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May 6, 2022 8:00 am
We all could use some encouragement and will find it together today. The Bible-based teaching of Dr. Don Wilton about well done today were having to first Samuel chapter 12 with Dr. Don Wilton well-known author a graduate seminary professor and pastor as he talks to us about these four powerful words. Well done, faithful servant. You open the word to get another open to pray with you.just now for 24 hours a day at 866-899-WORD. That's 866899673 were connecting on our website as well as TW online.org will tell you more about it later, but there is a remarkable piece of encouragement you'll find on our website about loneliness, how to be alone, but not long I can that's online 19 W online.org now today's teaching with Dr. Don Wilton a lot of work ahead of us in the bubble. We have the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ and I want you to know that Jesus Christ has an Encouraging Word for you to invite you to open your Bibles in the Old Testament. The first Samuel and chapter 12 first Samuel chapter 12. From time to time people lost me as I know they will lost you. What is it that we can do today. We are honoring our senior adults. When I think of this, the greatest generation. I think of individual men and ladies, many of whom I have just spent the possible week every day older.
I'm blessed because I have a mother and father who fall into this category and I have parents-in-law.
My wife and I called them grammarians because all about parents all in the 80s and we love them so much and we are blessed to still have them with us.
Did you know that God right from the beginning has chosen to use people now want to just run that by again from the beginning God has always used people to bring great blessing upon people. First of all let God's chosen method of evangelism you remember in Luke chapter 16 Jesus himself said when the rich man had died and gone to hell and realized he was in an eternal predicament that Jesus said I'm not going to send another person back from the dead, because I've already seen Jesus, but they have Moses and the prophets, let them hear them. God has always used people here in the United States of America. Where would we be.
I'm going on askew, where would we be without this, the greatest generation of people all IC battalions and RC ranks. I see boats food with maiden traveling across the English Channel, many of whom, to a certain day. I see great sacrifices, but I cannot help but see individual men and women ask a great cute great hero is sacrifice unsurpassed.
God has always used people in the Lord is taken me today to the life of Samuel in the lost moments of his life and I want to speak to you just briefly this morning on will run faithful servant well done, faithful servant. I'm asking another question today. What do you suppose it is that you and I need to do and be about. In order for God to save us.
Well done, faithful servant what others going to say about us when our time comes. What you are not booting today want to read to you just a few verses from first Samuel chapter 12 Samuel said to all Israel. I've listened to everything you said to me, and I'd say the king over you.you have a king as your leader. As for me I am old and gray and my sons are here with you. I have been your lead from my use until this day.
So here I stand and testify against me in the presence of the Lord and his anointed its go down to verse 16 now then stand still and see this great thing that the Lord is about to do before your eyes. Verse 18. Then Samuel called upon the Lord, and that same day the Lord sent Fonda and Ryan and so all the people stood in all of the Lord, and of Samuel the people all said to Samuel prayed to the Lord your God, for your servant so that we will not die for.
We have added to all other sins. The evil of asking for a king to which Samuel replied do not be afraid because even though you have done this evil. Do not turn away from the Lord, but rather serve the Lord with all of your heart.
Do not turn away off the useless items they can do you know good nor can they rescue you because they are useless for the sake of his great name. The Lord will not reject these people because the Lord was pleased to make you his own. As for me, Samuel said, far be it from me that I should send against the Lord by failing to pray for you and I will teach you the way that is good and right and so you people be sure to fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart.
Considering what right things he has done for you.
You know that one day when you're not coming to the presence when we all get to heaven. What a day of rejoicing that will be the you know the Bible tells us that what Jesus Christ will say to us as well done good and faithful has Samuel we know a lot about his life. I should dare say that if Samuel lived in our day and age we would call him part of the greatest generation. He was most certainly of the greatest of his generation. I think we would've seen him doing extraordinary things and I think at this stage of his life he had risen to a point at which God was adorning him with his grace like never before. I want you to notice a couple of things that the Lord showed me in this passage that folks I I want you to know you have really spoken to my own heart in a very personal way. I don't mind telling you I watched the Lord if he would some way just allow me when I get to that stage in my life.
I lost the Lord that if there is just some way in which some of these things could be said of me as I studied this passage of Scripture you know that is your posture that I pray for you. You might say to me pasta.
What is it that you praying about this is what I pray for you is what I pray for us is what I want to pray for my children and grandchildren. You know that it's not too late in the next few minutes God is going to take you somewhere.
You gonna need to reevaluate where you are you going to have to reevaluate your value system where you putting your energy. By the way, what did you do yesterday. Where was your heart. Where is it now you know the Bible says that where your heart is. That's where your treasuries what you value and then the Bible says Lane not any treasure on earth because more often seen will corrupt but Robert place your treasure in heaven. Fathering her in just a little moment here I don't know why I'm stopping to pray but I'm just stopping to pray for my people. Lord, some people would think that's awfully cheeky for me to pray for my people.
Lord, you've given to me, these people are not my people in that own name or control them, but they my people because you called me to be there ship and Lord before you take that very seriously and ask you to help me to pray for my people because they are your people because we are your people.
We are your children. Lord, if you would've allowed Samuel to rarely live what it means to be a faithful servant.
Surely Lord by your grace, you would let us be the same. So speak to us, Lord, when Samuel became a senior adult I want you to notice for things number one, he was able to look back with a sense of accomplishment. He was able to look back. That's what I want you to see. As he was able to look back that that's what senior adults do senior adults do that better than any of us. They can look back, the younger you are the last, you can look back you know I was with a little kid just recently in the little kid did something in the little kid was about eight years of age and made this comment said you know that this is the worst day I've had in my entire life and I thought to myself, well, I guess it's true. Samuel was able to look back with a sense of of of of great accomplishment. Look at verse one and two for two reasons for two reasons. Number one because he had listened to God's people.
What will accomplishment look what he says here, I have listened to everything you said to me that that's an accomplishment. By the way, did you know if there's anything that someone like Samuel would've told us today is that God always surrounds God's people with God's people.
I tried to make a commitment to the Lord when I became your pasta many years ago that I would never ever make a decision in this church without listening to God's godly people.
That's an accomplishment for Samuel to be able to do that. But that was not just the only thing he not only had listened to God's people, but he had led God's people what he says in verse three said I being a leader from my youth until this day. So there are two issues here that are fundamentally important in the manner with which Samuel in his old age was able to look back with a sense of accomplishment. He not only listened to God's people, but he led God's people, folks, there is a difference between listening and bleeding listening you be quiet and let others talk leading others. Be quiet and you talk and when it comes down to a relationship with Jesus Christ. If you and I in fact claim that God by his spirit lives in our hearts, and he has called us to stand up straight and I dark have a crooked world. There are countless numbers of times where we need to go and harness the godly counsel of godly people, but there comes a time when you stand up and when you speak and you lead. According to the way in which God has told you. Please forgive the interruption will be back with the rest of today's message. Well done, faithful servant by Dr. Don Wilton in just a moment at the beginning the broadcast we mentioned glorious resource by Dr. Wilton, Dr. Johnny Hunt that we are providing on our website TW online.org called loneliness, how to be alone. But not only with the message from Dr. Wilton called fear not, combined with the book from Johnny Hunt about you will have resources and biblical resources that will help you push through the overwhelming feeling that we all feel at times about the details on our website TW online.org or you can call about getting your copy at 866899 word that's 86689996730 online TW online.org for your gift of $25 or more will have this wonderful resources that will help you grow in your faith and notice as you invest in the ministry. The Encouraging Word your empowering people every single day to come to know Jesus as their Lord and their Savior. It's what we live for and you are fueling that as you invest in that great resource along on her website right now that TW online.org now that today's great teaching Dr. Don Wilton are you listening love to read about history and thinking about the second world war and I'm constantly amazed at the heroism of men and women. If you picture with me those little dingy boats that crossed the English Channel filled with so many heroes of the greatest generation. When the flaps would drop. They were facing the gunfire of the German Mike on the other side on the beaches of Omaha.
It was always one man who stood up and said I'll go first listening and leading all hallmarks of great spiritual leadership accomplishment. Samuel was able to look back with a sense of accomplishment number two. He was able to look in with a sense of achievement.
Look at verse three. Here I stand now, folks.
Just watch this watch this he was not only looking back with a sense of accomplishment. He was able to look in with a great sense of achievement. Can you imagine standing before an entire nation and saying here I stand who would like to testify against me. Tiger Woods may win the Masters but he cannot say that probably ever again.
President Clinton became president of the United States of America. But in these old age he can never stand and look in and say is there anyone who can testify against me.
The two reasons why Samuel evidently was able to look in with a sense of achievement.
First, because he had stood strong.
That's what verse three and following is all about.
Satan who talks about taking his donkey have taken Houma by Chino Boulevard press from use and have accepted a bribe to make me shut my eyes. If not done any of these things.
Somebody stand up and speak up against me. What well done and faithful servant. He had stood strong in his integrity but he was also able to looking with a sense of achievement, not only because he had stood strong, but because he had stayed the course.
I wasn't able to read that verse but in verse five Samuel said to him, the Lord's witness against your also, his anointed his witness this day that you have not found anything in my hand watch my hand your folks back in Samuel's day as it wasn't Moses that I remember when God confronted Moses and said to Moses.
Moses watch that in your hand, and he said you mean this scarf, this stick figure. He wasn't talking about a stick back in Samuel's day. Symbolically anything that was in their hand represented everything that God had given to them to do and to be it was their assignment. If you please. It was God's plan for them.
It was God's will for their lives and in Moses time God said to more Moses type whatever that is in your hand and throw it down and he threw it down and it became a hissing snake and God said to Moses you see when you hold in your hand anything other than what I put day all you are holding in your hand is a hissing snake little back to now pick it up and so he picked it up at God's command and that very same hissing snake turned back into something that Moses could not have turned it back into which was none other than the rod of God. And when he held that rorty needs hand. He was able to say with this rod I can set the people, not because he amounted to anything, but because he held in his hand, the very express will of the sovereign God who given through Jesus Christ gave his life for him. I'm not found anything. We have found nothing in your hand Samuel doing he was able to looking with a sense of achievement because he had stood strong as a man of integrity, something that no money could buy because he had stayed the course. He took what God had given to him and he never changed you on the verge of giving up or altering your course backing down. Changing your plans will done faithful servant was able to look back with a sense of accomplishment is able to looking with a sense of achievement. Number three was able to look up with a sense of contentment. I love this he was able to look up with the saints of contentment. Look at verse 16 now then stand still and see this great thing the Lord is about to do before your eyes.
He just looked up. It seems to me that right throughout the fabric of this man's life and ministry. His career that he continually and constantly was able to look up with a sense of contentment number one because he continually called personally after God right through the fabric of Samuel's life.
He constantly and continually called after God when pretty cool after God even in this passage he called out to God when things were really he called out to God, but he also called out to God when things were really bad. He wasn't a fair weather Christian if you please. That's a challenge to many of us, you notice how many people come to church when the weather is good, but as soon as there's a drop of rain and come have you noticed how many people in America flood the hallways of God's church. When hurricanes blow through our states in our neighborhoods and have you noticed how many people no longer come when the hurricane stopped blowing. I want Oscar something today he called personally out to God, and number two he had counseled the people to turn to God, right throughout his fabric of his ministry in his career, he constantly counseled people to turn to God. It was a two-sided age it's not only what Samuel did himself but that's what he ladies people to do it's all about him. It's all about him. It's all about him. It's all about him. How many times do we try and say to each other church about keeping the main thing the main thing. Actually, nothing else matters is that anybody today who would declare anything other than Jesus Christ in this church to be relevant.
That's what he saying well done, faithful servant while he was able to look back with a sense of accomplishment.
He was able to look in with a sense of achievement.
He was able to look up with a sense of contentment, but he was also able to look forward with a sense of anticipation that's from verse 22.
Following is great passage he sees as for me, far be it for me that I should send against the Lord by failing to pray for you. Verse 24. Be sure to feel the Lord he was able look forward with the with the saints of anticipation because he had pointed the people to serve God faithfully, Samuel understood that if there was anything that would cause him to anticipate tomorrow, was that he would continually constantly point people to serve God and secondly the person so I love verse 24 folks I can't get enough.
I think that should be a last verse. Be sure to fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all of your heart because of the great things he has done. How about you. Sometimes it's overwhelming to think of all the great things God has done for each and every one of us today.
But the most important things done is give us the opportunity to have our sins forgiven to have a reason for living at a place in heaven. All three of them start with one simple decision.
Have you made the decision to give your life to Jesus Christ, you can listing the doctors on teaching from First Federal 12.
All this time, but I pray that you open your heart to this opportunity.
He wants to share with you next.
Are you ready to give your heart and life to the Lord Jesus Christ. Why don't you pray this prayer with me right now.
Dear God, I know that Iversen and I know that Jesus died for me today.
I repent of my sin.
Faith I receive you into my Jesus, my friend. I welcome you today into the family of God. This is exciting new if you just give your heart to Jesus Christ, maybe praying along with Dr. Wilson or even early in the broadcast. Or maybe today God has stirred your heart and you know it's time to dedicate your life to Christ to begin again with a fresh start. Oh how we love to not only rejoice with you and pray for you, but also put some free resources in your hands. Dr. Don has prepared for you. You can call us right now at 866-899-9673 tell us about your decision for Christ and let us put these resources in your hands can also meet with this keyboard keyboard on our website@twonline.org.tv W online.org as a matter fact each and every week we gather together as a team and pray over some of the wonderful letters of comment emails to Dr. Wilson. If you haven't email Dr. don@dondioinftewonline.org and share with him how God is working in your life. Would love to pray for you and again if you give your life to Christ to the ministry The Encouraging Word he want you to have these resources right away so call this 866-899-WORD 9673 or email us at online@tewonline.org OR did you know The Encouraging Word has a YouTube channel on this channel you can watch over 100 of Dr. Wilton sermons. He can also listen to the weekly words of encouragement and devotional series written by Dr. Wilton.
Visit us on our YouTube channel. Today I times.
Dr. David don't forget were always available to pray with you 24 hours a day. 866-899-WORD 866-899-WORD 9673 or online@tewonline.org