Hiding From God

Hiding from God

February 20, 2011 Evening Service

Immanuel Baptist Church, Wagoner, OK

Rick Boyne

Message Point: We must get out of the baggage and serve God with our whole heart.

Focus Passage: I Sam 10:17-27 (Pew Bible page 321)

Supplemental Passage: 1Pe 2:9 But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God's OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.

Introduction: Describe the scene in “The Mission” where the priest cuts off the sword bag of the other priest and the other priest goes to get it. It isn’t until one of the indigenous Indian’s cuts off the sword bag and lets it fall down a mountain does the first priest finally let go.

I. Saul’s baggage:

a. Failing to Trust God - 1Sa 9:21 Saul replied, "Am I not a Benjamite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel, and my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? Why then do you speak to me in this way?

b. Fear of what other’s would say - 1Sa 15:24 Then Saul said to Samuel, "I have sinned; I have indeed transgressed the command of the LORD and your words, because I feared the people and listened to their voice.

c. Inconsistent heart – God gave him the heart of a king, but he didn’t use it. Twice David could have killed him, then Saul repented, but sought after him again; he consulted a medium when God wouldn’t answer; he presented the sacrifice himself when he got tired of waiting on Samuel.

d. A disobedient spirit – Saul did not obey God and kill all of the Amelikite animals as God told him to; and at Gilgal, he was obedient by going ahead with the sacrifice instead of waiting for Samuel. Samuel told him, “1Sa 15:22 Samuel said, "Has the LORD as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices As in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice.” Saul was going through the motions.

II. Our baggage:

a. Individual – Failure, Sin, etc.

b. Church – Past history, Congregational Sin, etc.

Invitation: What is the baggage that you are hiding behind? Self-competency? Self-defamation? Bitterness? Abuse? Fear of what others might think or say? Fear of having to change or repent? Fear? Or could it be simple excuses? Too old? Too young? Too poor? Too whatever?