 I'll spare them, just as in compassion, a man spares his son who serves him. Amen. Let us pray. Father in the name of Jesus we come before you this evening grateful for your masses that are new every morning for enabling us to gather both online and in your sanctuary Lord we are truly grateful. So now for the next few minutes as we consider your word how we pray that you will fill us with power from above that your Holy Spirit will indwell our minds to open our hearts to receive your word and Lord I ask that you may increase as I decrease why pray believing and trusting in Jesus name. Amen. A very warm welcome to those of you who are online and those in the sanctuary we are happy to be here to consider the sons and the daughters of God the sons and the daughters of God failed expectations is a lot of mankind some more than others I want to believe that everyone who has lived for a number of years has suffered failed expectations this evening I want us to consider a parent who has paid school fees for his son three to four years down the line graduation day comes and his son is not one going for graduation sadly the father learns that the sons keep classes failed exams and consequently was not eligible to graduate truly a painful moment for any parent who goes through that you can imagine the years invested in this particular son not so much for the benefit of the father but in an expectation that the sons Lord in future will be better because of the education that the father invests in imagine God in his mercy and grace seeing the pathetic desperate situation of fallen man determined to send his only begotten son that whosoever believes should not perish but have everlasting life sadly many even those that profess to be followers of Christ do not partake of the life offered so abundantly by Jesus Christ and his sacrificial death for sinners such as I even was still when God the father got the son and got the Holy Spirit have an expectation of us who are called into his fold who have partaken of his grace and that expectation my brother my sister we shall look into it later but in one of my favorite texts Romans chapter eight the chapter of God's inalienable love in verse 28 we are very familiar with it it says all things work together for good for them that love the Lord and are called according to his purpose I am particularly interested in 29 and it starts with four meaning it's joining 28 and 29 and the four is explaining the purpose for which all things are working together for good for them that love the Lord that purpose my brother my sister is recorded clearly in the Bible that the Lord's expectation is that we will conform to the image of his son and when we do that his son becomes just a fast born among many that's the expectation going back to us humanity it's not all bad because when we look at the book of 2 Timothy chapter 3 verse 1 to 5 truly a disheartening situation is found there it reads but this we know that in the last day's perilous times will come for men will be lovers of themselves lovers of money boasters proud blasphemers disobedient to parents and thankful and holy and loving and forgiving slanderers without self control brutal despisers of good you ask yourself so what has this got to do with the sons and the daughters of God surely we must be different going on to verse 5 lo and behold Paul speaking to his beloved son Timothy says this having a form of godliness but denying its power and from such people turn away friends I want to suggest to us that where the Bible is talking of a people who have a form of godliness is talking about that are in the fold those that are in the church indeed turning to the SDA Bible commentary verse volume 7 page 341 expounding on some of those characteristics that we often think belong to people outside the church and not ourselves on the issue of being unthankful the commentary says these ones they take and receive the benefits from God and from parents for granted they are ungrateful and thankful in terms of having a form of godliness but denying the power thereof the same commentary on page 341 says something really really sad about this situation that in these people who are called into the fold of safety they may practice things that outwardly are religious for example church attendance church gifts even personal service in the church but sadly they deny the power of God which cooperates with the will of man for the eradication of sinful tendencies we are talking of failed expectations we have mentioned that God has an expectation that having done so much for humanity in sending his only begotten son that we who believe in him should not perish but have everlasting life sadly Paul the man of God writing to young Timothy is observing that within the church there are those, verse 5 that have a form of godliness but in their very daily lives it is clear that there is a denial of the power of God to cooperate with the will of man for the eradication of sinful tendencies it's not all bad the same Paul talking about Timothy his beloved son like any father he is concerned that Timothy's faith should be of the genuine type not of those that deny the power of God to change lives so this is what Timothy is said to be when you look at 2 Timothy verse chapter 1 chapter 1 verse 3 Paul talking, we'll go to verse 4 and 5 Paul talking of Timothy says I am greatly desiring to see you being mindful of your tears that I may be filled with joy when I call to remembrance the genuineness of your faith that is in you which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice I am persuaded it is in you also Amen the man of God Paul is testifying that even though he later observes that there are some in the church who have been called just like Timothy but are unholy unthankful having a form of godliness but denying its power its power to change humanity to be what God wants us to be so looking at the testimony of Paul concerning Timothy he observes that Timothy's own mother Eunice is a woman of faith we're in verse 5 he also observes that the grandmother Lois is a woman or was a woman of faith beloved this is the deal that God's expectation of each one of his sons and daughters is not to boast in our family lineage we've had people say I am born Adventist I don't know what that means we are born biologically and born again into the faith in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit so there is nothing like being born an Adventist we are born as human beings and we accept Jesus Christ as our personal saviour so the Bible commentary volume 7 page 328 says observing the genuineness of the faith of Timothy it says even though Lois the grandmother even though Eunice the mother were women of faith the genuineness of the family member's faith beautiful as it is was not a saving faith for Timothy that is why Paul is rejoicing to learn and to observe that Timothy's faith is as genuine and legitimate as the faith of his mother and the faith of his Lois of his grandmother Lois beloved I want to encourage us parents and even young people that yes, within your family set up not all may be of faith but there is hope for everyone because God's expectation which we will later on see is that we cooperating together with him surrendering our wills to his will be enabled to conform to the image of his son Jesus Christ that is his word and his promise in Romans chapter 8 verse 29 moving on then Paul recognizing the world that we are living in now and even that was the case in his time in 2 Timothy chapter 4 and verse 5 says this to his son but you Timothy it doesn't matter what is going on around you and who is following God faithfully because we will not know sometimes be watchful in all things endure affliction do the work of an evangelist fulfill your ministry beloved I want to recommend to you and I that our testimony in the eyes of God not man will be that our faith is genuine that we are enduring in all things even affliction and that we are doing the work that he has called us to do and that we are fulfilling the ministry for which he has set us apart God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit have an expectation of their sons and their daughters they are mindful just like Paul is of Timothy that yes he may suffer trials and tribulations like we do but the ultimate desire and purpose is that in the end in the end while we walk the journey of faith we shall truly be declared children of God moving on to the heart of the matter how do we know if we are truly the sons and the daughters of God I invite us I invite us to go to Exodus chapter 19 verse 5 Exodus chapter 19 verse 5 I will not be explaining all the things that we will need to look at in order to get the assurance that truly we are sons and daughters of God but we will touch on just three this evening because of time and we want to look at the first one in Exodus chapter 19 verse 5 God himself speaking through Moses says now therefore if you will obey my voice and keep my covenant then you shall be a special treasure to me above all people for all the earth is my emphasis is if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant then you shall be a special treasure the Bible commentary volume 1 page 592 of the SDA Bible commentary explains who or what the special treasure means talking of Israel in Exodus 19 the commentary extrapolates that in this manner every child of God every consecrated Christian listen to this is a jewel in the crown of our Lord imagine Jesus the king of kings with a crown that those glittering jewels in his crown is like you and me when we are consecrated the Lord considers us his jewel jewels shine because light from God light from the one who created the sun and the moon and gave wisdom for mankind to create light when light shines on a jewel it shines back this is who God thinks of us his sons and his daughters that when indeed we obey his voice we are truly his sons and his daughters I want us to consider the examples even as we are proceeding on the issue of obedience being one of the indicators that we are legitimate sons and daughters of God two men with a lot of similarities not ordinary men they became the kings of Israel one is Saul one is David one of the similarities is they were chosen by God himself you will find that in 1 Samuel chapter 9 verse 16 and 17 the selection by God himself of Saul we know because we are Bible readers we know that Saul became king not because God had originally intended for Israel to have kings but they demanded a king so that they may be like other nations and God in his permissive will allowed that to happen so Saul is chosen by God just like you and I are an elect of God when we accept Jesus Christ as our savior so chosen by God himself identified by his tribe, a Benjamin and also David we shall see is also chosen by God himself we see him later in 1 Samuel 16 verse 1 of the tribe of the Bethlehemite the family of Jesse and God speaks and says I will name him I will name him and truly in verse 12 of chapter 16 he is named David is identified by God himself so was that enough to make them sons of God the genuine ones not those that who had a form of godliness that we had read in 1 Timothy chapter 3 moving on some of the similarities a special thing that distinguishes the sons and daughters of God from others is the anointing the anointing we know for sure that when we are baptized we get a special anointing of the Holy Spirit and the word of God confirms that both Saul and David 1 Samuel 10 1 and 1 Samuel 16 verse 3 they were anointed so two traits that indicate that God had his hand on these two men the third one both were filled by the Holy Spirit kings were anointed by oil now we move on to the anointing that you and I receive which is of the Holy Spirit this is what the word of God says of Samuel in 1 Samuel chapter 10 if we can turn there 1 Samuel chapter 10 verse 6 then the spirit of the Lord will come upon you speaking of Samuel and you will prophesy with them and be turned into another man and let it be when these signs come to you that you do as the occasion demands for God is with you verse 9 so it was when he had turned his back that is Samuel from Samuel that God gave him another heart and all those signs came to pass readers of the Bible you know that Saul was looking for his father's lost donkeys and he met prophet Samuel on the road and the setting apart through the spirit of God happened and he indeed prophesied and became part of the prophet as they were prophesying and those that witnessed those that witnessed this when we read 1 Samuel chapter 10 they noticed I'm looking for it number 11 verse number 11 chapter 10 says and it happened when all who knew him formally so that indeed he prophesied among the prophet that the people said to one another what is this that has come upon the son of son of Hish is Saul also among the prophet surely the word of God comes to pass when in Luke chapter 11 the word of God promises we always could we can you shall find nor can the door shall be opened but the key thing there that Christ wanted his sons and daughters to know is that if we horrible sinful men and women know how to give good gifts to our children how much more we have God give the Holy Spirit to them that ask so the Holy Spirit distinguishes us as sons of God but children of God we want to consider is it a one time feeling for all times or it depends on our relationship with God as our relationship with our children we cultivate that we nurture that moving on to this same Samuel things begin to happen after his anointing to be king in first Samuel chapter 13 verse 13 to 14 if you read because we don't have time if you read from verse 5 to 9 maybe we will go there let's go there first Samuel so that we see the difference between two men who are anointed by the Holy Spirit of God anointed for leadership through the prophet Samuel anointed by the Holy Spirit to be leaders leading men and women to become sons and daughters of God what then happens to Saul as he is continuing with his leadership first Samuel 13 verse 5 talks about then the Philistines together to fight with Israel 30,000 chariots and 6,000 horsemen and people as the son which is on the seashore in multitude and they came up and then counted in mismatch in the east of the Bethaven look at this the burden of a leader when you see your people confronted by the enemy who is as powerful as is described here you may be tempted to fear to worry and to forget who's you are because that's what matters you belong to God the all powerful one in verse 6 when the men of Israel saw that they were in danger the people were distressed look at what the people are doing the people hid in caves in thickness, in rocks, in holes and in pits verse 7 some Hebrews crossed over the Jordan to the land of God and Gile and as for Saul he was still in Gilgar then he waited 7 days we're in verse number 8 he waited for Samuel the seer the man who is interceding with God on behalf of his sons and daughters including Saul the king Saul is waiting for Samuel to come and the word of God says the set time by Samuel was 7 days but Samuel did not come and the people were scattered from him the leader sees people running away from him so Saul said bring a burnt offering and a peace offering here to me and he offered the burnt offering there is the beginning of the fall of this man who became a different man by the testimony of the Bible by the anointing of the man of God and by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit Saul the ordinary young man who was just looking after donkeys became a man of God prophesy now he takes things into his own hands I know we know the story Samuel comes immediately after that burnt offering has been given by the man who was not anointed to be a priest anointed to be a king now he's taking matters in his own hands as if God was not powerful enough even in the absence of prophet Samuel to fight for them against the Philistines this is the word of God through the prophet Samuel to Saul you have done foolishly you have not kept the commandment of the Lord your God which he commanded you for now the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever but now your kingdom shall not continue the Lord has sought for himself a man after his own heart and the Lord has commanded him to be the commander over his people why? because you Saul have not kept what the Lord commanded you brothers and sisters this is my appeal to us floral court included it doesn't matter you are anointed you are chosen you are identified by God himself as one of his own obedience is not a suggestion it is a requirement that distinguishes sons and daughters from any other person in the world so get a clear verdict your kingdom would have gone forever but because you have failed to heed the voice of God God has identified for himself another man to take over as king listen to the masses of God children of God that even after this verdict is read out by Samuel to Saul you will see when you read chapter 14 that God is still working with Saul he has not taken away his Holy Spirit from him we see Saul in in verse we see him in verse in first Samuel chapter 13 chapter 14 we see him in verse 37 chapter 14 verse 37 we see the same Samuel who took matters in his hands seems to have learned a lesson it's there Saul asks counsel of God shall I go down after the Philistines will you deliver them into the hand of Israel but he did not answer him that day in short when you continue reading you realize that even though Saul made a mistake and he repented God had pronounced the kingdom had moved elsewhere he remained on the throne and as long as he sought God God came through for him it is recorded indeed that even through his son Jonathan and his armor bearer together with Saul God ministered in their behalf and they defeated their enemies now the sad thing that we are looking at obedience sometimes even the Holy commandment of God which we know for sure are binding are indeed the very character of God many of us sadly even among the fold that is known as Christians like Saul we choose what to obey and we choose when to obey now look at chapter 15 we will not read all of it in verse 3 something is happening again to Saul and his people and God is saying in verse 2 that says the Lord of hosts the Amalekites have come to persecute and attack his people this is what God's instructions to Saul was that says the Lord of hosts I will punish what Amalek did to Israel now he ambushed him on the way when he came up from Egypt he was remembering history and the time has come for Amalek and his generation to face the wrath of God so these are the instructions in verse 3 now go attack Amalek and utterly destroy all that they have and do not spare them but kill both man and woman infant and nursing child ox and sheep and donkey I don't think that God would have been clearer he has highlighted exactly what Saul and his men what to do we know the story we know the sad reality that Saul took upon himself we see it we see it in the same chapter that Saul took it upon himself to spare Agag the king Saul said in verse 9 but Saul and the people spared Agag and the best we are in chapter 15 of first Samuel chapter 15 verse 9 this is what Saul the king after the very clear instructions from God does Saul and the people spared Agag and the best of the sheep the ox and the fattlings the lambs and all that was good and one feeling were unwilling to utterly destroy them but everything despised and worthless that they utterly destroyed the word of God is recording the reality that even though God's command to Saul and his people in verse 2 and 3 is very clear Saul leads his people and they are unwilling to utterly destroy them the word of God doesn't say it but I imagine being human like us they must have rationalized surely these are human beings like us why would we destroy all of them why? so they do not obey that which the Lord has commanded they are rationalizing the commandment of God beloved, partial obedience is total disobedience that is what we are learning and this is what God tells Saul when the man of God asks him again and again Saul is arguing in verse 20 of chapter 15 first Samuel Saul said to Samuel but I have obeyed the voice of the Lord and gone on his mission on which the Lord sent me and I brought back Agag the king of Amalek I have utterly destroyed their melanchite to this cowardly leader in verse 29 he is saying but the people took the plunder sheep, oxen and the best of the things which should have been utterly destroyed listen looking for excuses for disobedience we kept these ones to sacrifice to the Lord your God in Gilgall these next verses are true to all sons and daughters of God for all generations has the Lord as great a delight in banter offerings and sacrifices as in obeying the voice of the Lord behold to obey is better than sacrifice and to heed to heed than the fat of the realms listen for rebellion which is disobedience is as the sin of witchcraft the stubbornness and stubbornness as iniquity and idolatry because you have rejected the word of the Lord he has also rejected you from being king long story short long story short it is sad as Paul is recognizing in 2 Timothy chapter 3 verse 5 that there are sons and daughters by name with a form of godliness offering sacrifices attending churches gifts given services rendered but in some aspects of our lives we choose a soul to do that which is convenient contrary to God's will I don't know about you are you grieved when after the knowledge of truth you hear us saying I have to work on Sabbath I don't have another way the world is such that if my son or daughter does not go to school on Sabbath and he or she is a candidate she will be expelled from school sons and daughters are distinguished and distinguishable by their obedience remember Saul and David anointed by the spirit changed to be man of God to lead people his way one decides he will do that which is convenient and have partial obedience which is total disobedience obedience is a hallmark of being a son and a daughter of God no one that David asks God examine me if there be any wicked way in me because sometimes in our human thinking the word of God says the heart of man is wicked beyond all things and it will deceive you that what you are doing makes sense in the scheme of the kingdom of God obedience is better than sacrifice moving on the other hallmark that distinguishes the sons and daughters of God from others is found in Romans chapter 8 verse 9 and 13 Romans chapter 8 verse 9 and 13 Romans chapter 8 verse 9 says this but you are not in the flesh but in the spirit if indeed the spirit of God dwells in you now if anyone does not have the spirit of Christ he is not his the leading of the spirit of God made the difference between Thor and David we know the story of David in human reckoning when we look at his history when we reflect on his mother as plot after coveting someone's wife and plotting to kill him he is not his he is not his someone's wife and plotting murder and executing it in human flesh we attempted to think surely what it's all do that is so terrible compared to David the difference is in acknowledging sin turning away and allowing the Holy Spirit to do the work of sanctification in your lives the Word of God is clear in the same Romans chapter 8 verse 13 it says this Romans chapter 8 verse 13 for if you live according to the flesh you will die but if by the spirit you will put to death the deeds of the body you will live for as many as are led by the spirit of God these are the sons of God I suggest to me and you sons and daughters of God that the leading of the Holy Spirit in our daily lives makes the difference on sonship that the choices we make on a daily basis to obey avail to us the grace of God in our lives not of works is any man saved it is the gift of God indeed but faith manifests in works of obedience it's the evidence of a transformed life moving on number 3 sons and daughters of God will endure trials and temptations we read Malachi chapter 3 verse 17 I'll read it again Malachi chapter 3 verse 17 talking about sons and daughters of God this is the Word of God talking of His people I'll start in verse 16, 15 so now we call the proud blessing for those who do wickedness are raised up even tempt God and they go free then those who fear the Lord spoke to one another and the Lord listened and heard them so a book of remembrance was written before them for those who fear the Lord and who meditate in His name number 17 those ones who fear the Lord and meditate on His name they shall be minds is the Lord of hosts on that day that I shall make them my jewels I will spare them as a man spares his own son who serves him beloved being a child of God God acknowledges you and I when we trust Him when we obey Him when we respond to His spirit's leading He considers us as we began in the beginning that we are the jewels of His crown Christ is crowned because He is not just king of kings and Lord of lords He is saviour, He came to redeem so the jewels that decorate His crown are sons and daughters who have submitted fully not in partial obedience but in total obedience and when they fall they partake of fast John 1 9 that God is faithful and just to forgive anyone who confesses their sin not perfect like David but a son nevertheless because they are led by the spirit of God beloved the jewels of this earth I did a little research and I discovered that jewels are often formed in the depth of the earth it was suggested that diamonds are developed a hundred miles below the earth's surface a hundred miles is the equivalent of 161 km and 161 km is Nairobi to Nakuru now 161 km beneath rock and soil it will not be an easy three hour drive it takes time to become the jewel of God takes depth, takes time, takes temperature takes endurance just like diamonds a hundred miles below and where they are formed is 50,000 times the earth's pressure the pressure on the surface of the earth here where the diamonds are formed is 50,000 times more pressure than the earth's surface and listen to this in terms of heat in terms of heat it's 1,600 degrees Celsius does that sound like heat? yes, children of God the making of jewels on earth naturally by God takes depth takes temperature, takes pressure I want to suggest to you and I son and daughter of God that the same applies to you and I and that's why in Romans chapter 8 verse 28 it's a very favorite verse to most of us the word of God says and we know, we are not guessing and we know that all things work together for good to those who love the Lord and are called according to His purpose we know all things work together for good for them that love the Lord and are called according to His purpose one time I was really troubled what is this purpose? that is making all things good and bad to work together for my good what is this purpose? and lo and behold I found it in 29 in short it is to be conformed to the image of His Son that He might be the first one among many brethren that is the purpose of God in our trials, in our temptations there is enough depth being developed there is sufficient pressure to remove the dross that life brings upon us and ultimately the expectation of God of sons and daughters is that when human beings look at you Victor when human beings look at you William O'Call when humanity wherever you interact with them my sister Ann when people look at you they see the image of God's Son we will not be white we will not have long hair we may not speak like him but our character truly will be reflecting the image of Christ the first born and this is the expectation that He will not be an only child that He will be first born among many brethren that is the word of God so this is the deal sons and daughters of God do not shy away when trials and tribulations the heat is piled up the pressure builds up upon you the devil is often behind it God permits it that ultimately He may show off His jewels to the entire universe that these are mine they are my jewels we know from 1 Peter 1 6 and 7 that God allows problems to come our way it is not because He is a sadist and that He enjoys when His sons and daughters suffer no He longs to have jewels that have overcome the world in Bible readings for the home page 246 I came across a beautiful verse chapter on chastening and growth this is what it says our sorrows do not spring from the ground God does not afflict willingly nor grieve the children of men listen when He permits trials and afflictions it is that we may be partakers of His holiness amen the trials of life are God's workmen did we hear that God works all things together for good for them that love Him trials of life are God's workmen don't wiggle out don't compromise look at Joseph extreme pressure from his own family He does not harbour unforgiveness which is a trait of those that are ungodly deny the power of God we saw it in 2 Timothy 3 verse 5 ungodly, unthankful, unholy the trials of life are God's workmen to remove impurities roughness from our character they are hewing they are squaring they are chiseling and banishing and polishing sounds painful indeed it is a painful process between the dream for Joseph and the actual crowning as a leader he came from a teenager to an adult man in his 30s between the promise of Abraham father of many nations a number of years passed at a hundred the promise begins to show up but by the time Sarah is dying you may not have seen the big nations the word of God continues under the Bible readings for the whole that page 246 to say it is hard to be pressed down to the grinding wheel but the stone is brought forth prepared to fill its place in the heavenly temple amen that all the chiseling all the squaring all the sharpening is worth it consider the transformation of Jacob from a fraudster to Israel consider aggressive soul murderers killing with abandon transformed to be the humble evangelist introducing himself from one letter to the other born servant of God prolific writer ready to die provided he does not lose one minute to tell others that you too can be a son you too can be a daughter consider Peter self-righteous feeling too good to reach out to who Cornelius until God molds him and melts him and shows him that hey I have sons and daughters who may not look like you who may not have the same background like you but once they believe and trust and accept Jesus and they walk in faith through the leading of the Holy Spirit these are mine finishing brothers and sisters this is the real deal this is the real deal that God has an expectation that the sacrifice his son made will not be in vain especially those of Israel those who have seen and heard and tested of his goodness for how long will we behave like so choosing when it is convenient to obey when it is convenient to trust will you partner with God that Romans 8 28 and 29 will become true that at the end of time the many brethren will include you and I as sons and daughters of the Lord finishing let us allow God in our lives to polish us and make us his jewels as he has promised in Malachi 3 17 the difference is in the choice you make it's not that there's a select few know John 3 16 is clear for God so loved the world that he gave that whosoever believes shall not perish but have everlasting life let us not like so perish from within the fold let us choose like David to honor God that our testimony will be surely goodness and mercy shall follow us all the days of our lives I pray that if there is any son and daughter of God anywhere online or in this sanctuary you know for sure that on the aspect of obedience to God that we have fallen short if there be any son or daughter of God who knows for sure that the deposit of the Holy Spirit is availed in abundance but sometimes we ignore his prompting if there be any among us online and in the sanctuary who knows for sure that the image of the first born brother is not always clear in private and in public it is my prayer that we will run to him our elder brother and take the first opportunity to confess our sins and he is faithful and just to make us his jewels that ultimately he will say my father these for these ones I died they rend a good race they overcame the world these are yours due to 24 promises that he anxiously awaits to line us up before the father spotless not because we have not sinned but because we will have partaken the narrow road of obedience and walking with him submitting our will to his this is my prayer for you and for me my brothers in the mighty name of Jesus shall we pray father in the name of Jesus we come before you this evening thankful for sending your son to die for us that we may live father we recognize that we have fallen short of your glory that we do not always reflect that image that you require and expect of us father forgive us but we hang on to your word in Luke 12 how much more will you give us the Holy Spirit when we ask grant us your Holy Spirit to walk with us to teach us to comfort us to reprove us when we are at home to guide us and remind us of your teaching when we are tempted to compromise Lord remind us that it is worthwhile to endure to the end and keep us till you come again that we may live with you forever this is our prayer in Jesus name and now may we rise up and say the grace of our Lord together and now may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us now and forevermore Amen Amen God bless you