachers is Paul Washer. He says when he first began to preach, he knew he didn’t have the power to cover every single aspect of theology. He made his focus the cross. When we look to Jesus and the transforming power of His work on the cross, it has the power to change our eternities. Several of his outstanding sermons are on YouTube. His ministry is Heartcry.

Blessings, y’all!

 

SOME FINAL THOUGHTS AND QUESTIONS FOR YOU

I hope you’ve been blessed by the sharing of this sermon series.

I ask you to be in prayer for me as I seek His guidance for where my writing focus should be. I’m considering many things, one is blogging only monthly. Would that work for you? Would you miss a weekly blog? Do you read my fiction? Would you like to see more of the Charlotte Graves Mystery series? You want something new? Do you like contemporary? Historical? Romance?

What subjects do you prefer in a blog? Have you enjoyed my sharing the sermon series? Would you prefer just my monthly newsletter and not a weekly blog? What would you like to see in a newsletter? Books I’ve loved? Recipes? Things about me and our family? Anything else? Please contact me via email and let me know. It is within my website, but it is my full name with no spaces @gmail.com, or you may also comment on my FB page. I have two, my private which is just my full name, but one that has Author, behind it. I don’t do as much interacting on the author one as I don’t remember to because my plate is always full, and I’m old, y’all! Be sure to tell me you are a blog reader. I thank you for being faithful readers.

Love and blessings to each of you!

Debbie