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8 ”Go down ahead of me to Gilgal. I will surely come down to you to sacrifice burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, but you must wait seven days until I come to you and tell you what you are to do.” 9 As Saul turned to leave Samuel, God changed Saul’s heart, and all these signs were fulfilled that day. 

He turned to leave and God changed Saul’s heart and all was fulfilled that day.  This is interesting because it makes me wonder if Saul was going to do what he was suppose to do or was he leaving thinking this was crazy and the Lord changed His heart.  Was he walking way with a wrong heart and it was changed or was he walking away and was going to obey and then the Lord changed Him?

Sometime I wonder if change comes before or after the step of obedience.  I mean was He going to do and the Lord changed His situation and everything was fulfilled or was He walking away from it and the Lord changed His heart and he went to do it.  This is for me right now for sure.  I need to know if I am needing to step out or it change and then step out.  I am may be reading into this way to far because I am not sure what You want me to do yet and I need some real clarity and I am trying to figure out if I need to step out or wait and it change.  I know you have never left me in the Dark and I know that I need to just obey your word.  I pray for a clear word from you… one like saul in regards to each step that is going to need to be taken.  I want to be obedient to you and walk away but follow your word.

10 When they arrived at Gibeah, a procession of prophets met him; the Spirit of God came upon him in power, and he joined in their prophesying. 

When He arrived in Gibeah the spirit came upon Him and He prophesied.  This is powerful idea that when you get to where God is telling you to go then what you need to complete the task will be there.  The Spirit came upon Him when he got there and He joined in on prophesying.  I know that all that is needed to complete the task is already there I just need to get there.  I pray that your word would lead me into the next step.  I know all that I need is already there and when i get there I will have what is needed by your spirit to prophesy and fulfill the word that was given.

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

THis is interesting because He gives him all these specific instructions and all of them very detailed and pointed and then he says after you do that ten do whatever your hands find to do for God is with you.  I think that this is the key… you can not follow your hands unless God is with you.  You can not tell someone who is led by there flesh to do whatever.  They first have to be changed into another person by the power of the spirit and once the Spirit has control it will be new desires and new whatever. 

I remember when I was 15 or 16 a prophet (Steve Evans) said something to me at a camp that has always stuck with me and it was in a time where I was struggling to with what I was suppose to do and what my calling was… He said God had never said something like this to him before but he heard him say whatever is in His heart do it because my heart was pure that it was from God.  Reading this text kind of confirms that idea.  It was after God had changed Him by the Spirit that He gave Him the go ahead to do what his hands find to do because God is with him.

It also kind of flows with the idea of God will give you the desires of your heart.  Or whatever you ask you will receive.  It is a statement that Jesus made to His disciples… It can only be spoken to those who are transformed by the Holy Spirit because their desires are Godly and not fleshly.

3 ”Then you will go on from there until you reach the great tree of Tabor. Three men going up to God at Bethel will meet you there. 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. 5 ”After that you will go to Gibeah of God, where there is a Philistine outpost. As you approach the town, 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.  

Samuel is prophesying exact directions on what needs to be done and what he needs to receive.  All of it being specific prophetic direction and showing that there is a plan laid out by God and He just needs to follow it. It is awesome to know that God sees our life at a different angle then we see it.  He sees every step and every detail.  I love how God can speak on where you need to go, who you need to talk to, what you need to receive, what needs to happen.  I love the fact that God’s word can lead us through anything and answer any questions.

I think so often I get stuck trying to figure out what my next step is and what I need to do.  I was thinking last night, Ok God what do I need to do next what do I need to say or do.  What is the next thing?  and I think that I stress out like I am trying to brainstorm and come up with Ideas about what needs to happen when you already have it laid out and I just need to hear.  I can not get away from hearing otherwise I loose everything.  

Your word is the direction that I need for this life and I need it more today then I have ever before and I pray that I need it more tomarrow then ever.  I need your voice!  Lead me and guide me in every step no matter how small it may seem I want to be directed by you like this text shows.  Tell me where to go, who to meet with, what to receive, and where to go.

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.

The Spirit of the Lord when He comes upon you you will flow in gifts and be changed.  I love that about the spirit!!! He gives us purpose and changes us.  The Spirit is so important to the becoming what we need to become.  With out the spirit we can not change.  We need the spirit.  

Spirit I am in need of you and I realize that you are the only one that empowers me to say anything and to change.  So often I just turn to my flesh and I walk away from what I know is the only one that can make me anything.  I need you Holy Spirit.

Vs. 2 -When you leave me today, you will meet two men near Rachel’s tomb, at Zelzah on the border of Benjamin. They will say to you, ‘The donkeys you set out to look for have been found. And now your father has stopped thinking about them and is worried about you. He is asking, “What shall I do about my son?’”

You Father has stop caring about donkey and now is caring about You.  This is so sadly how it goes a lot of times we care about our possessions more then we care about our families until something happens to where we think we have lost our family and then we stop caring about our possessions and get our priorities back in line.  How quickly the thought of loosing your Son will get you to stop caring how much money you have or how much you have lost.  It seems to be that human nature makes it so that whatever is most pressing becomes our priority.  

I do I become a father who keeps His priorities in line that I only start caring for my children when they seem lost.  I do not want to give in to the pressure of only prioritizing what is most pressing.  I want to learn to keep You as my FIRST PRIORITY.  Not just because it is pressing.  Keeping my Family as a priority!  Keeping ministry as a Priority!!  I do not want to be one that only way of Prioritizing is by looking at what is most pressing.  Help me with this Lord.

Vs. 1 – Then Samuel took a flask of oil and poured it on his head, and kissed him and said: “Is it not because the Lord has anointed you commander over His inheritance?”

What a powerful moment. He pours oil on his head and kisses him.  This is one of those moments that you are like I was just looking for my donkey… How did i get to this place.  You totally feel unworthy but you do not want it to go away.  It is a to good to be true moment.  The oil over his head was anointing oil… when some one was anointed it was setting them into a position of authority.  The spirit is the one that anoints and it is the oil of the spirit that gives authority and sets us into position.  I am so thankful for the principle of authority!  I love the fact that when you are doing what you are anointed to do that you have the backing and the covering of the spirit.  When you step out of that you do not have authority in that area.  

The kiss seems like samuel affirming him… kind of like favor with man.  I am not sure but anointing seems like favor with God and the kiss seems like favor with man.  But it could mean something totally different that is just what I see or get the sense.  

I love the word that samuel speaks over saul.  You are anointed to be commander over GOD’S inheritance.  This is such a great thought.  His people are His inheritance.  So when God put Him over his people he called them His inheritance.  We are the endowment of the Lords that which He holds valuable.  For some reason the thought of being His inheritance makes me feel valuable and important.

21 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?” 

What I love about walking into predestined situations is how small you feel.  Like they must have got the wrong person.  You have every reason in the world not to be where you are because you feel as if the situation is bigger then you.  I know that having that the first time is one thing but staying humble and small when you have become big is a even harder task.  When you have reached some place not forgetting that you are not as big as you think you are.  Humility will cause you to praise and worship God.  It will cause you thank Him for taking someone small like you and using you for His Glory.  I want to stay small in my own eyes and allow God to be BIG.

22 Then Samuel brought Saul and his servant into the hall and seated them at the head of those who were invited–about thirty in number. 23 Samuel said to the cook, “Bring the piece of meat I gave you, the one I told you to lay aside.” 24 So the cook took up the leg with what was on it and set it in front of Saul. Samuel said, “Here is what has been kept for you. Eat, because it was set aside for you for this occasion, from the time I said, ‘I have invited guests.’” And Saul dined with Samuel that day. 25 After they came down from the high place to the town, Samuel talked with Saul on the roof of his house. 26 They rose about daybreak and Samuel called to Saul on the roof, “Get ready, and I will send you on your way.” When Saul got ready, he and Samuel went outside together.

Samuel treat saul like a king even though he was not king yet.  Seating him at the head of the table, preparing a special meal for Him.    This is the thing about God’s word and faith.  When the word is spoken to someone then to that person even though they do not physically see a king they heard it from God and What you have heard is more real then what you see… so you treat them in the way you believe is more real.

 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.”

A message from God!  This is so powerful when God speaks something to you.  This came out of the blue for Saul he did not expect it to come.  This story is so cool because to me it is all about a man who is going about his life and not realizing that GOd is setting something up for him.  

11 As they were going up the hill to the town, they met some girls coming out to draw water, and they asked them, “Is the seer here?”12 ”He is,” they answered. “He’s ahead of you. Hurry now; he has just come to our town today, for the people have a sacrifice at the high place. 13 As soon as you enter the town, you will find him before he goes up to the high place to eat. The people will not begin eating until he comes, because he must bless the sacrifice; afterward, those who are invited will eat. Go up now; you should find him about this time.” 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. 15 Now the day before Saul came, the Lord had revealed this to Samuel: 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 When Samuel caught sight of Saul, the Lord said to him, “This is the man I spoke to you about; he will govern my people.”

If you where to listen to story just from Saul’s side you would just think that there is this tall, good looking guy, who was looking for His donkey with His servant and could not find it.  Now He was going to go hear from the prophet and find out where His donkey was.  Not a very exciting story unless you add in Samuel’s Story.  That the Lord spoke to Him the day before and was already preparing something for saul that He had no clue about just a day before.  Corinthians says that no eye has seen and no ear has heard the things God has prepared for those who love Him.  I think that so many times we just go through life just stressed out about our donkey, and God has already prepared for us something that we could never even dream of.  

I feel that way right now.  I feel like I am stressed over my own things and forgotten how good you are and how big the things are that you have prepared for me.  You could already speaking to someone and I am not even aware of it.  I am so thankful that you are in control of my life and have already prepared my future and set in motion the things that need to be done for me to reach what you have laid out before me.

18 Saul approached Samuel in the gateway and asked, “Would you please tell me where the seer’s house is?” 

Saul went up to samuel and He did not know who he was.  He did not know who He was talking to.  Sometimes we have no clue who we are talking to.  What we are looking for is right in front of us.  

19 ”I am the seer,” Samuel replied. “Go up ahead of me to the high place, for today you are to eat with me, and in the morning I will let you go and will tell you all that is in your heart. 20 As for the donkeys you lost three days ago, do not worry about them; they have been found. And to whom is all the desire of Israel turned, if not to you and all your father’s family?” 

while he was telling Him about talking to him in the morning he was also calming him down by telling him his donkey is ok.  The stresses are fine and they are taken care of it.  I need to trust that you have taken care of all my stresses because I am missing out on receiving anything else or knowing it is on its way because I can not see past now.  I need to stop stressing and believe that you have taken care of all and I have no reason to worry.

7 Saul said to his servant, “If we go, what can we give the man? The food in our sacks is gone. We have no gift to take to the man of God. What do we have?” 8 The servant answered him again. “Look,” he said, “I have a quarter of a shekel of silver. I will give it to the man of God so that he will tell us what way to take.” 9 (Formerly in Israel, if a man went to inquire of God, he would say, “Come, let us go to the seer,” because the prophet of today used to be called a seer.) 10 ”Good,” Saul said to his servant. “Come, let’s go.” So they set out for the town where the man of God was.

They where afraid to go to the prophet empty handed without something to give.  It was important that when someone would go to get a word that they would give something as a gift or a offering.  This is something that I know that there is biblical backing to but I have always struggled with the what the doctrine of giving should be in the church.  I do not want to teach heressy or teach out of selfish motivation but I also do not want to teach something that is not truth because I want people to feel good.

This to be the theme to most of scripture that when ever you went to the house of God or a spoksmen for God you would have something to give or to offer.  It was just part of the idea… I am going to recieve something and I need ot have somthing to give.

I also think the key to this text is the question: What do we have?  The idea was that they did not have enough to give but he was just wanting to give what they had.  The answer is you give according to what you have.  Some have more and some have less but we give according to what we have…

Acts 2:42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

RECAP:

They where devoted and commited to the church. What are you showing people around you when you commit or devote to something…

·      There is no other that I desire more

·      This is the only way

·      My life revolves around it

·      This is truth and life.

As a church if we are to do anything for God we are going to have to be a people who break commitmentphobia.  EVERYONE IS GOING TO HAVE TO BE COMMITED> (listen to last weeks message)

EVERYONE IN AWE:

43 Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles.

Awe – Fear and Excitement mixed with humility.  It is a sence of amazement, respect, and Godly fear.  You look at what God is doing and you are blown away because He is doing so much.

The sence of awe is gone –

Think about the way in which God is viewed today.  Visit any church worship on Sunday morning and you will likely find a congregation comfortably relating to a deity who fits nicely within their precise doctrinal positions, lends almighty support to their social crusades, or who is exactly what they desire in spiritual experiences. But there will be an absence of awe! This group has dared approach the Almighty God yet they feel no awe; no sweaty palms, no shaky knees. The atmosphere is totally different from that found in the Scriptures (Rv 1:17; Hb 12:28-29).

·       “Reverence and awe have been replaced by a yawn of familiarity. The consuming fire has been domesticated into a candle flame”

Is it possible that such has happened in your life? In this church? This is what our series seeks to explore and answer.

What destroys Awe?

Exodus 20:18 Now all the people witnessed the thunderings, the lightning flashes, the sound of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking; and when the people saw it, they trembled and stood afar off.

20:19 -Then they said to Moses, “You speak with us, and we will hear; but let not God speak with us, lest we die.”

·      Individualistic Ideas

o      No person ever rises above his/her idea of God.

o      The greatest factor in religion is not what one confesses to believe but what one’s heart believes God to be.

o      The Children of Isreal Had a problem with only following God when He was doing “powerful” things that met there individual problems.  He delivered them, he saved them out of egypt, He destroyed the enemy, He did all these things for them.

§       When God becomes a servent to the individual then we loose awe.  No master is in awe of his servent.  When we loose sight that God is not our individual servent we  destroy awe.

o      But when it came to them being scared by Him and it caused them to fear for their lives they could not rise above their idea of God.

§       When it came to the fact that God was greater then them and could destroy their lives and that they where not worthy of being close to Him they did not like the feeling of being worthy.

·      Leads to Impatience. (32:1)

o      They sent Moses to meet with God and while He waited they got impatient so they wanted something immedietly.

o      We are living in a culture that can not wait on God for anything… They spend all their time demanding God to do something now. 

o      They think He should be on their timing and not them on His timing.

·      Impatience led to Idolatry.(32:1)

o      Exodus 32:1 – They saw he delayed and they said to make an Idol.

o      They rejected a God they where in awe of and created a God that was what they wanted.  Strong like a bull. 

o      I doltry is widdling away the parts you do not like about God

o      To be honest, many have accepted a concept of the God of the Bible and whittled it down to a manageable proportion; they re-fashion God to fit their expectations and to serve their desires. God thus becomes the Patron of a specific political party; the Specter for one overruling cause; the Censor for one specific belief. And so modern man has “exchanged” the glory of the incorruptible God for a god which will be convenient. The result — biblical awe is lost.

§       Widdling makes wood

ú       Smaller

ú       Prettier

ú       Created

How do we return to awe?

·      Learn to observe.

o      As Einstein observed, those who will pause to wonder and stand rapt in awe will truly live. They will see what others miss. They will feel what others cannot. Life will be for them both exquisite and mysterious when they learn to say, “Awe.”

§       Learn to observe.  Do not have andividulaistic Idea of God… Learn to see past just yourself and observe what God is doing.  How He is revealing Himself.  Learn to stop and looj and be in awe.

·      Be patient and let signs catch up with you… Everyone was in awe before signs and wonders not by signs and wonders.  (vs. 43)

o      They where in awe by the right things.

o      They where in awe by there devotion and commitment and relationship with God and the church.

o      Every person before trys to have devotion follow desire instead of letting devotion lead to great desire.

o      They where all so commited to God and the church that awe was in them.  Excitement and fear.  It was the hardest thing they had ever done but it was the only right thing they had ever experienced.  Everything in them wanted to run but Everything in them wanted to hold on.

o      Mr 16:17 – And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues;

§       Signs and wonders follow those who believe in God.  Those who already in awe of God see signs and wonders wherever they go.

o      We have many who follow signs and it leads them to idolatry if they start having awe in signs.

·      Worship – Do not let anything become common

o      I’m reminded of the little girl who rode a train with her mother. Looking out the window, she exclaimed, “Look! A horse!” And a moment later, “Look! Houses!” She gave every indication of keeping this up, so her embarrassed mother apologized to the man next to her. “I’m sorry my daughter is going on like this,” she said. “She still thinks everything is wonderful.

o      When do we stop thinking everything is wonderful? When we grow up? Does growing older also mean growing jaded

o      Few things are commonplace in themselves — it’s our reaction to them that grows dull over the years.

§       Heb 10:29 – Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace?

·