Phil Beach Jr. explores the theme of disobedience through the story of Saul in 1 Samuel 15, emphasizing the importance of understanding the root causes of our disobedience to God. He highlights that Saul's failure stemmed from his fear of people rather than a reverence for God's commands, contrasting this with the example of Samuel, who prioritized God's Word above human approval. The sermon calls believers to examine their hearts and motivations, urging them to seek a deeper relationship with God that leads to true obedience and transformation. Ultimately, Beach Jr. reminds us that Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil, and we must allow Him to work in our lives to overcome sin.

Let's look into the Word tonight and let's turn our Bibles, if we could, to the Epistle of John. This is, the Epistle of John are the three short little epistles that he wrote in 1 John. And we can turn our Bibles to number three. Number three. We want to take a statement that the Apostle John made and show the importance of that statement in light of Christian living. We want to focus in tonight on the purpose of why Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was made manifest. It is so very important for us to be reminded on a daily basis, to be reminded on a daily basis as to the ultimate purpose for which Christ came. Why are you a Christian? Why do you profess Jesus Christ as your Lord? Let us never lose focus of why we are called by the holy name of Jesus Christ. In this hour that we live in, there are many, many different reasons why people call upon the name of the Lord. The Lord Jesus means various different things to various different people. But what we need to do is understand what the name and purpose and work of Jesus means from a biblical perspective. And that's what we're going to look at tonight. And we're going to discover what it is that causes us some of the root causes in our disobedience to God and our falling short of God's purpose for our life. How many here not only want God to show you that you have possibly disobeyed Him, but you want Him to show you why you have disobeyed Him so that you can understand the root cause and then allow Him to bring a healing into your heart. See, it's always important for us to understand the why. You see, God revealed to us in the book of Genesis, not only did Adam and Eve sin, but God provided us with a detailed story in order to help us to understand why they sinned. See, it's not just a statement, Adam and Eve sinned. No, but God sets it up and gives us information so that we can understand the cause behind Adam and Eve's sin was they began to think in their heart that they could find satisfaction, they can get personal gain apart from God and apart from fellowshipping with God. So therefore, the indictment against Adam and Eve is not just you have sinned, but it's a teaching indictment. See, I believe the Holy Spirit not only wants us to understand our areas of disobedience, but He wants us to understand why we have these areas of disobedience. Because as we gain understanding, then God's Word can begin to heal the inner part of our heart where the cause of disobedience is. So, let's look into 1 John 3 and let's just begin reading in verse number 1. Verse number 1, 1 John 3. Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us that we should be called the sons of God. Therefore, the world knoweth us not because it knew Him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be. But we know that when He shall appear, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifies himself even as he is pure. Now, I just want to make a quick comment about verses 1 through 3. Verses 1 through 3 show us three things. First of all, they show us the blessedness of being called sons of God. Beloved, we, by virtue of being sold into sin through Adam's transgression, became the children of the devil. We actually became spiritually the children of the devil. That was, He had legal right over every single one of us. He had legal right over the entire seed that was contained in Adam, the moment Adam transgressed against God and was driven out of the garden. But hallelujah, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us that we should be called the sons of God. We have been redeemed. That is, we have been bought back. The word redemption in the Old Testament means buying something back. God created us as His own. The devil deceived us. We fell into sin, and then God bought us back. So we've been redeemed and we've been called the sons of God. Number two, it doth not yet appear what we shall be. First of all, the blessedness of being called the sons of God. Secondly, the blessedness of having the hope of being like Jesus. The blessedness of having the hope of being like Jesus. Beloved, there ought not to be any greater desire in your life as a Christian washed in the blood of Jesus Christ, unless you are being deceived by the devil or the works of your own flesh. There ought not to be a greater desire in your life than that which is to be like Jesus Christ. To know Him, to walk with Him, to be changed and conformed, which is the renewing of the mind. The Bible says that the transforming of the believer is the renewal of the mind. It is not a change in body until the resurrection. It is a renewal of the mind. What it is, is the will must be loosed from allegiance to the dictates of the flesh. Now, you will not be loosed from the lusts of the flesh. The flesh will be flesh, will be flesh, will be flesh. The Bible says that we are carnal. And as carnal beings, we will always have, until that resurrection morning, the desires of the flesh. But the victory of the Christian is through the working of the Holy Spirit and through the person of Jesus Christ. We can be free from being in allegiance to the dictates of the flesh and say no. The Bible says the grace of God has appeared unto all men, teaching us to deny ungodly lusts. So the grace of God comes to the believer as soon as you become a Christian. And the process of learning obedience begins to occur. The transformation of the believer, in 2 Corinthians 3, the Bible says that we are being changed into the very image of God. What is that change? Obviously, our bodies are not being changed at this time. Our bodies continue to decay. The change is a renewed mind. Here's what a renewed mind is. A renewed mind is a mind that by the power of the Holy Ghost has become recreated. That is, it's redirected. It has become anew in that formerly it was completely bound to allegiance to the dictates of the flesh. But now in Christ, the mind is renewed in that it is constantly seeking, desiring, and cooperating with the working of the Holy Spirit and the Word of God. So, that's the blessed hope. Now verse number 3. Every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. Now listen. Personal sanctification. Personal sanctification. Now when we say personal sanctification, what we mean is the believer's conformity in word, deed, and action into the likeness of Christ himself is contingent upon an every man that hath this hope in him. So the work of God in conforming the believer is in relation to that believer's desire to be like Jesus. As God sheds abroad into your heart, God initiates everything. God will do it in Jesus Christ. But then it's the believer's responsibility to perceive God's initiating call and then to bow before it and say, Yes Lord, have your way. Draw me unto yourself. So therefore may I suggest that the purifying process in the believer is in relation to the believer's response to God's call to be like Jesus Christ. That is why it's so important that we stay in fellowship with one another and we stay in fellowship with the Word of God and most importantly, we stay in fellowship with God our Father because it is the devil's plan to deter you, to turn you aside and to make something else your chief goal in life other than becoming like Jesus Christ. It doesn't matter how commendable it may appear before the eyes of men. If it falls short of being like Jesus Christ in word, deed, and action, it is inevitably going to burn because the chief goal of the believer is to be like Jesus. What did Jesus say in the Beatitudes? Be ye therefore perfect, even as your heavenly Father which is in heaven is perfect. Now there's an incredible invitation for every blood-washed, born-again believer to strive through the working of the Holy Ghost within him or her to find the process of being conformed into the image of Jesus Christ, the central desire of your heart. That's what God wants to do. Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law, for sin is the transgression of the law. Now, listen, we are not under the law of the Old Testament today. We are not under the religious and ceremonial laws. If you do not find some high priest to go and atone in the Holy of Holies for your sins in 1991, you're not going to fail to find remission. So this is not the law that we're under. However, we are under the law of love as Christians. So consequently, as our actions and our behavior and our attitudes fall short of that perfect law of love, then we are indeed falling short of love. We're falling short of manifesting love and that constitutes sin. The word sin has seven different meanings in the New Testament, but the major meaning is to fall short of, to miss the mark. To miss the mark. So whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law, for sin is the transgression of the law. Now watch, here we go. And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins. And in him is no sin. Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not. Whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him. Now watch, little children, let no man deceive you. He that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. He that committeth sin is of the devil, for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose, here we go, for this purpose the Son of God was manifested that he might destroy the works of the devil. The very purpose for which Jesus Christ was manifested on Calvary's cross. And this is where you must, and I must not lose sight. The very reason why Jesus came was to destroy the works of the devil. Now I would like just for a moment to look into that word destroy. I want to look into that word destroy and see exactly what that means. Listen to this. 3089 is the reference number and it's a Greek word, luo, L-U-O. And it means to loose, as opposed to dio, which is to bind. The idea is to loose something tied or bound. To loose something tied or bound. To dissolve, to destroy. Listen, to break or beat to pieces. To break or beat to pieces. As a ship, Acts 27 41. Remember when Paul was caught in the storm and the ship was broken up into pieces and they all feared their life and the Lord appeared to Paul and said don't worry because no one's going to loose their life. Well that's the word that's used. The ship was torn to pieces. Well, now this is what God says. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested that he might destroy the works of the devil in the believer's life. Now, we're going to look right now into the Old Testament and we're going to discover through looking at two incidents in the life of Saul, King Saul, what it is that you and I must be careful of as we continue on our earthly pilgrimage so that we do not get turned aside and cease from enjoying the fullness of Christ's freeing power over sin in our life. Okay? Now first of all I'd like to bring you, if I may, to the book of Deuteronomy. The book of Deuteronomy. The basis and authority, the basis and authority for all freedom is found in the word of God. The basis and authority for all freedom is found in the word of God which reveals to us the plan and purpose of Jesus Christ. Now, Deuteronomy chapter 25, verse number 17. 18 and 19. Deuteronomy chapter 25, beginning in verse number 17. Remember what Amalek did unto thee by the way when ye were come forth out of Egypt. Now God is speaking to the nation of Israel as they are on the banks of the Jordan River, or they're approaching the banks of the Jordan River. They're ready to experience the miracle of the Jordan River rolling back and they're about to go into the land of Canaan and there experience the fulfillment of God's promise. But now God is giving them specific commands. He says, remember what Amalek did unto thee by the way when you were come forth out of Egypt. How he met thee by the way and smote behind most of thee, even all that were feeble behind thee. Boy, what a devastating enemy to pick on the weak. To pick on the feeble-minded. Isn't that just like the devil? To take advantage of weak, feeble-minded Christians and to try and destroy them. We need to rise up against Amalek in our midst and not allow anything to tear up the weak Christian, but support the weak, the Bible says. Therefore it shall be when the Lord thy God hath given thee rest from all thine enemies round about in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee for an inheritance to possess it. Thou shalt blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven. Thou shalt not forget it. Now, I would invite you if you would to turn to 1 Samuel chapter 15. 1 Samuel chapter 15. This is Saul's second sin. Saul's second sin. Let's begin reading with number 15. Samuel also said unto Saul, The Lord sent me to anoint thee to be king over his people, over Israel. Now therefore hearken thou unto the voice of the words of the Lord. Thus saith the Lord of hosts, I remember that which Amalek did. God does never forget what he says, does he? Now see, here Samuel is reminding Saul of what is written. Now you see the basis of Samuel's authority as a prophet? See, Samuel's authority as a prophet was that he was dedicated to the word of God. He was dedicated to the word of God. How he laid wait for him in the way when he came up from Egypt. Listen, now go and smite Amalek and utterly destroy all that they have and spare them not. But slay both man and women, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and donkey. And Saul gathered the people. Now he had the commandment. Saul gathered the people together and numbered them in telling 200,000 footmen and 10,000 men of Judah. And Saul came to a city of Amalek and laid wait in the valley. Now, and Saul said unto the Canaanites, Go, depart. Get you down from among the Amalekites lest I destroy you with them. For ye showed kindness to all the children of Israel when they came up out of Egypt. So the Canaanites departed from among the Amalekites. And Saul smote the Amalekites from Havilah until thou comest to Shur that is over against Egypt. Now watch this. And he took Agag, the king of the Amalekites, alive and utterly destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword. Now listen, verse 9. But Saul and the people spared Agag and the best of the sheep and of the oxen and of the fatlings and the lambs and all that was good and would not utterly destroy them but everything that was vile and refuse that they destroyed utterly. Then came the word of the Lord unto Samuel saying, It repenteth me that I have set up Saul to be king for he is turned back from following me and hath not performed my commandments. And it grieved Samuel and he cried unto the Lord all night. Now that's incredible. Now watch this. And when Samuel rose early to meet Saul in the morning it was told Samuel saying, And Saul came to Carmel and behold, he set him up a place and is gone about and passed on and gone down to Gilgal. And Samuel came to Saul. Now watch this. And Saul said unto him, Blessed be thou of the Lord. I have performed the commandment of the Lord. And Samuel said, What meaneth then this bleeding of the sheep in mine ears and the lowing of the oxen which I hear? And Saul said, Oh, they have brought them from the Amicalites. For the people spared the best of the sheep and of the oxen to sacrifice unto the Lord thy God and the rest we have utterly destroyed. Then Samuel said unto Saul, Stay, and I will tell thee what the Lord hath said to me this night. And he said unto him, Say on. And Samuel said, When thou wast little in thine own sight, wast thou not made the head of the tribes of Israel? And the Lord anointed thee king over Israel. And the Lord sent thee on a journey and said, Go and utterly destroy the sinners, the Amalekites, and fight against them until they be consumed. Listen. Wherefore then didst thou not obey the voice of the Lord, but didst fly upon the spoil and didst evil in the sight of the Lord? Now watch this. And Saul said to Samuel, Yea, I have obeyed the voice of the Lord and have gone the way which the Lord sent me and have brought Agag the king of Amalek and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites. But the people took up the spoil, sheep and oxen, the chief of the things which should have been utterly destroyed to sacrifice unto the Lord thy God in Gilgal. And Samuel said, Hath the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice and to hearken than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, he hath also rejected thee from being king. Now, I want to show you one scripture that reveals the whole problem in Saul's life. Let's just begin reading verse 24. And when we get down to a certain verse, I'll show you the root cause behind Saul's disobedience and what we have to be careful of because we are flesh just like Saul. Now watch. And Saul said unto Samuel, I have sinned, for I have transgressed the commandment of the Lord in thy words, because I feared the people and obeyed their voice. There's the beginning of it. I feared the people and obeyed their voice rather than feared the Lord and obeyed His voice. Now therefore I pray thee, pardon my sin and turn again with me, that I may worship the Lord. And Samuel said unto Saul, I will not return with thee, for thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, and the Lord hath rejected thee from being king over Israel. Now can you imagine the conflict within Samuel right now? Here he is, a man that loved Saul with all of his heart. But you know, Samuel was a true prophet because when God spoke to Samuel, that was it. Here you can imagine, just a few hundred feet away, all of Israel stood. And there Saul and Samuel are chatting one with another, and Samuel's got tears rolling down his eyes because God said, the night before, I've rejected Saul from being king and I want you to go tell him that. Can you imagine the conflict? Can you imagine the need for Samuel to be able to put down what his feelings would be? Well, Saul's not going to love me anymore. Saul, the people are going to misunderstand. You see? Samuel had a commitment to the word of God that went beyond anything else. Now, what's our commitment now? What we're saying here is, our commitment to the word of God ought to be that Jesus said His purpose is to destroy the works of the devil and anytime God, in His word through the Holy Ghost, shows you that there's something in your life not pleasing to Him, don't be like Saul and spare it, but let God bring an axe to it and utterly destroy it. That is, escape its dominion through Jesus Christ. Now watch this. Verse number 27. And as Samuel turned about to go away, he laid hold upon the skirt of his mantle and it rent. There you go. There's some anger happening now in Saul because his will was crossed. And as Samuel turned about to go away, he laid hold upon the skirt of his mantle and it rent. And Samuel said unto him, The Lord hath rent the kingdom of Israel from thee this day and hath given it to a neighbor of thine that is better than thou. And also the strength of Israel will not lie nor repent for he is not a man that he should repent. Now, these are incredible words. Incredible words. But it leads me to believe that when Saul confessed in verse 24 that he sinned, he transgressed against the commandment of the Lord, he wasn't really sincere because here's why. Here's why I don't believe he was sincere. Verse 30, Then he said, I have sinned, yet honor me now, I pray thee, before the elders of my people and before Israel, and turn again with me that I may worship the Lord thy God. Do you see that Saul was so utterly concerned about what people thought of him that he was desperately trying to get Samuel to follow him back so that they can worship the Lord together so that the people wouldn't lose their respect for him. Now, may I suggest that the root cause of our disobedience to God is that we have many times an undue, unwholesome and ungodly love and esteem for others and ourself and our own desires that is greater than our love and esteem and respect for God's Word. If Jesus Christ came to destroy the works of the devil in our life, I can assure you by God's Word that the flesh will come in order to keep the works of the flesh in your life. And as we stay close to the Word of God, close to the Lord Jesus Christ, God will indeed perform His Word which is in 1 John chapter 3 and destroy the works of the devil in our life. So, what are the lessons that we can learn from Samuel tonight? Some of the lessons that we can learn from Saul tonight. Well, first of all, Samuel was a man who revered the Word of God and the will of God more than the praise and esteem of men. I'll say that again. Samuel was a man who revered the Word of God and the will of God more than he esteemed the praise and honor that came from men. Saul was a man who had the exact opposite testimony. He revered the praise and honor that came by pleasing others and himself more than he enjoyed the honor that came from pleasing God alone. One more time, Saul was a man who esteemed more the honor and pleasure that came from obeying people and his own sinful desires. We could really dig into this and see how we justify our sin and how when we justify our sin we're convinced that we have not sinned. Samuel came and said, you have sinned and Saul looked at him and said, I have not sinned, I have obeyed the Lord. You see? So, consequently, if we can learn the heart posture of Samuel versus the heart posture of Saul, it would be very profitable for us to allow God to search us and allow His Word to search us that He might discover in us and that we might discover the possible root causes that are responsible for some areas of disobedience in our life and ask God to help us to change us that we might esteem Him, His Word and His will higher than anything. Any questions? Comments? Yes. Right. Very true. That's true. We can turn it off.