When Nothing Works - August 23, 2026

<p><strong>Calling: Keeping, Finding, Growing</strong></p><p><strong>When Nothing Works</strong></p><p><strong>Jon Fredricks</strong></p><p><strong>Today&#39;s Scripture: 1 Samuel 8:1-21 NIV</strong></p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.bible.com/bible/111/1SA.8.1-21.NIV" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer"><strong>1 Samuel 8:1-21 NIV</strong></a></p><p> </p><p><strong>1) SURRENDER PERCEPTION</strong></p><p><strong>1 Samuel 8:6 NIV</strong></p><p><strong>6</strong> But when they said, “Give us a king to lead us,” this displeased Samuel; so he prayed to the Lord.</p><p> </p><p><strong>1 Samuel 9:2 NIV</strong></p><p><strong>2</strong> Kish had a son named Saul, as handsome a young man as could be found anywhere in Israel, and he was a head taller than anyone else.</p><p> </p><p><strong>Proverbs 29:25 MSG</strong></p><p><strong>25</strong> The fear of human opinion disables; trusting in God protects you from that.</p><p> </p><p><strong>Luke 10:41-42 NASB</strong></p><p><strong>41</strong> But the Lord answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; <strong>42</strong> but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.”</p><p> </p><p><strong>Isaiah 53:2 NIV</strong></p><p>He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground.</p><p>He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.</p><p> </p><p><strong>Colossians 3:24 NIV</strong></p><p>since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.</p><p> </p><p><strong>Exodus 20:3 NIV</strong></p><p><strong>3</strong> “You shall have no other gods before me.</p><p> </p><p><strong>2) TAKE PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE CONDITION OF YOUR SOUL</strong></p><p><strong>1 Samuel 8:3 NIV</strong></p><p><strong>3</strong> But his sons did not follow his ways. They turned aside after dishonest gain and accepted bribes and perverted justice.</p><p> </p><p><strong>Luke 6:45 NIV</strong></p><p><strong>45</strong> A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.</p><p> </p><p><strong>2 Chronicles 16:9 NIV</strong></p><p><strong>9</strong> For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him….</p><p> </p><p><strong>Proverbs 4:23 NIV</strong></p><p><strong>23</strong> Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.</p><p> </p><p><strong>2 Timothy 2:21 NIV</strong></p><p><strong>21</strong> Those who cleanse themselves from the latter will be instruments for special purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.</p><p> </p><p><strong>3) SURRENDER THE CONDITION OF THEIR SOUL</strong></p><p><strong>1 Samuel 8:7 NIV</strong></p><p><strong>7</strong> And the Lord told him: “Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king.</p><p> </p><p><strong>John 21:21-22 NIV</strong></p><p><strong>21</strong> When Peter saw him, he asked, “Lord, what about him?” <strong>22</strong> Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.” </p><p> </p><p><strong>Romans 14:10, 12 NIV</strong></p><p><strong>10</strong> You, then, why do you judge your brother or sister? Or why do you treat them with contempt? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat.</p><p><strong>12</strong> So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God.</p><p> </p><p><strong>Luke 5:31-32 NIV</strong></p><p><strong>31</strong> Jesus answered them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. <strong>32</strong> I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”</p><p> </p><p><strong>4) TRUST GOD<