Grace That Works

Have we ever received a call we knew we weren't qualified to answer? This profound exploration of 1 Samuel 11 confronts us with a transformative truth: God doesn't call the qualified—He qualifies the called. Through the story of Saul, a simple farmer who becomes Israel's first king, we discover how God equips inadequate people for impossible tasks. When the Ammonites threaten to disgrace the city of Jabesh-Gilead, Saul is literally walking behind oxen in a field. Yet the Spirit of God rushes upon him, transforming passive inadequacy into passionate capability. We witness four essential ways God equips His people: through spiritual empowerment that gives us capacity we didn't have before, through strategic mobilization that reminds us we're not meant to serve alone, through decisive action that requires our obedient response, and through gracious character that reflects God's heart. The message challenges us to stop waiting until we feel qualified and instead depend on the Spirit's power. Our past failures don't disqualify us from God's service—His grace is greater than our sin and inadequacy. Whether we're parenting teenagers, leading teams, or sensing God's call to address unmet needs, the same Spirit who empowered Saul indwells us permanently. The question isn't whether the Spirit is present, but whether we're depending on Him who is already with us.