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Sermon Date: 3/4/2007
Outline:
How long Wilt thou mourn? (I Samuel 16:1)
I. HOW LONG WILL YOU MOURN OVER PAST FAILURES? (SAUL HAD FAILED)
A. SAUL’S POTENTIAL
1. His confidence didn’t lie in himself.
a. (Illus.) Saul went to find his father’s donkeys when he ran into Samuel.
1- Samuel told him where the donkeys were. He also told him that he’d be king of Israel.
2- Samuel’s father found out that he talked to Samuel and asked what he told him. (10:15-16)
3- He had so little confidence that he didn’t want anyone to know.
4- I’d probably be bragging about it to everyone.
b. When Samuel publicly announced that Saul was king, Saul hid.
c. God was most impressed with Saul when Saul was least impressed with himself.
2. His heart belonged to God. (vs. 9)
a. The major problems in the lives of most Christians today are heart problems.
1- You say, “I have a problem with tithing.” No, you have a heart problem.
2- You say, “I have a problem with soul-winning.” No, you have a heart problem.
3- You say, “I have a problem with being faithful to church.” No, you have a heart problem.1) (Illus.) Dr. Ouellette’s daughter
2) “Yes, a person who comes Sunday Night is a better Christian.”
3) The person who comes on to the Mid-Week Service is a better Christian.
4- You say, “I have a problem with being morally loose.” No, you have a heart problem.
5- You say, “I don’t like preachers always preaching against sin.” No, you have a heart prob.
b. But I have good news: I know one who takes care of heart problems. His name’s Jesus Christ.
1- When David had sinned before God, the book of psalms records him saying,
Psalms 51:10, “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.”
2- I’m glad God gave me a new heart when he saved me, but it still needs a good cleaning now and then.
3- Oh, that we’d pray as David did and beg God for a new heart today!
B. SAUL’S PRESENCE (9:2)
1. He was good looking and tall. (Like Me)
2. (Illus.) Ryan and Chrissy Bielfuss.
3. He looked like a natural born leader. A man’s man.
C. SAUL’S PEOPLE (vs. 26)
1. You could say that this was Saul’s band of brothers.
2. They stood behind him. (vs. 24)
3. They had hearts for God. (vs. 26)
D. SAUL’S PRIDE
1. Saul’s pride destroyed all his potential.
a. You only have potential when you humble yourself before God.
“David’s entrance to the throne was through the caves.” – Pastor Bob MacDonald
b. You know, the greatest miracle in Lazarus’ life was after he died.
c. We need to die to self if we are to see great miracles.
d. (Illus.) Saul made the sacrifice that the priest should have.
e. Saul went from believing he could do nothing to thinking he was everything.
2. Saul’s pride ruined his presence.
a. Saul was tall when his head was bowed and small when his head was high.
b. Didn’t tall Saul look like small Saul in front of Goliath? David was the one who looked tall.
c. Didn’t David look tall when they chanted, “Saul has slain his thousands, but David his ten-thousands.” Didn’t tall Saul seem small?
E. SAMUEL’S POUTING
II. HOW LONG WILL YOU MOURN OVER PRESENT SITUATIONS?1. Have you ever poured your life into someone else just to see them ruin their life?
a. Have you ever cared about someone so much, but yet they turn on you?
b. Samuel knew what that was like.
1- Samuel took him in like a father would a son, and was there guiding him into victory.
2- Now he feared that Saul would kill him.
c. Parents who have done nothing but love their children and lead them right, yet they go astray.
d. People you’ve led to the Lord, discipled and seen them grow, yet they went by the wayside.
2. God warns Samuel not to get so caught up in mourning over Saul that he becomes useless to God.
3. (Illus.) I didn’t have to be at Open Door Baptist Church long before we saw members leave.
a. From my understanding, the last year before we came here, there were many that fell by the wayside.
b. I found a church that was hurting and some believed that God was done here.
c. They believed we were going to have to change the name to the Closed Door Baptist Church.
4. Saul knew what it was like.
II Timothy 4:10, “For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia.”
5. When I first got here, I started trying to find some of those people and get them back.
a. It wasn’t long before I realized I was getting nowhere.
b. God spoke to my heart and said, maybe this church needs to quit mourning over the past and start finding new converts.
c. I can honestly say we have more new members in this church than old.
6. This church came to a crossroads. They could either sit around and mourn over the past or move on for the glory of God.
7. You say my children have run from God, what should I do? Keep moving on for the Lord.
8. You say I’ve discipled a person and they’ve fallen away. Try to get them back, but if they refuse, find another convert to disciple.
A. IT DIDN’T WORK OUT HOW SAMUEL HOPED IT WOULD.
1. Saul was supposed to be a godly king all his life and perfect kings would follow him forever.
2. (Illus.) Walgreen’s Commercial: “Living in a place called perfect”
3. Things don’t always work out the way you thought they should.
a. The boy or girl you like doesn’t always turn out to be God’s will.
b. The dream job you wanted sometimes turns into a nightmare.
c. After you say “I do”, the happily ever after part sometimes takes a lot of maintenance.
d. The child you thought would grow up to be a godly adult, sometimes rebels.
e. The Sunday school class you thought would have tons of children, only has little Billy.
f. When you got saved, you thought your problems were over but they only just began.
4. (Illus.) Billy Swain (Part 1)
5. (Illus.) Richard Vick (Part 1)
6. (Illus.) Starting Lighthouse Baptist Church (Part 1)
7. (Illus.) Pastor MacDonald going to Florida (Part 1)
8. (Illus.) Missionary to the Philippines (Part 1) – All five sons died on the mission field.
B. GOD’S ADVICE WAS TO GO ON (16:1)
1. “Fill thine horn with oil.”
a. Oil always speaks of the Holy Spirit.
b. God’s reminding Samuel that he still has His Spirit with him.
c. God’s also reminding Samuel that there is more work to be done.
d. Whenever the Spirit of God is present in the Bible, there is work to be done.
1- In the Old Testament, God only placed his Spirit on men as a job came up for them to do.
2- In the New Testament, God has put the Spirit in all those who believe on Him and the Spirit doesn’t leave us.
3- One reason that the Spirit never leaves us is because He is our seal and security in salvation.
4- I believe another reason that the Spirit never leaves us is because God has assigned us a job that lasts our whole lives, Soul-Winning.
2. “Go”
a. God is saying to Samuel, “This is no time to mourn. It’s time to get busy for Christ.”
b. The devil wants to discourage you so that you become useless for God.
c. The fact that we live in discouraging times is no reason to quit, but more reason to go on.
d. (Illus.) Pastor that wrote a poem for his people entitled, “Go On” (continued...)
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