Lawlessness and Revival — E.A. Johnston

Saul's Commission and the Danger of Partial Obedience

In the book of 1 Samuel, in chapter 15, we have the striking story of King Saul's disobedience to God, beginning in verse 1 we read,. 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 to Israel, how he laid wait for him in the way, which he came up from Egypt, now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not.

But slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass. I will pause here, friends, to say, Hear, that God through his mouthpiece, Samuel, lays down strict requirements for King Saul to obey in carrying out this divine commission from God.

He is to spare no one, he is to spare nothing, the orders are clear, the command has been given, God has spoken, thus saith the Lord of hosts, declares the prophet Samuel. But what does King Saul do? Saul goes into the camp of the Amalekites to fight according to God's command, but notices partial obedience reveals his true rebellion to God.

Saul Spares Agag and the Best of the Spoils

In verse 9 we read,. But Saul and the people spared Agag, and the best of the sheep, and the oxen, and of the fatlings, and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them, but everything that was foul and refuse, that they destroyed utterly.

Samuel's Grief Over Saul's Rebellion

Then came the word of the Lord unto Samuel, saying, It repenteth me that I have set up Saul to be king, for he has turned back from following me, and hath not performed my commandments. And it grieved Samuel, and he cried unto the Lord all night, I will stop there, friends, it breaks my heart to picture that incredible scene of a man of God grieved over the sin of a disobedient king on his face before God, weeping all night.

God's declaration of this incident displays the hot displeasure of an offended God who's been wronged by someone who has not followed him in obedience to his command. God observed that King Saul has turned back from following me.

In other words, he's backslidden is what God is saying here. King Saul tries to defend himself, and he admits no wrongdoing, for he blames it on the people and he hides under the cloak of religion. He says in verse 21, the people took the spool to sacrifice unto the Lord that God in Gilgal.

He puts the blame on others, takes no personal responsibility for his actions. But play close attention, friends, to how the prophet Samuel answers Saul's excuses. In verses 22 and 23, we read,. 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 lambs. 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 has also rejected thee from being king.

The Modern Church's Lawlessness and Rejection of Christ's Lordship

I will stop there, friends. I believe the church today is guilty of rejecting the word of the Lord because the modern church is in a state of lawlessness and rebellion to the Lordship of Jesus Christ.

Today we have a sin-loving society and a sin-loving church. If the people of God are disobedient to the word of God, then this is clear evidence of a backslidden church and there is need for revival.

Disobedience in the Pulpit and the Pew

We have disobedience in the pulpit by an omission of preaching the great doctrines of the gospel, the doctrines of ruin, redemption, repentance, and regeneration. Preachers are being disobedient to God by not warning the wicked to flee from the wrath to come, by not preaching on the doctrine of everlasting hell, by not preaching man's duty of repentance and his utter necessity of regeneration.

Ministers are disobedient to God by not preaching on the doctrine of the Lordship of Jesus Christ. When there is disobedience in the pulpit, there will be disobedience in the pew. Antinomians rule today.

Rebellion prevails as many sit on the throne of their life and rule there as they refuse to submit to the sovereignty of God and the Lordship of Christ. We have a carnal crisis in the church today where Christians have become desensitized to sin and have lost their fear of God.

They can watch and enjoy the most ungodly entertainment and not feel any pangs of conviction nor feel any shame. A lust for greed has replaced a biblical balance on finances and a reliance on material security has replaced an utter dependence upon God.

Self-Preservation, Spiritual Ignorance, and Religious Complacency

The church of this hour has a me first mentality of everything revolves around the center of self-promotion and self-preservation and everything else including God and his kingdom regarding the spread of the gospel through Bible translation and Bible distribution is beyond that circle of self-preservation.

The typical Christian today spends little time in real intercessory prayer, little time in true Bible study, has little interest in living a life consecrated unto God and pursuing a life of holiness toward God.

Consequently, the vast majority do not know God. They are ignorant of his ways and means in dealing with man. Sadly, the ultimate result of such a distanced religious lifestyle that is works but no obedience nor love to God are the ringing and stinging, denouncing words of an offended Christ, I never knew you, depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Lawlessness in Society and the Call to Spiritual Awakening

Crime is out of control in our cities and senseless murders occur with shocking frequency. The people have no moral compass nor any sense of shame for sin. When a spirit of lawlessness prevails in the land, both in society and in the church, there is great need for spiritual awakening and revival.

All these stated facts should drive us to our knees in desperation and shame before a holy God who demands obedience from all his followers. He will now allow no rebels in his holy kingdom, and his forbearance and long-suffering toward us is no indication of weakness nor tolerance toward sin, but genuine love and a true desire to draw his backslidden people back to him in heartfelt repentance and sincere humility of heart.

Awakening the Church Through Repentance and Prayer

The great danger of disobedience is it's accompanied with a spiritual stupor as the church sleeps on the pills of conformity and compromise and is in great need of a holy ghost revival. We should all be like Samuel and be in our faces, weeping all night, grieved over the deplorable condition of a backslidden church.

Has the clarion call of this message stirred anyone out of their slumber, or am I just preaching to the walls? God have mercy on us all.