Net 153 Exchange

Net 153 Exchange

For eight years Sally had been the Romero family pet. When they got her, she was only one foot long. But Sally grew until eventually she reached eleven-and-a-half feet and weighed eighty pounds.

 Then on July 20, 1993, Sally, a Burmese python, turned on 15-year-old Derek, strangling the teenager until he died of suffocation. Associated Press Online (7/22/93) quoted the police as saying that the snake was "quite aggressive, hissing, and reacting" when they arrived to investigate.

Sins that seem little and harmless will grow. Tolerate or ignore sin, and it will eventually lead to death (Jas. 1:15). - Bruce E. Truman. Leadership-Vol 15, #3.

Saul's goal in life was not to lose the kingship. His goal was not to get caught in a sin that would anger God. But little my little he let sin go unchecked in this life and now we see him losing the kingdom.

Often people like to dwell on what some call the "gray" areas of the word (I personally do not believe there are gray areas but rather spiritually dull people that are not sensitive to the Spirit). Those are those area where the Bible does not directly give a commandment or direction. The areas where right and wrong must be found in applying one or more of the principles in the Bible.

However it has been my experience that those who like to debate the, and I use quotation marks here, "gray areas" usually find themselves sinning against those direct and clear commands of God. This is the case with Saul. Look with me at God's direct command and Saul's disobedience to a direct and clear commandment of God!

Read 15:1-9 (Stress the "But" in verse 9)

But it is not just the fact that Saul sinned, anyone can have forgiveness if - 1 John 1:9

It is what Saul does after he is confronted with his sin that gives us insight into How not to be Forgiven.

From this chapter we can see three ways to avoid forgiveness.

1. Try to Con God into believing you have not sinned

2. Confess but Don't (Politicians have this down good)

3. Ignore God's Righteous and Holy and Just Attributes

Look at what Saul replies to Samuel 15:13-15

Let me ask you a question, did Saul believe he was doing right? Yes! Does believing you are doing right enough? No! Look at what Samuel says to Saul:

Read 15:16-19

Note:

1. The Sin of Pride (Samuel says, when you were a nobody, you listened to God but now you seem to know more than he does.)

Read 15:20-23

2. The Sin of Self's Way (Saul says, But I was doing a good thing! - This is questionable because we do not really know if Saul was going to sacrifice those animals or not but neither way it was wrong!)

I have heard this worldly principle use today, and please note I underline worldly because this is not of God, "It's easier to get forgiveness than permission." Following that principle is following rebellion which the Bible say is as bad as entering into witchcraft. Saul could have been following that principle. The difference is that God sees it the sin for what it is, Rebellion against Him.

Read 15:24-31

Someone is going to say, "Didn't Saul confess and repent?" Well, did he?

Let's compare David and Saul for a moment. Didn't David commit a terrible sin . . . ?

Wasn't it as bad if not worse than that sin of Saul's? Didn't David receive forgiveness?

Let's compare the two confessions

David said:

Psalm 51:3-4

3 For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. 4 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.

Saul said:

1 Samuel 15:25,30

25 Now therefore, I pray thee, pardon my sin, and turn again with me, that I may worship the LORD. 30 Then he said, I have sinned: yet honour me now, I pray thee, before the elders of my people, and before Israel, and turn again with me, that I may worship the LORD thy God.

Saul ask Samuel to forgive him and was more interested in what the people thought than what God thought. David was concerned about one thing and one thing only, what God thought and how he might receive forgiveness from His God whom he had sinned against!

There is confession, and then there is real confession. Real confession turns you from sin and to God and you do not care what others think! Pride has kept many a person from making real confession.

We must never forget that God is righteous, holy and just. Because he is so, he must judge sin. Perhaps you over look something in this text. It had been hundreds of years since the Amalek had sinned against God and the nation of Israel (v.2). God hadn't forgot. God doesn't forget unconfessed sin that has not been covered with the blood and justice will rule. Because God does not always act speedily does not mean God does not contemn sin.

1 Timothy 5:24

24 Some men’s sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment; and some men they follow after.

Agag would pay the price for the sins of his forefathers (God have mercy on our grandchildren because of the sins of our nation today.)

Saul would pay for his sin -- Only it wasn't that day -- But is was to come.

What does God want? Lip service or Action? Does he want you to put on your Sunday best and then appear like worshippers or would he rather just have you obedient? Does not God want you to surrender and obey?

Read 15:22,23

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