Sermon Central
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A Breach Of Faith
Contributed by Jerry Flury on Jul 15, 2010 (message contributor)
Summary: If God wrote your obituary, what would He say? Verses 13-14 of 1 Chronicles 10 provide a sad obituary for a man that been called of God but whose life ended in tragedy and ruin. God cuts no quarters in telling us exactly what brought about this downfall.
A Breach of Faith
If God wrote your obituary, what would He say? Verses 13-14 of 1 Chronicles 10 provide a sad obituary for a man that been called of God but whose life ended in tragedy and ruin. God cuts no quarters in telling us exactly what brought about this downfall. Today, I would like us to consider what God has to say concerning Saul that might be a warning to us all.
I. Saul breached faith with God.
A. Saul’s privilege
1. From a natural point of view he was outstanding – 1 Samuel 9:2b “There was not a more handsome person than he among the children of Israel. From his shoulders upward he was taller than any of the people.”
2. He was given a new heart by God – 1 Samuel 10:6, 9 “the Spirit of the LORD will come upon you (Saul) mightily, and you shall … be changed into another man....God gave him another heart.”
3. He was chosen by God to save Israel – 1 Samuel 10:24 “And Samuel said to all the people, "Do you see him whom the LORD has chosen? There is none like him among all the people."
4. God touched over lives around him – 1 Samuel 10:26 “And Saul also went home to Gibeah; and valiant men went with him, whose hearts God had touched.”
5. Of good standing in the nation, distinctly called and commissioned by God, honored with the friendship of Samuel, surrounded by a band of men whose hearts God had touched, everything was in his favor. – Morgan
B. Christian’s privilege
1. Believer’s have a new heart in a new man – II Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”
2. Believer’s have been chosen by God to take the message of salvation to the world – John 15:16 “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain : that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.”
3. God provides for us to not to have to be Lone Ranger Christians but touches the lives of others to co-labor with us. – 1 Corinthians 3:9 “For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building.”
C. Saul disobeyed the command of God.
1. Saul obeyed God but not to the letter.
2. In 1 Samuel 15 we see, Saul in obedience to the command of God along with his valiant men fighting the Amalekites. He won the battle, but he failed to do everything the Lord said. Rather he chose to do it his way.
3. There are those who feel that the end justifies the means.
4. Note what God’s Word says:
i. 1 Samuel 15:23-24 ““Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, He also has rejected you from being king.”
D. While vacationing, a little girl, who was told not to go by the cliff, wandered out toward it when her dad fell asleep. She reached out over the rocks and grabbed a pretty flower and ran back to her dad and said look what I brought you. He grabbed the flower and threw it down and clutched the little girl and said, "You have disobeyed. I'd rather have you than anything you could give me."
E. To disobey Him is the ultimate treason. To say, "No, Lord," is a contradiction of terms. He is not Lord when He is told, "No"! – Dr. E. H. Henderson, 3-31-91.
F. Verse 13 - So Saul died for his unfaithfulness which he had committed against the LORD, because he did not keep the word of the LORD
G. V 13 (ESV) - So Saul died for his breach of faith. He broke faith with the LORD in that he did not keep the command of the LORD
II. Saul sought the advice of the world.
A. 1 Chronicles 10 13 - So Saul died for his transgression which he committed against the LORD, even against the word of the LORD, which he kept not, and also for asking counsel of one that had a familiar spirit, to enquire of it.
B. Saul did not have a genuine connection with God and did not seek God for the difficulties of his life. He consulted a medium for guidance, but not the LORD God.
