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St. Paul School of Leadership & Discipleship Lesson 165 - THE RISE AND FALL OF OLD KING SAUL (PART 2) By Frank Eiklor and the Shalom Team Lessons And Warnings For Christian Leaders continued
What a lesson I learn from the life of King Saul. He started out a simple and humble man whom God chose to use and bless. This is Part 2 of Saul’s rise to King of Israel. Practice these important points and never forget them. You’ll see why in our last two lessons concerning the rise and fall of old King Saul.
6. Saul did not covet chief positions (I Samuel 10:22). How many other young men, knowing they were about to be given preeminent positions, would have pushed themselves into the place of prominence. Instead, tall, handsome, humble Saul hid himself from those who were looking to make him the leader. Always remember that a true leader is not a “lord of all” but a “servant of all.” 7. Saul was given trustworthy and faithful people with whom to serve (I Samuel 10:26). God honored Saul’s beginning in every way by making sure this first king of Israel would be given a godly start surrounded by good men. Develop godly relationships with trustworthy people. Iron sharpens iron. 8. Saul remained deaf to false criticism (I Samuel 10:27). What man anointed as king would have endured “worthless fellows” despising and criticizing him? Yet Saul did not seek his own vengeance but “held his peace”. Never hold a grudge. Be quick to forgive. Remember how God forgives you. 9. Saul shared the position of leadership with others (I Samuel 11:7). Again, Saul’s tender humility stands out when he orders a reluctant nation into righteous combat. Rather than doing it in his own name, Saul brings Samuel the prophet also into a place of significance. Always look to credit others for your successes. 10. Saul held no bitterness when dishonored (I Samuel 11:13). Though evil and worthless men had scorned the new king, a crime punishable by death, Saul gave God credit for bringing deliverance to Israel and refused to execute judgment upon those who had dishonored him. Live in I Corinthians 13—“is not easily provoked”—and the Lord Jesus will help you and me to love our enemies and pray they will experience a new life in Christ.
NEXT LESSON—SAUL'S ROAD TO DESTRUCTION
"Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ" (I Corinthians 11:1) Related Articles · More Articles Jesus said many would come in His name and deceive the hearts of the simple, sinful and proud. Eastern mysticism and meditation is a big thing in the gullible West. And one day a “world leader” will appear on the scene with the persuasion of a god and the heart of a devil. Jesus warns His children to know the Scriptures, live in obedience to the Father’s will, and stay alert to the signs of the times. They laugh no more. Now God’s description of how He will destroy the old earth and create a
new one makes perfect sense. The splitting of the atom turned many skeptics into believers.
After all, look what man himself is capable of doing with the atom and hydrogen bombs. Now
the fear is that nuclear weapons are being placed in the hands of madmen who wish to annihilate
their enemies. God has blessed man with incredible genius. We stand in awe as we watch men and women in a room full of computers and high-tech instruments guiding and landing spacecraft on distant planets. At that moment, we appear invincible. But then a mammoth tornado comes—or a terrifying hurricane—or rains that flood whole regions and never listen to our shouts to “Stop!”—or the shake that removes from under our feet any confidence or pride we carry, and leaves us numb with hardly enough breath to even utter the paralyzing word “EARTHQUAKE!”. And man is helpless in the face of it all! |
