Authentic Worship

1 Samuel 15

Me

Perfection

Worship

Samuel and Saul: 1 Samuel 15:1

1 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. 2 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. 3 Now go, attack the Amalekites and totally destroy everything that belongs to them. Do not spare them; put to death men and women, children and infants, cattle and sheep, camels and donkeys.’ ”

4 So Saul summoned the men and mustered them at Telaim—two hundred thousand foot soldiers and ten thousand men from Judah.

……7 Then Saul attacked the Amalekites all the way from

Havilah to Shur, to the east of Egypt. He took Agag king of the Amalekites alive, and all his people he totally destroyed with the sword. But Saul and the army spared Agag and the best of the sheep and cattle, the fat calves and lambs - everything that was good. These they were unwilling to destroy completely, but everything that was despised and weak they totally destroyed.

1. What was wrong with Saul’s actions?

2. Why would he do that?

Excuses: 1 Samuel 15:12-13

Challenge: 1 Samuel 15:14-15

Rebuke: 1 Samuel 15:16-19

More Excuses: 1 Samuel 15:20-21

Consequence: 1 Samuel 15:22-23

Solution: 1 Samuel 15:22-23

To obey is better than sacrifice

Solution: Psalm 51:16

“You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.” Psalm 51:6

SO:

Worship with sincerity and obedience

To obey is better than sacrifice

Summary

No half-measures You can’t cheat God Love prompts true Worship

Heartfelt worship Whole-hearted Right-hearted

Obedience is better than sacrifice Pure hearts Right motives

I will offer up my lifeIn spirit and truth,

Pouring out the oil of loveAs my worship to You.

In surrender I must give my every part;Lord, receive the sacrifice

Of a broken heart.

Jesus, what can I give, what can I bringTo so faithful a friend, to so loving a King?

Saviour, what can be said, what can be sungAs a praise of Your name

For the things You have done?Oh, my words could not tell, not even in part,

Of the debt of love that is owed by this thankful heart.

You deserve my every breathFor You’ve paid the great cost;

Giving up Your life to death,Even death on a cross.

You took all my shame away,There defeated my sin,

Opened up the gates of heaven,And have beckoned me in.

Jesus, what can I give, what can I bringTo so faithful a friend, to so loving a King?

Saviour, what can be said, what can be sungAs a praise of Your name

For the things You have done?Oh, my words could not tell, not even in part,

Of the debt of love that is owed by this thankful heart.

Matt Redman. Copyright © 1994 Kingsway’s Thankyou Music. CCLI 6525

Me

Perfection