Sermon Central
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Dealing With Failure Series
Contributed by Doug Johnston on Oct 5, 2001 (message contributor)
Summary: When Saul made mistakes in judgment or sinned, he had the pattern of making things hard for himself by overlooking them or blaming others instead of coming back to the heart of the matter and doing the simple things God wants most.
And Saul answered, God do so and more also:
for thou shalt surely die, Jonathan.
1 Samuel 14:44
30 Then he said, I have sinned: yet honour me now, I pray thee, before the elders of my people, and before Israel, and turn again with me, that I may worship the LORD thy God. 31 So Samuel turned again after Saul; and Saul worshipped the LORD.
1 Samuel 15:30-31
Sometimes we get puzzled when people describe us as hypocrites, do-gooders, nosy, fussy, nit-pickers, bossy, judges, high and mighty, and meddlers.
We are equally puzzled when that same group describes themselves as condemned, forgotten, left out, lonely, rejected, abandoned, suspicious, or apathetic.
These may feel they are on the losing side of life, but they still are:
-People Christ died for
-People made in God’s image
-People needing care
-Our neighbors (Luke 10)
Just as Jonathan’s gumption (14:1, 6-14) was almost overshadowed by Saul’s presumption (14:24), so we may need to deal with life as things look bad.
What is Always God’s Will for Me?
I. Trust Christ (John 6:40)
II. Life a Holy Life (1 Thessalonians 4:3, 7)
III. Work Diligently (Ephesians 6:5-6; Ecclesiastes 9:10)
IV. Obey Authorities (1 Peter 2:13-15)
V. Practice Spirit Control (Ephesians 5:17-18)
