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• I felt compelled 1 Sam 13:1-15

• That’s such a strong statement- “I felt compelled” This is pretty much the feeling of the modern day American. As long as you feel like it- do it. Doesn’t matter who you hurt, what you destroy. As long as you feel like it. This isn’t something that is taught directly , but it how people act
• Don’t like your job-quit. Spouse-divorce. Event- don’t go. What the bible says- ignore it.
• When people fall into sin- when their lives are in a mess- typically you can find the root of feeling attached somewhere in the mix. It’s a danger. Driven by FEELINGS “I feel this way”
• Proverbs 14:12 There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.
• There is this guy King Saul who feel into the feeling trap. He had just become King- He was out on his own without his Priest Samuel, and started doing stuff. It all fell apart. It didn’t go well. Things go very wrong- and Samuel calls him out on it-
• The big issue is that Saul offered a sacrifice to God that Samuel was supposed to offer.
• It wasn’t Sauls job. It wasn’t his place. He’s the King, he’s not the priest. Samuel is the Priest. Its his job and Saul is supposed to follow Samuel’s lead.

• Wait to offer the sacrifice until Samuel says. Seems easy- right? FOLLOW THE RULES
• But It wasn’t- He took matters into his own hands- did it his way- READ V8-10
• Interesting part? If he would have just WAITED Samuel would have showed up 10 Now it happened, as soon as he had finished presenting the burnt offering, that Samuel came;
• If you would have just waited a few more minutes, Samuel would have been there and you would have honored God.
• What did it produce in him? This act of defiance and self service? Spiritual arrogance!
• V10 and Saul went out to meet him, that he might greet him.
• Saul was disobedient, he did what he wanted, not the way that God wanted and then the Man of God shows up and he goes out to greet HIM!
• This greet isn’t like a welcome- it’s a blessing! It’s a “hey Samuel, you weren’t here, so I handled the religious stuff even though it wasn’t my job, and now I can bless you!” Im the MAN!
• ARROGANCE! I’m going to do it my way, without God or you and then have the audacity to bless you! Saul had NO RIGHT to bless Samuel. He’s the KING he’s not the PRIEST
• When he was questioned? EXCUSES!

• “when I saw that the people were scattered, and that you did not come”
• IT WASN”T MY FAULT- IT WAS THE PEOPLE AND YOU. If they woud have stayed and you came
• 11 And Samuel said, “What have you done?” Saul said, “When I saw that the people were scattered from me, and that you did not come within the days appointed, and that the Philistines gathered together at Michmash,
• THE RESULTS?
• It destroyed his kingdom! READ V 13-14
• God was looking for a man after his heart, but it didn’t take long for Saul to show that he wasn’t the one. Barely had become king and now acting in defiance
• He disobeyed God and Samuel called him out and said that his kingdom would not reign forever

• It destroyed his influence!
• Saul went from 2000 men at the beginning of the story- to 600 at the end. Why? He wasn’t walking in the precepts of God. In the process, He led his own people astray!
• And where did this all come from? READ V 11-12 “Therefore I felt compelled”
• You felt compelled. Compelled to ruin your kingdom and your life? Ruin it all?
• You were just led by your feelings as the king of Israel and you messed it up really good.
• Self Serving, spiritually Arrogant, excuse making, kingdom destroying Man without a heart for God and the sole justification was your FEELINGS.

So what do we do with that?

1. We must not be driven by our feelings

• Us, like Saul will become Self Serving, spiritually Arrogant, excuse making, kingdom destroying Men without a heart for God if we are beset by our feelings
• There are FACTS of Christianity. You must not waver. You must not relent. You must not give in!
• Feelings start affairs. Drug addiction. Wrong theology. Bad decisions. Fights. Quarrels.
• You can’t trust your heart! Jeremiah 17:9 “The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it?
• This is why you cannot trust yourself or another person that says “this is what I have been feeling” when it comes to the things of God.
• Proverbs 28:26 He who trusts in his own heart is a fool, But whoever walks wisely will be delivered. I DON’T WANT TO BE LABELED A FOOL.
• The problem with trusting your feelings over your heart, you will be led astray
• Matthew 15:19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies.

• Life is difficult sometimes but you have to trust in what is true in regards to God.
• But if you’re driven by your feelings- you will constantly be a person who lives an erratic painful Christian existence because when you wake up from feelings, you’ll realize the destruction
• This translates to every area of your life- work, finances, fitness, spiritual health, We don’t only do what we FEEL. We do what we know is RIGHT.
• You can’t entertain other people’s horrible theology just because they are feeling driven!
• Your Feelings will FAIL YOU. Story of using paycheck to go to Disneyland, being late on bills. NO I PAID MY BILLS
• James 1:14 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.
• The key to not following your feelings is trusting that God will do what he said he would do
• Psalm 9:10 And those who know Your name will put their trust in You For You, Lord, have not forsaken those who seek You.

1. Live by God’s word to not be feeling driven.

• See, Saul had received God’s word. He knew what he was supposed to do. But what GOD had Said wasn’t enough! He wanted to go AGAINST it. To
• Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.
• God’s word was given to us so that we would know what to do, what not to do, and how to do it- This is the complete opposite of “I felt compelled’ feel compelled to follow the word!
• Psalm 119:130 The entrance of Your words gives light; It gives understanding to the simple.
• The precepts of God are very simple- they aren’t difficult to understand. It might be difficult to always line up your life- because of FEELINGS, but you MUST go by GODS WORD
• People who live by God’s word have much more peace in their life because they are doing it right- They aren’t “I felt compelled” people- they are “I live by the word people!”
• God said everything he ever wanted to say, he was nice enough to write it down!

• 2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,
• Christians are the oddest bunch. Every false religion demands immediate and ultimate adherence to its standards and practices
• Christians on the other hand, want to argue about EVERYTHING. QUESTION everything.
• You can tell a Christian a SIMPLE precept from the Bible and they’ll argue- Church, giving, forgiving, serving, Bible reading. I don’t care what it is! Tell a mormon to baptize the dead? Ok!
• Even now, as I preach this sermon, your mind is thinking about holes in this theology or inadequacies in my life to justify your non-adherence instead of just following the WORD
• Romans 15:4 For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.
• LIVE BY THE WORD OF GOD. JUST DO WHAT IT SAYS. GOD SAYS TO DO IT, JUST DO IT.
• Family stuff, work, financial, marriage. Don’t figure out a way around the word- just DO IT
• Proverbs 6:23 For the commandment is a lamp, And the law a light; Reproofs of instruction are the way of life,

1. Live by Wisdom

• Wisdom : the soundness of an action or decision with regard to the application of experience, knowledge, and good judgment.
• Wisdom means to make good decision! You look at the options, you play them out in your mind and you fight your sinful nature and make the decision that will glorify Christ and ensure a God honoring life-
• James 1:5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
• Wisdom is learning to make GOOD decisions. Decisions that honor God. The stuff that isn’t abundantly clear in the Bible.
• Should I marry this person, should I take this job, should I move, should I buy this thing, should I have this friendship, should I go to that event, should I ingest this thing in my body
• Financing v paying with cash. Going to a bar when you used to drink.

• 1 Corinthians 10:23 All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things edify.
• Wisdom will protect you. Wisdom will guide you. Wisdom will keep you from sin!
• Proverbs 16:16 How much better to get wisdom than gold! And to get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.
• But WISDOM is GOD’S WISDOM If it’s the Lords wisdom? James 3:17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.
• Proverbs 19:20 Listen to counsel and receive instruction, That you may be wise in your latter days.
• Ecclesiastes 7:12 For wisdom is a defense as money is a defense, But the excellence of knowledge is that wisdom gives life to those who have it.