Building on Obedience: Lessons from Saul and Christ
Summary
### Summary
Good morning, everyone. Today, we explored the profound lessons from the parable of the two builders and the life of King Saul. We began by reflecting on the experience of standing on the shore, feeling the waves erode the sand beneath our feet, and how this mirrors the parable Jesus told about building on rock versus sand. The wise builder digs deep to lay a foundation on bedrock, ensuring stability when storms come. In contrast, the foolish builder constructs on sand, leading to inevitable collapse when adversity strikes. Jesus emphasizes that the true foundation is not just hearing His words but acting on them—obedience is the bedrock, while rebellion is the shifting sand.
We then transitioned to the life of King Saul, whose story in 1 Samuel serves as a cautionary tale about the consequences of disobedience. Saul's reign was marked by a series of poor choices and persistent rebellion against God's commands, leading to his downfall. Despite early successes, Saul's failure to fully obey God resulted in the loss of divine favor, culminating in his tragic end. His life illustrates the principle that faithful obedience brings God's blessing, while reckless rebellion leads to ruin.
Saul's final desperate act of seeking guidance from a medium at Endor, despite having previously outlawed such practices, underscores his spiritual decline. This act of necromancy, strictly forbidden by God, highlights the depths of Saul's rebellion and the resulting divine silence. The appearance of Samuel, even in death, to pronounce judgment on Saul, serves as a stark reminder of the severe consequences of disobedience.
Yet, amidst the tragedy of Saul's story, we find hope in God's provision of David, a man after God's own heart, and ultimately in Jesus Christ, the fulfillment of God's promise of a righteous king. This narrative encourages us to examine our own lives, to repent of any unrepentant sin, and to build our lives on the solid foundation of obedience to God's word.
### Key Takeaways
1. Obedience as the True Foundation: Jesus' parable of the two builders teaches us that the true foundation of a stable life is not merely hearing God's words but acting on them. Obedience to God's commands is the bedrock that ensures our spiritual stability amidst life's inevitable storms. [26:16]
2. The Cost of Disobedience: King Saul's life vividly illustrates the heavy price of disobedience. His persistent rebellion against God led to devastating consequences, not only for himself but also for his family and nation. Unrepentant sin creates a barrier between us and God, leading to spiritual ruin. [31:35]
3. Divine Silence and Desperation: Saul's desperate act of seeking a medium's guidance highlights the spiritual desolation that comes from persistent disobedience. When we continually rebel against God, we risk experiencing divine silence, where God no longer responds to our pleas due to our hardened hearts. [32:53]
4. The Danger of Small Compromises: Saul's gradual descent into rebellion began with small acts of disobedience. This reminds us that spiritual decline often starts with minor compromises. We must remain vigilant and consistently submit to God's authority to avoid a similar fate. [41:44]
5. Hope in Redemption: Despite Saul's tragic end, the provision of David and the ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ offer us hope. No matter how far we have fallen, God's grace is sufficient to redeem and transform our lives. We are called to repent and build our lives on the solid foundation of Christ's teachings. [55:38]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[23:45] - Introduction: Waves and Foundations
[24:37] - The Parable of the Two Builders
[25:25] - The Consequences of Building on Sand
[26:16] - Obedience vs. Rebellion
[27:18] - Faithful Obedience Brings Blessing
[28:07] - Introduction to King Saul's Story
[29:02] - Saul's Persistent Struggles
[30:05] - The Threat of the Philistines
[31:35] - The Cost of Disobedience
[32:17] - Saul's Desperation and Divine Silence
[32:53] - The Consequences of Unrepentant Sin
[33:44] - Samuel's Message to Saul
[34:45] - The Barrier of Sin
[35:41] - The Beginning of the End for Saul
[36:41] - Saul Seeks a Medium
[37:28] - The Witch of Endor
[38:15] - Samuel's Appearance
[38:56] - Saul's Desperate Decision
[39:45] - The Danger of Occult Practices
[41:44] - The Slow Fade of Rebellion
[43:19] - Samuel's Pronouncement of Judgment
[45:36] - The End is Near
[47:19] - The Final Battle
[49:03] - Saul's Tragic End
[50:44] - Hope in Redemption
[52:36] - The Cost of Disobedience
[53:55] - The Consequences of Life Choices
[55:38] - God's Promise of Redemption
[57:19] - Call to Repentance and Obedience
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Matthew 7:24-27 (Parable of the Two Builders)
2. 1 Samuel 28:1-20 (Saul and the Medium at Endor)
3. Isaiah 59:1-2 (Separation from God due to sin)
#### Observation Questions
1. In the parable of the two builders, what are the key differences between the wise builder and the foolish builder? ([24:37])
2. What specific actions did King Saul take that demonstrated his disobedience to God? ([29:02])
3. How did Saul's decision to seek a medium at Endor reflect his spiritual state? ([36:41])
4. What was the outcome of Saul's final battle against the Philistines? ([47:19])
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why does Jesus emphasize the importance of not just hearing His words but acting on them in the parable of the two builders? ([26:16])
2. How does Saul's life illustrate the principle that "faithful obedience brings God's blessing, but reckless rebellion leads to ruin"? ([27:18])
3. What does Saul's experience with divine silence teach us about the consequences of persistent disobedience? ([32:17])
4. How can small compromises in our spiritual life lead to a gradual decline, as seen in Saul's life? ([41:44])
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you faced a "storm" in your life. Did you feel your foundation was on rock or sand? How did your obedience to God's word impact your stability during that time? ([26:16])
2. Are there areas in your life where you might be making small compromises that could lead to bigger issues? How can you address these compromises to prevent a spiritual decline? ([41:44])
3. Have you ever experienced a period of divine silence? What steps can you take to ensure that your heart remains open and responsive to God's guidance? ([32:17])
4. Saul's life shows the danger of unrepentant sin. Is there any unrepentant sin in your life that you need to address? How can you seek God's forgiveness and restoration? ([35:41])
5. How can you actively build your life on the solid foundation of Christ's teachings this week? Identify one specific area where you can practice faithful obedience. ([50:44])
6. Saul's story ended in tragedy, but we have hope in redemption through Jesus Christ. How can you share this message of hope with someone who might feel hopeless or far from God? ([55:38])
7. Think of a specific decision you need to make this week. How can you ensure that this decision aligns with God's word and reflects faithful obedience? ([27:18])
Devotional
### Day 1: Obedience as the True Foundation
The parable of the two builders teaches us that the true foundation of a stable life is not merely hearing God's words but acting on them. Jesus emphasizes that obedience to His commands is the bedrock that ensures our spiritual stability amidst life's inevitable storms. The wise builder digs deep to lay a foundation on bedrock, ensuring stability when storms come. In contrast, the foolish builder constructs on sand, leading to inevitable collapse when adversity strikes. This parable calls us to examine our lives and ensure that we are not just listeners but doers of God's word. [26:16]
Luke 6:47-48 (ESV): "Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built."
Reflection: In what areas of your life are you merely hearing God's words but not acting on them? How can you begin to build a stronger foundation of obedience today?
### Day 2: The Cost of Disobedience
King Saul's life vividly illustrates the heavy price of disobedience. His persistent rebellion against God led to devastating consequences, not only for himself but also for his family and nation. Despite early successes, Saul's failure to fully obey God resulted in the loss of divine favor, culminating in his tragic end. Unrepentant sin creates a barrier between us and God, leading to spiritual ruin. Saul's story serves as a cautionary tale, reminding us that faithful obedience brings God's blessing, while reckless rebellion leads to ruin. [31:35]
1 Samuel 15:22-23 (ESV): "And Samuel said, 'Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of divination, and presumption is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, he has also rejected you from being king.'"
Reflection: Reflect on a time when disobedience led to negative consequences in your life. What steps can you take to ensure that you are walking in faithful obedience to God?
### Day 3: Divine Silence and Desperation
Saul's desperate act of seeking a medium's guidance highlights the spiritual desolation that comes from persistent disobedience. When we continually rebel against God, we risk experiencing divine silence, where God no longer responds to our pleas due to our hardened hearts. Saul's final desperate act of seeking guidance from a medium at Endor, despite having previously outlawed such practices, underscores his spiritual decline. This act of necromancy, strictly forbidden by God, highlights the depths of Saul's rebellion and the resulting divine silence. [32:53]
1 Samuel 28:6-7 (ESV): "And when Saul inquired of the Lord, the Lord did not answer him, either by dreams, or by Urim, or by prophets. Then Saul said to his servants, 'Seek out for me a woman who is a medium, that I may go to her and inquire of her.' And his servants said to him, 'Behold, there is a medium at Endor.'"
Reflection: Are there areas in your life where you feel God is silent? How can you seek to restore your relationship with Him and ensure that your heart is not hardened by disobedience?
### Day 4: The Danger of Small Compromises
Saul's gradual descent into rebellion began with small acts of disobedience. This reminds us that spiritual decline often starts with minor compromises. Saul's story shows that these small acts can accumulate, leading to significant spiritual consequences. We must remain vigilant and consistently submit to God's authority to avoid a similar fate. By examining our daily choices and ensuring they align with God's will, we can prevent the slow fade into rebellion that marked Saul's life. [41:44]
Song of Solomon 2:15 (ESV): "Catch the foxes for us, the little foxes that spoil the vineyards, for our vineyards are in blossom."
Reflection: What small compromises have you made that could lead to larger acts of disobedience? How can you address these areas and realign your actions with God's will?
### Day 5: Hope in Redemption
Despite Saul's tragic end, the provision of David and the ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ offer us hope. No matter how far we have fallen, God's grace is sufficient to redeem and transform our lives. David, a man after God's own heart, and Jesus, the fulfillment of God's promise of a righteous king, remind us that redemption is always possible. We are called to repent and build our lives on the solid foundation of Christ's teachings, trusting in His grace to restore us. [55:38]
Isaiah 55:7 (ESV): "Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon."
Reflection: In what areas of your life do you need God's redemption? How can you actively seek His grace and build your life on the foundation of Christ's teachings today?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "Faithful obedience brings God's blessing. But reckless rebellion leads to ruin. And this is exactly what we've seen played out in the life of King Saul. Today we're wrapping up this series in the book of 1 Samuel as Saul's journey is going to come to an end." [27:18] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "I want you to know that we serve a God who is a God of grace and a God of mercy, a God who can take your mess. And transform it into a message of his glory. This is the good news. This is the gospel of Jesus Christ. Your life doesn't have to come to a tragic end like Saul's. It can be transformed into a hope-filled eternity with God." [50:44] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "No matter how far we've fallen, God's grace reaches further still. I don't know if you heard that. No matter how far you have fallen, no matter how far I have fallen, God's grace reaches further still. God's promise to David, it finds its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus, the king of all kings." [55:38] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "Romans chapter five and verse eight, it tells us that while we were still sinners, adversaries and antagonistically toward God, it says, that Christ died for us, even while we were still sinners. No matter our past, no matter how messy life becomes, we can find new life. We can find new purpose in life in the hope of the redemption that Christ brings." [55:38] (38 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "The analogy that Jesus makes is very interesting. He says that everyone who hears these words and acts upon them, obeys what he says like the wise man who built his house on the rock. It's a little different application, isn't it? It's one thing to say, build your house, build your life on Jesus. It's another thing to say, hear the words of God and obey them. That's building your house on Jesus, right?" [26:16] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Our decisions, whether to follow God's word and God's directives in his word or to rebel against it, they shape the course of our life. You see, when we obey God's word, it brings blessing into our life. It doesn't mean that your life's going to be easy. The inevitable will come. Storms are still going to come. But the blessing of God and the favor of God will be over your life. But when we ignore God's word, it leads to our downfall." [27:18] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Saul's persistent sin had caused a rift between him and God. In fact, this is exactly the message that Saul receives from Samuel. Yes, Samuel is dead, but he receives a message from him in a moment. We'll get to that over in verse 16 of chapter 28. Look at what it says there. Samuel tells him, The Lord has departed from you and has become your adversary." [33:44] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "Saul's life teaches us that faithful obedience brings God's blessing, but reckless rebellion, it leads to ruin. I want to wrap up our time together just with a few points of application from some lessons from Saul's life. From Saul's life, we need to recognize the cost of disobedience. Saul's life, man, it is a vivid reminder of the heavy price of disobedience, of building your house on sand." [50:44] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "Saul's tragic end is a warning that disobedience results in devastating consequences. Listen, our life choices, they matter. There are always consequences to every choice that we make. Proverbs chapter 14 and verse 12 tells us that there is a way that seems right. You remember this, right? There's a way that seems right, but it's the way of man. And it leads to death." [53:55] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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