1. The Downfall of Israel’s First King
1 Samuel 15:10-31
Our downfall is in our failure to obey GOD completely Sam. 15:10-15
Our downfall is in our rationalizing disobedience Sam. 15:16-21
Our downfall is in our desire for human approval Sam. 15:22-31

2. Our Downfall is in our failure to Believe GOD Completely 1 Sam
GOD instructs Saul to purge the land and annihilate the Amalekites. Instead he disobeyed GOD and saved the best of the spoils “for a sacrifice unto the Lord”
WE RATIONALIZE OUR OWN SIN, SO WE CAN DO AS WE WANT….?
Doesn’t that lead to our downfall…?

3. GOD told Samuel in 1 Samuel 15:10…”I regret I have made Saul King, for he TURNED AWAY FROM FOLLOWING ME, AND HAS NOT CARRIED OUT MY INSTRUCTIONS….”
Paul penned the wonderful description of our struggle with the flesh and the sin of the world in chapters 6 and 7 of Romans……
”Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey it’s lusts” Romans 6:12
“For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of good is not.” Romans 7:18

4. “Oh wretched man that I am
“Oh wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death? Thanks be to GOD through Jesus Christ our Lord! ….” Romans 7:24-25A
And finally that wonderful declaration of Grace and security in verse 1 of Romans Chapter 8:
“Therefore there is now NO CONDEMNATION for those who are in Christ Jesus…” Romans 8:1

5. Partial Obedience is a type of HYPOCRISY….!
GOD has provided a way for us to not only be saved from the consequences of our personal SIN, but also for our partial obedience.
“If we confess our sins, He (Jesus) is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from ALL UNRIGHTEOUSNESS.” 1 John 1:9
What examples of blatant hypocrisy have you witnessed in your life……………?

6. Our Downfall is in Rationalizing Disobedience...1 SAMUEL 15:16-21
HOW DO WE RATIONALIZE SIN…?
Blame it on others…
Give more money to the church.
Take comfort that we are not as bad as ‘That Guy’………!
GOD wants our REPENTANCE, not our RATIONALIZATIONS He wants our SUBMISSION, not our SACRIFICES….

7. Jesus reacts to our half-hearted partial obedience in Revelation 3:15-16
“I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I
wish that you were cold or hot; so because you are
lukewarm, and neither cold or hot, I will spit you out of
my mouth.”
Why do you think we are so prone to partial obedience instead of complete obedience to God’s commands.
Saul displayed Regret….but not true Repentance. How can we discern the difference between regret and repentance in our own heart……?

8. Our Downfall is in our Desire for Human Approval 1 Samuel 15:22-31
“Too many of us are more concerned about being caught in our sin than about the flagrancy of the offense before GOD.”