REFUSE TO BE FRUSTRATED, IT CAN MAKE YOU LOSE YOUR GOOD FUTURE 1Samuel 13:8-10 ‘He waited seven days the time set by Samuel; but Samuel did not come to Gilgal and Saul’s men began to scatter. So he said bring me the burnt offering and the fellowship offerings. And Saul offered up the burnt offering. Just as He finished making the offering, Samuel arrived and went out to meet him.’(NIV) Saul and his men were under pressure from the enemy soldiers of the Philistines and his men were in fear (1Samuel 13:5-7). Defeat was looming for Saul. The man of God had not yet arrived to give offerings and seek prophetic direction as to what course of action Saul and his men must take. Saul was frustrated at prophet Samuel’s failure to arrive. Frustration created fertile grounds for fear to take root in Saul and his men; this in turn increased their frustration levels. Saul felt helpless. I can see Saul asking the following questions: Where is the man of God Samuel? Who does he think he is? Why is he not yet here? How can he keep a king and his soldiers waiting for him? Saul’s frustration levels were increasing. Then his men began to run away and scatter, that was the last straw for him and his patience ran out. Saul decided to rightly take matters into his own hands. He gave the offerings himself in total violation of God’s Word. This gave his men the impression that he could do what the man of God could do even though he was not anointed to be a prophet and offer the sacrifices. Saul’s actions also publicly embarrassed and belittled the man of God by doing what was reserved for prophets only to do. The man of God pitched up just as Saul had disobeyed God’s Word simply because he was frustrated by the late arrival of the man of God. Saul tried to justify his actions further by blaming Samuel’s late arrival for his sin exploits (1Samuel 13:11-12). This is carnality and pride at its optimal manifestation The truth is Saul’s frustration was the reason for his downfall. Samuel’s response was swift and direct. He called Saul foolish for not obeying God’s commandment. Samuel’s behaviour was not a factor in Saul’s sins. When you sin take responsibility it is not anyone’s fault or circumstances that made you sin. You made a choice to sin. As a result of Saul’s failure to deal with his frustration, he lost the right for his kingdom to endure and another man would be raised to replace him as king (1Samuel 13:13-14). Saul lost the right to have a lasting legacy of kingship and success simply because he was frustrated at the late arrival of the man of God. Never try and function in a capacity that God has not anointed you to perform. To do so is to act carnally. Many a business executive or entrepreneur miss out on what God has planned for them simply because they are frustrated by the poor time keeping of the pastorate. The service did not end on time, etc, I am not in any way advocating mediocrity in time keeping in the things of God, rather be careful that you do not allow the little foxes to rob you of what God has planned for you. Frustration is one such little fox you must ensure never takes hold of you. Do not set up appointments for immediately after church service; that is just one of satan’s ways of ensuring that you are not fully focused when you are in the sanctuary. As the service starts approaching on your ‘holy’ after church appointment, frustration sets in and you miss out as you either walk out or remain in the sanctuary in maximum frustration mode hearing nothing that the pastor is saying. Refuse to be frustrated in your job, marriage, studies, evangelism and everything else you do and you will live a joy filled life. Samuel refused to be frustrated by Saul’s actions and continued to function in the prophetic anointing upon him. The public embarrassment and belittling of his prophetic office by Saul had zero effect on him.
Posted on: Fri, 18 Oct 2013 09:54:24 +0000
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