The God Who Qualifies Me II

Hiding in 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.”

Not an act of humility rather a cowardly act “Someone please tell me I matter”

Baggage tells on you

Need to be affirmed by people and therefore are swayed by the people instead of the God-said

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!”

Makings of a leader

physical

would not live into the spiritual

“None like him among all the people”

Fruit of Hiding in the Baggage

Become Impatient

1 Sam 13:8-9

Because he sought people’s approval when they began to leave he didnt wait on the Lord he did what the people wanted

Become a Hinderance in Battle

1 Sam 14:24

Foolish oath denying the warriors food before battle

causes the people to sin against God

curses his own son to death

reveals himself to not know God (first time raising an altar)

many who kill their ministry do so here… to be able to hold onto the old self

Become willing to live in the substitute over the genuine

1 Sam 15

Selfish motivation over righteous motivation

erects a monument to self… look at all i have done

excuses over repentance

Become unwilling to see ourselves as God sees us

1 Sam 15:17

You are little only in your own eyes

You do not see how great God has made

Living into the New

King Saul’s deck

Smallest tribe Benjamin

Ravenous Wolves

Private anointing changes him

Does not let go of the self

Grows blind to the way of the Lord

Kills himself doing all the work he thought was God’s or wanted to be God’s

lived hiding behind the baggage his whole life

Saul of Tarsus speaks of living into the new

Saul had went to the religious leaders garnered letters to murder the followers of the way… He truly believed he was doing God’s will…

that is we can think we are doing “God’s will” and truly be hurting the body being who we once were

Acts 9:3–6 ESV

Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.”

everyone of us will here the command to do God’s will

This was Saul’s private anointing

The command to do what God wants in the moment was simple… go into the city and wait for the next step

the whole plan was not immediately given he had to wait for the next step

do not get ahead

go and wait…

Become Patient

Acts 9:8–9 ESV

Saul rose from the ground, and although his eyes were opened, he saw nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.

This step is the most crucial

you are going to be broken

everything you once knew is going to be rocked

your old self will be demanded of you

you will have to stop relying on your physical sight and allow yourself to be led by the Spirit

Hide inside of the Lord

Saul of Tarsus instead of hiding in his might finds himself in room for 3 days

Neither eats nor drinks… waits until the Lord speaks

What were these three days like? What did he say to the Lord?

Trust the people God brings into your life

This is why healing and letting the baggage go matters how can you trust if you do not know how to let go of the past?

God functions in the relationships forged along the way

Acts 9:15–17 ESV

But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.” So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”

Ananias had to commit… God wanted to use him to bless Paul

we deny our own blessing when we do not live into the new

Brother Saul… is how he refers to him (Welcome to the family your past no longer is important)

too easy to fault find

too easy to bring up the past

Put on the New

Acts 9:20–21 ESV

And immediately he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.” And all who heard him were amazed and said, “Is not this the man who made havoc in Jerusalem of those who called upon this name? And has he not come here for this purpose, to bring them bound before the chief priests?”

Here we see the public anointing that comes after the breaking

Saul now begins to function as the apostle he was called to be… not because of man because of God

It no longer matters what others say because man didnt appoint you the only one you answer to is God

Taught by the Lord

Galatians 2:1–2 ESV

Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along with me. I went up because of a revelation and set before them (though privately before those who seemed influential) the gospel that I proclaim among the Gentiles, in order to make sure I was not running or had not run in vain.

In Gal 1 Paul tells the Galatians he had been taught by the Lord

this is what matters certainly it is good to be taught but remember it is the Lord you trust in

14 years later he takes his teaching back to the elders…

his approval did not come from man… it is only here that he wanted to ensure it was done in order

you’re going to have questions… at some point

In Paul the promises over the tribe of Benjamin are restored

The command to get out from behind your baggage is more clear today than ever before. Hiding makes you a liability in the kingdom… it is not that you are not saved rather how can you step fully into what God wants to give you if you will not let go.

Altar call: you were challenged last week to dig deep and see what it was that you needed to turn over to the Lord. This morning I ask you to bring that now to the altar and give it to the Lord in an act of faith. Believe in the promise that God has for you and what He is moving you into.