## Lessons Saul Never Learned- Life of Saul - 9

Remember when we began our study we wanted to do more than just learn a history lesson. Our desire was to learn some things from looking at the life of King Saul.

"For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope." (Rom 15:4)

"Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come." (1 Cor 10:11)

We don't have to experience every failure for ourselves to learn the lessons that God would have us learn. Let's learn some of the lessons that Saul failed to grasp in his life. There are probably many that we could consider, but tonight I want us to look at five of them.

I. Sin is Serious.

A. Saul never really took sin seriously.

B. This is evident for a number of reasons.

1. He always made excuses rather than confessing His sin before God.

2. He was quick to blame others for what he himself had done.

3. We never find him repenting…he wept from time to time, but never turned to God in repentance.

C. Saul thought he could cover up his sins, but that will never work.

"He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy." (Prov 28:13)

1. By comparison, David committed more serious sins that Saul, but there was a difference.

2. David is found repenting time and again before God.

3. God's plan for dealing with sin is clear.

4. Confession - Repentance - Forgiveness

5. But Saul never learned this lesson.

II. Spiritual Decline is Gradual.

A. Saul's failure was not immediate.

1. At first Saul was humble, but soon pride and envy began to work on him.

2. Hatred followed envy and murder followed hate.

3. He began as an obedient servant of God, but soon he became stubborn and independent.

B. Spiritual decline is usually gradual.

1. It is possible for our spiritual life to deteriorate without our realizing it.

2. However, God sends us warnings through His Word to take inventory from time to time and see where we are.

3. Genesis 3:9, "…Where art thou?"

4. If Saul would have listened to the warnings sent from God, he could have avoided the shame and disgrace that came upon him.

III. Integrity is Essential.

A. Definition of Integrity

1. The Hebrew word is translated as 'completeness', 'full', 'upright', and 'perfect'.

2. Someone has said that integrity is what you are in the dark all alone when no one else is around.

3. Saul was incomplete, and he was certainly not upright before God.

B. He was what James called a 'double-minded man'.

"A double minded man is unstable in all his ways." (James 1:8)

C. Notice his progression.

1. At the beginning he served God.

2. Then he began to serve God and himself.

3. Finally he began to use God to serve himself.

4. Jesus made it clear that we cannot serve two masters!

IV. Obedience is the Key to Victory and Success.

A. God must be the Lord of our life.

1. God made Saul king…

2. He anointed him and empowered him…

3. But it was up to Saul to allow God to have control in his life.

4. The same is true for each of us.

5. God never forces Himself upon us, we must yield ourselves unto Him and allow Him to have control.

"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." (Rom 12:2)

B. We must make God's will our will.

1. We can't argue with Him nor should we rebel against Him.

2. We shouldn't run ahead of Him or lag behind.

3. We need to obey immediately all that we know God would have for us to do.

C. Sacrifice is no substitute for obedience.

1. Saul failed to understand this truth.

2. We often try to rationalize what we do and unilaterally make deals with God.

3. But the only sacrifice God wants is an obedient heart.

V. Spiritual Lives must be Built.

A. Spiritual growth doesn't come automatically.

1. Just as we said concerning spiritual decline, the same is true of spiritual growth.

2. There is no quick and easy path to spiritual maturity.

3. It must be determined and will come as a result of effort.

4. We never find that Saul ever really built anything…just the opposite.

B. Saul trusted in his natural gifts and abilities more than in his Spiritual gifts and in the power of God.

1. Some can go for a while in their own strength…

2. But eventually failure will come.

3. Saul's failure could have been avoided if he had built his spiritual life.

C. We must build our lives spiritually.

(Jude 1:20-21; 24) "But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, {21} Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. {24} Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,"

1. God will keep us from falling, if we will build our spiritual lives.

2. Faith - Prayer - Love - Mercy

3. We must have these things in our lives, and we must allow the Holy Spirit to teach us the truths of His Word.

4. Note the next verse in Jude…

(Jude 1:25) "To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and for ever. Amen."

a. When we live for the glory and majesty of God it will make a difference in our lives.

b. Saul was more interested in his glory than in God's glory.

c. The result was that he lost his crown.

(Rev 3:11) "Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown."