Ingredients for Guaranteed Failure

1 Samuel 12:19-25

Measuring Success

Materially? Mk. 12:41-44 (Mk. 8:36)Militarily? Psa. 33:16-17 (18-19)Monetarily? Prov. 11:4 (3, 5-6)God’s approval? Josh. 1:8-9

Righteous life is a successful life; it is the only success that lasts into eternity! Prov. 10:1-7; Matt. 25:21, 23

2

Sinful foolishness guarantees failure!

Procrastinate!Put off ‘till tomorrow whatever you could have done today. DO IT LATER! Acts 24:25

Benefits of industry, Prov. 6:6-8Pain and trouble of laziness, Prov. 6:9-11; 26:13-16

Excuses instead of solutions, 26:13“Practice makes perfect”, 26:14Gluttonous ingratitude (indulgent thanklessness), 26:15Pride, 26:16

3

Always Blame Somebody Else!Never take responsibility…for anything! Whenever possible respond…“It’s not my fault!”

Eve and Adam, Gen. 3:10-13Excuses for not coming to the Lord, Lk. 14:15-20, 24On the Day of Judgment we will only have ourselves to blame, 2 Cor. 5:10 (Rom. 2:5-6)

4

Always Have an Excuse!We live in an ENTITLEMENT society in which there are many VICTIMS with many EXCUSES!

Sin is a choice we make; a practice, Rom. 5:12; Eph. 2:1-3Individual responsibility is the Bible model, 1 Sam. 15:13-15 (9); Deut. 24:16; Ezek. 18:4

5

Refuse to Change!Motto: Keep doing what you’ve always done so that you’ll keep getting what you’ve always got!

Hardness of heart, Prov. 28:13-14Storing up wrath due to a hardened, unrepentant heart, Rom. 2:4-6, 8-9

6

Do Not Pray!Never, EVER!, access the one source of power, love, mercy and forgiveness that could turn your life around.

Faithful Christians are assured our prayers are heard and answered:

Success over anxiety, Phil. 4:6-7Success over temptation and trials, Heb. 4:15-16 (Matt. 26:36-46)Success over sin (with repentance), Acts 8:22-24

Fervent prayers of the righteous succeed! Jas. 5:16-18Must always pray and not lose heart, Lk. 18:1

7

Five Ingredients for FailureGuaranteed!

ProcrastinateAlways blame somebody elseAlways have an excuseRefuse to changeDo not pray

FINALLY…

8

Forget you ever read / heard this!James 1:21-25