Small in Your Own Eyes: Three Choices That Cost Saul the Anointing

Sermon outline

Salvation must be worked out with fear and trembling, and you keep the anointing by obeying God's specific commands, staying small in your own eyes and seeking His kingdom rather than only its benefits.

1. Every place has a protocol

   Carnal people mock, murmur and gossip, sensual people live by what they see and feel, devilish people oppose God's children, and spiritual people love and do the Word. People who keep quiet in a formal church often feel free to say anything in a Spirit-filled one, but the house of the Lord has a protocol, just like a bank queue or someone's home. Walk in with respect.

   Illustration: Years ago at the old church premises he waited six hours for a couple to arrive for their own wedding; when the groom said it was his culture, he told him to change his culture.

   “You walk in the house of the Lord with respect.”

   • James 1:22

2. Work out your own salvation

   He gives his view that 'once saved' is not 'always saved', reading Revelation 21:8 on those consigned to the lake of fire. When you give your heart to the Lord, God expects a change of lifestyle. The onus is on you, not the pastor, to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, to keep your own prayer life and read your own Bible.

   Illustration: Newer cars warn the driver with 'lane assist' when they straddle the line; believers must not straddle the line but walk straight.

   “The onus is on you to work out your salvation with fear and trembling.”

   • Revelation 21:8
   • Philippians 2:12

3. Anchor points and choice points

   Anchor points are the times you look back and see where God rescued you, from one old bed in an outbuilding to houses and cars; they keep you thankful and believing. David's anchor points were the lion, the bear and Goliath. Choice points are the decisions that keep or lose the anointing. Reading 1 Samuel 15 aloud with the church, he notes that Saul says 'the Lord your God', not 'our God', that rebellion is compared to witchcraft and stubbornness to idolatry, and that Saul admitted he feared the people.

   Illustration: Promise a child a chocolate and you will be reminded every five minutes; keep reminding your heavenly Father of what you have asked Him for.

   “God help us that we are afraid of the Lord and not the people.”

   • 1 Samuel 17:34-37
   • 1 Samuel 30:6
   • 1 Samuel 15:10-24

4. Ananias and Sapphira: no show for people

   Barnabas, the son of encouragement, sold land and laid all the money at the apostles' feet. Ananias and Sapphira sold their land to impress the apostles but kept back part and lied to the Holy Ghost, and both fell down dead. The money was theirs to keep; they died because they lied to make an impression. God knows your heart, so there is no need to put on a show.

   Illustration: He acts out the story with two members, imagining the local paper's headline about a prophet and a church member, and breaks off to pray for the volunteer's protection as the Lord prompts him.

   “It was theirs. No one forced them to give that money to the church.”

   • Acts 4:36-37
   • Acts 5:1-10

5. Choice point number one: don't disobey specific commands of the Lord

   To disobey God's specific commands is to reject them, and if you sow rejection you will experience it yourself. Saul lost his anointing by disobeying the Lord. You can hide from people but not from God, who sees and hears everything, so our function is to please Him and walk circumspectly.

   Illustration: Some church members once saw Adrian at a restaurant at a casino and begged him not to tell his father; he says it was never him they were pleasing or displeasing, but God.

   “It was not me you pleasing or displeasing. It is God that you pleasing or displeasing.”

   • 1 Samuel 15:22-23
   • Ephesians 5:15

6. Choice point number two: don't become big in your own eyes

   Saul was anointed when he was small in his own eyes, and humility is how we sense the anointing. Here he moves from the Word to ministry, praying for people in sales, those seeking work or promotion and those who have lost money, declaring 'exceeding more' and that God will open doors and make lost things float again like the borrowed axe head. He urges them to act in faith and live in the realm of the spirit, not the senses.

   Illustration: He tells of the farmer-preacher Charles Capps, who would scoop up soil on land he wanted, drop it and declare it his, and days later the seller phoned back.

   “The surest way to lose the anointing is stop seeing yourself as ultra important.”

   • 1 Samuel 15:17
   • Ephesians 3:20
   • Zechariah 4:6
   • 2 Kings 6:5-7
   • Mark 11:14
   • Mark 11:23

7. Point number three: don't become interested in the financial and earthly benefits of God only

   Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added. Jesus promised those who left all to follow Him houses and lands in this lifetime, and when Peter had toiled all night and caught nothing, one word from Jesus brought a net-breaking catch. He says he has not finished the message and will carry on another time.

   “You will have a net-breaking experience.”

   • Matthew 6:33
   • Mark 10:28-30
   • Luke 5:4-7