The God Who Qualifies Me

Called to the New

Many of us have an understanding that we cannot function from the spaces where the old still exists.

Yet time and time again we are found in spaces where we as a Christian want to operate from spaces of old making an effort to operate in the new with old habits, old strategies, old ways of being a Christian…

It worked then it surely will work now…

We at times ignore that God is leading us into a new way and dismiss it as God doesn’t want something new, were afraid of change

Or maybe… its not change were afraid of, what we are afraid of is the nature God is calling us into…

We compare ourselves to others and say something like we do not have what they have, they wont let me, how could God ask me to take on such a role?

In jealousy we put down others to somehow make ourselves feel better about our inaction, we silence even the smallest effort of someone who has caught fire and finally stepping into their call.

We have a choice either we step into the work God is calling us into faithfully Living by faith and not by sight or we fix our eyes on what lies before us and fall into the pit of “but I am not good enough…”

If we are to encounter God in greater ways we cannot live in the spaces of the old.

1 Corinthians 1:26–29 ESV

For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.

Without exception each one of us is called with a purpose in the Kingdom of God

The reason you have not belonged…the reason you could never fit in…the reason you have sojourned from one place to another

sufficiency was not found in you because of you

sufficiency was found in God in spite of you because of grace you are drawn into service

We are called and qualified by the creator of Heaven and Earth

We cannot walk according to the ways of old

God goes to great lengths to show you how He wants to use you, to show you how He has equipped you, we ultimately determine if we will encounter God in greater ways by living into the new or if we will surrender to the old

Living with the Old

Many of us by now have heard what happens when new wine is placed in old wine skins…it bursts

Not just figurative… King Saul tangible example

The progression of calling

Called

Anointed in the secret place 1 Sam 10:1 the anointing happens here first

note Saul went in search of the man of God

Filled with the Spirit of God 1 Sam 10:6 and transformed into a new man

Public anointing 1 Sam 10:19 (gathering of the people for the public anointing)

this space for many is one they cannot handle… here is where trouble is found

Value of self comes into question… “I am not enough…why would God choose me…I am not ready

Prov 18 reminds us it is not I that needs to tell people who I am or what my gifts are, simply stated the gifts God has given me are just that a gift I did not earn them buy them trade for them or even work for them…therefore before I open my mouth the gifts have made room for me.

When we operate from the old our gifts become our burden

Hiding Behind the Old

1 Samuel 10:21–22 ESV

He brought the tribe of Benjamin near by its clans, and the clan of the Matrites was taken by lot; and Saul the son of Kish was taken by lot. But when they sought him, he could not be found. So they inquired again of the Lord, “Is there a man still to come?” and the Lord said, “Behold, he has hidden himself among the baggage.”

Called, twice anointed, appointed but cowering in the baggage

Not just immaturity but the lack of letting the old self go

Your baggage tells on you

Your baggage causes you to doubt your call

Your baggage causes you to surrender the anointing

Causes the people of God to have to lead their leader

Caused the people to doubt and question if in fact God had spoken twice they had to ask of the Lord twice the answer was the same

Caused the people to have to remind Saul his identity

Living in the baggage cause him to be a burden instead of a blessing to the people

1 Samuel 10:23–24 ESV

Then they ran and took him from there. And when he stood among the people, he was taller than any of the people from his shoulders upward. And Samuel said to all the people, “Do you see him whom the Lord has chosen? There is none like him among all the people.” And all the people shouted, “Long live the king!”

He had the makings of a great leader

physically

he lacked the Spiritual

God did not make a mistake in His choosing “…there is none like him among all the people.”

Fruit of Hiding in the Baggage

Lack of Patience (getting ahead of the Lord)

1 Samuel 13:8–9 ESV

He waited seven days, the time appointed by Samuel. But Samuel did not come to Gilgal, and the people were scattering from him. So Saul said, “Bring the burnt offering here to me, and the peace offerings.” And he offered the burnt offering.

It was the people who had to tell him who he was, it was the people’s will and not God’s he was after

when Samuel saw it was clear “What is this that you have done

Excuses not repentance “the people were scattering…”

Become a Hindrance in Battle

14:24 foolish oath cut off the nutrition from the battle (none were allowed to eat)

causes the people to sin against God

14:35 this is the first time he builds an altar to the Lord.

Willing to kill their offspring for self preservation

1 Samuel 14:44 ESV

And Saul said, “God do so to me and more also; you shall surely die, Jonathan.”

He was willing to kill his son because of a bad oath…how many have killed their ministry to live in the old self

Become willing to live in the substitute over the genuine

driven by selfish motivation

1 sam 15:12 Saul erects a monument not for God for himself (look at all the things I have done…)

excuses over repentance once more

Living in the old will lead to a life of making excuses on why we have chosen not to serve the Lord with the Gifts He has given

1 Samuel 15:17 ESV

And Samuel said, “Though you are little in your own eyes, are you not the head of the tribes of Israel? The Lord anointed you king over Israel.

You are little not in His eyes in your own eyes

The call, the anointing the appointing He gives not when you’re good enough…but when you are submitted to Him… He is the one who qualifies you

Obedience over sacrifice

Living in the New

You do not have all the answers but are willing to walk by faith and not by sight

Operating in the gifts faithfully and allowing the fruits to testify of who you are

You have learned to wait on the Lord

You have learned to depend on the Lord completely

You have come to terms with what it means your anointing is from the Lord and therefore turn only to Him even when everything is falling apart

Jeremiah 33:2–3 ESV

“Thus says the Lord who made the earth, the Lord who formed it to establish it—the Lord is his name: Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.

He has chosen you He has called you He has anointed you… we cannot be like Saul and wait until were half way through our ministry to raise up an altar, we cannot hide in the baggage of the old self… if we desire to know the God of creation we must call upon His name as we are made a new…then we will see parts of who God is that have been hidden since the beginning of time and is now being released.