Available, Anointed and Affirmed -February 2,2012

Holy Spirit! Car wash

Many of you may not know my maiden name, Larry Ann Human. My sister was Lynn N. Human. After teaching Kindergarten for many years, I was required to complete the numerous papers for the cumulative folder which follows a child through their years in school. Parents should be aware to use the first name as the one you want your child to be called in school. Misspellings of the name also can follow a child for life. Like Adkins and Atkins or Reese for Reece. Well the point to my story is while preparing for the Seniors’ page in the annual, it was discovered that my first name was Larry, L-a-r-r-y. Yes, I was named after my dad, Lawrence. How cute! Until you get to high school and college, even better. Mail coming to the house for Larry Human included one from the Marines, who were going to make a man out of me! Tonight in 1 Samuel, Chapter 10:6   The Spirit of the LORD will come upon Saul and he will be changed into a different man.

Ladies, we too can be changed into a different person. Titus 3:5, 6 “He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior.”

Will you be available when God calls you?  Let us Pray

 Saul was Available-1 Samuel 9

Last week we learned that the people of Israel sought the Lord after 20 years of silence. 25 years later they rejected God as their King by asking for a visible earthly king so they could be like the other nations. We looked back in Genesis and remembered God’s promise that kings would come through Abraham and Jacob, specifically through the tribe of Judah. God was preparing a King in David, but David was not available yet. His people insisted on having a king now, so God gives in to the children of Israel, but He never gave up on them.

What do we know about Saul? His father was named Kish from the tribe of Benjamin. Judges 20 The tribe of Benjamin went to war against the other tribes. There were only 600 men left after the battle. Each family’s share was probably larger than the average Israelite. Saul's father was probably a wealthy landowner and farmer. Saul He was tall, dark and handsome a prince among men. He literally stood head and shoulders above the rest of the people. From the outward appearance he was a perfect choice for a king. But we know that God does not look on the outward appearance of the person but on the heart.

From the incident with his father's lost donkeys, we know Saul was obedient and respectful to his father. After three days, Saul was ready to turn back home so his father would not worry about him.

We do not get a sense from 1 Samuel that Saul was a spiritual or religious person. Neither Saul nor his father offer prayers for safety in travel or success in search. Samuel had assembled the people and elders of Israel at least 3 times, yet Saul did not know there was a prophet in the area or recognize him when they met. (1 Samuel 3: 20, 7:5, 8: 4)

9: 6 but the servant replied, “Look, in this town there is a man of God; he is highly respected, and everything he says comes true. Let’s go there now. Perhaps he will tell us what way to take.”  By the way verse 7 tells us the servant also supplied the offering for the prophet.

v. 13 Later some young girls point the way to Samuel. The fact that even these young girls know of Samuel and that the people cannot eat before Samuel blesses the sacrifice is very important in the story of Saul. We will hear more in the coming chapters.

¹⁴ They went up to the town, and as they were entering it, there was Samuel, coming toward them on his way up to the high place.

Do you think this is a coincidence? Of course not!  How odd of God to use lost donkeys for a divine appointment. Remember that when you meet strangers in the gas station or grocery line.

Are you available for the Holy Spirit to lead you through every day?

God had prepared Samuel for the meeting ¹⁶ “About this time tomorrow I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin. Anoint him leader over my people Israel; he will deliver my people from the hand of the Philistines. I have looked upon my people, for their cry has reached me.”

¹⁷ As Saul approached God said “This is the man I spoke to you about; he will govern my people.”

 ¹⁹ “I am the seer,” Samuel replied the donkeys you lost three days ago; they have been found. And to whom is all the desire of Israel turned, if not to you and all your father’s family?”

Saul is available, but is he ready to be king. V21 Saul answered, “But am I not a Benjamite, from the smallest tribe of Israel, and is not my clan the least of all the clans of the tribe of Benjamin? Why do you say such a thing to me?”

Isn’t that just the kind of thing God would do?

1 Corinthians 1:26-28 ²⁶ Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. ²⁷ But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. ²⁸ He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, ²⁹ so that no one may boast before him.

They have a meal together at the high place with 30 invited guests. Saul’s special portion had been set aside waiting for his arrival. Later Samuel and Saul talk on the roof, Saul and his servant spend the night. Early the next morning ²⁷ As they were going down to the edge of the town, Samuel said to Saul, “Tell the servant to go on ahead of us”—and the servant did so—“but you stay here awhile, so that I may give you a message from God.”

CARTOON call waiting

 Ladies this might be a good lesson for us to rise early and have some private time with God. Jesus rose early in the morning and went to a quiet place to pray? Are you Available? God is!

We need to be available to God before we can be anointed.

Saul is Anointed-1 Samuel 10

¹ Then Samuel took a flask of oil and poured it on Saul’s head and kissed him, saying, “Has not the LORD anointed you leader over his inheritance?

This anointing of Saul was done in private by the prophet. Later Saul will be presented to the assembly at Mizpah.

Samuel offers Saul three signs to confirm his choice was from God.

GOD OFFERS PEACE  ² …today, you will meet two men near Rachel’s tomb. They will say to you, ‘The donkeys you set out to look for have been found

GOD OFFERS PROVISION  ³ (At) “…the great tree of Tabor. Three men going up to God at Bethel will …. One will be carrying three young goats, another three loaves of bread, and another a skin of wine. ⁴ They will greet you and offer you two loaves of bread, which you will accept from them.

GOD OFFERS POWER  ⁵ “…Gibeah of God, where there is a Philistine outpost. …, you will meet a procession of prophets coming down from the high place with lyres, tambourines, flutes and harps being played before them, and they will be prophesying. ⁶ The Spirit of the LORD will come upon you in power, and you will prophesy with them; and you will be changed into a different person.

“This was the real anointing. The oil was symbolic, but if the Spirit of the LORD did not come upon him, it would have meant nothing!”  Poole writes that the literal Hebrew for will come upon you is “will leap or rush upon thee, to wit, for a season.”  This anointing may be just for a limited time.

As Christians under the New Covenant, (1 John 2:20…you have an anointing from the Holy One). In the New Testament sense, anointing is being filled with and blessed by the Holy Spirit. If you have invited Christ into your life the Holy Spirit takes residence in you.

Quoting from Dwight L Moody, “The great trouble with many of us is that we are working for God without power. We are sons of God - no doubt about that - and daughters of God. We can "read our titles clear to mansions in the skies," but we are sons and daughters without power.”

1 Samuel 10:7 Once these signs are fulfilled, do whatever your hand finds to do, for God is with you.

Ladies, the LORD is with you through all the joy and trials of your life. Plug into power of the Holy Spirit and let your light shine for Christ in this dark world.

⁸ “Go down ahead of me to Gilgal. I will surely come down to you to sacrifice burnt offerings and fellowship offerings,^[b] but you must wait seven days until I come to you and tell you what you are to do.”

This is a verse I want you to remember! OBEDIENCE is what God demands. Later after Saul is King for many years, will he be obedient to the command to Wait?

10: 12 “What is this that has happened to the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets?”

What a change in Saul! People who had known him could not believe he was prophesying.

While we are still flesh, and by no means perfect, but old friends should see a change in us! When Saul returns to his family he did not mention to his uncle that he was anointed king. Maybe Saul felt unworthy, overwhelmed with the responsibility or maybe he was waiting on God's timing.

Have you ever felt inadequate for the task God called you to do? I remember calling some CBS ladies in July of 2010. When they heard God had called me as the new TD, one friend laughed out loud. Another was stunned to silence, but none were more surprised as I was.

Will you be available when God calls you?

^17-19 Samuel summoned the people of Israel to the LORD at Mizpah. After a stern rebuttal for rejecting God who brought them into the Promised Land, tribes and clans presented themselves to the LORD. Lots were cast probably the Urim and Thummim.

10:20 Finally Saul son of Kish was chosen. But when they looked for him, he was not to be found. ²² So they inquired further of the LORD, “Has the man come here yet?”

   And the LORD said, “Yes, he has hidden himself among the baggage.”

What has God called you to do? Are you hiding among you stuff?

Where are you hiding? Behind your job, among your family, in your church

Why are you hiding? Fear of failure, holding on to your time, BUSY, already served my turn, comfortable right where I am.

Will you be available when God calls you?  Remember these verses when you are called.

1 Thessalonians 5:24 “The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it.”

Philippians 2:13"For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to His good purpose."
Philippians 4:13 I can do everything through him who gives me strength.
God will equip those He calls with ability, time, and resources.

Saul is Affirmed as King-1 Samuel 11

V1-Nahash the Ammonite threatened to mutilate and disgrace God’s people. V 6-8 The Spirit of the Lord came upon Saul and sent messengers to frighten the men of Israel into fighting. 330,000 men of Israel were united to defeat the Ammonites. V.14 

•      Silent before Mockers 10:27

•      Returns to Farming 11:4

•      Powerful in the Spirit 11:6

•      Displayed righteous Anger 11:6

•      Unites of Israel’s forces, defeated Ammonites 11:11

•      Confirmed as King 11:15

¹⁴ Then Samuel said to the people, “Come, let us go to Gilgal and there reaffirm the kingship.” ¹⁵ So all the people went to Gilgal and confirmed Saul as king in the presence of the LORD.

Oswald Chambers- To fulfill God’s perfect design for you requires your total surrender - complete abandonment of yourself to Him.”

An old man once said that it took him forty years to learn three simple things.

1.     He could not do anything to save himself;

2.     God did not expect him to;

3.     Christ had done it all, and all he had to do was to accept the accomplished fact.

When it comes to Holy-Spirit filled living and the grace of God, always keep this little saying in your hearts and minds:

You can’t. God never said you could.
He can; He always said he would!  Copyright © 2005, Quick Verse

Will you choose to be available when God calls you?

Let us close in Prayer