Choosing a Spirit-Filled or Spirit-Less Life!

A Tale of Two Kings

Choosing a Spirit-Filled or Spirit-Less Life!

1 Samuel 18

Traits of a Spirit-Less Life

1.

When the men were returning home after David had killed the Philistine, the women came out from all the towns of Israel to meet King Saul with singing and dancing, with joyful songs and with tambourines and lutes. As they danced, they sang: “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands.” “They have credited David with tens of thousands,” he thought, “but me with only thousands. What more can he get but the kingdom?” And from that time on Saul kept a jealous eye on David. Vs. 6-9

2.

Saul was very angry; this refrain displeased him greatly. Vs. 8

The next day an evil spirit from God came forcefully on Saul. He was prophesying in his house, while David was playing the lyre, as he usually did. Saul had a spear in his hand and he hurled it, saying to himself, “I’ll pin David to the wall.” But David eluded him twice. Vs. 10-11

3.

When Saul saw how successful he was, he was afraid of him. Vs. 15

Saul became still more afraid of him, and he remained his enemy the rest of his days.

Vs. 29

4. Evil and

Saul said to David, “Here is my older daughter Merab. I will give her to you in marriage; only serve me bravely and fight the battles of the Lord.” For Saul said to himself, “I will not raise a hand against him. Let the Philistines do that!” vs. 17

Now Saul’s daughter Michal was in love with David, and when they told Saul about it, he was pleased. “I will give her to him,” he thought, “so that she may be a snare to him and so that the hand of the Philistines may be against him.” Saul’s plan was to have David fall by the hands of the Philistines. Vs. 20-21, 25

So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want.

The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions  and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. 

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Galatians 5:16-24

The Blessing of a Spirit-Filled LIfe

1. We live in God’s

Saul was afraid of David, because the Lord was with David vs. 12

In everything he did he had great success, because the Lord was with him. Vs. 14

When Saul realized that the Lord was with David vs. 28

1. We live under God’s

Saul had a spear in his hand and he hurled it, saying to himself, “I’ll pin David to the wall.” But David eluded him twice. Vs. 10-11

2. We live with God’s

In everything he did he had great success, because the Lord was with him.  Vs. 14