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Scripture Reading: 1 Samuel 12:19-25

Ingredients for Guaranteed Failure[1]

Intro.

1.  How do you measure success? (God's definition is not the same as men's, 1 Cor. 1:26-29.)

  a.  Materially? Mk. 12:41-44 (Mk. 8:36)

  b.  Militarily? Psa. 33:16-17

  c.  Monetarily? Prov. 11:4

  d.  God’s approval? Josh. 1:8-9

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

3.  The converse is true – sinful foolishness guarantees failure!

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

  a.  The benefits of industry, Prov. 6:6-8.

  b.  The pain and trouble of laziness, Prov. 6:9-11; 26:13-16.

    1)  Excuses instead of solutions, 26:13.

    2)  “Practice makes perfect”, 26:14.

    3)  Gluttonous ingratitude (indulgent thanklessness), 26:15.

    4)  Pride, 26:16.

II. Always blame somebody else! (Never take responsibility...for anything! Whenever possible respond...IT’S NOT MY FAULT!)

  a.  Eve and Adam, Gen. 3:10-13.

  b.  Excuses for not coming to the Lord, Lk. 14:15-20, 24.

  c.  Day of Judgment we will have only ourselves to blame! 2 Cor. 5:10

III.  Always have an EXCUSE! (We live in an ENTITLEMENT society in which there are many VICTIMS with many excuses!)

  a.  Sin is a choice, a practice, Rom. 5:12; Eph. 2:1-3.

  b.  Individual responsibility is the Bible model, 1 Sam. 15:13-15 (9); Deut. 24:16; Ezek. 18:4.

IV.  Refuse to change! (Motto: Keep doing what you’ve always done so that you’ll keep getting what you’ve always got!)

  a.  Hardness of heart, Prov. 28:14.

  b.  Storing up wrath due a hard, unrepentant heart, Rom. 2:4-6, 8-9.

V.  DO NOT PRAY! (Never, EVER!, access the one source of power, love, mercy and forgiveness that can turn your entire life around.)

  a.  Christians are assured our prayers are heard and answered:

    1)  Success over anxiety, Phil. 4:6-7.

    2)  Success over temptations/trials, Heb. 4:15-16. (Matt. 26:36-46)

    3)  Success over sin (with repentance), Acts 8:22-24.

  b.  The fervent prayers of righteous men succeed! Jas. 5:16-18

  c.  We must always pray and not lose heart, Lk. 18:1.

Conclusion

1.  “That’s it! 5 ingredients for failure... GUARANTEED!”

2.  “Now that I think of it, there’s a sixth one...” – FORGET YOU EVER READ THIS! Jas. 1:21-25

3.  Or, do this, 1 Pet. 3:8-12.