Saul’s first to response to God

1 Sam 8:7-8; 9:2

Seeking for the wrong things
John 6:26-35

Paul says in 1 Tim 6:8 to be content
With food and clothing
Rev 3:17 is an indictment against us

Good season of Saul 1 Sam 9:21

Humble
1 Sam 10:5-11
Mark 11:7-11

Reminds me of 2 Cor 5:17
You’re not a Rom 7 almost believer
You’re a Rom 8 victor
8:1. No condemnation
8:39. (Last verse) victors
8:10-11. The kind of life we can live

I find that in most cases the old things pass away not in a flood, but a trickle. The new things arrive step by step. Embrace God’s methodology and focus on one bad trait, along with the corresponding good trait, at a time. Pray daily, study the Scriptures, have a plan, ask for for help, win the victory PSHAW

The fall of Saul
1 Sam 28:5-7
Matt 27:2-3

Your belief is strong enough for you to partner with the Holy Spirit to change your behavior.
I believe many have stopped short of saving faith. They have what James calls a “dead faith”. (James 2:17). Such people have opted for feel good faith. You know you have been cleansed by the blood when your desire is to abandon the ways of your flesh and strive for holiness.

The eternal destiny of Saul and the Jerusalem crowd is uncertain. We do know their opportunity to truly repent ended millennia ago. We, however, still have time to choose rightly. To let the old things pass (and never return), and let the new blessings of God flood your life. So that it may be said of you, like the church at Thessalonica. Thess 1:3-5

Saul to Paul
Acts 9:1ff
Is this the new name?
Rev 2:17 pergamum

That Damascus Road experience gave Paul more than a name change, he got a resurrection of the soul. Gal 2:20.
After his encounter with Jesus no one preached against the lethal nature of sin more than Paul.

I fear we have become too lenient on sin. We need a fresh sense of our need. Jude 23
One of the youth just doesn’t see the sin
Our souls cannot not be repaired, only rebuilt 2 Cor 5:17

Paul talks about resurrection more than all the rest combined. In 1 Cor 15:35-37 he illustrates with the planted seed

They do nothing until water, nutrients and sunshine, then something new comes from the dead husk. Could you imagine a plant that fruited dead husks? 1 Cor 15

What is death? Separation from the source of life.
If it is not of faith it is sin, if sin then death. Rom 14:23
We can invest in good things , positive things, but all temporary….death. Everything temporary has the stench of death.

I love the pumpkin walk.
I used to love carving the pumpkins with the kids, but no matter how satisfying, it is a very momentary art form.
So many of us are trying to carve something beautiful from decay. Is it working?
Whenever I lived in town my beautiful pumpkins would be smashed in the night by those sugar hopped hoodlums roaming the streets. If we are foolish enough to build our dreams on temporary things, we have an enemy ready to smash them.

Rom 6:20-23
Baptism
A symbol of resurrection. Why? Titus 3:8. “Good deeds”

I have a carb counting app. It’s great…when I use it. I keep track of everything that goes into my mouth and it keeps track of how many carbs I am gobbling. If, however I don’t log in I will most assuredly go over my allotment.
I encourage you to spend a week or two logging your entire day. What do you do every 15 minutes? You may be surprised how invested you are in the temporary things of life at the expense of the eternal. You may say, “family and friends, that’s eternal!” Well, only if you make it so, by inserting testimony, scripture or thanksgiving.