And Samuel came to Saul: and Saul said unto him,
Blessed be thou of the LORD:
I have performed the commandment of the LORD.
1 Samuel 15:13
Rejection is one of the most common things we face, yet it is perhaps the most difficult obstacle we must regularly overcome. It is also one of the things we knowingly or unknowingly most distribute.
We reject others for any number of reasons…
God rejects us for very few reasons...
How can we turn the corner on our own lusts?
(That was Saul’s real problem - 1 Samuel 15:19)
I Control Lust’s Source—Our Hearts
Mark 7:20 “...That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man.”
A. Our own lusts, not Satan’s work, usually are our greatest problems
B. Spiritual self-control is one of the greatest struggles believers, particularly men, face throughout life
II Quit Rationalizing and Confess Lust as a Sin
1 John 2:16 “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.”
A. We tend to view our sins as "better" than our neighbors
B. We tend to "cut ourselves some slack" when it comes to evaluating our righteousness
III Turn Away from Constant Reminders of What You Can’t Have
2 Samuel 11:2 “...David arose from off his bed...and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself…”
A. We need to control our eyes, because we tend to want what we see
B. We need to control our experiences, because we tend to want what feels good
C. We need to control our wants, because we tend to be dissatisfied unless we get the "best"
IV Experience Daily Cleansing
Psalm 119:9 “Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.”
A. Confession, not good works, is still the key that opens forgiveness’ door
B. Cleansing our hearts is more important than cleaning our hands, something we tend to evaluate easily in others
