In 1 Samuel 19:19–24, Saul received word that David could be found with the prophet Samuel in Ramah. Saul immediately sent contingent after contingent of soldiers to capture him; but as each group approached, they were overpowered by the Holy Spirit, and they began to prophesy. Finally, completely frustrated, Saul struck out on his own to capture David. He, too, was filled with the Spirit, overpowered and prostrated naked before Samuel, prophesying all day and night.
When Saul was filled with the Holy Spirit, nothing notable transpired. When Peter was filled with the Spirit, people repented and 3,000 were converted in a day (Acts 2). What made the difference? These were not two different spirits. The Bible says Saul was filled with the Spirit of God, but nothing positive came from it.
The Holy Spirit’s power is only effective if our lives match the message. Saul’s life did not match the message he was giving while under the power of the Holy Spirit. Saul was filled with the Spirit, but he did not let the Spirit mold, shape, and change him. Temporary bursts of power, even those from Heaven, do not force us to change direction. They are only effective if the rest of the system is in proper operating order. This tells us why we so desperately need revival and reformation. We must have the consistent working of the Holy Spirit in our lives now, not just a power surge at some point in the future.
