Only What You Do For Christ Will Last!

 

Text: 1 Samuel 9:1-6, 17

Portrays Christ “OUR KING”

Subtopic: "You Need A Kingship Anointing"!

1^st and 2^nd Samuel is one book in the Hebrew Old Testament. They are named after the prophet Samuel, who was held in high esteem as a strong spiritual leader of Israel and the one whom God used to set in order the theocratic monarchy.

Purpose: 1^st Samuel describes the crucial turning point in Israel’s history from rule by judges to rule by a king. Tension was between the people’s expectation of a despotic ruler (having unlimited power over other people, often using it unfairly and cruelly) like the other nations had (8:5) and God’s pattern of a theocracy, in which He was their King. This book clearly shows that Saul’s disobedience and his violation of the theocratic requirements of his office led God to reject and replace him as king.

Samuel, known for his “miraculous birth” was used by God to set order in theocratic monarchy. He grew up in the temple under training of Priest Eli. Even though corruption of the priesthood was appalling, Samuel was protected, and grew as a boy in the fear of the Lord and developed into a Priest/Prophet. He was the last judge of Israel and marks the beginning of the Kings.

The theme of the Book of 1 Samuel is leadership, because the whole book simply tells the story of three men-Samuel, dependable leader, Saul, a disappointing leader, and David, a developing leader.

Let me point out that one of the basic principles of leadership is discipline-controlled behavior. If we’re going to be people of influence, we need to learn the art of living disciplined lives, and sometimes we can learn best from a negative example, which is what we have in the middle portion of 1 Samuel.

This text reveals leadership qualities, and the fatal flaws in the first king of Israel, the man named Saul.

The Israelites had great difficulty with the Philistines, descendants of Noah’s son Ham, warlike people, major enemies of Israelites) and the nation had fallen apart from God.

When Israel got in trouble, He would send great leaders inspired directly from HIM to rescue his people from danger. Moses foretold the day would come when Israel would no longer be content with direct rule from God.

 In Chapter 8, the Israelites demanded a King because (1) Samuel’s sons were not fit to lead Israel:  (2) the twelve tribes had difficulty working together because each tribe had its own leader/territory:  (3) the people wanted to be like the neighboring nations. This is exactly what God didn’t want because having a King would make it easy to forget that God was their real leader.

Oh no, they wanted a human king, thinking a new system of government would bring about a change in the nation. But because their basic problem was disobedience to God, their other problems would only continue under the new administration. What they needed was a unified faith, not a uniform rule.

Had they submitted to God’s leadership, they would have thrived beyond their expectations. Despite, Samuel’s warning against a human king, they refused to listen. When you want something bad enough, it’s difficult to see the potential problems.

See, Israel felt the other nations were better off because they had a man as ruler. They wanted to be like everybody else—trying to fit in—but didn’t count the cost. They rejected the “One True God” for a man.

How many know God is King of the universe and always has been. He wasn’t caught off guard. He’s all-knowing and creator of mankind. He knows “the heart is deceitful and desperately wicked” (Jeremiah 17:9).

 Kingship was already a part of God’s promise in His covenant with Abraham, Genesis 17:6 “And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee.”

A king is one who rules and is the central component of a kingdom. All true kings must have property or a domain over which they exercise rulership of dominion. When you hear the word “landlord” don’t you automatically think, land or a property owner?  True kings are automatically “lords” and own all that is in their domain. Not only that, but they have absolute authority and control over their property. The king’s wealth is measured by the wealth of his property and can give their property to anyone they wish. God has chosen to give His property to his children of obedience.

Genesis 49, Jacob’s blessing of his sons, Kingship was assigned to Judah (Praise). Mankind, regenerated man, one that’s experienced the new birth is already included in His plan of rulership/ Kingship. God want us to be like Jesus, Kings and priests in the world to faithfully represent His government and execute His authority on the earth.

·       Revelation 1:6: And hath made us kings and priest unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion forever and ever.  Amen.  Revelation 5:10 says the same, but includes that “we shall reign on (over) the earth”.

So this means that we don’t have to wait to go via the grave to get to heaven to reign as religion preaches, because we’re already in heaven in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:6), and we must reign right here and now!

Kingship is all about protection, exercising authority, and reclaiming conquered territory. Sometimes it is even about taking the war right into the enemy’s camp. The enemy is always lurking about somewhere, seeking to divide and conquer, to destroy our lives and to devour our substance.

So, this wasn’t God’s chosen time for Israel to have a king. Yet, God already had a man in place to lead the Israelites, a man named Saul, whose name means “asked for, demanded”. This was God’s permissive will instead of His perfect Will.

So, God chose a human king for Israel. When He chose a king after the people’s heart, who aimed at nothing so much as stateliness and grandeur, He pitched upon this huge tall man, who, if he had no other good qualities, yet would look great. He didn’t appear to excel in strength so much as he did in stature. Samson did, and him, they bound and betrayed into the hands of the Philistines. Here they (the people) have Saul, one with uncommon height, is weak as other men.

They would have a king like the nations, and the nations commonly chose portly (fat) men for their kings. Samuel anointed him with a vial (symbolizing a short reign), common oil, no praying, blessing over it, the vessel brittle, because his kingdom would soon be cracked and broken and the quantity small, because he had but little of the Spirit conferred upon him compared to what David had being anointed with a horn of oil, as Solomon and Jehu, anointed with a box of oil.

FIVE THINGS ABOUT SAUL

1.   HE HAD CHARISMA (charm, magnetic personal quality that draws people).

Saul was of a good family and of the tribe of Benjamin. The tribe had been reduced to a very small number by the fatal war with Gibeah.

Saul sprang as a root out of a dry ground. That tribe, though fewest in number (600), was first in dignity, “God giving more abundant honor to that part which lacked” (1 Corinthians 12:24). Here’s the thing, don’t let size fool you. Look at the body of Christ compared to a human body. Each part has a specific function that is necessary to the body as a whole.  

The parts are different for a purpose, and in their differences they must work together. Christians must avoid two common errors. (1) being too proud of their abilities, or (2) thinking they have nothing to give to the body of believers, instead of comparing ourselves to one another, we should use our different gifts, together, to spread the good news of salvation.

Saul’s father was Kish, a mighty man of power, substance, in spirit bold, in body strong, in estate wealthy. Here is someone who to their advantage somewhat helped to balance the disadvantage of the smallness of their number, Saul. He was a tall, handsome man, with a good face, a good shape, and a good presence, graceful and well proportioned. The scripture said, “among all the children of Israel there was not a more handsome person than he; as if nature had marked him for pre-eminence and superiority, he was taller from shoulder upward than any of the people, the fitter to be the match for the giants of Gath, the champions of the Philistines.

He was a fine looker alright, and God made him perfect for the leadership role for which he had been born. He was handpicked for this very task.

1 Samuel 9:15 the LORD told Samuel in his ear the day before Saul came, saying, verse 16 “Tomorrow about this time I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin, and you shall anoint him commander over My people Israel”. When an Israelite king took office, he was not only crowned, he was anointed. A king was always anointed by a priest or prophet. God makes all of us just the way He wants us to be for what He wants us to do.

 “For we are God’s workmanship created in Christ Jesus to do good works” Ephesians 2:10, which God has prepared in advance for us to do.

As for you and me, God has prepared a good work in advance for each of you and for me to do. He has given you certain strengths and gifts He want you to use. “For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you” (Jeremiah 29:11).

2.    HIS CALLING WAS NOBLE (excellent; superior)

Often, we think that events just happen to us, but you’ll find that God will use common occurrences to lead us where HE wants. More than not, it’s a divine appointment designed to shape our lives. Saul was sent on and important mission to find his father’s stray donkeys. This mission was designed to connect him to the Prophet of God to seek advice on the lost donkeys, as directed by his servant. 1 Samuel 9:17 When Samuel sees Saul coming, the LORD said to him, “Behold the man whom I spoke to thee of:  this same shall reign over my people”.

Saul is clueless the impact this visit will have on his life. Samuel had him to stay the night and communed with him.  Early the next morning, they went up on the roof of the house (high place-spiritual realm) where God dwells. Many times, God would take disciples to the mountain top to impart revelation unto them.

He summons Moses to a mountain top, Mt. Sinai and made covenant with Israel.  Jesus was on a mountain top when He transformed into glistening light before Peter, John, and James.  Few are those that are coming to that higher place in God that He equips and empowers them for service to our fellowman. Matthew 22:14: Many are called, few are chosen.

It’s just amazing how differently God’s purpose for your life is far from your intentions for yourself. Saul set out to find lost donkeys and discovered the Kingdom of God.

Have you ever met people who addressed you as if they knew your life secrets? If this is you, though your worldly plans are in motion and things are honkey dory, as my dad would say, “Just keep living” you’re find that the Lord has something far better prepared for you.

As Saul prepared to leave the city, Samuel tells him “Send your servant ahead, but you remain that I may proclaim the word of the Lord to you. Samuel took a vial (small quantity; symbolizing a short reign) and poured the oil upon his head, symbolizing the presence and power of the Holy Spirit in his life.  

I imagined Saul was surprised because, after all he was just an ordinary man and his mission there was to look for his father’s donkeys.

·       John 15:16: You have not chosen me, but I have chosen you and ordained you, that you should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit shall remain: whatsoever you shall ask of the Father in My name, he may give it you.

 Samuel anointed Saul’s head with oil and kissed him, saying, “Has not the Lord anointed you leader over his inheritance”?  A kiss symbolized his own approval of God’s choice for King.

·       1 Samul 10:9: And it was so, that when he (Saul) had turned his back to go from Samuel, God gave him another heart:  and all those signs came to pass that day.

When God calls us to a task, HE will furnish the means and ability to fulfill that task. Saul now was prepared to conquer the enemy, not with an A-R 15, hand grenades, nor heavy equipment, but he was locked and loaded with the power of the Holy Ghost, with both exousia, which is the right to use the power, then, dunamis (dynamite) right to blow the devil up.

3.    HIS CAREER WAS PROMISING

 1 Samuel 11:11: The next day Saul separated his men into three companies, and they came into the midst of the host in the morning watch, and slew the Ammonites until the heat of the day:  and it came to pass, that they which remained were scattered, so that two of them were not left together. And verse 15 says that after this remarkable military victory:  All the people went to Gilgal and there they made Saul king before the LORD in Gilgal, and there they sacrificed sacrifices of peace offerings before the LORD, and there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly.

The young King Saul got off to a great start, leading Israel into much needed military victory over the enemies that had been long tormenting them, and he won the respect and admiration of all the people.

4.    HIS CHARACTER WAS FLAWED

Things were looking good for a while and then things began to turn south. Although Saul had a mission in life, he constantly struggled with jealousy, insecurity, arrogance, impulsiveness, and deceit, listened to slander, and experienced paranoia. On the emotional side, he fluctuated good one day and bad the next. At any rate, he was still God’s choice as King.

That’s God’s pattern, He usually pick someone who is flawed and Saul was flawed in faith which was God’s point of turning him into another man in order to use him. How many people have fallen from power in the past years, months, weeks, and days, because of their flawed character? Executives of great corporations, led away in handcuffs, and politicians withdrawing from pivotal contests because of ethical violations.

Ministers bringing reproach to the cause of Christ by grievous lapses of judgment or by moral failure. It’s largely due to a lack of discipline. Only because Saul did not wholeheartedly commit to God, he never became God’s man. What exploits he might have accomplished or history he might have made, for the kingdom of Israel and of God if only he had been a better man.

Saul failed to trust and to obey God. He let himself lapse into sin. He began a long, slow, painful, shameful slide into despair. He had begun to work independently of God’s law, priests, and prophets.

1 Samuel 13:13 Samuel said to Saul, “Thou hast done foolishly:  thou hast not kept the commandment of the LORD thy God, which he commanded thee:  for now would the LORD have established thy kingdom upon Israel forever”:  vs 14: “But now thy kingdom shall not continue:  the LORD hath sought him a man after his own heart and the LORD hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the LORD commended thee”. 

Surely, this is why we must never tolerate on-going sin in our lives. This is why we must never rationalize our weaknesses or sweep our sin under the rug. God wants to perfect that which concerns us. He is Jehovah M’Kaddesh - the God who sanctified. When we are really serious about following Him, He matures and develops us into His own image. The Bible says, “Be confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6).  And that “day of Jesus Christ” is not when He appears out in the sky, but when the fullness of Him is manifested and seen in you and me individually!!! 

5.   HIS LOST CROWN

Saul continued in disobedience to God ever more deeply until in the end his confidence was gone. On the last full day of his life, he was despairing, frightened, and unfocused. He had lost his relationship with the LORD, Samuel his mentor was dead, and his arch enemies the Philistines were encircling him. In his extreme distress, he turned to the occult and consulted the witch of Endor. Saul had expelled the mediums and spiritualists from the land. The Philistines assembled and came and set up camp at Shunem, while Saul gathered all the Israelites and set up camp at Gilboa.

When he saw the Philistine army, he was afraid, terror filled his heart. He inquired of the LORD, but the LORD did not answer him by dreams, or Urim (light), or the prophets. Saul then said to his servants, 1 Samuel 28:7: “Seek me a woman that hath a familiar (friendly) spirit that I may go to her and inquire of her”.

He dressed in disguise and meets with her, and asked her to bring up Samuel. When Samuel appeared, he bowed and prostrated himself with his face to the ground. 1 Samuel 28:15: Samuel said to Saul, “Why have you disquieted me to bring me up”?  Saul said, “I am sore distressed, for the Philistines make war against me, and God is departed from me and answers me no more, neither by prophets, nor by dreams:  therefore I have called thee, that thou may make known unto me what I shall do”.  The Philistines are fighting against me, and God has turned away from me. He no longer answers me, either by prophets or by dreams. So, I have called on you to tell me what to do”.

Samuel said, vs 16: Wherefore then dost thou ask of me, seeing the LORD is departed from thee and is become thine enemy”?  Vs 17: And the LORD hath done to him as he spoke by me:  for the LORD hath rent the kingdom out of thine hand and given it to thy neighbor, even to David:  vs 18: Because thou obeyed not the voice of the LORD, nor executed his fierce wrath upon Amalek, therefore hath the LORD done this thing unto thee this day.  Vs 19: Moreover the LORD will also deliver Israel with thee into the hand of the Philistines:  and tomorrow shalt thou and thy sons be with me:  the LORD also shall deliver the host of Israel into the hand of the Philistines.

Immediately, Saul fell straightway to the earth filled with fear because of Samuel’s words. His strength was gone, for he had eaten nothing all that day and night (vs 20).

Final result - Saul’s crown was lost (1Sam 31:1-13).

The Philistines fought against Israel killing his three sons, his armor-bearer, and all his men died together that same day. The archers overtook Saul wounding him critically so Saul took his own sword and fell on it.

In summation, what’s the take away here?

·       You must have the character of Christ. Evidence has proven a flawed character leads to destruction.

·       Acts 5:32: And we are his witnesses of these things,  and so also, is the Holy Ghost, whom God has given to them that obey him.

See that! God gives His Spirit to those who obey Him. He doesn’t anoint rebellion, He only anoints obedience. If you can’t surrender your life in obedience, you will not walk in the presence and power of God.

Example: Samson lost his anointing by repeated disobedience to his Nazarite vow.

What about you and me - same principle applies. Just like an airplane that loses both engines, loses altitude and eventually crashes. Obedience is the key or gateway to either life or in Saul’s case, death.

Walk in your kingship anointing, it’s yours!  God gave it to you and don’t let God tear the kingdom out of your hands and give it to your neighbor due to disobedience. Remember, only what you do for Christ will last.

Evangelist Brenda Hansley