SAM5 - God's Work is not about You

Saul perverted God’s system for his own profit

Because of his sacrifice, God took the kingdom from Saul

1 Samuel 13:14 KJV 1900

But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the Lord hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the Lord hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the Lord commanded thee.

Saul knew that he was no longer God’s man

We will see God give Saul another opportunity later

But God had moved past Saul

Saul perverted God’s system for his own profit

Saul followed Samuel to Gibeah, but didn’t leave his position of authority

1 Samuel 13:14–15 KJV 1900

But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the Lord hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the Lord hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the Lord commanded thee. And Samuel arose, and gat him up from Gilgal unto Gibeah of Benjamin. And Saul numbered the people that were present with him, about six hundred men.

1 Samuel 13:14–16 KJV 1900

But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the Lord hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the Lord hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the Lord commanded thee. And Samuel arose, and gat him up from Gilgal unto Gibeah of Benjamin. And Saul numbered the people that were present with him, about six hundred men. And Saul, and Jonathan his son, and the people that were present with them, abode in Gibeah of Benjamin: but the Philistines encamped in Michmash.

1 Samuel 13:15 KJV 1900

And Samuel arose, and gat him up from Gilgal unto Gibeah of Benjamin. And Saul numbered the people that were present with him, about six hundred men.

Saul knew that he was no longer God’s man

1 Samuel 13:16 KJV 1900

And Saul, and Jonathan his son, and the people that were present with them, abode in Gibeah of Benjamin: but the Philistines encamped in Michmash.

We will see God give Saul another opportunity later

But God had moved past Saul

1 Samuel 14:2 KJV 1900

And Saul tarried in the uttermost part of Gibeah under a pomegranate tree which is in Migron: and the people that were with him were about six hundred men;

Saul brings in a priest

1 Samuel 14:3 KJV 1900

And Ahiah, the son of Ahitub, Ichabod’s brother, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eli, the Lord’s priest in Shiloh, wearing an ephod. And the people knew not that Jonathan was gone.

1 sam

Saul calls for the ark of God

1 Samuel 14:18 KJV 1900

And Saul said unto Ahiah, Bring hither the ark of God. For the ark of God was at that time with the children of Israel.

1 sam

Saul demands fasting

1 Samuel 14:24 KJV 1900

And the men of Israel were distressed that day: for Saul had adjured the people, saying, Cursed be the man that eateth any food until evening, that I may be avenged on mine enemies. So none of the people tasted any food.

Corporate fasting was something special, sacred and done for God

Moses fasted when he was with God 40 days

Samuel called for the people to fast before God as a sign of repentance

Saul demanded that people be entirely dedicated to his selfish vengeance

Even when it brought temptation and sin

Saul builds an altar, but continues on his own plan

1 Samuel 14:35–37 KJV 1900

And Saul built an altar unto the Lord: the same was the first altar that he built unto the Lord. And Saul said, Let us go down after the Philistines by night, and spoil them until the morning light, and let us not leave a man of them. And they said, Do whatsoever seemeth good unto thee. Then said the priest, Let us draw near hither unto God. And Saul asked counsel of God, Shall I go down after the Philistines? wilt thou deliver them into the hand of Israel? But he answered him not that day.

1 sam

The altar is a place to give and consecrate to God and his work and his will

But this altar was a sham

It was used to convince people that Saul’s demands were God’s will

The priest was urging Saul to go to God

But Saul didn’t get any answer from God

And he didn’t care

Because he didn’t come to God for counsel

He came to use God for his own purpose

Many of us do the same as Saul

We talk about God’s will

We read our Bibles

We go to church

We give

We follow the rules that everyone sees

But all the time, we are trying to do our own will

Feed our flesh

Chase our own goals

Profit ourselves

And God is not near us!

God is not speaking to us!

We go to church and follow the man God physically(follow Samuel)

But we are not submissive

We call the preacher for advice(priest)

But we are looking for confirmation of our own will/opinions

We maintain the appearance of the power of God(ark)

But we only want it for our own will

We demand of others for ourselves

We call others to serve us and our will

We continue when God is silent!

Stop and pray and wait on God

Let him go before you

Before you can be used of God

You must first submit to God

Give up your own plans

Stop chasing your own will

Give yourself wholly to him

Romans 12:1–2 KJV 1900

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Romans 12:1 KJV 1900

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.