Games That Fools Play | Part 1

Global findings do you see a Byron Tyler who jury will see you Friday. Adrian Rogers continues our series live like a king live like a king about King David, a man who truly understood what it meant to be torn all the messages in the series are available@lwf.org or my LWF mobile app that I really liked that movie my favorite not to say that is my favorite tool that we have today's message games that fools play part one were going to see as Adrian Rogers opens God's word. No man in Scripture ever had a brighter beginning or pet a satyr ending then King Saul and he was anointed by God to rule Israel, but it took a turn and it's it's a reminder to me Byron that what you know, we don't need to be five steps ahead of God. Five steps behind God.

We need to be in lockstep. We need to be in tandem with God and what he wants to do in our lives where my spirit Adrian Rogers says sin is horribly powerful.

It will take you further than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay and cost you more than you want to pay any said no one is immune to the power of sin. We must get clean and stay that way. I like that clean and stay that way. A close and clean closing say I like that where we always love hearing from her lover, finding listeners to know how the teaching ministry of Adrian Rogers is impacting your life care you have a great letter this week. I do this as I have listened and grown as a Christian with Adrian Rogers for many years. I downloaded the lower funding Apple my TV and I enjoyed watching and listening to him even more. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for keeping these messages available yet. He talks about growth and I think that's also the key to love what finding is discipleship mentor ship but spiritual growth and we see that in the message today that it needs to be more of him and less of us.

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Well, as we move into the busy season of Christmas were not far away a few weeks off is easy to allow all of the activities to stress us out for one thing, but we want to take time to make sure we keep it centered around our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. A great resource 25 days of anticipation@lwf.org yet inspired by the teachings of Adrian Rogers and this resource.

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What today's message games that fool's play part one. Here's Adrian Rogers I want you to take your Bibles now and find the book of first Samuel and let's look in chapter 26 and verse 21 then said Saul, I have said return my son David Fry will no more do they harm because my soul was precious in my eyes this day. Now I want you to listen specially to this phrase, behold, I have played I have erred exceedingly want to speak to you tonight on this subject. James that fools play games that fools play behold, I have played the fool. No man ever got a better start, then did King Saul and no man ever had a satyr finish. Then King Saul. When we first meet King Saul in the Bible as a young man. He's handsome is when some he's courteous, he's humble these thoughtful but as we continue through the Bible, we find him as he becomes a better inconvenience, murderous wicked old man, he died by his own hand.

He died sadly. Piteously, ignominiously signal Baxter writing about.

Saul said in some ways he is very big in other ways, very little in some ways he has come maddeningly handsome and another's deciding the ugly all-in-one. He is a giant added more I hero and a renegade king and a slave, a prophet and a reprobate a man God anointed and a man, Satan possessed. What a strange man is Saul, would you better listen carefully because the thing that happened to Saul could happen to any man, woman, boy or girl here tonight who names the name of Jesus I want to say again that no man ever started thinking Saul and no man ever in more tragically thinking Saul. I want us to look at his golden opportunities now in first Samuel chapter 26 left in your Bible. First Samuel chapter 9 and let's look in verses one to as we first meet this man named Saul in first Samuel nine verse one now there was a man of Benjamin whose name was Kish, the son of ABO, the son of zero or the son of the children. The sum of APF a Benjamite, a mighty man of power and he had a son whose name was Saul. I want you to notice the description of Saul. He had a son whose name was Saul a choice young man and a goodly bear was not among the children of Israel, a goodly or person than he from his shoulders and upward.

He was higher than any of the people you talk about a man that was handsome. You talk about a fellow who was tall dark and handsome you talk about a man who was head and shoulders above everybody else. It was this man Saul what a manly man, handsome man. He made in Hollywood. The Bible says there was not a goodly or person in all this rail he was not best of the bands he was the finest of the five he had help. He had high he had handsome, and so the very first thing I want you to notice was is man. Now add to his manhood's modesty. Look up your will.

In verse 21 Chapter 9 and verse 21 now when he is selected to be the king of Israel. I don't want I don't want you to think he said well it's about time you found me. You certainly came to the right person.

He didn't say that you will and verse 21 and Saul answered and said, am I not a Benjamite of the smallest of the tribes of Israel and my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin where the band speakers now so me he say that I should be the king of Israel, so he was a man who did not seek praise. He didn't seek publicity as a matter of fact case right from he ran from. Look again at your will and in chapter 10 verse 22 when it was time to crown him king and they looked around for them to find them and they wanted to honor him and verse 22 says. Therefore, they inquired of the Lord. Further, if a man should yet come thither, and the Lord answered, behold, he had hit himself among the staff was back there just covering his face so humble such a manly man such a modest man, but not only do you see his manhood and his modesty. I want to see his magnanimous. What magnanimous man was this man Saul when they were taking him to make him king. There were certain vile people there who ridiculed him look if you're willing chapter 10 verse 26 and notice and Saul also went home to give you and I went with him. A band of men whose hearts God had touched, but the children of Belial said how shall this man, save, and they despised him and brought him no presence, but he held his peace as a what's so great about that that he held his peace. Well, if he had been the common Oriental king of this day, he would have been put to death.

Look in chapter 11 and verse 12 and the people said in the Samuel C. That said, shall Saul rule over us, or shall Saul reign over us bring the man that we may put them to their and Saul said there shall not a man be put to death this day.

What a day the Lord hath wrought salvation in this room what the spirit was this man here were these file songs of Belial, these men who were wicked and carnal and craven. These men who hated God's name. These men who, according to the rules of that day had blasphemed the king and deserve death. Saul said no, we're not going put them to death. When you read about this man you you just have to love you.

You see his manhood. You see his modesty. You see his magnanimous spirit.

Then I want you to see his mighty anointing. Look at your will and in chapter 10 and verse one then Samuel took a bottle of oil and upon his head and kissed him and said, is not because the Lord hath done going to be Debbie Capt. over his inheritance he was going to Lauren look in that same chapter in verses six and seven and see what kind of a man he became, and the spirit of the Lord will come upon the this is what Samuel said to him, and the spirit will come upon the and thou shalt prophesy with them, and shall be turned into another man. Why God chose this man and God change this man God made him into another man. He was a trans man because the spirit of God came upon him and then look in verse seven and let it be. When these signs are come upon the that thou do as occasion serve the and now here's a clear statement for God is with the and that speaks to me of his might. God was with God was a man transformed by the spirit of God, he became another man, and it was said by God like a prophet that God was with. But I want you to notice not only his might, but I want you to notice is man, not only was God with them, but there were a number of men with a look in chapter 10 verse 26 and Saul also went home to give you and I went with him.

A band of men whose hearts God had taught.

Now this word band of man literally means a host and that literally means man of valor. I this man Saul had Samantha reset software with you as our battles with lidocaine man stouthearted men but notice not only his manhood in his modesty and his magnanimous spirit and his my intent is man. But notice also his mentor. He had someone to teach him and someone to guide him look in chapter 10 and verse 25 and notice here. The Bible says, then Samuel told the people. The manner of the kingdom and eroded in the book and laid it out before the Lord and Samuelson all the people away every man to his own house and on through this Scripture we can read how Samuel was there that God Saul. He had a pastor that was the best pastor perhaps in all the Old Testament want a man of God, mentor, one leader died he had why he had it all. But besides his men and his mentor. He had his monarchy. He was the king.

Chapter 10 verse one again tells us that the Lord had anointed him.

Debbie Capt. over his inheritance. That is, Saul was chosen to rule and to shepherd the most wonderful nation on earth God's chosen people want an opportunity he had to bless people I take it in all the Old Testament.

I don't think there was ever a man who had a better start than this man, who was not only head and shoulders physically, but head and shoulders in every way about most of those roundabout God just seem to have portal Saul blessing and blessing after blessing after blessing.

Now back my dear friend depicts his golden opportunity.

Now I want you to see his tragic I want to see how this man in. I want you to seem as he comes to the end of his life and said I exceedingly flew regular-season games, but fools. I pray God that it would be more than just interesting to.

I pray God that would be a solemn warning is been a warning to me.

I want to tell you quite frankly, that God spoke to my heart as I prepared the Scripture as I prepared the sermon. I had to bow my head and search my heart and think about my own life and sale. God, I don't want to play the flu. I do not want to end up as Saul ended up. I want you to notice how he played the game.

The game that fools play the game. He could not win the game, where the stakes were so high. Saul started down the road that ended in self-destruction. I want you to notice the five-step that he too.

The first step is what I call self determination, self determination look in first Samuel chapter 13 and verse five, first Samuel chapter 13 in verse five. Now God had told Saul that he was to do battle with the Philistine gods perpetual enemies there in the land of Israel and Saul had already made a foray against the Philistines and their anger stirred up and they attack and Salzman are hard-pressed, but Samuel had told Saul when he told me don't go into battle until I give you the signal there's going to be a seven day waiting period wait on the Lord but I want you to notice here in first Samuel chapter 13 and verse five. What transpired in the Philistines gathered themselves together to fight with Israel.

13,000 chariots and 6000 horsemen and people is the sandwiches on the seashore multitude and they came up and pitch in mix-and-match eastward before Beth even and when the men of Israel saw that they were in a straight for the people were distressed when the people to hide themselves in caves and in thickets and in the rocks and in the high places and in pits and some of the Hebrews went over Jordan to the land of Gadsden. As for Saul, he was yet in the old gal and all the people followed him trembling and he tarried seven days. According to the set time that Samuel had appointed but I want to but Samuel had but Samuel came not to deal gal and the people were scattered from them that is now even as people are starting to leave Saul Hensel Saul just decides he's going to take matters in his own hand and I want you to notice in verse nine and Saul said bring Heather a burnt offering to me, and peace offerings, and he Saul offered the burnt offering. Now it was not Saul's job to take the priest prerogative. He may have been king, but he was not the priest. Samuel was the priest and prophet and it came to pass as soon as he made an end of offering, the burnt offering, behold, Samuel K. He waited just a few more moments he waited on God, God's man would've been there and got plan would've been done and Saul went out to meet him that he might salute him and Samuel said, and Saul said because I saw the people were scattered from me and about came is not within the days appointed and that the Philistines gathered themselves together at Mitch mash therefore set on the Philistines will come down now upon me to deal gal and I have not made supplication on the Lord. I forced myself therefore, and offered a burnt offering and Samuel said to Saul Brown all has gone foolishly. Now he starting the games that fools play and Samuel said to Saul, thou hast done foolishly, thou hast not kept the commandment of the Lord by God, which he commanded the for now with the Lord have established thy kingdom upon Israel forever.

But now thy kingdom shall not continue. The Lord had sought him a man after his own heart. And the Lord hath commanded him to be a capitalist people because now hast not kept. That was the Lord commanded the Samuel was a problem and Samuel could see and Saul a character flaw that were the seeds of his self destruction. He knew sooner or later that Saul would come to an untimely end because he was a man who would play the fool. What was it that Saul did wasn't all that bad. As matter fact it sounds pretty good.

He was offering sacrifices to God he was he was praising God. He was worshiping God. But here's what I was doing ladies and gentlemen.

He was running ahead of God.

He was acting myself will he was acting by self-determination. He was not acting on the word of God. He was not waiting for the will of God, but he was energized by his own mind he did.

That would seem good to him, rather than getting a word from God and obeying God.

He was a self will a self-determined man not all that bad, just running ahead of God. Now that's the first thing I want you to see his self determination now want you to notice the next day not only his self-determination but his thoughts were disobedient because a self-willed man not only runs ahead of God. But after a while he starts going in the opposite direction from God not want you to turn the first Samuel chapter 15 for just a moment and look in verse two bus at the Lord of host. I remember that which Amalek did. Israel how he did wait for him in the way when he came up from Egypt.

Now go and smite Amalek and destroy all have, and spare them not but slay both man and woman in and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass.

This was God's commandment to Saul God said to Saul, I want you to utterly destroy them with.

Well let's see what Saul did. First Samuel chapter 15 look in verse 20.

Saul said to Samuel J, I have obeyed the voice of the Lord and have gone the way which the Lord sent me and I brought a gag, the king of Amalek can have utterly destroyed them.

What kinds but the people took of the spoil sheep and oxen.

The chief of the things which should have been utterly destroyed the sacrifice unto the Lord thy God in deal. Gal and Samuel said, hath 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 hearken than the fat of rams for rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft now is very important. You just note that 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 have also rejected the from being king and Saul said on the Samuel, I have sinned) progress. The commandment of the Lord, and my words because I fear the people and obeyed their voice, not his was a halfhearted apology. It was an apology with an explanation. I want to.

He was a stubbornly real values man and you see his stubborn, disobedient and coming up tomorrow will view the powerful conclusion of this important message but maybe today you have questions about who Jesus is what he means to you to begin a relationship with God through Christ were discovered. Jesus page@lwf.org/radio. There you'll find resources and materials that will answer questions you may have about your faith. Be sure to sign up for a daily heartbeat, emails, and you'll get daily devotions in message link sent straight to your inbox. Find had that it LWF.org/rate tomorrow.

Adrian Rogers shares more about the dangerous games and how we can get clean and stay there right on the word find