I was counting cans and bottles to be recycled. The last part was the most difficult—figuring out where to put the few extra items, putting away bags, pencil, etc. Not that it was hard, just that I was tired and ready to quit.<\/p>\n
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My son, Scott told me about the 90% rule. Many people do a task almost to completion and then quit.<\/p>\n
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Let’s make sure this doesn’t happen to us spiritually. The last little bit is often the most important.<\/p>\n
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I heard a sermon about Saul disobeying God’s command to completely destroy the Amalekites: Because Saul disobeyed God took the kingship from him: <\/p>\n What Saul had left undone had a part in his death. Saul might have died by the hand of an Amalekite: <\/p>\n An account is given telling that Saul killed himself: <\/p>\n An Amalekite (Saul was commanded to destroy the Amalekites) was involved in his death. The point is—if we do not destroy sin completely, it will come back to destroy us.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n We are responsible for our own sin: <\/p>\n We choose to give in to the world, our own desires and the devil: <\/p>\n First, we must confess our sin to God: <\/p>\n <\/p>\n We must listen closely to God and do all we can by getting close to Him and carefully obeying: <\/p>\n "God is faithful”<\/strong><\/em>. He will "provide a way out”<\/strong><\/em> even when we think there is no way out: <\/p>\n Sometimes it takes much time and effort to destroy a long time sin habit, but we must remember that God is on our side. He lives us dearly and will do everything to set us free. <\/p>\n We can overcome if we belong to Jesus: <\/p>\n We are not condemned if we believe in Jesus, have asked His forgiveness and have asked to be His child: <\/p>\n Our sins, past, present and future are paid for by Jesus’ death in our place: <\/p>\n God will prepare the way for us and make it possible for us to overcome: <\/p>\n God’s Word can heal us: <\/p>\n He will show us the way, but sometimes we must diligently search: <\/p>\n God will give wisdom to anyone who asks: <\/p>\n Don’t give up: <\/p>\n We should consider our trials a chance to prove our faith: <\/p>\n We can confidence that He will deliver us from sin for we know that is His will: <\/p>\n Many places in the Bible, victory is promised: <\/p>\n Our goal should be perfection, to be like Christ: I was counting cans and bottles to be recycled. The last part was the most difficult—figuring out where to put the few extra items, putting away bags, pencil, etc. Not that it was hard, just that I was tired and ready to quit. My son, Scott told me about the 90% rule. Many people<\/p>\n
\n“Samuel said to Saul, “I am the one the LORD sent to anoint you king over his people Israel; so listen now to the message from the LORD. This is what the LORD Almighty says: ‘I will punish the Amalekites for what they did to Israel when they waylaid them as they came up from Egypt. Now go, attack the Amalekites and totally destroy[a] all that belongs to them. Do not spare them; put to death men and women, children and infants, cattle and sheep, camels and donkeys.’…
\nThen Saul attacked the Amalekites all the way from Havilah to Shur, near the eastern border of Egypt. He took Agag king of the Amalekites alive, and all his people he totally destroyed with the sword. 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.
\nThen the word of the LORD came to Samuel: “I regret that I have made Saul king, because he has turned away from me and has not carried out my instructions.”…” 1 Samuel 15:1-11 <\/strong><\/p>\n
\n“Samuel said to him, “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.” 1 Samuel 15:28<\/strong><\/p>\n
\n“Then David said to the young man who brought him the report, “How do you know that Saul and his son Jonathan are dead?”
\n“I happened to be on Mount Gilboa,” the young man said, “and there was Saul, leaning on his spear, with the chariots and their drivers in hot pursuit. When he turned around and saw me, he called out to me, and I said, ‘What can I do?’
\n“He asked me, ‘Who are you?’
\n“‘An Amalekite,’ I answered.
\n“Then he said to me, ‘Stand here by me and kill me! I’m in the throes of death, but I’m still alive.’
\n“So I stood beside him and killed him, because I knew that after he had fallen he could not survive. And I took the crown that was on his head and the band on his arm and have brought them here to my lord.”” 2 Samuel 1:5-10
\n<\/strong>The Amalekite thought he would receive a reward by reporting that he had killed David’s enemy. Instead David had him killed (2 Samuel 1:14-16).<\/p>\n
\n“Saul said to his armor-bearer, “Draw your sword and run me through, or these uncircumcised fellows will come and run me through and abuse me.”
\nBut his armor-bearer was terrified and would not do it; so Saul took his own sword and fell on it. When the armor-bearer saw that Saul was dead, he too fell on his sword and died with him.” 1 Samuel 31:4-5
\n<\/strong>Probably Saul had tried to kill himself, but failed, and the Amalekite had killed him at his request.<\/p>\n
\n“Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him. When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.” James 1:12-15 <\/strong>God in no way is responsible for our sin.<\/p>\n
\n“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” Ephesians 6:12
\n“For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world.” 1 John 2:16<\/strong><\/p>\n
\n“When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy on me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer. Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD.” And you forgave the guilt of my sin.” Psalm 32:3-5 <\/strong><\/p>\n
\n“If my people would only listen to me, if Israel would only follow my ways, how quickly I would subdue their enemies and turn my hand against their foes! Those who hate the LORD would cringe before him, and their punishment would last forever. But you would be fed with the finest of wheat; with honey from the rock I would satisfy you.” Psalm 81:13-16<\/strong> God will destroy the enemies in our life if we obey completely.
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\n“So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.” 1 Corinthians 10:12-13<\/strong><\/p>\n
\n“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11
\n“So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” John 8:36<\/strong><\/p>\n
\n“In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, 4 for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.” 1 John 5:3-5<\/strong><\/p>\n
\n“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.” Romans 8:1-2<\/strong><\/p>\n
\n“Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the one whose sin the LORD does not count against them and in whose spirit is no deceit.” Psalm 32:1-2 <\/strong><\/p>\n
\n“I will go before you and will level the mountains; I will break down gates of bronze and cut through bars of iron.” Isaiah 45:2<\/strong><\/p>\n
\n“They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the honeycomb.
\nBy them your servant is warned; in keeping them there is great reward.” Psalm 19:10-11 <\/strong><\/p>\n
\n“My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding— indeed, if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God. For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. He holds success in store for the upright, he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless, for he guards the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones.
\nThen you will understand what is right and just and fair—every good path. For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul. Discretion will protect you, and understanding will guard you.” Proverbs 2:1-11<\/strong><\/p>\n
\n“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.” James 1:5-8 We must have faith.<\/strong><\/p>\n
\n“If you falter in a time of trouble, how small is your strength!” Proverbs 24:10
\n“If you have raced with men on foot and they have worn you out, how can you compete with horses? If you stumble in safe country, how will you manage in the thickets by the Jordan?” Jeremiah 12:5<\/strong><\/p>\n
\n“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” James1:2-4<\/strong><\/p>\n
\n“This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.” 1 John 5:14-15<\/strong><\/p>\n
\n“It is God who arms me with strength and keeps my way secure. He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; he causes me to stand on the heights. He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend a bow of bronze. You make your saving help my shield; your help has made[i] me great. You provide a broad path for my feet, so that my ankles do not give way.” 2 Samuel 22:33-37 Psalm 18:32-36
\n “Now this I know: The LORD gives victory to his anointed. He answers him from his heavenly sanctuary with the victorious power of his right hand.” Psalm 20:6
\n“With God we will gain the victory, and he will trample down our enemies.” Psalm 60:12 108:13
\n“The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but victory rests with the LORD.” Proverbs 21:31
\n“But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 15:57<\/strong><\/p>\n
\n“Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” Matthew 5:48
\n“And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.” Philippians 1:9-11
\n“Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.” 2 Corinthians 7:1<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"