Group Fellowship Summer 2007  June 5/7th

 

YOU SHALL RECEIVE POWER’ – the Holy Spirit and God’s People

 

(3) 1 SAMUEL 15.34  -  16.13  CHARISMATIC KINGS

We are trying to learn more about the Person and activity of the Holy Spirit, who is so important to us in our Christian lives.  The Old Testament, often forgotten in this respect, can help enlarge our picture of who He is and how He works.  This week we learn more of Him through the lives of Saul, Samuel and David.

 

I.     15. 34 – 16.3 (14-23)    :   SAUL: A DISOBEDIENT KING REJECTED

    

A SAD EXAMPLE OF SPIRITUAL DECLINE

The sad story of Saul’s decline is told in chapters 13-15.  

• In what ways had Saul frustrated the Lord’s good purposes for him?  (see 13.13 and 15.17-23 especially)
• Is there any indication in 16.1-3 of the extent of that decline?
• How did the Lord feel about it? What did He do?
• What lessons in all this for us?  What relation is there between obedience and a life endowed with the Holy Spirit?  [See Acts 5.32.  Also Eph 4.30(29-32); 1 Thess 5.19]

 

• (16.14-23: What is your impression of Saul’s life after the Holy Spirit had left him?  How does his life contrast with David’s ?  Any warnings to us?)

 

 

II.    16. 4-13  :  SAMUEL: AN OLD SERVANT RESPECTED

 

A MODEL OF SPIRITUAL CONSISTENCY

• Samuel respected!  Why should Samuel’s appearance in Bethlehem arouse the response it did?  Does it say anything about the impact of his ministry?
• What is a right attitude for us to God’s appointed leaders?  On what is it to be based?

 

• Samuel effective!  If Samuel had depended on his own human insight and reason, whom would he have chosen to be King and why?
• Whom did the Lord choose, and why?

                     Any lessons for us?

 

• Samuel was able to discern between his thoughts and ideas, and the Lord’s.  How do you think he did it?  Was it a special gift?  Do you think the Holy Spirit was involved?
• What about us?  Can the Spirit help us?

 

 

III.  16. 7-13  :   DAVID: A NEW KING SELECTED

 

AN INSPIRING EXAMPLE OF SPIRITUAL POTENTIAL

• David was to become a very good and successful king and servant of the Lord throughout his life (if not a perfect one).  Does this passage give us any clues as to what were the key factors in making him so spiritually successful?  How much was it down to David’s spirit(16.7) and how much down to God’s Spirit (16.3), do you think?

(And see other references to David;  1 Samuel 13.14 ;  Acts 13.22 ;  Psalm 78.70-72)

• What does this say to us?

 

• Any key gifts the Spirit gave David in his life?

(Hints of such in 16.14-23?)