OT Sermon 56 Allow Yourself to Become a Different Person
We know that Saul was not a good King. He somehow thought he had obeyed God when he had
not. However, the anointing has a way of working on us and changing us if we yield to it. Saul had
an experience once he was anointed which if he had stuck to may have led to better kingship and a
more fruitful reign.
1 Samuel 10:1 (GW)
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Samuel took a flask of olive oil, poured it on Saul's head, kissed him, and said, “The Lord
has anointed you to be ruler of his people Israel. You will rule his people and save them from
all their enemies. This will be the sign that the Lord has anointed you to be ruler of his
people.
Samuel as Prophet anointed Saul and transferred God’s unction to him for the task that was set
before him. Samuel lets him know that he will find his donkeys which he was sent out to look for.
However it his meeting with a company of prophets which is going to change how Saul behaves.
1 Samuel 10:5-8 (GW)
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After that, you will come to the hill of God, where the Philistines have a military post. When
you arrive at the city, you will meet a group of prophets prophesying as they come from the
worship site. They will be led by men playing a harp, a tambourine, a flute, and a lyre.
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Then the Lord's Spirit will come over you. You will be a different person while you
prophesy with them.
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When these signs happen to you, do what you must, because God is with you.
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Go ahead of me to Gilgal. Then I will come to sacrifice burnt offerings and make fellowship
offerings. Wait seven days until I come to tell you what to do.”
WHO WE KEEP COMPANY WITH MATTERS
It really does matter who we keep company with. Samuel tells Saul that he will be a different person
when the Lord’s Spirit comes over him. This will happen once he gets around the group of prophets.
What we can learn from this is that when we want a certain grace to work on our lives, we need to
get around people who carry that grace. They may not be ordained ministers but provided they
have what we want we should spend time with them and imitate what they do. So for example, if
you’re interested in the prophetic and there’s no one else around you who’s interested in the
prophetic then you need to find a group of people who are. Back in 2007, I was going through some
difficulties but I was very spiritually hungry. I’d started to watch Patricia King’s Extreme Prophetic
programme as it was then known. I loved it when she gave prophetic words at the end. Prophecy is
very powerful when we are going through challenging circumstances. I found out that Extreme
Prophetic did Schools of the Prophetic when people could learn to prophesy. So I found out where
the nearest one to me would be and went along. I can honestly say that it was great being around
like minded people. I learnt so much from these people as well as being blessed by the words I
received. Since then I have not looked back regarding the prophetic gifting God has given me. It
seemed like a small beginning but the effects of it can still be seen in my life today.
If you want to become proficient in the prophetic then get around prophetic people. If you want to
become proficient in deliverance then follow those who are in deliverance ministry. I am not saying
we should isolate the people we get together with into certain groups and not be interested in
anything else. Christ gave us a complete gospel and we need to embrace it.
1 Samuel 10:7 (GW)
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When these signs happen to you, do what you must, because God is with you.
When Saul experienced this spiritual outpouring he needed to be careful to do what he had to do
because God was with him. For anyone starting out a new venture, a new ministry or assignment it
is key to know that the Lord is with us. The prophetic can come at a time when there is a new
beginning. This meeting with the company of prophets led Saul to know that he was empowered by
God and that he wouldn’t be doing things on his own and in his own strength. He had spiritual
backing.
One thing to notice about the prophets is that they are worshipping God. We don’t just drift from
giving one prophecy to giving another or receiving one prophecy and then another. We need to
keep God as the focus. This company were over taken by worship and were then led to prophecy. If
you are keen to experience the prophetic makes sure your focus in not on your own gift or on what
you need to know about or your own ego. You need to be elevating God and focussing on Him.
Then He will most certainly speak in a way you can perceive it.
1 Samuel 10:9 (GW)
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When Saul turned around to leave Samuel, God changed Saul's attitude. That day all these
signs happened.
KJV says God gave Saul another heart. This was a new phase in Saul’s life and God wanted him to be
open. Sometimes before we enter that new phase our attitude will need to change so that we can
receive from God. Don’t take offence if God shows you that your attitude is wrong. Instead make
the adjustment you need to make.
God was preparing Saul for his task of leadership. He needed to be freed up to follow God’s leading.
The more we flow in the prophetic the more we will want to follow God’s leading.
1 Samuel 10:11-12 (GW)
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When all who had known him before saw how he prophesied with the prophets, the people
asked one another, “What has happened to the son of Kish? Is Saul one of the prophets?”
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But a man from that place asked, “But who's the chief prophet?” So it became a proverb:
“Is Saul one of the prophets?”
When your spiritual gifts come to the surface it will make you look like another person. Saul was
likened to one of the prophets. At this time being a prophet was an office. There were various ranks
of prophets. However, in the NT anyone of us as Christians can prophesy. In fact we are told to
desire prophecy as a gift. We should want to give prophetic words to others or to prophesy over our
own lives.
Paul similarly had an experience on the road to Damascus in which he became a different person.
Saul as he was called at that time, had been persecuting the Christians. He had been consenting to
the deaths of God’s people. He was the least likely to become an Apostle, Prophet and Teacher.
Acts 8:1 (KJV)
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And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution
against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the
regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.
Acts 8:3 (KJV)
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As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and
women committed them to prison.
Saul could not leave the Church alone, going out of his way to get them locked up. He was an
example of someone that had nothing good to say about the Church and certainly would not have
envisaged himself becoming a man of God who wrote at least two thirds of the NT.
Acts 9:3-8 (GW)
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As Saul was coming near the city of Damascus, a light from heaven suddenly flashed
around him.
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He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul! Saul! Why are you persecuting
me?”
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Saul asked, “Who are you, sir?” The person replied, “I'm Jesus, the one you're persecuting.
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Get up! Go into the city, and you'll be told what you should do.”
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Meanwhile, the men traveling with him were speechless. They heard the voice but didn't see
anyone.
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Saul was helped up from the ground. When he opened his eyes, he was blind. So his
companions led him into Damascus.
Saul had an encounter with Jesus. Jesus introduced Himself to Saul and let him know that he was
the one receiving the persecution not the people Paul was locking up. Being struck with blindness
was a sign left on Saul that would remind him of this encounter.
Saul was blinded for three days. Ananias was sent by God to restore his sight.
Acts 9:12-13 (GW)
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In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias place his hands on him to restore his sight.”
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Ananias replied, “Lord, I've heard a lot of people tell about the many evil things this man
has done to your people in Jerusalem.
Saul was already beginning to have visions which would be a key feature of his giftings when he
walked as an Apostle. Ananias sounds reluctant to go because of the fact that he had known Saul as
being the one on the otherside.
Acts 9:15-22 (GW)
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The Lord told Ananias, “Go! I've chosen this man to bring my name to nations, to kings,
and to the people of Israel.
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I'll show him how much he has to suffer for the sake of my name.”
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Ananias left and entered Judas' house. After he placed his hands on Saul, Ananias said,
“Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on your way to Damascus, sent me to
you. He wants you to see again and to be filled with the Holy Spirit.”
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Immediately, something like fish scales fell from Saul's eyes, and he could see again. Then
Saul stood up and was baptized.
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After he had something to eat, his strength came back to him. Saul was with the disciples in
the city of Damascus for several days.
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He immediately began to spread the word in their synagogues that Jesus was the Son of
God.
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Everyone who heard him was amazed. They asked, “Isn't this the man who destroyed those
who worshiped the one named Jesus in Jerusalem? Didn't he come here to take these
worshipers as prisoners to the chief priests {in Jerusalem}?”
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Saul grew more powerful, and he confused the Jews living in Damascus by proving that
Jesus was the Messiah.
Saul was destined to serve God. He was the one who got allowed to encounter him on the road to
Damascus to be struck with blindness and then healed by Ananias. He is filled with the Holy Spirit
and then baptised. IMMEDIATELY he begins to spread the word in the synagogues. Saul wastes no
time. He has become another person and this glorifies God. He got around the people who were
serving the Jesus that he had been persecuting. He got around people who were doing God’s
bidding and God used those people to bring him into the walk God had for him.
Keep company with those God leads you to and desire spiritual gifts. AS you are willing to us these
gifts for His glory you will see God use you mightily.