I Samuel 28

King Achish of Gath asks David to fight Israelverses 1-2

And it came to pass in those days that the Philistines gathered

their armies together for warfare

to fight with Israel

And Achish said to David

Know you assuredly – that you shall go out with me to battle

you and your men

And David said to Achish

Surely you shall know what your servant can do

And Achish said to David

Therefore will I make you keeper of mine head for ever

Saul had banned all false Spiritualistsverse 3

Now Samuel was dead – and all Israel had lamented him

and buried him in Ramah – even in his own city

And Saul had put away those that had familiar spirits and wizards

out of the land

Saul sought a witch to give adviceverses 4-7

And the Philistines gathered themselves together

and came and pitched in Shunem

and Saul gathered all Israel together

and they pitched in Giboa

And when Saul SAW the host of the Philistines – he was afraid

and his heart greatly trembled

and when Saul inquired of the LORD

the LORD answered him not

neither by dreams – nor by Urim

nor by prophets

THEN said Saul to his servants

Seek me a woman that hath a familiar spirit

that I may go to her and inquire of her

And his servants said to him

BEHOLD – there is a woman

that has a familiar spirit at En-dor

Saul disguised himself before witch of En-dorverses 8-10

And Saul disguised himself – and put on other raiment

and he went and two men with him

and they came to the woman by night

and he said

I pray you divine to me by the familiar spirit

and bring me him up

whom I shall name to you

And the woman

said to him

BEHOLD – you know what Saul has done how

he has cut off those that have familiar spirits

and the wizards – out of the land

wherefore then lay you a snare for my life

to cause me to die?

And Saul swore to her by the LORD

saying

As the LORD lives there shall no punishment happen

to you for this thing

Saul wanted Samuel called from the deadverses 11-15

THEN said the woman

Whom shall I bring up to you?

And he said

Bring me up Samuel

And when the woman saw Samuel

she cried with a loud voice

and the woman spoke to Saul

saying

Why have you deceived me? – for you are Saul

And the king said to her

Be not afraid – for what saw you?

And the woman said to Saul

I saw gods ascending out of the earth

And he said to her

What form is he of?

And she said

An old man comes up

and he is covered with a mantle

And Saul perceived that it was Samuel

and he stooped with his face to the ground

and bowed himself

And Samuel said to Saul

Why have you disquieted me – to bring me up?

And Saul answered

I am sore distressed – for the Philistines make war against me

and God is departed from me

and answers me no more

neither by prophets – nor by dreams

Therefore I have called you

that you may make known unto me what I shall do

Samuel replies to Saul’s requestverses 16-19

THEN said Samuel

Wherefore then do you ask of me

seeing the LORD is departed from you

and is become your enemy?

And the LORD has done to him – as HE spoke by me

for the LORD has rent the kingdom out of your hand

and given it to your neighbor – even to David

BECAUSE you obey not the voice of the LORD

nor executed HIS fierce wrath upon Amalek

THEREFORE has the LORD done this thing to you this day

MOREOVER the LORD will also deliver Israel with you into the

hand of the Philistines – and tomorrow shall you

and your sons be with me

the LORD also shall deliver the host of Israel

into the hand of the Philistines

Saul was afraid of Samuel’s commentsverse 20

THEN Saul fell straightway all along on the earth – and was sore afraid

BECAUSE of the words of Samuel

and there was no strength in him

for he had eaten no bread all the day

nor all the night

Witch of En-dor talks Saul into eatingverses 21-25

And the woman came to Saul – and saw that he was sore troubled

and said to him

BEHOLD – your handmaid hath obeyed your voice

and I have put my life in my hand

and have hearkened to your words which you

spoke to me

Now therefore – I pray you

hearken you also unto the voice of your handmaid

and let me set a morsel of bread before you

and eat – that you may have strength

when you go on your way

BUT he refused – and said

I will not eat

BUT his servants together with the woman compelled him

and he hearkened to their voice

so he arose from the earth – and sat on the bed

And the woman had a fat calf in the house

and she hasted – and killed it – and took it – and took flour

and kneaded it – and did bake unleavened bread thereof

and she brought it before Saul

and before his servants and they did eat

Then they rose up – and went away that night

COMMENTARY:

DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers

: 1 And it came to pass in those days, that the Philistines gathered their armies together for warfare, to fight with Israel. And Achish said to David, Know you assuredly, that you shall go out with me to battle, you and your men. (3045 “Know you assuredly” [yada] means to be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information, learn, perceive, understand, certainly, acknowledge, or declare)

DEVOTION: David was caught in a trap. He had been lying to King Achish about where he was going and what he was doing. Now it was time for David to truly go against his own people in battle.

King Achish wanted David and his men to be his personal bodyguards during the battle. David too agreed to go with him because he didn’t want to be caught in a lie.

What was the LORD going to do now that David was on the hot seat? Was HE going to let David go into battle to fight against his own people? Was HE going to provide a way to escape from this battle?

The answer is coming in the next chapters but the LORD is also going to discipline David for his lies. HE never condones sin even in an anointed servant. HE doesn’t condone sin in our life. HE has promised to chasten us, as well as, promising to never leave us or forsake us. This account in the life of David shows us that HE can do both.

One of the facts we need to understand is that the LORD does know what we are presently doing and what the future consequences of our actions will be. HE can be gracious or HE can judge us for our actions or as in this case HE can do both. It is a good thing that HIS mercies are new every morning.

We need HIS mercy in our life because we are daily sinning even after we have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in our body. There are some believers who are under the impression that they are sinless or sin less than others in their family or church but they are just lying to themselves. That attitude is one of pride which is a sin in the eyes of the LORD.

CHALLENGE: We all have to ask for the LORD’S mercy each day.

DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers

: 6 And when Saul inquired of the LORD, the LORD answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets. (2472 “dreams” [chalowm] means a dream in which the God of Israel makes something known whether through verbal communication or images, dream revelation, or trifles)

DEVOTION: Saul had three sources of answers to his prayers. In his day the LORD would answer prayers by sending a dream into the life of the individual. Dreams were important to the Old Testament saints. The LORD spoke through dreams. The book of Hebrews states that with the coming of Jesus Christ HE no longer uses dreams to talk to HIS people.

The second source of answers to prayers was the Urim. This was something the High Priest could use to find out what the LORD wanted to tell HIS people. It was something that is not in use today.

The third source of answers to prayers was the prophets. Saul had access to the prophets that were in Israel but none came forward to give him a message from the LORD.

So he thought of another way to get an answer and that was through a means that the LORD had condemned. He was not to use wizards and people with familiar spirits. This was a sin according to the commands of the LORD. These commands are still in effect today.

God doesn’t want believers to look at their horoscope in the newspaper. The LORD doesn’t want us to consult mediums. The LORD wants us to go to HIM and listen to the ministry of the Holy Spirit in our life through the Word of God. HE also gives mature Christians in our life to help us find answers in the Word of God.

Don’t play with the devils tools and think that the LORD will use them to speak to you. Remember even the Chinese cookies are not going to give you answers from the LORD.

CHALLENGE: Prayer is our resource today for the LORD to speak to us through. Listen to HIM as you pray daily.

: 12 And when the woman saw Samuel, she cried with a loud voice: and the woman spoke to Saul, saying, Why have you deceived me? For you are Saul. (7411 “deceived” means beguiled, betray, to cause someone to believe an untruth, deal treacherously with, mislead, or trick.)

DEVOTION: Saul came to her dressed not like a king. He wanted to find out why the LORD was not answering his prayers. He didn’t understand what he had done in the past was going to cause his death in the future.

He was one who acted without consulting the LORD too many times. He received a position of authority and misused it. He was one who didn’t like the fact that David was blessed of the LORD and he was not.

The opportunity was his to make or break and he thought he could do things without listening to others. He didn’t want to listen to Samuel. He didn’t want to listen to his son. He didn’t want to listen to David. In the process he was not listening to the LORD.

Too often we think because we have been given a high position by the LORD that we don’t need to continue to keep a close relationship with HIM. We tend to think that we did it all ourselves and so we could continue to do things that we think are right but don’t’ consult the LORD or any of his representatives in our lives.

This can cause us to move further away from the LORD instead of closer. We have to keep short accounts with the LORD and listen to HIS leading in our lives. HE will send other human being to help us live the way HE wants us to live.

We have a choice and if we choose badly as Saul did there is judgment coming. Does this mean that those who are genuinely saved are going to lose their salvation? I don’t think that is what the Bible is teaching. It is teaching that our live could end prematurely because we are no longer listening to the LORD.

CHALLENGE: Saul was given a wonderful opportunity to serve the LORD. He went out on his own instead of listening to Samuel who was God’s representative at the time. Are we listening to God’s representative?

DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers

: 15 And Samuel said to Saul, “Why have you disquieted me, to bring me up?” And Saul answered, “I am sore distressed; for the Philistines make war against me, and God is departed from me, and answers me no more, neither by prophets, nor by dreams: therefore I have called thee, that thou may make known unto me what I shall do.” (7264 “disquieted” [ragaz] means to quiver, be afraid, stand in awe, fret, provoke, quake, shake, or tremble.)

DEVOTION: The LORD had informed Saul that he was going to lose his kingdom because of his disobedience regarding the total destruction of the Amalekites. After that occasion Samuel had told Saul that the LORD had chosen a neighbor to be king. That neighbor was David.

Saul is at war with the Philistines. They are on the battlefield. The army of the Philistines was greater than his army. Saul wants to hear from the LORD. The LORD is silent. Saul had gone without food in order to hear from the LORD. He had consulted the LORD through prayer. He had asked the LORD to reveal HIMSELF through dreams or Urim or through HIS prophets but none had an answer for him.

Saul had put away all those who had familiar spirit or were wizards out of the land with a penalty of death to those who performed this service. But Saul decides to consult with someone who deals with false spirits or evil angels. He asked his men if there was someone with a familiar spirit in the land. They knew right away where there was one. So we see that even though it was against the law of the land, this was being practiced even in Israel.

This woman is asked to bring up the spirit of Samuel. She does it to her own surprise. It was not an evil spirit but the person of Samuel. Here we find that Saul is provoking Samuel.

Samuel has been raised to give an answer to Saul when Saul couldn’t get an answer from God or the prophets that were living. Samuel tells Saul that the LORD has left him and that he would be joining Samuel soon. He told him that he and his sons were going to die in this battle.

What happened here is going to be debated until the return of Christ but we can see here that Samuel was still active in the afterlife. There is no soul sleep. There was a place in Abraham’s bosom for all the Old Testament saints. When Christ arose from the dead and ascended into heaven it is thought that HE emptied Abraham’s bosom of all the Old Testament saints.

Should we try to raise the spirits of the dead? NO!!! This was wrong. We should not be involved with any form of witchcraft or calling up of the dead or looking to the stars for guidance regarding the future. It is forbidden for those who are followers of the LORD to be involved in this type of looking for answers regarding the future.

Prayer is the chosen method to seek answers from the LORD. HE uses HIS word to give us answers. HE uses other people to help us understand how HE works in our world today. Let us trust in the LORD through prayer.

CHALLENGE: There are some things in Scripture that we might never fully understand. With this understanding, remember to seek the LORD’S guidance only through the ministry of the Holy Spirit in prayer and meditation on the Word of God. Don’t look to the stars or any other source of this nature.

: 19 Moreover the LORD will also deliver Israel with you into the hand of the Philistines: and tomorrow shall you and your sons be with me: the LORD also shall deliver the host of Israel into the hands of the Philistines. (5414 “deliver” [nathan] means to hand down, to set, to allow, to surrender, to surrender something or someone to another, permit, or appointed)

DEVOTION: Samuel was called up from the dead to talk to Saul. This was not done in the power of the witch of Endor but in the power of the LORD. Saul was sinning against the commands of God again by trying to raise the dead to speak to him. The Old Testament condemns this action. Why God allowed this to happen is not really completely understood even by theologians but it did happen.

Samuel gave a message from the LORD to Saul. Samuel knew the future even in the grave because the LORD revealed it to him. Samuel knew that Saul and his sons would be killed in battle the next day. They were going to join him in the abode of the dead.

This abode of the dead for those who died in the Old Testament is said to have two compartments. There is Paradise or Abraham’s bosom for those who are righteous and a place of torment for those who are not righteous. The Rich man and Lazarus in Luke 16 Jesus is talking about what happens after death during that time period. It is thought that Jesus emptied Paradise or Abraham’s bosom when HE ascended into heaven after HIS resurrection appearances.

So Samuel knew what was going on in Israel even from the grave. He knew what was going to happen in the future in the grave. The LORD revealed the future to him.

We know that the angels are watching what is happening now and in the past. We know that those in the place of torment want to have their families reached with the message of the Gospel even while they are in the grave.

Doctrine is important as it gives us something to teach our children about what is going to happen in the future. It is appointed for every human to die and then face judgment. Some go to heaven and the rest go to the lake of fire.

Our responsibility is to warn those we know and care about concerning these truths. The Bible is plain. It doesn’t leave us in doubt about the future after death.

CHALLENGE: Share this account with others to help them understand that there is life after death for eternity.

DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:

BODY

Chastity (Purity in living)

Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)

Saul had not all day or nightverse 20

Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)

Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)

Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)

SOUL

Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)

Frugality (wise use of resources)

Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)

Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)

Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)

SPIRIT

Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)

Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)

Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)

Saul inquired of the LORDverse 6

LORD didn’t answer Saulverses 6, 15

Dreams

Urim

Prophets

Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)

Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)

DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:

Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)

God the Father (First person of the Godhead)

LORD – Jehovah (Covenant keeping, Personal)verses 6, 10, 16-19

Inquired of the LORDverse 15

God -Elohim (Creator)verse 15

God has departedverses 15, 16

answers Saul no more

LORD has departed from Saulverse 16

LORD is Saul’s enemyverse 16

LORD took Saul’s kingdom from himverse 17

Reason: not obeying HIS voice

Not executing wrath on Amalek

Voice of the LORDverse 18

God the Son (Second person of the Godhead – God/man, Messiah)

God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)

Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)

Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)

Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)

Philistinesverses 1, 4, 5, 15, 19

Pitched in Shumen

Achish – king of Gathverse 2

Amalekverse 18

Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)

Consulting familiar spiritsverses 3, 7-9

Consulting wizardsverses 3, 9

Afraidverses 5, 13, 20

Heart greatly trembledverse 5

Witch of Endorverses 7-25

Snareverse 9

Deceiveverse 12

gods (false)verse 13

Disquietedverse 15

Distressedverse 15

Saul obeyed not the voice of the LORDverse 18

Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)

Israel (Old Testament people of God)

Israelverses 1, 3, 4, 19

Delivered in to hands of Philistines

Davidverses 2, 17

Keeper of head for Achish

LORD gave kingdom of Israel to him

Samuel is deadverses 3, 11, 12, 14-20

Israel lamented him

Buried in Ramah

Saulverses 3-25

Put away those

Familiar spirits

Wizards

Army pitched in Gilboa

Was afraid of Philistines

Heart trembled

Inquired of the LORD but no answer

Dreams

Urim

Prophets

Looked for a woman with familiar spirit

Disguised himself to see woman

Swore by the LORD: no punishment

LORD is Saul’s enemy

Sons going to die with him

Israel in Gilboaverse 4

Woman with familiar spirit at Endorverses 7-14, 21-25

Raised up Samuel

Saw gods ascending out of the earth

Gave Saul some food and drink

Samuelverse 11

Old man covered with a mantle

God departed from Saulverse 16

Kingdom given to Davidverse 17

Israel delivered to Philistines by LORDverse 19

Church (New Testament people of God)

Last Things (Future Events)

Samuel is deadverse 3

Saul and son are going to be deadverse 19

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QUOTES regarding passage

28:15–25. But Samuel did not have good news this time. He rebuked Saul for his impiety and informed him that the kingdom was torn … out of his hands and given … to David. Also just as the Lord had rejected him as king because of his sin in the Amalekite affair (15:7–26), so He would deliver him to the Philistines and bring about his death and that of his sons. After reluctantly accepting refreshment (a butchered calf and freshly baked bread without yeast) from the medium, Saul arose and dejectedly walked off into the night. (Merrill, E. H. (1985). 1 Samuel. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, p. 454). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books)

We have here the conference between Saul and Satan. Saul came in disguise (v. 8), but Satan soon discovered him, v. 12. Satan comes in disguise, in the disguise of Samuel’s mantle, and Saul cannot discover him. Such is the disadvantage we labour under, in wrestling with the rulers of the darkness of this world, that they know us, while we are ignorant of their wiles and devices. (Henry, M. (1994). Matthew Henry’s commentary on the whole Bible: complete and unabridged in one volume (p. 432). Peabody: Hendrickson.)

He discovered God’s plan (vv. 15–19). Taking the plain meaning of the text, it seems clear that Samuel did appear to the woman but she was shocked when it happened. Samuel didn’t come up from the realm of the dead because she was a good medium but because the Lord willed it to happen. This was not a demon imitating Samuel, or the medium using clever tricks, otherwise the woman wouldn’t have been shocked. Her surprised loud cry was evidence that Samuel’s sudden appearing was something she didn’t expect to happen. She saw the prophet but Saul didn’t (vv. 13–14), but Samuel spoke directly to Saul and not through the medium. Samuel was a prophet of God and needed no “mouthpiece” to convey the Lord’s message. In fact, verse 21 suggests that the woman was not close to Saul during the time Samuel delivered his message to the king.

Saul had only one question for Samuel: “What shall I do?” The Philistines were ready to attack, Saul was a weak and worried man, and everything he did to ascertain the Lord’s will didn’t work. “God is departed from me.” Seven times in his brief message Samuel used the word “Lord” as he reminded Saul that God had departed from him because he refused to obey God’s will. God tore the kingdom from Saul because he hadn’t obeyed in the matter of slaying the Amalekites (15:28), and for the first time, Samuel announced that David was the “neighbor” who would inherit the kingdom (28:17). But the direst news of all was that the next day Saul and his sons would be slain in battle and join Samuel in the realm of the dead. (Wiersbe, W. W. (2001). Be successful (pp. 157–158). Colorado Springs, CO: Victor/Cook Communications.)

Saul had lost the right to rule Israel because of disobedience to the Lord’s words in the Torah; the king did not “carry out his fierce wrath against the Amalekites” (v. 18; cf. Deut 25:17–19). Now Saul had repeated the same basic sin of disobedience to the Torah by consulting the dead. As a result, punishment must follow. Saul’s present sin was private and concealed in darkness; however, its consequences would be public and massive. In this case “the Lord will hand over both Israel and you to the Philistines.” In keeping with the seriousness of the present breach, Saul would also lose his family and his own life: “tomorrow you and your sons will be with me” (v. 19; cf. Lev 20:6). (Bergen, R. D. (1996). 1, 2 Samuel (Vol. 7, pp. 268–269). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.)

After putting her at ease, Saul asked the medium to contact Samuel. Drawing on the demonic powers of necromancy (Deut. 18:10–11), she called up the apparition of Samuel. So startled was she by Samuel’s appearance that she immediately realized that the work was of God and not herself and that her disguised nocturnal visitor was King Saul. This implies that she did not really expect to raise up Samuel but only a satanic imitation. After she described the vision as a spirit (’ělōhîm, “mighty one“) and as an old man clad in a robe … Saul knew it was Samuel. That Samuel’s appearance, even in visionary form, was not the expected result clearly teaches that necromancers or mediums have no real power over the deceased, especially the righteous, but can only produce counterfeits. Samuel’s appearance here is explained by the intervention of the Lord who graciously permitted Saul one last encounter with the prophet whom he had first sought so long ago in pursuit of his father’s lost donkeys (1 Sam. 9:6–9). (Merrill, E. H. (1985). 1 Samuel. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, p. 454). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)

28:14 old man … with a robe. Obviously, age and clothing do not exist in the realm of the spirits of those who have died, but God miraculously gave such appearances so that Saul was able to perceive that the spirit was Samuel. The question arises whether all believers will remain in the form they were in when they died. Samuel may have been as such simply for the benefit of Saul, or he might be in this state until he receives his resurrection body. Since Scripture teaches that the resurrection of OT saints is yet future (see Dan 12:1, 2), Samuel must have temporarily been in this condition solely for the benefit of Saul. (MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2006). The MacArthur study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (1 Sa 28:14). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers.)

It is quite another picture when we look at Saul’s midnight visit to the witch’s house (chap. 28). Samuel was dead, but even when he was alive, his ministry was not really appreciated by Saul. How sad when people discover their real friends too late. Saul’s only recourse was to visit a witch, and this was prohibited by the Law (Lev. 20:6). It is alarming to what ends people will go when they have turned their back on the Lord. There have been endless debates over the matter of Samuel’s appearance at the call of the witch. It seems likely that: (1) Samuel’s coming was of the Lord and not because of the witch’s art; (2) the witch was surprised when Samuel appeared; and (3) Samuel came because he had a special message for the king from the Lord. The witch could not have impersonated Samuel (in league with someone else) since she did not know Saul was coming. Nor is it possible that Satan could have accomplished this feat, since God would not allow Satan to deliver such a weighty message, nor would the Lord put His approval on a practice His Word condemned. The witch becomes a mere spectator once Samuel is on the scene. It is likely that Saul heard Samuel’s words (v. 20) but did not see Samuel’s form (vv. 12–14). Back in 15:35 and 16:1, Samuel’s separation from Saul had been accomplished and the king would see him no more. (Wiersbe, W. W. (1993). Wiersbe’s Expository Outlines on the Old Testament (1 Sa 27–30). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)

Ver. 18. Because thou obeyedst not the voice of the Lord, &c.] At Gilgal, as Abarbinel thinks; which is the first thing for which the kingdom was threatened to be taken from him, ch. 13:13, 14. nor executedst his fierce wrath upon Amalek; in sparing Agag, and the best of the cattle, ch. 15:9, 28. therefore hath the Lord done this thing unto thee this day; forsaken him, rent his kingdom from him, and would deliver him into the hands of the Philistines, as follows: had he been the true Samuel, he would have told him of some other sins of his, provoking to the Lord; as his slaughter of the priests at Nob, his cruel persecution of David, and especially of his asking counsel of one that had a familiar spirit at this time, of which not a word is said, and yet was the very transgression for which Saul died, 1 Chron. 10:13, 14. (Gill, J. (1810). An Exposition of the Old Testament (Vol. 2, p. 554). London: Mathews and Leigh.)

FROM MY READING:

(Remember the only author that I totally agree with is the HOLY SPIRIT in the inerrant WORD OF GOD called THE BIBLE! All other I try to gleam what I can to help me grow in the LORD!!)

Fellowship in the Gospel
“I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy, For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now.” (Philippians 1:3-5)
This poignant letter was written to a church that Paul founded early in his ministry to the Gentiles (Acts 16:12-15). He endured challenging opposition there, followed for days by a demon-possessed young girl, tossed into prison by an angry business community, beaten and locked immobile into wooden stocks (Acts 16:16-24).
Yet in that dark midnight while Paul and Silas sang the hymns of the faith, God struck the jail with an earthquake and opened both the chains and the doors of the prison. The head jailor became converted, and along with the successful businesswoman Lydia, the seed of a flourishing church was planted (Acts 16:25-34).
It is to these “saints” and the “bishops and deacons” of the church at Philippi that Paul writes. The church has matured enough over the years of Paul’s absence to have established leadership and a strong testimony in that pagan city. The “remembrance” of these faithful men and women gives rise to his thanks to God for their “fellowship in the gospel.”
May we never take for granted the sweet friends that we have known in our churches. Their fellowship is far more valuable than business or political contacts. Theirs is the bond of an eternal brother or sister—theirs is the friendship that is “closer than a brother” (Proverbs 18:24).
The apostle John understood this: “Truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ” (1 John 1:3). And because we share in a love for the Lord Jesus and walk together in the “light” of God’s truth, “we have fellowship one with another”(1 John 1:7). (HMM III, The Institute for Creation Research)

It’s crazy how the presence of God can completely change your mood and attitude in an instant. One worship song, one whispered prayer, one scripture verse can take you from the absolute worst mindset to a place of such peace and joy. There’s nothing like the presence of God.

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