#S078 - “If It Ain't
Broke, Don't Fix It” (Part 1)
00:00:06.87\00:00:17.11
I want to invite
you to go with me
00:00:20.12\00:00:21.35
to two places in your Bible.
00:00:21.38\00:00:22.92
First, Samuel, chapter seven.
00:00:22.95\00:00:25.35
First, Samuel, Chapter seven.
00:00:25.39\00:00:28.16
And we're going to begin
together at verse number 13.
00:00:28.19\00:00:31.63
And just put your
finger over in first.
00:00:32.56\00:00:33.96
Samuel, chapter eight, which
is where we will be semantically
00:00:34.00\00:00:37.73
for the remainder of our time.
00:00:38.67\00:00:40.54
First Samuel, Chapter seven.
00:00:40.57\00:00:42.44
Just provide some
context for our story today.
00:00:42.47\00:00:45.14
First, Samuel, Chapter seven.
00:00:46.01\00:00:48.04
When you get there,
say, Pastor, I'm there
00:00:48.08\00:00:50.95
for Samuel,
chapter seven and verse
00:00:50.98\00:00:53.65
number 13.
00:00:53.68\00:00:57.05
Hear the word of the Lord.
00:00:57.09\00:00:59.29
The Bible say so.
00:00:59.32\00:01:00.29
The Philistines were what
00:01:00.32\00:01:02.76
they were what?
00:01:03.86\00:01:05.59
So the Philistines are subdued.
00:01:05.63\00:01:08.56
I need you to get that.
00:01:08.60\00:01:11.50
And they did not come
00:01:11.53\00:01:13.87
any more into the
territory of Israel.
00:01:14.77\00:01:18.11
Your kitchen, this church
00:01:18.74\00:01:19.47
and the
00:01:20.74\00:01:21.71
hand of the Lord was
against the Philistines.
00:01:21.74\00:01:24.15
All the days of who?
00:01:24.68\00:01:27.18
All the days of Samuel.
00:01:27.22\00:01:29.05
Then the cities which
the Philistines had taken
00:01:29.08\00:01:31.92
from Israel were restored
to Israel from across to get.
00:01:31.95\00:01:36.52
And Israel
00:01:36.89\00:01:38.09
recovered its territory from
the hands of the Philistines.
00:01:38.13\00:01:41.23
And also there was peace
between Israel and the Emirates.
00:01:42.36\00:01:45.63
And Samuel judged Israel
all the days of what his life.
00:01:46.80\00:01:52.07
Now go to chapter
eight and verse number one
00:01:53.07\00:01:54.28
and be patient as we
read a little bit today.
00:01:55.28\00:01:57.55
The Bible says now and
it came to pass when Samuel
00:01:57.58\00:02:00.98
was old, that he made
his sons judges over Israel.
00:02:01.02\00:02:04.75
The name of his
firstborn was Joel and the name
00:02:05.82\00:02:08.39
of his second Abidjan,
00:02:08.96\00:02:10.79
and they were
judges in Beersheba,
00:02:10.83\00:02:13.19
but his sons did
00:02:13.23\00:02:14.20
not walk in his
ways, and they turned aside
00:02:14.20\00:02:16.40
after dishonest gain.
00:02:16.43\00:02:18.10
They took bribes
and perverted justice.
00:02:18.13\00:02:20.37
Then all the elders of
Israel gathered together
00:02:21.44\00:02:23.74
and came to Samuel at
Ramah and said to him, Look,
00:02:23.77\00:02:27.34
you are old and your
sons do not walk in your ways.
00:02:28.48\00:02:31.35
Now make us a king to
judge us like the nations.
00:02:32.41\00:02:35.82
But the thing displeased Samuel
00:02:36.52\00:02:39.35
when they said, Give
us a king to judge us.
00:02:40.36\00:02:42.29
So Samuel prayed to the Lord
00:02:42.96\00:02:45.13
and notice what the Lord says
and the Lord said to Samuel,
00:02:46.36\00:02:48.73
He the voice of the
people and all that.
00:02:49.66\00:02:51.70
They say to you, for
they have not rejected you,
00:02:51.73\00:02:55.00
but they have rejected me,
00:02:55.64\00:02:57.84
that I should
not reign over them
00:02:58.61\00:03:00.68
according to all the
works which they have done
00:03:01.71\00:03:03.91
since the day I
brought them up out of Egypt.
00:03:03.95\00:03:06.95
Even to this day with
which they have forsaken
00:03:06.98\00:03:10.62
me and served other gods,
so they are doing to you also.
00:03:10.65\00:03:14.52
Now therefore he their voice,
00:03:15.22\00:03:17.36
however you shall suddenly
for one them and show them
00:03:18.49\00:03:21.46
the behavior of the King
who will reign over them.
00:03:21.50\00:03:24.93
So Samuel told all the
words of the Lord to the people
00:03:26.10\00:03:29.40
who asked him for a
king, and he said, This
00:03:30.41\00:03:32.67
will be the behavior of the
King who will reign over you.
00:03:32.71\00:03:35.88
He will take your
sons and appoint them
00:03:36.78\00:03:38.55
for his own chariots
and to be his horsemen.
00:03:38.58\00:03:42.45
And some will run
before his chariots,
00:03:42.48\00:03:44.95
and he will appoint
00:03:45.49\00:03:46.52
captains over his
thousands and captains over 50
00:03:46.55\00:03:49.19
and will set some
to plow his ground
00:03:50.06\00:03:52.23
and to reap his
harvest and to do make to make
00:03:53.19\00:03:57.53
some weapons of war and
equipment for his chariots.
00:03:58.60\00:04:02.24
And he will take of
your daughters to be pitiful.
00:04:02.27\00:04:05.04
Few perfumers, cooks and bakers,
00:04:05.74\00:04:08.21
and he will take the best
of your fields, your vineyards,
00:04:09.38\00:04:12.61
and your olive groves, and
will give them to his servants.
00:04:12.65\00:04:16.12
He will take a 10th of
your grade and your vintage
00:04:17.22\00:04:20.89
and give it to his
officers and servants.
00:04:21.86\00:04:25.46
And he will take
your males, servants
00:04:26.33\00:04:27.96
and your female
servants, your finest young men
00:04:28.00\00:04:31.03
and your donkeys,
and put them to his work.
00:04:31.07\00:04:34.87
And he will
00:04:35.57\00:04:36.74
take a 10th of your sheep
and you will be his servants.
00:04:36.77\00:04:39.37
And you will cry out in
that day because of your king,
00:04:40.48\00:04:44.85
whom you have
chosen for yourselves.
00:04:45.71\00:04:50.72
And the Lord will
not hear you in that day.
00:04:50.75\00:04:54.32
Nevertheless,
00:04:55.66\00:04:57.09
the people refuse to
obey the voice of Samuel,
00:04:57.13\00:05:00.96
and they said No, but we
will have a king over us.
00:05:01.00\00:05:05.27
That we also may be like
00:05:05.83\00:05:08.47
the other nation, and
that a king may judge us
00:05:09.50\00:05:13.84
and go out before us
00:05:14.38\00:05:16.91
and fight our battles.
00:05:17.48\00:05:20.62
Today's Saints for just a
little while, with God's help,
00:05:21.75\00:05:23.75
I want to talk to
you under the subject.
00:05:24.69\00:05:26.15
If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
00:05:26.19\00:05:30.39
If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
00:05:31.39\00:05:32.76
Let us pray together.
00:05:32.79\00:05:35.03
Father.
00:05:35.46\00:05:36.36
My prayer is simply this.
00:05:37.00\00:05:39.57
That your strength would be
made perfect in my weakness.
00:05:39.60\00:05:43.77
Lord, would you give
00:05:44.67\00:05:45.71
a supernatural
strength to preach the word?
00:05:45.74\00:05:48.81
But, Lord, would you
even give a strong anointing
00:05:49.88\00:05:52.35
on the reception of the Word
00:05:53.01\00:05:54.88
and our daily
application of its truth?
00:05:55.82\00:05:58.19
So, Lord, would you please hype
me in the shadows of the cross
00:05:59.42\00:06:02.06
that Jesus alone might be seen,
00:06:02.76\00:06:04.66
that Christ
alone might be heard?
00:06:05.49\00:06:08.43
And at the end of
our time together,
00:06:08.46\00:06:10.17
let Jesus only be praised.
00:06:10.20\00:06:12.60
Blessings.
00:06:13.34\00:06:14.37
To this end, we ask in
the wonderful name of Jesus.
00:06:14.40\00:06:16.97
Let them believe, say together.
00:06:17.01\00:06:19.07
Amen. And amen.
00:06:19.51\00:06:21.08
You may be seated in the House
00:06:21.11\00:06:22.54
of the Lord today, again
talking to you on the subject.
00:06:22.58\00:06:31.62
If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
00:06:33.42\00:06:37.86
Now, you know, Church,
our text today has principles
00:06:38.99\00:06:43.37
that are portable for the
body of Christ in our time.
00:06:43.40\00:06:47.34
And the first thing
we shall learn today
00:06:48.27\00:06:50.17
is that when
God set something up
00:06:51.01\00:06:53.27
that if it is not
broke, don't you try to fix it.
00:06:54.28\00:06:57.95
And what we will
observe in Israel's behavior
00:06:58.88\00:07:02.02
is that sometimes
different doesn't mean better.
00:07:03.08\00:07:06.62
You see, there are three
trajectory changing moments
00:07:07.76\00:07:10.96
in the biblical narrative
of the children of Israel.
00:07:12.09\00:07:14.30
First, it is in
the land of Kadesh,
00:07:15.10\00:07:17.40
where they refuse to
enter into the land of promise.
00:07:18.53\00:07:21.10
And as a result, they
are sentenced to 40 years
00:07:22.14\00:07:24.94
of wondering as a
result of their rebellion.
00:07:24.97\00:07:28.04
Most importantly, it is
their national rejection
00:07:29.11\00:07:31.58
of Jesus as the Son
of God and the Messiah.
00:07:32.55\00:07:35.68
And the third is here,
00:07:36.25\00:07:37.75
where they reject the governance
of God and they request a
00:07:37.79\00:07:41.72
the leadership
of an earthly key.
00:07:42.52\00:07:44.23
Now, you may recall
that as the children entered
00:07:45.29\00:07:48.16
into the land of
promise, it became very involved
00:07:48.20\00:07:52.17
for foreign nations to embrace
the leadership of a king.
00:07:52.20\00:07:56.71
And you note that God steered
Israel away from this practice,
00:07:57.94\00:08:02.38
and he set
judges over his people.
00:08:03.21\00:08:05.35
Now, these judges were to be
interpreters of the law of God.
00:08:06.55\00:08:10.22
And through them, God would make
His will known to the people.
00:08:11.45\00:08:14.49
And even though the folk would
00:08:15.19\00:08:16.79
get their immediate
instruction from the judges,
00:08:16.83\00:08:20.53
the King of Israel was
actually the Lord Jehovah.
00:08:21.53\00:08:25.47
And through
their own confession,
00:08:26.30\00:08:28.30
they have grown weary
of the governance of God.
00:08:29.30\00:08:31.67
And now they
desire an earthly king
00:08:32.54\00:08:35.81
to be monarch
and ruler over them.
00:08:36.58\00:08:38.71
Now, understand, Church,
that the audacity of this
00:08:39.81\00:08:43.32
request has multiple layers.
00:08:43.35\00:08:46.15
One in a vacuum. It is foolish
00:08:46.86\00:08:49.26
to look for leadership
outside of Jesus Christ.
00:08:50.23\00:08:53.96
But what makes it
insane is the timing
00:08:54.83\00:08:57.83
and the context
of their request.
00:08:58.67\00:09:00.44
Now remember that
Samuel had multiple functions
00:09:01.40\00:09:04.61
for the nation.
00:09:04.64\00:09:05.71
Number one,
Samuel was a prophet.
00:09:05.74\00:09:08.48
Number two, Samuel was a priest.
00:09:09.18\00:09:11.21
But most importantly, Samuel was
the final judge of the nation.
00:09:12.45\00:09:16.05
And remember that
because of Samuel's dedication
00:09:17.12\00:09:20.66
to the Lord, that
the Lord had strengthened
00:09:20.69\00:09:23.93
their hands against
all of their enemies,
00:09:24.89\00:09:26.76
so much so that God
allowed them to repossess
00:09:27.66\00:09:31.10
the cities that were
under Philistine control.
00:09:32.13\00:09:34.64
God had driven
them out with such power
00:09:35.50\00:09:38.77
that the Bible says
they wouldn't even dare
00:09:39.71\00:09:42.64
set foot in Israel like terrain.
00:09:43.35\00:09:45.68
And understand that
through Samuel's leadership,
00:09:46.75\00:09:49.32
God had given them rest from
all of their enemies all around.
00:09:50.52\00:09:54.82
And understand friends
that they're in a point
00:09:55.79\00:09:58.56
where they're being
invaded by their enemies.
00:09:59.53\00:10:02.76
But they're too busy
envying their enemies.
00:10:03.73\00:10:06.37
Understand church that this
should be a season of gratitude.
00:10:07.57\00:10:11.84
It ought to be a
time of Thanksgiving.
00:10:12.67\00:10:15.08
There ought to be
a national euphoria.
00:10:15.98\00:10:18.35
But the problem
with God's people
00:10:19.15\00:10:20.82
is they're so busy
looking at the other nations
00:10:21.85\00:10:25.05
that they're trying to fix
something that is not broken.
00:10:26.25\00:10:29.46
And can I
suggest today, friends,
00:10:30.29\00:10:32.23
that the only thing
worse than not having it
00:10:33.23\00:10:36.13
good is when you have it good,
but you can't recognize it.
00:10:36.16\00:10:40.64
In fact,
00:10:41.30\00:10:42.34
the only thing worse
than being dealt a bad hand
00:10:42.37\00:10:45.41
is when you have a good hand
and you don't know what to do
00:10:46.64\00:10:49.11
with it.
00:10:49.14\00:10:50.15
And see, sometimes
the most foolish person
00:10:50.18\00:10:53.11
is someone that trades
in good for a different.
00:10:54.15\00:10:57.39
Even if different is not better.
00:10:58.09\00:10:59.59
You are not with me today.
00:11:00.29\00:11:01.46
And let me be clear. Saints.
00:11:01.49\00:11:02.89
I am not suggesting
00:11:02.92\00:11:04.39
that your life is perfect
and that everything is ideal.
00:11:04.43\00:11:08.66
But I believe that most of us,
if we reflect over our lives,
00:11:09.93\00:11:12.50
a little bit,
00:11:12.53\00:11:13.74
we will come to the conclusion
that our lives are blessed.
00:11:13.77\00:11:17.64
Am I preaching to anybody today?
00:11:18.34\00:11:19.81
In other words, you might not
have the house of your dream,
00:11:19.84\00:11:23.21
but can you testify that
I'm blessed to have a house?
00:11:24.35\00:11:26.88
You might not
have the perfect job,
00:11:27.72\00:11:29.55
but you can say, I'm
blessed to have a job.
00:11:30.52\00:11:32.55
I might not have
the perfect marriage,
00:11:33.46\00:11:35.02
but God's
blessing is on my marriage.
00:11:35.92\00:11:37.63
And what I want a
prayer for a church
00:11:38.53\00:11:39.96
is that sometimes we
can get so distant in it
00:11:40.00\00:11:43.03
through comparison that
we will pick apart a life
00:11:44.10\00:11:47.24
that has already been
blessed by the most high God.
00:11:48.37\00:11:51.14
And when I need somebody
to get is that different?
00:11:52.17\00:11:54.58
Is not always better.
00:11:54.61\00:11:56.64
And sometimes it's better
to be content than curious.
00:11:56.68\00:12:00.68
In other words,
Israel is so busy
00:12:01.68\00:12:03.99
looking at how others have it
00:12:04.69\00:12:06.22
that they can't recognize
how good they have it in God.
00:12:07.42\00:12:10.49
They are so busy in being
the others that they don't
00:12:11.56\00:12:13.80
realize that they are
the envy of other folk.
00:12:13.83\00:12:16.56
And see, let me suggest Oakwood,
that sometimes we are so busy
00:12:17.80\00:12:20.97
looking at somebody
else's life that we can't
00:12:21.94\00:12:24.84
recognize how blessed
our lives actually are.
00:12:24.87\00:12:28.58
In fact, some of
us are so busy looking
00:12:29.48\00:12:31.85
at somebody else's relationship
that you can't recognize that
00:12:31.88\00:12:36.45
God is giving you a
pretty good dude by your side.
00:12:36.48\00:12:39.89
Some of us are so busy
looking at their wardrobe
00:12:40.96\00:12:43.83
that you can't thank God
for what's in your own closet.
00:12:44.99\00:12:47.50
Some of us are so busy
looking at somebody else's house
00:12:48.66\00:12:51.13
that you forgot to praise
God for your house and church.
00:12:52.33\00:12:54.90
This is how
stupid blessed we are
00:12:55.74\00:12:57.97
that we complain about
00:12:59.17\00:13:00.78
things that we
ought to be praising for.
00:13:00.81\00:13:03.18
In fact, last
night or this morning,
00:13:04.05\00:13:06.61
some of us looked in a
closet that was overflowing
00:13:07.72\00:13:10.55
with clothes
00:13:10.59\00:13:11.75
and got mad and said, I
still ain't got nothing to wear.
00:13:11.79\00:13:15.36
In fact, God is so good
00:13:16.62\00:13:19.39
that some had to blow
edible food out of the fridge
00:13:20.53\00:13:23.97
to make room for the new
food that God sent your way.
00:13:25.13\00:13:27.94
Some of us had the gall to
complain about having to go
00:13:29.10\00:13:32.87
to work instead of
thanking God that you got a job.
00:13:32.91\00:13:36.64
There are some students
00:13:37.21\00:13:38.41
that complained
about having to go to class
00:13:38.45\00:13:41.25
when some of
00:13:41.65\00:13:42.78
your students went home
and did not financially clear.
00:13:42.82\00:13:45.35
And sometimes the
mercies of God are so constant
00:13:46.35\00:13:49.52
and his
faithfulness is so consistent
00:13:50.39\00:13:52.43
that we get bored
with the favor of God
00:13:53.36\00:13:55.73
and we get used
to His faithfulness.
00:13:56.60\00:13:58.50
But I need somebody to know that
no matter how bad you have it,
00:13:59.73\00:14:03.24
how many of you know
00:14:03.77\00:14:04.91
that somebody is willing
to take trade places with you?
00:14:04.94\00:14:07.61
In other words, Philistines
00:14:08.58\00:14:10.41
would gladly trade places
with the children of Israel.
00:14:10.45\00:14:14.52
In other words, I
need somebody to know
00:14:15.38\00:14:16.85
that even when you
think you have it bad,
00:14:17.75\00:14:19.75
there is somebody that
would gladly trade places.
00:14:20.82\00:14:23.29
Y'all might be quiet today.
00:14:23.32\00:14:24.89
In other words, you
might not love the house
00:14:24.93\00:14:27.23
you're in, but there is
somebody that we're glad
00:14:27.23\00:14:30.27
Lee have the house that
you are complaining about.
00:14:31.30\00:14:33.20
There is somebody
that's willing to drive the car
00:14:34.24\00:14:36.81
that you feel like is
taking away your swag.
00:14:37.81\00:14:40.18
In other words, Mary folk,
there is some single person
00:14:41.34\00:14:43.88
that would gladly trade
places with you and single folk.
00:14:45.08\00:14:48.25
There are some married folk
00:14:48.92\00:14:49.85
that would actually
trade places with you
00:14:49.88\00:14:52.59
when you are tempted to complain
about the pain in your body.
00:14:53.79\00:14:57.96
Remember, there are some
that can't feel that pain
00:14:59.06\00:15:01.56
because they are six feet below
00:15:02.26\00:15:04.03
and you are to praise God
that's just six feet above.
00:15:05.13\00:15:07.90
Do you realize
students, that there is somebody
00:15:08.87\00:15:10.77
that would be glad for the
opportunity to be in college?
00:15:11.97\00:15:14.81
There is somebody that's glad
to be at an HBCU young person.
00:15:16.08\00:15:20.35
You ought to be glad
00:15:20.38\00:15:21.95
that you got parents that love
you enough to care where you are
00:15:21.98\00:15:26.12
and wonder what you're up to
and what I'm saying to somebody
00:15:27.32\00:15:30.33
today
00:15:30.36\00:15:31.53
is that your problem is not
that you're in a bad situation.
00:15:31.56\00:15:35.30
The problem is
00:15:35.73\00:15:36.90
that you don't know how to
make the most of your situation.
00:15:36.93\00:15:39.67
In other words, I've learned
00:15:40.64\00:15:42.14
is that when the grass
looks greener on the other side,
00:15:42.17\00:15:45.44
you've just got to
water your own grass.
00:15:46.31\00:15:47.64
All my required in here today.
00:15:48.34\00:15:49.78
In other words, when your house
is not what you want it to be.
00:15:49.81\00:15:53.55
Just do some
improvements to your own house
00:15:54.55\00:15:56.62
when financially
you're not in the right place.
00:15:57.62\00:15:59.49
Be disciplined and
build your own situation.
00:16:00.56\00:16:03.12
In other words,
don't always pray
00:16:03.96\00:16:05.46
for a different circumstance.
00:16:06.16\00:16:07.76
You've just got to learn to make
00:16:08.43\00:16:09.56
the most of the circumstances
that you're already in.
00:16:09.60\00:16:13.17
And say the word
to somebody today
00:16:14.00\00:16:15.80
is that you've got to
learn to be more content.
00:16:16.87\00:16:18.64
Then you are curious
where the church sat today.
00:16:19.71\00:16:21.44
In other words, to
be content doesn't mean
00:16:22.41\00:16:24.75
I don't want something
better, but to be content means
00:16:24.78\00:16:28.62
I'm going to praise God
until the better comes my way.
00:16:28.65\00:16:32.79
And do I have at least
seven folks in this room
00:16:33.82\00:16:36.29
that can say, I'm not
going to wait till that happens
00:16:37.43\00:16:39.63
to praise the Lord.
00:16:39.66\00:16:41.06
I'm going to praise
00:16:41.10\00:16:42.23
God for what He has
already assigned to my life.
00:16:42.26\00:16:46.30
Oh, can there be a
praise break in the house today?
00:16:47.44\00:16:50.04
Is there anybody that can say,
Lord, I praise you from my life,
00:16:51.27\00:16:54.28
I praise your for my house.
00:16:54.94\00:16:57.75
I praise for the car. I drive.
00:16:57.78\00:17:00.42
I praise you for the
clothes in my closet.
00:17:01.38\00:17:03.82
I praise you that
I'm in my right mind.
00:17:04.72\00:17:07.19
I praise you that
I've got health in my body.
00:17:08.12\00:17:10.79
Don't wait to
see something else.
00:17:11.63\00:17:13.26
Come back in your praise
and put what is right now.
00:17:13.29\00:17:18.33
Let those who have wrath
00:17:18.90\00:17:20.87
praise the name of the Lord.
00:17:21.54\00:17:24.14
Are y'all here in
this today church?
00:17:25.54\00:17:27.58
The second thing that
this story teaches us saints,
00:17:27.61\00:17:31.05
is that you can't
have the covering of God
00:17:32.01\00:17:35.12
without God.
00:17:35.52\00:17:38.45
Okay, let me say it again.
00:17:39.09\00:17:41.09
See, the second thing is
00:17:41.12\00:17:42.02
teachers, young
people hear me on this.
00:17:42.06\00:17:43.43
You can't have the
covering of God without God,
00:17:43.46\00:17:47.10
not
understanding that this request
00:17:47.96\00:17:49.86
is actually somewhat
comical, because what they do
00:17:50.97\00:17:54.14
is they actually
gaslight your boy Samuel
00:17:54.17\00:17:57.31
by blaming him for the
problems they have brought
00:17:58.34\00:18:01.64
upon themselves.
00:18:02.08\00:18:03.24
They say, Samuel, the problem
is that your sons are corrupt.
00:18:03.28\00:18:07.58
But the main issue is
00:18:07.62\00:18:08.75
that Samuel, you've gotten a
little too old to do this job.
00:18:08.78\00:18:12.09
Now it's funny because
most Bible scholars believe
00:18:13.19\00:18:15.96
that their express
reasons are just a pretext to do
00:18:17.06\00:18:21.93
what they've already
decided they're going to do.
00:18:23.00\00:18:25.87
In other words, I
need you to get that.
00:18:26.74\00:18:28.34
Even though Samuel signs
have began to strain, patriarchs
00:18:28.37\00:18:33.21
and prophets makes it
clear that their corruption
00:18:33.24\00:18:36.75
has not reached the
level of Eli's sons.
00:18:37.61\00:18:40.32
And the reason they just now
bring it up is they know that
00:18:41.55\00:18:45.19
Samuel would have
rebuked them or removed them,
00:18:45.22\00:18:49.19
and they save it
as the trump card
00:18:50.03\00:18:52.16
in order to get
Samuel out of office.
00:18:53.19\00:18:55.60
But notice, their
major complaint is this.
00:18:56.56\00:18:58.30
They say, Samuel,
you've gotten too old.
00:18:59.23\00:19:01.37
Now, you know this is crazy
saints, because at this time,
00:19:02.60\00:19:05.01
Samuel is probably in his late
forties or his early fifties.
00:19:05.04\00:19:10.18
In other words, you
realize that even after Samuel
00:19:11.21\00:19:14.25
anoints Saul as king,
he walks by Saul's side
00:19:14.28\00:19:18.79
for nearly 40
years before he dies.
00:19:19.65\00:19:22.66
And Samuel is
gives way to David.
00:19:23.49\00:19:25.66
In other words, what they do
is they exaggerate circumstances
00:19:26.86\00:19:31.03
to do what they made
up in their minds to do.
00:19:32.00\00:19:35.04
In other words, he
cannot win in this deliberation.
00:19:36.17\00:19:39.51
They're not going to
hear what he's had to say,
00:19:40.58\00:19:42.64
because the truth is they
don't come to him for counsel.
00:19:43.78\00:19:46.38
They came to him to cosign.
00:19:47.05\00:19:48.72
They didn't come to
Samuel for direction.
00:19:50.15\00:19:52.75
They came to Samuel
00:19:53.29\00:19:54.46
to do what they've already
made up in their minds to do.
00:19:54.49\00:19:58.46
And let me just pause
to say this to somebody.
00:19:59.43\00:20:01.50
You can't help somebody
00:20:02.06\00:20:03.73
that's already
decided what they going do.
00:20:04.70\00:20:06.43
Am I telling the truth today?
00:20:07.94\00:20:10.11
In other words, I
have learned the hard way
00:20:10.14\00:20:12.61
that I'm going to
00:20:13.11\00:20:14.18
save my counsel for the
curious and not be convinced.
00:20:14.21\00:20:17.68
Am I preaching to anybody today?
00:20:17.71\00:20:19.51
I'm only going to talk to those
that have the posture of clay,
00:20:19.55\00:20:23.32
not those who have
hearts like cement.
00:20:24.22\00:20:25.89
How you are
hearing the pastor today?
00:20:25.92\00:20:27.79
Because one of the
things I've learned
00:20:27.82\00:20:29.79
is that you can't talk
somebody to remain in school
00:20:29.82\00:20:33.23
who doesn't really
want to be in school.
00:20:34.13\00:20:35.73
You can't talk somebody out
00:20:36.40\00:20:37.80
of leaving the church who's
already determined to leave.
00:20:37.83\00:20:41.37
You can't get
somebody to remain married
00:20:42.30\00:20:44.21
whose heart is
already set on divorce.
00:20:45.11\00:20:47.01
You can't tell
somebody either relationship
00:20:47.98\00:20:50.31
that they've determined
that they already want to be in.
00:20:51.45\00:20:54.25
And as the I've learned phrase,
that sometimes you've got to
00:20:54.28\00:20:58.02
fall back and do the word
fair in your prayer closet
00:20:59.15\00:21:02.52
so that God can do
what you can't say.
00:21:03.43\00:21:06.06
See, because their
00:21:07.23\00:21:08.43
mind states when they come
to Samuel, it's already made up.
00:21:08.46\00:21:10.70
And so they're not
going to listen to Samuel.
00:21:11.70\00:21:13.44
They don't even listen
to the response of God.
00:21:14.40\00:21:16.64
And if they won't
listen to the word,
00:21:17.54\00:21:19.31
if they won't
listen to their conscience,
00:21:20.24\00:21:21.98
they're not
going to listen to you.
00:21:22.81\00:21:24.01
When you start talking.
00:21:24.05\00:21:26.25
And so I need to help
00:21:26.28\00:21:27.32
somebody that's
interceding for somebody today,
00:21:27.35\00:21:29.08
because the truth is, you can't
00:21:29.78\00:21:30.92
want somebody to be saved
more than they want to be saved.
00:21:30.95\00:21:33.89
You can't want somebody
00:21:34.56\00:21:35.82
to be sober more than
they want to become sober.
00:21:35.86\00:21:39.46
You can't
00:21:39.83\00:21:40.96
want somebody to thrive
more than they want to thrive.
00:21:40.96\00:21:43.97
And see, sometimes
when you're dealing
00:21:44.87\00:21:46.17
with an obstinate person,
00:21:46.20\00:21:47.80
sometimes you've got to
fall back so God can follow up.
00:21:47.84\00:21:51.54
And let me just say this.
00:21:53.24\00:21:54.51
You got to be a good
00:21:54.54\00:21:55.68
steward of your influence,
because how many of us know
00:21:55.71\00:21:58.75
that good friends won't
cosign stupid decisions?
00:21:59.81\00:22:03.35
Oh, y'all made it quiet today.
00:22:04.05\00:22:05.89
In other words, a
good friend won't tell you
00:22:05.92\00:22:08.59
what you want to hear.
00:22:08.62\00:22:10.13
A good friend will tell
you what you need to hear.
00:22:10.16\00:22:13.09
And let me just say this.
00:22:13.73\00:22:14.56
Be careful about
cosigning bad loans.
00:22:14.56\00:22:18.63
Oh, y'all mighty quiet.
00:22:19.80\00:22:21.14
See? See
00:22:21.17\00:22:21.70
how many of us know that
00:22:21.74\00:22:22.80
when you cosign for
somebody to get a car or house,
00:22:22.84\00:22:25.84
what you're essentially doing
00:22:26.54\00:22:27.78
is you're saying, I'll
make myself responsible
00:22:27.81\00:22:30.98
if they
actually go into default.
00:22:31.81\00:22:33.58
In other words, you're
00:22:34.15\00:22:35.28
saying I'll be responsible
for whatever actions they take.
00:22:35.32\00:22:38.39
And this is why you've got
to manage the gift of influence.
00:22:39.55\00:22:42.36
Because when you
cosign bad decisions,
00:22:43.19\00:22:46.13
you make yourself accountable
to God when they default.
00:22:47.30\00:22:50.53
And God hold you responsible
00:22:51.20\00:22:53.37
for the way you
wrongly counsel those
00:22:55.00\00:22:57.71
because you'd rather
be liked than respected
00:22:58.71\00:23:00.88
and noticed friends.
00:23:03.71\00:23:05.41
What the Bible says in verse 19,
00:23:05.45\00:23:08.35
they say, Samuel, give us a king
00:23:09.35\00:23:12.69
so that the king
can go out, Bobby,
00:23:13.62\00:23:16.42
and fight for us.
00:23:16.93\00:23:18.83
Okay, y'all, y'all not here?
00:23:19.49\00:23:21.30
No, no. I'm not sure if
you're getting the absurdity.
00:23:21.33\00:23:23.47
They say, give us somebody
00:23:23.50\00:23:25.60
who's going to go and
fight the battles on our behalf.
00:23:26.77\00:23:30.07
Now, on its face, it looks
like what they're asking for is
00:23:31.24\00:23:34.48
a military, a fleet of chariots
and an armory of weapons.
00:23:34.51\00:23:40.08
It looks like they are
asking for a military protocol
00:23:41.25\00:23:43.85
and response for
when the enemy show up.
00:23:44.79\00:23:46.86
And on its face, it
actually looks like Dr.
00:23:47.82\00:23:50.03
Hill. It's a
very benign request.
00:23:50.06\00:23:53.36
But then the question
should be when they say
00:23:54.30\00:23:56.87
we need
somebody to fight for us.
00:23:57.60\00:23:59.83
The question should be,
who's been fighting for you
00:24:01.04\00:24:04.94
at this time until this day?
00:24:07.61\00:24:11.05
Because remember, saints
00:24:11.61\00:24:13.28
that God fights for
the children of Israel.
00:24:13.31\00:24:16.45
And supernatural fashion.
00:24:17.09\00:24:18.42
Are y'all here in
the past to today?
00:24:18.45\00:24:20.19
Remember that it was God
that sent tin crushing plagues
00:24:20.22\00:24:24.36
on the land of Egypt
and broke the bow of Pharaoh
00:24:25.43\00:24:28.56
so that he went
let the people go.
00:24:29.40\00:24:31.07
It was God that
opened up the Red Sea
00:24:31.93\00:24:34.60
and allowed them to
pass through on dry ground.
00:24:35.64\00:24:37.84
And it was God that
drowned Pharaoh and his army
00:24:38.91\00:24:41.51
in the Red Sea, that it
was God that fought for them
00:24:42.58\00:24:45.58
and their years of
40, 40 years of wandering.
00:24:46.58\00:24:48.98
And there was God
00:24:49.48\00:24:50.49
that allowed them to
overwhelm the King of all.
00:24:50.52\00:24:52.79
It was God in the promised
land that allowed them to knock
00:24:53.96\00:24:57.23
down the walls of Jericho
after seven days and a shout.
00:24:57.26\00:25:01.40
It was God that caused
the sun to stand still.
00:25:02.43\00:25:05.40
So that can
overthrow the land of giving.
00:25:06.37\00:25:08.30
It was God that
drove out the Ammonites
00:25:09.20\00:25:11.51
and the Arab
Emirates and the parasites.
00:25:12.44\00:25:14.64
It was God during
the time of judges
00:25:15.51\00:25:17.55
that canceled Cicero and
gave him into Deborah's hand.
00:25:18.71\00:25:21.72
It was God that deliver
them from the Midian Heights
00:25:22.85\00:25:25.39
under the weekend of Gideon.
00:25:26.05\00:25:27.86
It was God that overthrew their
enemies under the hand of JP.
00:25:29.09\00:25:32.66
It was God that put
Supernatural strength and Samson
00:25:33.73\00:25:36.93
so that he could
fight off the Philistines.
00:25:37.90\00:25:39.80
It was God
00:25:40.17\00:25:41.40
and the Samuel that gave them
rest from all of their enemies
00:25:41.44\00:25:45.41
so that they
wouldn't even come near.
00:25:46.31\00:25:48.11
And if God had been fighting
00:25:48.78\00:25:51.01
all of their battles and
00:25:51.58\00:25:54.38
why do they need a
00:25:56.08\00:25:58.09
king to come and
fight for them now?
00:25:58.12\00:26:02.12
Now, the answer to
that question shows you
00:26:03.02\00:26:06.13
how wretched and
rackety they are,
00:26:06.90\00:26:09.06
because friends of mine
remember that God protects
00:26:10.67\00:26:15.17
and was covenant
shall end nature,
00:26:16.00\00:26:18.31
so that as long as
they remained in covenant,
00:26:19.24\00:26:22.04
God would fight for them.
00:26:22.68\00:26:24.45
But when they left the covenant,
they were on their own.
00:26:24.48\00:26:27.98
Y'all not hear me as long
as they were faithful to God.
00:26:28.02\00:26:31.82
They could not lose.
00:26:32.35\00:26:33.72
But when they chase
idols, they could not win.
00:26:33.76\00:26:38.76
And see, the reason,
Alby, they now request a king is
00:26:39.89\00:26:43.90
they don't want protection
that is based upon covenant.
00:26:43.93\00:26:48.17
They want a king to fight
as his civil responsibility.
00:26:49.34\00:26:52.81
In other words,
00:26:53.88\00:26:54.68
they don't want
to be in a posture
00:26:54.71\00:26:56.51
where they have
to be faithful to God
00:26:56.54\00:26:59.01
in order to be
under the cover rank.
00:26:59.88\00:27:01.62
They want a king
that is going to fight
00:27:02.52\00:27:03.95
regardless of how they act.
00:27:04.62\00:27:06.15
In other words, they want
to be able to chase bails.
00:27:06.19\00:27:08.86
They want to be able to lay
with the prostitutes of God.
00:27:10.06\00:27:12.29
They want to be able
to turn up with Jezebel
00:27:13.23\00:27:15.50
and still know that
they are covered in some way.
00:27:16.60\00:27:19.30
Essentially, they create
a contingency, a failsafe,
00:27:20.40\00:27:23.47
so they can be
sent to and secure.
00:27:24.31\00:27:27.61
Thank you for joining
us for The Breath of Life
00:27:28.58\00:27:30.51
Television Ministries broadcast
with Pastor Debleaire Snell.
00:27:30.55\00:27:34.75
We hope and pray
00:27:34.78\00:27:35.88
that you have been blessed
by this powerful message.
00:27:35.92\00:27:38.65
Join us next week for
part two of the message.
00:27:39.69\00:27:42.89
“If It Ain't Broke, Don't Fix
It.” You don't want to miss it!
00:27:44.19\00:27:47.36