God's Will and My Will

God Called Saul to Be King

God brought Saul to Samuel. There was no mistake in those donkeys leaving. God brought events in the motion because He had a plan. We see that God spoke to Samuel and said that a person was going to come to him who would be king.

The Philistines oppressed the people of Israel and it was God’s will to deliver them. God’s plan was to use Saul.

Saul didn’t know this at all until Samuel told him in chapter 10. The character of Saul is always compared to David. They are contrasted against one another. As we continue in 1 Samuel, we will see that Saul starts well. He seems humble and obedient to the Lord. However, we see the blend of God’s will and our will in Saul. God called him to save his people, Saul began well but then decided to chose his own way.

I don’t want to focus on Saul’s failure, instead I was to draw attention to how God makes calls people but we still have a responsibility to follow. There are things that God calls all of us to do and also specific things that God is calling you to do. Do you want to do God’s will or your own?

God’s Calling Confirmed

In Chapter 10, Samuel privately anoints Saul as king. Could you imagine being Saul? One day you are the son of man who seems rich and then one day you go looking for donkeys and then anointed king by God’s chosen prophet! What would you be thinking? Is this real? Is God really calling me for this?

What are some areas that you question God’s will for you specifically? [whiteboard]

I bet in some ways you wish a prophet would anoint you for your task and tell you what God is calling you to do. Samuel gives instructions of Saul new responsibilities in verses 1-8. There is confirmation of God’s calling on Saul.

1. Meet two men at Rachel’s tomb.

2. Donkeys will be found.

3. Then at the Oak of Tamor there will be three men.

4. Saul will prophecy and the Lord will rush upon you.

5. You will become another man.

6. Do what your hand finds to do. God is with you.

7. Then meet with Samuel to offer burnt offering.

Samuel says that all these things will happen and in the following verses we see that they do. God’s calling on Saul’s life gets confirmed to be true.

Now does this mean that when God calls you build His kingdom that you will have confirmation? It depends on what you are talking about. With God’s will there Are many aritations. Marriage, kids, church service, career, etc. But the I would give generally is possibly.

However, a special confirmation to you God could do that. It may not look like the prophecies of Samuel. I questioned my calling to be a pastor. Would anyone take me seriously and could anyone actually think about hiring me in a position? [Story of New Brunswick confirming that God is calling me towards ministry]

As you pursue God’s will, you seek to follow it and find it out. God will confirm it by growth of the big picture.

God Empowers Saul for the Calling

Now in verses 9-16 we see the things that Samuel predict and command happened. We also see in verses 6, 9-10 God’s Spirit rushed upon Saul and God gave Saul a new heart. Whether this was a conversion or spiritual renewal is unclear. However, we see God empowering Saul to fulfill his calling.

When God calls you to do something He empowers you to do it. When you look at all the callings in the word of God upon every believer you can trust that God’s Spirit has given you everything to be faithful.

What are things that God calls every believer to do? What is God’s will for every believers life?[whiteboard]

· Follow/repent/believe/have a relationship with Jesus

· Go and Make disciples, teach them to observe what Jesus taught –

· Sanctification process/change to be more like Jesus, be holy –

· Worship in spirit and truth –

· Gain Wisdom – Proverbs

· Work –

· Fear the Lord –

· Love – 1 John

· Spiritually Mature –

· Read the word –

· Meet together –

· Serve Jesus and His church –

· Be filled by the Holy Spirit –

· Pray –

· Use your spiritual gift –

· To not be loners, we are called to be sociable

· Give/tithe –

· Charity

· Sexual purity –

· Practice self control

All these things through the death of Jesus Christ on the cross and the power of the Holy Spirit you can be faithful.

Your aim is not on being successful, when it comes to your sanctification and the work God has for you, you aim at being faithful. Are you being faithful to what God is empowering you to do?

Which leads me to the last point here.

Saul’s Will and God’s Will

Here we see that the people draw lots and it falls on Saul to be king. However, Saul is not there. Why is he hiding in the baggage? We don’t know for sure, because we don’t get told in the word. Saul could of being reluctant to follow through, he could have been humbly misguided, he could have been doubtful.

We see throughout this whole story God’s will to deliver his people and Saul’s will of not being completely sure. God is calling you to Jesus. His will for you is to live these things out [whiteboard] are you following through?

Do you doubt that you can be faithful in the calling that God had put on your heart? Pray to God about the burdens on your heart. As you perhaps weigh out your future career, bring that burden to Him.

Advice about Discerning God’s Call on your life

1. Pray and Listen. It is so hard for me to be quiet before God. I want to talk, work, and do. Who is in control? God or me? Be still and know that I am God?

2. Use wisdom (see things in light of eternity). says to pray for wisdom and God will give it to you. To be wise is a great pursuit that all of us must strive for. Wisdom is not just know many things but live rightly, skillful living. Know what is right and do it. Wisdom is the application of knowledge.

3. Seek Counsel. “Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers they succeed.” . Others will always see things in a way that you cannot. Find people that you trust and are wise, ask them if they see any confirmation on what you are feeling.

4. Discern What desire God gave you. “Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart.” I believe God has made you the way you are so that you can witness and fellowship and serve the way that you are. Not everything that you feel and desire is sinful. Through Jesus making you new, as God changes you, maybe you have a burden to do something for God. Reaching out to unreached people with love and the gospel. Maybe going to old folks homes and being encouraging as usually they get forgotten, maybe you feel called to plant a church in Port Dover. Maybe it raise money for a charity. Discern the desires that God gave you.

5. Understand and be okay with risk. There will always be risk in any weighty decision. Risk doesn’t mean that it is a bad decision.

6. Be content no matter what in Christ. You only have one life on this side of eternity. How are you going to spend it? You are limited to what you can do and for how long. If you chose to go into a field of work you are choosing not to go into everything. You have be content. If you are not content you will regret. Regret is something that you cannot live with day to day because you will joyful. Know that Jesus makes every situation okay because he has you. Be content in Christ knowing that it’s okay.