History thus far……  Israel started as a person Abraham –a family – – a tribe of 12 people - a nation.  They had different kind of leadership - patriarchs- prophets or judges –king and later priest  Written by :Samuel the prophet  The book of Samuel is the story of the last judge to lead the people of Israel and It is a book of change over from the being led by judges to being led by kings

History thus far In chapters 1-8  Samuel was born to Hannah & was brought to the tabernacle to serve God.  Israelites are in a vicious battle with the Philistines  Ark of the Covenant captured, which was later returned  When Samuel grew old, he appointed his sons as leaders who did not follow his ways.  Israel says “Now appoint a king to lead us, such as all the other nations have.”

History thus far From chapters 8-15  The Israelites select, Saul. Who they believe, will be a great king.  Samuel anoints Saul to be king  Character flaws exposed  Samuel prophesy……your kingdom will not endure; the L ORD has sought out a man after his own heart and appointed him ruler of his people, because you have not kept the L ORD ’s command.”

What is in your heart ?

15 Samuel said to Saul, “I am the one the L ORD sent to anoint you king over his people Israel; so listen now to the message from the L ORD. 2 This is what the L ORD Almighty says: ‘I will punish the Amalekites for what they did to Israel when they waylaid them as they came up from Egypt. 3 Now go, attack the Amalekites and totally destroy all that belongs to them. Do not spare them; put to death men and women, children and infants, cattle and sheep, camels and donkeys.’” 4 So Saul summoned the men and mustered them at Telaim—two hundred thousand foot soldiers and ten thousand from Judah. 5 Saul went to the city of Amalek and set an ambush in the ravine. 1 Samuel Chapter15

6 Then he said to the Kenites, “Go away, leave the Amalekites so that I do not destroy you along with them; for you showed kindness to all the Israelites when they came up out of Egypt.” So the Kenites moved away from the Amalekites. 7 Then Saul attacked the Amalekites all the way from Havilah to Shur, near the eastern border of Egypt. 8 He took Agag king of the Amalekites alive, and all his people he totally destroyed with the sword. 9 But Saul and the army spared Agag and the best of the sheep and cattle, the fat calves and lambs— everything that was good. These they were unwilling to destroy completely, but everything that was despised and weak they totally destroyed.

10 Then the word of the L ORD came to Samuel: 11 “I regret that I have made Saul king, because he has turned away from me and has not carried out my instructions.” Samuel was angry, and he cried out to the L ORD all that night. 12 Early in the morning Samuel got up and went to meet Saul, but he was told, “Saul has gone to Carmel. There he has set up a monument in his own honor and has turned and gone on down to Gilgal.” 13 When Samuel reached him, Saul said, “The L ORD bless you! I have carried out the L ORD ’s instructions.” 14 But Samuel said, “What then is this bleating of sheep in my ears? What is this lowing of cattle that I hear?”

15 Saul answered, “The soldiers brought them from the Amalekites; they spared the best of the sheep and cattle to sacrifice to the L ORD your God, but we totally destroyed the rest.” 16 “Enough!” Samuel said to Saul. “Let me tell you what the L ORD said to me last night.” “Tell me,” Saul replied. 17 Samuel said, “Although you were once small in your own eyes, did you not become the head of the tribes of Israel? The L ORD anointed you king over Israel. 18 And he sent you on a mission, saying, ‘Go and completely destroy those wicked people, the Amalekites; wage war against them until you have wiped them out.’ 19 Why did you not obey the L ORD ? Why did you pounce on the plunder and do evil in the eyes of the L ORD ?”

20 “But I did obey the L ORD,” Saul said. “I went on the mission the L ORD assigned me. I completely destroyed the Amalekites and brought back Agag their king. 21 The soldiers took sheep and cattle from the plunder, the best of what was devoted to God, in order to sacrifice them to the L ORD your God at Gilgal.” 22 But Samuel replied: “Does the L ORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the L ORD ? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams. 23 For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the L ORD, he has rejected you as king.”

24 Then Saul said to Samuel, “I have sinned. I violated the L ORD ’s command and your instructions. I was afraid of the men and so I gave in to them. 25 Now I beg you, forgive my sin and come back with me, so that I may worship the L ORD.” 26 But Samuel said to him, “I will not go back with you. You have rejected the word of the L ORD, and the L ORD has rejected you as king over Israel!” 27 As Samuel turned to leave, Saul caught hold of the hem of his robe, and it tore. 28 Samuel said to him, “The L ORD has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today and has given it to one of your neighbors—to one better than you. 29 He who is the Glory of Israel does not lie or change his mind; for he is not a human being, that he should change his mind.”

30 Saul replied, “I have sinned. But please honor me before the elders of my people and before Israel; come back with me, so that I may worship the L ORD your God.” 31 So Samuel went back with Saul, and Saul worshiped the L ORD. 32 Then Samuel said, “Bring me Agag king of the Amalekites.” Agag came to him in chains. And he thought, “Surely the bitterness of death is past.” 33 But Samuel said, “As your sword has made women childless, so will your mother be childless among women.” And Samuel put Agag to death before the L ORD at Gilgal. 34 Then Samuel left for Ramah, but Saul went up to his home in Gibeah of Saul. 35 Until the day Samuel died, he did not go to see Saul again, though Samuel mourned for him. And the L ORD regretted that he had made Saul king over Israel

Overview of the chapters 15 & 16 1 Samuel 15  God’s judgment on Saul --- Saul is rejected as king over Israel  Destruction of Amalekites 1 Samuel 16  Samuel anoints David  Saul’s torment by an evil spirit  Increase of David favor and fame  David being inducted into Saul’s service

 He lacked intimacy with God 1 Sam 15:30 Saul replied, “I have sinned. But please honor me before the elders of my people and before Israel; come back with me, so that I may worship the L ORD your God.” Evidence of Saul’s of Pride Lack of reverence for God  He feared man 1 Sam 15:24 24 Then Saul said to Samuel, “I have sinned. I violated the L ORD ’s command and your instructions. I was afraid of the men and so I gave in to them.

1 Sam 15:24 Then Saul said to Samuel, “I have sinned. I violated the L ORD ’s command and your instructions. I was afraid of the men and so I gave in to them. 1 Sam 15:30 Saul replied, “I have sinned. But please honor me before the elders of my people and before Israel; come back with me, so that I may worship the L ORD your God.” Evidence of Saul’s of Pride Lack of Repentance

1 Sam 15: 12 Early in the morning Samuel got up and went to meet Saul, but he was told, “Saul has gone to Carmel. There he has set up a monument in his own honor and has turned and gone on down to Gilgal.” Evidence of Saul’s of Pride Lost Humility

1 Sam 15: 23 …………. Because you have rejected the word of the L ORD, he has rejected you as king.” Consequences of Saul’s of Pride Rejected as King 1 Sam 16: 14 Now the Spirit of the L ORD had departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the L ORD tormented him. Tormented by an Evil Spirit 1 Sam 15: 35 Until the day Samuel died, he did not go to see Saul again, though Samuel mourned for him. Loss of fellowship with Samuel

Pride & Insecurity Pride comes from possessing things or attributes that determine our worth. Insecurity comes from NOT possessing things or attributes which cause us to question our worth

Pride & Insecurity Both pride and insecurity at its root, is about finding our worth in self rather than God.

Overcoming Pride & Insecurity Repent 1 Peter 5: 5 & 6 “………. God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” 6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.

Overcoming Pride & Insecurity Remind

Overcoming Pride & Insecurity Remind Philippians 2:5-8 5 ……Christ Jesus Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross! Christ who had everything, became nothing so that I, who had nothing, was given everything.

Overcoming Pride & Insecurity Remind Romans 8: For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. 15 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.”

Overcoming Pride & Insecurity Reflect to God with thanksgiving Jeremiah 9: This is what the L ORD says: “Let not the wise boast of their wisdom or the strong boast of their strength or the rich boast of their riches, 24 but let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know me, that I am the L ORD, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,” declares the L ORD.

Overcoming Pride & Insecurity Mark 10:45 45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Reflect in people through serving

Blessings of Humility 1 Samuel 16:13 13 So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the L ORD came powerfully upon David. Samuel then went to Ramah Favour with God 1 Samuel 16: David came to Saul and entered his service. Saul liked him very much, and David became one of his armor-bearers. 22 Then Saul sent word to Jesse, saying, “Allow David to remain in my service, for I am pleased with him.” Favour with Man

I am a child of God (John 1:12) I am Christ’s friend (John 15:15) I am chosen and appointed by Christ to bear His fruit (John 15:16) I am a son of God; God is spiritually my Father (Rom. 8:14,15; Gal. 3:26, 4:6) I am a joint heir with Christ, sharing His inheritance with Him (Rom. 8:17) Who am I in Christ

I am a temple ‐‐ a dwelling place of God. His Spirit and His life dwell in me (1 Cor. 3:16, 6:19) I am an heir of God since I am a son of God (Gal. 4:6,7) I am God’s workmanship ‐‐ His handiwork ‐‐ born anew in Christ to do His work (Eph. 2:10) I am a child of God (John 1:12) Who am I in Christ