Lessons From The Life Of Saul

Introduction

A. Give us a King! - the demand of Israel in I Sam.8

1. Saul was their choice, and he became their conquering hero

2. But Saul later became the King who threw away his crown

3. The Bleating sheep on the slopes of Mt. Carmel signalled the end of the Reign of the first King of Israel

B. It wsas a case of three strikes and you’re out

1. I Sam.13 - became impatient and offered the sacrifice

2. I Sam.14 - was proud and almost killed Jonathan hsi son

3. I Sam.15 - was disobedient in not destroying the Amalekites. He covered up his sin instead of confessing it

I. SIN IS SERIOUS

A. Saul treated sin very lightly

1. Not only did he make excuses and blame others, but never truly repents

2. He SEEMS to repent, but it was all talk and no action

3. Not once is Saul broken hearted about his sins and shortcomings

B. We must be careful not to make the same mistake

1. The wages of sin is death - Rom.6:23

2. Jesus Christ died a cruel death on the cross because of sin

3. When we minimize sin, we also make little of what Jesus did, and why

4. Sin is serious, in the life of both saint and sinner - die unforgiven - destiny is Hell!

II. SPIRITUAL DECLINE IS GRADUAL

A. Saul did not fail immediately

1. In fact at the beginning of his reign he was a very humble man

2. But soon pride and envy took over, and he hated David

3. His decline is seen in the visit to the Witch of Endor - I Sam.28

B. New Testament example of this is seen in Demas

1. "My fellowlaborer" - Philemon v.24

2. "Luke the beloved physican and Demas greet you" Col.4:14

3. "Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world" II Tim.4:10

"Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall" I Cor.10:12

C. Remember - The Road to Hell is a Slow but slippery slope!

III. INTEGRITY IS ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL

A. Saul was a doubleminded man unstable in all his ways - Jas.1:8

1. Saying rather than doing, making excuses rather than confession, offering sacrifices rather than obedience, reputation rather than

character. More concerned about his will than God’s.

2. Reputation is what men think we are - character is what you are in the dark - alone, no one watching (Except God!)

B. David was a man of integrity

1. Psa.78:70-72

2. David was a man of single hearted devotion.

3. A man after God’s own heart. Each time he sinned he sought God’s Face and Forgiveness.Psa.32:3-5 is another example.

4. We would do well to remember that "He that covereth his sin shall not prosper, but whoso confesseth & forsaketh them shall have mercy" Prov.28:13

IV. OBEDIENCE IS THE KEY TO VICTORY AND SUCCESS

A. Consider how much God did for Saul

1. Anointed and empowered him as the first King of Israel

2. Blessed him and gave him great responsibilities

3. But Saul would not submit to God’s will, instead he would offer a sacrifice 15:22-23 rather than obey God fully.

B. Trust and obey for there is no other way!

1. Our success in life will be dependent on our obedience to God.

2. Our prayers will be answered, God will help and guide us

3. But when we live a lie, or harbor unconfessed sin, misery will follow

4. Look at the Prodigal son - when was he happy? Lk.15

V. WE MUST BUILD OUR SPIRITUAL LIVES

A. Saul never built anything - except an altar to himself

B. King David was always building his sp.life - look at his psalms.

C. God’s will is for us to Grow I Pet.2:2

1. Build up ourselves in the most holy faith - Jude v.20 thru the Word of

God, prayer, fellowship with other Christians

2. Build up others - Heb.10:24-25 "provoke unto love & good works"

3. Build up the Church through winning the lost to Christ.

D. If we do these things, we shall never fall - II Pet.1:11-12

CONCLUSION

A. What a tragedy is the life and death of Saul - I Sam.31:4-10

B. We must be careful to hear and heed these important lessons

C. What happened to Saul can easily happen to us too.

D. We must deal with sin or it will deal with us!

E. Come to Christ who is the total answer for sin - I John 2:1-2 "If any man we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous and he is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world"

1. Obey the Gospel as those on Pentecost Acts 2:38

2. Repent and turn to Him today for forgiveness while you can. II Cor.6:2