Real Life Radio

Host (Jack Hibbs): Today on Real Life Radio. He made us. He's formed us and he's called us from our mother's womb, which means really that's very romantic talk. But what it means is before the foundation of the world, wherever laid, God had a plan. He ordained it, he's performing it, and he's controlling it in your life.

Host (Jack Hibbs): This is Real Life. Welcome to Real Life Radio with Pastor Jack Hibbs.

Guest (Male): I'm David Kay, thanking you for joining us today as we listen, learn, and are challenged by God's Word, the Bible.

Host (Jack Hibbs): In a world growing darker by the day, will you stand firm or be swept away? Pastor Jack Hibbs' new book, Called to Take a Bold Stand is a wake-up call for every believer. With biblical clarity and real-life conviction, Jack Hibbs shows you how to overcome fear, hold fast to truth, and make every moment count. That's Called to Take a Bold Stand by Pastor Jack Hibbs. Get your copy for a gift of any amount at jackhibbs.com/realradio.

Guest (Male): On today's edition of Real Life Radio, Pastor Jack continues his series called First Samuel in a message titled The Will of God in Your Life, Part 3. Samuel of the Old Testament was the last judge of Israel and the first of its prophets. So as we continue in Chapter 9 and begin Chapter 10, we'll see how we're called to embrace God's specific plan for our lives.

You see, this is where faith and trust come in. God's plan, like how he directed Israel's future king, doesn't usually make sense from a human perspective, but oftentimes it brings us to a point where we ask him for direction. In turn, God will always be exact regarding his specific will. So today Pastor Jack teaches that as we grow in Christ, we find that he will always be involved in our lives. He will never leave us to wander about, but will provide what's needed to carry out his will. Now with his message called The Will of God in Your Life, Part 3, here's Pastor and Bible Teacher Jack Hibbs.

Host (Jack Hibbs): And Father, that you would just cause us to see more clearly your heart's desire for us. You're so great. What a great song to sing. Yes, Lord, yes. It's so good, Lord, that even when we say the word yes and we think of Jesus, you got to smile. And so we love you. We pray that you'd make sense of tonight. May you teach us, for we look to you. We need you. And we thank you in Jesus' name and all God's people said, amen. Amen.

Host (Jack Hibbs): Would you grab your Bibles and turn if you would to First Samuel as we continue our study in First Samuel's Chapters 9 and 10. And we are in a message entitled The Will of God in Your Life. The Will of God in Your Life. First Samuel Chapter 9. By way of review, we remembered in verse 3, we saw that God has ordained a specific plan for your life. I don't know how that sits with you, but it is a fact. And the sooner you catch onto that fact, the more at peace you'll be in your life.

Host (Jack Hibbs): You ever have that thing, you ever have that temptation, "God, why?" I mean, we all have. We all have that question from time to time, "God, why this? Why that?" The more we ingest the truth that as we learn out of First Samuel 9 and 10, the fact is concerning the will of God in our life, he has ordained a specific plan for your life. No matter what it might be, I know that all things don't meet our liking.

Host (Jack Hibbs): And the other amazing thing is he never consults us about what we like and dislike. You ever been in pain? You ever been in a difficult time? And the Bible, you know that promise that you reach for, "The Lord will not give you more than what you can handle." Unfortunately, my opinion of that and God's are way apart. Because God thinks I must be a much more stronger than I really believe I am. And when he turns up the pain-o-meter or whatever it is, you know, at about a three, I'm saying, "Uncle" or "Lord, that's it." And you know he just just dials it on up to about a seven. And just when you're about ready to snap, if you noticed, then the relief comes. And you wonder, "God, why do you do that?" And I don't know the reason why he does that. I really don't know. I can only guess that maybe sometimes in my life, I realize that after going beyond a threshold that I didn't think I could go, he's still there. Now I know he's there. We can answer that in a textbook. He's there.

Host (Jack Hibbs): But in your crisis, do you sense him there? You see, when it you're pushed to the brink and he's still there, that's a great thing. Now you've got a God that you can trust in completely. He won't be leaving you in the stretch. He's trustworthy. He's faithful. His mercy endures forever. We can read about it, but it's not true until it happens in our lives. But it will happen in the life of every true believer.

Host (Jack Hibbs): God has ordained a specific plan in our lives. We saw that in verse 3. In verses 4 through 6, God is performing that plan in our lives. He's the one who will do it. I love that because if he's doing it, then why should I worry? In Philippians 4 verses uh 6 and 7, there the Bible encourages us, "Don't be anxious for anything." You know what the word anxious means in Greek? It's our English word, yes, worry. But the word, both in the English and in the Greek, means that we are not to be strangled. That's what that word means. Don't be strangled. Worry strangles us. Have you noticed that in your life? No? I have. When we worry, it strangles. One of the first things that does for me is it strangles peace out of my life. Strangles peace.

Host (Jack Hibbs): Then it strangles faith. Then when my faith is strangled, I lose hope. Worry is so powerful. But yet it's so off. It's so weird because as much as worry steals from us, there is such a level of trust that people put in worrying in the world. Christians are not to worry. We are not In fact, it's a sin. Listen, I don't mean to pour salt on your wound, but if you're prone to worry and you're a Christian, it's a sin to worry. You know why? Because we're not trusting him.

Host (Jack Hibbs): The tough thing is it's so human to worry. And that's what we have to do when we trust in the Lord and not worry. Be anxious. We are not to be anxious for anything. And so we know that if God is performing all that there is to be in our lives, we can rest in that. You know, tonight, tomorrow, whatever you're going through, God is performing it. You can sit and ask him and play the game a thousand questions. Let me help you out. Just trust him. He is performing his specific plan in your life. And then we left off last time.

Host (Jack Hibbs): God will be controlling the specific plan. That's in verses 15 to 20 of Chapter 9. God will be controlling the specific plans of our lives. And how does he do that? Verses 15 and 16, jot it down if you would, he will always be exact. He's a God of exactness, a God of great detail. Now the Lord had told Samuel in his ear. I love that. How did God do that? It says, "That day before Saul came, saying this, tomorrow about this time, I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin and you shall anoint him commander." Can you circle that word commander, please? We'll come back to that in a moment. "Over my people Israel, that he may serve or save my people from the hand of the Philistines. For I have looked upon my people because of their cries. They have come up to me."

Host (Jack Hibbs): I find it, first of all, interesting. I want to make a big deal about it, but I circled the word here commander because didn't Israel ask for a king? Then why doesn't it say king? Oh, don't get me wrong. Was Saul considered a king? Yes. And will God even say, "This is your king?" Yes. But interestingly enough, God is speaking to his man, Sam. And he tells Sam, "Listen, go," and here's the deal, "about this time tomorrow, he's the guy. He'll be the commander." He didn't tell Sam he's going to be king. Even though Samuel's office is not only a priest and a prophet. He's a kingmaker. And Samuel's going to tell Saul, "You're the king." But behind the scenes, behind the room, back door, God talk, God says he's the commander because I got a king coming. And his name is David. And he's going to be the forerunner of the only king that there ever was, is and will be. The son of David, King Jesus.

Host (Jack Hibbs): But I find it interesting how exact God is. Don't miss a word in his Bible. He calls here Saul commander. But the Lord now is speaking. I love this. Look how it says that he speaks in Samuel's ear the day before the events. Man, I'll tell you that's the accuracy of God. He's so exact. God is speaking to Samuel and he's speaking through Samuel. Regarding his will, God is very, very specific. We saw that he's ordaining, he's performing, and now he's controlling. We have been chosen by God as Christians, for God. We have been given the Word of God. That's what the mark of every believer is. A believer is drawn to the Word of God. A believer understands the Word of God. Yes, when we embark upon our walk with God, we're wondering, what are we reading? But as we continue on, he gives more. Doesn't he? He gives more grace. He gives more understanding. As we grow in Christ, we understand more and more. That's the mark of a believer.

Host (Jack Hibbs): Because you have been chosen by God, you have a hunger for the Bible. And that's a great thing. Controlling, we need to realize also means that God will be directing. I know in our world we have a a negative connotation about controlling. Huh, don't we? He's a controlling man. Or she's a very controlling woman. Or a parent is often controlling over their their children. Listen. To be controlling really also biblically means to be directing. God is very much into directing. And I love, you're going to hear this verse a couple of times tonight. Galatians chapter 1 verses 13 to 16. You can mark it down in your notes or you can turn there if you like. Galatians 1:13. I love this. Those of you who are with us just recently in Petra in Jordan. You're going to want to pay attention to this because this had something to do, or this verse had something to do with where we stood that day in Petra because Paul was there.

Host (Jack Hibbs): Galatians 1:13 says, "For you have heard my of my former conduct in Judaism," says Paul, "how I persecuted the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it. And I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries of my own nation." Paul is speaking about his exploits as being a Jew, a Hebrew. "Being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers. But when it pleased God," isn't that funny? He was doing everything against God. "But when it pleased God who what separated me from my mother's womb and called me through his grace." Verse 16 says, "He revealed his son in me." Is that amazing how much God puts up with us until we come to the knowledge of him? It blows my mind.

Guest (Male): You're listening to Real Life with Pastor Jack Hibbs. To learn more about this ministry or to catch up on some previous episodes, go to jackhibbs.com. That's jackhibbs.com. And now, let's get back to today's message. Once again, here's Pastor Jack.

Host (Jack Hibbs): I think about the the witness of a friend of mine. Well, of a friend of mine, he's sitting right there. He's not paying a bit of attention to me right now. How what appears to be life's circumstances in Vietnam put him in a wheelchair. But he was the first one to open up my young Christian eyes to the fact that God, he believes God put him in that chair to get his attention because he was such a stinker, like we all were, that he wouldn't have listened to God otherwise. Now, you might say, well, how come I wasn't or how come you weren't put in a wheelchair? You know what? For some, it takes certain things. For others, it's something else.

Host (Jack Hibbs): But what blows my mind and one of the greatest joys I've ever had is to not only see this guy come to Christ and and meet him and watch all the things that's going on in his life, but to see a guy and some of you who were with us back then where he's got a heart to go to Russia. Russia is not a handicapped nation. They don't care. When you're, by the way, you don't see handicapped people on the streets in Russia. There's no place for them. But he got on an airplane and flew on this trip. It was a terrible airline trip and spent two weeks in Russia to share the love of God. And he went and ministered to people that none of us could ever touch. And soldiers there that were out of fighting in the Afghanistan war that we could have never ministered to. How does that happen? By God controlling and directing our lives from our mother's womb. And does it always meet our approval? No. My friend, listen, it's not going to either.

Host (Jack Hibbs): Shall the clay that spins on the potter's wheel rise up and say, "Why have you formed me like this?" To the potter? Can you imagine? You're on the potter's wheel. You're just a lump of clay, and you're just there and he starts forming you and he makes you into an ashtray and that ashtray says, "What are you making me like this for?" God could say, "You ungrateful, slimy, stinking piece of dirt," and throw you against the wall, right? He could. He made us. He's formed us and he's called us from our mother's womb, which means, really, that's very romantic talk. But what it means is before the foundation of the world, wherever laid, God had a plan. He ordained it, he's performing it, and he's controlling it in your life.

Host (Jack Hibbs): How sad the world tonight. Tomorrow morning, they're being printed now, but tomorrow morning the world will wake up, run to the paper and look for their daily horoscope to get their So you laugh because it's a joke to you, thank God. But for some people, they're going to get up tomorrow morning and say, "What am I going to do? What am I going to do today?" Businessmen, corporate leaders, uh, executive power women, uh, whatever position are going to run to the paper to find out what will my day be like today. Oh, I'm going to meet somebody interesting. Well, wake up. You meet someone interesting every day if you'll say hi. Just say hi to somebody. It's wild.

Host (Jack Hibbs): I was in Seattle, got on an airplane and they totally messed me up completely. It's wild. I had a seat, I had a window seat. You know, I'm a freak about window seats. Got to have them. Had it reserved there. It's all fine. And I'm getting on the plane and the lady goes, "You know, you fly us frequently. Would you stand off to the side for a moment because we're going to we have some open seats in first class. We're going to throw you up there free." Say, okay. Thank you, Lord. So I stood there. And unbeknownst I didn't know they had a shift change. Right there in front of me. They they changed and that woman never communicated to the other woman. So they're calling all these things, okay, the final call, final call. And I said, "You know, there's a lady," and she misunderstood me. She thought that I was standby. So she starts shutting the door and she goes, "Well, you know, try we have a flight out at 11." Well, this was on this was last Saturday, a couple days ago. And I'm thinking I need to be here in the morning early. And she says, "We'll get you into LA at 11." I said, "I'm in cars in Ontario." Oh.

Host (Jack Hibbs): Shut the door. They don't care. And so the thing is, um, I said, "Well, you know, isn't this any good anymore?" And I pull out my ticket. She goes, "Oh, we gave your seat away." I go, "Well, give it. I've had this ticket for a long time." It's true. I had it for a long time. I said, "I checked in here. I got to the airport early. I I literally go check, look, I checked in three hours ago. I was the first one here." And now you're telling me I don't have a seat. And she goes, "That's right." And she goes, "We will give you a $25 gift certificate." And I said, "Lady, to drive from LAX at 11:00 at night to Ontario Airport is going to be more than 25 bucks." "We will cover that taxi for you." I said, "No. I want to my plane." And so she goes, "Oh, yes, they have a seat. They have a seat." Oh, great. I get on. And I get on and somebody made a mistake. There is no seat. So they go, "Oh no, you have to get off." And I said, "Okay." Well, as soon as I said, "Okay," I turn around and I walked and the plane is packed. I turn around and then I said, "Oh." And I had a honestly I had a great attitude about it. God was with me. I said, "You guys, listen, everybody. Don't check in too early." "Don't check in too early and don't fall for we might have a seat in first class for you," because it didn't work. So you keep your ticket and you be careful next time, each and every one of you now. And what am I? I'm not going to see those people again. What do I care?

Host (Jack Hibbs): I turned, I turned to get out. That's what they did. They're going, "Oh man, we're sorry." I turned to get off and there was a there was an Alaskan airline pilot on the sitting on the plane. He says, "Hey, buddy, you can have my seat. That was a great announcement. You take my seat. I can get another plane." I said, "Thank you so much." I took his seat. And as soon as I sat down, this guy right next to me goes, "Pastor Jack, how are you?" I couldn't believe it.

Host (Jack Hibbs): And he said, "I want you to meet my wife." And he had four three or four kids with him. They were vacationing in in Vancouver. I felt this big. The reason why I brought that up is because God is controlling and directing our lives. He really is. In Jeremiah chapter 1 verses 4 through 9, Jeremiah says, "Then the word of the Lord came to me saying, before I formed you in the womb, I knew you, Jeremiah. Before you were born, I sanctified you. That is the word set apart. I ordained you, Jeremiah, as a prophet to the nations of the world." Then said I, "Oh Lord, God, behold I cannot speak." All of God's people seem to say that to him. "I cannot speak. For I am a youth." But the Lord said to me, "Do not say, I am a youth. For you shall go to all to whom I send you and whatever I command you, you shall speak. Do not be afraid of their faces for I am with you to deliver you, says the Lord." Then the Lord put forth his hand and touched my mouth and the Lord said to me, "Behold, I have put my words in your mouth." Wow. Are you a Christian tonight? God's put his words in your mouth. He's ordained you. He's performing his will in your life and he's controlling it all. He's directing you. When I can't find my direction, I just need to relax and let know let myself remember and know that God's controlling. Remember how this all started? Saul's donkeys got loose. And he was out wandering around, "Where's my dad's donkeys?" And God used those donkeys to get him to meet up in the next, well, 24 hours, God told Samuel, "About this time tomorrow, you're going to meet up with Saul." And it all started with donkeys running away. Crazy things, huh?

Host (Jack Hibbs): We need to always ask and be careful to always ask directions from God. Always, you guys. By the way, it's a good but humbling thing, but good to ask directions from God. It's to confess our human weakness when we ask for directions. Every man knows that when he's lost, he can't ask for directions. It's humiliating. But to ask God for directions, that's a good humbling thing that we need to do. You can read more about that regarding Saul or Paul.