Conform to God's Agenda

I Samuel 24:1-31:13 (I Chron.10:1-12)
By conforming your liife to God's agenda, you can face challenging circumstances with a calm certainty that God is at work for your good!

Many are willing to set asisde ethical constraints, regardless of who gets hurt, and even will climb over the back of others if necessary. Christians can be tempted to act in such a self-serving ungodly way in their efforts to advance financially or professionally, Sadly, such attitudes are not only common in business and politics but even can be found in church. As we study about David's refusal to exact revenge on Saul, focus on ways to encourage others to experience the impact of "conforming your life to God's agenda.

A young man was given a promotion and the receiving of the position was taking many years...15 had gone by and his superior was still in office. That is David and King Saul. Saul had a campaign to kill David. David was given the opportunity to kill the King when Saul entered the cave to use the bathroom privately. He was not aware that David and his MANY men were hiding in that same cave. David's men urged him to kill the King by using a proverb (- no source is recorded) which was a false prophecy. (curious? look it up) THE LORD CONTINUES TO GIVE HIS PEOPLE MANY OPPORTUNITIES TO DO RIGHT OR WRONG!

David was troubled even though he did no harm to the king - he cut off the corner of his robe. David recognized the authority of "life and death" is God. God alone would remove Saul from office and David knew it!

WE MUST RESIST PEER PRESSURE IN ORDER TO DO WHAT GOD WANTS. We are to put doing the right thing ahead of seeking personal advancement. WE MUST ALWAYS BE PREPARED TO BRING DOWN OUR DESTRUCTIVE AMBITION. The Lord puts people in places of authority!

David had the highest regard for Saul. In v. 12, he bowed low to show that respect and he displayed the scrap of Saul't robe as evidence of his innocence. David declared he would let God judge between them, David trusted God to exact vengeance if such was needed. He promised he would never attempt to kill Saul.

24:16-19 David had achieved the military advantage of surprise but had refused to strike. Saul's pride and emotions buckled under the force of the vent. He could not maintain any royal dignity. He wept openly. And he acknowledged David's righteous characted and blessed him.

The Scriptures emphasize doing good even to those mistreat us. (Matt.5:43 - 45, Romans 12:14-21) David's conduct reveals a Godlike character that can only come from a close intimate relationship to God.

Saul's words (as the Word continues) acknowledge the Lord' sovereignty. He states, "The kingdom of Israel will be established in your hand." Under David's leadership the kingdom would emerge as a genuine power in the region.

Saul was only "partially obedient", "partially repentant" - which is disobedience and UNrepentant or rebellious!!!! He saw that David would reign and in his weak moments acknowledged it...expressed fear for his family. David ultimately brought the one survivor of Saul's family to his table for life.

WAITING ON GOD'S TIMING DOES NOT MEAN DOING NOTHING. David ran from, has his army, and after this encounter led his men back to their STRONGHOLD allowing Saul to return home, too. By returning to his stronghold rather than disbanding his army, David remained in position to act. God had anointed him as king, but God had not yet revealed how this would occur.

TRUTHS TO EMBRACE FROM THIS SCRIPTURE:
1. WE SHOW GOD'S AGENDA IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN OURS WHEN WE TREAT GOD-GIVEN LEADERS RESPECTFULLY - EVEN WHEN WE DISAGREE!
2. WE DEMONSTRATE OUR PRIORITY IS ON GOD'S AGENDA AND NOT OUR OWN WHEN WE WILLINGLY ENDURE UNJUST TREATMENT RATHER THAN ACTING OUR OT PERSONAL VENGEANCE.
3. WE GIVE EVIDENCE OF CONFORMING TO GOD'S AGENDA WHEN WE CONSISTENTLY DISPLAY GODLY CHARACTER AND ACTIONS EVEN THOUGH INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE AROUND US ACT IN UNGODLY WAYS.
4. WE SHOW WE ARE CONFORMING TO GOD'S AGENDA WHEN WE WAIT PATIENTLY AND CONFIDENTLY FOR THE LORD TO WORK BY HIS TIMING.

WHICH WILL YOU CHOOSE IN YOUR DAILY WALK?
1. EVIL FOR EVIL 2. EVIL FOR GOOD 3. GOOD FOR EVIL