TWO APPROACHES TO RELIGION AND THE PREACHER...
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
I did this in one lesson, but you have to move very quickly. It would be easy to do as two parts.
We seem to love and call for victory by doing the quick and easy in our society. This attitude spills over into the church.
We love instant microwavable things.
Instant coffee? Instant mashed potatoes?
We call for things that have "STARTER KITS" --- they are almost done when we start? This will save us time and effort.
Sometimes we find ourselves searching for stream-line no effort, or little effort worship styles. Some spiritual battles can not cut the corners and achieve real success. Time and trials will tend to test
our faith and our attitudes.
I. OFTEN WE FIND THAT IF WE DO THIS, WE WILL GET THAT?
IF WE BYPASS THIS WE WILL BYPASS THAT?
A. As we count cost, we must also count the cost of apathy and idleness.
B. I need two quarts of oil in my car? The cost will be $4.00.
What will the cost be if I don’t buy and add the two quarts of oil?
$300 towing bill? $2,000 repair bill?
C. We often hear: PAY NOW? OR PAY ME LATER.
Proverbs 30:33 Surely the churning of milk bringeth forth butter, and the wringing of the nose bringeth forth blood: so the forcing of wrath bringeth forth strife.
D. IF WE CHURN MILK SHOULD WE BE SURPRISED WITH BUTTER?
If we force anger and wrath should we be surprised if STRIVE FOLLOWS?
II. WE ARE IN A TERRIBLE SPIRITUAL BATTLE WITH UNSEEN FOES. YOUR ENEMY HAS A PLAN AND PURPOSE AND HE HAS ESTABLISHED GOALS AND ATTACK POINTS TO COME AGAINST YOU AND GOD’S PLAN.
A. We could discuss for weeks why, how the attack comes against us.
Luke 22:31 And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:
32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.
B. Your enemy has a desire to come against you, hinder you, detour you and kill the GOD FACTOR IN YOU AND YOUR HOME AND CHURCH.
III. YOUR SPIRITUAL ENEMY WILL DO ANYTHING HE CAN TO ACCOMPLISH HIS THREE-FOLD PURPOSE AGAINST YOU, YOUR FAMILY AND YOUR CHURCH.
A. KNOW YOUR ENEMY AND PREPARE YOURSELF FOR HIS SHARP DARTS.
John 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
B. TO STEAL.
C. TO KILL.
D. TO DESTROY
E. Our enemy has a clearly defined MISSION!
We must SUBMIT TO GOD...
IV. OUR ENEMY HAS SOME OLD BUT STRONG TOOLS IN WHICH
HE WILL BATTLE YOU! KNOW HIS TOOLS AND HAVE A COUNTER-
PUNCH TO MAKE HIS TOOLS OF NON-EFFECT.
A. OUR ENEMY WILL TRY TO GET YOU TO DISOBEY.
Genesis 3:4-5
B. A SUPER TOOL IN THE ENEMIES TOOL BOX IS GOSSIP and to SLANDER THE SAINTS. (Job: 1:9-11)
Many can not accept believers as saints. They are critical fault finders?
Others feel like if it is the truth it is OK to gossip.
DAVID SAID: DON’T MENTION SAUL’S FAILURE IN GATH!
James says: the tongue is full of deadly poison.
Others hide gossip as PRAYER REQUEST?
C. OUR ENEMY WILL TRY AND STEAL YOUR GOOD SEED.
Matthew 13:19
D. Then the ACCUSER OF THE SAINTS WILL SOW TARES IN THE MIDST OF THE GOOD SEED.
Matthew 13:38
E. NEVER UNDER-ESTIMATE THE POWER OF HALF-TRUTHS, DECEPTION AND LIES.
John 8:44
May Christians speak the TRUTH, the WHOLE TRUTH and NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH.
F. HAVE YOU SEEN THE GREAT POWER TOOL OF A JUDGMENTAL/CRITICAL SPIRIT?
Hey, church member? Church leader? Sinner?
WHO MADE YOU A JUDGE?
Matthew 7:1-2
G. A BACK BREAKER OF THE SAINTS IS ANGER/WRATH/BITTERNESS.
These are all a practice of unforgiveness.
Eph. 4:26
Wrath is long term anger.
H. HOW ABOUT DIVISION AND STRIFE?
We Christians learn how to hide hate and unforgiveness!
Mark division and AVOID IT!
Matthew 12:25-26
Romans 16:17
V. FIGHT AND RESIST ALL YOU WANT TO --- establish a pattern of failure? THE SECRET TO SUCCESS IS SUBMISSION TO GOD AND HIS WORD!
Ephes. 4:26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:
27 Neither give place to the devil.
James 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
VI. APPROACH OR ATTITUDE #1: SAUL: REBELLION, STUBBORNESS, DISOBEDIENCE AND ACCEPTED AS A GOOD CHURCH MEMBER.
A. GOD DID SOMETHING SPECIAL FOR SAUL.
1 Samuel 10:6 And the Spirit of the Lord will come upon thee, and thou shalt prophesy with them, and shalt be turned into another man.
1 Samuel 10:9 And it was so, that when he had turned his back to go from Samuel, God gave him another heart: and all those signs came to pass that day.
B. AFTER ALL THIS PERSONAL POTENTIAL SAUL REJECTS THE PREACHER, THE PREACHER’S WORD AND GOD!
C. Saul is a braggart and claims responsibility for what his son did...
1 Samuel 13:3 And Jonathan smote the garrison of the Philistines that was in Geba, and the Philistines heard of it. And Saul blew the trumpet throughout all the land, saying, Let the Hebrews hear.
D. Saul wasn’t even there when the garrison was smitten. Saul is a glory-stealer.
1 Samuel 13:4 And all Israel heard say that Saul had smitten a garrison of the Philistines, and that Israel also was had in abomination with the Philistines. And the people were called together after Saul to Gilgal.
E. Saul is impatient and refuses to wait on God or the Preacher?
God delayed Samuel!
1 Samuel 13:8 And he tarried seven days, according to the set time that Samuel had appointed: but Samuel came not to Gilgal; and the people were scattered from him.
F. SAUL UNDERMINES THE AUTHORITY OF GOD AND GOD’S MAN.
People take too lightly the role of the Man of God.
The King had no priestly functions!
1 Samuel 13:9 And Saul said, Bring hither a burnt offering to me, and peace offerings. And he offered the burnt offering.
G. SAUL BLAMES THE PREACHER AND THE PEOPLE FOR HIS REBELLION AND DISOBEDIENCE! Saul denies his bad attitudes and sin!
1 Samuel 13:11 And Samuel said, What hast thou done? And Saul said, Because I saw that the people were scattered from me, and that thou camest not within the days appointed, and that the Philistines gathered themselves together at Michmash;
12 Therefore said I, The Philistines will come down now upon me to Gilgal, and I have not made supplication unto the Lord: I forced myself therefore,
and offered a burnt offering.
13 And Samuel said to Saul, Thou hast done foolishly: thou hast not kept the commandment of the Lord thy God, which he commanded thee: for now would the Lord have established thy kingdom upon Israel for ever.
H. GOD GIVES CLEAR ORDERS TO SAUL!
1 Samuel 15:3 Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass.
I. SAUL COULD DENY HIS EVERY ACTION BY SITUATION ETHICS. SIN LOOKED VERY GOOD AT THE TIME?
1 Samuel 15:9 But Saul and the people spared Agag, and the best of the sheep, and of the oxen, and of the fatlings, and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them: but every thing that was vile and refuse, that they destroyed utterly.
J. IF EVERYBODY ELSE WERE DIFFERENT --- I WOULD BE DIFFERENT?
How can God’s people lie and deny their sinful behavior?
1 Samuel 15:13 And Samuel came to Saul: and Saul said unto him, Blessed be thou of the Lord: I have performed the commandment of the Lord.
K. SAUL IS GOOD AT THE BLAME GAME.
IT IS JONATHAN’S FAULT? IT IS THE PEOPLE’S FAULT?
I CAN’T ADMIT I AM WRONG!
1 Samuel 15:15 And Saul said, They have brought them from the Amalekites: for the people spared the best of the sheep and of the oxen, to sacrifice unto the Lord thy God; and the rest we have utterly destroyed.
VII. NOW LET’S LOOK AT THE OTHER APPROACH: DAVID!
DAVID WAS GOD’S MAN EVEN THOUGH MANY WOULD KICK THE
ADULTERER OUT OF THEIR CHURCH?
A. WHEN DAVID CUT A PIECE OF SAUL’S GARMENT OFF --
HE FELT CONDEMNED... Others were calling him to kill Saul.
I Samuel 24:5.
B. David’s heart smote after he numbered the people...
II Samuel 24:10
C. DAVID’S RECORD IS CLEAR... EVEN AFTER PUBLIC FAILURE.
Acts 13:22 And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will.
D. WHEN NATHAN CAME AND PREACHED A PERSONAL SERMON TO
DAVID, DAVID DID NOT DO AS AHAB AND JEZEBEL DID ---
HE KNEW HE WAS THE MAN...
E. READ PSALMS 51 THE GREATEST CHAPTER OF REPENTANCE
IN THE BIBLE.
YOU HAVE TO READ PSALMS 51:1-19 ---
1. CONFESSION
2. FORGIVENESS
3. CLEANSING
4. SPIRIT FILLED JOY
5. WORSHIP
7. RESTORATION
F. JESUS SAYS: EVERY SIN I HAVE COVERED WITH MY BLOOD.
PAID IN FULL.
CONCLUSION:
WHICH APPROACH TO LIFE AND THE CHURCH WILL YOU TAKE.
Will you follow Saul’s example or David’s?
IT IS UP TO YOU!
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
Help me? Could you help me and pass this on to others?
