As we read this passage together, we need to acknowledge some differences in how the Spirit of God worked in the Old Testament versus how He works in the New. In the Old Testament, the Spirit would come “upon” people; in the New Testament, He lives “within” believers. The Holy Spirit living in us is because Christ literally removed our every sin from us, thereby making the "temple" of our body the Temple of the Holy Spirit, where God dwells. "Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies." (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).
The results or changes in people in the Old Testament could be temporary, as they were in Saul's case, versus the lasting and permanent change the Spirit makes within people in the New Testament.
Regardless of these differences, isn’t it amazing to note the power of the Holy Spirit? As a result of the Holy Spirit coming “powerfully” on Saul, the prophet Samuel said he would be changed into a different person.
Tell me, isn’t that what we need? I mean, have you ever thought that for you to be free from overeating food, you’d have to be a totally different person? That you’d need a different heart, a different nature, and a different thought process when it came to food? This transformation is precisely what the Spirit of God does as Christ comes to live in us by His Spirit! Let’s see this in the following two passages:
“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom” (2 Corinthians 3:17).
“This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” (2 Corinthians 5:17).
Now, notice the exact fulfillment of Samuel’s prophecy:
“As Saul turned and started to leave, God gave him a new heart, and all Samuel’s signs were fulfilled that day. 10 When Saul and his servant arrived at Gibeah, they saw a group of prophets coming toward them. Then the Spirit of God came powerfully upon Saul, and he, too, began to prophesy. 11 When those who knew Saul heard about it, they exclaimed, “What? Is even Saul a prophet? How did the son of Kish become a prophet?” (1 Samuel 10:9-11).
Question 3. What did Saul experience as a result of the Holy Spirit coming powerfully upon Him?
What have you been praying for regarding eating and exercise since the beginning of these Setting Captives Free weight loss courses? Isn’t it a heart change? Reread this passage, “As Saul turned and started to leave, God gave him a new heart, and all Samuel’s signs were fulfilled that day.” This change of heart is what the Spirit of God does for us!
Question 4. Please reread 1 Samuel 10:11 NLT. How can you apply this verse to yourself in the area of losing weight and exercising?
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Wende has captured the essence of the teaching today, when she answers the question above with this:
"What? Is even Wende a transformed person? She who spent decades yoyo dieting and jumping on every weight loss bandwagon that came along? She is at peace with food, she is calmly asking God for a plan and NOT over thinking it, just doing it through the power of that Spirit that she is tapping into at the cross. What?"