THE P S OF SELF CARE D E A L W I T H T H E A M A L E K I T E S I N Y O U R L I F E ( P R O C E S S O F D E L I V E R A N C E ) O B E D I E N C E I S E S S E N T I A L ; P R A I S E I S O U R W E A P O N D R. K E N N E T H W. J O N E S, P R A C T I C A L L I V I N G M I N I S T RY 1
THE P S OF SELF CARE Prayer: Man is the being that prays (nepesh); Genesis 2:7 Praise provides strength and victory to sustain and win (Psalms 8:2) People (God made us relational which is where our strength comes from) Presence (Where you spend your time is where you find your life) Process (It s truly how you go about it) Power (Connection, Association, Authority) Purpose (People without purpose lose strength, restraint, and focus) Perspire (Exertion of Ministry) Pruning and Purging Strengthening our faith and requiring commitment Participation (Activities, Associations, Actions, and Alignment) Priorities (God, Others Self Prepares you for Eternal Life) Pursue Perfection (completeness or wholeness) (Hebrews 13:21; Matt 5:48) Patience (Endurance, Temperance) (1 st Tim 6:1; Hebrews 10:36) Peace (keeping your mind and hearts free from worry) (Philippians 4:7) 2
DEFINE DELIVERANCE To draw to one's self, to rescue, to deliver; to set free The purpose of deliverance is for God to rescue His people unto Himself to a place of protection, safety, and well being Psalms 34:17: When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. To deliver out of the hands of..., to escape." This meaning illustrates God's rescue of His people from the dominion of Satan and the world system. Colossians 1:13 - [The Father] has delivered and drawn us to Himself out of the control and the dominion of darkness and has transferred us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, Deliverance is a process of Self Care Recovery, Restoration, Repair, Removal of curses, sin, and sickness 2 Timothy 4:18 - And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. 3
DELIVERANCE FROM THE AMALEKITES In Jewish tradition, Amalek represents sin, the city of the world. Represents pure evil, and those who have given themselves over to the dark side of impurity In the Jewish teaching, Amalek represents spiritual blindness acting arrogantly in the world The theme of dealing with the Amalekites also reflect the lusts of the flesh, spiritual strongholds, evil associations, re-occurring oppression, sickness or dilemmas that keep you from experiencing sustainable peace, joy, love, and power Israel was hindered in so many ways due to the Amalekites whose tactics were to steal, kill, and destroy (John10:10) To go out and fight Amalek which is a call to ongoing spiritual warfare. Victory is only achieved through eradication 1 st Samuel 15:1-3: Go out and smite Amalek and utterly destroy all that they have. When God delivers you, He expects you to avoid the sin and/or area of disobedience that was connected with your infirmity 4
PURPOSE OF THIS LESSON To review each interaction and conflict Israel has with the Amalekites and discover the biblical principles that God is revealing to us Remember that the Amalekites are a type and shadow of what we are dealing with in the flesh or experiencing through spiritual conflict and oppression. i.e. The tabernacle of Moses represented a type and shadow of Jesus as our high priest (Hebrews 8:1,2) These instances will provide for us wisdom and knowledge in order that we may experience complete & sustainable deliverance & live victoriously in Christ 5
BY THIS TIME TIME YOU MAY BE ASKING: When are we going to start talking about talking about things like yoga, self meditation, positive thinking? The Purpose of this teaching is to teach Self Care from a biblical and spiritual perspective The idea that we view Self as man s total being that can only find true fulfillment through connection and intimacy with the Creator The world s system and demonic influences have deceived many into creating a false peace, but not one that is lasting and leads to eternal life. Jeremiah 8:11 - "They heal the brokenness of the daughter of My people superficially, Saying, `Peace, peace,' But there is no peace. 6
HISTORY OF AMALEKITES Descendants of Esau Amalek was a grandson of Esau; thus his descendants would be related to the Edomites: Attacked Israel in Desert For their bitter and implacable hatred of Israel, Amalek was absolutely cursed by God In the Promised Land The Amalekites allied themselves with various other enemies of Israel, including the Canaanites. Numbers 14:40-45 Sin in the Camp Achen caused Israel to lose a battle due to secret sins Book of Judges They often raided the Israelites' land after they had planted crops, leaving them with nothing (Jdg 6:2-5) Saul was ordered to destroy them David attacked the Amalekites Hezekiah destroys the rest Haman Appears in Esther Saul is ordered to destroy the Amalekites, but he didn t obey God (1 st Sam 15:2,3): The Amalekites had burned Ziklag and took the women and children (1 Sam 40) Hezekiah killed over 100,000 men. Recovered the good land that they occupied He was a descendant of that Agag, king of the Amalekites, spared by Saul, but destroyed by Samuel Esther 3:1 Even after God told Saul to destroy the Amalekites, they would continue to attack Israel for the next 600 years because Saul did not deal with them as God had commanded 7
SCRIPTURE: SAUL IS COMMANDED TO DESTROY THE AMALEKITES 1 Samuel 15: 1-3, 7,8: Samuel also said unto Saul, The LORD sent me to anoint thee to be king over his people, over Israel: now therefore hearken thou unto the voice of the words of the LORD. 2 Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I remember that which Amalek did to Israel, how he laid wait for him in the way, when he came up from Egypt. 3 Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass. And he took Agag the king of the Amalekites alive, and utterly destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword. 9 But Saul and the people spared Agag, and the best of the sheep, and of the oxen, and of the fatlings, and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them: but every thing that was vile and refuse, that they destroyed utterly. 8
IS GOD CARRYING A GRUDGE You may say, But all this had happened more than four hundred years before! Why did God hold it against the Amalekites? An important principle to note: Time does not erase sin before God. If God wanted to judge the Amalekites, why didn t He just do it Himself? He completely destroyed the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah without any help from man. Why not just do the same here? God wanted it to be a test of obedience for Saul, and all of Israel. Plus, since Amalek s sin against Israel was a military attack, God wanted to make the judgment fit the sin. While Saul spared Agag, respecting tradition of sparing the king or the goodliness of his person, he still operated in disobedience against God. 9
DISOBEDIENCE 1 Samuel 15:9 - But Saul and the people spared Agag, and the best of the sheep, and of the oxen, and of the fatlings, and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them: but every thing that was vile and refuse, that they destroyed utterly. Saul did not completely obey God regarding destroying everything. He allowed the king to live and took the best of the spoils (Later he would blame the people) Saul not only allowed the Amalekites to remain for another 600 years, but he also lost his anointing as King (God s presence & power) If you don t deal with the Amalekites in your life, you can lose your anointing and the presence of God operating in your life 10
GOD S COMMANDS ARE NOT GRIEVOUS 1 John 5:3 - For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. Grievous means that it is not burdensome or weighted to make life a toil, but to create opportunity for God to bless us It is easy to obey God when the heart is right; and those who endeavor in sincerity to keep his commandments do not complain that they are hard. God s commands are not burdensome, is that they are not deliberately set up to oppress and destroy and break us Those who have trouble with God s commands, have trouble submitting to God and that their desires are not aligned with God s desires 11
GOD S WORD IS FOR OUR GOOD Attaining Spiritual Stability So many Christians are experiencing spiritual instability. Many are "tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes" (Eph. 4:14). Many Christians are driven by their emotions rather than sound thinking leading to moral impurity To Provide Instruction, principles, and teachings in sustaining blessed relations The Bible provides us guidelines to experience relationships in such a way to experience love, blessings, peace and productivity Most problems in our relationships today are a result of individuals not desiring to keep God s concepts 12
GOD S WORD IS GRIEVOUS TO THOSE WHO CHOOSE NOT TO OBEY 2 Timothy 3:2-5: For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. I GOT A PROBLEM WITH THAT! There is a deceptive mindset that we must adapt God s Word to today s culture in order to be RELEVANT Question: Have you noticed Today s Culture? Why should God s people reduced the principles of the Word of God to adjust to a culture without a moral compass, degrading, murderous, and hateful? At the same time blame the church for people leaving it. Why do we stress to accommodate those who are in willful rebellion against God? 13
Christian Pastor Rob Bell Suggests Ignoring the Bible to Help The Church 'Stay Relevant' For those who had any questions, Rob Bell has now made himself totally clear: He is willing to trash parts of the Bible as "letters from 2,000 years ago" when God's Word contradicts his views on same-sex "marriage." 2 Timothy 4: 3-5: For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will reject the truth and chase after myths. 5 But you should keep a clear mind in every situation. Don t be afraid of suffering for the Lord. Work at telling others the Good News, and fully carry out the ministry God has given you. 14
CAFETERIA CHRISTIANS The phrase Cafeteria Christian" describes Christians who selectively pick from the Bible, only those principles, truths and scriptures that suit them. Cafeteria Christianity refers to the practice of deciding for oneself which parts of the Bible to accept, as one might select certain foods in a cafeteria while rejecting others The Problem is unhealthy choices in choosing only likeable parts of God s Word Faith Grace Groovy Grace No Repentance Works Being a Cafeteria Christianity invalidates your Christian witness. If Christians do not take the entire Bible seriously, unbelievers will assume that they need not do so, either. 15
EXAMPLE: NONIE DARWISH Nonie Darwish is an Egyptian-American human rights activist and Director of Former Muslims United Born in Egypt, Darwish is the daughter of an Egyptian Army lieutenant general was killed in a targeted killing by the Israel Defense forces Coming to America, She became a Christian She said that the values of Christianity values women She said that we serve a God who came down to save us. In Islam, you have to speak up for Allah The Word of God taught her forgiveness, gave her a sense of value, and encourages obedience to a God who saves and delivers His people. She embraces God s Word while many of us are trying to divert from it 16
QUESTION What is the greatest enemy of Obedience?
ANSWER Partial Obedience Partial Obedience is based upon Accommodation. I will obey as long as it does not interfere my daily life and desires Just as Saul and the people in 1 Sam 15:9 kept the best parts, we are inclined to keep the best parts of our ideology or carnality and remain in partial obedience to God
POINTS OF EMPHASIS Partial obedience is complete disobedience. Saul and his men obeyed as far as suited them; that is to say, they did not obey God at all, but their own inclinations, both in sparing the good and destroying the worthless. What was not worth carrying off was destroyed, - not because of the command, but to save trouble. (Maclaren) But an even deeper reading of this story is permissible. Throughout the Bible, Amalek stands for the flesh, having sprung from the stock of Esau, who, for a morsel of meat, steaming fragrantly in the air, sold his birthright. To spare the best of Amalek is surely equivalent to sparing some root of evil, some plausible indulgence, some favorite sin. (Meyer) 19
PARTIAL OBEDIENCE Partial obedience means hearing what we want to hear, not what God says. Partial obedience means following God when you re in need, but forsaking Him when you re doing well Disobedience often takes the form of reinterpretation of the original command Saul thought If I obey God 90% then I am obedient. Partial Obedience is rooted in Compromise and Complacency. Then Saul admitted to Samuel, Yes, I have sinned. I have disobeyed your instructions and the Lord s command, for I was afraid of the people and did what they demanded. 25 But now, please forgive my sin and come back with me so that I may worship the Lord. Saul s inability to acknowledge his disobedience before God also reveals a major flaw in Saul s relationship with God. 20
PARTIAL OBEDIENCE 1 Samuel 15:22,23 But Samuel replied, What is more pleasing to the Lord: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams. 23 Rebellion is as sinful as witchcraft, and stubbornness as bad as worshiping idols. So because you have rejected the command of the Lord, he has rejected you as king. Partial Obedience believes religious obligations and participation exempts him from one s act of Disobedience 21
WHY SAUL PARTIALLY OBEYED And the Lord sent you on a mission and said, Go, utterly destroy the sinners, the Amalekites; and fight against them until they are consumed. 19 Why then did you not obey the voice of the Lord, but swooped down upon the plunder and did evil in the Lord s sight? 20 Saul said to Samuel, Yes, I have obeyed the voice of the Lord and have gone the way which the Lord sent me, and have brought Agag king of Amalek and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites. 21 But the people took from the spoil sheep and oxen, the chief of the things to be utterly destroyed, to sacrifice to the Lord your God in Gilgal We have a tendency to blame others for our disobedience Another instance Saul feared the people and offered up an unlawful sacrifice Lord they did it for you! This is equivalent to prosperity teachers who teach just as long as you sow unto God while neglecting spiritual growth and obedience to God Validates the issue why We will obey God over pleasing men This is the way that many have gone to please a culture that is reprobate and not seeking God 22
BLESSINGS TO HIS OBEDIENCE Exodus 24:7 - Then he took the book of the covenant and read it in the hearing of the people; and they said, "All that the LORD has spoken we will do, and we will be obedient!" Romans 5:19 - For as through the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous. Isaiah 1:19 - If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: Also Refers to Isaiah 1:7 : it shall not be "devoured by strangers. God wants us to be prosperous which is accomplished through obedience Disobedience can allow the enemy to have legal rights to attack, steal, and destroy those things that we have been blessed with by the Lord First John 3:22-23 says, "And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. 23
THE HOW TO FOR OBEDIENCE First of all, all the practices and applications in the world will not work unless you have a willing and obedient heart Psalms 119:11 - Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. David considered his chief happiness to be found in the path of obedience, giving his whole heart and strength to God Jesus views keeping God s commandment as an act of love for the Father (John 15:10-12) Know the Word Study to show yourself approved unto God, rightly dividing the word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15) Let God s Word abide in you; believe and receive it as a construct and compass for your life (Joshua 1:6-8) Luke 11:28: Jesus replied, "But even more blessed are all who hear the word of God and put it into practice. 24
THE HOW TO OF OBEDIENCE Have a vision for your spiritual walk with God Do you want to win the prize? Do you want to hear Him say Well done Have you ever been asked, How far do you want to go in this relationship? 1 Corinthians 9:24: Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain 1 Corinthians 9:26: Therefore I do not run uncertainly (without definite aim). I do not box like one beating the air and striking without an adversary If you don t take aim you will never hit the target Inspect what you Expect even from yourself; Examine yourself daily to see if you be in the faith (2nd Corinthians 13:5) Proverbs 29:18 -Where there is no vision, the people are unrestrained, But happy is he who keeps the law. NLT translations says, they run wild 25
THE HOW TO OF OBEDIENCE Pray Daily Prayer builds Intimacy to the place that you want to obey God Hebrews 10:16: "This is the new covenant I will make with my people on that day, says the LORD: I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds. Matthew 26:41 - Keep alert and pray. Otherwise temptation will overpower you. For though the spirit is willing enough, the body is weak! (NLT) Find Yourself a Wingman Mentorship and Accountability is necessary to grow effectively and live godly lives Two principles needed to consider for mentoring or being mentored: Are you reachable? (Accessible); and Are you teachable? (Mindset and maturity to receive) No more Lone Ranger Christians Proverbs 27:17 - As iron sharpens iron, a friend sharpens a friend. 26
THE HOW TO OF OBEDIENCE Stay in an attitude of Repentance We will all miss the mark; fall short of the glory of God; and downright sin due to a lack of faith, carnal desires, improper judgment; ignorance, deception and persuasion The key is that when we do: Recognize, Renounce, Repent through Confession, Restore, and get back into Relationship with the Father (1 st John 1:9; James 5:16) The Difference between Saul and David when it came to sin: Saul Rationalized David Repented God Responded differently to both 27
ERADICATE THE AMALEKITES To experience true and total deliverance, we must destroy and eradicate the Amalekites in our lives Saul partially obeyed and the Amalekites continued to harass, steal, kill, and destroy Israel for another 600 years God is not pleased with our rituals, but with our obedience We cannot selectively dictate to God what parts of His Word we desire to believe and obey 28
YOU VE WON A MILLION DOLLARS! WAIT! Where s the Rest of the Information! Here s your Instructions on How to Claim Your Prize First go to. Then ----- Next you go.. Then follow the arrows. There s waiting for you is your $1M bucks! God promises us blessings, riches, health, peace, joy, protection, & love. Yet in today s church with its carnival activities, seeker mentality, short messages due to a crowd that can t endure sound doctrine, lack of study in God s Word, we may never claim the prize if we fail to read all of the instructions. It s amazing that some want free access to God only willing to pay one-half the cost of admission (through submission) The rest of the information is in His Word just waiting for you to unfold it and receive all God has for you! Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do. (Joshua 1:8)
DAVID S PRAYER FOR RELIEF Lord, you have assigned me my portion and my cup; you have made my lot secure. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance. I will praise the LORD, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me. I have set the LORD always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. (Psalm 16:5-8) Psalms 121 I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. 2 My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth. 3 He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber. 4 Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. 5The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand. 6The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night. 7The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul. 8The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.
PRACTICAL LIVING MINISTRY Practical Living Ministry exists to assist individuals, groups, and organizations to operate to their full God-given ability by sharing life changing principles for spiritual growth and development. If this message touched you, please let me hear from you. If you would like to encourage us financially to keep sharing these kind of messages, please go to our donation section on our website at http://www.practicallivingministry.org/give If you would like to contact Dr. Jones for a speaking engagement at your church or event concerning biblical leadership, mentoring, and Christian culture. Please contact Pastor Kenneth Jones at kenjones@practicallivingministry.org 31