Sermon # 10 - Pray And Intercede For The Lost Series

We read in 1 Samuel 2:35, And I will raise me up a faithful priest, that shall do according to that which is in mine heart and in my mind: and I will build him a sure house; and he shall walk before mine anointed forever. (KJV)

In the above mentioned verse, the Lord declares that He will raise up a faithful priest, who will fulfill all that is in God’s heart, and mind. Our God is one who specializes in raising up people, and that’s His desire for each one of us as well. All through the bible, we read of how God sought and raised up those individuals who were willing to accomplish His divine plans.

Many have failed to reach the heights that God aspires for them, simply because they have not submitted themselves to His eternal plan for their lives. Instead of pursuing our own wishes and plans, we must stop to discover the purpose for which God put us on this earth.

Eli was replaced by Samuel

God chose Eli to be a priest to stand between God and men. Eli, did not comprehend the purposes of God. Eli’s great sin was that he did not discipline his sons when he should have. The consequence was that God rejected Eli, and raised Samuel in his stead.

Most people consider lying, cheating and adultery as sins, and don’t realize that bad parenting is also a serious sin. When we submit our will to the Lord, He will not only raise us up, but will build our families up as well.

Saul was replaced by David

Saul was an ordinary man, who was looking for his father’s donkeys, when the Lord chose him. God took Saul and established him as king over Israel. When Saul became king, he considered pleasing people more important than pleasing God. The result was that God rejected Saul, and made David king in his place.

God will raise up anybody, only as long as they stay humble, and obedient to His will. There are many of us like Saul, who are keen to be people pleasers, rather than God pleasers. An example of this at home, is when children refuse to accept advice from their parents. When parents caution children to stay away from bad company, they ignore their counsel. By giving in to peer pressure, and pleasing their friends, many have destroyed their lives. So many adults are addicted to alcohol because they were influenced by their friends, and tried to please them when they were in their youth.

We must therefore decide that our only goal would be to please God, and not men. The opinion of God should matter to us more than the speculation or assessment of men. God has a purpose for saving us, calling us and placing us where we are. It is only when we comprehend that divine purpose of God can we be those whom God can raise up.

Judas was replaced by Matthias

The Lord chose twelve men to be His disciples, who would take the gospel to the ends of the earth. However, woefully one among them was Judas Iscariot who betrayed Jesus. God’s work was not stopped because of Judas Iscariot, but instead he was replaced by Matthias, and the gospel spread all over the world just as God willed.

We must be constantly reminded that it is our duty to maintain the call of God on our lives, and walk in obedience to His will.

God builds up, but also cuts off

Our God is one who raises up, but, He is also one who cuts off. God is willing to do His part of raising us up, provided we do what is required of us. If we are unwilling to do what is our responsibility, God cannot and will not do that which He is able to do.

We read in John 15:1-2 "I am the real vine, and my Father is the cultivator. He cuts away any branch on me that stops bearing fruit, and He repeatedly prunes every branch that continues to bear fruit, to make it bear more. (Williams)

Jesus is the true vine, the Father the cultivator or gardener. The gardener does two things; firstly he cuts off all those branches that do not bear fruit. Secondly, he prunes those that bear fruit to make them more fruitful. The pruning process will always be painful. Generally a gardener will prune the branches of a plant, so that it can flower better or bear more fruit.

Just like the gardener has a close association with the plant, so also the Father has an intimate relationship with us. When we begin to give some fruit, the Lord cleanses us so that we become more fruitful. However, the ones who are fruitless, He cuts off. When God decided to cut us off, it is by far the most hopeless situation one can be in.