Lessons From a Fallen King by Tony Cooke
Lessons from a Fallen King
Rev. Tony Cooke
We are going to look at a person in the Bible who never realized his full potential in God. The person I speak of is Saul from the Old Testament.
Saul is not one of the more positive role models given to us in the Word of God.
When we consider Saul, we realize several things…
* The Bible is honest about the flaws and the sins of its characters
* God did not try to sugar-coat the truth
* We see the very tangible dangers of disobedience
1 Corinthians 10:11-12
11 Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition…
12 Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.
My desire in sharing this is that we will all learn from Saul, and benefit from his experience.
We can learn certain things…
* from Saul
* from how God dealt with him
* from how Saul responded.
1. GOD MAY HAVE SOME SURPRISES FOR YOU. HIS PLANS FOR YOU MAY BE BIGGER THAN YOU EVER IMAGINED.
Saul was merely looking for some lost donkeys when Samuel confronted him with his destiny… to become the King of Israel – 1 Samuel 9:3
This is not something Saul was ready to hear. He was intimidated and overwhelmed by the magnitude of his assignment.
1 Samuel 9:21 – Am I not a Benjamite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel, and my family is the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin?
John 15:16 – You did not choose me, but I chose you, and ordained you…
2 Tim. 1:9 – God has saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began.
2. THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT WILL MAKE THE DIFFERENCE IN YOUR LIFE.
1 Samuel 10:6, 9-10
6 Then the Spirit of the LORD will come upon you, and you will prophesy with them and be turned into another man.
9 So it was, when he had turned his back to go from Samuel, that God gave him another heart; and all those signs came to pass that day.
10 When they came there to the hill, there was a group of prophets to meet him; then the Spirit of God came upon him, and he prophesied among them.
Pentecost was all about the life-transforming power of the Spirit of God coming upon believers – when we get filled with the Holy Spirit, He turns us into something we never were before – He gives us gifts and endowments that enable us to do things we never could have done on our own.
3. YOU MUST NOT FORGET THE PRACTICAL ISSUES IN LIFE AND MINISTRY.
I Samuel 10:7
And let it be, when these signs come to you, that you do as the occasion demands; for God is with you. (NKJV)
(NAS) do whatever you find to be done…
(NIV) do whatever your hand finds to do…
(TLB) your decisions should be based on whatever seems best under the circumstances…
Notice the balance
vs. 6 – Emphasizes the Spirit
vs. 7 – Emphasizes the practical
Some are so heavenly minded they are no earthly good. Others are so earthly minded they are no heavenly good. We need both!
4. A LIFE OF OBEDIENCE IS ESSENTIAL TO A LONG AND FRUITFUL MINISTRY.
There were key points in Saul’s life where he disobeyed God, and it cost him the kingdom.
1 Samuel 13:13-14
13 And Samuel said to Saul,"You have done foolishly. You have not kept the commandment of the LORD your God, which He commanded you. For now the LORD would have established your kingdom over Israel forever.14 But now your kingdom shall not continue. The LORD has sought for Himself a man after His own heart, and the LORD has commanded him to be commander over His people, because you have not kept what the LORD commanded you."
1 Samuel 15:10-11
10 Now the word of the LORD came to Samuel, saying,11 "I greatly regret that I have set up Saul as king, for he has turned back from following Me, and has not performed My commandments." And it grieved Samuel, and he cried out to the LORD all night.
Obedience to God is not an option.
Isaiah 1:19-20
19 If you are willing and obedient,
You shall eat the good of the land;
20 But if you refuse and rebel,
You shall be devoured by the sword";
For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.
5. WHEN GOD USES YOU, STAY SMALL IN YOUR OWN EYES.
1 Samuel 15:17-18 (NIV)
Samuel said, "Although you were once small in your own eyes, did you not become the head of the tribes of Israel? The LORD anointed you king over Israel.
Always remember that whatever you have is a gift from God.
Always remember that the gifts God has given you are (1) for the purpose of blessing others and (2) for His glory.
If God has given you the gift of teaching, it is so others can learn.
If God has given you the gift of pastoring, it is so others can be cared for.
If God has given you the gift of evangelism, it is so the lost can be saved.
If God has given you the gift of healing and miracles, it is so others can be healed.
Jesus said: "I can of mine own self do nothing."
Paul said: "Yet not I, but Christ lives in me." "Yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me."
6. NEVER RESENT THE GIFTINGS OR THE ANOINTING THAT RESTS UPON OTHERS.
Saul was jealous of David. It created hatefulness and brought forth violence.
You must be secure in your own relationship with God, in your walk with God, and in your ministry.
Do not fall prey to the deadly trap of comparison, or get into competition with other ministers.
7. DO NOT FORCE GOD TO FIND SOMEONE ELSE TO DO THE JOB THAT YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO DO.
Because Saul disqualified himself, God had to appoint another.
1 Samuel 13:14
But now your kingdom shall not continue. The LORD has sought for Himself a man after His own heart, and the LORD has commanded him to be commander over His people, because you have not kept what the LORD commanded you."
The Apostle Paul was very aware of the need to be diligent and disciplined.
1 Corinthians 9:27
But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.
God will raise up others to do your work if He has to, but He wants you to do what you’ve been called to do!
Esther 4:14
For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?"
God is still seeking men after his own heart!
2 Chronicles 16:9
For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him.
God has a place for you, and He’s waiting for you to take your place.
Not necessarily because someone else did wrong, but because:
* The fields are white unto harvest
* The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few
* He still sees the multitudes and is still filled with compassion – sees them weary, scattered, as sheep without a shepherd
God has a place for you, and He’s waiting for you to take your place because…
* He is still building His Church, a Church that the gates of hell will not prevail against.
* His Church is still under orders, the Great Commission – to go into all the world…
What Do We Learn from Saul?
1. God has surprises for you. His plan for you may be bigger than you ever imagined.
2. The power of the Holy Spirit will make the difference in your life.
3. Don’t forget the practical areas of life and ministry.
4. A life of obedience is essential for a long and fruitful ministry.
5. When God uses you, stay small in your own eyes.
6. Never resent the giftings/anointing of others.
7. Don’t force God to find someone else to do the job you were supposed to do.
