Early in his reign as king, Saul had been commanded by God to destroy all the Amalekites along with everything associated with them. He was not to allow anything to remain of that culture. God knew that they would be a snare to His people and His purposes. But Saul thought he knew better and didn't fulfill God's command. He spared them and tried to keep the spoils of his victory over them for himself. Ironically, many years later, on another battlefield, it was an Amalekite that struck the final blow that ended Saul's life. As Pastor Mark warns us in today's study, those pet sins of ours that we hold on to, could one day end up destroying us.

Pastor Mark's Wednesday evening teachings will give us an overview of God's Word from Genesis to Revelation. Tonight, Pastor Mark continues in the book of Joshua.

Early in his reign as king, Saul had been commanded by God to destroy all the Amalekites along with everything associated with them. He was not to allow anything to remain of that culture. God knew that they would be a snare to His people and His purposes. But Saul thought he knew better and didn't fulfill God's command. He spared them and tried to keep the spoils of his victory over them for himself. Ironically, many years later, on another battlefield, it was an Amalekite that struck the final blow that ended Saul's life. As Pastor Mark warns us in today's study, those pet sins of ours that we hold on to, could one day end up destroying us.

The Amalekites attacked David's town of Ziklag and had carried off the women and children, as well as the wealth of the city. David took most of his men and pursued the attackers. But he left about two hundred of them behind to guard the supplies. After defeating the enemy and retrieving everything, there were some in David's army who didn't want to share any of the spoils with those who'd stayed behind, because they didn't fight. But David proclaimed their right to a share of the rewards because they had done their part in guarding the supplies. In the same way, those who support the work of missionaries today, will share in their reward.

The Amalekites attacked David's town of Ziklag and had carried off the women and children, as well as the wealth of the city. David took most of his men and pursued the attackers. But he left about two hundred of them behind to guard the supplies. After defeating the enemy and retrieving everything, there were some in David's army who didn't want to share any of the spoils with those who'd stayed behind, because they didn't fight. But David proclaimed their right to a share of the rewards because they had done their part in guarding the supplies. In the same way, those who support the work of missionaries today, will share in their reward.

There's a deep hunger in the heart of man to connect with the spiritual side of life. Some earnestly look for the truth, wanting to know if there is a God and if a relationship with Him is really possible. But there are also those who are more interested in a spiritual “experience”. They validate their spiritual life based on how they feel and what supernatural occurrences they've seen. Truth, holiness and sin play a very small part in their view. But as Pastor Mark points out in today's study, we can be deceived by the demonic realm, which is able to make itself appear completely angelic. Just because something is deemed “spiritual” doesn't mean it's safe.

There's a deep hunger in the heart of man to connect with the spiritual side of life. Some earnestly look for the truth, wanting to know if there is a God and if a relationship with Him is really possible. But there are also those who are more interested in a spiritual “experience”. They validate their spiritual life based on how they feel and what supernatural occurrences they've seen. Truth, holiness and sin play a very small part in their view. But as Pastor Mark points out in today's study, we can be deceived by the demonic realm, which is able to make itself appear completely angelic. Just because something is deemed “spiritual” doesn't mean it's safe.

Just as the Lord promised the nation of Israel that they would possess the land of Canaan, the Lord has a promised spiritual possession for our lives as believers today. But just like the Israelite's if we are going to experience what the Lord has given to us we must step in and occupy it. It is this call to occupy that we find the Book of Joshua speaks to our lives today.

Pastor Mark shares a message about true servanthood and what that looks like through the life story of Joshua.

Pastor Mark shares a message about true servanthood and what that looks like through the life story of Joshua.