Focus: Past Tense

Text: 1Sam.16:1

"And the LORD said unto Samuel, How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? Fill thine horn with oil, and go, I will send thee to Jesse the Bethlehemite: for I have provided me a king among his sons."

Samuel prayed for and cried over Saul, hoping he might change for good. He had no idea that God had moved on, leaving Saul behind. As far as God was concerned, Saul was a past tense.

The throne of Israel belonged to God, not to any human being. And no one could keep Him from moving forward and advancing His sovereign will.

Essentially, God was telling Samuel, stop mourning over Saul. 'I'm done with him as far as Israel's throne is concerned. I have rejected him. Don't waste your tears and prayers on what use to be. Saul is in My past. He no longer counts. He has proven to be unusable. I'm moving on. I have a new man for the throne job. I have a new assignment for you. Get up and go for David. Get him anointed for the throne. Quit crying over a spilled bottle. Stop lamenting over your past disappointment. I have a new job for you.'

Saul could not be managed. He proved to be unusable. He was a problem to himself. Saul was the reason that Saul couldn't succeed. He was a man of the flesh - a fleshly-controlled person.

Don't let God dump you. Don't let God treat you as a past tense. Remain useful in the hands of God. Abide in your calling. Let no one else take your crown from you.

In Christ you are accepted, not rejected. The oil of Christ is on your head. You are God's choice for the throne. You are the man after God's heart. God has a job for you - a royal and sacred assignment. You are appointed and anointed to represent Christ in the earth. And you can't afford to disappoint Him. No, you must not fail Him! You are both a part of God's present and future, not a past tense. Here's what Peter says concerning you, "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light" (1Pet.2:9). Amen.

by Bishop Moses E. Peter