1 Samuel Sermons

Remember the movie The Fugitive (Harrison Ford, Tommy Lee Jones) – unjustly accused; on the run; looking for justice and vindication; wanting to find the murderer of...

PASSIONATE PRAYER CAN TRANSFORM A ROOT OF BITTERNESS INTO A SEED OF BLESSING

OUR LEVEL OF SPIRITUAL CONSECRATION SHOULD MATCH OUR DEPTH OF SPIRITUAL INDEBTEDNESS

ANSWERED PRAYER CAUSES THE RIGHTEOUS TO REJOICE IN THE LORD – THE SOVEREIGN ONE WHO BOTH EXALTS THE LOWLY AND JUDGES THE WICKED

SPIRITUAL MINISTRY CAN BE MARKED BY EITHER SELFISH EXPLOITATION OR DEDICATED SERVICE

(CONTRAST BETWEEN THE 2 EXTREMES OF THE SONS OF ELI AND SAMUEL)

THE ABUSE OF THE PRIVILEGES OF SPIRITUAL LEADERSHIP HAS FAR-REACHING CONSEQUENCES

THE FAITHFUL SPOKESMAN FOR GOD COMMUNICATES EVEN THE HARD WORDS OF JUDGMENT

(WHAT IT MEANS TO DECLARE THE WHOLE COUNSEL OF GOD)

WHEN SUPERSTITION AND SELF-WILL REPLACE GENUINE WORSHIP AND OBEDIENT FAITH THE GLORY OF THE LORD DEPARTS FROM HIS PEOPLE

GOD PROTECTS HIS HOLINESS BY CURSING THOSE WHO FAIL TO APPROACH HIM WITH THE PROPER FEAR AND CAREFULNESS

STRONG SPIRITUAL LEADERSHIP (SAMUEL) USES THE GIFT OF EXHORTATION AND THE WEAPON OF PRAYER TO ACCOMPLISH THE MINISTRY GOALS OF SPIRITUAL REVIVAL, DELIVERANCE FROM ENEMIES, PEACEFUL EXISTENCE, AND RIGHTEOUS JUDGMENTS

GOD’S PEOPLE HAVE A TRAGIC HISTORY OF REJECTING GOD’S LEADERSHIP MODEL FOR A PRAGMATIC, WORLDLY MODEL OF THEIR OWN CHOOSING

GOD SOVEREIGNLY GUIDES IN THE SELECTION OF SAUL TO BE KING

– GIVING THE PEOPLE WHAT THEY HAD DEMANDED

THE ANOINTING OF GOD’S CHOSEN LEADER WAS A MIXED BLESSING IN MANY RESPECTS – YET CLEARLY A DIVINE APPOINTMENT

KING SAUL WINS OVER HIS CRITICS BY PROVING HIS MILITARY LEADERSHIP WITH A SPIRIT-INSPIRED RESCUE OPERATION

FORMER TRANSGRESSIONS DO NOT DOOM YOU TO PRESENT FAILURE AS LONG AS YOU CHOOSE TO FEAR THE LORD AND SERVE HIM RIGHT NOW

LEADERSHIP OPERATING ON THE BASIS OF EXPEDIENCY RATHER THAN OBEDIENCE CAN WIN SOME IMPRESSIVE BATTLES BUT STILL FORFEIT THE ULTIMATE OBJECTIVE

RASH DECISIONS ON THE PART OF LEADERSHIP CAN PLACE THEIR TROOPS AT RISK

INCOMPLETE OBEDIENCE = COMPLETE REBELLION

PARTIAL OBEDIENCE = TOTAL REBELLION

THE COST OF FAILING TO OBEY GOD FULLY IS SUPRISINGLY HIGH

LEADERSHIP TRANSITION REQUIRES CAREFUL PREPARATION

DAVID’S VICTORY OVER GOLIATH PROVIDES A MODEL FOR SUCCESSFUL SPIRITUAL WARFARE

PROSPERITY FLOWS OUT OF THE PRESENCE AND FAVOR OF GOD

GOD CAN USE OUR NETWORK OF CLOSE RELATIONSHIPS TO HELP PROTECT US IN TIMES OF DANGER AND PERSECUTION

DAVID AND JONATHAN — A MODEL OF TRUE FRIENDSHIP

WHEN WE LOSE FOCUS ON GOD’S POWER TO PROTECT US WE RESORT TO DESPERATE MEASURES TO SAVE OUR OWN SKIN WITHOUT REGARD TO:

– THE IMAPCT ON THE WELL BEING OF OTHERS

– THE IMPACT ON OUR TESTIMONY FOR THE LORD

GOD’S APPOINTED LEADER MAKES ALL NECESSARY PREPARATIONS TO MOBILIZE AND FULFILL HIS CALLING IN RESPONSE TO GOD’S LEADING (AND TIMING)

GOD SPECIALIZES IN ENGINEERING NARROW ESCAPES

HONORING UNJUST AUTHORITY POSITIONS THE RIGHTEOUS FOR ULTIMATE VINDICATION

SPIRITUAL LEADERS MUST RESTRAIN THEIR EXERCISE OF POWER TO FOLLOW THE PATH OF DISCERNMENT RATHER THAN IMPULSIVELY RESPONDING TO PROVOCATION

THE UNJUSTLY ACCUSED FUGITIVE REFUSES TO TAKE MATTERS INTO HIS OWN HANDS WHILE EXPOSING THOSE WHO ARE TRULY GUILTY

DESPAIR FUELS DESPERATION RESULTING IN A LIFE OF DECEPTION

FEAR OF THE FUTURE INTENSIFIES WHEN ONE LOSES ALL CONNECTION WITH THE LORD AND TURNS INSTEAD TO PHYSICS