• Used by God to govern
• Anointed Israel’s first 2 Kings
• 1st and most effective of the Judges
• Listed in the Hall of Faith

• Could not lead his sons to a close relationship with God

• God Speaks to those who listen
• God Speaks to those who matter
• There’s a difference between Spiritual and In the Spirit

• 1st King (Looks the part, has a lot going for him)
• Had personal courage
• He prophesied
• Started out humble

• He was not a great national leader
• Jealousy
• Disobeyed often

“Samuel said to Saul: You have done foolishly. You have not kept the commandment of the LORD your God, which He commanded you. For now the LORD would have established your kingdom over Israel forever”

(1 Samuel 13:11-13).

“Why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye?” Matthew 7:3

When he saw people eating slaughtered with the animals he said: ‘Bring me here every man’s ox and every man’s sheep, slaughter them here, and eat; and do not sin against the LORD by eating with the blood” (1 Samuel 14:13).

I am troubled, I am bowed down greatly; I go mourning all the day long. I am feeble and severely broken; I groan because of the turmoil of my heart… For in You, O Lord, I hope; You will hear, O Lord my God. Psalm 38:6, 8, 15

“A distressing spirit from the Lord troubled Saul and he said to his servants, “Provide me now a man who can play well, and bring him to me.” (1 Samuel 16)

“So rend your heart, and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness” (Joel 2: 13). 

When David was returning from the slaughter of the Philistine … the women sang as they danced, and said: “Saul has slain his thousands, And David his ten thousands.”

Then Saul was very angry, and the saying displeased him; and he said, “They have ascribed to David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed only thousands”… So Saul eyed David from that day forward.” 1 Samuel 18:6-9

Same Holy Body” “So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another” (Romans 12:5).

• Moses Assistant
• Entered Promised Land & led Israel to possess Promised Land
• Brilliant Military leader
• Faithful to follow God’s direction

• Not many

Joshua 9:1-27

         God expected a CONVERSATION with His children so He could HELP them.

Ecclesiastes 5:1-3, Romans 5:8-11, 8:5-17, John 15:1-5, 15:26-16:1, 16:7-11

         God will SPEAK to those who are willing to LISTEN.

         God will only speak to those who MATTER, and I MATTER.

         There is a huge difference between doing SPIRITUAL things and being with the SPIRIT.

John 5:19-21, 8:28-30, 10:25-28

1.   It’s about RELATIONSHIP not RELIGION.

2.   Start LISTENING… expect an ANSWER.

3.   Learn to recognize the SPIRIT.

Acts 16:6-10 New International Version (NIV)

6 Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia. 7 When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to. 8 So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas. 9 During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” 10 After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.

Acts 20:22-23 New International Version (NIV)

22 “And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. 23 I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me.

John 16:12-14 New International Version (NIV)

12 “I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. 13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. 14 He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you.

4.   RESPOND.