When You First Started Out - Pastor Stacey Shiflett

Watch this message here:

When You First Started Out

·        1 Samuel 15:17 And Samuel said, When thou wast little in thine own sight, wast thou not made the head of the tribes of Israel, and the LORD anointed thee king over Israel? 

Intro: The life of Saul is filled with many practical lessons. Tonight, we will just look at a few of them.

When he started out, he was amazed that God could use him.

He was amazed that God would pick him to do anything.

He was blown away that God would let him serve in any capacity at all.

According to the testimony of Samuel, Saul at one point was little in his own sight.

In all actuality, physically, he was a big man. He was actually taller than everyone else. 

·        1 Samuel 10:23 And they ran and fetched him thence: and when he stood among the people, he was higher than any of the people from his shoulders and upward. 

But Samuel remembered what he was like when he was “little in his own sight.”

Saul was extremely humble when he started out.

Notice 1 Samuel 9:20, 21

·        20 And as for thine asses that were lost three days ago, set not thy mind on them; for they are found. And on whom is all the desire of Israel? Is it not on thee, and on all thy father’s house?

·        21 And Saul answered and said, Am not I a Benjamite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel? and my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? wherefore then speakest thou so to me?

Saul started out humble but became proud and arrogant.

God anointed him and appointed him, but after a while, it went to his head.

What happened to Saul happens to a lot of Christians; even people in ministry.

They start out one way, but over time, they become cold, disobedient, and “too big for their own britches.”

Nothing is good enough for them.

Nobody is good enough.

They get cranky and critical and contentious.

They get grouchy and gossipy and take the church for granted

They are unhappy, unfaithful and ungrateful.

People that used to be the first one to volunteer never lift a finger to do anything.

They become:

               1. Distant

               2. Disobedient

               3. Disinterested

               4. Discontented

               5. Dissatisfied

               6. Disconnected

               7. Disenfranchised

Samuel took Saul down memory lane and reminded him of what he was like when God first called him into the ministry.

When Samuel confronted Saul, he had a message from God.

·        1 Samuel 15:16 Then Samuel said unto Saul, Stay, and I will tell thee what the LORD hath said to me this night. And he said unto him, Say on.

1. You were willing to do anything.

• 1 Samuel 9:3 And the asses of Kish Saul’s father were lost. And Kish said to Saul his son, Take now one of the servants with thee, and arise, go seek the asses.

ILLUSTRATION of the man that asked to help me, and I asked him to sort a bowl of nails and screws that I needed done, and he got offended and left the church.

ILLUSTRATION of the menial tasks that get done around here.

Digging that trench in the yard. Painting the church; washing the steeple.

If you are too good to do small things, you’re no longer

2. You didn’t want to be a burden.

• 1 Samuel 9:5 And when they were come to the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant that was with him, Come, and let us return; lest my father leave caring for the asses, and take thought for us.

When you started out, you didn’t want to be burden; but you wanted to help other people with their burden.

You didn’t want anyone worrying about where you were or having to check on you.

You checked on other people; you were concerned about other people.

3. You asked the preacher for direction.

• 1 Samuel 9:6 And he said unto him, Behold now, there is in this city a man of God, and he is an honourable man; all that he saith cometh surely to pass: now let us go thither; peradventure he can shew us our way that we should go.

4. You allowed God to change you.

• 1 Samuel 10:6 And the Spirit of the LORD will come upon thee, and thou shalt prophesy with them, and shalt be turned into another man.

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

5. Others saw a difference in you.

• 1 Samuel 10:11 And it came to pass, when all that knew him beforetime saw that, behold, he prophesied among the prophets, then the people said one to another, What is this that is come unto the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets?

6. You didn’t want any recognition.

1 Samuel 10

·        21 When he had caused the tribe of Benjamin to come near by their families, the family of Matri was taken, and Saul the son of Kish was taken: and when they sought him, he could not be found.

·        22 Therefore they enquired of the LORD further, if the man should yet come thither. And the LORD answered, Behold, he hath hid himself among the stuff.

7. Your crowd was those with the touch of God.

• 1 Samuel 10:27 And Saul also went home to Gibeah; and there went with him a band of men, whose hearts God had touched.

8. The critics didn’t stop you.

• 1 Samuel 10:27 But the children of Belial said, How shall this man save us? And they despised him, and brought him no presents. But he held his peace.