Saul
Saul’s Story
1 Samuel 8:5-6
They said to him, “You are old, and your sons do not follow your ways; now appoint a king to lead us, such as all the other nations have.”
1 Samuel 8:10; 18-22
Samuel told all the words of the Lord to the people who were asking him for a king
<insert a lot of bad controlling things here—verse 18>
“When that day comes, you will cry out for relief from the king you have chosen, but the Lord will not answer you in that day.”
19 But the people refused to listen to Samuel. “No!” they said. “We want a king over us. 20 Then we will be like all the other nations, with a king to lead us and to go out before us and fight our battles.”
21 When Samuel heard all that the people said, he repeated it before the Lord. 22 The Lord answered, “Listen to them and give them a king.”
The next day Samuel gives Saul some really specific instructions on where to go next and the people he will come across.
He tells him he’ll see a procession of prophets playing music and prophesying and declares:
1 Samuel 10:6-7
The Spirit of the Lord will come powerfully upon you, and you will prophesy with them; and you will be changed into a different person. 7 Once these signs are fulfilled, do whatever your hand finds to do, for God is with you.
I’d say that’s a pretty clear calling.
What Saul does wrong and why it mattered
1 Samuel 13:4
So all Israel heard the news: “Saul has attacked the Philistine outpost, and now Israel has become obnoxious to the Philistines.”
1 Samuel 13:7-9
Some Hebrews even crossed the Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead. Saul remained at Gilgal, and all the troops with him were quaking with fear. 8 He waited seven days, the time set by Samuel; but Samuel did not come to Gilgal, and Saul’s men began to scatter. 9 So he said, “Bring me the burnt offering and the fellowship offerings.” And Saul offered up the burnt offering.
Saul got impatient and scared, so he couldn’t handle the fact that Samuel was delayed a bit in his arrival.
1 Samuel 13:10-12
10 Just as he finished making the offering, Samuel arrived, and Saul went out to greet him.
11 “What have you done?” asked Samuel. Saul replied, “When I saw that the men were scattering, and that you did not come at the set time, and that the Philistines were assembling at Mikmash, 12 I thought, ‘Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, and I have not sought the Lord’s favor.’ So I felt compelled to offer the burnt offering.”
*maybe it seems logical, but it was operating outside of the authority God had given him and leading the people outside of the will of God—
And THIS MATTERS.
When God calls us to lead, he expects us to lead HIS way, not ours.
1 Samuel 13:13-14
13 “You have done a foolish thing,” Samuel said. “You have not kept the command the Lord your God gave you; if you had, he would have established your kingdom over Israel for all time. 14 But now your kingdom will not endure; the Lord has sought out a man after his own heart and appointed him ruler of his people, because you have not kept the Lord’s command.”
Timothy
Paul calls out Timothy’s calling when he asks the Corinthians to give Timothy respect:
1 Corinthians 16:10
When Timothy comes, see to it that he has nothing to fear while he is with you, for he is carrying on the work of the Lord, just as I am”
2 Timothy 2:2
And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.
www.livingfaithindy.com/discipleship
1 Timothy 4:12
...but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.
What Timothy does right and why it mattered
He was humble.
Application Questions:
Timothy or Saul?
-Are you humble and teachable?
-Are you willing to listen to the wisdom of godly leaders around you as you grow in your walk with Jesus?
-Are you living your life as an example to others in speech, life, love, faith and purity?
-Are you willing to be uncomfortable to follow God’s calling?
-Are you willing to lead people you don’t feel equipped to lead?
-Are you willing to lead people older than you? Younger than you?
-Are you going to go outside the walls of the “known church” to reach the lost?
-Or are you arrogantly pushing ahead when God is saying wait?
-Are you trying to hide sin (or maybe just choosing the sin openly even though you know it’s against the Bible)?
-Are you dodging the question of calling or leadership altogether because you’re afraid of what it might mean?
-Are you pushing to stay in a position or a role that you feel is your right even when God’s hand has been removed from you?
-Do you feel you have ownership of your role or do you feel honored to have it at all?
-When you sin, will you double down or run back to Jesus?
-Do you have a prideful heart? (Even in the little things?)
Not a leader?
Your question is: “Are you willing if god calls you?”
If you are a leader?
Your question is: “Are you humble, teachable and free from hidden/intentional sin?
Proverbs 3:34
God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble and oppressed.
