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Our Human Weakness:
The Fear of Losing Control (1 Sam 15:1-23)

What was Saul's greatest fear? Why?

"I have sinned, for I have transgressed the commandment of the LORD and your words, because I feared the people and obeyed their voice." - 1 Sam 15:24

Saul feared his people - he gave in to the people's requests instead of heeding God's instruction of destroying the Amalekites entirely. He was addicted to man's approval rather than God's approval of him in his life. He was insecure in his position as king and saw a need to please the people in order to maintain his kingship. He forgot that it was God who placed him where he's at.

The fear of man is in direct conflict with the fear of God.

Why is the fear of man often greater than the fear of God?

Tangibility - When you're facing the crowd and seeing with the physical eyes, it's very easy to look at the immediate circumstance and take the easy way out.

Indifference / Ignorance - Lack of understanding of the fear of God.

How do we best cultivate a healthy fear of God?

Keep a consistent devotional time to know God more each day... it's only through knowing Him through His Word that we'll know how to come before Him in a manner of both reverence and kinship.