Choosing Authority: The Call to Full Obedience

Summary

### Summary

In today's message, we explored the critical choice between placing ourselves over God or submitting under His authority, as illustrated in 1 Samuel 10 and 1 Samuel 15. The Israelites were given an incredible opportunity to have God as their King, but they chose to set a human king over them, revealing their desire for control and power. This decision was a pivotal moment, not just for them but for us today, as we face similar choices in our lives.

We delved into the story of Saul, who was anointed as king over Israel. God commanded Saul to completely destroy the Amalekites as an act of divine justice for their ruthless actions against the Israelites. However, Saul disobeyed by sparing King Agag and the best of the livestock, revealing his unwillingness to fully submit to God's command. This partial obedience exposed Saul's heart and his desire to be over God rather than under His authority.

We discussed the significance of full obedience to God and the dangers of partial obedience. Saul's actions were a clear example of how ignoring evidence of disobedience, justifying partial obedience, and trying to prove oneself right can lead to spiritual downfall. Saul's heart was revealed through his actions, showing that he wanted to make a name for himself rather than receiving the name and blessings God had for him.

The message concluded with a call to examine our own hearts and to choose to submit fully to God's authority. We were reminded that Jesus Christ is the true King, and we must place ourselves under His rule to experience the life and blessings He offers. A prayer of surrender was offered for those who wish to commit their lives to Jesus and live in full obedience to Him.

### Key Takeaways

1. The Choice of Authority: Each of us faces the choice of placing ourselves over God or submitting under His authority. The Israelites chose a human king over God, revealing their desire for control. This choice is still relevant today as we decide who will be the ultimate authority in our lives. [03:25]

2. The Danger of Partial Obedience: Saul's partial obedience in sparing King Agag and the best livestock showed his unwillingness to fully submit to God's command. Partial obedience is disobedience and reveals a heart that is not fully surrendered to God. We must strive for complete obedience to experience God's full blessings. [09:21]

3. Ignoring Evidence of Disobedience: Saul ignored the evidence of his disobedience, justifying his actions and trying to prove himself right. This behavior is dangerous as it leads to spiritual blindness and separation from God. We must be honest with ourselves and address any disobedience in our lives. [15:14]

4. The Importance of Full Surrender: True submission to God requires full surrender of our lives to His authority. Saul's desire to make a name for himself rather than receiving the name God had for him led to his downfall. We must seek to live under God's rule and receive the new name and blessings He has for us. [13:46]

5. The Call to Obedience: Obedience to God is essential for a blessed life. Deuteronomy teaches that life and blessings are in God's hands, and we must fully obey Him to experience these blessings. This requires turning away from partial obedience and fully committing to God's commands. [22:32]

### YouTube Chapters

[0:00] - Welcome
[03:25] - The Choice of Authority
[04:47] - Over and Under Explained
[06:22] - God's Command to Saul
[07:49] - The Justice of God's Command
[09:21] - Saul's Partial Obedience
[10:48] - The Heart of Disobedience
[12:15] - Making a Name for Ourselves
[13:46] - The Significance of a Name
[15:14] - Ignoring Evidence of Disobedience
[16:35] - Justifying Partial Obedience
[18:01] - The Danger of Partial Obedience
[19:24] - Trying to Prove Ourselves Right
[20:53] - The Call to Full Surrender
[22:32] - Prayer of Surrender
[24:09] - Closing Prayer and Call to Obedience

Study Guide

### Bible Reading
1. 1 Samuel 10:19 - "But you have now rejected your God, who saves you out of all your disasters and calamities. And you have said, ‘No, appoint a king over us.’ So now present yourselves before the Lord by your tribes and clans."
2. 1 Samuel 15:1-3 - "Samuel said to Saul, 'I am the one the Lord sent to anoint you king over his people Israel; so listen now to the message from the Lord. This is what the Lord Almighty says: I will punish the Amalekites for what they did to Israel when they waylaid them as they came up from Egypt. Now go, attack the Amalekites and totally destroy all that belongs to them. Do not spare them; put to death men and women, children and infants, cattle and sheep, camels and donkeys.'"
3. Deuteronomy 30:19-20 - "This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the Lord is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob."

### Observation Questions
1. What choice did the Israelites make regarding their leadership in 1 Samuel 10:19? How did this reflect their desire for control? [03:25]
2. What specific command did God give to Saul in 1 Samuel 15:1-3, and how did Saul respond to it? [06:22]
3. According to the sermon, what were the three words that revealed Saul's heart in his disobedience? [10:48]
4. How did Saul justify his partial obedience, and what was Samuel's response to this justification? [16:35]

### Interpretation Questions
1. What does the choice of the Israelites to appoint a human king over God reveal about their understanding of authority and control? [03:25]
2. How does Saul's partial obedience to God's command in 1 Samuel 15 reflect his heart and priorities? What does this teach us about the nature of true obedience? [09:21]
3. In what ways did Saul ignore the evidence of his disobedience, and how can this behavior lead to spiritual blindness? [15:14]
4. How does the concept of making a name for oneself, as seen in Saul's actions, contrast with receiving the name and blessings God has for us? [12:15]

### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you chose to place yourself over God's authority. What were the consequences of that decision, and how can you choose differently in the future? [03:25]
2. Saul's partial obedience led to his downfall. Are there areas in your life where you are only partially obedient to God's commands? How can you strive for full obedience? [09:21]
3. Have you ever ignored evidence of disobedience in your life, justifying your actions as Saul did? What steps can you take to be more honest with yourself and address these areas? [15:14]
4. Saul wanted to make a name for himself rather than receiving the name God had for him. How can you focus on living under God's rule and receiving the blessings He has for you? [12:15]
5. The sermon emphasized the importance of full surrender to God's authority. What does full surrender look like in your daily life, and how can you practice it more consistently? [20:53]
6. Deuteronomy 30:19-20 speaks about choosing life and blessings by obeying God. What specific steps can you take this week to fully commit to God's commands and experience His blessings? [22:32]
7. The prayer of surrender at the end of the sermon invites us to submit to Jesus' authority. Have you fully surrendered your life to Jesus? If not, what is holding you back, and how can you take a step towards full surrender today? [22:32]

Devotional

Day 1: The Choice of Authority
Each of us faces the choice of placing ourselves over God or submitting under His authority. The Israelites chose a human king over God, revealing their desire for control. This choice is still relevant today as we decide who will be the ultimate authority in our lives. The story of the Israelites wanting a human king instead of God as their King is a powerful reminder of our own struggles with control and authority. We often find ourselves wanting to be in charge, making decisions based on our desires rather than seeking God's will. This choice reflects a deeper issue of trust and submission to God's authority.

In our daily lives, we are constantly faced with decisions that test our allegiance. Will we choose to follow our own path, or will we submit to God's guidance and authority? This is not just a one-time decision but a daily commitment to place God at the center of our lives. Reflecting on the Israelites' choice can help us evaluate our own hearts and make a conscious decision to submit to God's authority in every aspect of our lives. [03:25]

1 Samuel 8:6-7 (ESV): "But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, 'Give us a king to judge us.' And Samuel prayed to the Lord. And the Lord said to Samuel, 'Obey the voice of the people in all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king over them.'"

Reflection: Think about a recent decision you made. Did you seek God's guidance, or did you rely on your own understanding? How can you make a habit of submitting to God's authority in your daily decisions?

Day 2: The Danger of Partial Obedience
Saul's partial obedience in sparing King Agag and the best livestock showed his unwillingness to fully submit to God's command. Partial obedience is disobedience and reveals a heart that is not fully surrendered to God. We must strive for complete obedience to experience God's full blessings. Saul's actions serve as a cautionary tale about the dangers of partial obedience. By sparing King Agag and the best livestock, Saul demonstrated that he valued his own judgment over God's clear command. This act of partial obedience was, in essence, an act of disobedience, revealing a heart that was not fully surrendered to God.

Partial obedience can be subtle and deceptive. We might follow God's commands in some areas of our lives while holding back in others, thinking that partial compliance is enough. However, true obedience requires full submission to God's will, even when it is difficult or inconvenient. Reflecting on Saul's story can help us identify areas in our lives where we might be practicing partial obedience and encourage us to strive for complete submission to God's authority. [09:21]

1 Samuel 15:22 (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.'"

Reflection: Is there an area in your life where you are practicing partial obedience? What steps can you take today to fully submit to God's command in that area?

Day 3: Ignoring Evidence of Disobedience
Saul ignored the evidence of his disobedience, justifying his actions and trying to prove himself right. This behavior is dangerous as it leads to spiritual blindness and separation from God. We must be honest with ourselves and address any disobedience in our lives. Saul's tendency to ignore the evidence of his disobedience and justify his actions is a common human trait. When confronted with his failure to fully obey God's command, Saul tried to rationalize his behavior and shift the blame. This self-deception led to spiritual blindness and ultimately to his separation from God.

Ignoring evidence of disobedience can create a dangerous cycle of self-justification and spiritual decline. It is essential to be honest with ourselves and acknowledge our shortcomings. By doing so, we can seek God's forgiveness and guidance to correct our path. Reflecting on Saul's story can help us recognize the importance of humility and self-awareness in our spiritual journey. [15:14]

Proverbs 28:13 (ESV): "Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy."

Reflection: Are there any areas in your life where you are ignoring evidence of disobedience? How can you practice honesty and humility to address these areas and seek God's guidance?

Day 4: The Importance of Full Surrender
True submission to God requires full surrender of our lives to His authority. Saul's desire to make a name for himself rather than receiving the name God had for him led to his downfall. We must seek to live under God's rule and receive the new name and blessings He has for us. Saul's downfall was rooted in his desire to make a name for himself rather than fully surrendering to God's authority. By prioritizing his own ambitions and reputation, Saul missed out on the blessings and identity that God had prepared for him. This story highlights the importance of full surrender to God's will and the dangers of self-centered ambitions.

Living under God's rule requires us to let go of our own desires and trust in His plan for our lives. It means seeking His guidance in every decision and being willing to follow His lead, even when it goes against our own plans. Reflecting on Saul's story can help us understand the significance of full surrender and encourage us to seek God's will above our own. [13:46]

Matthew 16:24-25 (ESV): "Then Jesus told his disciples, 'If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.'"

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you find yourself holding back from surrendering to Jesus? What would surrendering this area to Him actually look like in terms of daily habits?

Day 5: The Call to Obedience
Obedience to God is essential for a blessed life. Deuteronomy teaches that life and blessings are in God's hands, and we must fully obey Him to experience these blessings. This requires turning away from partial obedience and fully committing to God's commands. The call to obedience is a central theme in the Bible, emphasizing the importance of following God's commands to experience His blessings. Deuteronomy teaches that life and blessings are in God's hands, and our obedience is the key to unlocking these blessings. This call to obedience is not just about following rules but about cultivating a relationship with God based on trust and submission.

Turning away from partial obedience and fully committing to God's commands requires a conscious effort and a heart willing to submit to His authority. It means seeking His guidance in every aspect of our lives and being willing to follow His lead, even when it is challenging. Reflecting on the call to obedience can help us understand the importance of fully committing to God's commands and encourage us to seek His blessings through our obedience. [22:32]

Deuteronomy 30:19-20 (ESV): "I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live, loving the Lord your God, obeying his voice and holding fast to him, for he is your life and length of days, that you may dwell in the land that the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them."

Reflection: What is one specific command of God that you find challenging to obey fully? How can you take a step today to commit to this command and seek God's blessings through your obedience?

Quotes

### Quotes for outreach

1. "The line that God had given these people was I'm going to be your king forever. Sounds like a pretty good deal to me. Like that sounds amazing. And they had a choice. Are we going to go? Over that line that God is our king. Are we going to go over, which is stating that they wanted to be in control. They wanted to be in power. They wanted to be in position, not God. Or do they take the under, which is to put God in authority and God as ruler and God in power and to submit to his rule and his authority." [03:25] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "Do you know that God has a name for you? God actually has a new name for you. And it starts with Ephesians 4.22, where he says, to put off your old self that is corrupt and put on the new self created to be like God. And Revelations 2.17, God will give you a new name known only to you who receive it. All of us had the opportunity to have a new name. There's power in a name. There's uniqueness. There's creativity. There's hope and blessing in a new name." [12:15] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "If your life is unsure right now, and if you're not sure if you've ever put yourself over God, I want to give you an opportunity right now to be under God, to submit to his authority, his rule and the line that says, God is king in my life. I don't know who I'm talking to, but I believe I'm talking to at least one person who is looking for answers and is looking for salvation and is looking for hope. Jesus is the only one that can give any of that." [20:53] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "And after that, the only other thing is being obedient. You have to be obedient. He's Lord of your life now. He's savior of your life now. Be obedient to him and it will go well with you. Deuteronomy says life and blessing are in his hands, not death and curses, but life and blessing. Do it. Go underneath him and it will go well with you. For you and your descendants after you. Be obedient from here on out." [22:32] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

### Quotes for members

1. "And it's an incredibly big responsibility and task that God had said, okay, if you believe that you are under me, the king of Kings and Lord of Lords, this is the task. This is the command to go and totally wipe out these people. Well, let me call a time out here because I can already tell some of you are feeling very tense right now. And when we read these pieces in the, the Bible, we don't like them. A lot of people discard these and said, no, no, this is God is love, right? So why is God saying that infants and kids and women should be annihilated?" [06:22] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "Saul ignores evidence of disobedience. There's animal noises all around. God said, destroy them all. He hears noises and he's putting noise canceling earbuds in his ears to say, no, I'm not going to hear it, Samuel. I'm not, I'm not, I'm not. I'm going to ignore it. I'm going to push it. My arrogance and my pride, it's going to go underneath the bed and it's not going to look like I did anything wrong. That is disobedience. That's ignoring disobedience. And Saul was ignoring the evidence of these animals, of the disobedience that he had done. He had sinned. He wasn't willing to recognize it." [15:14] (37 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "Partial obedience as full obedience. James 2 says, you know what? It keeps the whole law, yet fails at one point, is guilty of breaking the whole thing. Partial obedience is disobedience. It is. You can't just say, I'm partially going to be obedient and God is going to be good with it. Or I'm going to be partially obedient to my parents and God is going to be good with it. We do that. We justify it. Sin should not be an option. Sin should not be justified. We've got to stop with the justification." [16:35] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "So where is our heart? Are we ignoring the evidence of disobedience? Are we ignoring it, pushing it under the bed? Are we partially obeying God? Or are we trying to prove that we're right in our actions, that our sin must be right and that's what we should do? Well, if those pieces are in our heart, we're just trying to make a name for ourselves. We're trying to prove that we are good and we are successful and we are awesome and we are influencers and whatever you want to say. And when we do that, we put ourselves over God instead of us. Underneath God and submitting to him and his authority." [19:24] (40 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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Transcript

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