Do You Condone Idolatry?? While no serious Christian would overtly condone idolatry, we do something just as bad by allowing stubbornness to rule our hearts or the hearts of others. King Saul was told that his stubbornness was like iniquity and idolatry. Stubbornness is characterized by walking in a self-determined, way, thinking you are always right, being unwilling to change and failing to trust the Master (like a mule). Let us not harden our hearts! Ephesians 5:5; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11; 5:11; 10:14

Stubbornness: The Sin of Saul (1 Samuel 15) “Stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry” (1 Samuel 15:23) Iniquity is self-willed sin! (Psalm 32:5; 1 John 3:4) In Saul’s case, stubbornness involved… Following his own interpretation (15:3, 7, 9) Being proud of his accomplishment (15:12-13) Arguing with authority (15:15-20)

Stubbornness Today (2 Timothy 3:4) Walking in your self-determined way (Psalm 81:11-13) Thinking that you are always right (Job 12:2; Romans 12:16; 1 Corinthians 8:1-2) Being unwilling to change (Isaiah 48:4; Proverbs 12:15; 15:32; James 3:17) Behaving like a mule (Psalm 32:8-9)

Stubbornness... It blames others for its own irresponsibility & failure. It is proud of itself. It doesn’t do what authority says to do, but it claims to. It argues the point. It tells those in authority what their job is. It views itself as always right. It doesn’t really listen because it has its own mind. It sets itself up as the judge of right and wrong. “Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.” (Hebrews 4:7 )