Hack Agag to Pieces

By David J. Riggs; Arranged by: M. Allen

 

FILING INFORMATION:

1999002

Subject: sin

Preached Originally: 01103199 - Rapid City, SD

 

1.    Introduction.

A.      1 Sam. 15:33 says, "And Samuel hacked Agag in pieces before the Lord in Gilgal."

B.We learn from 1 Sam. 15 what lead to this dreadful occurrence.

1 .   Saul was commanded to go and utterly destroy the Amalekites. 1 Sam. 15:1-3

2.    Saul was not totally obedient, and Samuel was sent by the Lord to rebuke him. 1 Sam. 15:9, 18-19

3.    Saul tried to excuse his disobedience by blaming the people. 1 Sam. 15:20-21

4.    Samuel rebuked him in no uncertain terms. 1 Sam. 15:22-23

a.    Saul v,/as told that his kingship would be taken from him and given to another.

5.    It was at this time that Samuel himself did what Saul was commanded to do, and, thus, he hacked Agag in pieces.

C.    There are many lessons we can learn from this Bible narrative.

1.       One which is very obvious is that we serve an awesome God.

a.       The Amalekites were a wicked people and God wanted them utterly destroyed.

 

1.       When Israel came out of Egypt, they attached the weak and vulnerable who were lagging behind.  Deut. 25:17-19

b.       As shown from Saul's actions, the Lord demands complete obedience.

1.       God punished Saul severely for his disobedience.

D.      Another great lesson we can learn from 1 Sam. 15 is, as Saul was commanded to utterly destroy the Amalekites, Christians are commanded to put to death certain things.

1.       Nothing short of complete obedience will be accepted.

2.       Let us list a few of those things.

 

II.      COL. 3:5-10 Lists various types of Agags that need to be hacked to pieces.

A.   Fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire.

1.       An often used phrase in our time is, "God doesn't want me to be unhappy."

2.       They think, "I am unhappy in my marriage, and since God doesn't want me to be unhappy, I can divorce and marry someone else."

a.     Thus, they seek to justify themselves in doing the very thing God hates.  Mal. 2:14-16a

 

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3.       Someone else thinks, "I am sexually attracted to the same gender, and since God doesn't want be to be unhappy, I can practice homosexuality."

a.       Thus, they try to justify themselves for doing what God considers an abomination.

b.      Both the Old and New Testaments clearly condemn this sin. 1 Cor. 6:9-1 1

B.      Covetousness, which is idolatry.  This is another Agag which must be hacked to pieces.

1.    "Idolatry" is "1. the religious worship of idols. 2. excessive admiration or devotion to any person, place, or thing." (VVebster)

a.    Thus, when one devotes his interest, time, or attention to something other than God, it is idolatry.

b.    We can easily see, therefore, how covetousness is idolatry.

2.    We are to flee from covetousness just as we are to flee from fornication and the worship of idols. 1 Tim. 6:9-1 la

C.      Anger, wrath, malice.  These are other Agags which must be killed.

1.       Ofteninourangerwesayordothingsv@hicharesinful.  Jamesl:19-

20

2.       The one who holds his piece, though angry, is the one who is to be admired.  Prov. 29:1 1; 12:16; 17:28

D.      Blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth.

1.    Filthy, off-color jokes are to be avoided.  Eph. 5:3-5

2.    To take the Lord's name in vain is a very serious matter.  Ex. 20:7

a.       God commanded that they stone to death the boy who blasphemed and cursed.  Lev. 24:11-16

E.    Do not lie to one another.  "Lying" is another Agag which must be hacked to pieces.

1.    In our society, many believe that under certain circumstances it acceptable to lie.

2.    They think that to protect themselves, to save their job, to cover up an embarrassment, to cheat on a test, or to get ahead, it's OK to lie.

a.         After all, everybody doing it; from teenagers in high school, to people in the work place, to the President of the United States, everyone often lies.

3.    Remember, that "lying" is a sin against God and, thus, is wrong in every circumstance.  Rev. 21:8

 

Ill.  The Sinful deeds of the body must be hacked into pieces.  Rom. 6:6-11

A.     When we were buried with Christ in baptism, we crucified, destroyed and buried that old type of life.

1.       It is the power of sin at work in our bodies that must be destroyed.  John 8:34

2.       Sin is personified as a master who takes control.  However, through Christ we can escape the dominion of that evil master.  Rom. 8:13

a.    If you put a buzzard in a pen six or eight feet square, and

 

 

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entirely open at the top, the bird will be an absolute prisoner.  The reason is that a buzzard always begins a flight from the ground with a run of ten or twelve feet.  Without space to run, he vmn't even attempt to fly, but will remain a prisoner for life in a small jail with no top.

b.    A bumblebee, dropped into a glass, will be there until it dies unless taken out.  It never sees the means of escape at the top, but keeps on trying to find some way out through the sides near the bottom.  It will try to find a way out where there is none until it dies.

c.     There are many people who're imprisoned like the buzzard and bee.  They realize their deep need, and hunger for freedom from all the conflicts which come upon them.  They overlook the obvious fact that the way out is "up".

d.    That way is through Jesus the Christ.  God sent His Son to die on the cross that we might have a way of escape, to mount up, with wings as eagles, and to dwell with Him throughout eternity.

 

IV.     The Whole Self Must Be Hacked to Pieces.  Col. 3:3; 2:20; Gal. 2:20

A.A basic, fundamental principle of Christianity is the denial of self.  Luke 9:23

1.    Someone said, 'VVhen self-denial goes out of fashion, seff-fulfitiment takes its place." Also, 'To consider persons, events, and situations only in the light of their effect upon me, is to live on the doorstep of hell."

B.    If we loose ourselves for Jesus' sake, we wi II save ourselves.  Mark 8:34-37

1 .   John 12:25 - Those who selfishly grasp at life, will loose it, but those who surrender their lives to Christ, will keep (save) it.

2.    Nearly every human being on the face of the earth is serving himself, not Christ.  Phil. 3:19

3.    Even many preachers and elders serve themselves rather than the Lord.  Phil. 2:19-21; 2 Tim. 4: 1 0; lsa. 56:1 1

4.    This well illustrates interest in oneself: The story goes that John and Dave were out hiking when they spotted a mountain lion staring at them.  John froze in his tacks, but Dave sat down on a log, tore off his boots, pulled a pair of running shoes from his backpack and hurriedly

began to put them on.  John complained, "For crying out loud, do you think you can outrun a mountain lion!" Dave answered, "I done need to; I only need to outrun you!"

5.    How to be a selfish, self-centered person:

a.     Always think about yourself.

b.    Always talk about yourself.

c.     Use the personal pronoun "I" as often as possible in your conversation.

d.    Mirror yourself continually in the opinions of others.

e.     Listen greedily to what people say about you.

f.     Insist that others give you consideration, respezt, and

 

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appreciation.

g.   Demand agreement from others regarding your own views and opinions.

h.    Sulk and Pout if people do not show you favors.

i.     Never forget a service you may have rendered to others.

j.     Be suspicious and sensitive to the slights of others.

k.    Be jealous and envious of others.

1.    Never forget a criticism.

m.   Trust nobody but yourself.

C.    All those who are self-seeking will be lost.  Rom. 2:8-9

1     - "Self-seeking" - "A desire to put oneself forward, a factious, partisan spirit.  This word is found before NT times only in Aristotle where it denotes a self-seeking pursuit of political office by unfair means." (Arndt & Gingrich)

a.     Thus, in Aristotle's time, politicking meant "self-seeking."

2.    Paul exhorts us to not put self forward or to be selfish.  Phil. 2:3-4

3.    James speaks against having self-seeking or self-promoting in our hearts.  James 3:14

 

V.      Conclusion.

A-Agag came to a terrible fate.  A prophet in obedience to God literally cut him in pieces.

1 - If we do not put to death certain evils in our lives, we, too, will suffer a terrible fate at the hands of God.

2.    Sin must be dealt with ruthlessly and unmercifully, just as Saul was to deal with Agag, and Samuel eventually did.

B-The battle between us and sin will never end, but the key is that we must continually be engaged in combat.

1.    If we do not commit ourselves to relentlessly war against sin, it will destroy us.

C.      May God help us to hack to pieces the Agags (evils) which are alive in our lives.

D.      INVITATION

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

January 3, 1999 - Rapid City, SD