1 00:00:01,200 --> 00:00:03,720 Hallelujah. Oh, he is good. 2 00:00:03,720 --> 00:00:11,640 He is greatly to be praised. Oh, for he alone is worthy. 3 00:00:13,640 --> 00:00:19,080 Christ the Lord. Amen. 4 00:00:19,520 --> 00:00:21,560 Amen. It is good to be in the House of 5 00:00:21,600 --> 00:00:24,840 God tonight. It is good to not be stressed 6 00:00:24,840 --> 00:00:29,400 out about what on earth is going on as I was this morning. 7 00:00:29,440 --> 00:00:32,560 I knew it would work out, but doesn't mean that it wasn't. 8 00:00:33,200 --> 00:00:38,120 It was not fun for me. But we got it all figured out. 9 00:00:38,120 --> 00:00:40,840 We had a good time with it. And I do, I do love those 10 00:00:40,840 --> 00:00:45,520 moments of of it's the intimacy of the moments. 11 00:00:46,000 --> 00:00:50,320 And I love the even if it's unexpected, I love that very 12 00:00:50,320 --> 00:00:55,360 much so. And so it does not bother me to 13 00:00:55,600 --> 00:00:58,960 look over at pastor and I tell him from the corner that I 14 00:00:58,960 --> 00:01:00,760 can't, we don't, I can't fix it right now. 15 00:01:00,760 --> 00:01:04,560 And he looks at me and he's like, and I'm like, all right, 16 00:01:04,720 --> 00:01:06,120 all right. So I come back around here. 17 00:01:06,120 --> 00:01:10,280 So, so absolutely love and appreciate them. 18 00:01:10,640 --> 00:01:13,160 You can go ahead and turn in your Bibles to Second Chronicles 19 00:01:13,160 --> 00:01:17,840 7, verse 14. We read a couple passages of 20 00:01:17,840 --> 00:01:21,640 Scripture before before you're seated and appreciate all your 21 00:01:21,640 --> 00:01:24,720 love and support appreciate pastor and his wife for their 22 00:01:24,720 --> 00:01:29,840 support. My wife and I and love our young 23 00:01:29,840 --> 00:01:36,520 people, love this church. And as, as he was making a joke 24 00:01:36,520 --> 00:01:42,040 about it was this and then that. I, I told, I told some people 25 00:01:42,040 --> 00:01:47,280 about how this weekend it was kind of all encompassed because 26 00:01:47,480 --> 00:01:50,880 as a teacher, all of my second quarter grades were due on 27 00:01:50,880 --> 00:01:53,320 Friday. And that's great and that's 28 00:01:53,320 --> 00:01:54,920 dandy. And I had been, I had been 29 00:01:54,960 --> 00:01:57,200 having something in the works in the back of my mind, but I 30 00:01:57,200 --> 00:02:00,200 hadn't sat down and, and fleshed it out completely. 31 00:02:00,440 --> 00:02:04,280 And, and on Friday, as as event coordinator for the student 32 00:02:04,280 --> 00:02:08,520 ministries, I went up to Muncie, IN, which is about 3 1/2 hours, 33 00:02:08,880 --> 00:02:12,200 and had a meeting, came back down because we don't have 34 00:02:12,200 --> 00:02:14,440 school on Fridays. So I had to make sure grades 35 00:02:14,440 --> 00:02:17,040 were done on Thursday night so I could go on Friday. 36 00:02:17,040 --> 00:02:19,560 And then Saturday I studied. And now we're here. 37 00:02:20,920 --> 00:02:24,720 And so it is what it is. And he gets the glory for it 38 00:02:24,720 --> 00:02:28,080 anyways. Amen, Amen, Amen. 39 00:02:28,840 --> 00:02:34,480 Second Chronicles 7, verse 14 and Eury, it says, If my people, 40 00:02:34,480 --> 00:02:37,280 which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and 41 00:02:37,280 --> 00:02:41,240 pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then 42 00:02:41,240 --> 00:02:45,240 will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will 43 00:02:45,240 --> 00:02:49,760 heal their land. If you turn over to First Samuel 44 00:02:49,760 --> 00:02:59,000 15, Now first Samuel 15, verse one, First Samuel 15 and verse 45 00:02:59,000 --> 00:03:03,760 one states, Samuel also said unto Saul, The Lord sent me to 46 00:03:03,760 --> 00:03:08,080 anoint thee to be king over his people over Israel. 47 00:03:08,520 --> 00:03:12,640 Now therefore hearken thou unto the voice of the words of the 48 00:03:12,640 --> 00:03:15,560 Lord. Thus saith the Lord of hosts. 49 00:03:15,880 --> 00:03:19,440 I remember that which Amalek did to Israel. 50 00:03:19,720 --> 00:03:25,480 Now he how he laid wait for him in the way when he came up from 51 00:03:25,560 --> 00:03:29,120 Egypt. Verse 3 states, Now go and smite 52 00:03:29,120 --> 00:03:32,720 Amalek and utterly destroy, destroy all that they have and 53 00:03:32,720 --> 00:03:37,040 spare them not, but slay both man and woman, infant and 54 00:03:37,040 --> 00:03:40,040 suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass. 55 00:03:40,440 --> 00:03:44,240 And verse 8 jumping down the Verse 8 says, But Saul and the 56 00:03:44,240 --> 00:03:50,360 people spared a gag and the best of the sheep and of the oxen and 57 00:03:50,360 --> 00:03:55,080 all the fatlings and of the lambs and all that was good and 58 00:03:55,600 --> 00:03:59,920 would not utterly destroy them. But everything that was vile and 59 00:03:59,920 --> 00:04:04,920 refuse that they utterly destroyed they destroyed 60 00:04:04,920 --> 00:04:11,240 utterly. Tonight I have a simple title, I 61 00:04:11,240 --> 00:04:16,920 hope simple message for you. I would like to title this the 62 00:04:16,920 --> 00:04:23,720 cost of keeping what's best. The cost of keeping what's best. 63 00:04:24,080 --> 00:04:26,320 If you set down your Bibles. Help me pray tonight. 64 00:04:26,680 --> 00:04:28,760 Lord, I ask you just to move in this place. 65 00:04:28,760 --> 00:04:31,880 Lord, your glory would shine, Lord out poor Lord of your 66 00:04:31,880 --> 00:04:34,680 spirit, Lord upon your people. Lord, you would anoint my lips 67 00:04:34,680 --> 00:04:38,840 and play. Lord, Your word would come 68 00:04:38,960 --> 00:04:40,600 forth. Lord, it would not be my words, 69 00:04:40,600 --> 00:04:42,960 but it would be you. You don't touch your people or 70 00:04:43,080 --> 00:04:45,720 prepare hearts and minds as a planting ground for your word. 71 00:04:46,160 --> 00:04:49,800 Lord will not fail to thank you and praise you in Jesus mighty 72 00:04:49,800 --> 00:04:55,360 name that we pray and everyone said in Jesus name, Amen and 73 00:04:55,440 --> 00:04:57,680 Amen. You may be seated tonight. 74 00:04:58,640 --> 00:05:08,160 The cost of keeping what's best before we're introduced to Saul 75 00:05:08,480 --> 00:05:12,200 in the Bible, in the Old Testament, the Israelites are 76 00:05:12,200 --> 00:05:17,280 demanding a king. They are demanding a king. 77 00:05:17,280 --> 00:05:20,360 And I don't know about in your Bible, but in certain in some of 78 00:05:20,360 --> 00:05:23,440 my Bibles that I have at home, they have sections and they're 79 00:05:23,440 --> 00:05:27,080 kind of divided off in this first Samuel chapter 8 in 80 00:05:27,080 --> 00:05:30,320 particular is divided into thirds. 81 00:05:30,880 --> 00:05:35,520 And the first heading is Israel's demand for a king. 82 00:05:35,960 --> 00:05:38,800 All right, easy enough. But then the second heading is 83 00:05:38,800 --> 00:05:42,440 Samuel warns Israel, he's warning them what they are 84 00:05:42,440 --> 00:05:45,600 asking of God. They are what they are going to 85 00:05:45,600 --> 00:05:48,680 get if they get a king over Israel. 86 00:05:49,360 --> 00:05:54,360 And then the third and final section of chapter 8 is Israel 87 00:05:54,360 --> 00:06:00,040 repeats the demand for a king. And so they were very, very 88 00:06:00,040 --> 00:06:03,400 adamant that we need a king over Israel. 89 00:06:03,400 --> 00:06:07,480 And so even though Samuel warned the man of God warned, they 90 00:06:07,480 --> 00:06:10,000 still repeated the demand for a king. 91 00:06:10,400 --> 00:06:15,080 And so at the start of of first Samuel Chapter 9, we are 92 00:06:15,080 --> 00:06:17,720 introduced to Saul as we know it. 93 00:06:17,720 --> 00:06:22,200 He was he was from the tribe of Benjamin and he is small and 94 00:06:22,200 --> 00:06:26,680 seemingly insignificant tribe. And Chapter 9 verses one starts 95 00:06:26,680 --> 00:06:31,000 out and it says there was a man of Benjamin, whose name was 96 00:06:31,000 --> 00:06:36,640 Kish, the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, and the son of 97 00:06:36,640 --> 00:06:44,240 Bekaroth, the son of A a Faye Benjamite, a mighty man of 98 00:06:44,320 --> 00:06:47,600 power. And he had a son whose name was 99 00:06:47,600 --> 00:06:51,040 saw a choice young man and a goodly. 100 00:06:51,320 --> 00:06:54,840 And there was not among the children of Israel a goodlier 101 00:06:54,840 --> 00:06:58,120 person than he. From his shoulders and upward he 102 00:06:58,120 --> 00:07:00,720 was higher than any of the people. 103 00:07:00,720 --> 00:07:03,320 So it's saying Saul look good, right. 104 00:07:03,320 --> 00:07:06,160 We we talk about us all looked he looked favorable. 105 00:07:06,160 --> 00:07:11,960 He seemed fit for for the job and and God sent Saul to Samuel. 106 00:07:12,640 --> 00:07:17,120 And in first Samuel 19 and 16 even states, God is talking and 107 00:07:17,120 --> 00:07:21,880 says, tomorrow about this time I will send thee a man out of the 108 00:07:21,880 --> 00:07:26,320 land of Benjamin, and thou shalt anoint him to be captain over my 109 00:07:26,320 --> 00:07:31,560 people Israel, that he may save my people out of the hand of the 110 00:07:31,560 --> 00:07:35,000 Philistines. For I have looked upon my people 111 00:07:35,000 --> 00:07:37,960 because their cry is come unto me. 112 00:07:38,480 --> 00:07:43,560 And so we have been introduced to Saul now and in Chapter 9, it 113 00:07:43,560 --> 00:07:47,920 would seem as though based off of what we have so far that that 114 00:07:47,920 --> 00:07:51,400 he would be coming from the tribe of Benjamin, seemingly 115 00:07:51,400 --> 00:07:54,560 small that that he would be maybe humble and maybe have a 116 00:07:54,560 --> 00:07:57,360 little bit of humility comes from small beginnings, if you 117 00:07:57,360 --> 00:07:59,400 will. And and God chose him. 118 00:07:59,400 --> 00:08:02,680 There is no doubt about that. And he told Samuel, I'm going to 119 00:08:02,680 --> 00:08:06,200 send tomorrow this man and you are going to anoint him. 120 00:08:06,560 --> 00:08:10,680 And but when God chose him to king, and in the beginning of 121 00:08:10,680 --> 00:08:13,440 chapter 10, Saul anointed Saul to be king. 122 00:08:13,720 --> 00:08:17,560 And in the beginning of that Saul chosen, but Saul was sort 123 00:08:17,560 --> 00:08:22,240 of reluctant, if you will, in, in in first Samuel 10 and verse 124 00:08:22,240 --> 00:08:24,680 20 through 22. And it says when Samuel had 125 00:08:24,680 --> 00:08:28,600 caused all the tribes of Israel to come near, the tribe of 126 00:08:28,600 --> 00:08:32,400 Benjamin was taken. And when when he had caused the 127 00:08:32,400 --> 00:08:36,000 tribe of Benjamin to come nearby their families, the family of 128 00:08:36,000 --> 00:08:40,120 Matri was taken and saw the son of Kish was taken. 129 00:08:40,360 --> 00:08:43,559 And when they sought him, he could not be found. 130 00:08:44,480 --> 00:08:47,760 Therefore they inquired of the Lord further if the man should 131 00:08:47,760 --> 00:08:51,160 be yet come thither. And the Lord said, Behold, he 132 00:08:51,160 --> 00:08:53,640 hath hid himself among the stuff. 133 00:08:54,560 --> 00:08:58,200 Some, some commentaries state that the stuff was some sort of 134 00:08:58,200 --> 00:09:00,080 like baggage. During his coronation. 135 00:09:00,080 --> 00:09:03,640 He was, he was hiding amongst some things and and he was he 136 00:09:03,640 --> 00:09:05,520 was slow to accept this kingship. 137 00:09:05,520 --> 00:09:09,720 He was still not processing this again, seemingly would be 138 00:09:09,720 --> 00:09:13,160 beneficial, seemingly would be. This man seems humble. 139 00:09:13,160 --> 00:09:14,400 He seems to have a heart of humility. 140 00:09:14,720 --> 00:09:18,440 Maybe from the outside looking in and and then from the 141 00:09:18,680 --> 00:09:21,880 appearance of Saul, it would look that he looks of good 142 00:09:21,880 --> 00:09:24,160 stature and that he would be fit. 143 00:09:24,360 --> 00:09:29,160 But he hid among the baggage and after his coronation at first 144 00:09:29,160 --> 00:09:34,360 Saul showed great potential. In first Samuel 11 he he rallied 145 00:09:34,360 --> 00:09:38,560 the people to defeat the Ammonites in saving the city of 146 00:09:38,560 --> 00:09:41,920 Jabesh Gilead. And in first Samuel 11 verse 147 00:09:41,920 --> 00:09:46,520 six, he even says the Spirit of God name upon Saul when he when 148 00:09:46,520 --> 00:09:51,840 he heard those tidings and his anger was kindled greatly after 149 00:09:51,840 --> 00:09:54,600 this victory against the Ammonites, his kingship was 150 00:09:54,600 --> 00:10:00,200 solidified, if you will, and he was publicly affirmed as king. 151 00:10:01,000 --> 00:10:06,000 But there were cracks in once humble Saul's character that 152 00:10:06,000 --> 00:10:11,600 began to show as time went on as he struggled to obey God fully. 153 00:10:12,120 --> 00:10:16,240 In First Samuel 13, we see he faced the Philistines and his 154 00:10:16,280 --> 00:10:20,080 army was filled with fear. And instead of waiting for 155 00:10:20,080 --> 00:10:26,000 Samuel to offer sacrifice as instructed, Saul decided to take 156 00:10:26,000 --> 00:10:28,720 minors into his own hands. He'll offer the sacrifices. 157 00:10:28,720 --> 00:10:30,080 The man of God doesn't have to offer it. 158 00:10:30,080 --> 00:10:34,520 I'll offer the sacrifices. And he violated God's command. 159 00:10:34,520 --> 00:10:38,920 It even says in First Samuel 1313, it says, And Samuel said 160 00:10:38,920 --> 00:10:42,760 unto Saul, to Saul, thou hast done foolishly. 161 00:10:42,960 --> 00:10:46,160 Thou hast not kept the commandment of the Lord thy God, 162 00:10:46,160 --> 00:10:50,480 which he commanded thee. For now would the Lord, would 163 00:10:50,480 --> 00:10:53,800 the Lord, have established thy Kingdom upon Israel forever, but 164 00:10:53,800 --> 00:10:55,840 now thy Kingdom them shall not continue. 165 00:10:55,840 --> 00:11:00,200 The Lord hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the 166 00:11:00,200 --> 00:11:03,600 Lord hath commanded him to be captain over his people. 167 00:11:03,760 --> 00:11:08,800 Because thou hast not kept what that which the Lord commanded 168 00:11:08,840 --> 00:11:11,040 thee. He's saying I'm I want to find a 169 00:11:11,040 --> 00:11:14,440 man after my own heart because you you are not following after 170 00:11:14,640 --> 00:11:18,400 after what God asked. That's God is looking for 171 00:11:18,400 --> 00:11:21,200 someone after his own heart. And this this was Saul's first 172 00:11:21,200 --> 00:11:25,120 major act of disobedience, revealing this tendency, if you 173 00:11:25,120 --> 00:11:29,520 will, to rely on his his own his own judgment and and rather than 174 00:11:29,520 --> 00:11:33,800 trusting God's timing and plan. And by the time we have reached 175 00:11:33,800 --> 00:11:38,200 First Samuel 15 in our reading in our opening text, Saul has 176 00:11:38,200 --> 00:11:43,120 had multiple opportunities to prove himself, to prove his 177 00:11:43,120 --> 00:11:46,680 faithfulness to God. But his pattern of disobedience 178 00:11:46,680 --> 00:11:51,800 thus continues instead. And the problem here is in first 179 00:11:51,800 --> 00:11:55,960 Samuel 15, we have saw we have saw at a very pivotal moment in 180 00:11:55,960 --> 00:12:00,480 his kingship, right, because God is asking to find a man after 181 00:12:00,480 --> 00:12:02,480 his own heart because of the way Saul is. 182 00:12:02,480 --> 00:12:04,880 But but God is trying to be merciful. 183 00:12:04,880 --> 00:12:09,040 And and I see this in the scripture at in our opening 184 00:12:09,040 --> 00:12:12,760 reading, chapter 15 verse one, Samuel's talking to him and 185 00:12:12,760 --> 00:12:16,600 said, I have anointed the king. That's not when he's anointing 186 00:12:16,600 --> 00:12:19,720 him. He's reminding Saul why he 187 00:12:19,720 --> 00:12:23,800 anointed him and it was for God. It was for God's people. 188 00:12:24,160 --> 00:12:27,640 And, and he God gave a clear command through Samuel in the 189 00:12:27,640 --> 00:12:32,240 beginning of chapter 15 to utterly destroy the Amalekites, 190 00:12:32,240 --> 00:12:34,760 leave nothing alive, nothing, nothing breathing. 191 00:12:34,760 --> 00:12:38,600 It wasn't just a suggestion. It was tied to God's greater 192 00:12:38,600 --> 00:12:42,600 purpose and justice. And the Amalekites had this long 193 00:12:42,600 --> 00:12:46,760 history of opposing God's people and, and their continued 194 00:12:46,760 --> 00:12:51,560 existence represented rebellion against God's sovereignty. 195 00:12:51,880 --> 00:12:56,560 And so Saul, instead of fully obeying, chose to spare King 196 00:12:56,640 --> 00:12:59,560 Agagon and keep what he considered and the people 197 00:12:59,560 --> 00:13:02,800 considered the best of the sheep and the best of the cattle. 198 00:13:02,800 --> 00:13:06,720 And, and on the surface, it might have seemed noble of, of 199 00:13:06,720 --> 00:13:08,440 Saul. It might have seemed noble or 200 00:13:08,440 --> 00:13:11,880 strategic even, or, or a logical decision. 201 00:13:11,880 --> 00:13:15,360 You know, Saul's trying to prove his, his great, his great 202 00:13:15,360 --> 00:13:19,320 kingship and prove, you know, taking King Agag as as a 203 00:13:19,320 --> 00:13:22,720 prisoner, if you will, is better than killing him, obviously, 204 00:13:22,720 --> 00:13:26,800 because shows some superiority and, and, but after all, 205 00:13:26,800 --> 00:13:30,360 wouldn't sacrificing the best animals, wouldn't that be 206 00:13:30,360 --> 00:13:33,400 pleasing unto God? Wouldn't wouldn't sacrificing 207 00:13:33,400 --> 00:13:36,400 the best be pleasing? Wouldn't, wouldn't sparing the 208 00:13:36,400 --> 00:13:41,680 king to demonstrate his Saul's power and to and mercy? 209 00:13:42,000 --> 00:13:44,080 But it wasn't about Saul's power. 210 00:13:44,160 --> 00:13:49,280 It was about God's power. To Saul, his actions felt right. 211 00:13:49,680 --> 00:13:55,600 However, the issue wasn't just what Saul did, it was why he did 212 00:13:55,600 --> 00:13:58,200 it. Saul's decision revealed his 213 00:13:58,200 --> 00:14:02,680 deeper struggle, if you will. He he He trusted his reasoning 214 00:14:02,680 --> 00:14:06,080 over God's command. He trusted his decision making 215 00:14:06,080 --> 00:14:09,640 over God's commandment. He prioritized his judgment over 216 00:14:09,640 --> 00:14:12,560 obedience to God. And that's where the problem 217 00:14:12,560 --> 00:14:15,400 lied. Truly God, Saul thought he could 218 00:14:15,400 --> 00:14:18,480 improve on God's. He believed that he had the 219 00:14:18,480 --> 00:14:22,760 right to decide what parts of God's plan and command were 220 00:14:22,760 --> 00:14:26,000 worth following in and what could be flexible. 221 00:14:26,000 --> 00:14:29,240 But really, Saul's partial obedience was outright 222 00:14:29,400 --> 00:14:34,440 disobedience. Instead, John 14 and verse 15 223 00:14:34,440 --> 00:14:37,160 says If you love me, keep my commandments. 224 00:14:38,000 --> 00:14:42,280 Obedience to God isn't just about following orders like a 225 00:14:42,280 --> 00:14:45,960 mindless robot. It's an expression of love and 226 00:14:45,960 --> 00:14:50,480 it's an expression of trust. Our obedience is not about a 227 00:14:50,480 --> 00:14:54,920 command like yes Sir, it is about love and trust unto God 228 00:14:54,920 --> 00:14:58,640 and knowing that He has the best interest in mine. 229 00:14:58,800 --> 00:15:03,440 When we choose to obey, we acknowledge that God's wisdom is 230 00:15:03,440 --> 00:15:08,360 infinitely greater than our own. Saul's decision to keep what he 231 00:15:08,360 --> 00:15:12,640 thought was best for the from the Amalekites wasn't just about 232 00:15:12,640 --> 00:15:17,320 livestock or or power. It was a statement that his way 233 00:15:17,320 --> 00:15:23,440 was better than God's way. And when he got done, he I could 234 00:15:23,440 --> 00:15:25,920 seesaw. I could seesaw when he got done, 235 00:15:25,920 --> 00:15:29,200 he's standing there, he feels he's got his chest all puffed 236 00:15:29,200 --> 00:15:32,080 out and he's just thinking, man, I am so smart. 237 00:15:33,480 --> 00:15:38,600 Why didn't God think of this? Why didn't God think of this? 238 00:15:38,600 --> 00:15:46,080 But that's not the point. That wasn't why God intended. 239 00:15:46,080 --> 00:15:50,280 That's not what God intended. Saul intended to show his power, 240 00:15:52,280 --> 00:15:56,680 not God's power. Proverbs 3 verse 5 says trust in 241 00:15:56,680 --> 00:16:00,280 the Lord with all thine heart and lean not and to thine own 242 00:16:00,280 --> 00:16:04,280 understanding in all thy ways acknowledge him and he shall 243 00:16:04,280 --> 00:16:09,560 direct thy paths. Saul failed to do what the 244 00:16:09,560 --> 00:16:12,880 writer of Proverbs is stating to us and warning us. 245 00:16:12,880 --> 00:16:15,600 He he leaned onto his own understanding. 246 00:16:15,600 --> 00:16:19,280 He convinced himself, if you will, that keeping the best 247 00:16:19,280 --> 00:16:23,000 animals for sacrifice would honor God and and keeping and 248 00:16:23,000 --> 00:16:25,720 sparing a gag would honor God somehow. 249 00:16:25,720 --> 00:16:27,520 But it wasn't about honoring God. 250 00:16:27,520 --> 00:16:31,160 It was about honoring Saul. It was about the man in the 251 00:16:31,160 --> 00:16:33,680 mirror. The truth is God isn't looking 252 00:16:33,680 --> 00:16:36,760 for us to improve the plan or the command. 253 00:16:37,200 --> 00:16:40,280 He isn't looking for us to improve the Word. 254 00:16:40,480 --> 00:16:43,720 He is looking for us to trust and obey. 255 00:16:46,640 --> 00:16:48,680 Saul missed the bigger picture here. 256 00:16:48,840 --> 00:16:50,520 He missed. He missed the bigger picture. 257 00:16:50,520 --> 00:16:54,000 What God commanded him wasn't just about the Amalekites. 258 00:16:54,000 --> 00:16:58,520 It was about reshaping Saul's heart to trust and demonstrating 259 00:16:58,520 --> 00:17:02,280 God's sovereignty. I believe the reason that Samuel 260 00:17:02,360 --> 00:17:05,440 talked to him at the beginning of chapter 15, before he gave 261 00:17:05,440 --> 00:17:08,440 the command and reminded, reminded him why he was anointed 262 00:17:08,440 --> 00:17:12,680 was it was an opportunity to see if Saul would actually do what 263 00:17:12,680 --> 00:17:16,680 God intended to have be done. But he did not do so. 264 00:17:16,680 --> 00:17:19,839 Even though he was given the warning, even though he was, he 265 00:17:19,839 --> 00:17:22,760 was told This is why I anointed you, Saul. 266 00:17:22,960 --> 00:17:29,200 Remember when I anointed you? This is why instead, by sparing 267 00:17:29,320 --> 00:17:33,680 a gag and sparing the best livestock, Saul not only 268 00:17:33,680 --> 00:17:38,240 disobeyed, but put in motion consequences that he could not 269 00:17:38,240 --> 00:17:43,720 foresee. What Saul could not foresee What 270 00:17:43,720 --> 00:17:48,800 would happen if he spared a gag? By sparing him, Saul not only 271 00:17:48,800 --> 00:17:52,760 failed to fulfill God's command, but he set the stage for a 272 00:17:52,760 --> 00:17:57,080 generational conflict that would endanger the survival of God's 273 00:17:57,080 --> 00:17:59,560 people as we know it in the Old Testament. 274 00:18:00,800 --> 00:18:03,080 And it may have seemed insignificant at the time to 275 00:18:03,080 --> 00:18:05,360 spare Agag and in the moment, though. 276 00:18:05,480 --> 00:18:09,560 Though the Bible doesn't record specifics of Agag's lineage, it 277 00:18:09,560 --> 00:18:12,800 is clear that the sentence survived and and it left a 278 00:18:12,800 --> 00:18:16,920 thread of the Amalekite blood and influence throughout history 279 00:18:17,040 --> 00:18:21,200 that eventually resurfaced generations later by the then by 280 00:18:21,200 --> 00:18:25,480 the name of Haman. Fast forwarding several 100 281 00:18:25,480 --> 00:18:29,240 years in the Persian Empire during the reign of of King 282 00:18:29,280 --> 00:18:32,240 Xerxes. Esther three and one states 283 00:18:32,280 --> 00:18:37,600 after these things did King Abaharis promote Haman the son 284 00:18:37,680 --> 00:18:43,560 of Hamidatha the Agagite, and advance him and set his seat 285 00:18:43,560 --> 00:18:46,680 above all the Princess that were with him. 286 00:18:47,120 --> 00:18:52,080 Haman was a descendant of a gag and his rise to power brought 287 00:18:52,240 --> 00:18:55,760 with it a deep hatred for the Jewish people. 288 00:18:56,040 --> 00:18:59,640 This wasn't just a political or personal thing, it was a 289 00:18:59,640 --> 00:19:02,800 spiritual and generational thing. 290 00:19:02,960 --> 00:19:06,560 It was a grudge that was lingering, the consequences that 291 00:19:06,560 --> 00:19:10,280 were lingering from Saul's failure to obey God. 292 00:19:11,120 --> 00:19:15,080 Haman's hatred for the Jews was so intense that it wasn't enough 293 00:19:15,280 --> 00:19:18,840 just to seek vengeance against Mordecai who who is the Jewish 294 00:19:18,840 --> 00:19:23,320 man who refused to bow to him. Haman wanted more even states 295 00:19:23,320 --> 00:19:27,680 that in in Esther 3 and verse 5. When Haman saw that Mordecai 296 00:19:27,920 --> 00:19:33,240 bowed not nor did him reverence. Then was Haman full of wrath, 297 00:19:33,840 --> 00:19:38,040 and he thought scorn to lay his hands upon Mordecai alone, for 298 00:19:38,040 --> 00:19:41,040 they had showed him the people of Mordecai. 299 00:19:41,120 --> 00:19:44,960 Wherefore Haman sought to destroy all the Jews that were 300 00:19:44,960 --> 00:19:51,040 throughout the whole Kingdom of Habassuras, and even the people 301 00:19:51,040 --> 00:19:53,200 of Mordecai. Haman's plan was about 302 00:19:53,200 --> 00:19:55,800 annihilation. It wasn't about just taking care 303 00:19:55,960 --> 00:19:59,640 of Mordecai. He was going out for blood of 304 00:19:59,640 --> 00:20:05,320 the all of the Jews. The story of Haman shows us the 305 00:20:05,320 --> 00:20:10,240 ripple effect of disobedience. What Saul thought was minor 306 00:20:10,240 --> 00:20:12,840 issue or a minor change in course. 307 00:20:12,840 --> 00:20:17,840 Sparing one man seemed seemed OK at the time, but became a 308 00:20:17,840 --> 00:20:21,640 generational disaster. If Saul had obeyed God 309 00:20:21,640 --> 00:20:25,960 completely, Haman would never have been born and the Jewish 310 00:20:25,960 --> 00:20:30,080 people would have been spared this great threat at that time. 311 00:20:30,080 --> 00:20:32,800 And when? When we keep what God asks us to 312 00:20:32,800 --> 00:20:37,000 destroy, the cost is far greater than we can imagine in our 313 00:20:37,000 --> 00:20:44,400 mortal minds. We might think like Saul. 314 00:20:45,000 --> 00:20:47,760 That's sparing something that seems best. 315 00:20:48,040 --> 00:20:51,600 It won't harm anyone. It's not going to harm anyone. 316 00:20:51,800 --> 00:20:56,760 In Saul's case, sparing a gag almost led to the annihilation 317 00:20:56,760 --> 00:20:58,960 of the entire Jewish race as we know it. 318 00:20:59,440 --> 00:21:04,000 Then Saul had this opportunity. He had an opportunity to be 319 00:21:04,000 --> 00:21:07,320 king. He had been given mercy by God 320 00:21:07,320 --> 00:21:10,160 and he was trust. He was he was had an opportunity 321 00:21:10,160 --> 00:21:12,440 to be a king that trusted and obeyed God. 322 00:21:12,640 --> 00:21:15,600 He had the opportunity. But instead he let his pride and 323 00:21:15,600 --> 00:21:18,800 he let his reasoning cloud his judgement. 324 00:21:19,000 --> 00:21:23,600 Saul's obed disobedience cost him not only his kingship, but 325 00:21:23,600 --> 00:21:26,560 instead in the motion those events he said in motion those 326 00:21:26,560 --> 00:21:31,280 events that almost destructed God's people and to due to this 327 00:21:31,480 --> 00:21:36,320 disobedience of Saul, God found a new king, a king that was 328 00:21:36,320 --> 00:21:39,080 after his own heart, a new king to annoy. 329 00:21:39,080 --> 00:21:43,280 When the Philistines are against the Israelites later in in first 330 00:21:43,280 --> 00:21:47,440 Samuel, Goliath continues to challenge in the and, and 331 00:21:47,440 --> 00:21:51,120 challenge and mock them and mock God's people and mock God. 332 00:21:51,360 --> 00:21:53,360 And David would not stand for it. 333 00:21:54,800 --> 00:21:57,880 Goliath and the Philistines were speaking against God and God's 334 00:21:57,880 --> 00:22:00,200 people and that was unacceptable to David. 335 00:22:00,200 --> 00:22:03,360 So what did David do? As we know the well first he 336 00:22:03,360 --> 00:22:06,960 realized that the fight was not his own, but it was the Lord's. 337 00:22:06,960 --> 00:22:10,000 He told Goliath, he told Goliath that I come in the name of the 338 00:22:10,000 --> 00:22:13,040 Lord and the Lord will deliver you into my hands. 339 00:22:13,040 --> 00:22:15,600 So we already have a man after God's own heart. 340 00:22:15,600 --> 00:22:19,280 He he's already, he's already fulfilling a part of this 341 00:22:19,280 --> 00:22:23,560 kingshiply duties by by giving the fight unto God instead of 342 00:22:23,560 --> 00:22:26,120 trying to do it on his own. And what did he do? 343 00:22:26,120 --> 00:22:30,800 He grabbed a stone. No, he didn't grab a stone. 344 00:22:31,640 --> 00:22:37,000 He grabbed 5 stones. He didn't just grab 5 stones for 345 00:22:37,000 --> 00:22:40,600 no reason. He grabbed 5 stones because 346 00:22:40,600 --> 00:22:43,840 David was trusting in God and prepared to not only kill 347 00:22:43,840 --> 00:22:49,440 Goliath, but Goliath had four brothers and he was prepared. 348 00:22:49,640 --> 00:22:54,040 He didn't need a command from God to defend against oppressors 349 00:22:54,040 --> 00:22:57,480 like Goliath in the Philistines. He didn't need a command like 350 00:22:57,640 --> 00:23:00,800 like Saul did. Saul needed a command, but David 351 00:23:00,800 --> 00:23:03,560 was like, I cannot stand for this. 352 00:23:03,560 --> 00:23:06,160 This is against God. I cannot stand for this. 353 00:23:06,360 --> 00:23:09,000 I'm going to grab 5 stones because Goliath has four 354 00:23:09,000 --> 00:23:11,960 brothers and God is faithful to take all of them out. 355 00:23:13,480 --> 00:23:16,360 He knew that if they were against God and his and his 356 00:23:16,360 --> 00:23:19,960 people, then they had to go. It wasn't enough to just grab 357 00:23:19,960 --> 00:23:22,160 one stone. He was prepared to take them all 358 00:23:22,160 --> 00:23:25,240 out. If we take a page from David's 359 00:23:25,240 --> 00:23:29,600 book instead of Shaw, when we When there is something in your 360 00:23:29,600 --> 00:23:34,200 life that comes up against you that is against God, don't pick 361 00:23:34,200 --> 00:23:39,000 up just one stone. You better pick up enough to 362 00:23:39,000 --> 00:23:41,080 wipe out the rest that is coming to you. 363 00:23:41,920 --> 00:23:44,880 It's not just enough to take out one thing in your life. 364 00:23:44,880 --> 00:23:48,320 You have to be prepared for the thing that will try to take its 365 00:23:48,320 --> 00:23:54,000 place. David gave the fight to the Lord 366 00:23:54,000 --> 00:23:56,200 and it wasn't. He wasn't in the business of 367 00:23:56,200 --> 00:24:00,440 just capturing Goliath. He was in the business of 368 00:24:00,440 --> 00:24:03,960 annihilation. He was in the business of taking 369 00:24:03,960 --> 00:24:07,320 care of business. He was in the business as as 370 00:24:07,320 --> 00:24:10,720 Saul did a gag. He captured David once. 371 00:24:10,840 --> 00:24:13,000 Once Dave Goliath was knocked down. 372 00:24:13,000 --> 00:24:15,800 It wasn't just enough for him to be knocked down and knocked out. 373 00:24:16,200 --> 00:24:19,480 It was not enough. He grabbed the Goliath sword and 374 00:24:19,480 --> 00:24:24,040 he cut off his head because this is not going to fly. 375 00:24:24,240 --> 00:24:28,680 I am not going to allow you to to live and go on and then maybe 376 00:24:28,680 --> 00:24:32,640 come back again with your problems and and go against 377 00:24:32,640 --> 00:24:36,080 God's people. Once you knock down what is in 378 00:24:36,080 --> 00:24:39,160 your life that is coming against God, you better be prepared to 379 00:24:39,160 --> 00:24:45,520 kill it. You may have been anointed as 380 00:24:45,520 --> 00:24:49,840 Saul was and you may have been called, but you if you decide 381 00:24:49,840 --> 00:24:53,480 you live your life like Saul and you keep what you think is best 382 00:24:53,480 --> 00:24:56,720 in your life and and when you really, really what you kept 383 00:24:56,720 --> 00:25:00,280 ended up being a hindrance to your walk, a hindrance to your 384 00:25:00,280 --> 00:25:03,800 call, don't be surprised. Don't be surprised if you choose 385 00:25:03,800 --> 00:25:07,240 to live like Saul and God finds a David to fulfill what was 386 00:25:07,240 --> 00:25:13,400 originally meant to be done through you. 387 00:25:13,480 --> 00:25:18,360 When God asks us to release something, he sees the bigger 388 00:25:18,360 --> 00:25:23,200 picture that we cannot see. He sees the future consequences 389 00:25:23,440 --> 00:25:28,280 of our decisions. In Sauls case, Isaiah 55 and 390 00:25:28,280 --> 00:25:31,440 verse 8 says, For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither 391 00:25:31,440 --> 00:25:34,040 are my your ways my way, saith the Lord. 392 00:25:34,040 --> 00:25:38,280 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways 393 00:25:38,280 --> 00:25:41,480 higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. 394 00:25:41,480 --> 00:25:46,400 This is why obedience matters. Even when we think we know 395 00:25:46,400 --> 00:25:48,640 what's best, God's thoughts are higher. 396 00:25:49,720 --> 00:25:55,120 Jesus says in Luke 9 and verse 23 it says, And he said unto 397 00:25:55,120 --> 00:25:59,720 them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, 398 00:26:00,440 --> 00:26:02,720 and take up his cross daily, and follow me. 399 00:26:02,720 --> 00:26:05,880 For whosoever will save his life shall lose in. 400 00:26:06,120 --> 00:26:11,200 But whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same will shall 401 00:26:11,200 --> 00:26:14,600 save it. Letting go of what we think is 402 00:26:14,600 --> 00:26:19,760 best and trusting in God's plan may feel like a loss at times. 403 00:26:20,160 --> 00:26:23,640 It may feel like a loss in the moment, but it leads to life, it 404 00:26:23,640 --> 00:26:25,680 leads to freedom and it leads to blessing. 405 00:26:26,840 --> 00:26:30,640 Obeying God's command leads to life and it spares us from from 406 00:26:30,640 --> 00:26:34,440 future dangers like like in this case of agog. 407 00:26:34,440 --> 00:26:38,880 It would have saved them from future dangers of Haman and and 408 00:26:38,880 --> 00:26:42,000 God would have been spared have having to deal. 409 00:26:42,000 --> 00:26:44,680 The people of God would have been spared to deal with the the 410 00:26:44,800 --> 00:26:49,920 Haman and and him coming against God's people and Luke 11 in 28 411 00:26:49,920 --> 00:26:53,240 even says but he said yeah, rather blessed are they that 412 00:26:53,240 --> 00:26:55,040 hear the word of God and keep it. 413 00:26:55,640 --> 00:27:00,960 Saul was told by Samuel, the man of God a command and he did not 414 00:27:00,960 --> 00:27:05,680 keep the word of God. The blessing is in obedience. 415 00:27:05,680 --> 00:27:11,480 When we obey God to the fullest to the Max, we avoid the long 416 00:27:11,480 --> 00:27:14,320 term cost. We avoid the long term cost that 417 00:27:14,320 --> 00:27:18,920 may ripple throughout our lives. Obedience. 418 00:27:18,920 --> 00:27:23,280 Our disobedience might not seem like a big deal today, but in 419 00:27:23,280 --> 00:27:26,360 the long run it could be the difference between heaven or 420 00:27:26,360 --> 00:27:28,400 hell. It could impact not only our 421 00:27:28,400 --> 00:27:32,720 eternity, but impact the ones around us that we have influence 422 00:27:32,720 --> 00:27:35,120 over. It could impact just as Saul's 423 00:27:35,120 --> 00:27:39,720 decision gave birth to an enemy like Haman, our decisions to 424 00:27:39,720 --> 00:27:42,880 hold on the things that have not of God can give the enemy 425 00:27:42,880 --> 00:27:49,280 foothold in our lives. Jesus made it clear Matthew 7 426 00:27:49,280 --> 00:27:51,440 and 21. It says not everyone that saith 427 00:27:51,440 --> 00:27:53,920 in the name Lord, Lord shall enter into the Kingdom of 428 00:27:53,920 --> 00:27:58,280 heaven, but he that doeth the will of my Father, which is in 429 00:27:58,280 --> 00:28:02,080 heaven. The stakes are eternal. 430 00:28:02,760 --> 00:28:05,600 It's not just about avoiding the immediate consequences. 431 00:28:05,600 --> 00:28:09,680 It's not just it's, it's about securing your place. 432 00:28:09,680 --> 00:28:14,040 It's about staying the course of the straight and the narrow. 433 00:28:14,040 --> 00:28:18,960 When we try to keep what we deem is best or what we try to to off 434 00:28:18,960 --> 00:28:21,560 put and say, well, it's not as important or that's not a 435 00:28:21,560 --> 00:28:23,520 doctrinal issue. That's not a heaven or hell 436 00:28:23,520 --> 00:28:26,040 issue. That's my favorite when we try 437 00:28:26,040 --> 00:28:29,800 to do that and when God asked you to let go of something and 438 00:28:29,800 --> 00:28:33,720 obey His will, your choice can affect your relationship. 439 00:28:33,880 --> 00:28:38,280 It can affect your relationship forever, whether positively or 440 00:28:38,360 --> 00:28:42,320 negatively. The thing we have to ask 441 00:28:42,320 --> 00:28:47,600 ourselves, ladies and gentlemen, is are you keeping something 442 00:28:47,960 --> 00:28:51,920 that you deem is best that does not align with God? 443 00:28:53,480 --> 00:28:58,200 Is it something that could cost us possibly our eternity? 444 00:28:58,320 --> 00:29:00,880 If it's in the Word of God and it is spelled out in black and 445 00:29:00,880 --> 00:29:03,920 white, then I would dare say you definitely need to go back into 446 00:29:03,920 --> 00:29:06,040 the Word and dig into that a little more. 447 00:29:06,040 --> 00:29:09,840 If it's something that is a hard issue, you need to dig back into 448 00:29:09,840 --> 00:29:12,160 the word. If it's a pride issue, you need 449 00:29:12,160 --> 00:29:16,920 to sacrifice yourself and take up your cross and deny yourself 450 00:29:17,120 --> 00:29:21,040 because if we keep these things that we think and we hold dear, 451 00:29:21,040 --> 00:29:24,320 at times it could cost everything. 452 00:29:26,840 --> 00:29:31,920 What are you letting live? What are you letting live? 453 00:29:34,080 --> 00:29:37,520 In Second Chronicles 714 and then our opening opening 454 00:29:37,520 --> 00:29:40,920 passage, God promises healing and restoration. 455 00:29:41,480 --> 00:29:46,440 Those that humble themselves pray and turn from disobedience 456 00:29:46,920 --> 00:29:50,200 so that turning requires us to actually let go of of things. 457 00:29:50,200 --> 00:29:54,240 So let go of our ideas of what what we would determine as as 458 00:29:54,240 --> 00:30:00,280 best and fully surrender to his will and to kill what God, what 459 00:30:00,280 --> 00:30:04,720 comes between US and God. You have to be ready to take it 460 00:30:04,720 --> 00:30:06,240 on. You have to be ready to kill it. 461 00:30:07,080 --> 00:30:08,920 It's not enough to just knock it down. 462 00:30:09,200 --> 00:30:11,800 You could knock it down and it won't bother you for a week, 463 00:30:11,840 --> 00:30:14,080 maybe two weeks. And what does it do? 464 00:30:14,080 --> 00:30:17,240 It rears its ugly head again. It comes back. 465 00:30:18,360 --> 00:30:21,360 You have to be ready to kill it. No. 466 00:30:21,360 --> 00:30:24,560 No turning back. No turning back. 467 00:30:24,560 --> 00:30:28,880 What are we letting live? I wonder tonight if we could 468 00:30:28,880 --> 00:30:31,880 stand tonight in this place as the music comes. 469 00:30:31,880 --> 00:30:34,880 Saul's disobedience brought Haman into the world. 470 00:30:35,200 --> 00:30:38,240 But your disobedience could bring destruction in your life 471 00:30:38,240 --> 00:30:41,480 and and those around you. The cost of keep keeping what 472 00:30:41,480 --> 00:30:45,200 seems best is far too high. Ladies and gentlemen, it is far 473 00:30:45,200 --> 00:30:47,240 too high. We have a choice, we have an 474 00:30:47,240 --> 00:30:51,520 opportunity to choose life. We have an opportunity to choose 475 00:30:51,520 --> 00:30:54,920 God above all else. And and through that, if we, if 476 00:30:54,920 --> 00:30:58,520 we feel like God is speaking to something that that is we're 477 00:30:58,520 --> 00:31:02,120 holding on to, that is hindering us, that is hurting us from 478 00:31:02,120 --> 00:31:04,640 continuing on in our walk with God. 479 00:31:04,640 --> 00:31:08,200 I encourage you to come forward and I encourage you to come 480 00:31:08,200 --> 00:31:12,560 forward and pray and asking God to give us strength to release 481 00:31:12,720 --> 00:31:15,760 what He has asked you to let go of. 482 00:31:15,760 --> 00:31:20,720 Trust in His plan, trusting that it is far greater, far greater 483 00:31:20,720 --> 00:31:23,160 than anything we could imagine it could be. 484 00:31:23,160 --> 00:31:27,840 The difference between heaven or hell is the best, the best. 485 00:31:27,840 --> 00:31:32,880 The self-proclaimed best that Saul kept did him no good in the 486 00:31:32,880 --> 00:31:35,960 long run. It did him nothing it did not. 487 00:31:35,960 --> 00:31:41,000 Obeying today could choose life and life more abundantly, 488 00:31:41,160 --> 00:31:45,200 abundantly above all we could ask of all we could think. 489 00:31:46,280 --> 00:31:49,160 Oh God, I ask you just to move in this place. 490 00:31:49,480 --> 00:31:52,720 Oh that we could come and lay it down at the altar. 491 00:31:52,880 --> 00:31:56,800 What we deemed as best in our life, what we have kept and held 492 00:31:56,800 --> 00:32:01,280 on to probably for too long. Lord, I want to give it unto you 493 00:32:01,440 --> 00:32:06,520 that our, our life would be a living sacrifice unto you, that 494 00:32:06,520 --> 00:32:11,000 we would follow after you and, and your word and what it deems 495 00:32:11,080 --> 00:32:15,160 as best instead of what we self-proclaimed to be right and 496 00:32:15,160 --> 00:32:18,440 what we self-proclaimed to be justice. 497 00:32:18,720 --> 00:32:21,520 God, I ask you just to move. Lord, anything that you have 498 00:32:21,720 --> 00:32:25,560 impressed in on me that I would let go of, that I would not only 499 00:32:25,560 --> 00:32:28,560 knock it down, but I would be prepared to kill it. 500 00:32:28,560 --> 00:32:31,520 I would be prepared to take it out completely. 501 00:32:31,760 --> 00:32:36,520 God, you are the magnificent author and creator and finisher 502 00:32:36,520 --> 00:32:39,360 of our faith. Lord, I want to give you my 503 00:32:39,360 --> 00:32:41,280 everything, but I cannot do that. 504 00:32:41,280 --> 00:32:44,160 If I try to hold on to things, hold on. 505 00:32:44,160 --> 00:32:46,800 The things that are weighing me down, hold on the things that 506 00:32:46,800 --> 00:32:50,480 are holding me back from finishing the word, from 507 00:32:50,480 --> 00:32:55,480 finishing and going another level, going rooted deeper into 508 00:32:55,480 --> 00:32:57,440 you, rooted deeper into the word. 509 00:32:57,440 --> 00:33:00,880 Rooted deeper to where I could be a better witness to my 510 00:33:00,880 --> 00:33:02,720 family. I could be a better witness to 511 00:33:02,720 --> 00:33:07,120 those at my workplace around. I could not hold on to things 512 00:33:07,120 --> 00:33:10,520 that are against your word and I could seek your face and 513 00:33:10,520 --> 00:33:14,080 allowing you to move in this place and in me. 514 00:33:14,320 --> 00:33:16,200 Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah.